Friday, February 24, 2012

Fiber Arts Friday: Challah Progress

I mentioned the beginnings of my Challah socks in December... Can it really have been that long ago?

I was knitting along and feeling pretty confident when I realized I messed up one of the larger cables... right at the beginning. :-/


It doesn't look too bad in this photo, but you can see the big cable on the right does not mirror the big cable on the left. :-/

Also my purl stitches are looser than I would like them to be. I changed to smaller stitch markers a few rows back which helped... but ugh.

I talked it over with both Hubba and Kristi and I tried on a few ideas...

(1) it will be in shoes and no one will see it anyway,
(2) it's my first cabled sock, so no one really cares if it's messed up,
(3) it's a design feature and
(4) I might just knit three socks.

I knit a few more rounds and the whole time I was thinking, the toe is wrong, the toe is wrong, the toe is wrong. It really started to bug me and I couldn't let it go. So I pulled it out and started over.

I meant to post the corrected sock at the same place as the photo above, but well, I'm a lot further than that now.  :-)


Check that out... a real sock that fits my very own foot. :-D

This sock demanded my full attention when I was working on the gusset increases, especially at the beginning... keeping track of whether I was on an increase round or not and where I was in the cable pattern.  It was a little challenging at first.  Now I'm past the heel and about ready to cable until my heart is content.
:-)

There are several mistakes in this sock... even after the big rip-out, but they are smaller and less noticeable, so I have decided to leave them.  I know the next sock will be better.  :-)

That being said it was a little snug pulling over my heal.  So I am planning to tink back a few rounds and switch to larger needles... as recommended in the pattern.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.  Be certain to check in with everyone over at Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

11 comments:

oak haven alpacas said...

Beautiful!!!

My husband and I deal with those mistakes differently. I will rip it out and start over, like you, the bigger mistakes bother me and I want it right. The smaller ones I can over look (especially if I know no one else will notice). My husband is very very unlikely to ever rip something out (unless the gage is completely off, like a hat that would fit an elephant).

Cara

MarmePurl said...

I was voting for # 1,2 and 3, but after seeing the corrected sock, looks like you made a good choice!

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

If you can't forget that there's a mistake, frogging is the right thing to do. You'll enjoy them so much more in the end. The sock looks fantastic - I'm going to go Ravel the pattern.

Melissa Plank said...

Look at those awesome cabled socks, a hug for your feet!

Melissa said...

Your socks are looking great....sometimes we just have to start over.

Kristi aka Fiber Fool said...

You're doing great, Kathryn!

Amanda often creates a spreadsheet to help her keep track of pattern row/rnd and any shaping that needs done. Then just checks off each row on the spreadsheet as she goes. It can be really handy when you are dealing with a different rate of shaping than a pattern repeat. You can even include total stitch count to keep you on track if you like. I've been known to do that for sweater yokes, especially if I need to shape the arms/sleeves at a different rate than the body for some reason.

Alittlebitsheepish said...

It looks great. SOme mistakes you can live with but some just need ripping, if it was bothering you then I think you made the right decision :)

WonderWhyGal said...

I'm glad you ripped back. Those socks are beautiful and you will find your feet out of shoes more than you think.

Spinster Beth said...

Oh, mistakes ... what to do ... I can live with little mistakes. But a cable ... and I'd knit forty rounds while trying to decide what to do! I know you're happy with your decision :-) and it looks very pretty.

AllyB said...

Good for you! I would have ripped it out too. Even if no one would ever see the mistake you know you made it will always haunt you. We are a lot alike I believe. Type A with an extra dose of perfectionist thrown in. Am I close? Your second attempt looks great! Have a wonderful weekend.

Kathryn Ray said...

@AllyB - Thanks. I suppose I am Type A about some things... but I also enjoy relaxing and not having deadlines. :-)

@Melissa - they are very comfortable. I wore it around for a while just enjoying the squishy-ness. :-)