Of Toads and Socks (or lack of)

Monday, February 13, 2006

Before starting on the other sleeve I seamed the first sleeve on and seamed one side. Seaming is so nice and easy with raglan sleeves.

Did you know that last week I made up my mind to knit my first sock? But I haven't done it. Turns out I have this bit of fear and loathing...not of a learning new techniques, but of sock yarn itself. Honestly I abhor variegated yarn in all forms and colors. All of them. (OK except for the handpainted ones because I know a lot of personal love and care goes into making those.) And the self-striping yarn in the skein form just, ugh, I don't know, I don't like the way they look, like shards of dirty crayon in unmatching colors all carelessly piled together, which then recalls for me unpleasant memories and smells of daycare.

I went to the yarn store during my lunch break and nothing appealed to the senses, not the Cherry Hills nor the Lana Grossa nor the Reynolds or whatever. I went back the next day to see if I had changed my mind and I had not. Damnit I can't seem to get past the icky pieces of stripes! I contemplated the solid-colored sock yarns but they were curiously itchy, but then I decided solid is boring and it would be fun to knit with self-striping yarn. But then I don't like how they knit up!

But but but! Oh why can't I just be happy? If it has to be striped let it be large blocks of stripes. I've seen socks made with Regia 4 Ply Nation and I like the way those knit up a lot.

Regia Banner types are also good. (These, and these, are not.)

The yarn store did not carry any Regia's. So I left there empty handed. Boo hoo.

Comments [16]
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Monday, February 13, 2006 6:16:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I'm not a big fan of sock yarn myself. However, I do like the feel of Trekking yarn- not the yarn as I'm knitting, but the resulting fabric. It's very nice.

And what about Koigu? :)
Monday, February 13, 2006 6:19:41 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
get the regia mini ringels.. i haven't seen anyone knit socks that looks fugly from those. and girl you are not getting off that easy.. i want a modeled shot of the toad!
Monday, February 13, 2006 6:41:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Have you tried any Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock yarn? It's hand dyed. It "stripes" and pools in the most amazing and interesting ways. Not that ugly witch legs way that machine dyed yarn does. No fugly colors either. Their yarn is WAAYYY softer than any other sock yarn. I've done several pairs. Email me if you'd like to see a picture of some I've done.
Monday, February 13, 2006 6:47:17 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I'm with you on the variegateds. Try the Lorna's Laces, either the Shepherd Sport (softer, quicker to knit up) or the Shepherd Sock (more durable), but in their semi-sold incarnations. Either one is super, super soft. (For the record, I'm knitting a pair of socks in one of the variegated Lorna's colors right now, and I HATE the way it's pooling. HATE. I will have to love those socks with my eyes closed.)
Monday, February 13, 2006 7:10:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Your sweater is looking great!

Both Cherry Tree Hill and Koigu make solids that are soft.
Monday, February 13, 2006 7:38:50 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Koigu is my fave. Their color combinations are beautiful and I haven't had a pair pool on me it. Koigu is also very comfortable to wear. I'm knitting up a lace ribbed pair in a solid Koigu and really like it as well -- the stitch pattern shows nicely in the solid. I've become a big fan of Trekking because their colors are fun to knit up, there's no pooling, and the nylon content makes for long-lasting socks. I just finished a pair in Lorna's Laces for my husband. The colors are very nice, the yarn is super soft, but the pooling was awful. Hope this helps.

Oh and I knit the Vittadini "toad" a couple years ago. The sweater has not gotten much wear and I'm seriously considering ripping it at some point ...
Monday, February 13, 2006 8:18:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Holy guacamole! That sweater is looking GREAT!

Hmmm. I like Koigu. I also like Dani's yarn:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=4375

It's all hand dyed, and she has great colorways.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 3:08:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Woo hoo! I'm not the only one with an aversion to variegated sock yarn. Phew!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:07:57 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I totally love your cabled toad!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 8:14:36 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
The toad looks great! I can't wait to see it with both sleeves. I agree with you on most sock yarn - I hate the jaquard/self striping stuff (though I did knit my first pair of footies with it for lack of knowledge at the time). What about a slightly bigger gauge (light worsted)? Elann has some baby cashmere....
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 10:40:33 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I'm desperately looking for some pale pink KfI cashmerino yarn and your website showed up. How do I go about asking you if you have any you would be willing to part with? I love your site!! By the way, I have just started my first pair of socks because I was gifted with variegate sock yarn from my son's fiance. I think of the colors as confetti--its more positive.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:07:36 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
What a wonderful sweater! I have some pretty cool handdyed superwash sock yarn dyed and in my store (http://knitnpurlzen.etsy.com). It's soft and I have some variegated, however, I also did a solid pink one with pink tone changes if you like pink. I try to do colours that won't look too "odd" variegated...at least that's what's in mind when I decide on colours as some variegated yarn is just, well, ugly.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:45:56 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
i'm so glad you're finally decided to knit socks! you'll love it. i think koigu and lorna's laces both offer solid color yarns. as well as cherry tree hills. i did not like variegated yarns before, but i have totally changed my mind now. they can be beautiful!! the toad sweater looks fab.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:10:25 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
I can't comment on the socks part since I have not knitted any yet. I would like to.

Wow, your toad sweater is coming along very well. Can't wait for you to finish it cos I just absolutely love the way you models your knits! ;)
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 4:59:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
That is just sooooo absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous! Where did you get the pattern from? Especially the cable??? Could I possibly have it? Pretty please?? :)
Saturday, February 18, 2006 10:40:46 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
Love the cables. I cannot wait to see it on you!!

Socks..so ungratifying, can't show off, noone can see, too much work....yadda yadda yadda. BUT if you love it, I'm sure it will turn out great!

your honest pal,
Lizard
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