Struggling
My knitting mojo has gone down the toilet. I've been working for 2 weeks now trying to start my Sockapalooza4 socks. My pal likes bright colors, so I've got some great bright yarn. I started working them up into Monkey socks and they looked just wonderful:
I have the luck of having pal with the exact same foot measurements as myself, so when I got a couple repeats in, I tried it on - NO DICE. A struggle to get them around my heel. Crap, they were looking so beautiful, too. No problem, I said to myself, I will decrease the pattern repeat by one stich in each "fork" as well as reduce a couple in the reverse stockinette triangle - that way I can make still make Monkies, but on 72 stitches instead of 64. I made a little "mini-monkey" chart for myself and was off. The pattern worked, but sadly, half the sock was yellow and red stripes and the other half was almost solid orange-red. Major pooling. I was too sad to take a picture, but it looked awful, trust me.
Since then, I have cast on three other patterns. Any combo with 72 stitches gives me 2-toned pooling hell. The current incarnation is Slipped Stitch Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks, over 66 stiches. They fit and they're not pooling, but I'm just not feeling the love.
My decision now is to continue casting about for other patterns, or maybe needle size up and try Monkies again? I have knit the first 3 inches of this sock every day for the past 2 weeks and my brain is toast. Ideas, commisery, or flashes of brilliance kindly accepted at this point.
I have the luck of having pal with the exact same foot measurements as myself, so when I got a couple repeats in, I tried it on - NO DICE. A struggle to get them around my heel. Crap, they were looking so beautiful, too. No problem, I said to myself, I will decrease the pattern repeat by one stich in each "fork" as well as reduce a couple in the reverse stockinette triangle - that way I can make still make Monkies, but on 72 stitches instead of 64. I made a little "mini-monkey" chart for myself and was off. The pattern worked, but sadly, half the sock was yellow and red stripes and the other half was almost solid orange-red. Major pooling. I was too sad to take a picture, but it looked awful, trust me.
Since then, I have cast on three other patterns. Any combo with 72 stitches gives me 2-toned pooling hell. The current incarnation is Slipped Stitch Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks, over 66 stiches. They fit and they're not pooling, but I'm just not feeling the love.
My decision now is to continue casting about for other patterns, or maybe needle size up and try Monkies again? I have knit the first 3 inches of this sock every day for the past 2 weeks and my brain is toast. Ideas, commisery, or flashes of brilliance kindly accepted at this point.
posted by Pumpkinmama at Tuesday, May 22, 2007
28 Comments:
No suggestions here, just wanting you to know that I am sending you all my sock mojo hoping you come up with something great!
:(
I hear ya, I am so sorry that Monkey didn't work out. I'll think a little on some patterns that may work and let you know what I come up with. Lovely yarn though!
How about a different yarn?
I usually hit up a new yarn at this point. Wait for the old yarn to decide what it wants to be.
Hey we bought the same yarn and ended up with the same problem. I'm kidding but it's close. :-) I don't know what to tell you. I'm giving mine away to s/o who would appreciate it. Monkey seems to be wildly popular - maybe you just need a different yarn.
It's a shame that the Monkeys didn't work out, because the striping was gorgeous! Oh well.
How about good old Feather and Fan? I find that works wonders for difficult variegated yarns.
Is there a way for you to swatch with the next needles size up and see if you can still get that great stripping without frogging what you've done already?
That way if it does't work, you still have what you've been working on.
I say it's worth a try, because the stripping on the monkey is so pretty.
Well have you looked at Pembrokeshire Pathways? That's 66 stitches, really stretchy and pretty. That's what I am knitting up for my sock pal. It would be easy to add repeats if you need to and it knits up pretty quick. After a week I am already turning the heel. I think she reads your blog so I will sign off as anonymous. Hope it helps!
Oh man they were gorgeous! Too bad they didn't fit! :0(
Even though you're not feeling the love, I like what you've got going so far. And, as several sockapaloozers said to me--since EVERYONE is making monkey, why NOT make something else?
I second that! I really like your newest attempt. The colors look really nice in the rib pattern. If you really aren't pleased with it, I'd try a different yarn, and let the bad yarn think about what it's done. :)
The current sock pattern seems to match the yarn well. But if you really want to change...Crusoe from knitty is a good pattern for wildly contrasting varigated yarns. I personally really like what you're doing now (I especially like that it is something no one else is doing) but I understand wanting to knit the perfect sock for your pal.
I like the current sock alot, too. It has a neat character to it--very nice!
I really love the monkey and the colorway. Minneapolismama does have a point about monkey socks...there seem to be a lot of them out there. Wish I could send you a great pattern...instead I'll send good vibrations your way!!!
I can never get my socks over my heel when I only have 3 inches, I always have to wait until I have done the heel,, and it laways creates a nice snug, but not tight sock. I always cast on 54-60 sts on 2.75 mm needles, and these fit even my mum, who can't buy proper shoes as her feet are so wide, I 2penneth worth, keep going, it might get better
I think Yoshimi has a good point. I never really tried to put on a test pair of socks until I have finished most of the leg. Pretty much I always tried them on (especially the first pair I made on size 0s) to determine whether or not to start the toes.
hmmm, i'd try another pattern. absolutely love the yarn choice/color tho!
You could try this pattern:
http://fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com/2006/12/is-2006-done-yet.html
I mean the blue ones, scroll down.
It really breaks up variegated yarns nicely and looks really cool but is super easy!!
I give you the stitch pattern here in this post:
http://fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com/2006/12/end-is-near.html
Hope this helps!
Oh, and Monkey was so pretty. If you aren't feeling the love, I say you haven't found the right pattern yet (or the right yarn). I struggled last year on my sockapalloooza socks - I think it's just part of the bargain.
The yarn is sooo pretty. So sad that it didn't work in the monkeys. I agree with others that you might just need to put it aside, work on something else for a bit and wait for the yarn to tell you what it wants to be.
I think sometimes when you get frustrated with a project nothing seems right and even if you hit the right thing it's hard to tell if it's right...
Hate Pooling but love that yarn for Monkeys. I had pooling problems with Jaywalkers using LL yarn. When the yarn started pooling what I did was start a second skein of yarn and work every other row from a different skein. (Then use leftovers from the first skein for second sock.) I only did this for the foot - the cuff striped fine. The effect was lovely and it made the yarn work for the pattern.
With pooling yarns, the suggestion to alternate every other row is a good one and will pretty much take care of the pooling. It is a pain though to have to carry to balls of yarn around when knitting the sock.
I hope you find something that you love. :-)
Okay, that sock yarn was born to be knit into Monkey over 64 stitches. To not knit that would be a crime. I say you find other yarn to knit for your sock pal and create the best Monkey socks ever with the current yarn. Even if you can't wear them, I'm sure the correct recipient will present him or herself before long.
Have you tried a different needle size?
Good luck!!!
Ack, that stinks. I'd definitely try the larger needle size and see if that works. If all else fails, I have small feet. ;)
Try Jeanne Townsend's Newport Waves, or Westport waves pattern--- I do that to eliminate pooling and it's super stretchy!
Check the yahoo groups for her patterns...
:)
Try knitting from two ends of the ball? So both center pull as wel as from the outside, alternate rounds?
Sorry, I'm late on the bandwagon here, but that's what's often suggested to avoid major pooling. Or even knit from two balls, if you hate working either from the outside or center pulled.
I hope you found something that works by now, I'm trying to catch up on the plig so who knows if I find out after clicking my way through the new posts ;)
no wisdom, just commisseration.
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