Tartan Socks: Mocked by Moccasins

I have a feeling my experiment with Elizabeth Zimmerman's Moccasin Sock technique is about to come to an abrupt and messy end.

I suspect I'm not going to like the fit of the finished socks, which is a major de-motivator for proceeding.

However, it is a cunning construction. It looks all goofy on the needles, but magically transforms into a sock on the foot. It will eliminate the need to sew the side of the foot shut, which is a plus. I'm also surprised at how well the heel fits, even thought it doesn't have a normal turn.

The problem is I'm not sure how much of my discomfort stems from the construction of the sock, and how much is because I'm trying it on while it's still on the needles.

I'm closing in on the bottom of the foot, where the sole will be grafted shut. I can't decide if I should finish it and get a true fit, or if I should cut my losses now. I was smart and did not cut the red and yellow yarn after working the toe. Of course, if I was to back track, I would have to pull back all of the heel/gusset/instep shaping, which would take me back to the center of the last black diamond at the ankle.

Wiggle Room, or Lack Thereof
The main problem is in the toe.

Remember a few posts ago when I was worried the Tartan Sock was longer in the foot than the Pirate Arrgyles? Well, totally misplaced fear. Turns out the Tartans are three rows shorter, and I'm feeling their loss.

The toe pocket is very close. It is hard to flare my toes. And the foot seems short in general. It makes my toes curl under. But at the same time the fabric on top of the foot looks baggy.

You can see how much of the sole I've worked. I'm through both sets of toe decreases and the one set of heel decreases.

At first I thought I should pull it out and work the red toe decrease section over more rows to give myself more room. Then I realized the top of the foot looked baggy, so that didn't seem the proper fix.

I don't know if I should work more rows between the decreases on the theory the slack will stretch up the sides to my toes were I need it. Or if I DO need to make the foot longer. She says when you pick up for the sole you should have double the number of stitches you cast on, and I didn't.

Under Foot
Then I'm also worried about the feeling of the finished sole under my foot.

You graft the very bottom shut. This shouldn't be an issue. Grafting/kitchener stitch is seemless.

But it also sounds like you do that draw-string bag closure thing under the toe and heel. How much of a lump is that going to make? Am I going to feel it when I walk?

I once crocheted a pair of slippers with a sole that started with a chain that you worked around, increasing on either end. I felt the lump under my heel. It was pretty uncomfortable. Granted, that was with worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn and these socks are fingering weight wool. But still.

This all means the Tartan Socks are stymied at the point you currently see them. They've been in that condition for a few days now while I dither.

On the bright side, I've turned the heel on the Second Scrappy Socks and I've almost finished Stella's Second sleeve.

I guess there is something to be said for having multiple projects on the go!

Trip to France Day 6: Lyon-Nancy II

Day 6, Part 2
When last we left our intrepid vacationers they had eaten a questionable lunch, but scored some yummy wine, in the village of Pommard. Then they continued their mission of reviving the French economy through the payment of highway tolls on their way to Nancy.

The trip (and traffic) into Nancy was mercifully uneventful. But Hubby absolutely deflated when he saw it was another city. On the approach, all you can see are high rise buildings. It isn’t terribly attractive. Once we got into the city, and the area around our hotel, the view was more attractive.

Hubby was upset because it wasn’t a charming little town or village. In fact, the only little town we managed to stay in was Pauillac. That was also the only B&B we stayed in, so I don’t know how much the fact we were staying mostly in hotels factored into us being mostly in cities.

I assured him it was going to be fine and that he did the best he could from thousands of miles away. I checked the Fodor’s. By that point in the trip I had finally realized Fodor’s puts a happy shine on almost everything.

I mean, really, do the towns pay to be included? Are the editors just afraid of offending anyone?

I started reading between the lines. If it described a place as being “vibrant with lots of energy,” I interpreted that as being a large city with bad traffic. The description of Nancy went on and on about the fabulous architecture and the mix of time periods and styles. No real warning that it was a big city. However, in a separate paragraph discussing the overall region, there is a passing mention that Nancy is the largest city in the area. Large in comparison to what? I mean, a large city in Vermont is much different than a large city in New York. Population counts would have been helpful. For instance, Wikipedia says over 100,000 people live in the city proper.

Psst, Nice Steps
We found our hotel with relative ease. They didn't have parking, so hubby had to dump me on the curb and drive a few blocks away to a public lot.

We were staying in the Hotel de Guise , which is a converted nobleman's mansion. The front foyer was all old marble, with sweeping curving staircases. There were big windows looking onto a closed courtyard.

And there was no elevator. Well, the hotels had been getting more affordable the deeper we got into the vacation, so it was bound to happen. We got some exercise dragging our luggage up to the third floor. There wasn't air conditioning either, but there was a desk fan in the room that was pretty helpful.

Psst, Nice Building
We were walking distance of the Place Stanislas, so we headed in that direction to get the gawking out of the way.

