Catchin' up

There they are, in all their wooly glory: The Emperor's Fiesta Feet socks, finished, washed, blocked, and photographed. Knit from Schoeller + Stahl Limbo Mexiko on #2 DPNs. Don't know the gauge, since if I use sock yarn and those needles and the same number of cast-on stitches the socks always seem to fit me perfectly, and the Emperor's feet are about the same size as mine (aren't I a lucky gal?). Anything to avoid Attempting The Dreaded Gauge.

The pattern is my tweak of one I received in a sock knitting class. Basically, you cast on 60 stitches, work in k2p2 ribbing for however long you want (these cuffs are nine inches long). Switch to stockinette for about half an inch before you start the heel flap, but keep doing the ribbing across the top of the ankle. Do what I think is a Dutch heel, then when you do the ankle decreases make sure you are still ribbing across the top. I found that if I move the first stitch on Needle 3 to Needle 2 and remember to continue the pattern, I don't get that funky loose twisty stitch thing at one side of the foot ribbing. Continue the ribbing/stockinette for the length of the foot, stop the ribbing, and do a flat toe with a kitchener finish. Ta-da!

The Emperor's ankles are skinnier than mine, but the socks fit both of us, so there's plenty of stretch in those parts. You can't see it, but the socks are getting really fuzzy around the heels and they look like they're heading toward Pillsville. I'll let you know what they do as the Emperor wears them more.

I've tried both ribbed-all-the-way-to-the-heel cuffs, and the short ribbed cuff with a long stockinette leg sock. Both are comfortable, both are fun to make, both take me about the same length of time. I like the dutch heel, but I'm not averse to another variety, just for variety's sake. One thing I'd like to try would be to put in a "clock," which is a design above the ankle. You find these on historic sock patterns. Clocks work best in solid color socks, so that's for another time.

So, I'll post photos of my finished projects one or two at a time until I have them all up here. I tried to get them into this one but managed to inadvertently delete every one but the Fiesta Feet.

Pellew's Pelisse is chugging along. At first those acres of stockinette seemed to take for.ev.er to get across, but as I rack up the rows it goes faster, or at least it seems to. I wonder where the Black Hole will show up with this project? The yarn is turning into a wonderful, soft fabric and I can't wait to wear the finished sweater. If it turns out well, I'm already thinking of doing one in earth tones with runes done up in fair isle technique stripes (inspired by Elsebeth Lavold), with a Lord of the Rings message in them -- something like "Frodo Lives!" or maybe "Elbereth Gilthoniel."

So little time, so many ideas. So much to inspire. What a world.