Spirit Trail Socks

After a somewhat frustrating experience making my first pair of socks, it took me a while to get back in the mood for another pair.  I did have some pretty yarn from the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival that was starting to whisper to me.  So I  started fresh.  I began with a swatch and Ann Budd's the knitter's handy book of Patterns.  Her instructions for a basic sock are based on the gauge of the sock yarn and the wearer's foot circumference and length.  My feet are a little wider and a little shorter than average.  My actual measurements translated to the large women's basic pattern with a shorter length - easy to set up.

I decided to use the double rib leg variation because its greater stretch seemed like it would be forgiving if I got the gauge wrong.  I also felt that the simple rib pattern would show off the variegated colors without competing with them too much.  

Overall, I am pleased with the results.  They are very wearable socks and look nice on.  I made some mistakes which were minor enough to leave in (a few twisted stitches, a couple of stitches picked up in the wrong place).  So I'll wear them and I'm sure no one will notice the flaws, but I wouldn't give them as gifts.  

I will definitely work off this pattern again.  It's pretty cool to have garments that are custom fit to my own proportions.  

The next time, I intend to make the following improvements:

- Modify the pattern to have a slightly blunter toe and slightly longer foot to compensate.  Perhaps a 6 3/4" foot and 12 or 16 stitches at the end instead of 8.

- If making a ribbed leg, step down the needle size by 1 compared to the gauge swatch.  The wider circumference for the foot means the leg is wider also.  My leg needs a more average circumference.  

- When I picked up stitches for the foot, I did not pick up and knit along sides as instructed, but just picked up stitches (oops).  It turned out fine, but I'll try to do it correctly next time.

- I think I would like a little more length on the leg, maybe an extra inch.


Details:

Pattern:  Sock from Ann Budd's the knitter's handy book of Patterns

Size:  based on 8 1/2 in foot circumference  (women's large), but length of 6 1/2 to beginning of toe (women's small)

Gauge:  knit at 6 sts per inch

Needles:  size 3 dpns top 3 inches of leg; size 2 dpns rest of sock

Yarn:  Spirit Trail Fiberworks Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

Color:  (TR-06-05-03) hand dyed blues, violets and teal variegated

Yardage:  200 yards per sock, some left over

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_1