Monday, November 19, 2007

Mistakes Don't Have to Be Bad

I started out with the intention of knitting Criminy Jickets' Ridges and Ribs socks. I liked the pattern because ribbing always seems to create a nice fit even if I have to slightly adjust the number of stitches in a round. And, I can easily pull out the stitch pattern and have it work okay with my current method of knitting socks.

So I began with a short row toe and glanced at the stitch pattern specifics and off I went. After a couple repeats of the pattern, I realized I was doing something wrong. See the little V-shaped column? That is supposed to a solid ridge line down the sock.

With a little help from Dave, I was able to see that I was actually slipping a stitch purl wise that the pattern calls for slipping knit wise. Slipping the stitch knit wise will cause it to tighten up and line up in a straight line. Slipping it purl wise leaves it a little loose and open to form the V's. I like how the V's look though. So my mistake has now been upgraded to a modification. I like it when that happens.

I also dropped the eye of partridge heel and opted for a much easier short row heel and straight shot up the leg. I love this pattern though and will definitely knit it again, both with or with out my lack of twist modification. The pattern does exactly as intended and makes a nice combination to work with hand painted yarn.

This is my first time actually knitting with Cherry Tree Hill yarn. I must really give it a big thumbs up, two snaps, and a twist. It was really a surprise to me how much I enjoyed knitting with this yarn. I mean it feels nice in the skein but I'm just surprised and how soft it knits up and just the overall look and feel of the finished project. I must thank my mom for this. She picked it up as a surprise at a local shop sale.

Project Info
Project: socks for me
Pattern: Ridges and Ribs by Criminy Jickets
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill; color - old rose
Needles: addi TURBO Lace Needles- US# 1
Stitches Around: 64
Notes: I knit these socks toe up using a short row toe and heel. The square pictured to the left is for my sock yarn afghan. I use leftover sock yarn to knit a square for each pair of super wash wool socks I make.

17 comments:

Bezzie said...

I still can't tell what the "mistake" is!

I love that color.

Stacey said...

what a great design element! :) I love CTH - pretty much my all time favorite sock yarn!

Monika said...

I love them! The "mistake" is gorgeous, totally right for this yarn! I have to give this a try. I cast on for a pair of socks for my husband, but had to put it on hold. I might just use this kind of ribbing, if you don't mind. I can only hope that it will turn out as lovely as yours.

Jessie Blum @ Eclectic Unions said...

LOVE the mistake - it's much more interesting than an ordinary solid ridge. It looks almost embroidered!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful mistake. I love the chain of V stitches. Plus, the color of the yarn is lovely. Plus, you like the feel of the socks ... sock knitting can't get much better than that!

cpurl17 said...

If the "mistake" is the row of Vs, then you've made a brilliant one

Dave said...

Very nice! I lilke your accidental modification enough that I'll use it on my next ones. :-)

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

I like the modification. Love the bright color of these!

Anonymous said...

Hurrah! Shannon to the rescue! I cast on for socks from handpainted yarn this weekend and did more ripping than knitting once I got past the cuff. I don't mind pooling, but wanted stripes instead so I'm going to try this (together with your mod) and see if it works. Thanks!

Zonda said...

Beautiful colorway! Looks even better knit up than in the skein! Hmm...I might need to knit these!

Jennie said...

The socks turned out great. And its such a pretty colorway too. :)

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Those socks look fabulous! Love the color and the pattern!

And how cute are your doggie sock blockers?!

Lauren said...

I love the chain of V's! I think I might have to try that.

Anonymous said...

Your socks are beautiful! I have just one pair of CTH socks, but I do love how nice they look and feel.

PURLPOWER said...

You take such beautiful pictures of your knitting I'm so jealous! What a gorgeous pair of socks you have made. I had some in this colourway myself and they are great favourites of mine.

Anonymous said...

I like the way that sock pattern breaks up the pooling that can happen in hand dyed yarns. Very pretty:)

Ang

Lazuli said...

I love those socks! The slipped stitches are really neat.