Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Groundhog day


I know it isn't yet - Groundhog Day is still a couple of days away - but it feels like it now that I'm starting over on this Spey Valley sock. When I read the pattern instructions to cast on 63 stitches on size 0 needles I was hesitant. Is that enough stitches? I checked the notes from other Ravelers but only a very few noted anything about adding more stitches. Okay, I thought, let's give it a go.

Last night I was almost at the heel of the first sock but I thought it still felt small. Gavin agreed to try it on. "It's fine" he said, "fine!" as I struggled to tug the sock over his heel and ankle. "I can always put my feet on a diet", he suggested. "Besides, won't they stretch in the wash?" he added.

Ummm, nope. The pattern repeats over seven stitches. Adding one repeat is problematic because it would change the arrangement of the pattern at the heel, gusset and instep. Adding 14 more stitches for two extra repeats seems too much. Narrowing the repeat would require changing and simplifying all three of the rib patterns which doesn't appeal to me. I'm also not on board with widening the repeats since the main rib pattern is already quite wide. So today I'm trying the pattern as written on larger needles. Within just a few rows I should know whether I'm happy with looser fabric. I really, really hope so because I'm pretty much out of ideas otherwise.

Deep breath and cast on 63 stitches on size 1 needles ...

6 comments:

heather said...

UGH!!! Sorry that you have to start over!! The worst!!!!

pinkundine said...

Ugh, frustrating! I hope the larger needles work out (if the fabric is too lose, do you have a heavier sock yarn you can try on the larger needles? that's about the only other thing I can think of!)

Anonymous said...

I hate when that happens. :::Frown:::

Hope the second time is the charm.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

That's frustrating - at least Wollmeise frogs well!

One pair of Hands said...

Oh dear! What a blow. Let's hope the larger needles will do the trick. Had a giggle re Gavin's input. Men can be so helpful can't they? :)

Pearlin J said...

I hate it when that happens! best wishes for second attempt :)