October 14, 2007
A great weekend!
We had a lovely afternoon yesterday!
Lara and Mark had their house warming and baby shower. The weather was lovely, although it got a bit cool later in the afternoon, and I got to finally meet and chat with other Sydney knitbloggers like Celia, Lien, Kate and Sally among others.
And we got to play with bunnies! And a Cocky and some chooks, too.
We met Jasper for the first time.
Emily loves Custard. (And thought about bunnynapping him!). In the background, you can see Cocky watching over all the antics. But we didn't leave Cocky out!
And we can't forget Liza and Barbara.
Lara is going to be Twinkie's foster mother while we're visiting the USA. Looks like a nice place for a bunny holiday, doesn't it?
While we were there, I worked a little on the Hanging Garden Stole.
Up to the ninth repeat now.
And on the Stupid Slinky Sock. I was a bit uncertain about starting the toe and this whole afterthought heel caper.
I took Terri's advice, and worked the foot so that it was about 4" short of the total foot length from the waste yarn for the heel opening. But I was still a bit unsure, so instead of starting the toe, I put the foot stitches on to two dpns to hold, and undid the waste yarn, putting the heel stitches on the two circs.
For the heel and toe, I'm using a solid yarn. In this case, it's Knitpicks Essential in Petunia. I worked the heel, then tried it on Em.
By the way, why didn't anyone warn me that an afterthought heel requires grafting? Grafting twice on one sock is kinda pushing the friendship!
I'm not keen on the heel in the pattern. Is it just me, or is it a bit pointy? Anyway, at this point, I should have checked the length of the foot, but I was more preoccupied with the pointiness of the heel.
So at Lara's, I started the toe. The pattern calls for a star toe, so I blithely followed along. I didn't finish it until I got home last night.
I ended up with a pointy toe and a pointy heel. I didn't take a picture, because I don't like nighttime pictures on my camera.
So I ripped out the toe, and part of the heel. I did a standard toe, and I shortened and rounded off the heel a bit, and then tried the sock on Em. (After kitchenering the toe and the redone heel!)
Here's where I noticed that I should have checked the length of the foot. It was too short.
So I ripped out the toe, lengthened the foot, and did the freakin' stupid toe again.
And grafted it. Again.
This time, it fit.
Lucky, because I was ready to toss it.
Between the trauma of two circs, pointy heels, short feet, three toes and four graftings, this sock easily tops my "Worst sock ever" list.
But sock number two?
I feel better already!
Posted by Donna at October 14, 2007 07:23 PMComments
What a wonderful, wonderful weekend with all that bunny love. I think Twinkie will be happy at the foster home. The sock looks great, but I'm with you on that grafting thing.... twice on one sock, forget about it!
Posted by: Diana at October 15, 2007 01:16 AMI did an afterthought heel once and ended up with the same kind of pointy heel. That was last year sometime and it is still waiting for me to rip it out and fix it. I don't know why I am ignoring it because I am one of the odd people who actually like grafting.
Posted by: Karen at October 15, 2007 01:26 AM;-) I haven't heard anyone use the word chooks for so long. Only person I speak Australian to, is the husband. Even my children don't understand me!
Posted by: Marina at October 15, 2007 02:38 AMI don't mind grafting, but not twice on the same sock. Afterthought heel, I think I will not be usinng this one on my socks.
Posted by: Wanda at October 15, 2007 06:08 AMAdorable bunnies and Cocky!
I useually go about 2 inches less than the desired enght for the heel - before I read it I knew your sock would be to short - but at least you can fix it!
Posted by: Debi at October 15, 2007 09:05 AMThanks for the commentary about after thought heels. I also did not know they were grafted! The final sock looks good. So the second should be a breeze since you have all the modifications.
Posted by: Sheila at October 15, 2007 09:31 AMgood heads up about the afterthought heel, i had an idea of trying one but the whole point of socks is to avoid any kind of sewing, for me! and i do admire your fortitude, they really are worth it!
Posted by: kms at October 15, 2007 09:44 AMGood for you for having such perseverence!! I think I might have tossed them by that stage. Sounds like I might have been lucky when it came to that formula for working out the length of foot. Yes, my heel was a bit odd too, but not too bad. Still, the afterthought heel is not my heel of choice either. I won't do it again. I'm glad I've done it once though. You live and learn! Put this pair down to experience. :o) (ducking for cover in case a certain sock hits me in the back of the head!)
Posted by: Terri at October 15, 2007 11:17 AMLovely pics of the animals - look like all of you had fun. The sock looks great after all the tribulations - that's part of the knitting experience. Hooray for dpns as I don't think I can knit socks without them!
Posted by: Ann at October 15, 2007 11:43 AMI avoid grafting in socks at almost any cost, I don't think I've grafted a toe yet!
The first time I did a star toe it turned out terrible and pointy too, turns out I wasn't reading the pattern properly, I ripped it out and re-knit, it was much better the second time, though I'm not sure about the knit bumps on my toes, they felt kind of funny.
What about a short row heel, that wouldn't be as pointy, don't know if it would avoid the grafting though.
I enjoyed all the animal pictures and the shawl is still lovely. I somehow think you won't be calling the second sock "stupid". Good luck with it!
Posted by: Wool Winder at October 16, 2007 10:10 AMTwinkie wont want to come home with all those new friends will he. It is like an animal farm, and the bunnies look so cute too. I hope the second sock goes much smoother than the first for you too.
Posted by: Sue at October 16, 2007 10:31 AMCool sock! I don't like afterthought heels either - the only one I did was too pointy as well and had to be ripped out and made rounder. Nobody has a heel that shape LOL.
Posted by: sandra at October 16, 2007 01:01 PM
Great pictures of the beasties! Thanks for coming :)
Posted by: Lara at October 15, 2007 12:27 AM