liz knits: My first sock!

There is excitement again... I have knit my first sock! Ok, it's really a stocking, but I think it represents all the basic sock skills and I'm very pleased to say it was a successful experience!

Yesterday I decided I needed to continue my break from laceweight yarn, which does produce a beautiful fine project but I find needs incredible attention from me. It is not a zen-like experience for me to knit laceweight. Thick yarn, very zen-like.

So yesterday morning I cast on for the holiday stocking pattern I found for the Covina Knotty Knitters meetup. Now I had never knitted a sock or stocking before, but strangely I felt pretty self-confident going into this project. Over the past couple of months I've had a strong desire to learn how to knit socks. I've been reading much about the process. The harlot's Knitting Rules and, probably giving me even a stronger sense that all I had to do was put one foot in front of the other and everything would work out, Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch have been on my reading list. My intent has been to knit the class sock from Schurch's book, but the opportunity to knit this stocking came up first. I think the fact that it's on large needles with thick yarn helped me to think that I could do it.

So off I went, caution to the wind.

The cuff and leg zipped right up given I've done quite a bit of cabling already.

I have to say that I love cabling. Such a big bang for the time and effort!

Next the heel flap.

Look at that lovely flap. Again, nothing really hard here, but it was a first.

Then turning the heel.

This was my first time doing short row shaping and I have to say I like the outcome. What pretty neat rows with that great countour.

Then the gusset. Now I have tried to pick up stiches before (Fetching: Twins). I did it, but had no idea what I was doing. This time I did some research on the internet and found a great video demonstration at KnittingHelp.com. This helped tremendously and soon enough I was back into smooth sailing waters all the way down to the toe.

Look at that adorable shape... I love that little heel, ankle, and foot!!

Last new skill, the kitchener stich. Now I've read a lot about kitchener... mostly strong opinions about whether people hate it or love it. Again, off to the web to find a tutorial. Knitty.com had a great one in a Techniques by Theresa article. So off I went. The basic skill seems pretty straight forward. I realized half way through that during the set up I had accidently added a stich onto one of my needles and so ripped back and tried again. I ended up with another small problem the second try but decided it was a flaw I was willing to live with. And, taaaa daaaa....

The finished stocking!! (with a Dylan cat helping out with the photography).

Yarnthrower's Cabled Christmas Stocking pattern from the Pickin' and Throwin' blog
Lion Brand Wook-Ease Thick & Quick
Fisherman 099 lot 8411
less than 2 skeins
US size 13 (9 mm) japanese bamboo double pointed needles
finished size 8 inches wide, 20 inches long
started and finished November 26, 2006

Definitely a positive experience. Thanks much to Yarnthrower for a great, easy pattern! I'd recommend it to anyone who'd like a good, quick stocking project.

And because it's customary, up went the holiday lights.