sock incarnations

I was trying to be broad-minded. A ways back, I ranted against wildly multi-colored sock yarns. Self-striping, hand-painted, what have you. (It was HERE if you didn't catch the original rant.)

Of course I still have some multi-colored sock yarns. I have at least one self-striper and several skeins of Cherry Tree Hill supersock merino and at least one Koigu in variegated colorways. I had thought about doing a contest or giving it away, but kept on thinking that I did really like the colorways I had, and maybe I could just do some mindless knitting. Maybe not stockinette, but something almost as mindless.

Here's the yarn in the skein. Its Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in the Cabin Fever colourway. You can see from the cast on that it has a range of reds, oranges and pinks, as well as quite a bit of a dusty blue. I loved the way the stitches looked on the needle. At first.

Trying to be logical (stop laughing) I decided that since the socks I wore the most around the house are simple ones I made early on with ribbed cuffs and plain feet, that's what I should make with this. Behold, a ribbed cuff:

There's a little problem. Even though the variegated yarn is behaving nicely (for a variegated yarn), its really just not my cup of tea.

Not to mention that I really really really dislike 2x2 ribbing. I mean, yeah, I remember the stockinette rant too, but ribbing ..... ouch. Especially on 0US/2mm needles. I slogged away for a couple of subway rides with only this to entertain me. The entire time I spent knitting on them, I chanted, "Its the process" to myself and kept knitting and purling. Guess what? It didn't work. I wasn't convinced.

So one brave morning (yesterday), I gave up on the ill-fated sock project. I have my favorite sock pattern, from Socks•Socks•Socks. It's not plain stockinette, but it works for me. Just enough lace to keep me awake and the rest is knit every row. Which I can handle. And lo and behold (yep, melodramatic, that's me):

The handpainted, variegated yarn looks a helluva lot better in the lace pattern. Alice, by the way, is not in the sock cuff. She's behind the sock cuff. But she very graciously consented to be photographed looking as though she were tucked inside a sock.

So, there is now a world of possiblity for handpainted yarns actually becoming socks in my lifetime. With my hands. And my needles. And my (gasp!) stash.

One more thing - Hulda's shawl is done, but needs washing and blocking. I conquered crochet. Pictures hopefully tomorrow.

Comments

[Wendy]

Alice is a good sport! And the variegated does look lovely in that lace pattern.

[Christy]

The sock looks great!

[Jo in Ottawa]

I read somewhere else that feather and fan was good for variegated yarn. I'm assuming those are the same pattern as the ones you did for Norma. Looking great.

[Jackie]

Love the feather and fan in that colorway! Great pic of Alice, too. I'm glad you stuck it out - those handpainted yarns really are fun. :)

[margene]

When annoyed by a sock yarn one must have the vision of what it wants to become....and you did...it's ALL part of the process. Very smart move and the sock and Alice are both lovely.

[Michelene]

Of course you're distracted Cassie. It's only 14 days until Revenge of the Sith. You may be able to fool everybody else into thinking you made Hulda to wear to MSWF, but I know you really made it to keep warm while standing in line for tickets. Plus if you wear it over your head you'll have that whole Jedi knitter look.

[Norma]

Wow, those look like two completely different yarns. Well, hell, I just happen to have a variegated Koigu that might work. I've got some dares and double-dog dares I have to respond to, so you'll have to get me started -- deal? I still think you need to make that image into a Valentine.....

[Dena Shunra]

It's early here, on the hippie coast. I *thought* I was seeing a bird bed.

::rubs eyes, goes to get coffee, muttering "I wonder how well a feather-and-fan bird bed will felt"::

[Laurie]

Much better in the lace. I would not have successfully predicted that. Sounds like long car-ride knitting to me.

[Beth S.]

I love it, Cassie. I'm the same way--one day I just had enough of the whole variegated / self-striping thing. The texture and the color in these projects always seem to be locked into some kind of eternal grim struggle for supremacy--I would get headaches looking at pictures of socks and shawls, trying to figure out what exactly was going on in the photo. The Charlotte's Web shawl that everyone was gaga about is a perfect example of the problem (though I know of one person, at least, who made it in a solid color, and it looks like an entirely different project.)

But I dug out some Supersock recently to make a 'Claudia-style' sock (stockinette with a picot hem) and I'm not completely sold on the way the yarn is behaving in plain stockinette. It seems to need just a little something to break up the monolithic bands of color. Your feather-and-fan pattern is about as complex as I'd go, I think. It does look nicer than the ribbed cuff you made, which puzzles me. I would have expected the opposite to be true!

[Vicki]

Gorgeous -- the difference is amazing!

Margene must be the "most quoted" blogger in knitland!

[TAMARA]

The sock is almost as beautiful as Alice. The handpaint complements her rosy cheeks.

Congratulations on finishing the shawl, and conquering crochet!

[Lee Ann]

Oh, man, now I have nooo excuse...the only sock yarn I have is variegated, I have been dragging my butt on making a pair because I'm deeply afraid of second sock syndrome, and then I land here and see what a difference a lace makes. Your final-verdict socks are GORGEOUS!

[Rebekah]

Alice looks so comfy in the sock. But knowing birds you'd never actually get her in there.

Hmmm, I've seen several posts about that book, socks, socks, socks. I may just have to invest in it.

[Risa]

I have to say, the handpainted does indeed look better in the lace pattern than the 2x2 rib. I'm glad I invested in that book now!

[Sara]

You've convinced me - the lace brings out all the nice, dappled color mixtures of the variegated yarn. That's an awfully pretty sock you've got going.

[Christine]

The socks are gorgeous with the lace pattern! I can't wait to see the photo of the shawl :)

[Nanette]

It does look like Alice is in the sock! I just love her and wish she'd come live with us. We have plenty of delicious treats and plants to perch on. :)

[Em]

Good call! It looks lovely, and you have a lovely sock-in-progress model in Alice.

Me, I tend to veer away from bright colors and patterns in my clothes, but I love colorful socks. Self-striping, hand-dyed, it's all good.

[Teresa C]

Oh, I love the lace sock, really I do. But you are right about ribbed socks, they fit so nicely. If I wasn't sure I'd be bored to death every sock I made would be ribbed. My next socks (this week I hope) are Koigu Traveler's Stockings (Nancy Bush). They will be my first Koigu socks. I have been fondling the yarn every day for a week now. Must.finish.shawl.now!

[susan]

Have you seen this pattern?
http://files.blog-city.com/files/aa/3830/b/lacyscallops.pdf
Looks like something you'd like.