Twists and turns
On New Year's Eve, I began a sock. Using Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Firestorm, size 2 dpns, and Nancy Bush's Whitby pattern from Knitting on the Road, I plugged along. It was going quickly, and I was pleased with the fabric. I wasn't sure about the fit, though.
New Year's Day morning my reservations about the fit were confirmed. It fit, but stretched so much that the pattern just didn't pop. Plus, the purl-stitch diamonds between the two cables, at the front of the leg, looked like mistakes in the more-varigated-than-expected yarn. That got ripped.
So I started again, this time using Michelle's basic sock pattern. I cast on 70 stitches instead of 80, which sounded like far too many, especially considering I was using size 2's. After moving along for awhile, I confirmed what I suspected: the sock was now too big. Yes, it fit, but it wasn't snug enough for the ribbing to do any good. Plus, I was now dissatisfied with the fabric I was getting on 2's.
I ripped again. This time, I used size 1 dpns, and started out with Michelle's pattern. I didn't like the 4x1 ribbing, as it didn't have the grab I was looking for, so I did 3x2. Better. But not good enough. Boring, for one thing. I set it aside last night, saddened. I'd have to rip again!
But this morning, inspiration struck. I changed courses and have come up with something that is not only acceptable, but so good I might find a use for this pattern beyond sticking it on my free patterns page.
Don't you love it when that happens, when continual discouragement suddenly blossoms into something beautiful?
Maybe...
Thinking about my goals for the new year, I'm considering merging two of them: purposeful knitting and doing more to help others. Maybe, this year, I'll intersperse my normal projects with charity knitting. I've yet to find one I'd like to help out with, but browsing this page should give me some good ideas. Feel free to share your favorite knit-worthy charity!
Of course, I feel like I've been hit with the event-organizing bug and might want to start one myself. Or maybe an online knitting magazine that's as well-organized as Knitty. It can't hurt to have more, and it seems that the others leave a lot to be desired. But we'll save that for when I might have some money to invest in it.
Tipper @ 8:53 AM * link
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