Now I Get It

I'm going to look back on 2007 as the summer I fell in love with sock knitting. At least I think it will be a love affair. It depends on how my first pair turns out.

I've been disdainful of sock knitting for years. It seemed silly to me to use expensive yarn and tiny needles to knit something so utilitarian that almost no one would ever see. But my frustration with the Alpine Shawl made me reconsider this stance. I desperately need something mindless to knit when I'm too tired to concentrate on lace charts. It wouldn't hurt to have a portable project either.

So on Saturday I took the plunge and purchased some Cherry Tree Hill super wash sock yarn and US sizes 0 and 1 DPNs. I already had size 2 DPNs. I swatched with size 2 and size 0 and quickly realized I'd need the size 0 to get a nice tight knit. Then, using the pattern in The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville, I cast on.

Very soon I discovered that socks knit up quickly enough to satisfy Ms. Instant Gratification. I love it.

However, I learned something new about pooling. I already knew colors can pool. With the CTH varigated yarn I discovered that the more vibrant colors and the duller colors can pool noticeably. The result was not pleasing.



Here, the dull colors are pooling in the center, and the brighter colors are pooling on the sides.



Here, I've turned the sock so that the vibrant colors are pooling in the center and the duller colors are pooling on the sides. Not the look I was going for.

I tried on the sock and discovered it was too big. So I cast on two sizes smaller.




The dull and bright colors are no longer pooling, and the sock fits - so far. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.