sockapal2za: July 2005 Archives

I love love love this little sock! The pattern is the perfect blend of "not-just-boring-ribbing" yet "easy-enough-to-memorize" to keep it interesting.

The Lorna's Laces is such a pleasure to knit up. I wish their multi-colored hanks didn't pool like they do. My brain just can't handle all that uncontrollable color!

As for the length, I decided to keep it at the length suggested in the pattern. If I made them any longer they would have hit part of my calf where they'd need to be increased. I know I'm short but I don't know my sock pal's height so I figured better be safe than sorry.

The mods I made are simple:

• Toe-up with a figure 8 cast on. I increased every row until I hit 85% of the total stitches, and then switched to every other row.
• Classic wrap short row heel. Yes, you read that correctly. I didn't do the no-wrap heel. The problem I have with picking up the wraps is finding them in darker colors, which clearly isn't a problem in lavender colored socks. And I have to admit that I think the wraps are just a tad tighter than the other methods.
• I did the wavy top and all I needed to do was turn the chart upside down and follow it that way. I bound off with EZ's sewn cast off. Not only is it stretchy but it's the cleanest way I know to join the last row and make it look smooth. If you're scared of the sewn cast off -- don't be. It's as easy as p2tog, k1. Seriously. Give it a try.

I still have to wash the sock but I'm going to hold off until I finish the second one. I don't want to try and match up unwashed measurements against washed measurements.

As for the stitch pattern, I don't think this is the end of this pattern for me. I'm considering making a scarf out of it. The back side -- while completely different -- is also pretty, so it would work well for a reversible scarf. And once it's blocked out I think it looks a bit like flowing water. I'm considering using the blue silk I bought at MDSW even though I've already started this scarf with it.

The blue color always said water to me, but I searched and searched my stitch pattern books and couldn't find the right one for it. I wanted something to go longways but I didn't want to knit it longways. This waving lace pattern may be the way to go after all.

Waving Lace Socks from IK Summer 2004

Well this is it! Third try was definitely _the_ one.

Now that I'm knitting these I'm surprised I didn't see this pattern make the blog rounds last year. The pattern is a simple repeat and makes a lovely sock! I love the little ripple effect it makes on the edges (click on the pics above to see them enlarged).

I have modified the pattern to be toe-up and to use a short row heel. I'm just a couple rows above the heel now and I'll be starting the pattern on the full leg soon. I have 2/3rds of a hank left (based on my handy-dandy scale) so I'm not sure if I'll be able to use up a full hank for each sock. We'll see. I'm enjoying the knitting on these enough that I'll knit until it seems like they're the right length.

There are 2 variations for the cuff. A basic ribbed cuff and a wavy cuff. I'm going to give the wavy cuff a go but I haven't checked to see what I'll need to change since I'll be knitting them in the opposite direction.

Oh, and for those of you who haven't kept up with my experimentation, I'm using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Lilac colorway. And lemme tell ya, there will definitely be more solid-colored LL in my sock future!