Sunday, August 12, 2018

Year of Projects 8: Week 07


I'm having a love/hate relationship with the Venetian Blinds pattern....

I had a rocky start, first with the "Magical" cast on for toe-up socks on DPNs. It's just so fiddly. I find a Turkish cast on easier and tidier. So I tried it as written, got annoyed and ripped back to restart.

Next up were the toe increases which are written as lifted increases. Again, I found this very fiddly especially in my first few rounds with somewhat splitty yarn, so I tried it as written, got annoyed and ripped back to redo them as M1s.

On the other hand the gusset, the heel "cap" and the heel are fun as written and quite different than anything I've done before. I was also very relieved to find them all charted, because at 16 pages long the pattern is kind of tiring. The heel architecture is inspired by Cat Bordhi from her "New Pathways for Sock Knitters". I HAVE this book and haven't knit a single thing from it, so I'd better start thinking about that too.

A 16 page sock pattern?!?!? Yeah, it caters to beginners with lots of tips and tutorials but my goodness there's a lot to wade through just to get at the actual pattern. And even when you find the pattern, the instructions for different sizes are written out in separate boxes rather than standard form of indicating sizes by parentheses.  If it were up to me the instructions would be much simplified and abbreviated; the rest would be shifted into an optional "tips, tutorials and tricks" download.

Ah well, I'm more than half way through sock one, and sock two should be easy enough with sock one under my belt. Aside from the gusset and heel it's a pretty vanilla pattern which knits up pretty quickly. Seems to me that I may just be able to finish this August project within the targeted calendar month! Even better if I manage them a bit quicker, because Nain awaits!

2018 Paper Bag Project - August, September, October, November and December

      Twisted Flower Socks - using Hikoo CoBaSi yarn in Egyptian Blue
      Feny Socks - using Lang Jawoll Superwash in turquoise and chocolate
      Pattern TBD - using unknown variegated red yarn
      Diamondback Socks - using Songbird Fibers Sock in Ruby Throated Hummingbird
      Venetian Blinds Socks - using Shelridge Yarns 80/20 Merino in Mint and Linen

Full Skeins from stash

      Somewhere Socks - using Mountain Colour mini set
      Pairfect Socks - using Regia Pairfect
      Mood - using unknown variegated blue yarn
      Kazak - using unknown tonal purple yarn
      Harris Tweed Socks - using Wollemeise self-striping green/gold/red yarn

    Large (more than 50 grams) and Small (less than 50 grams) scraps from stash

          Salor - in various tan, orange and brown small scraps
          Vanilla Bean Striped Socks - in various colourful small scraps
          Squircle Socks  -  in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
          Escape Reality Socks - in various colourful scraps plus something neutral from large scraps
          Bill Huggins - in various scraps
          Mosaic Marbles socks - using Langwoll Magic Dégradé scraps with black (or white)
          Checkbox Socks - using large scraps
          Stash Buster Spiral Socks - using various scraps in green?
          Hearty Stripey Socks - using various scraps
          Double Heelix Socks - using leftovers from Feny Socks
          Nain - using large scraps of Stretch Bamboo in light blue
          Jelly Rolls - using all the leftover Stretch Bamboo in various colours

    9 comments:

    Leftycrafter said...

    I really like the instep gusset patterning on those socks they lok like they fit quite well too.

    Becki said...

    I don't know sock anatomy, but looking up some pictures, I'm thinking what I'd call the instep is what is the gusset? It's beautiful on these socks. I also love the striping you're doing. I hope you like the second one better than the first. They'll make a pretty pair of socks.

    Anonymous said...

    That heel gusset IS very interesting and very pretty.

    Ruth (the-habitual-creative) said...

    I think switching up the cast on and increases to what you like and prefer was probably a good thing. I do love the look of the gusset and heel and I like the striping you have going on, and I think when the second is done they will look very striking but 16 pages! even for a beginner sock that is a whole lot of excessive, confusing if you are searching for the pattern, and somewhat wasteful of paper if you are a print em out person.

    Breathing Life said...

    I agree with you about the fiddly cast on. I will have to look up the one you recommend. The instep looks so lovely and it seems that lately on the sock patterns I get are 10-15 pages!! Crazy to print out and wade through for sure. I love following you sock adventures.

    Lucy Bowen said...

    Love them! The gusset looks lovely and the stripes perfect.

    Zana said...

    Love the gusset on those socks and the yarn is pretty too.

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

    oooh.....I like those socks and they sound very interesting except for that beginning part. Love the colors you chose and the Nain socks are awesome! You have some beautiful socks going on there!

    Stefanie said...

    It looks really neat that heel area.