leaves of green

[starfallz]

When I first set my eyes on Interweave's Favorite Socks, I knew I must knit Embossed Leaves. So simple, yet beautifully shaped. I hunted for the right solid or semi-solid yarn... but never quite happy with what I saw. That was until I found a brilliantly, vibrantly green skein of Smooshy.



I've been longing to start these, although I had some trepidations about the pattern, which was written for 8" circumference feet (as most women's sock patterns are). I hoped and hoped I could maybe get a bit of stretch out of them.

A few nights ago, I cast on for them to get a feel for it and see... and it was just not going to happen. I didn't like the fabric from the size 2 needles called for. I tried with some 1.5s and finally size 1s and got gauge AND a density I liked, but it was none-the-less, too small for my foot.

I like knitting my own socks because they don't make regular women's socks for me, and sometimes I get tired of guy socks. But even in this, women's socks are set against me. So now, I'll mod the pattern. I'll have to mod most regular sock patterns I feel (which explains why I like formula sock patterns, really). And I swear that if I ever publish sock patterns, I'm going to make them for multiple sizes.

Comments

[pezessed.livejournal.com]

How much more do you need to increase by? Do you have the book Sensational Knitted Socks? You might be able to adapt the pattern to fit in her with formats for different number of stitch patterns in this book.

The embossed leaves socks were a lot of fun to knit. I love mine!

Also, love that colour! I was eyeing up some Smooshy on the Loopy Ewe tonight.

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking I need to increase by 8 to give me the extra inch, so I'm thinking of just adding one purl stitch to each side of the pattern repeat. That would give me 8 more and I think wouldn't destroy the pattern that much. I have to figure out how it looks when I get to the heel flap and see if I need to make any modifications to it besides adjusting where there to start turning the heel.

I love Sensational Knitted Socks, especially since she basically has formulas and it's a good springboard for making your own patterns. :)

I love the green of this yarn, although it looks rather washed out in the photo. So gorgeous!

[darumah.livejournal.com]

Those are going to beautiful!!

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so. :)

[spitgirl.livejournal.com]

Hey, do you knit with dpns or circular needles? The woman at the local yarn store says she does socks with one 12" circular - have you tried that at all? Also, do you have recommendations for an easy sock yarn to start out with?

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

So far I've only used DPNs. I've been thinking about trying with a set ofcirculars in the Magic Loop method or if I want to invest some more money, the two circulars method.

For my first pair of socks, I used some self-striping sock yarn because I thought it would be entertaining. I'd say that most of the basic sock yarns out there would be good. I've used Online, Regia and Trekking XXL and found them to be very nice for basic socks. They are all about 75% wool and 25% nylon, so they are durable and I didn't find them splitty when knitting.