Do FOs come in packs? Herds? Or is it just that I blog about them all at once? That would be poor planning, since knitting blog fodder isn't always the stuff of fascination. The entertaining stuff should be carefully spread out through more mundane blog posts.
I've been mustering the intestinal fortitude to blog these socks since I finished sock #1. Schaeffer Anne, 72 stitches, #1 Crystal Palace bamboo needle, mindless st st pattern, 12 rows of cuff ribbing, kitchener toes.
Can you see the problem?
I had done the toe, woven in the end, then tried it on. My other socks have all been on four needles. I used five for this one because the extra stitches demanded it. And, clearly, I didn't count which needle was which correctly.
I don't really think I'm the first, the only, the last to do this to a sock. The hard part was admitting (in public) that I am DONE with these socks, and I am not ripping and redoing. It took knitting the whole second sock to truly know that I am not going to invest the extra time.
For those who want to know about Schaeffer Anne, the sock is 6 1/2" tall, and 10 1/2 long. And I had lots of yarn left.
Other knitting news: My Tess microfiber ribbon top (pictured below) is about to be history. Yes, I took a picture of it before I frogged it. There wasn't much there. I remember loving the top when I saw it in Tess' booth. I can't account for what happened between then, and now. Some relationships are just not meant to be.
My swatch on bamboo needles was sleek and beautiful. This slip stitch pattern on Addi turbos looks like what you would find discarded on the floor of an intergalactic whorehouse. It's fall, and I think I'll put the ribbon yarn away until next year. I did download Green Gable in preparation for the next use of the yarn. Silvia used Tess microfiber ribbon to do hers, and it is stunning.
Leaf lace shawl has seen some reasonable progress now that Mr. Etherknitter is back to work. Getting the set-up rows done required ZERO interruption. That's usually an irresistable lure to any married man. ("Does she love me or her knitting more? Will she talk to me RIGHT THIS MINUTE? Ooops. She's making Lace Face again. I'd better scram.")
Yeah. Knit three rows, tink back two, knit five rows, tink back three. Now that I understand the peculiar language of lace, I really AM having fun. Finish it by Rhinebeck? Probably not. But I can always dream.
Even though we hadn't a name for "Lace Face" in our home til now, it certainly has been seen before. And I wouldn't fix the sock either - as long as its still comfy, who cares.
Posted by: PumpkinMama | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 10:12 PM
I think that the yarn bra is inspiring the intergalactic whorehouse :-) I *so* know what you mean about needing concentration -- that's why I often knit when the rest of my clan is sleeping. Sorry about the sock -- no one looks at toes except other knitters -- enjoy them in closed toe shoes.
Posted by: Kathy | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 10:15 PM
Hahahahaha! Intergalactic whorehouse. Now there are some images.
I admire your ability to leave the sock as is. If it feels fine, then it is fine. And noone will see it anyway, right? That is, until you whip off your shoe to show everybody. I know you will.
Last, Rhinebeck is a long way away. I think you can do it. Once you get the hang of the pattern, it will be moving right along. Don't give up the leaf yet!
Posted by: Teresa C | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 10:33 PM
I bought Tess's microfiber ribbon a couple years ago. I tried using it for the Diamond Patch top. What a disaster. I frogged it and sold the yarn to a friend. She turned it into the most gorgeous slipstitch top in the world. I can send you a url if you'd like to see it and get inspired. Stick with it, Laurie. Your microfiber WILL be beautiful one day.
Posted by: Sharon | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 10:55 PM
A HERD of FO's? Too funny. Sorry about the poor sock...was it both, or just one?
Posted by: Marcia | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 11:21 PM
My friend Holly made a similar mistake with toe up socks. The ankle was on sideways. She had me try them on and when the ankle was in the wrong place, she told me to TURN MY FOOT.
Once I pointed out to her the reality of my anatomy vs that of the sock, we had a good laugh!
Posted by: LaurieM | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 06:29 AM
Lace face? Bwahhahaha.... but on second thought, I think you're right. They do test us like that. And btw, I'm really really glad you didn't rip the sock. It was the right thing to do.
