A couple weeks ago, I got a knitting email that offered free sock patterns. I am a sucker for sock patterns, and fell in love with one instantly; Caspian Sea Socks:


So I printed the pattern and went to my local yarn store, Stitch DC, where the owner, Marie, helped me find the right weight yarn and suggested color combination (as neither the yarn nor the colors in the right weight from the pattern were in the store, but improvisation is one of the many joys of knitting). Her sister, Nora, took the many skeins I picked out and very kindly and patiently spun them into wonderful little balls:


It was tough to start, and even though I am a fairly experienced knitter, I was intimidated by the pattern, the new techniques, and all the sticks:


After two or three evenings hunched over the pattern and speaking the colors out loud to myself ("light dark dark dark light light"), I had a toe! The top of the foot:


and the sole:


After that, I was a bit more comfortable, but I still had to pay close attention to the pattern because, as you can see above, the top and the bottom are almost completely different patterns. But I got the whole foot done:


The calf actually starts at the horizontal gray and blue line. On the opposite side was a green line that was just a place holder. Once I completed the foot and leg as a tube, I went back and removed the placeholder and put the now "live" stitches on needles for the heel:


I'd never done this before and put it off for a few days. Once I took out the placeholder and put the stitches on the needles, I glanced at the heel instructions and went to bed, deciding to leave it for a couple of days.

Last night, I finished the heel. And it looks pretty darn cool:


and so does the sole:


Now I just have to block it ... and make another one. For the second one I was thinking of either reversing the colors or using the same palette but changing the placement of colors altogether, like making the foot gold and green and making the leg blue and gray. I'm about to start the second one, so I should probably decide.

The Flickr set is here if you want to see bigger pictures.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


thank you! there were lots of techniques in there that were new to me. hopefully, they'll get better in the next sock.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


pretty sure mom has dibs on these. they would be too small for you anyways. you can have the next pair, though. what colors do you want?

From: [identity profile] meval.livejournal.com


KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF MY SOCKS!!! mine, mine mine, mine

From: [identity profile] etinterrapax.livejournal.com


Those are awesome. Truly awesome. I'm no good with color knitting, and I love seeing someone else pull it off. I like your color palette better than the pattern, too.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


thank you! they need to be blocked to even out the stitches, but the technique for the little dots of color is really neat.

this reminds me, I have to send you some cross stitch, if you are still interested.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


the pattern and thread I want to send you are of the national cathedral stained glass window:
Image

and, really, honestly, trying not to sound too hokey, seeing a picture of the finished product would
enough. triumph by proxy!

From: [identity profile] etinterrapax.livejournal.com


Oh, I love that one! Could be a while before I finish it, but I will definitely post pics--like I could help it! I'm probably the only person on Facebook who posts more pictures of inanimate objects than of people.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


hooooray! can you send me your mailing address on facebook? I'll try to get it in the mail this week. I think I have another pattern, too. I will check.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


thank you. :) I had lots of help choosing. I started the second in gold and green in place of blue and gray, and I think it might look pretty good, too.

From: [identity profile] sskipstress.livejournal.com


I don't think there's a way you could mix these colors in this pattern and not have it look good.

I must admit I'm slightly surprised that Stitch DC had anything vaguely appropriate for you to work with as I find they never have what I need for my patterns.

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


thank you! I don't know if it was patience so much as the driving urge to conquer. :)

From: [identity profile] nstynittinymph.livejournal.com


Do you know how seriously you rock?! Honestly!

I've wanted to knit these socks for years now, but the pattern put me off - okay, and I've only ever knit 2.5 pairs of socks at this point. ;)

Go, you rockin' sock woman!

From: [identity profile] mazzie.livejournal.com


thank you! the pattern is intense, but not hard, if that makes sense. it's definitely not mindless knitting. :)

From: [identity profile] mooflyfoof.livejournal.com


Holy crap, that's crazy awesome! Mad props!
.