Mermaid Socks
The good thing about finishing last week's homework early and having my midterm next week is that I get to spend most of my time working on my knitting for a little while. I'm very psyched about having started this little project:
The Start of the Mermaid Socks in Regia 5047
This is the first of two Mermaid socks from Lucy Neatby's "Cool Socks, Warm Feet" book -- a sock knitting book that focuses on doing creative and interesting things with self-patterning sock yarn.
I have to start off this post by being honest and telling you, that while I am a total sock fan, I am not a total knitting socks on double pointed needles fan. I do like this book, but I while I admired the patterns (and find her advice to be absolutely excellent), when I realized I'd have to translate everything from DP language to 2 circs language, I put it on the backburner for a while.
When I finished the first of the Cotton Jacquard socks, I decided it would be okay if I cast on for another, more interesting sock project. Initially, I thought it would be fun to start a beaded sock kit that I have. Then I decided that beaded knitting is not very portable, and for a little while I need my socks to be portable. Then I got to looking through Lucy Neatby's book again. All of her patterns have interesting heels and toes, so it was a chance to learn something new and do something a little more challenging. Since I had the perfect yarn for the Mermaid Socks sitting in my stash, I cast on and got started.
If you want an upclose look at a very neat sock pattern click here. The pattern is worked in garter stitch for the cuff and stockinette for the rest of the sock. The cuff was a little tiresome, but the body of the sock moves pretty quickly.
So far I haven't had to do a lot of DP to 2 Circ translation... but the heel is coming. It's a shortrow garter stitch heel, so I'm going to have to pay close attention to the instructions. This heel is very similar to an afterthought in that she starts a new piece of yarn for the heel, but the rest is going to be brand new for me.
This book has a lot of neat heel and toe and cuff variations. I have a feeling I'll be coming back to it more and more as I try new things with socks. Even if you're not a sock experimentalist, this book has great pointers and hints to help make your sock construction better, and to help custom craft socks for special feel. This book is well written and fun -- it almost makes me want to go out and buy a whole bunch of double pointed needles...
That almost looks like a diagonal rib pattern. How refreshing to see something different on self-patterning yarn.
I myself don't like knitting with dpns, but I usually use them for baby booties and hats. I always feel like I'm playing a game of pick up sticks whenever I use them!
Great Mermaid sock ! That's next on my to knit list after I finish the Bosnian toe & cranellated garter cuff socks.I love that book !
Wow, love the colours! As strange as it may sound, my husband and I also take the same size socks. Makes it nice and easy when I need to try them on and he isn't around :)
The Mermaid sock is next on my list of things to do, I have some lovely Fortissima Colori to use for it. I have never used a circular needle though, dpns feel normal!
I'm making plain old toe-up socks with that same Regia 5047. Your mermaid socks look much better though. Must pull out that Lucy Neatby book before I start my next pair.
Neat! I was just working my way through that book last night. I love the patterns and ideas. I'm going to try the garter-stitch short row heel on the socks I have on the go now, but I'm thinking of buying another set of 2.25mm dpns so I can do those mermaid socks too.
I wasn't planning on changing my regular sock routine (toe-up, short-row heel and toe) but this book makes change really tempting.
I really like that book too. I haven't yet tried knitting socks with two circulars. I'm still doing it the hard way on DPN's ;) Anyway, I love the bright colored yarn you're using for your mermaid socks...very fun!
Now, I'm glad I ordered the book. I have way too many self patterning yarns in my stash and I'm ready for some new techniques.
Hi,
I love my dpns, but mostly now that I completly piged out and boughta pair of rosewood ones. Those are devine! Still waiting for the ebony ones for comparison, but rosewood beats bamboo which beats metal. They don't slide out as easily.
I just finished a pair of socks with the garter stitch toe and heel per Neatby's book. It turns out I don't like the feel of the garter stitches against my skin! I can feel the ridges... I won't use this technique again. Just my $0.02... But I do plan to knit up the mermaid socks sometime. Great yarn you've got there!