Cursed Pink Socks

[firstfrost]

I have never had a project I have felt such conflicting feelings about. On the one side, this is a very clever, well-crafted pattern. All the pattern segues (ribbing/body, body/toe, body/heel) are real segues, not just "Stop one pattern and start the new one". The calf is wider than the ankle, which means adjusting from a seven-stitch-wide pattern to a six-stitch-wide pattern, no mean trick. And there's a trick for the heel flap I've never seen before, which is totally brilliant. On the other side, the beading was a real pain - I've only beaded lace before, which is much easier. I probably should have used larger beads. The pattern uses size zero needles, which are a little fiddly for me, and also kind of fragile - I accidentally broke a needle twice and had to replace it. Between these issues, I started manufacturing reasons in my head that I didn't like the pattern (travelling stitches that have the decrease and the increase on different rows! How terrible! The K-YO-K increase sometimes leaves a hole and sometimes doesn't - well, that one is true.) and ended up not working on them for months. But I finally decided it was silly to let an inanimate object beat me in emotional combat, so I started working on them again, and then RAN OUT OF YARN AT THE SECOND TOE. Cursed, I tell you! But Ravelry is the best thing in the world, and I pinged a couple of people who had made projects with the same yarn, and one of them sent me her leftovers. It's a different dye lot with more dark bits, so the change is visible, but that just makes the socks not match, which is what shumashi likes anyway.

Comments

[desireearmfeldt]

Can I be in your queue for "recipient of random socks firstfrost decided to make with no particular recipient in mind"? :)

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Many of them are meant to be family Christmas presents, but sure. Though it's easier to say "I want *particular* socks" and then they go on the queue pre-assigned so other people can't yoink them in progress :)

This pair shumashi claimed when I was complaining bitterly about how much the socks hated me, and said she liked them. Of course, then she forgot about it when I hadn't finished them for six months...

[desireearmfeldt]

"Family christmas present" seems like it counts as "has recipient in mind." :)

Like spontaneous socialization attempts, asking for particular socks is scary, because either it involves asking about socks-already-in-progress, which likely do already have an intended recipient, or it involves creating a new to-do item for you. (Which I realize is something you want people to do sometimes, but it feels to me like an imposition.) Oh, the angst. :) :)

[shumashi.livejournal.com]

I think my line to obtain the socks was something like, "Oh those are pretty," and then she offered them to me. I suspect this would work in the future. And if they are already pledged elsewhere, she would refrain from offering them, and all politenesses will have been observed. :)

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

These were the cursed socks I hated for a while, so it might have been stronger on both sides, like "And they have beads! Nobody will want to wear them! They're weird-looking!" and you said "they're pretty, I'd wear them."

But yeah, admiring things that are not dedicated elsewhere are a good way to get them dedicated to you. :)

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

These (http://www.knittersbrewing.com/storename/knittersbrewing/ViewDept-273697.aspx) were the mad socks I was going to do next, if they look interesting.

[desireearmfeldt]

Huh, that's a wacky yet rather cool thing to represent in sock-form. :) Plus, roses!

Sure, that would be lovely. Thank you. :)

[twe.livejournal.com]

Whoa.

[kelkyag]

Nifty!

[fredrickegerman.livejournal.com]

"Sorority Party Pink"?

Clearly harrock must be made to wear socks in "Plum Wine".

Color names are silly.

[jaedian.livejournal.com]

Really pretty! Just wondering about shoes with the roses on the top of the foot as. well

[twe.livejournal.com]

So what are beaded socks like to wear? I wonder if they would be uncomfortable. Your discussion of the sock and heel construction intrigues me...

[kelkyag]

The beading there does look like a pain, but it also looks like they'd be quite nifty sans beading. Size zero needles sound crazy-making.

What makes the heel construction interesting?

[twe.livejournal.com]

Eh, I knit with size 0 pretty regularly and it's not so bad.

[remcat.livejournal.com]

Almost exactly what I was going to say! But, I was going to add -- I bought nickel 0's because I snapped my Harmony wood set. Boo hoo.

[remcat.livejournal.com]

For some reason I can't find the Rav project page for these socks -- link help please?? :) I want to check out that heel!

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twinkling-trellis-socks

(Basically, you make the "pick up" stitches while you're doing the heel flap, so you don't have to pick them up later. On normal heel flaps, they never want to come out even, and I often also get holes at the corner of the gusset, but this seems to avoid that too.)

[remcat.livejournal.com]

Hm I just did a pattern like that ... Papilionoidea? It was cool not to have to pick up stitches.

[jaedian.livejournal.com]

These are pretty. I remember you working on them. What size bead did you use? It looks ok for wear though(unless you are trying to wear them in a boot) The beads are well and truly on the outside away from the leg!