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 ;)