Sunday, February 2, 2014

Achievement Unlocked

I have finished my first pair of socks for February! I had intended them to be my second pair of socks for January, but illness conspired against me. These were too thinky to work on, so a simple pair of slippers for Dan ended up being January's "sock" number two and this pair got bumped back a month.

Owlie Socks

I cannot convey the lack of joy these were to work on or the total awesomeness the finished product is.

The reason for the lack of enjoyment: cables. Apparently I don't like them. They create extra tension on the round which gets passed to me. So something like this with lots of cables? Lots of tension. Also, the cables and (super-neat twisted stitch ribbing) created a lot of pull in on the socks, so it wasn't exactly comfortable to use my 9" circulars. In fact, I broke one of my tips (and am shocked I didn't manage to break the other one).

Owlie Socks

That being said, I think the finished socks (and the thoughtfulness of the pattern) are beyond awesome. I can't see myself knitting a pair of these ever again, but now that I'm done, I'm happy I've made these.

8 comments:

  1. But they are so cute - AND they fit my feet so well. :-)

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    1. But they fit mine even better! Muauahahahahah! ;)

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  2. Too cute. I am glad everyone is feeling better!

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    1. Thank you! As much as I enjoy these, I am looking forward to a simpler knit next!

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    2. Plain vanilla socks in self stripping sound like just the ticket! :)

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  3. You did a great job, I love knitting cables. I've been meaning to knit some cable thing, perhaps it'll be socks? We'll see... These days I'm all over the place with what craft I want to do; Weaving, sewing, knitting? Decisions, decisions...

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    1. Thank you! I do love how the cables turned out even if I didn't find them all that fun. I am a bit jealous of your option to weave! I learned in college and really enjoyed it but can't justify getting any sized loom. What does one do with the created material? (From class we just made decorative pieces.)

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    2. How interesting, two of my friends took weaving in college!

      I started small to see how I liked weaving. I purchased a Rigid Heddle loom. They start at around 12", I got the 32" Kromski Harp. Mine folds so it's easily put away. I purchased a stand for it, That folds too.

      On Ravelry a lot in the rigid heddle loom forum seem to use their little looms to make scarves. I'd get bored with that very quickly. With my latest projects I've been treating them as material. I'll be making pillows with what's on the loom now. The next project will be a double weave blanket. I most likely will use brightly colored wool for the weft and the warp will be some neutral color.

      The last project, I made were washcloths out of cotton. Those turned out really nice. I've almost changed out my store bought towels for woven towels. Over the years, I've knitted and crocheted some hand towels also.

      I'm impressed with all the things I can do with my little loom, but eventually I'll get a floor loom. I'm looking at the Baby Wolf, since I know that folds.

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