I have been making these socks
forever—or at least all summer. I have stopped, and knit another
pair of socks, and then gone back to them. I am bored with them. The
idea is to knit a flower sock—specifically, a black eyed suzy's (rudbeckias) I like the idea, I dyed the yarn, I created a stitch
pattern to work them in, and now, I can barely stand to knit them.
I get a scant round or 2 done each week on the bus—a kind of forced
knitting. I'm almost to the point of knitting the flowers for the
top. There is the row of “bobble' buds, shown, (more to come on back of
sock) and next, semi opened buds... and then finally flowers.
The thought of picking them up drove me
to start a new project (the Mint Pi)--which is also on hold. I am
now at 256 stitches—and I KNOW the pattern I want to work next . I
just have to find the stitch dictionary that has it—and say a
prayer that it has a stitch count that works. Actually, I have
several stitches I want to incorporate, and it's just a matter of
finding one that has the right stitch count for a repeat. There are
many option, factors in 256 include, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and
others.--and many stitch dictionaries on my shelves to search
through.
So—to avoid working on the dredded flower socks, I
started another pair. These are for my totally knit-worthy SIL—who
like wool socks, and spends $$ to buy them. He and my DD have
already gone camping with my darling gran's (who will also have wool
socks or legging next year—they near wore their sweaters out in a
4 day camping weekend this year!)-- and come this winter he will once
again head north and spend a long weekend hunting...(and hopefully
come home again with meat).
Any one who is stomping round in woods
in November needs wool socks. Even though this could pass for dress
sock, (and be at home in an office in the downtown financial
district)--they will also work for warmth inside outdoor boots.
This pair is plain jane—I know his
foot size, but knitting socks with out fitting socks is always a bit
risky—so I opted for ribbing.
Since Thursday night? Cast (again
and again—I really have trouble counting after the sun sets!) and
started with 1.75 inches of 1 X 1 ribbing. Now I have changed to 3 X
1, and knit another 2+ inches. The plan is for about 9 inches of
leg. I am a few rows away from the half way point of the leg at 4.5
inches. Followed by a 3 inch heel flap, for a total of 12 inches for
the leg length. The foot will be almost equal length. (or close, I
have to check and see how big a foot is needed for a men's size 12
shoe) It's some nice progress—especially when you consider, these
are large men's socks (72 stitches cast on, not the more usual 60).
These Oh, so plain socks in a grey marl
are so much more fun to knit. I LIKE the IDEA of richly patterned
socks, with interesting details... but I really don't like knitting
them. The few pairs I have knit? I rarely wear. I like plain
socks. Or simple self striping patterns or even socks with beaded
elements. I even enjoy socks worked in stranded color work .
Though I confess, I rarely do a whole sock in stranded color work..I
love how they look, but they don't fit into most of my shoes, and so
they rarely get worn! Still I have a number of pairs with fancy tops
and toes. And I like these ribbed socks, since I am vain—and I
love my neat columns of ribs. Sometimes it's the plainest of features
that best showcase a knitters skill.
I'll see how the plain jane ribbed sock
fit my SIL , and then maybe plan another pair—goodness knows, I
have more than enough socks for me! (and I still want to knit
socks)—and sometime before the end of world, I will finish my
rudbeckia socks.
But I think the Mint Pi might be
finished first!
