Thursday, November 8, 2007

Sox Mania

And no....I am not talking about the Boston Red Sox for once! I have actually attempted to make a sock. Yes, I have tried socks before. The question is.....have I ever finished one? Best yet....have I even got past the cuff? The answer is no. I have borrowed from the library the book Crocheted Socks by Janet Rehfeld and Mary Jane Wood. I attempted to start the cuff of a sock...and that is as far as I got. I just got frustrated because I just could not wrap my head around how to turn a heel...and what is thing called a gusset? Well....one of my favorite blogs Needles and Things is going bananas for socks. Needles loves making socks. She gets all this great sock yarn and is feverishly making socks for family members. As I scratch my head....I wonder...what is all this buzz about socks? I mean, I have seen some absolutely beautiful handmade socks online and in books. I must give this sock thing a try...and not give up after the cuff. So, the other day I was checking out some great crocheted socks on Ravelry. I came across this pattern called Snow Day socks. I actual had the the December 2006 Crochet Today that the pattern was in and also found it online. I thought they looked just darling so I decided to buy the suggested sock yarn, Moda Dea Sassy Stripes in Rugby Red, and give it the ol' college try. This is what is transforming in front of my eyes.





Now I know, I know.....it looks more like a Christmas stocking than a sock...but take a close look. I actually turned the heel...and check out the ribbed cuff...I am impressing even myself...hehehhehehhe. It is not the best yarn to work with....but I absolutely love, love, love how the striping pattern is turning out. Hmmmmm, any one know of any good sock yarn that would pattern like this?????

As to why it is coming out sooooo big....I honestly did a gauge swatch, so I don't know why. I did choose the largest size to make...but maybe I needed to go down one size. I am not done yet...but I may be finishing the toes tonight!

I have also been busy THINKING a lot about Christmas gifts that I could make. I am wondering if I should make my grandma an afghan. I think she would love to wrapped in something that I made for her. As my boys say...."love in every stitch." I bought some rainbow multi colored yarn to make a swatch for another block afghan. I know, I publicly proclaimed I would not do another afghan that needs to be put together....BUT...I may have to break my own rule. We'll see. Bernat makes a pink camouflage yarn....that may be a cool afghan..but maybe not so appropriate for my 85 year old grandma. I'll have to do some more pondering! Bye for now.

2 comments:

Jasmine's Mommy said...

I love your soxs! Great choice in the color yarn you used too! One day, I may try venturing into sox. So many projects but not enough time!
How exciting about your trip and to meet Kim Werker. (I hope I got her name right)! That must have been a fun and wonderful day!

Needles said...

Oh I am so very thrilled for you. They look wonderful. I do recall, a fair bit of ripping my first pair of socks, too. Gussets are a mind bender, but I think the way better pictures in the magasine you linked, is going to help everyone out.

Yarns with cool striping effects? I had really great luck with Trekking yarns for crochet. The earliest crochet sock pictures on my blog were Trekking. And I highly recommend the Millenweit yarns. The patterns of the Cotton Fun line that I have used, do wonderful things in crochet.

I am going to put some of the new yarn to crochet socks. I've been wondering how laceweights will work for crochet socks. I recommend using very light weight sock yarns. For instance Kroy gives you a fairly heavy knit so in crochet, its even heavier. It would not be a comfortable shoe sock in crochet bu it would make a great boot sock. Trekking XXL is very, very fine in comparison to Kroy. Makes nice socks for shoes in crochet.

The size thing is part because its crochet. Unless you use a ribbing stitch the whole way up the calf, the sock can look like its miles too large, but, you will find the fit and feel are just plain old addictive.