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