the blue blog archives: this sock sucks

Correction, I hated this sock. I dealt with the pooling. I dealt with the unmatched short rows on the heel. But the foot was coming out way too big. It wouldn't fit and it just looked silly. So I ripped it at Knitsmiths yesterday.

I ripped back to the beginning of the heel so I can re-do it correctly (with the ssp's as slip, slip, purl through the back loop - thanks Melanie!) and I'm going to deal with the size issue by continuing the ribbing over the instep and down the top of the foot (like Michelle does in her favorite pattern). If it doesn't work out this time, it might really have to be red sox for everyone this year.

posted by alison at 9:46 am | in sock block

Comments

I hope you are at least keeping the socks after you are done knitting them. ;) Once you work out all the kinks you'll know exactly what you like in a sock and won't have so much trouble next time. :)

Posted by: ~Jo~ at November 22, 2004 10:26 AM

Ah, the joys of sock knitting...which is not my favorite knitting! Give me mittens any day.
Hope you get the problems worked out and you end up with the perfect pair of socks. ;)
p.s. I haven't seen Knitty Gritty, but I liked your "knit bit." lol

Posted by: Katy at November 22, 2004 10:51 AM

ew, well, that sock would have been good for the "larger footed!" :)
Sending good feet vibes for you.
YOU can do it!
:)

Posted by: sandy at November 22, 2004 12:02 PM

Keep trying Alison! Sock knitting is my sanity.

Posted by: Cindy at November 22, 2004 1:43 PM

Just wanted to say that I've been reading your blog pretty religiously for a couple of months now and it never fails to delight, entertain, and inspire me. Good luck with the sock!

Posted by: Farrah at November 22, 2004 4:09 PM

Alison, sorry to hear that the sock is not working out for you. You inspired me to want to try out this pattern and thanks for your mileage, now I know where to watch out when I knit these socks.

Posted by: Siow Chin at November 22, 2004 8:27 PM

Hee hee. I always appreciate it when you share your frustrations. You're an excallent knitter and I think it's nice for the beginners out there to see that we all make mistakes. You can beat this sock (and that darned pooling scarf!). The sock curses have been lifted this year, right?

Posted by: Julia at November 22, 2004 9:17 PM

Hi, i read your logs with great interest. Love your knitting work and the weasley sweaters.
Greatings from a dutch knitting mama

Ada
Holland

Posted by: ada at November 23, 2004 7:20 AM

I feel for you! I just did the same thing...I knit the entire foot of a sock and only then did I notice that I had dropped a stitch somewhere around the instep and had a nice run going, so I riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipppppppped all the way back. *sigh* Socks just aren't my thing. Good luck with yours :)

Posted by: Amy at November 23, 2004 9:25 AM

I am a beginning knitter, third time re-born. I have returned after 15yr hiatus. I just learned how to knit socks using the Yankee Knitter 'Classic Socks for the Family'. Try it. It is straight forward, and has instructions for baby, children, women's and men's sizes in all wieghts. I tried some ohter patterns and I keep going back to this one.

Posted by: Donna at November 23, 2004 10:59 AM

Thanks everyone for your positive thoughts. I'm hanging in there!

Yes, Donna, that's one of my favorite basic sock patterns! I always recommend it to my sock class students. I'm trying to get away from the heel flap myself, but have yet to find a short-row heel pattern I like. I'm hoping that PGR's "dream socks" will end up being my go-to short-row pattern, like the Yankee Knitter pattern is for heel flaps. Fingers crossed!

Posted by: alison at November 23, 2004 11:07 AM