January 11, 2007
On the heels...
I know that I said before that my favorite heel construction was the heel flap, gusset etc. I said it, there’s no denying it. But I left that baby behind last week when I finished these! The yarn is, of course, Scout’s swag, the pattern, nothing special, just a deep rib and stockinette, however, the real deal is the heel! Yep, I ventured, I risked, and baby, I WON! The afterthought heel is the one for me. Although afterthought is a bit of misnomer, is it not? I mean, I thought and thought, I even got online and looked up directions – with pictures! These heels were well thought about. Just look at that construction -- perfect. So lovely, so easy, so freakin' comfortable.
And I said that I left that heel flap behind last week when I finished these (well-thought-out) afterthought heels, but the truth is, I left those dirty rotten heel flaps behind 2 weeks ago when while innocently treadling along on wormy the wonder wheel, I felt a sudden chill in my left heel. Yep, a blow out, in new-ish socks, the slipped sanity slip stich socks that were finished so proudly only a few months ago. Argh. I mean, I did wear them often, 2-3 times a week, trying to wear only handknit socks when I only have 4 pairs, but still…
So on the blown out heel of those came these beauties. Now I’m hooked. I’ve only got one single hank of sock yarn left in my stash, I’m partial to the hand-painted stuff, you see. One hank left. What pattern should I do? I want something noticeable different but not super hard as I’m also about to start Rogue for Project Spectrum and it’s a pay attention knit. I’m also planning on starting a folk shawl for my mom sometime soon. So, any suggestions on a cool but not too engaging sock pattern that would make a hand painted (but not striping) sock yarn shine? Tell me!
Also, if there’s anyone out there that has huge piles of sock yarn and suddenly finds themselves without needles or you know, feet, I’m open to large donations. Heh. Or of course, a trade? I’ve got handspun, I’ve got monster hats kits, and soon I’ll be posting my new junkyard scarf kit (they’ve been waiting for their photo shoot for months!) Let me know socksters!
Okay, and for those of you foodies out there -- here’s this week’s vegan menu:
Mains –
potato leek gratin
tofu loaf
smothered collards and beans
pasta with swiss chard and caramelized balsamic onions
Simmered one pot tempeh
broccoli mushroom soup
maple butternut squash
Mac n cheese casserole
Sides –
potato leek gratin leftovers
glazed turnips
boiled cabbage (not a word! I adore this stuff
various veggies
Desserts –
chocolate chip brownies
lemon coconut rice pudding
muffins, of course
Oooooh, a trade? Sockyarn for handspun??? I've got some nice stuff, Mountain colors, Knitpicks, and a bunch of others (I'm at work. The yarn is at home)
Rogue! I'll be casting on for that soon myself. I'm actually making the Rogue for me and the Eris for my sweetie...
Posted by: SparklyGirl at January 11, 2007 10:42 AMOhhhhh those are so fantastic!!! Those are the first pair I've seen!
Posted by: scout at January 11, 2007 11:04 AMWhat about the garter stitch rib? K one round, K2P2 the next. It's a nice-looking pattern that is simple enough to handle colour variations. (check out Sensational Knit Socks for a great sock book with lots of customization ideas)
Posted by: Poppins at January 11, 2007 02:21 PMYou can have my Regia!!!!! I bought 2 skeins of it in a variegated blues and started a sock. I started toe up and after turning the heel, I realized that I can't stand the way it is pooling. So to the frog pile it goes along with the unused skein. I am sure that I can find a few others to trade.
Posted by: Mia at January 11, 2007 02:57 PMHi, Jacey--
I would love to send you some sock yarn. What colors do you like? I will not live long enough to knit all the sock yarn that is in my closet:)
Best wishes,
Kathleen
I just can't get past the sentence where you say you only have one hank of sock yarn left. I don't have *that* significant of a stash, and I have endless sock yarn!
How can it BE?
Posted by: Jennie at January 12, 2007 01:32 AMOooh, Jaywalker (Magknits) is great for handpaints, but beware, it runs tight - I got halfway through the heel, went to try it on, and had to frog because there was NO way it was getting on my foot. Monkey from the newest knitty is awesome. I'm working on the second sock in Socks that Rock in Chapman Springs, and the pattern really shows off the handpainted yarn nicely!
Posted by: Amanda at January 12, 2007 08:53 AMI'm new to your place, cool stuff. I have sock yarn as well. I knit my first socks in September and got really over-zealous ordering yarn on line. I live in Montana, very few yarn stores...even fewer stores that carry sock yarn. So I ordered Lorna's Lace sock yarn (um...quite a bit), and other stuff that is really cool. If you are interested, I'll send details. And I so love hand spun. Trade is my only way of shopping for non-essentials this year, so right on!
Best to you!
Montana Zanna (it's 34 below zero here...I'm working on Fuzzy Feet today)
Posted by: Zanna at January 13, 2007 07:40 PMDon't forget that you can cut out blown-out heels, pick out part of a round to create live stitches, and knit an afterthought heel into existing socks. No need to toss the Slipped Sanity socks!
Posted by: Sue at January 14, 2007 04:21 PMGood lord, do I have sock yarn.
How much do you want and to where should I send it? Any colors or styles? (Chances are, if it exists, i have it or something similar or can dye you some on the spot.)
Posted by: miss violet at January 16, 2007 02:10 AMLOVE those new socks! I must try that afterthought heel now. I've wanted to try it before, but you've inspired me. They look GREAT!
Posted by: Gina House at January 17, 2007 11:27 AM