Lately it seems as though nothing has gone right with my sock knitting. It all started when I sloppily finished off a sock too soon, thus making it too small for anyone in my family. Indeed, not only did I knit a sock too small for my size 7 feet, I knit a sock too small for my mother’s size 6 feet.
After realizing I knit a sock for a small child, I decided to just go ahead and cast on for the second sock and forge ahead. I would just fix the first sock at a later date. I got past the heel of the second sock and was happily decreasing the gussets even though the heel on the second sock looked odd to me. Mightily odd. Oh no. I forgot. To. Turn. The. Heel.
I was too frustrated to document this fiasco, but can I just say that I’m glad I hadn’t gotten too far before I realized this? A friend, who would like to remain anonymous, did admit to me that she finished a sock before she realized she made this mistake. So maybe I’m not a complete dolt. But this was not the end of my sock knitting escapades.
I decided to give the Mona socks a rest and switched to the Jaywalkers. I happily knit the heel flap of the second sock, carefully measuring the heel flap so that it came to 2.5″. I knit merrily on to the toe, then I thought that I best try it on just in case. What did I come to find?
Baggy heel! Excess fabric! Apparently, the yarn that I’m using, STR, is extra stretchy. I only needed to knit about 2″ for the heel. Apparently, I had not made a note of this with the first sock since I am a shoddy note keeper as well as a shoddy measurer of heel flaps.
So I braced myself and pulled out the needles to begin the frogging process. Look what happened then!
I was completely aghast as the cable of my beloved needles popped out of the needle itself. I am completely indignant as I have never heard of this happening to these needles before. Has anyone had this happen to them? I was able to shove the cable back into the needle, but I’m really not confident with how secure the join is. If it popped out once, it will pop out again. I’ll have to call the company and see what they can do, if they can do anything at all.
Luckily enough, I do have another set of needles in the same size handy so I was able to keep on knitting. Honestly, I think I’ve caught the Sock Curse. You all might want to take a big step back.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
OMG!! Are you sure nobody has been sticking pins into a doll with your hair and fingernails on it? What a run of bad luck. I hesitate to say that things will get better – sort of like tempting the gods, eh?
sandeleh@sbcglobal.net
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Take a deep breath and count to ten. I had to frog a sock today, too, so you are not alone. If those are Knitpicks needles, they will gladly replace them. This has happened to several people before you. Just give them a call. Don’t wait for an email reply. Sometimes it can take several days. So sorry for all your mishaps. I have those days, too, when nothing seems to go right.
Hugs, Susie
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Eeek what a run of craptastic sock luck! Haha good thing you didn’t rat out your, um, friend! Well, it can only get better right? At least you have 4 fantabulous cats! (and soon some superbly cute shoes!!!!)
April 2nd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Eghads! You poor thing! I’ve heard of this happening to Knit Picks needles before though I have the interchangeable set so it hasn’t happned to any of the cables for that set as far as I know (It only goes down to US 4 anyway). I’m sure you can get a replacement from Knit Picks but what a trauma! And on top of all the other knitting problems. I’ve had times where nothing went right with my knitting. I usually take a break, read a book or do some other craft for awhile till my mojo comes back.
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
yikes! that’s almost like a snapped needle! and i’ve also forgotten to turn the heel once or twice (just too eager to get the sock done!) and it was enough to make me stand back and take a deep breath….i like the yarns you chose for your socks-both pairs….
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Oh dear!!
I had that happen and I glued it back in with a little dab of E-3000 adhesive (I think that’s the name). The hardest part was letting it sit for a day, but I haven’t had any problems since.
I still need to buy a bunch more cables, though, since I seem to have most of mine tied up in projects…. Bad, bad me!
I’m having sock trauma, too, only I haven’t gotten farther than about 2″ so I think you’re doing better than I am. Shall we start a new club, the Sock Trauma Unit? LOL!
April 2nd, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I am yet to click on that Sock Curse link, but whatever it is, I have it too. I have frogged that Jaywalker four times already and simply cannot seem to move past the heel! I knit the foot too long once, then forgot to turn the heel, then forgot to make the pattern go all around the sock instead of just on the front of the sock, and now I’m realising it’s also tight around my leg; I had planned to increase stitches after the heel and forgot. I think it’s the pattern, not us… :)
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Knit the heel flat and forgot the turning bit? Yup, done that too. Didn’t realize until after I’d kitchenered the toe either. Made for a very strange fitting sock… perhaps I am a bit of a dolt :)
I’m sure Knitpicks will replace the needle, and thank goodness you had another on hand! Hope the luck turns around – or at least wool-sock season is winding down and you can work on other things for awhile.
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Yikes! Maybe the sock gods were trying to warn you? I also wear a US women’s size 7, but my gauge is so loose, that I have to start my toe decreases at least 2 inches before I kitchener. Oh, one of the women I knit with in RI Stitches Meetup (Carine from http://rosieglasses.blogspot.com/index.html) had a problem with her KnitPicks needles. She is getting rid of them and going back to her (I think) Denise set. Good luck!
=:8
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Oick! What a day! I ahd to laugh about forgetting to turn the heel – I’ve done that and am relieved I’m not the only one! I think KnitPicks will replace that if you contact them. I hope you get back on sock track really fast!
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:59 am
I’ll stand near you Opal, I’m not afraid! In fact, I’ve got a pair of socks in mind myself and today might be the day to get them started.
I have done the same damned thing – gone right from the heel flap to the foot part of the sock without turning the heel. Did it two nights in a row, as a matter of fact :)
Don’t feel personally persecuted my dear – it happens to all of us. So we curse, gnash our teeth and hurl our knitting across the living room…and then we pick it up, sheepishly dust it off and go on :)
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:49 am
The early batches of the KnitPicks’ needles are prone to pooping out. They’re really good about replacing them. While you’re waiting for the new one, you can use super glue to fix the old one.
I’ve got the opposite sock curse: my socks keep coming out too big. The STR must be really stretchy compared to other brands. I’ve tried three patterns, got gauge on all, but the sock is so wide, I know it will sag like crazy.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:26 am
I know I shouldn’t laugh but the child-sized sock looks so funny :D Truly, what a pain, though. I’ve had those periods where everything I touch turns to crap and I know they are NOT fun.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:34 am
Uh-oh! I think I’ll wait to cast on the socks I was planning to cast on tonight…at least for a couple of days.
Call Knit Picks…I have heard they are very good about replacing needles that have gone wonky…and, as a couple of people have said before me, get out the super glue in the meantime!
I haven’t tried the Jaywalkers yet…maybe I’ll give them a pass.
The sock curse will pass in a couple of days, Opal…never fear (LOL).
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 am
Some days I feel like I do more unknitting than knitting on my socks. What do you think of the short-row heel? I ususally need to tweek things a bit to get it to work, but I dislike the flap heel. I was thinking I would succumb to it for the Jaywalker pattern, after reading your blog, I feel sufficiently warned that I need to check on the heel flap length. Thank you for sharing all your details!
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
[...] I think I’ve broken the Sock Curse. I was able to finish the Jaywalkers on Sunday, but with one caveat. Despite the decreases I made, they are just a bit saggy. Look at the excess fabric rippling out. [...]
April 4th, 2007 at 6:17 am
I have also had that happen with my Knit Pick Options. I contacted them and the graciously sent a replacement. I am afraid it is going to be a flaw with them.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
[...] There’s nothing like knitting a pair of warm wool socks with a cat by my side to comfort my soul and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Last night I finished re-knitting the too small Mona sock, thus finishing the first pair of handknit socks for my mother. [...]