Sunday, January 13, 2013

Year of Projects 2: Child's French Sock



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)

Last week I finished my second Ringwood sock in time for a Finished Object Friday post. I'm so pleased with them, and they're mine, all mine. The pattern works well with the very busy variegated yarn and the cobalt blue bits are awesome. It's a very simple and effective pattern that I would consider knitting again.

Friday I cast on for a Child's French Sock pattern. Like many of the patterns in this book, the original vintage 1898 pattern was written at a toddler's size using much smaller needles and thinner yarn than typically used nowadays. Designer Nancy Bush has updated the pattern to work at an adult size with modern sock yarn on size 1 (2.5 mm) needles. I've adjusted the pattern a little more by adding six stitches to knit with size 0 (2.0 mm) needles. At my new size the sock is a bit snug on me but should be perfect for the intended recipient who has much smaller feet. If I knit them again, I'd better add another six stitches if I want to fit someone with larger feet like mine.

The construction of the sock is quite interesting in so far as there are three repeats of the chart around the leg - one repeat of the shell pattern will centre on the front of the leg and travel down the foot, the other two will terminate towards the back of the leg at the heel. Looking at other Raveler's projects there are instances where the knitter has continued the shell patterns down the heel, but I don't think I will. It looks nice but the shell pattern is bumpy and lumpy - not what I'd want against the heel of my shoe.

It's pouring rain here today - if it weren't for the record setting high temperatures around these parts it'd be a snowstorm - so it's a good day to hang around the house, do chores and knit. I'm not complaining ;)

15 comments:

Wanderingcatstudio said...

The sock looks great.

I wasn't sleeping well so I heard the rain all night.... it's an inside chore day for me too!

Unknown said...

Great looking sock and I think its a good call on your part not to continue the shell down round the heel, I can't see how that would be comfy when wearing. Thank you so much for the info on sock yarns, that is just the sort I was lookng for. I knew about not using cotton but not about alpaca and cashmere and I most certainly want my socks to wear well and long.

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

Love the color of those socks.....I think it is so cool that those old patterns have been updated and are still being used....

Kate said...

I love the colour, I love the pattern and I especially love your stitch markers! Beautiful.

* said...

Love the ringwwod socks, they finished beautifully, I like the length of them too.

Love the new sock too, the colour is so rich. I can't imagine what it would be like to make socks on very tiny needles and very thin yarn.

Have a great week.x

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

Very lovely socks but it looks a bit complicated for my level but a girl can hope that someday I'll be at that level. I too love the color!

Marie/Underground Crafter said...

I think you're wise not to continue the pattern onto the heel. It's lovely, though!

Monica said...

Yay for your ringwood socks; I think they are "happy" socks. Or at least, they will make you smile as you wear them. Enjoy the warmer weather.

Unknown said...

Lovely pattern. Our weather this season: 12 inches of snow Christmas night, lingering cold temps, until this week when we had temps in the 60's and then yesterday a tornado warning, and then thunder storm over night. But that is really par for the course for our area. We had a tornado on Nov 6th several years ago. I am not sure which I would prefer, the rain we have had for 4 days straight, or the snow it would have produced!

Anonymous said...

That is beautiful. The yarn and the sock pattern play very well together!

Elisabeth Andree said...

Your work looks very beautiful again and complicated! I love the pattern and the colour.

WildflowerWool said...

Great stitch pattern. Happy sock knitting!

Handmade by Stefanie said...

Those socks are off to a great start! Such a pretty color of green. I love Nancy Bush's patterns!

Emma (GirlAnachronismE) said...

Those socks are beautiful, I love the vintage pattern!

Stefanie said...

This deep teal/greenish-blue is so awesome. I like the st details!
Glad you kept the Ringwood socks for yourself.