Back to the Dragon Socks
Process or Product? I go back and forth on the kind of knitter that I am or think I want to be. Usually I put myself in the product camp. I hate to rip. When I rip, it feels like I've just wasted time, and time for me is both the least and most valuable thing I have. When I try to design something, I always want to knit the minimum amount to make a decision about where to go. In programming speak, I want to "fast fail" a project -- if something is going to go wrong, I want to terminate the process at the earliest possible point so that I can try something else or start the program again.
But the problem with desiging something is that fast fail is not always a good strategy. Sometimes what you're working on really has to take shape before you can make a good decision. Trying to make that decision too early may lead to failing something that was really a success. Which brings me to my current design project -- the bigger size dragon scale socks. (Which is actually sort of a funny thing to call it, because while the sock overall is bigger, the scales on the sock are smaller). I was thinking that in spite of the work I had done to figure out a bunch of things, that it just wasn't going to work out well, that the scales would be non-distinct and it was just going to be a lot of work for not much payoff.
I was really close to ripping.
But then I picked up the first pair of socks and realized that what makes them interesting is the all over pattern. When you look at the whole sock you get the sense of scales. If you just look at one or two intervals, you don't see anything at all. But because the scales are so much bigger relative to the sock, it was easy to see the pattern take shape and become interesting fairly quickly. It took less time and effort for me to judge the overall direction a success.
So I decided that I needed to grit my teeth and not give up on the pattern with the smaller scales. Today I knit two more intervals from the last picture (for a total of 5). Suddenly, I started to feel a real sock starting to take shape with a pattern that made me happy. And the lighting obliged as well, and I was able to get a picture that conveyed the spirit of the pattern and the sock.
Since that photo, I've gotten another interval and a half done and the more I knit, the more I like them. I need to do 9 intervals to get to 6" (these aren't going to be tall socks, otherwise I probably won't have enough yarn to complete them) so I'm only 2 and a half intervals away from getting to the turning the heel part. I'm looking forward to that because just like the first pair of Dragon Scale socks, I want to do some neat detail work on the heel and the toe. Seeing how my current plan for that will turn out is part of the adventure.
My goal is to do the first sock, write up the pattern, and then do the second sock with the pattern to make sure I've written it right. If I'm lucky, I'll at least get the heel turned by the end of the weekend. The instep part of the sock should go faster because the pattern is only on the top and it's plain stockinette on the bottom. So I'm hoping that means that I might be writing a pattern the weekend after this coming weekend.
So, please, share your opinions. Do you like the way the scale pattern looks? The intended recipient of the socks does and at this point that's good enough for me to continue, but I always love to hear more than one opinion since I want the pattern to be for a broader audience.
Well I think they're great! Love the pattern, and how perfect is that color for dragon socks?!
it's beautiful!!
The scales look great with the green, in my opinion. What could be mildly distracting are the big bars in the middle. Just my two cents.
love the texture, pattern and color!!!
I agree with Kit. I love the scales. I like the green. Those bars distract from the scale pattern, though. The more I keep coming back to the photo, the more it seems to come together. But...I don't know. Something about them is jarring at first.
I admire your tenacity with the pattern. Many, many kudos!
I like them. I don't think that they are the *same* as the pink ones, but more like a cousin. The difficultly that others are having with the pattern is, I think, a sense of scale (not a pun). The smaller socks had the larger pattern and these larger socks have a smaller pattern. It seems counter-intuative. If John likes them though, isn't that what counts?
I have to admit that I like the pink ones better - they really look like dragon scales. This is a nice textured pattern but I'm not getting the dragon scales feeling I got from the others. I know that's probably NOT what you want to hear, so I apologize.
Personally, I like them, and so does my husband, who loves dragons as much as I do. I might like how the pattern looks on the pink socks a little bit more, but the pattern on the green socks looks similar to the dragon scale gauntlets I just knit my husband. Now if only I had gotten the thumb placement right and hadn't knit him two LEFT gauntlets. Oops.
I really like how the green dragons are coming out!!
I've knit a pair of dragon scale socks and those bars are an integral part of the pattern--can't get rid of them unless maybe you could stagger the pattern like bricks. I personally like how these look, but I remember the moment when I was making my socks when I noticed those vertical bars and realized I was stuck with them.
I like the new green version. It certainly is toned down from the pink ones, but this looks more masculine (are these for a guy?). I am not so sure about the garter stitch tops. They may block out better, but that is not jiving with the rest of the design for me. Keep challenging us, though.
I do like them. I'd like to knit them. Keep on truckin'!
Oh shoot! I wanted to ask, what is the drape like on these? Has the fabric got some stretch?
anxiously, anxiously awaiting that pattern........I love it! Truly love it! I even have some yarn on order just perfect for dragon socks..........
They're gorgeous. And the colors! WOW!
