Fait accompli

The sock is done. It sorta fits. At least the important part fits: the foot. That means the pattern is finally right. I didn’t, however, compensate enough for the twisted ribbing and the leg is more than a bit snug. It fits the sock blocker and since there never will be another one, that is good enough for me. Next step is to swatch for a pair using our standard handpainted Oxford II sock yarn and US size 1 needles. This pair will incorporate the lace pattern that I really wanted to do in the first place. I’ll keep you posted.

The class that all this sock discovery was for happened last Saturday. I had a dozen ladies tackle the techniques and terminology of the New Pathways book and then they spent the afternoon knitting the Baby Coriolis sock. It was a good class and everybody left exhausted! Amazing how tiring brain-work can be. I’ll be adding a class yet this spring to knit a full-sized sock from this book. Both classes will run again in the fall. It’s just too much fun - watch our newsletter and be sure to sign up!

If you didn’t catch it in our weekly newsletter, I have exciting news to share about Knit Michigan. It is official: this year we will be able to donate over $30,000 to Michigan cancer organizations as a result of our work. Visit www.knitmichigan.com to read more (okay - better wait until the end of March to visit - I don’t have the site updated yet!).

Life in America

Sometimes pictures speak a thousand words. That’s Daryl Lancaster (www.weaversew.com), Mark my husband, and Mariah our 15 year-old - enjoying post dinner conversation! At least, in our defense, we did have a nice dinner together.

This little computer soiree ends up a weekend of classes for Daryl at the shop. Friday night we learned how to “warp faster.” I now better understand how to use a warping paddle - a very cool, underused tool. I know - until this weekend I had only sold one or two in all my years in business. I can’t wait to try it on a project I’ve got in mind and get warping faster. On Saturday and Sunday she taught her Garment Construction class. Folks came from as far away as Sault St. Marie, Ontario, and Antrim and Charlevoix counties up north.

  

I only got to peek in for one lecture about sizing patterns, but just that brief exposure had me thinking of getting out the sewing machine and playing around. I sewed for years - made many of my own clothes in high school, sewed for the kids, but haven’t really done much in years. So much to do, just too few hours in a day! Those that were able to enjoy the class all the way through learned about seams, buttonholes, trims and so much more. They were all inspired and tired! The photo on the left above is Daryl telling how to find the fit (close, loose, very loose, etc.) on the back of the pattern. On the right is a row of students getting tired at the end of the first day!

The Continuing Sock Saga

I feel like people who don’t “get” knitting are screaming at me “get a life!” I have spent so much time knitting, ripping, starting over and just plain trying to understand this particular sock construction. Some people have crossword puzzles, I apparently have this sock puzzle.

This week’s problem (that’s the “sock” on the right) arose in how long to knit before turning the heel. First time out the shoot, I did two things wrong. First, I used a gauge obtained on double point needles and knit using circular needles and, secondly, I followed the pictures and not the words in the pattern book. I swear that Cat Bordhi knit more than two inches before beginning the instep increases based on the photos, so that’s what I did. Both mistakes doomed me to a huge piece of knitting that won’t fit anybody. Did I mention there was a third mistake? I used a very pretty lace pattern on dark, multi colored yarn. I thought you’d be able to see the pattern, but you can’t.

So, where am I now. Following the pattern’s words. Doing a cable instead of lace. Using a gauge obtained by knitting on circs. What’s the next problem? I decided that the two inches was measured from the end of the toe. Nope. Wrong guess. It is measured after the toe is worked. So, now my sock is too short. Tough! I added an inch and continued on. I just couldn’t bear to tear out again. Now that I’m past the heel turn, I tried them on and they fit just fine. In defense of the book, I think the words really reflect a traditional decreased toe and I am using the garter stitch toe because I think it will fit my foot better.

The upside? I’m close to having a pattern that will work for me. I’m almost there. The next sock post will have a photo of the finished product on my foot. Promise!