...and claims another victim! I re-started my Mountain Colors Mountain Goat socks and am bound and determined to finish them sooner rather than later. Last we saw, the sock looked like this:
Never mind the swirling/pooling action, forget the wild and loose cast on--look at how huge it is! I should have put something in the photo for scale but oh well. That was taken a YEAR ago, the week after we returned from our Italy trip. Now the yarn has been transformed into two tiny and almost-equal balls of gorgeous mohair-blend sock yarn. How almost-equal are they? I eyed them as I was winding and managed to get the second ball within 5 grams of the first ball. I am AWESOME.
So in honor of Socktoberfest, here are my answers to Lolly's sock-related questions, a week late:
When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? Or in a class?
I finished my first pair of socks in July of 2005. Meredith and I began the journey together with a trip to Weaving Works, where we each bought a skein of Opal Uni and a Fibertrends pattern for a basic top-down stockinette sock. The process was fiddly but much easier than I expected--I just had faith in the pattern and followed the instructions, and everything turned out fine.
What was your first pair? How have they held up over time?
The Opal Uni socks were a good first attempt, but I would make a few changes if I were to knit them again. First, a gauge swatch--I had plenty of yarn left over so I know there was enough for the swatch that should have been. The knitted fabric ended up a big loose, and the socks fall down all the time. I also wish that I'd gone with a 2x2 ribbed cuff (that's what Mer did) instead of the 1x1 rib--my 1x1 ribbing always looks messy. I would also knit the gusset a little differently--knitting into the back of the picked up gusset stitches would have eliminated the holes I got there. The socks have held up fine--I've machine-washed them many times and the yarn is still relatively soft...but the color has faded!
What would you have done differently?
Probably knit them on US1s instead of US2s--that would have made a huge difference in the knitted fabric, and make them easier to wear in shoes other than my Dansko clogs!
What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
Having only knit a few socks and starts-of-socks, I don't know that I can accurately judge--but like I said, I'm loving that Mountain Goat business. Cascade Fixation makes an incredibly cozy sock but it wreaks havoc on my hands and wrists when I'm knitting with it--the elastic component is so weird! I love love love Knitpicks Sock Garden, but I've never knit socks with it, just my mother's Clapotis.
Do you like to crochet your socks? Or knit them on DPNs, 2 circs, or using the Magic Loop method?
I've never tried crocheting socks, and it seems like the resultant product would be very...bumpy. I've only knit socks on DPNs, and those work well enough for me. 2 circs seems like it would be more convenient--Steph, you have to show me how!
One sock method/formula that I'm really interested in learning is the EZ moccasin sock--I love the idea of being able to replace the sole when it inevitably wears out.
Which kind of heel do you prefer? Flap or short-row?
I've only done heel-flaps, but I've been reading short-row heel tutorials and it looks really cool! I also like the looks of the eye-of-partridge heel, so I'll try that one of these days.
How many pairs have you made?
Counting the Opal socks? ...One. I've knitted several individual socks, but I've been stricken with Second Sock Syndrome more than a few times! I suppose I should focus on finishing the Cascade Fixation socks before I get going on the Mountain Goat pair...so many socks, so little time!
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