Ugh. Socks.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m not crazy about the idea of knitting socks. This is mainly because socks in general don’t excite me. They do the opposite of excite me. (I guess that would be “bore.”) The idea of socks drives me to apathy. I was raised in a warm climate so I have no fond associations of nice warm socks by the fire, that kind of thing.
Now, I’ve made a pair of socks. I got this yarn as a prize, and my dad told me he wanted some, so I made them. And it was exciting, finishing that first sock - mostly because I wasn’t sure if I would ever get the thing to fit or look right. And then it did, so I was happy. My first sock! Yay.
However, I have found, since then, that my general apathy toward the sock continues. I no longer have actively *negative* feelings about knitting socks (as I did while attempting the ill-advised “blue-sock project” on Size Negative Three needles or whatever - that’s never going to happen, by the way). But I’m still not converted. I probably have similar feelings about the subject as Eunny - in other words, I say I don’t like to make socks but will ocassionally do so, anyway.
Case in point:
Um, yeah. I’m making another pair of socks.
So here are the two great things about hand-knitted socks: they are super comfortable, and they make wonderful knitted gifts (for people that like socks, that is). After trying on my dad’s socks, I decided I wanted something super-comfy, too, man! And I know a few people who would appreciate having some soft hand-knit socks for their vewy ownz.
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But here’s my next complaint: what is up with this self-patterning, self-striping, multi-color whatever yarn?! This sh*t is crazy! I mean, about 95% of the time, the colors look amazing, gorgeous, or even just really pretty, when they are in a ball or skein. Observe:
Isn’t this nice? I received this in the mail, and thought: oh, so pretty! I want to make something with it! Those colors *are* just like a spring garden!
But then *this* is the result:
!!! That’s just wacko. To the point that it’s approaching circus-clown-style. Maybe I’m weird, because I’ve never seen anyone else complaining about this. But I do not like how multi-color yarn looks all knit up in rows together. The self-striping yarn is okay, I guess, but I still think that stripes you make yourself look way better.
End of rant-thing. I don’t even know if that qualifies as a rant. So. I’ll let you know when I finish the other sock.
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No one has of yet correctly answered the prize-winning question I posed in my last post. That really doesn’t surprise me, because it is fairly tricky. But I wanted to see if anyone could get it, regardless. The prize is still up for grabs, and I’m going to put another clue in my next post, so stay tuned!
gster Said,
September 12, 2006 @ 4:33 pm
Hah! that’s so funny about the multi colored yarn that magically transforms into pychedelic clown wear. I don’t get it either. Though once you put handmade socks on, you really couldn’t care much what they look like, as they feel so damn good…
Valerie in San Diego Said,
September 12, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
I’m with you on the self-striping yarn — I much prefer solid.
Ericka Said,
September 12, 2006 @ 7:19 pm
I might be the only “crazy” one out there, which totally goes against my simplistic style, but I LOVE the way the socks turned out!!! I love the patterns and the colors!!
Maud Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 12:23 am
I think you just haven’t read the right blogs, since I have read quite a lot of critique against vaiegated yarns, and the way they work in a garment. Personally I think they are usually more beautiful in the skein, but there are those that work in a sock too, and it it’s almost impossible to tell in before how the result will be. So I like them and I hate them.
Sophia Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 12:26 am
Ooo, yes! I totally get what you mean about the varigated yarns! They always look sooo good in a hank but when you knit them up they get just kind of.. welll.. all mushed together. I think its because in the hanks you see looong vertical strands of color but when you knit them you just see little bumps. It makes me way totally sad.
Sophia Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 12:34 am
Ooo, and one more thing! Ok, am I completely going crazy but was the title of your last post the name of a sketch from that show from the 90s, Mr. Show?
Mandy Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 10:35 am
That’s right, Sophia, you got it!
Tanya Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 11:27 am
Er, yes. Variagated yarns make wonderful socks in simple patterns, or in chevron patterns like the Jaywalker, but they are miserable for anything like lace, cabling, or stitch patterns. So basically you end up with choosing between showcasing the yarn or showcasing the stitch. I prefer to showcase the stitch, personally, so I gravitate towards solid-colored sock yarns, m’self.
But I actually like how your variagated sock looks! It’s nice!
Carson Said,
September 13, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
Oh, I couldn’t agree more about the unique frustration of the variegated yarn. What you want is the knitted result to capture the beauty of the way the colours blend together in the skein. But what you usually get is the opposite.
The very first thing I ever knitted was in variegated yarn and wow it took me about 7 gos to be happy with how the colour played out. You think you can control it but you can’t ..it’s like some weird alchemical thing..or is it a lesson in Zen?
And I agree with Maud..there’s a world of critique in the blogosphere on this very issue. So we’re not alone!!
Patty Said,
September 14, 2006 @ 10:28 am
I’m with you on the whole crack head crazy stripping yarn thing. Go to Smiley’s fall sale. They have solid color sock yarn for 10 skeins for 10 bucks. I was in a real
sock faze for a while. They are easy to knit backstage (I’m a Stage Manager)
because you can shove it in a pocket when you need to. My deal is
1) they take forever on 1 or 2 needles
2) all the best pattern stuff is hidden in a pant leg!!!
Lori Said,
September 14, 2006 @ 3:50 pm
Yeah, I think you have to really work at matching the pattern to the yarn. I’ve tried two different yarns for Pomatamus and still haven’t found the one I like. But I dyed some yarn for a pair of socks I’m doing in a plain stockinette that I just love.
Elly Said,
September 15, 2006 @ 4:22 am
Couldn’t agree with you more about the whole beautifully-coloured-yarn-turning-into-complete-ugly-mess thing. What IS the deal here? I think the answer is to buy the yarn and just drool and perhaps periodically stroke it like a pet.
NORA Said,
September 18, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
You’ve definitely been reading the wrong blogs. I’ve raved non-stop about variegated yarns and will continue to do so each time I’m faced with ‘pooling’. Eeeewww. I’ve since resorted to dyeing my own!