Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - DONE!

Stand back, I have needles and I know how to use them...

I have knit these socks, and I have teenagers.  

I am certifiably fearless.  

The are indeed awesome, too spiffy to hide inside shoes or underneath a pant leg.  It would be a crime to tuck these into boots.  I’m bursting with pride.  The only downside of such an accomplishment?  You guessed it--I have to do it all over again for the other foot.  Sigh.  Such is the nature of socks in the biped world. 

These socks are consuming in the best sense of the word.  They’d made an excellent project for a long trip, bed-rest, a broken leg (if you aren’t on really strong painkillers), or anywhere you need something to occupy you for, oh, say a fortnight.  

They are far more comfortable than you’d think, although I’m not sure if they’d be winter-warm with all those holes.  These have spring and summer written all over them, especially in this color.  

These are fiber-hot-shot socks, baby.  If you’ve got time and someone you need to impress with a hand-knitted masterpiece, this is the project for you.

It’s been a lovely trip through Galena.  Next we travel to Jeffersonville, Indiana and meet the charming folks of Grinny Possum Fiber Arts.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 6

Yep, it’s officially hard now.  I think there’s a wrinkle or two in my forehead with “Arched Gusset Socks” inscribed in its creases.  Don’t get me wrong, the finished product is completely worth the effort, but there is serious effort required.  I think that’s a good thing.  I think stretching one’s skills, pushing one’s limitations is a good thing.  I’ll be a better knitter for having done these socks.

Another thing about this pattern--I was sure these wouldn’t be comfortable.  Lumpy, from all the yarn-over holes and knit-two-togethers, socks more for show than for coddling the feet.  Boy, was I wrong.  The Soxx Appeal yarn has sufficient spring and, for lack of a better word, fluffiness, to cover all the texture this complicated pattern brings.  I was willing to endure the sock’s discomfort for its obvious beauty, but now I happily discover I have the best of both worlds!  Kudos to Amy at FiberWild for such a feat (come on now, you saw that one coming a mile away, didn’t you?)!

I’ve just reached the point in the pattern where you switch to size 3 needles to keep the tension comfortable for calves.  Thanks for thinking of that--constricted calves make for one cranky Allie, and my husband will tell you that is a condition to be avoided at all costs.

This will be the first DestiKNITions Knit Along to require a seventh segment, so you’ll get one more installation from me next week as I finish up this splendid sock.

Then, it’s on to the hidden gem of Jeffersonville, Indiana for some surprising finds just north of Louisville (how did I miss that on my November trip to Louisville??)

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 5

I should take into account my houseguest schedule when planning my knitting.  This is serious, brain-cell-sucking pattern-work, not to be attempted in the presence of beloved young nieces.  Which explains, by the way, why you’ve not heard from me.  No way, no how was I going to attempt the double-pattern of this ankle with a high distraction quotient.

When I finally tackled it, however, I was pleasantly surprised.  If one paid attention and went slowly, it wasn’t that hard.  There was a sort of logic to the way the thing expanded, and the hard parts were interspersed with occasional pulse-lowering rows of pure stockinette.  I think in the ten rows I’ve attempted I’ve only made one goof-up.  Now that my house is quiet....er....quiet-ish, I’m ready for more.

Here’s a treat for being so patient.  One of my houseguest jaunts was to the Morton Arboretum, where "Nature Unframed" art installations currently grace the grounds.  Lucky for me, one of them is a “yarnbombing.”  Everyone in my party--knitters and non-knitters alike--loved this piece by Carol Hummel of Ohio called “Lichen It!”

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 4

Women Who Should Stare More At Heels...

I should know, by now, never to publicly boast about my competency in any knitting skill.   Did I get the heel turned and the heel flap done?  Yes.  And, in the end, it came out fine, although I will admit to no small amount of...well...fudging to get there.  I got cocky, trying to tackle this while watching Men Who Stare At Goats.  Turning heels is not exactly “let’s take in a flick” knitting.  One should concentrate.  All those short rows can be befuddling if you loose your place.

My folly makes a good point, though.  Every knitter ought to know how to turn a heel.  It’s a concept that looks exasperating on paper, but once you’ve done it, you understand the basic concept.  Yes, I lost my place.  More than once.  But because I knew what the end result was supposed to look like, I could work my way back without having to rip the whole thing out and start over.   As it was, I went on a bit of a detour, but eventually found my way back to the pattern’s intent and made it through unscathed.  That’s the beauty of knitting--it’s essentially forgiving in most parts.  

I’m deeply aware, however, that the patterns above the ankle will not extend to me the same grace.  But I’ll know enough to keep the DVR off while I knit.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 3

Gusseting up for the tricky part...

Now it’s getting tricky.  Not too much, though.  A few yarn-overs, couple of k2tog and such, with a handful of cables just to make me feel accomplished.  I did have some trouble figuring out how to yarn-over after a purl stitch--the yarn seems to be on the wrong side of the needles to set that one up.  A quick google search brought up a video tutorial that confirmed my hunch--you just wrap around a bit farther to get the yarn where it needs to be.

The thing I’ve always loved about toe-up socks is that you can try them on as you go.  Yes, it’s like wrangling a porcupine up your ankle if you’re on dpn’s, but with two circulars the socks slips on quite nicely.  Don’t forget that the final row of this gusset has some alterations--you can’t just stuff the gusset pattern in your knitting bag (the full pattern is several pages long and I always copy only the page I need to put in my bag) and be done with it.  Make a note to yourself that the final row has some details that don’t show up in the pattern chart.  My favorite bags?  Namaste's Oh Snap bags.  

They came out nicely.  I feel quite confident at the moment.  The next step it to turn the heel, and I’ve done that enough times that the prospect doesn’t frighten me.  The patterns up the ankle?  Well, that’s another story.

Knit Along: Arched Gusset Sock from FiberWild - Day 1

A Case of Cold Feet?

In 1996, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (affectionately known as the Yarn Harlot) launched  the idea of the “Knitting Olympics,” urging knitters to cast on a new and challenging project during the opening ceremonies and strive to finish when the flame went out sixteen days later.   I’ve always loved the notion behind it--challenge yourself, even in knitting.

There is no torch involved here, but that doesn’t extinguish the fear that I’ll go down in flames on this one.  One has to gulp when the designer--in this case FiberWild’s creative genius Amy Loberg--hands you the pattern asking, “are you willing to work hard?” 

Even the pattern description on the internet chills the soul:  "Not for the faint-of-heart!"  "For the experienced knitter!"   Note the liberal use of exclamation points (theirs, not mine!)!

These socks are complicated, intricate artwork:  multiple patterns, openwork, cables, just about every trick in the book. Not your average toe-toaster by any stretch of the imagination.  Even bolstered by my recent colorwork mitten victory (by the same designer, I console myself), I’m nervous that these will not turn out well.

Still, I’m game.  And you all get to watch.  Well, the first inch is done without drastic incident except that I had to look up the definitions for M1R and M1L.  That, I can handle.

Stay tuned, this could get really interesting.