Can't sleep -- coughing

Or, third times a charm. . .

This Irving Park colorway did not want to cooperate with my plans. Since I'm impatient and a bad blogger, you will have to take my word for it as there is not photographic proof. Here's what happened. . .

Attempt #1: I like the Double Woven Stitch that Marilyn used in her Crusoe Sock pattern (she calls it the Stranded Stitch), but I didn't really like the sock design. So I decided to cast on using my custom formula, but I needed an even number of stitches on each needle. The 44 stitches that she used in her pattern seemed WAY too small, so I cast on 56 on size 1's. Still seemed small, but I'd give it a try. After knitting the ribbed cuff and about 8 rows in the Double Woven Stitch I knew it was going to be too small. Rrrrrrriiip!

Attempt #2: Okay, I'm thinking that 64 stitches is going to be too big, so I decided to go up to US2 needles and stick with the same plan. Everything was going smoothly through the ribbing, then I hit the "body" of the sock. After four rows I noticed some pooling. What the heck, I thought, let's keep going. Maybe it's just a fluke. About six more rows and I knew that it was a lost cause. The two colors that didn't look good next to each other were staying together and the least intense color was pooling into a nasty greyish-purple patch. Ugh!

Attempt #3: Time to do some research. I knit these socks using Lorna's Laces on size US2's, casting on 60 stitches and I always felt that they were too loose. And I also made these socks using Lorna's Laces for Pete. These were knit on US1's casting on 72 stitches, but the entire leg portion was knit in 2 X 2 ribbing. I figured that a happy medium would be socks knit on size 1's with 64 stitches around. Voila! No pooling so far. And the fabric is nicer on the US 1's in my opinion. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I ditched the Double Woven Stitch. Guess these socks just want to be plain Jane.)

Since I'm up so early, maybe I'll go knit a few rows.

Comments

[Steph]

Plain jane socks are good--that colour will make a statement all on it's own.

[Tracy]

I still can't work the Crusoes out. I want to do them, but as I'm only on my fifth pair ever, feel I need to get a few more under my belt before attempting something that alot of people seem to be having trouble with.....and they look so nice in Knitty too!

[Donna]

I'm a loose knitter at the best of times, but when I knit socks on US2's they always seem too loose to me. I use US0's - 18 months ago I would never have picked up needles so small :)

[Jane]

I think that Lorna's Laces is a bit thinner than other sock yarns. I've been using a 1.5 and 60 sts for most of my socks, but had to go down to a 1 when using the LL. I, too, think that makes a very nice fabric.

[Heather]

But it's such a lovely colourway you'd forgive it anything really, wouldn't you ?