May 31, 2004

Almost!

So I got a full pattern rep done tonight on Waving Lace Sock # 2. Granted, it's the foot part, so half of it was simple stockinette. But it also only took two hours (20 rows over 64 sts on 4 needles) so I'm pretty darn proud of myself. Considering that when I first started the sock, it took over three hours to get through a rep, and now the thing which takes the most time is simply going from one needle to the next.

When I was in Austin, I picked up a copy of "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" and I'll be trying that method for my next pair of socks, which will either be in Bearfoot Bitteroot Rainbow, or one of the two lovely shades of Lorna's Laces that Rob sent me a couple months ago. We have Blackwatch and Mother Lode (remember?) on deck. Although I have three other major active projects (and I'm supposed to finish the blue cable sweater by October 15 since it's for a colleague who will have his birthday then) on deck and another sock in progress somewhere in the apartment (I know exactly where it is, I just am not sure I want to pick it up right now, what with those pesky flimsy bamboo DPNs), so votes on which of the three as yet unknit sock yarns are welcomed.

I'm also contemplating a small contest. Perhaps the person who most accurately predicts which the next 5 FO's will be -- in proper order, will receive a present from the Land of Colinette when I go in August. I'll give you a clue to start you off. I'm 95% sure that the next FO will be the Waving Lace Socks.

Is this a good contest? Should I make it official? I've never had a contest before, so I need advice. Lots and lots of advice.

Posted by Jon at May 31, 2004 02:37 AM
Comments

I'm not gonna get involved in the contest -- I'll let others win the Colinette --

But I will say it's in my mind that, though I'm not going to Wales, if I see Colinette in East Anglia at a good price I may stuff the suitcase.

You're going in August?

Looking forward to hearing about the haul.

Posted by: Anne at May 31, 2004 09:00 AM

The two circs method is quite good. One caveat I found on the Bordi book - I think she makes it more complicated than it needs to be. She does something where she has the sock on the needles, front on one, back on the other, then after the heel she has you shift it around so it's in profile, and then shift it back for the toes. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. When I do socks on two circulars, which is how I do most of my socks, I leave the back of the leg/heel/sole of the foot stitches on one circ, and the front of the leg/instep stitches on the other circ, and they STAY that way. Then your gusset decreases and toe decreases are always at the ends of the needles, and it flows smoothly.

Most people swear by the Addi turbos. I like those, but I do like slightly sharper points, theirs are a bit blunter than I like, so I have a preference for the Inox Express.

Posted by: Laura Gallagher at May 31, 2004 11:05 AM

Good points, Laura -- literally and figuratively. I think you're totally right.

Posted by: Jon at May 31, 2004 10:40 PM