The area was set up with an elaborate building at one end, then a long, long plaza, that ended at a wee Arch de Triumphe, which was the entrance to the massive courtyard in front of the palace. A museum, an opera house, and another fancy building made up the other sides of the courtyard. Two of the corners had very large, elaborate fountains in them. The entire center was pedestrianized. There were a few restaurants and shops as well.

We went questing for an ATM, hoping for a BNP so we wouldn't have to pay fees. There was an awkward moment when a young woman with a backpack and a dog said something to me in French. I said, "Pardon?" So she repeated it. I could tell she was saying something about money and thought maybe she was trying to tell me something about a bank location. I called Hubby over and she repeated what she said for like the fourth time. Turns out she was begging. Oops. Well, we didn't have any cash, so she was wasting her breath.

Mmm, Pasta
On our way to the palace we had passed through the Rue et Place St Epvre, which had both a nice cathedral and a number of cafes. Since it was on the way back to the hotel, we headed in that direction in search of food.

Once nice thing about all the outdoor seating in France is that you can totally spy on what people are eating, which can help you make up your mind.

We ended up deciding on a place called Plazza Pasta, because it smelled good when we walked. We figured out which restaurant it was by matching the large, oddly shaped white bowls people eating had to what we could see inside. It was like a fast food, take-out Italian place. Really, you ordered a drink, pasta shape, and sauce all for one affordable price.

Yeah, I know, right? We're in France and we're eating quick cook pasta. I think we were both ready for something a little less elaborate for once.

It was really good. Sure, it wasn't the best Italian food I've ever eaten, but it hit the spot. Hubby got spaghetti with bolognase (bolognese?). I got spirals with carbonara. Little rolls rounded out the meal. Of course, coffee and chamomile tea finished it off.

I didn't sleep very well that night. We had two beds in the room. I think they must have been double/full size. They looked big enough, but I felt really crowded. Heaven forbid I switch to the other bed.

Working the Purple

Purple Shirt of the Week!: Purple Shirt of the Week: You'll be seeing more of this soon enough...

Hehe!

Casting On: Stella Blouse

I have spent most of the summer knitting socks and practicing project monogamy.

This has led to me actually completing projects in a timely manner.

I don't know which aspect of my current knitting habits I'm tired of, but I suddenly had the need to start working on a sweater again.

There are, of course, many projects I want to start. But starting them all at once is counter productive. There are two I've been both wanting to make for a while, and have all the materials for.

One is the Stella's Blouse top from the Spring 04 issue of Interweave Knits. When I first saw the pattern all those years ago, I knew I was going to make it, but I thought it was over my skill level with the pleats and smocking and all. I bought the magazine, and apparently one set of circular needles, but no yarn. Didn't want to get to far ahead of myself.

It has lurked in the back of my mind since then. It was never forgotten, just on the back burner. In fact, this pattern was the inspiration for putting smocking on my Top Down Alpaca Mitts.

Last year or so I bought some Rowan Cotton Glace (the yarn specified in the pattern) in light blue.

The next hurdle was the smallest size was a 34 inch bust and I'm a 31 inch. That is three inches of ease, which seemed a little excessive. Happily, I was able to track the designer down on Ravelry and tell her my predicament. I said I was intending to ditch 10 sts, 5 each front and back, right after the smocking was done.

She said that was a good plan. Then explained how it would affect the stitch count further up the sweater.

I was all set to make it, I just needed the time.

Second Choice

The other sweater I was considering was Iris, a shrug from Rowan 35.

It looks pretty easy-peasy and functional. I have five balls of Rowan Calmer (the yarn specified) in denim blue. They are leftover from the bag I bought when I made my Superhero Sweater (seen here). The only thing stopping me from making it was time.

On Saturday, I pulled out all the implements of destruction needed to start one of them. I sat on the couch pouring over the pictures and patterns trying to decide.

Hubby asked what was going on. I explained and held up the two pictures for him to see.

He voted for Stella. He said it was my style top. So the decision was made. (Although I do wonder if he realized both are going to get made eventually.)

A Sleeve is Born
I was very excited to get gauge with the US4 called for in the pattern.

Usually I like to knit both sleeves at the same time. I'm not this time. Despite having a 32 inch circular, I didn't think both sleeves would fit on it comfortable.

Working them singularly is probably just as well, since it took me three tries to get the first two rows right.

Yeah, I know!

It was all because I didn't realize that the "set up row" was a wrong side row.

I kept starting row 2 and couldn't figure out why the pattern wasn't working out. The purl stitches weren't stacking up. I must have picked it out three times. Even after I figured out it was a wrong side row, I still couldn't get the pattern to work. I even debated whether there was a mistake in the pattern because I figured out how to force it to work if I changed the order I worked the stitches.

I finally gave up and went to bed. Of course, as always happens, I was laying there trying to fall asleep and the light bulb finally went on.

Row 1 is a wrong side row. I have to read the chart from left to right. NOT right to left, as I was doing. Of course it wasn't working.

I guess I've just been knitting so many socks, worked in the round so the charts always read from the right, that I forgot flat charts switch sides.

Well, I didn't hop out of bed to go knit. But things went much more smoothly the next time I sat down with it!

