Sunday, March 25, 2012

Year of Projects - Christmas in Tallinn 02


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

As it turns out a braided cuff and a multi-row colourwork band make the leg of my first Christmas in Tallinn sock quite inflexible. Both Gavin and I really struggled to get our heels and arches into the sock. And then struggled to pull the sock off again. I've purposely made the foot of the sock small - the accountant at work is very petite and she's been asking for a pair of handknit socks for ages - but I hadn't meant to make the socks difficult to get in and out of. She works Tuesdays, so I'll ask her to try this sock on then. Depending on how that goes, there may or may not be a sock number two. Another idea I had was to knit the colourwork panel on larger needles to make the cuff bigger and less stiff. That might work.

The subtlety of the dark variegated yarn still disappoints except from very close up. Maybe a yarn that wasn't so dark would have been a better choice? The main coloured yarn is a new one to me - Sandnes Garn Sisu - and it's left me disappointed. It's very splitty. Very. And I encountered more slubs and unevenness in yarn texture than I expected. Other Ravelers comment that it's soft and hard-wearing so maybe it will redeem itself in my opinion over time.

Enough complaining; let's focus on the positive. Spring has definitely arrived around here - my tulips and lilies are up and my crocuses are blooming. All the trees and shrubs have buds. We've seen lots of robins and red-winged blackbirds at the backyard feeders. And a pair of rock doves are nesting in a wall mounted planter at our front door. So far mama dove has been serene and unflappable with all the comings and goings on our porch - hopefully that doesn't change once there are eggs and the little ones. Can't wait to see that!

12 comments:

Sandy said...

The sock looks awesome, hope it works out ok for your co-worker. Having the cuff tight can be positive, they're will be no slipping down when she wears them. Keep us posted. Enjoy the spring. We had a nice week here as well, though it's getting cold again, we can still see the beauty of spring with the flowering trees etc.

* said...

That sock looks so pretty it's a shame it's pattern isn't as workable as other ones....I do hope the lady has petite feet and they fit like a glove/sock!

Isn't it fab to see the signs of buds and flowers, it is glorious here at the moment, real outdoors weather Soweto are making the most of it.

Keri said...

The sock is beautiful. Hopefully it will fit and you be able to make a second and then some of your frustration will dissipate. It is a good idea to do the colour-work on a slightly larger needle as it does have a tendency to be really snug.
Good luck.

Sandra said...

Uau! It is pretty beautifull! I hope you can knit the other foot!!
I have problems making this kind of patterns with colors, my stitches are very tight too!
Here autumn started, the heat softened slightly :-)

Anonymous said...

Sometimes doves pick the craziest places to nest. One picked the END of a palm frond in our back yarn. Needless to say, the first storm, she lost her nest. :-( THEN, she picked the rain gutter. Another bad choice. Didn't see her after that. Hope she picked a better place.

Good luck to your little mama. Hope her brood does well.

Unknown said...

I like the sock and I hope it fits your co worker. I'm sure you will find a workable way around this obstacles in the pattern to make another perfect one.
Isn't so wonderful to see the signs of spring arrive.

Pumpkin said...

The socks look amazing! I really hope that your co-worker can wear them, it would be a huge shame if she doesn't get to enjoy such beautiful colorwork. Also, I love the sweet little bird, I'm very surprised that she is not more nervous.

Marie/Underground Crafter said...

The sock looks fabulous, so I'm sorry to hear it is so tough to get in and out of. Let's hope there is a better fit on your coworker!

WildflowerWool said...

Oh, I hope it fits!! I haven't tried that yarn. Hopefully it does wear well.

Vivian said...

I hope you get the sizing thing worked out, it's such a pretty sock!

Kim said...

I like socks that don't slip down, but I suppose if you can't even get it on, then that might be a bit of a problem! I hope it works for your co-worker as it a very unique pattern and you have invested a lot of time in it. I love the photo of your mama bird--such a pretty little thing.
*smiles and happy thoughts*

Stefanie said...

I hope you'll be able to sort everything out. What a bummer to run into those snags. It looks great though.