Saturday, August 30, 2008

No More Traveling

However many pairs of socks I have on the needles, one is always designated as "the traveling sock." This is the one that goes on the boat with me when I head overtown (to the mainland). It also gets some knitting time while I wait at the laundromat for the washer and dryer to do their thing. Generally the traveling sock is a super simple pattern on small needles. It's supposed to take a long time to finish. And it does.

I started the GreenApple Socks in February. Six months – not so bad. Here is their formal portrait.



Here's a closeup of the stitch pattern. It's a simple four-row, four-stitch twist that pops up in every stitch dictionary I've ever seen. First you do two two-stitch twists, then a plain round, then twist just the two middle stitches, a final plain round – and that's it. The yarn is Austermann Step. I've knit with it once before but those socks were gifted. This will be my first opportunity to wear socks knit with Step. If it's as soft on the feet as it is on the hands while knitting, it should be a delight.


Since the pattern used 60 stitches, I did my favorite six-gore toe. It's the same idea as a round toe. Handy if you don't have the right number of stitches to divide into eight sections -- you just divide into six. And the same KBH (acronym for a portion of the feline anatomy) ending; no Kitchener stitch. Not that I mind Kitchener, but sometimes I get bored with it. It's nice to zip the yarn through those final few stitches and be done.


Now, of course, there is a new traveling sock, and with an even simpler pattern. "Slipped Stitch Rib" has only two rows. K3, P3 alternates with K1,SL1,K1,P1,SL1,P1. I've used this pattern before to blur the edges of some red Fake Isle yarn. As a beginning sock knitter I loved Fake Isle. No longer. But I love the browns in this skein and it is the very last Fake Isle in my stash. It will have a lot of trips in the laundry cart and on the boat, and some 6-12 months from now, I'll have a nice pair of brown-tone socks.

9 comments:

beverlyanne said...

The traveling sock is a great idea. I love the colors of the Green Apple socks.

Kath said...

You know, I would have been happy to provide you with a photo illustration of a true KBH!

Marsel said...

The socks are lovely -- I love the subtle twist design!

I'll have to point them out to my mom (delighted hands)...I have yet to finish my first pair of socks, so I'll have to request a pair of these from her so I can actually wear them this winter. :)

Susan Luni said...

That's a nice pair of socks to show for six months of idle time! Interesting about the round toe, I'll have to try a round toe to see how it fits me. I'm a bit disatisfied with the "flat" toes I'm knitting now.

Delighted Hands said...

The socks I knit for myself of this yarn is still a delight to wear-enjoy! It is good to be reminded of the round toe-I haven't tried it yet? How come?!!
Knitters know no wasted moments...socks from time-cool thought1

Leigh said...

I'd never heard of Austermann Step yarn and so enjoyed researching it. Definitely sounds like a "must try." I love the colorway of those socks. Lovely toes too.

~ Phyllis ~ said...

Nice looking socks. Love the colorway.

Marjorie said...

Those are really pretty, and I love the toe. I still break out in a cold sweat when I have to do the Kitchener stitch. It is just starting the join that adds new words and phrases to my vocabulary--once I get going, I'm ok. I'll have to "borrow" your method on my next pair of socks.

Sharon said...

Love 'em - but I always love anything green and purple. They're extra purty~