Well, my quest for the perfect (for me) vanilla sock pattern will need to take another turn. After knitting away for a bit on the cuff of my latest sock (the pattern I’m using is Petty Harbour), I decided I would try it on for size. It took a little tugging, but I didn’t think much of that–socks stretch, right? So I kept tugging. Long story short, the sock was too tight, as evidenced by the fact that I seriously bent one of the dpns while getting the sock on and off!
My first reaction to that was one of disbelief. It couldn’t possibly have been the wrong size. I’m knitting a stretchy pattern! It’s sock yarn and I’m using US1s! I always get gauge on US1s with sock yarn! Something must be wrong! So I counted the stitches*. No error there–I had 72, just as I had intended. I thought about it a bit more, then decided to check my gauge. Better late than never, after all! Sure enough, I was getting a smidge over 9 sts/” instead of the pattern’s 8 sts/”. That means that my 9″ cuff (which in all honesty still would have been a bit small) is actually an 8″ cuff…and is never going to fit me.
But, a sock is a sock is a sock, and I’m not the only one of my acquaintance who both has feet and likes handknits. So, since my mom had asked for a pair a while back, I decided that they’ll go to her if they fit–and I believe they will.
It’s really challenging to get this yarn right in photos. The above pic shows the colors a bit brighter than they really are, but it’s close. At the end of the current pattern repeat, I will start the heel flap.
Want to read more about sock knitting? Head over to Paula’s blog at Spin A Yarn and Hannah’s at unsophisticated + jejune to see what they’re up to. Also, take a look at Iseago, our newest Thursday Socketeer, at nursingandknitting! Want to share your sock knitting exploits, too? Feel free to link up. Happy sock knitting!
*More accurately, I straightened out the dpn as best I could and then I counted the stitches.
My 30 Day Knitting Challenge series will continue tomorrow.
alexand knits 
I guess I am linking up….I am knitting a cuff down sock that I found in Sock knitting master class. The almondine pattern. I have never knitted a sock before, so this should be interesting…
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Awesome!
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Do you blog? If so, I can add a link to your page to my posts. I saw your “about” page but didn’t see any posts!
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Nursingandknitting.com
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Okay, I added you. Thanks for joining up!
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Oh my! That reminds me of when I decided to try on my socks after getting all the way past the heel. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone that I thought they would fit 😦 I’m so sorry about that! We are still learning socks and one day, we will hit upon the perfect fit / pair! Thank goodness you have a Mom they should fit. It broke my heart to rip out that much work. Looks like we have another member linking up 🙂 How exciting!
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Yeah, I had about four inches done on the cuff, but I didn’t even want to rip that out. I’m glad they’ll find a loving home. I wish that I had seen the light before bending the durn dpn, but at least it was just a Susan Bates cheapo that I bought years ago.
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Eek! Sorry I totally missed responding on that. You did say that you were able to bend it back? One thing that I do, if knitting on DPNs, is to put the socks on a circular needle cable to try them on. It’s so much harder to try on with DPNs not giving any slack. I totally learned my lesson about trying on the socks throughout the process to make sure they fit 🙂
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Sorry that happened. I’ve been having trouble w/my brother’s sock and it’s just a vanilla one *growls*.
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Oh no that’s so frustrating – they do look lovely though so I hope they fit your Mom. I have just cast off my first ever pair of two at a time toe up socks. I’m feeling stupidly pleased with myself as they have been on the needles since February and they became a bit of a labour of love!
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You SHOULD feel pleased! That’s quite an accomplishment! Congrats 🙂
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