FO: Lemon-Lime Socks

Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Catania Color, #0076
Pattern: Swirl Socks by sulafaye
Size: Women's Medium, 64 stitches
Needles: Addi 3 mm
Mods: I used sport-weight yarn, a gusset heel, and worked ribbing at the cuff.

You'll see that I'm not really showing you what these look like, though any of you in Ravelry can have a gander. I want Mom (who reads the ole blog now) to be a bit surprised (or at least not dread having to tell me she likes them when she doesn't).

I'm not super happy with how these turned out mainly because I have deep anxiety that they're too big. My feet are so small that even normal-sized feet seem like giant paws. I have no frame of reference as to whether these are the right size or not. They measure OK, but are they too loose because there doesn't appear to be any negative ease??

Also, I added ribbing instead of the picot cuff b/c I was worried that the lack of negative ease would mean that they won't stay up. But, I also know that mom likes to turn her cuffs down, which makes more sense with ribbing. However, the cotton doesn't draw in like wool does, so I'm not sure if the ribbing is going to help anyway. I might have gone down a needle size, but since she can't try them on I hesitated on that.

*inhale*

In retrospect, I should have gone with a short-row heel to keep the swirls lined up. I was so obsessed with my heel that I didn't factor whether it would look nice. I didn't really have a look until I was just about to bind off.

All in all, this project illustrates my new-found anxiety of knitting fitted objects for people who can't try them on. I can't see myself ever joining a sock swap. Too stressful. I'd feel differently if I had normal-sized feet, but I don't so oh well.

Rather than frog them, I've decided to send them to Mom anyway. I trust she'll love them even if they're just house socks. But mainly, I just need to learn something useful from this experience. Even if she never wears them again, I want her to try them on and then give me some feedback on the fit.

Sorry they're not the best present, Mom. I'm sending along some other items to sweeten the deal a bit. :)

Summer of Socks Prize and Idiocy

My Summer of Socks 2007 stitch markers arrived! They're handmade by Jessica from Alabama Fiber Dreams. They're just so cute. I love them. As soon as I ever have the time to concentrate on the Ogee Skirt, I'll swap them in for the homely Clover markers.

In addition to just winning something, I'm thrilled about these because I've been reading Jessica's blog this summer, and I just love her easy-going, Southern nature. And she's really funny. I feel certain we'd get along famously, especially since it sounds like she lives near where I grew up.

So these are like a present from two friends. Many thanks to Zarzuela for organizing Summer of Socks 2007! Many thanks to Alabama Fiber Dreams for donating prizes!

And in other, completely remedial, Summer of Socks 2007 news, I have a shamefully stupid and embarrassing thing to tell you. For all my hoarding of traveling socks photos, I missed the deadline to submit photos for the contest!

Baaaaah! I knew that the deadline was before the end of the event, but I didn't realize it was in August. Bugger!!

I'll post a retrospective of my socks' European jaunts next week or so. Maybe I'll have you vote on which photo you like, and then give myself a prize anyway. heh

New on the Needles

Just before heading to Bavaria, I cast on some Wollmeise for my step-mother-in-law's socks. She selected the Baby Cable Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. So far it's going well, if I'm to trust Charlene's formula for figuring out stitch count. My SMIL has big feet, so much so that I think B might be able to try them on for me. At least I have that.

I'll post about Bavaria soon. I've got an OCD thing going on where I must put the photos in Flickr first, annotate them, and only then can I post them on the blog. Don't ask. Just go with it. There is yarn and knitting content in there, so I promise it won't just be a boring slide show.

Oh and one other thing. B got his Green Card yesterday! Sing it, Neil, baby! "We're coming to America!." I used to be such a europhile, and now I'm pretty sure I've become the worst kind of jingoist. I might need one of those Ralph Lauren flag afghans or something. Smack me.

Comments

[Laura]

I did a similar thing with my dads socks. They were only about my 3rd pair of socks and I didn't know what size to make them. I got my mum to measure his shoes and, with using my google-fu, I came up with a measurement. However, the socks are 2 inches too big. Now, mum wears them as house socks. I was quite disappointed at the time, but I've learnt from my mistakes.