I'm just about done the cap shaping. It's very exciting how quickly it's whipping along. I guess when you go from 7 sts/inch on US1 or US2 to 5 sts/inch on US4 it is going to seem like fast.

The yarn is nice. It's a little slippery on the Addi Turbos. I do wonder it part of that is I've been working with either wool or cotton on wood needles for the past few months. But other than that, things are fine.

Tartan Socks: I Got Sole

This picture is actually a lie.

After I finished working the heel shaping I realized I hadn't picked up an even number of stitches along both sides of the instep. The sock was crooked. I had to frog it and start over.

I think the crookedness is even apparent in this picture. I had more stitches on the left than I did on the right (as they appear in the picture).

I did not struggle with this decision for as long as you might imagine. I looked at for a minute or two and thought, "Yep. It's got to go."

I know Elizabeth Zimmerman says right there in the text for the Moccasin Socks that knitting isn't an exact science, but I couldn't take the chance that it would actually even out.

I thought it would be better to rip it out now, while it is still small, than to finish the entire sock and be like "Oh, that sucks."

The socks is, however, already back to this condition. Only it is all freshly picked up and evenly balanced.

And a Toe
But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Before I was able to pick up the sole stitches I had to finish the instep and toe. Which you see to the right.

I don't know how well you can make out the toe shaping. I see the sock curled on me a bit when I was taking it. You can see the one decrease line. EZ has you decrease at two points on either side of the center. I get the impression the stitches on the sides will curl under to the bottom of the foot.

When I was done that knitting, I held this sock up to a Pirate Arrgyle Sock (as you remember, I'm using them as a guide), and the Tartan Sock seemed longer.

I had a moment of panic, since the gauge and row count were the same. If Hubby noticed me sitting on the couch attempting to wrap a bit of knit fabric around my foot, he didn't comment. Well, once I go the stitches that will grow into the heel lined up, and stretched the instep around my foot, it did all seem to suck up into place. I'm going to solider forth in faith that it will work out in the end.

To the Sole
Then it was a matter of flipping the sock over and picking up for the sole. You go down one side, knit the stitches that will be the heel foundation, up the other side, and knit the live toe stitches.

Then you start your new round, knitting down the side to the heel. At which point you stop and work the heel. It sort of reminds me of a Cuban Heel to a degree, because it is triangular. It is the little black bit nestled into the last red diamond there in the top picture. I suppose maybe I should have done that bit in red, but oh well and why over complicate things?

I'm actually working with six double points. As you can see, I'm using my 7" clovers for this. Not a lot of flexibility there. I ended up getting out a 5" Brittany Birch when I was working the heel. Much easier to have them confined to their own needle, rather than trying to flex them over the long needles which had the side stitches, or rearranging everything.

When I decided to start the heel over, I actually used my 24" US1 Addi Turbo to pick up and knit down the first side. I thought I'd be able to get all the way around, but the needle part was too long and it got awkward after the heel. I ended up doing the second side on a DPN. Then I as I knit the first round I transferred all the stitches back to DPNs from the Addi.

Of course, EZ says to work the sole on a 16" circ. I don't own one. I don't usually have any trouble doing my small circumference knitting on DPNs. But I can kind of see her point in this case.

Rotation
The sock did not get any attention last night.

I have three projects on the go at the moment. The Tartan Socks, the Stella Top (of which you have not heard), and a new pair of Scrappy Socks.

I've decided the best bet is to rotate them so they all get attention. Last night was Stella's turn. I'll be back to the Tartans tonight. The Scrappy Socks...well, the Scrappy Socks just have to suck it up and wait their turn.

Book Review: Debbie Bliss Baby and Toddler Knits

I have been totally slacking on the book reviews I'm supposed to be doing for CICO Books.

Bad Blogger!

So let's get back to it

Today we have Debbie Bliss Baby and Toddler Knits. (96 pages, 100 color photographs, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-906525-37-8)

If you don't know who Debbie Bliss is, you either haven't been knitting for very long, or you've been knitting in complete isolation.

She is a prolific British designer with her own yarn line; many, many books, pamphlets, and patterns to her name; and last year she even started a magazine.

Really, the woman must not sleep.

Which is good for people who like her patterns as she designs really cute stuff.

This book is a case in point. It has patterns ranging from a scarf with a Fair Isle design, to a cute little pleated dress, and a sweater with an interesting shawl collar. There are also booties, blankets, and some hats as well. Knitters of all skill levels should be able to find a pattern they can execute, as they range from a simple garter stitch cardigan to aran sweaters and many in between.

I am rather enamored of this little double breasted number. The pattern is called "Baby Reefer Jacket and Hat."
(I see now that there is actually a better picture in the book I could have used. Oh well, you get the idea.)

One thing I like about this book is that while a number of the patterns call for her Baby Cashmerino yarn, which works at around 6.5 sts/inch, several of them call for DK weight yarn and have gauges of 5 or 5.5 sts/inch.
Meaning you might actually get the project done while the baby is still small!

It's a good book to have on hand. Especially if you have younger relatives who keep reproducing.