Persistent Knitter

Or at least aiming for perfection.

I figured out another reason I’m not totally happy working on Mike’s secret-socks. They got fiddly right at the heel.

Fiddly
Pronunciation: Fidd - lee
Meaning: To be annoying just enough to make it impossible to work on without thinking

I like my instep to be centered. For some reason I was having a real problem figuring out where the 25 instep stitches should be so the pattern would still look good. Part of it was I was at my knitting group at the time and counting and talking just doesn’t quite work for me.

Then, I didn’t like the moss stitch heel. Rip Rip.

That wasn’t a biggie. Then I had to add a stitch for the standard heel flap (I think. I’d have to check my notes ala Riff). Heel knit, and turned.

Then I had to figure out what to add (or not) to the instep pattern to make it look right again. It would have had only one repeat in the center instead of three across the instep.

    |patt|

vs
|patt|patt|patt|

Only one pattern repeat would have looked, well , stupid!

So I decided I can use three of the gusset stitches to finish bordering the pattern and do my decreases below that.

I also switched needle sizes so the foot would be denser and therefore more durable. So now I don’t know when to stop decreasing because I’ll want more than the original 50 cuff stitches. And I’m already thinking about having to remember all the silly things I’m doing now for the second sock. Yes, I’m taking notes. For some reason this annoys me.

I’ll get over it. Right after I get the pair of socks done :)

Mitten suggestions
Joanne suggested:
How about slightly felted mittens with angora, alpaca or some other yummy material worked into them? Fuzzy cuffs, all that good stuff!

Ooooh! I even have some super soft ultra pretty alpaca in my stash I could use. It’s a variegated yarn though - and I’m not sure how well I’d like it in mittens. Maybe I’ll have to pair it with a solid yarn and use some kind of slip stitch pattern. Hmm.. that’d make thicker mittens. Of course I don’t think I have any solid yarn in my stash this would work with. I’ll have to dig through it tonite and see what I can find.