I call this project THE SOCK OF EXTREME ANGST. The yarn was a gift of friendship and I loved it so that I decided to make my first pair of "just-for-me" socks. My daughters each have at least one pair of hand knit socks and I thought it was my turn.
Though it seems like I have been working on these FOREVER, they were actually started just after the New Year. From the beginning, I had a series of mishaps. First I swatched and started knitting on size 1s but didn't like how it was turning out so I frogged it, and went down to size 0s. Ok, no problem... right? Wrong! I forgot to swatch again on the smaller needles so the sock was too small. Fortunately, I was only about an inch into the cuff when I figured this out. Rippit, rippit! Still ignoring the need to swatch again, I cast on more stitches and went for it... This time I was up to the gusset when I realized that the sock was way TOO BIG! Rippit, rippit!
Finally, I swatched and started yet again. The yarn was starting to look a little sad and abused but I charged through because by this point my frustration was at a critical level.
About this time, I had a major disagreement with the lady who runs a local knitting group, of which I had been a member for about a year. I refused to be bullied so I prepared to make my exit from that group. For the very first time in my life, a hobby was causing me a great deal of stress but I would not give up...
The sock you see here still seems a little large, especially in the heel. I have not Kitchener stiched it closed. My gauge is fine, I simply picked the wrong size. I think I may actually be in between sizes and if I sat down with all of the numbers could write up my own variation of the recipe.
Now comes the indecision... Do I knit the second sock to match the first? Do I knit a slightly smaller sock with a slightly shorter cuff in an attempt to get two more socks out of the yarn I have left? Do I put the whole thing away and look through my sock yarn stash for a change of scenery, maybe cast on a different pattern in a different yarn? For now, I think I will sleep on it...
BTW, I am now part of another local crafting group which has a completely different vibe to it, it is very refreshing (and inspirational)...
5 comments:
This new group you speak of...sounds DELIGHTFUL.
As for the sock of indecision. Finish it. Have it done and then you can wear them and be happy. Besides, then your secret pal will have a perfect excuse to get you more sock yarn. :)
there is no glory like an FO, and you're half way there.
I think the key is whether or not you will wear the sock. If the sock is so loose that it is uncomfortable you might want to frog it. There are ways to frog just part.
If you can still wear the sock - move on to the second sock. If you want perfectly matched socks, you will need to repeat what you did on the first sock. If it doesn't matter, then make the adjustments to help you get a perfect fit.
Getting a perfectly fitting sock involves trial and error. Even though this isn't your first sock, it is the first sock for you & you are learning your likes & dislikes. Good luck.
I forgot to add, my first few pairs of socks don't fit as well as later pairs. But, life is short & there are way too many sock yarns & patterns out there to spend too much time on any one!
I agree with Jo. I think you should finish the second sock to match the first, as long as you can live with the fact that they are slightly too big and will still wear them. Then you can put the whole mess behind you and move on to something else.
I'm glad you were able to find a crafting group that you like :)
Yeah if you won't wear it its prolly worth starting over...i know not what you want to hear. If you will wear it make another to match. Maybe a little washing will shrink it a bit?
I'm glad you found a new group. i had the same problem. Moved to a new city & joined a group only to have one of the members be so mean to me. Luckily I've found a much nicer supportive group.
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