Last weekend I went to Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I've been going there on and off (but mostly on) for almost 15 years. It's a weekend filled with music and dancing and camping and mud and sun and friends. I was delighted to see some old favorites like Eddie from Ohio, Wild Asparagus, Arlo Guthrie, Richard Shindell. And to discover new favorites: Red Molly, Tidal Wave. And danced until I had blisters. And then danced some more.

 

There was also knitting. I finished my socks.  

That one (above) is the artsy photo. The next one shows the colors better.

Specs:

  • Pattern: based on Charlene Schurch's Ribbed Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks (sans ribbing)
  • Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch Softcolor, color 709
  • Needles: size 1 dpns (Lantern Moon ebony)
  • Gauge: 8 st/in (I think - too tired to get up and measure)
  • Etc: I love the way this yarn stripes. Because I needed to use every scrap of yarn to make these socks big enough, I couldn't match the stripes. But I like that the purple-y sections match up anyway.

 

They fit great. These are my first full pair of toe-up short-row socks. I made one sock about a year ago, but it came out too small. 

My goal has been to get comfortable with making a basic sock so that I can do it mindlessly so that I'll always have portable knitting. It was a let down that my first toe-up sock didn't fit. And I didn't have the heart to rip it out; at least not yet. Then on this pair, I hated the first toe I knit (magic toe style)! It was so hard to manipulate the needles; it took HOURS and I am not a particularly slow knitter. So I ripped it out and went back to the short-row toe. 

 My next pair is already on the needles. It's Opal 6ply dk sock yarn. Even though I made a gauge swatch, the first sock was at least 2" too big around! I remeasured my gauge on the sock and it was dead on. I double-checked my math and it was correct. I had Rob recheck everything, including measuring my feet and he couldn't find an error either! So I ripped it out and started over with 14 fewer stitches and it's working. I still can't explain it.