Sunday, January 8, 2012

Year of Projects - Whitby 02

heavily modified

Knitting on the Road: Canada • Canal du Midi • Conwy • Dalarna • Denmark • Friday Harbor • Hiiumaa • Huron Mountain • New England • The Road to Oslo • Santa Fe • Spey Valley • Christmas in Tallinn • Traveler's Stockings • Uinta Cabin • Unst • Whitby

After ripping out my first go round of this pattern I realized that I needed to modify the pattern to suit the yarn and the needles I had chosen. Typically on size 0 (2mm) needles I prefer about 70 stitches around the foot, but as written with larger needles and heavier yarn the pattern calls for 51 stitches. By adding purl stitches between the cables and the diamond pattern, and by widening the diamond pattern by two stitches I was able to make the chart across the foot 35 sts wide. That'll do.

As well the pattern is written for knitting the socks from the cuff down, but I've modified it to knit toe-up. After all, it's one of two skeins of Wollmeise that I own, so I want to make good use of every inch of it. When I was rewinding the yarn I wound the skein into two balls of exactly equal weight so I know exactly how much yarn I have for each sock as I go along. Hmm, I wonder what non-knitters use kitchen scales for?

The designer, Nancy Bush, introduces this sock pattern as based on the gansey patterns used in traditional fisherman's sweaters in Whitby which is located on England's east coast. And as I knit this sock I can't help but thinking ... yup, I'd like a sweater like this.

10 comments:

WildflowerWool said...

It looks great. You sure made a lot of mods for this pattern!

* said...

I guess I even get it being better to using toe up method when you only have two balls, you knitters are not just pretty faces eh?! Love the pattern and colour, really pretty, and you're doing a fine job by the looks in your modifications.

Anonymous said...

Those are going to be lovely!

My dh was completely perplexed when I complained that the kitchen scales weren't working, as I never cook anything requiring them.

I like your list of finished projects at the top too. Thank you for the Babette encouragement on my blog :)

Wanderingcatstudio said...

That would make a lovely sweater. I've got a skein of Wollmeise waiting to be turned into socks for my brother - but I've got a pair on the needles for Dave first, so I really should finish them.

Dorothy said...

I love it how competent knitters can be boss of their own projects and can change patterns to suit. Wish I had that talent. Your socks are looking great.

Erin Kate said...

Ooh it's beautiful! I love mirrored cables.

Kim said...

Stunning! And how talented are you to be able to make all those mods! I took a look around at your previous couple of posts and must say I like your recent dishcloths too.
*smiles*

Keri said...

They are going to be lovely. I could see that pattern making a lovely sweater.

Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtch said...

That is so lovely and yes, a matching sweater would be wonderful!

Stefanie said...

You are so clever to do all of those modifications! Great, solid, jewel-toned color that blue/teal is.