Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Simply Lovely Sock #1, 5 More to Go



Liz now steps into the XRK Confessional:


I caught the Clap.*

Those blue flowery shoes in IK infected me. As the only person currently contributing to this blog that actually wears heels with any regularity, I think I can say that the likelihood of me actually wearing the socks with any of my heels is pretty slim. So then with what shoes would one wear these lacy socks? Dansko clogs? Sneakers? I don't know. But if I am going to be truthful with you, I think I want the shoes more than I want the socks.

Sigh.

Y'all, I am not enjoying knitting this sock. The KTBLs are getting to me. The US1s are annoying me. US1s have never annoyed me before. I think of y'all languishing on the size 0s and I just about want to cry. The salmony color, while appropriate to the sock, just isn't doing it for me.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Now, let's let it be said that I have no beef with any knitter who wants to scrap the socks entirely, but I am not willing to go that far with these socks, despite my annoying whining about them. See, I have actually made these socks an experiment, a learning experience, so I must finish the pair. More on this later.

And, I am a knitter who has thus far managed to scrupulously avoid Second Sock Syndrome (SSS). I have a multi-pronged strategy that I employ that get that second sock knitted. So here, as a service to the knitting community and to my fellow XRK SLS Knitters, I am sharing my SSS Avoidance Technique:

1. Do not have mulitple sets of DPNs in the same size. This only makes it too easy to cast on another pair when those new skeins of sock yarn jump into your shopping bag and follow you home.

2. Wear single sock. Admire your foot. Feel how good, how warm, how soft that sock feels, better than any mere mass-produced sock you'll ever buy. Try on shoes with the sock. Wear it around a bit. Feel stupid wearing just one sock. Endure strange looks and the occasional comment from beloved spouse or darling children regarding the wearing of one sock. You do need another sock to be complete, whole. Keep single sock in knitting basket to remind you of how great it would be to wear it with another one just like it!

3. Cast on for second sock IMMEDIATELY AFTER grafting toe of first sock, and knit at least 5 rounds of the sock.

4. Apply nose to grindstone, and knit the thing. Get it done. You have more sock yarn to knit.

* The Clap or Clapotis- lured into a knitting project by cute model, photo styling, etc. Projecting yourself into model's life, wanting to be the girl in the picture, not so much wanting actual knitted object.

11 comments:

Rhonda said...

Your sock is lovely. Knit on. You'll have the other done in no time. My daughter sent me this one http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATThedera.html Another lace pattern that doesn't look to difficult. And lovely in heels. haha

Vanessa Vain said...

I loved those socks when I first saw them. I'm glad you brought to my attention the shoes as a separate entity. Now I'll have to carefully think through if I really want to knit them. The socks are very cute, but what do you wear them with?

Emma said...

The sock looks beautiful. I love your tips for avoiding SSS. Good luck!

Ann said...

Liz, today was actually the day that I really, really enjoyed knitting this sock. Of course, I'm not far along, just about 5 rows after turning the heel, but wow -- I'm grooving on it now.

I mingled the sock with gardening (my usual knit/garden combo). Planted some ground cover, a few rows, divided the yucca, a few more rows, weeded around the patio, you get the picture ...

Knit on Liz! And I will be sure to use your SSS avoidance techniques ...

Ann said...

btw, that clapotis is a train wreck of a scarf, but even I thought, "hmmm, beauty without trying, Paris cafe, maybe that could be me with a bit of that scarf ..."

Tina said...

The only pair of socks I've was out of this marvelous cashmere/alpaca/silk worsted thing in a yummy color -- did I say worsted? -- via Anne Budd's generic pattern thing. How much quicker and easier could it have been? And still ... I left the second sock undone down to an inch before the toe graft. Took me 20 minutes to finish the damn thing when I picked it up again, 10 months later.

Miss Ann, thanks so much for the loan of that lovely Jamieson book -- it's in your box, with an additional goodie to add to your pile. And this evening I found the book I REALLY wanted to add to your pile. You've got a big honkin' pile.

You guys rock. So glad you're doing this.

Ann? Surely you felted today ... how could you not? Suspense kills.

Ann said...

Tina -- Ahh, the bag. I am running out of yarn. I will have to undo the handles and rework some things since I bought the yarn (get this) in Ireland. Yeah. Don't that just prove the rule about sufficiency of yarn being directly related to accessibility of additional yarn.

Thanks for the book loan! I've read a bunch already and LOVE it!!! Dude, you're like the knitting fairy ...

KnitPastis said...

I love that sock! You are doing so good. Just cast on for the second one, do a few inches and put it down for a day or so until you get your umph back.hahaa. Maybe you can wear them with loafers. That would be cute!

Mo said...

Liz -- do you recall when I found out after three years of knitting that I was "twisting" my stitches or ktb? So, it's like old times.

As far as finishing #2, go for it! They look great! I'm living with so many, many unfinished everythings. I would hate to see you end up like me!

Liz K. said...

Mo, believe me, if I was more like you, I would be a much better person. I aspire to Mo-ness.

Laurie (Moo!) said...

Ah, the Clappy. It's a great knit. I did mine with Lion and Lamb and it is yummy.