Sparkle power!

Meggan’s socks are done, and she cheerfully modeled them on campus Friday morning.  The color and the season don’t match up perfectly, but the vibe of carefree relaxation is good at any time of year:These turned out really nicely.  The pattern (by Anne Woodbury) is very well written (though there were some errata in the chart – good thing I checked Ravelry before casting on).  There is something about the way the heel flap is designed that I’m still pondering.  I knit most of my socks cuff down, with a heel flap.  I usually pick up 2 extra stitches in the gusset to avoid holes there.  With this heel flap, I didn’t have to pick up any extra stitches.  I’m still not sure exactly how Anne achieved this, but I may do my next sock this way to see if I can figure it out.

The stitch pattern flows down the heel flap.  I hope it wears okay – lace isn’t the best thing to have on the back of your foot:The yarn was nice to work with.  Some sparkly yarns are rough; this one isn’t.  It’s not super soft, either, but that’s okay – I think it will wear better.  The fiber content is 63/20/14/2 superwash merino/silk/nylon/silver fibers.

This was a fun knit, and Meggan is a fun recipient to knit for.  Overall, a very satisfying project!

Pinky #1 is done

Here is the first sock of Meggan’s pair.  Isn’t it pretty?  The petal pattern on the front extends down the back of the heel, too, and the lace pattern on the side is nubbly and interesting.  It reminds me more of cables than lace, but there are no cable crossings at all – this is all lace.  Lace stitches are stretchier and more forgiving than cables, so maybe this is a good thing in a sock, especially a sock that comes up the leg as far as this one does.  There will be no chilly drafts sneaking up Meggan’s pant leg when she wears these.  Plenty of warm wooly coverage. 

Here is the back of the heel, but the perspective is kind of twisted, because I’m taking a picture of my own foot.  What must the neighbors think of my front porch contortions? And here is the side, which is my favorite part: Today is is about 43 degrees and raining, so wool socks are perfect.  The color scheme on these is a little springy, but the feel is fall fall fall.

Pinky Update

Isn’t she pretty?  This is her back, including the flap (that petal-y pattern continues down the back of the heel):The front of the sock has that same petal-y pattern on it.  And this is her side: 

I like how full of texture this sock is.  The yarn is pleasingly semi-solid, with subtle variation that keeps the knitting interesting for me but which will absolutely not compete with the stitch pattern.

I took these photos on Saturday.  Since then, I’ve turned the heel and started down the foot.

Mmmmmm…….

Introducing Pinky

I’m not quite done with the Mother Outlaw socks, but I started another pair.  This is the Merino Lace Socks pattern from Favorite Socks (Rav link).  The yarn is Stitchjones Glam Sock, a delightful blend of superwash merino/silk/nylon/silver fibers (the percentages are 63/20/14/2).  It’s pink and subtly sparkly.  The recipient is my colleague and Sock Summit registration heroine, Meggan (who could also be described as pink and subtly sparkly).

This is one girly sock!

What you see here is the 5 repeats of a 4-round rib pattern (which has some lace at the edges but also a large panel of 5x2 rib) plus 1 12-round repeat of the main pattern.  I’m showing two views because they look so different.  I really like the second photo – those lacy cable-y bits are squooshy and pleasing.  The jury is still out on the pattern below the rib part.  It’s only one repeat so I don’t think you can see if very well yet.

This is chart knitting, so it’s NOT an office sock.  I’ll have to start another one soon.  Perhaps a pair for my favorite 3-year-old girl…