Sunday, March 17, 2013

Year of Projects 2: Fluted Socks



Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901)  Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904)  Baby's Bootikin (1905)    Little Child's Sock (1907)    Ladies Useful Stockings (1913)    Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

If you missed it, I finished Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern last week and blogged it here for a Finished Object Friday post. Lovely pattern!

No sooner were those socks off the needles when I cast on Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted pattern. My half-baked idea was to work odd rounds in dark grey and even rounds in scraps, but  I quickly realized that wouldn't work. This fluted pattern is constructed from knit and purl wedges; plain knit rounds at colour changes would entirely disrupt the pattern. Instead I settled on the idea of wide stripes, with a colour change after every three repeats of the fluted pattern.

As the word "stocking" in the pattern name implies, this is a long sock. I've worked 15 repeats for the leg and wound up with a knee sock. That's okay though, because the generous cuff, stretchy pattern and calf shaping instructions make the pattern well suited for this length. It's a really comfortable sock. And as I'm working from scraps, there's no worries about running out of yarn.

My colour choices were more muted on the leg than on the foot. Maybe I should have distributed the colours differently for a more even effect? Or maybe I should stop fretting because the brights will be inside my shoes? I'm not feeling at all inclined to rip out and re-do it, so I'll just live with it like this.

The fluted pattern continues down the back of the heel, and that's the only aspect of this pattern that gives me pause. It's on the bumpy side for my taste. If I did this pattern again I'd switch the heel to eye of partridge. But that's another day. Today I'm going to cast on sock two with the plan to match sock one exactly ... hopefully my scraps hold up for that :)

16 comments:

Unknown said...

I love the socks and I think having the bright colours on the foot a great idea, something bright and unexpected when you take your shoe off. I hope you get the second sock to match exactly.
I'm glad you like the flowers, I was hoping the last ones would get to my friend on time so I could show you all, I really hated the idea of not showing again! If truth be known those are the kind of flowers I should have as green fingered I am not! lol

cleancup said...

I think the bright colors are like a secret surprise inside your shoe.

Have I told you how much I envy your sock drawer? I do. For the record.

Stefanie said...

You are a total sock queen! Man, you're awesome!
This is such a textured pattern. Perhaps so so these gentlemen socks won't slide so easily on their legs while they wore them with boots?

Renee Anne said...

Lovely! Someday, I hope to be able to make my own knee socks but I have short, fat little legs so calf shaping is going to be a must for me :)

DeliaKnits said...

As always your socks are beautiful. I have some serious sock envy. How many pairs do you have?

Sarah ~ Crafts from the Cwtch said...

They are fabulous! I love the pattern... not sure I'd have the patience to make such long socks... ?!?

Anonymous said...

I think they look great! I wouldn't EVEN consider ripping them back.

The pattern is perfect for your color choices and would great for a man's sock too.

Unknown said...

I thought it was a finished pair. Not very observant am I. Love them, especially the knee style.

Unknown said...

HOW?! How do you do it?? Another pair of gorgeous socks at speed!

Kim said...

Your sock knitting techniques are beyond my comprehension! :) Thank you for your condolences regarding my Grandm's passing---you are correct in that I do have many happy memories of her.
*smiles*

Wanderingcatstudio said...

I think the colours look perfect the way they are!

pinkundine said...

Great pattern, and I actually love the idea of having the brighter colours on the foot ;) Loving your colour choices, they work so well together.

Michelle said...

I really like the way the colors worked. Great idea to use those extra bits of leftover yarn. These turned out wonderfully!.

Sam I Am...... said...

Those are stunning and I love the pattern. I hope someday I get that good at knitting socks...practice, practice, practice! LOL! Congrats on the Lozenge socks too! (love that name for them)

Unknown said...

wonderful splash of colors...and if the colors don't match on the 2nd sock..doesn't matter..as long as the foot contains another splash! How fun it would be to see reactions when the shows come off!

Elisabeth Andree said...

Your socks look all so heavenly pretty :)