I am making slow progress on several projects right now: the Rivolo Scarf, the Zebra Striper Sweater, my Silkie Socks, the Three-Ply Targhee Blanket squares. And I even repaired the hole in John's second Mudslide sock. As I was working on the first of my Silkie socks I had a moment of clarity where I realized that while I like all my complicated projects, I really just wanted something simple to knit. Something I could knit on autopilot. Something that I could get started on after going shopping in my stash. Something unequivocally for me.
For the answer to the first item, the best possibility seemed to be socks. Just a pair of simple stockinette socks using my standard toe-up pattern. For the yarn, I decided that I wanted to knit a pair of socks from yarn that was not 100% merino in composition so that I could (hopefully) count on many years of care-free wear. Originally I was thinking of the skein of Austermann Step that I have in my stash, but then I discovered the ball of Schaefer Anne (in a colorway whose name I do not remember and could not identify from looking at the Schaefer website) that I had purchased to try out a pooling scarf pattern in a long ago IK -- only to discover that the way this particular skein was dyed was not conducive to getting it to pool the way the pattern was supposed to. The yarn was already wound into a ball, ready to go. And since Anne is a wool, mohair, nylon blend, I figured it would definitely create both durable and warm socks.
I started out this project on US Size 1 needles (2.25 mm) but the yarn was just too fine and the fabric seemed a bit to open, so I ripped it off those needles and cast on to size 0's (2.0 mm). It's been a long time size I've had a set of 0's in my hands, but they were the right needles for this yarn -- in fact, I bet I could have kit on 00's and also gotten acceptable fabric. What I found interesting was that the final number of stitches after I increased was 64 -- which is what I usually get on larger needles -- so I'm getting a gauge of about 8 stitches/inch.
I can't say that I adore the pooling behavior of this yarn, but it also doesn't bother me a great deal either. The colors are very evocative of peacock feathers. It has a high sheen (due to the mohair I am sure) and the sock fabric is soft and light weight. About the only real complaint I have is that the stuff is prone to splitting -- especially on 2.0 mm needles with sharp tips (these are also Darn Pretty Needles -- when I purchased them, I took advantage of the special pricing they had for a full set of sock sized needles). But this is also not too suprising given the yarn's component fibers.
This has turned out to be exactly the project I needed. Simple, colorful, quick and stashbusting. A nice reminder that sometimes a project doesn't have to be complicated to be good for the soul.
For the answer to the first item, the best possibility seemed to be socks. Just a pair of simple stockinette socks using my standard toe-up pattern. For the yarn, I decided that I wanted to knit a pair of socks from yarn that was not 100% merino in composition so that I could (hopefully) count on many years of care-free wear. Originally I was thinking of the skein of Austermann Step that I have in my stash, but then I discovered the ball of Schaefer Anne (in a colorway whose name I do not remember and could not identify from looking at the Schaefer website) that I had purchased to try out a pooling scarf pattern in a long ago IK -- only to discover that the way this particular skein was dyed was not conducive to getting it to pool the way the pattern was supposed to. The yarn was already wound into a ball, ready to go. And since Anne is a wool, mohair, nylon blend, I figured it would definitely create both durable and warm socks.
I started out this project on US Size 1 needles (2.25 mm) but the yarn was just too fine and the fabric seemed a bit to open, so I ripped it off those needles and cast on to size 0's (2.0 mm). It's been a long time size I've had a set of 0's in my hands, but they were the right needles for this yarn -- in fact, I bet I could have kit on 00's and also gotten acceptable fabric. What I found interesting was that the final number of stitches after I increased was 64 -- which is what I usually get on larger needles -- so I'm getting a gauge of about 8 stitches/inch.I can't say that I adore the pooling behavior of this yarn, but it also doesn't bother me a great deal either. The colors are very evocative of peacock feathers. It has a high sheen (due to the mohair I am sure) and the sock fabric is soft and light weight. About the only real complaint I have is that the stuff is prone to splitting -- especially on 2.0 mm needles with sharp tips (these are also Darn Pretty Needles -- when I purchased them, I took advantage of the special pricing they had for a full set of sock sized needles). But this is also not too suprising given the yarn's component fibers.
This has turned out to be exactly the project I needed. Simple, colorful, quick and stashbusting. A nice reminder that sometimes a project doesn't have to be complicated to be good for the soul.
I might not suggest machine washing those socks (as my experiences suggest). Finding three gorgeous skeins of Anne on sale, I bought all three and created three pairs of gorgeous socks. Since then, the washer (not even the dryer) has felted two pairs, and the third developed a hole before I'd worn them more than a handful of times (can't really blame the washer for that one, though).
I love the vibrancy of the colors! It is certainly a color to take one away from the faded blues and greys of winter.
It really comes down to cultivating balance in one's life. I do that with books at times, when I need to clear my desk of heavier matter and get into something light and fluffy with a good page-turning tempo. Then my appetite for something more substantial returns.
Nice work with the socks. Those 0 size needles seem so small. :)
I love the vivid colours. Cheerful even in cold weather.
Don't discount the Austerman Step! I acidentally put one of those through the warm wash and the dryer (eek!) and I still seriously cannot tell which sock it is- and that softness really does last, I tell you! It's a tough little sock yarn. However, I am a sucker for blues, and that Schaefer is a beauty! Love those deep, rich blues!
What a pretty color yarn!
I just ordered a set of the size 0 Darn Pretty dpn on sale. I already have size 1 and size 1.5. I find I usually have to go down one size from the recommended needle.
I have a pair of socks from this yarn that I made 2 years ago, although I think mine are at a tighter gauge (9 sts/in). I love them. Oh, and they get washed on the delicate cycle in the machine all the time, and have held up really well.
i need some stash busting things to knit...and these do look so, so fuzzy.