Sunday, March 10, 2013

Year of Projects 2: Lozenge Socks 2


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)

Seems like this pair of Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern is knitting itself. That's one thing about knitting most of the sock on needles larger than size 0 - the work progresses very quickly. After all my mods - abbreviating the cuff pattern, omitting one cuff repeat and shortening the leg - my first finished sock weighed in at 47 grams. Phew! I'll make it with just one skein of yarn with a little bit to spare. Many Ravelers faced with the same concern shortened the cuff even further, but I'm glad I didn't. The cuff is the stretchiest part of this pattern so it needs all the cuff it can get to avoid being slouchy. And besides, I'm finding that wide rib broken up with purl rounds really attractive ... a nice contrast to the diagonals in the leg pattern!

A friend recommended that old HBO Series Deadwood, so we rented the first season yesterday on a seven day rental. Seven disks, seven days, seven dollars; that's a pretty good deal.Three episodes later and we're hooked! Fortunately this sock pattern is perfect TV knitting. In each round the pattern travels one stitch outward or inward until the diagonals cross - no reading of charts required. And now that the gusset decreases are completed on the second sock I barely need to pay attention at all. My guess is that the second sock will be finished at some point during episode six later tonight.

What's next for my Year of Projects? Maybe I'll try the Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted pattern in sock yarn scraps. Looks like the stitch pattern is strong enough and simple enough to withstand some colour variation. We'll see after an inch or two, but you never know until you try!


13 comments:

Gracey is not my name.... said...

I LOVE these! I love the color and the patterns..hey do you read Franklin Habit's blog? You might be interested in the latest one..
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2013/03/here-is-some-pretty-for-you.html

He gave a class and someone brought in some 19th century lace stockings...so pretty!

kate said...

They are gorgeous! Quite obviously charmed socks too, weighing in at 47g. You have to love it when that happens. I agree, don't make the cuff too short :)

Unknown said...

Your socks always blow me away! I love them. I really like the color on this pair

Wanderingcatstudio said...

They look great - that stitch pattern may just end up in my next design!

Caffeine Girl said...

These would not be TV knitting for me. I would need to concentrate to keep that pattern going.

Unknown said...

Really great looking socks, I can't believe how well you've done this week on them. I to love the contrast of the rib and the diagonals and that purl row in the rib really adds an extra bit of interest. I like the next pair of socks that you have lined up also!

Elisabeth Andree said...

The socks and the stitch pattern are beautiful, the color of the yarn is entirely to my taste!

Frieda said...

I just love these socks , the colour is beautiful , very spring like ! I have to check out this book because all the socks that you've knitted from it so far are gorgeous .

WildflowerWool said...

So close to being finished!

Angela at Knit Luck said...

You keep choosing such pretty colors for your socks!

Unknown said...

I LOVE DEADWOOD! OMFG..the language! I was so mad when it ended, but I fell in love with Timothy Oliphant..been watching him ever since... I wouldn't be able to knit while watching..too much to look at!

DeliaKnits said...

All your socks are so beautiful! I am so jealous!

Emma (GirlAnachronismE) said...

They're looking great, and I agree with you, the cuff is lovely, it would be a shame to shorten it