After a night of insomnia, I was able to finish the Opal Garden Socks.
Pattern: Beaded Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Opal Sock Yarn in a one-of-a-kind colourway
Needles: size 1US/2.25mm 2 circs
Started: June 13, 2007
Finished: June 22, 2007
Instead of following the toe-up pattern, I ended up doing this cuff down. This was not a cleverly devised plan of mine decided by preference. No, this was because I did not RTFP.
I struggled with the heel as I’ve always relied on someone else’s math for the turn. Yet I somehow managed to get it done. I want to thank Wendy M. for the support she gave as I swore like a sailor puzzled my way through it all. I was a bit nervous about the whole math question, not being a knitting math diva and all, but I survived and I feel quite proud of myself for it.
Basically I deconstructed a heel from an existing pattern and inserted my own numbers. I wish I had better powers of description at my disposal, but they escape me at this time due to sleep deprivation. If anyone out there has a formula for turning the heel of a sock, please speak up!
I’m really glad to have these socks done, as I can now move on and join the soldiers in the army of the Summer of Socks knit along. I don’t have any particular plans for the knit along. It’ll probably just be business as usual around here, but I do hope to make a dent in my sock yarn stash. All the better to make room for more yarn in the fall.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a fiberlicious weekend!
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Lovely socks, Opal. Hope you have a fiberlicious weekend as well. I’m plugging away on my Jaywalkers.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Try this:
http://www.socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Lovely! Have a great weekend yourself!
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
i love the socks! i’m usually at the mercy of the pattern, changing the heel pattern only if it fits the number of stitches in the original pattern. i’ve wound my yarn and cast-on for my pal’s sockapaloooza socks, so that should keep me busy this weekend. you have a nice one too!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Opal,
Beautiful socks as usual. There is no law that says you have to do your heels in any particular way. As long as they fit you it’s fine! An entire Summer of Socks? More eye candy for US!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:03 pm
What’s up with the “No Sleep Tonight” business? I’ve been trying to get over a bout of insomnia for the past 2 – 3 days.
Good thing your time was spent productively. The Garden Socks look so colorful and comfy. My knitting at 3 a.m. was marked by much swearing and ripping of 300 stitches because I forgot where I left off with my shawl and I didn’t read my knitting very well.
Love the visuals of joining the ranks: marching and knitting. Wave after wave of the Sock (Soldiers) of Summer!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Love the colors! Welcome to the Summer of Socks!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Very pretty socks! Have a great weekend too!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Hi, Opal! Found you on the SOS KAL. Great color for those socks! Man, I wish I had found you in April. I visited Honolulu and was trying to find a yarn shop or two the last day. I went on a long and fruitless walk (my bad sense of direction, I am sure), but had some fun anyway. Maybe next time… :0)
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Ooooh those are pretty! Love the colors.
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I’m sorry you had insomnia but you made excellent use of your time, your Opal Garden socks are gorgeous! They fit so nicely and the colors work so beautifully with the pattern. The kitty in the background in nice, too. I look forward to watching your Summer of Socks knitting, I know I will be inspired.
June 22nd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Great socks, kiddo! And that guy Dave has given you a terrific link! I will be making note of that.
As for insomnia, it must be going around. I’ve not slept very well for a week. Unfortunately, my eyes give out if I try to knit all night.
How many pairs of socks are you planning to knit this summer (huh? huh?). Ten? Twenty? Thirty-seven and a half?
kiss the cats,
Meredith
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Aaah, very nice. I love the colors and the striping worked really worked well with the pattern.
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 am
Insomnia must be going around. At least you got a cool pair of socks from your insomnia.
June 23rd, 2007 at 3:03 am
Very cool….as always! You Rock with Socks gal! Hate to see you have insomnia, but what a wonderful pair of socks to have finished! One thing about Knitters– we don’t waste time when faced with problems like insomnia!
Big hugs to the kitties!
June 23rd, 2007 at 3:24 am
Okay, I’m going to bookmark that heel-turning page myself – that’s prett good information to have handy :)
The socks are lovely, as usual and I think the yarn is gorgeous. Let’s hear it for socks!
Sorry about the insomnia – I know what a pain in the butt that can be – but you did exactly what I would have done – used the time productively! Smart girl!
June 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 am
You’ve been on quite a sock roll! Can I have you make me a pair? ;)
Bunny hugs,
=:8
June 23rd, 2007 at 6:48 am
I was gonna give you the same link Dave did….it gives you every # you’ll ever need for a variety of heels. I have a copy printed to carry in my sock bag even tho I rarely knit flap heels anymore.
Pretty sock!
June 23rd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
You are one prolific knitter, Opal! Love the socks. Hmm, sounds like you and I are of the same mind when it comes to reading the pattern!!! ;oP
June 24th, 2007 at 9:30 am
They’re great socks! Dawn Brocco has a book that shows how to chart three types of heels.
June 24th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Cricket!
June 24th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Another great pair!
June 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Beautiful socks!
June 25th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Sorry to hear about the insomnia, but at least you got great socks out of it. Blues and greens are my favorite.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:36 am
OMG! I just realized that it’s BOSCO upon whom you are gently resting your feet! He must still really like to hang out at your place! (Hope you kissed him for me, too!)
mm
June 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Ohh… I really like these… they look so comfy and warm in cool colors though. :)