Pattern: Vorticity Socks by Alice Yu
Yarn: Twisted Top Cat by Wandering Cat Yarns in "Tidal"
Needle Size: US 1 (2.25 mm) and US 0 (2mm)
Modifications: Based on project notes from other Ravelers mentioning how large these knit up, I shifted down one needle size for the leg to the bottom of the heel flap and then shifted down another size smaller for the foot. Also, I added some length the heel flaps.
Comments: As I knit the first sock and watched the yarn get eaten up, I knew it was going to be close. And after finishing the first sock, the kitchen scale confirmed - 52 grams for the first sock and 52 grams left for the second sock. By the time I turned the heel of the second sock I was convinced that I was going to be ripping out the toe and the last repeat on the first sock to salvage some yarn. Knitting faster and faster - because knitting faster uses less yarn, right? - I managed to squeak out that second sock with just a few inches of yarn to spare. It's there on the ground in the picture. Hurray!This is my first time knitting with Twisted Top Cat. It's an MCN sock yarn but with more twist than their usual MCN base. The extra twist leads to lovely stitch definition and it's also likely to make these socks more hard wearing, but it does take away from the softness of the cashmere. Still gorgeous yarn, though.
The pattern is my favourite so far from all the socks I've knit from Alice Yu's book Socktopus. It looks really complicated, but it's actually pretty easy once you sort out the first repeat with its changing stitch counts from round to round and shifting beginnings of rounds. I finished it yesterday morning - well in time for the Socktopus KAL prize deadline and just in the nick of time for the Wandering Cat Back-to-Socks KAL prize deadline. If I'd had to rip back on sock one, I probably wouldn't have made it in time for the latter.
Happy Friday one and all. It's a wet and windy Friday here, so surf's up on the Lakes! That's where you'll find Gavin today, I'm sure. It's also Finished Object Friday over at Tami's Amis, so make sure to take a few minutes to have a look there!
18 comments:
Beautiful socks, somewhat chic to my opinion. Anyway, great work again!
goodness I would be really panicking with so little yarn to play with, great result though
I like the socks, and your pix really show the pattern.
Yes, knitting faster works;)
Kathleen
These are terrific! Why did it eat up so much yarn? Your toes always look tight and neat.
They look great! Perfect colour too.
I hope Gavin has a great day on the Lake. I think the wind is in the perfect direction - Hamilton Harbour was wild this morning as I went over the Skyway.
ooo I really like these, great work. I knit faster when I'm running out of yarn too, why is that?!
I would have been sweating! Inches! INCHES! That's a close call. They look great. The mods you made seem to have worked out well. The fit looks nice.
I knew you could do it :)
They look just great.
You love to live dangerously don't you! LOL Beautiful socks.
Wow! That was CLOSE!
I believe you are right about the fast knitting = less yarn usage. LOL
They look fabulous!
PHEW. Good thing you hurried through the knitting!
Love the socks, and isn't it satisfying when you make it to the end with just enough to finish. Hurray!
That's what happened to me the last time I knit my son something--a sweater! I had inches to spare too. Scary yet satisfying.
Those socks are awesome!!! Nice work.
These socks are great, I love the pattern and the colour too! Have a great week!
What gorgeous socks! Congratulations on finishing the second sock with yarn to spare :)
An after thought: I like center-pull skeins because then I throw it in a bag and hang it on the back of the chair I'm sitting on.
The yarn never runs out if I can't watch it dwindle...
;)
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