Monday, October 01, 2007

August Sock Club

So I tried to get all creative with the latest picture.

Yeah, that's about all I've got.
I really do like these socks though. They're the August sock club pattern from the Ewe and Me sock club.
When I saw the sample in the store, I was a little disappointed. They looked like boring, simple little ribbed socks, and I wasn't crazy about the yarn.
Boy was I wrong.

The yarn is really wonderful. It's Fortissima Sockina Cotton (75% cotton, 25% acrylic), and it's wonderful to work with. It has all the memory and stretch of wool, and the pattern works up just as nicely. If the mom ever decides she needs more socks, it will probably be this brand.
Also, the pattern was not at all boring, because check out this heel flap.

Yes, it's a little dark, but you can see there's a nifty woven texture to it. That's achieved by knitting the stitch through the back loop and then, the part that confused me for a while, wrapping the yarn the wrong way (you purl normally on the purl rows). Once I realized that yes, in fact, I was supposed to wrap the yarn the wrong way around the needle, I was really delighted with it. That's a kind of stitch I had never even heard of before, and I've spent entirely too much times sitting around looking at stitch dictionaries. I was quite pleased with it. And the way it looks makes me want to incorporate other interesting stitches into my heel flaps now too. Linen stitch anyone?
So anyway, this whole sock club thing might work out okay, because I would never in a million years have chosen either the yarn or the pattern, and I wound up loving both. Something similar is happening with the September socks, which you will probably see in a few days (I swear, I'm on the second foot now).
The one thing I wasn't happy with was their suggested gauge. Even the sample in the shop looked too drapey to me. I subbed in some 1's for some 2's and knit the largest size, and I was much happier.
In summary:
Pattern: Summer anklet with a twist, Ewe and me August sock club
Yarn: Fortissima Sockina Cotton, faux fair isle blues and purples, 75% cotton, 25% nylon, 339 yds, about half a skein
Needles: Size 1 (2.25mm) dpn
Time: About two weeks of light work
Cost: About $18 for the kit (yarn + pattern)

Also, please enjoy this gratuitous picture of Duncan's little speckled belly.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK, I fell for the kitty belly shot! SO CUTE! Oh, nice socks too.

Jen said...

I love the socks! And I love that cat. He is just too too cute! :)

Anonymous said...

I have to tell you I'm in love with all kitties but your little Duncan is just about the cutest thing I've seen since the 16.5 pounder that's sitting on my shouder was that size about 9 years ago.

Vicki Stopple

Unknown said...

socks are good, good colour, well executed but they are for feet not mouths! I think the little kitty is gorgeous!
Just my colourway.

Mistrmi said...

I was going to wax poetic on the socks, but now, ALL I can do is squee about the kitten tummy!

Anonymous said...

Omg, that little kitten is TOO CUTE!!!

The socks are nice, too. ;)

Amanda said...

You are so right.. the kitty belly cheered me right up.

I'm digging the socks.

Unknown said...

i want cubs socks.

DK said...

Awwww. That is one happy kitten.

I also love the socks. But the kitten....ohhhhh.....

My gosh, do you have any earthly idea how much Maggie would LOVE him? (She's way more of a cat person than I am.) Looooove him. Ohh. And that would be even cuter, if that's even possible.

DK said...

Oh, and I totally agree about the Cubs socks!

Carrie Penny said...

The socks are great, but the belly... Well... I keep taking pics of Eddie's...

Carrie Penny said...

Oh, BTW it is Cathy on my blog that is looking for plates.

Robin said...

Awww, the cute widdle kitty!

Stacie said...

Sarah,
I read your comment on Amanda's blog and came to see your'n and there was Duncan's little speckled belly. OMG, you are so lucky having a little kitten in your life. They make everything better just by showing us how novel everything in their world is.
Still haven't read your entries through, but want you to know that many of us out here are survivors of abuse and have made great things of our lives, AND made sure it stopped with us, in our generation and our children's.
Best,
Stacie

Romi said...

OMG. A kitty tummy! How totally adorable!