Some stuff for some people, pt. 1

For Debbie in Ohio:

Knitting!

Specifically, a finished object.  Whee! Even better.

What:  Knee high boot socks for ME.
Pattern: Wendy's basic toe up sock with short row heels, found here.
Yarn: Hill Country Yarn's Instant Gratification Self Striping Sock Yarn in colorway 'Indian Stone'.  Aprox. 1 1/2 skeins made both, and I have more than enough left over for some shortling socks or a baby hat.  At 280 yards, one skein is more than enough for a pair of normal worsted weight socks.
Needles: Two Addi circulars, size 3.

My two cents:
1.  I am officially a member of the toe up revolution.  I think this is just the bomb and satisfies my compulsive little try-it-on-every-30-seconds heart like nothing else can.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up on the top-down world entirely, but this will definitely be a big, big part of my sock knitting repetoire in the future. 

2.  I LOVE how roomy the short row toe box is for my fat little toes - yeah, yeah I know I can change the toe decreases in a top-down sock to get a similar fit, I just didn't know I wanted to until now.

3.  I like the simplicity of the short row heel a LOT, and also love how it fits, but the jury's still out on how it wears.  It just doesn't feel all that surdy to me, so we'll see.  When next I do this kind of heel, I'll probably try to remember to add something like the SL1K1 stitch pattern to the heel knitting for, at a minimum, the padding. 

4. The yarn.  YUM! Squishy and soft yet also has a durable feel to it - superwash without being TOO shiny, and colors that make me giggle.  Also two thumbs up.  Go get some.  If you like thick, scrumptious socks you won't be sorry.

There are still other toe up methods/patterns to try (don't forget to read the comments if you're in the market for more really great sock patterns), but this pattern gets a huge two thumbs up at Chez Obsession.  One thing I did notice, for instance, was that I missed knitting the heel flap, which - for whatever reason - I like to do.  It's somehow a very satisfying part of the sock for me, and I love the looks of the swoopy little gusset lines that one gets while decreasing.  Next time I do a toe up, I suspect I'll do (or at least read through) one of the several recent patterns for toe up socks with heel flaps and such.

Stay tuned for further adventures in the Great Toe Up Sock Trials 2006.

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For Jillian, my dear, lovely, bestest friend who has recently decided to become a mom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiOgye2PH9c&NR
Tidy up.  Words to live by.

Comments

[FemiKnit Mafia]

OMG, I have a serious Tidy Up story to share, but even I might be too chicken shit to post it.

[maryse]

*snort*

[colleen]

Great socks. I don't dare look at the Tidy Up page.

[Liz]

Great colors in the socks! Adding the yarn to the mental list I'm keeping of all the new sock yarns I'm dying to buy.

I still have that alpaca in the envelope on my nightstand, and somehow I just keep forgetting to pick it up and head for the post office. I'll make sure to send it to you this week!

[Chris]

They're gorgeous!! Welcome to the world of toe-up. :)

[brooke]

so i'm not sure that you'll even see this comment, since i'm posting way after the thought. but i have a question about your socks. i, too, want to try the toe-up approach and i LOVE the length of your socks. did you increase for the calf at all? or did it just stretch?

thanks!