Sunday, January 06, 2008

Talking to Yarn

Many knitters talk to yarn. I know I do. From gentle exhortations to threats of violence and curses, we spend a lot of time communicating with an inanimate substance. But it's so hard to believe it's not alive when it can be so recalcitrant! Right now, I'm ripping out the seams on Tangerine Twist, which has been lingering at the bottom of my basket for quite some time now. I hope the arm holes grow and the sleeves don't stretch too much when I wash and block it before trying again - as I should have before seaming for the first time. Shortcuts don't work when it comes to finishing.

This yarn is behaving reasonably well. I have cast on for the back of the Dad Sweater. It's burgundy, not tomato red, and mostly reverse stockinette. Mindless knitting? Check.


This is yarn I bought from Merlin the Cat on Etsy. I was going through my stash looking for some other yarn I bought before New Year's (see, didn't break my yarn diet resolution!), when it told me it wanted to be Monkey socks. Now. So I took it out, balled it up, and I'm about to start knitting socks with it. This is a very persistent yarn.

This is the yarn I was actually looking for: Some Adirondack Yarn Company sock yarn in Raspberries I bought at Little Knits, one of my favorite online yarn stores. They have such a great selection of sock yarn, and I fell in love with this particular skein while browsing around for the new Noro sock yarn.


Needless to say, I found some. This is color 188. It's very pretty, but I'm not sure what to do with it. You see, I don't just want to knit stockinette socks with it.


I'm looking for a pattern that has large sections of plain knitting to show off the pretty shading, but also something else to add interest, say cables or lace -- just not too much. Quite a requirement, huh? If anyone can think of anything that fits the bill, please let me know!

In other news, it's Christmas Eve. According to the calendar used by the Serbian Orthodox Church, January 6 is Christmas Eve and January 7 is Christmas Day. I'm starting my new job on Christmas Day. How's that for auspicious beginnings?

21 comments:

Lauren said...

What about something that is mostly stockinette but with a lace insert or something else along the sides of the leg?

I wish the tops of fetching didn't roll too. I found the purled bind off rolled an itty bit less than the knit bind off. Maybe a row or two of garter would work and and still look cute.

weezalana said...

Yay for stash diving! And who says Christmas is but once a year? ;) I'd say yup, that is definitely a good omen.

Hmmm - how about Dublin Bay socks? They have the lace panel down the sides. Mata Hari or Anastasia socks would fit the bill, too. They're mostly stockinette with spirals of YOs.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the very auspicious beginning to the new job. How exciting!

Thank you for the lovely yarn photos. I don't feel that I'm qualified to give sock advice, but seeing you yarn made me ever so delighted.

Just A Knit Wit said...

There are a pair of socks on Knitty, Clessidra, that have a cable up the back but are plain elsewhere. They're knee-hi, but I'm sure you could edit the pattern for your own purposes. I'm positive that the cable would look wicked cool in those noro colors.

Bezzie said...

When I have a sock yarn I want large portions of stockinette, yet still some kind of pattern, I'll knit the pattern only 1/2 way around the sock and leave the back of the leg stockinette.

schrodinger said...

Good luck tomorrow!

cpurl17 said...

I saw a pair of noro socks on ravelry knit in the crosshatch lace bye Charlene Shurch that look awesome!

good luck on the new job!!!

Anonymous said...

I second the Anastasia socks. The spiral eyelets add interest and keep it from being tedious without overwhelming patterned yarn. The anniversary socks from Favorite socks would fit what Bezzie said. Don't know if the pattern on the front would fit the bill or not!

Anonymous said...

I agree that Dublin bay might be nice. I also like slanting patterns for stripey yarns - maybe something like Ampersand? I'm going to make armwarmers out of my Kureyon sock yarn. I love the color you chose!

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Can't wait to see what you decide for the Noro sock yarn... Snowboarder bought me two skeins for Christmas! I can't wait to cast on!

Starting a new job on Christmas...sounds like a good sign! Good luck!

Unknown said...

I love the Merlin the Cat yarn AND the Noro too!

Can't wait to see what pattern you decide on for the Noro...

Zonda said...

Wishing you well tomorrow! Lovely yarns there!

adrienne said...

Hope you have a great first day at your new job :)

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Wyvern Socks by Marnie MacLean for your Noro?? I am sure they will turn out gorgeous.

bigevilgrape said...

I like RPMs, or you could do something that has a cable running up each side of the sock.

Amanda said...

All very pretty - hmmm....I have some 188 myself that I need to figure out what to do with...

I think I second the RPM vote. Or there's always a simple rib?

And - Merry Christmas!! I think that's a good day to start a new job (although I'm sorry you can't have the holiday off - BOO). Good luck!

Unknown said...

In addition to the Dublin Bays and those spiral type socks (Anastasia) how about Yarnissima's Firestarters (though I'm not sure how you feel about toe ups) or Yarn Harlot's Earl Grey socks w/the clockwork going down the sides?

Love all your yarn and I'm sure Merlin's yarn will look delightful in the Monkey pattern.

Have a great first day of work!

Rebel said...

I don't think I talk to my yarn that much... but I know it talks to me. Well, in the store it talks to me... it says "buuuuuuuy meeeeeee.... buuuuuy meeeeeeeee!"

Carina said...

Merry Christmas and blessed Holy Theophany!

I'd bet you could find what you're looking for in Vintage Socks. Good patterns there.

Unknown said...

I was going to chime in late and suggest either Dublin Bay (lace panel down the side) or Earl Grey (cables down the side), but I see I've been beaten to both. The Ravelry database for Kureyon Sock is full of beautiful socks! The repeat is long enough that even more detailed patterns show up well, each section is solid-ish by itself. From Monkeys to Crosshatch Lace (from More SKS), I did see some RPMs that looked great, and the entrelac socks from IK Holiday '07 (if you'd like to get started on that resolution of yours). All are gorgeous, so you're in luck no matter what you knit with it! It looks like a really pretty colorway.

fleegle said...

I adore Little KNits and Soxie is the softest sock yarn in the universe. You will love it.