I love the cable rib from SKS. They are on my to knit list. I have so much on there as it is, though :(

[becky]

Very nice baby cable rib!

One thing that occurs to me re: fitting- especially when I let myself get into a knit fit about it- is that store-bought socks come in a "one-size-fits-all" Surely I can't be SO wrong that they absolutely don't even hint at fitting!

[Heather]

I love the new Baby Cable Rib socks. Thanks for reminding me how much I love that pattern, it'll be esp. fantastic for showing off the awesome stitch definition of the Wollmeise!!

Your moms socks look fantastic, btw!

[jennsquared]

Congrats on B's green card and early welcome home! :) I might not be super excited when I got my green card back then, but I sure am happy now that I am here.

Don't feel bad, I missed the deadline too!!!! Oh well.

I really like the mini-cables! They are so cute! Too bad I have too many things I want to knit before that, but I'll def. have to keep that in mind.

[Jen]

Wow - I love those baby cable rib socks!

Regarding socks for others, I was a little nervous the first time I made socks for someone else, too, but I just made sure I had measurements for the people I was making socks for. The only ones I had to frog and make over were kid socks, and those don't take long to knit. And seeing how people react to handknit socks make it totally worth it :)

[Jeannie]

I love the color of your Mom's socks. It's tricky knitting socks for other people, but even trickier doing it with cotton yarns. With my Mom, I'm lucky in that she wears the same shoe size as I do. I've never done a sock swap for the same reason as you. I'm picky in how I like my socks to fit and I'm afraid to mess up some one else's socks.

The Baby Cable socks look great! I like the color and the stitch. Congrats on the Green Card! That's so exciting for you and B. :-)

[Lolly]

Beautiful yarns and patterns! I am sure your mom will love them.

I feel like an idiot... I took my socks to South America with me for a great travel photo shoot for that contest and totally forgot to take them with me to the landmarks! oh well... I am sure someone else will win :)

Bring on the Bavaria trip/photos! :)

[Josie]

Those baby cable socks are wonderful - pretty and crisp at the same time!

I hope you'll show a photo of your Mom's socks after they've been recieved. I'm sure she'll love them no matter how they fit. And if they do happen to end up too big, sometimes a trip through the dryer will snug up the fit - that trick has saved a few pairs of (wool) socks for me!

[KelInCal]

I think it's admirable that you're still trying to knit your mom and SMIL socks when you're so anxious about it! I knit SCARVES for my mom/sis and others last Christmas and I'm not doing it again because of the anxiety involved! The only folks getting handknits from now on live in my house, and they won't be surprised b/c they'll be picking the colors and approving the patterns.

And, of course, all of this pressure is being put on us by - US!

Both pairs of socks look really beautiful!

[tiennie]

I forgot about the deadline too! Oh well. Your socks look great BTW!

[Jessica]

It's tough making things for someone long distance. I made both my parents submit to Serious Foot Measuring while I was home a while back so I'd at least have something to go on. I'm sure your Mom will love them no matter what. :) The new sock looks great and I'm glad you are enjoying your prize (great pic by the way!). I love the new socks too. And sorry you missed the deadline for the vacation contest! There might be more chances for you to win a goodie or two. :)

[Stacey]

Both pairs of socks are gorgeous - I 'll have to peek in ravelry to get a real good look at the first pair:) I love the ribs - I will have to add those to my queue.

[Meghann]

Woohoo! What a post full of happy news:) Love the new socks and stop worrying about your mom's socks so much....trust in the measurements! LoL!

[Jennie]

The colors of the the lemon-lime socks are fantastic. I'm sure your mom is just gonna adore the socks. And I know what you mean. I have small feet too and knitting socks for people just freaks me out since everything just looks huge to me. But joining swaps have helped.

The Wollmeise socks are looking really good, your SMIL is super lucky.

And oh congrats on the green card! How exciting for B.

[Jen]

I love those baby cables! The color is fantastic too. (course all Wollmeise colors are) :) Congrats on the green card. YAY!!

[Jen]

I love those baby cables! The color is fantastic too. (course all Wollmeise colors are) :) Congrats on the green card. YAY!!

[schrodinger]

I'm sure the socks will be fine, I know it's really hard making things for people of a different size. Love the new socks, great baby cables.