Posted by: Cassie | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 07:35 AM
Good work...it is the process and you know when it works, when it doesn't and when it's time to say it's perfect as is.
If you leave out a YO there is no need to tink. You'll see where it goes on your way back and can just pick it up. In the all of it, even if it is a little smaller than the others, no one will notice...like the toe of a sock hidden in a shoe.
;-)
Posted by: margene | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 08:12 AM
yeah for mr.ether getting back to work :-)
Posted by: vanessa | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 08:33 AM
Intergalactinc whorehouse? Lace Face? Perpendicular toes? You are KILLING me today. Hee hee hee hee hee!
:-)
Posted by: Beth S. | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 09:06 AM
Lace Face is a perfect name for that look of concentration (or is it consternation?) that we get. The sock is now uniquely yours and there's nothing wrong with that.
Posted by: Carole | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 09:07 AM
That picture of the socks in the sun is just beautiful!
Posted by: Cheryl | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 10:07 AM
The socks are beautiful. So are the photo and the yarn. Do you have trouble finishing things you know are imperfect? I'm having that problem with my Trekking sock, even though I-am-not-ripping-back-is-that-clear.
I'll have to start something for Rhinebeck so we can not finish together. Except, my luck, then you would finish.
Yay, Mr. E! (For being back at work, that is. Now go watch football.)
Posted by: Lucia | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 12:29 PM
Glad Mr. E is well enough to go back to work.
I would have left the sock too and done the other one to match. Then I would have just told people it was a design element.
Posted by: Dorothy B | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 12:37 PM
I'm glad Mr E has recovered enough to go back to work. He's done well, and you too.
My six year old broke his leg this week and I thought of you..
Posted by: Caroline M | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 01:27 PM
I'm pretty sure I saw the episode where Capt. Kirk fell in love with one of the whores in the intergalactic whorehouse, but I don't remember her wearing that yarn...
Posted by: Martha | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Take a page from Microsoft's book: It's not a bug, it's a FEATURE. ;-) My, what a lovely design you knit on top of the sock toe!
Posted by: DebbieB | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 05:41 PM
At least you can tuck the mistake into a shoe :) Who knows---you might like the new look and make it a regular design feature.
Posted by: lisa Co. Springs | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 06:06 PM
Hey, I love Battlestar Galactica, and those whore houses are some classy looking places. You take that back!
Posted by: julia fc | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 08:09 PM
Lace face.....hahahahah!!!! I bet everyone out there in blog land knows that face intimately...LOL!
I do love the ribbon yarn....very pretty!
Posted by: Kim | Monday, September 11, 2006 at 11:12 PM
It goes in your shoe. Is it comfy? That's what matters.
But I'm proud of you for letting go.
The knit 4, rip 2 progression eases as you go. So that's somehting to look forward to.
Posted by: Juno | Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 09:47 AM
Mr E back at work - that's great news!! Intergalactic Whorehouse - that's too damn funny!!
Ripping it out is sad but I've see the Green Gables done up by a couple of people and it sure is pretty.
Like your socks even if the toe is a bit wonky. They look comfy.
Posted by: Barbp | Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 08:44 PM
attention (energy) vampires
Posted by: Judy | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 08:31 AM
The socks are great--beautiful color. The toe adds interest.....
When I knit the flower basket shawl last summer, I found that I tinked back at least as much as I knit in the beginnning. It was frustrating at first, but once I got the rythmn it went well and became fun...?
Posted by: Linda | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:46 AM
I've done that to sock toes. I just have been too embarrassed to post a picture of it.
Intergalactic whorehouse?? That's probably the best blogpost line of the day.
Posted by: Lorette | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:29 PM
I think I've actually worn something suitable for that particular brothel...sort of a brocadey, stretchy, shiny thing...
I'm heading for the drawer now to purge. Man, somebody call What Not To Wear, please.
The Green Gable sweater is popping up all over the place lately...and the ribbon one is really lovely, so you never know. Just don't tell Mr. E. if aliens come knocking at the door.
Posted by: Lee Ann | Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 10:30 AM