In addition to the mittens I posted about yesterday, I also knit a pair of socks recently, as a Christmas gift for my dad. I was so good about knitting gifts from
stash this year, I'm quite proud of myself. (It wasn't that hard, since I only knit two gifts.) These were knit out of some yarn
that I knit into an ill-fitting pair of socks several years ago. How silly am
I that I knit the first sock, tried it on with difficultly, because it
was done in a cable pattern with these weird wrapped stitches that
caused it to only go over my heel if I tugged and tugged, and then went
ahead and knit the second sock anyway?? But I did. They actually fit fine once they were on my feet, but I decided I was not interested in battling with my socks to get them onto my feet, and so I threw them in the sock yarn bin to recycle
someday. And then I actually did! Eventually. Isn't it amazing when "someday" actually comes around?
I started to believe the yarn was cursed, because I started these many times before finally getting them right. First I was going to knit Ann Budd's Mock Wave Cable socks from Favorite Socks, but knitting the large size, they were coming out ginormous, even though I was using much smaller needles than the pattern calls for. And the small size was going to be too small. I tried various ways of adjusting the size, but wasn't satisfied with any of them. Then I mucked about with some improvised patterns, but none of them panned out either.
Finally I settled on Thuja, which I think is a perfect Dad sock pattern. Interesting enough, but still quite understated for conservative Dad taste, and super easy to work. Since I was using fingering weight yarn rather than the DK called for in the pattern, I knit the sock on 64 stitches and adjusted the heel & toe accordingly.
Dad reports that he likes them very much. I actually had never knitted him socks before. But before you start pitying my dad, keep in mind that he owns two whole sweaters that I knit for him, and one of them is Henry VIII. And a cashmere hat. (Do I sound defensive? I feel defensive. I guess I'd better knit more socks for Dad.)
Great socks. I say, Knit what you like, like what you knit.
Posted by: Teresa C | January 02, 2008 at 07:59 PM
They look great!
Posted by: Kat with a K | January 02, 2008 at 08:31 PM