Sunday, January 29, 2017

Year of Projects 6: Week 31

Just a quick post because I've got to hit the road in less than 15 minutes.

First things first. My Vallisneria socks are done. They are gorgeous but here's a word of caution. I added two full repeats to bring the stitch count to 80 but the socks are still very small - maybe a ladies size 5? And the finished pair weighs 92 grams, so it's very very yarn hungry. As noted in a previous post I made a number of modifications to the pattern, all intended to make the sock more flexible and improve the ease however the finished sock is still small and snug. Hmmm.

If I make these again for myself I'd better have a lot of yardage available!! But that's not a problem today as the yarn was donated for charity use, so this finished pair is headed for The Warm Hands Network. There are lots of cold feet in Nunavut so they'll find a good home. And it should also be noted that by finishing yesterday I just squeaked in under the deadline to finish for the January KAL in the Solid Sock Group on Ravelry.

Meanwhile I'm also progressing with the Sneak Peak of the Swirling Ribbon socks. The more I knit, the less I like the socks. It's those dratted holes. I generally don't like yarn overs and eyelets in socks and these are no exception. Also, although the pattern is interesting and dramatic, the knitted fabric is not flat so I'm not terribly happy with the fit. They are a bit baggy in spots and pulled too tight in others. Oh dear. I'll finish sock one to meet my commitment to the designer but then I think I'll frog and knit something else with this yarn.

Just another reminder as to why I shouldn't sign up for mystery pattern KALs.

The past week was a mess. Our cat suddenly developed acute pancreatitis and immediately stopped eating and drinking. We rushed her to the vet where they did bloodwork, an ultrasound, injected antibiotics to curb her fever, injected fluids to reverse her dehydration and then sent her home with us with instructions to force feed her Urgent Care diet with a syringe every two hours, as well as narcotics for pain and another drug to stimulate her appetite. What ensued was a few sleepless days of cat torture and uncertainty. Fortunately yesterday afternoon she recovered quite miraculously and started eating on her own. Today she seems "right as rain". Now I just need to catch up on my sleep!

Happy knitting!



10 comments:

Frieda said...

Oh Lynn , the Vallisneria socks are beautiful , someone in Nunavut will be very happy . I hear you about the yarn overs and eyelets . I tend to stay away from overly lacy patterns , I want my socks to be warm and not have air conditioning built in , lol . Still the yarn that you are using is super nice , wonderful rich colours .

Happy to hear that the cat is doing much better , things can happen so quickly . Hope that she continues to recover . Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Oh! That does not sound like fun for you or kitty. I'm glad she is doing better.

Your socks LOOK beautiful, but you are right .....if the knitting is not fun and you don't like the result ...........well it's gotta go!

That's why I've signed off of KALs for the most part too.

That yarn WILL look great in another pattern. As for the smallish socks....you could do the calf side as a 6 x 2 rib and pattern on the front. It would give the sock a bit more stretch and reduce the wool piggery.

Anonymous said...

It's interesting how the first pair knitted up, ran small but ate up a lot of yarn. I love that green though; it's awesome. The test knit is funky and cool. Safe travels to you.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

Too bad about the socks ... the yarn colour is cool!

And you scared me with that kitty story! I'm glad it had a happy ending!

Breathing Life said...

thankyou for the helpful info on that sock pattern. I am glad they will fit some cold feet somewhere. That swirl pattern is very interesting. I am glad you cat is better. My they do test us sometimes don't they. Our boy is recovering from a cat fight- his ear is quite torn up and he was off his food for a day or so too. Our fix was no where near as expensive as yours was I am certain!

Becki said...

I see what you mean about the holes in the socks (and I don't blame you for not caring for them), but those socks still look pretty amazing. The swirling pattern on the legs and the yarn seem to work together well.

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

Love the green socks and they are beautiful! I'm with you about "holey' socks....maybe the designer lives in the south. I love the yarn you were using though. The people you donate your socks to will so appreciate them....you are wonderful to do that. Have a great week!

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

Oh, got interrupted by a phone call and forgot to say how glad I am your kitty is doing better! I hope she continues! I have 2 cats and 2 dogs and so far so good but my dogs are old...14 going on 15 but so far so good except for some arthritis. The cats are both fairly young and I've never had to go through that with any cats I've had but it sounds awful for both animal and owner! Get your rest!

Lucy Bowen said...

Oh no, a worrying week for the cat, but at least she seems to have pulled through well.
The socks are gorgeous, just a pity they are so snug. The second socks look lovely, but again if they don't fit right, a disappointment.

kathy b said...

Oh dear. Cats can get so seriously sick so fast. Im so glad yours has recovered. Phew.
Thanks for the HOLE heads up on a pattern I wont be tempted by now. Your green socks are wonderful