the blue blog archives: pool, man!

I decided to keep the fun, red zigzag on the front of the sock. It's hard work though! I am having to adjust my tension every couple of rows to keep the pooling in the middle and prevent it from doing the swirly pooling thing (like in Dava's sock). Fingers crossed that I can get sock #2 to do something even vaguely similar.

It seemed to me that a great way to avoid interrupting the pooling by doing a heel flap and a gusset with a different number of stitches, was simply to do short row heels and toes (a la Priscilla Gibson-Roberts) in a solid color. I found the perfect red in Gems Merino Sport at my LYS. So I kept the funky pooling red in front and then broke up the pretty blue in the back with the heel. Neat, huh?

And for those of you fully convinced that I've been abducted and brain-washed by pooling variegated sock yarn producing aliens, I am having a blast making these socks, but they're not going to be for me.

posted by alison at 9:37 am | in people who make socks...

Comments

Wish I had thought of that!

Posted by: Dava at April 25, 2005 9:51 AM

Hey Dava! I love your socks though. (Did you look at Cara's sock?? I think she has the same colorway as you.) I think with these, I'm just intrigued by the challenge of trying to contain the pooling on the front. It's working pretty well so far, but I'm real nervous about how that second sock is going to come out.

Posted by: alison at April 25, 2005 10:19 AM

check out that shazam! wow.and I stressed over a little one lol.We have made up the sock and I.I mean really how can you stay mad at L.L sport wool.I love this stuff!
btw I really think the idea of going with a solid heel was really smart,looks damn fine ;0)

Posted by: cara at April 25, 2005 10:42 AM

That is one crazy sock! Nice call on the red heel.

Posted by: Diana at April 25, 2005 10:46 AM

stroke of genius with the red heel! are you SURE you arent going to keep them for yourself? too cute!

Posted by: beth at April 25, 2005 10:57 AM

Your always thinking of a better way (e.g., the heel in knitted in red) and helping us all to think outside the box!

Posted by: leslie at April 25, 2005 11:19 AM

The contrasting heel is gorgeous. That is some beautiful yarn!

Posted by: Amy at April 25, 2005 11:20 AM

Looks like you knit them during an earthquake!

Posted by: Natalie at April 25, 2005 11:24 AM

I love it! It really looks nice. I love the idea of the red heal flap......red toes too?

Posted by: Jennifer at April 25, 2005 11:28 AM

That is why I don't use Lorna's hand painted yarn anymore. I can't stand the pooling.

The heels look super though.

Posted by: Christy at April 25, 2005 11:39 AM

Good idea on the heel! I like the socks so far. :) I was wondering how you were managing to make those socks for yourself, given your preferences! ;)

Posted by: Andrea at April 25, 2005 12:25 PM

That is the craziest pooling I've ever seen. I like the way you're going with it.

Posted by: Jessica at April 25, 2005 12:49 PM

I love love love those socks -- the heel is a stroke of genious

Posted by: Ines at April 25, 2005 1:12 PM

i LOVE the pooling! it's making for a great sock.

Posted by: heather at April 25, 2005 1:16 PM

My Lorna's Laces pooled...but only on one sock. I don't even care, now, though...they are soooooooooo luxurious.

Posted by: LeAnne at April 25, 2005 2:01 PM

The last time I saw someone knit with that colorway it actually came out argyle, it was CRAZY. Not sure how she did it though, perhaps she had super tiny or large ankles? it was on a knitting group somewhere, so I can't find the post, otherwise I'd share!

Posted by: Amber at April 25, 2005 2:58 PM

Very cool! Good luck with sock #2!!

Posted by: Vicki at April 25, 2005 3:08 PM

I would have never thought of that... *wonders if I have any yarn to try that out* Might have to run to the LYS. :)

I think they look fabulous by the way! :D

Posted by: Lisa P at April 25, 2005 4:31 PM

Your socks are awesome! They remind me of a polygraph test with all the zig-zagging. :) Good luck with #2.

Posted by: Cathy at April 25, 2005 4:50 PM

I love the way your sock is working up. I am a newbie to sock making, having only finished my first pair this past weekend, but I can already see myself becoming hooked on it.

Any suggestions on good, newbie patterns or yarns? Also, what size needle are you using on those Pooling socks?

Posted by: Anita at April 25, 2005 5:00 PM

The pooling gives an interesting effect. Have you tried Lucy Neatby's way for garter stitch short-row heels? I made a pair using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts method but have to say Lucy's way is much easier, and the seaming along the heel diagonal comes out much tighter.

I enjoy seeing what you are up to!

Posted by: Jen at April 25, 2005 6:10 PM

Love the pooling socks! Great job on the solid color heel. Just when I was getting a little bored with the self-striping yarn, along comes this cool pooling phenomenon. My sock yarn addiction will never end!

Posted by: Lisa at April 25, 2005 7:26 PM

They're so fun. I never thought of changing gauge to make something pool, duh! The short row heels were a great idea.

Posted by: Vicki at April 25, 2005 9:24 PM

They look so cool! I love the red heel.

Posted by: Nikki at April 25, 2005 9:52 PM

I love the color pooling! I think the red craziness along the top of the sock looks great, especially with the red heel :)

Posted by: parikha at April 25, 2005 10:40 PM

much better than striping! and the red heels are a nice touch.

Posted by: marti at April 25, 2005 11:58 PM

Alison it's gorgeous! I love the red heel.

Posted by: jo at April 26, 2005 12:00 AM

What an odd thing that yarn is doing! HOW very bizarre, but I like it!

Once again, you are supersmart. What a cool idea to make the heels all red. This type of thing is one of many reasons I LOVE your blog!

Posted by: Jenny at April 26, 2005 3:26 AM

That is a funky pooling pattern. Looks like an EKG to me. You could call them your Heart Attack Socks!

Posted by: Jean at April 26, 2005 6:16 PM