Sunday, December 29, 2013

Year of Projects 3: Mince Pie Mayhem 02


SOCKTOPUS: Totally Vanilla • Kandahar • V Junkie • Kwalia • Farmer McGregor • Shur'tugal • 2luvcrew • Vorticity • Rumpled! • Crowley • Om Shanti • Mince Pie Mayhem • Hundred Acre Wood • De Stijl • Fiori di Zucca • Caretta Caretta • Spring Shoots

These socks are something special ... and not just because they are a gift for a friend who turns 60 today! Even Gavin is impressed by the pattern of these socks; he shows them to whoever visits.

They really are quite something. The construction, with the heel expansion area, is really neat and interesting. The toe as written is a star toe. Because I'm participating in a KAL I've knit the toes as written, but shortly after photographing and logging the finished socks on Ravelry, I ripped out the toes and reknit them as wedge toes. Much more comfortable not having lines of decreases beneath your toes!

The yarn is Alley Cat Sock in a colourway called "Big Red Barn" and I think it's perfect for this sock. It's subtle tonal variegation doesn't detract from the pattern. It's a lighter weight, tighter twist fingering than Top Cat MCN, but with the density of this fabric, lighter is definitely better. I was worried about 80 sts on 2.25mm needles, but I needn't have worried - it's a nice snug fit.

The next sock on the KAL list is Fiori de Zucca. It's not a sock I'm immediately attracted to ... well, until I read the project notes of several Ravelers who remarked that about how pretty they are. I've got some honey coloured MCN sock yarn that strikes me as perfect for these socks, so I'll cast those on next week. Happy New Year!

14 comments:

Marie/Underground Crafter said...

These are striking. What a wonderful birthday gift!

Anonymous said...

Those red socks are a perfect way to end the Christmas season and I'm sure the recipient will LOVE them. They are gorgeous!

Happy New Year --- wishing you lots of knitting time in 2014.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

The turned out beautiful- perfect yarn choice I think!

Stefanie said...

Kick butt texture.

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

You just amaze me....and the yarn is gorgeous....

Unknown said...

These are LOVELY socks!!

Anonymous said...

These have to be some of the nicest socks you've knitted this year so far I think. Not only do I love the colour but the textured pattern of them is wonderful

Unknown said...

Very pretty. Love the color.

Ylva said...

They really are eye catching! You should be proud :)

cleancup said...

Really fantastic! Your socks make me want to pull my copy of the book off the shelf...

Alittlebitsheepish said...

These look lovely, gorgeous colour too

Kim said...

Oh how I love the color of that yarn!
Happy New Year!
xoxoxo

katie metzroth said...

These look great and I'm very impressed with your stashdown efforts!

Amy said...

PLEASE HELP!!!
I am working on the Mince Pie Mayhem pattern from the book Socktopus. I followed the pattern instruction all the way to the "Heel set-up" part but unfortunately I could not continue because I can't understand the instruction. The Heel set-up starts on round 1 (RS) and round 2(WS). The Heel Expansion starts with round 3, is this round start with RS or WS? I am so confuse. If anyone here can help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it.