Sometimes in life we have to eat our words, whether we're hungry or not.
A few months back, I waxed poetic over the perfection of wood knitting needles, proclaiming metal to be strictly for the speed-knitter. I could not imagine myself foregoing the romance of a beautiful wood needle for the coldness of steel.
But, then, I had never tried to knit a sock with a cotton blend on a #3 circular.
It occurs to me that I have not yet offered much in the way of detail in regards to what I am using for the Sock Knit-Along, which is now officially into its second week. You see, to prepare the shop for this knit-along I had ordered some ChaioGoo stainless circulars and a Cestari sock yarn containing 75% cotton and 25% wool. I had originally planned to use the stunning superwash I picked up at Craft Akron back in December, but decided to test out the Cestari since I am going to have it in stock for now.
And, yes, that superwash does still haunt me! I've been carrying it around, with my guage swatch lookin' all purty, for about two months now. I know that it will, however, be just perfect for the Stained Glass pattern on page 96 of Personal Footprints since the colors are quite similar. Once I get this initial Discovery Sock under my belt, I'll be ready for anything!
So, I had my yarn and I had my book. I just needed needles. Wouldn't you know, the only set I had in stock in the appropriate size was the ChaioGoo. Alas, the time had come.
(Insert girlish giggle here.)
They click!
(More giggles.)
I had often heard of the mysterious clickety-clack of knitting needles, but had never experienced the sound for myself. (Wood makes a bit more of a thunk.) I don't get it with every stitch now because of the way that I knit (think sliding action), but it does happen on occassion and I cannot help but smile inside every time!
And it is smooth knitting, making things somewhat quicker since I don't have to take that extra second or two finagling the needle into every stitch. This seems particularly important with the cotton blend, which has no real give to the yarn and would likely really hold on to the wood needles.
Speaking of the yarn, I have to say it is going to make a very nice sock. I chose the Green Heather. Nothing exciting, not an eye-catching yarn that people across the room would see and recognize it as a handmade item, but very nice nonetheless. I am thinking that I might make it a fold-over kind of short sock with a little embroidered something up top. Could be very cute for Spring!
And, yes, unlike the sweater of my dreams, these socks will be done in plenty of time for that. More on my crazy another time, though.
We are just finishing up step two on the sock, with it's fiddley toes, and marking the heel on our Footprints. Our plan is to work up the middle of the foot (step 3) on our own by the time we get together again next Thursday. That way we can work on step 4 together, as it involves having someone draw on our legs and that's always good for a laugh!
I have to say that I may only have enough to cover the ball of my foot at the moment, but so far this method of knitting socks is sooo much easier than any of the baby booties I have ever made. And they weren't even that bad! Judy, as the token novice knitter, had a little trouble with the toes and ran out of time to do it herself. I did help her along to make sure she was on track with the rest of us, but I do still stand by the claim that even a newbie could tackle this sock with just a little hand-holding.
Now, to back track a bit, it is important for me to note that I will never completely abandon my beloved wood needles. One should always have the right tool for the job, however, and in this instance I do find the metal to be appropriate for my first sock (causing tight knitting) with a cotton blend (with virtually no give) on a size 3 needle (very thin).
'Nough said. Guess I could use a snack. Those words made for a lighter lunch than I imagined.
