Posted under socks
Working on the Pirate Hat is rather hard on my hands, so to alleviate the pain I decided to start another pair of socks. After hearing such people as Grumperina and Kristi extol the virtues of Lorna’s Lace I was eager to see for myself whether or not this yarn could truly live up to all the hype. So I searched through my stash and found some Lorna’s Lace Shepherd Sock yarn in the colour Black Purl and started knitting. Once started I couldn’t stop. Could not stop knitting the Monkey!
I have to say that I thought I knew a good sock yarn. I thought I knew what knitting with a luscious yarn was all about. All of that went out the window as I have only now realized that this is what truly good yarn is all about.
Somehow this yarn manages to be soft yet extremely crisp and wiry. Even though I’m using nice and pointy Knitpicks circulars there is no splitting of the yarn that occasionally to happen with me when I knit. This yarn is also very round, which is not something I’ve really come across before. It’s something that I think I could happily live with and submerge myself in for the rest of my days.
The only thing I’m rather ambivalent about is the way the colours are knitting up. There are dark splotches of black that seem to interrupt the general flow of the sock. I think I might have been spoiled with the way the Fearless Fibers’ Deepest Forest knitted up, because I keep comparing the way those colours seemed to flow off the needles into a beautiful fabric to the way this fabric is turning out. I don’t think it’s the pattern, which is the fabulous Monkey by the ever talented Cookie.
Let me tell you I’m really in love with this pattern too. I was able to memorize it after a couple of repeats and it just rains off the needles like a symphony. (Okay, bad metaphor but you get the picture.) I’m already thinking of using this pattern for the next pair of socks, which might also be in another Lorna’s Lace colourway. That’s if I can get over the fact that I don’t like the colourway I have, which is Watercolor.
I would buy more yarn, but I’m trying to make a dent in my stash before I make anymore dents in my checking account. I’m not a believer in diets really, but I do believe in making use of what you have to some extent. I figure if I use up X amount of yarn, then I will be perfectly justified in buying another X amount of yarn.
In the meantime, I’ll be debating within the confines of my own head the choice of getting more Lorna’s Lace or trying the ever popular Socks That Rock. I’m pretty sure that I’ll end up with rockin’ feet one way or the other.
Meredith on 28 Jan 2007 at 4:33 pm #
Those socks are gorgeous! I thought for a minute you were talking about your cat Cookie…I will have to check out this designer…and I will have to make some room in my stash for Lorna’s Laces, which I have long coveted but never bought. Woo hoo!
Karen B. on 28 Jan 2007 at 9:55 pm #
Ah, so that’s what Black Purl looks like knitted up! I have a half-dozen LL colorways (and just as many STR and Fleece Artist). I think the search for the perfect sock yarn is ongoing, though there’s something I love about each of the ones I’ve tried thus far.
Karen
p.s. I adore Cookie’s sock patterns, too!
Jeanne on 28 Jan 2007 at 11:39 pm #
Great socks - really! I think I’ll continue to be an Opal copy-cat and make these socks. I have Black Purl in the stash, so its nice to see how its knitting up - I think this is a hard colorway for pooling - I don’t think I’ve seen it knit up without some. But the socks look great even with it.
Lisa on 29 Jan 2007 at 2:38 am #
I love Lorna’s Laces too, but I don’t have much left in the stash. The STR knits like a dream, but if you don’t like pooling, you may be disappointed. Almost every STR I have tried has pooled to some extent. I think I am leaning towards solids and semi-solids from now on. I love that Monkey pattern too. Good job!
Alison on 29 Jan 2007 at 2:47 am #
Black Purl is my favorite colorway. Hm, I need some more LL or I need to try STR, too. Your sock looks great!
(Tomorrow night - House!)
carrie on 29 Jan 2007 at 4:00 am #
LOVE the Plack Purl. Love love love. Must have. Now.
Roseann on 29 Jan 2007 at 4:19 am #
Thank you such vivid upclose pictures of your sock, that is something else! The colors are beautiful and the pattern is divine, truly wonderful to admire.
Sue Johnson on 29 Jan 2007 at 4:23 am #
Lovely, once again, Opal. I, too, love LL sock yarn. But, really, I have yet to meet a sock yarn that I absolutely won’t use again. Do try STR. You will like those yarns, too. Congratulations on another beautiful knitting job. I’m an Opal wannabe, too.
Susie
keohinani on 29 Jan 2007 at 9:30 am #
with the LL and the STR, i’ve usually had to knit a bit to check the pooling; sometimes, i frog and choose a different starting place to get the striping to come out better.
LL is a good, hard-wearing yarn. i like the solids, personally, more so than the variegated. STR is just a dream and you should really try it at least once!
my other favorites to knit with are sundara’s sock yarn (definitely give that one a try!); yarntini; and lang jawoll. if you haven’t tried lang, it’s a lot like LL, but it comes with a small spool of reinforcement thread :) love that!
Robbyn on 29 Jan 2007 at 1:10 pm #
Very pretty Opal - and for what it’s worth, I can’t make out anything in your sock that looks like black splotches :)
That is a nice pattern - is the double YO hard to deal with on the next round?
knittenkitten on 29 Jan 2007 at 6:56 pm #
I’m lovin’ on your socks. I think I’m going to order some black purl. I really like it, and that sock pattern is lovely-I’m happy to hear it’s a fairly easy knit.
lobstah on 30 Jan 2007 at 9:09 am #
Ooh, you got the monkey on your back! Ha ha. I really want to try that yarn, it sounds lovely.
Jane on 30 Jan 2007 at 7:02 pm #
I think those socks are really beautiful but I do think you should try out Socks that Rock too. I mean, how can you compare if you don’t? It’s not like you won’t wear them or give them to someone who will. Oh heck, just buy the yarn so I can see some more sock porn!
Peggy on 31 Jan 2007 at 7:13 am #
Love that pattern. It is in my stack of ‘to do”. You should also consider trying Fleece Artist yarn. It is similar to Lorna’s Laces but the colors do not pool nor stripe. They have a sheen to the color. It reminds me of the old Charmin commercials. I just want to keep squeezing them.
Kate on 31 Jan 2007 at 11:47 am #
Wow, they look great. I really love the colours.