Katherine is right. There's no good way to get rid of those bars (and even if I went down to a one row bar I'd have a problem because then I wouldn't have the diameter around that I needed. They're not as prominent in the first pattern because the scales are much bigger. However, the pattern as found in BW's book is a 26 stitch repeat, the pattern as I upscaled it for the first pair of socks was a 32 stitch repeat. This pattern is a 20 stitch repeat.
I played with trying to get the 26 stitch repeat working, but I couldn't get the pattern to distribute over the heel and toe like I wanted to (and believe me, I played with this a long time before giving up on it).
The garter stitch top (or some kind of top) is required for this size scale when you're making the socks for a man. Otherwise, the top is too ruffly and it tends to want to flop over. Definitely not manly. I thought ribbing would look really odd with this pattern and wanted something that would keep a bit of width at the top, since the scale pattern wants to pull in.
Sock tops are always an optional thing, though. And if someone likes a different configuration, easily changed.
I DO like the way the scales are coming out--looks fab.
I love these socks. I'm so glad you didn't rip them out. Of course it helps that green is my favorite color but still, I think they look fabulous.
I think they look gorgeous but I agree with Carole that the smaller repeats really lose the "dragon scale" motif. It looks to me now like a subtle braid pattern. That is not a BAD thing. It looks great and very masculine. You really need that "nearly a half circle" sized pattern like on your pink socks in order to get a real "dragon scale" look. I think the pink socks have the perfect design elements to get that whole "scaly" idea across. The "scales" are big enough that they look like overlapping discs (which is IMO, what really gives you the impression of scales) and because they are bigger they are not overwhelmed by the bars in between.
As this two cents become a nickel, (ha) I think your green sock has a very lovely English/Celtic braided thing going on (which is quite in keeping with the dragon idea). I do think it pretty much misses the whole dragon scale concept. I still want both patterns, though. Enough to even pay for them if necessary. I'm tired of all the same old- same old in sock patterns and these really are unique.
I like them. The smaller scales look more masculine somehow. For the next pair :), how about a mossy greeny-bronze? (Perhaps to indicate a "wise elder" dragon.)
so the stitch pattern wants to "pull in" which is good, but does it also allow some "pulling out?" that's important for those of us who have large-ish ankles. that's my only concern. otherwise, i love it! and the bar part is cool, in my opinion. thanks for shairing!
The amount of give in the pattern is going to have a lot to do with what yarn you use. In this case, this springy merino yarn (Socks that Rock) does have a fair amount of stretch. If you chose a cotton blend yarn, it wouldn't stretch as much.
The corollary of this, however, is that the stich doesn't squeeze down that much either, like ribbing does.
I think Cascade has a really stretchy cotton sock yarn, and that may be a good option for people who want to get away from wool or want to get more roominess. But I think it would probably work best with the larger scale pattern.
I think Tam has said everything that I was going to write. Both versions are nice, but the pink ones show off the dragon scale stitch pattern to better advantage. Coincidentally, I bought some dark Kelly green Tiny Toes sock yarn from Interlacements at Stitches West, and was astonished that DH really liked the color. Maybe he has some of the smaller-scale (sorry!) green socks in his future, too!
Amazing how much different the sock looks with just a few more repeats. I really like it. The texture is gorgeous and I love the color.
I'm a bit late in the discussion to really add anything new. They're very cute, and as long as John likes them, that's what matters!
I think these are quite dragony! I love the color, and the only thing I would change is the garter stitch top to something more scaley looking - and possibly the vertical bars coming to a (scaly) point.
I like both stitch patterns, though I agree this green one looks less dragon-y because of the strong vertical bar up the centers of the scales. It still looks good, and I'd wear it in any "masculine" solid shade like that green.
(My officemate just saw the picture over my shoulder. She says that looks much too nice to be hidden inside a trouser leg!)
What if the scales came to a single-stitch-wide point, and that point was a leaning decrease that went to the left or the right alternately? So that the scales had little "hooks" at their tips?
I love that you're sharing this glimpse into the design process. Thank you.
I think they are lovely!
I'm chomping at the bit to make both socks; hurry hurry hurry with the patterns. FAntastic!
I like it a lot, but the solid rows of stockinette that go straight down, kind of remind me of jaywalkers..
I do really love those scales and the color of the yarn.
Nope, I don't like it. I love it! :)
Mmmmm, I'm lovin' the green dragon scales!
great socks - good luck on pattern
Looks great, would definitely love to have the pattern!
I love it, especially in that green! Looking forward to seeing your pattern, I do plan to start knitting socks some time this summer, and I'm keeping an eye out for fun patterns that aren't too "busy." Dragon scales sound perfect!
absolutely beautiful
i tend not to be objective about green
but this is an extraordinary work of art
i LOVE them .. will the pattern be available so i can make a pair for myself ??