Tuesday, May 26, 2009

It's a Treasure all right!

I'm so very happy I decided to dig up this Buried Treasure from my personal sock club!

There was a lot of work in these socks (cables.every.second.row!) but they were worth it!

Details:
Pattern: Buried Treasure by Sivia Harding. First published in Yarn magazine, #8, now also available direct from Sivia Harding (via Ravelry). Lovely pattern - I love the large cable which runs down the front of the leg and top of the foot, the intricate little cables around the back of the leg, and in particular, how the cabling from the side continues down the foot and is eventually decreased away - very very clever!

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight, in Beryl - 1 skein plus 10g. I thought I would have enough yarn for this pattern, but since I made the large size, and because of all the cables, when I finished the first sock and weighed it, and then weighed the skein, I realised immediately I'd run short - sigh!

So I turned to Ravelry. Ah, love Ravelry! I found someone in the US with some leftover STR in their stash, and asked her if she would be able to spare it - and to my joy, she could! So a HUGE thanks to Nora7 on Rav, who not only sent me her leftover yarn, but also sent some KoolAid and chocolate! Some big karma points (plus tim tams and various other goodies) for Nora7!

So this is where I ended up with the first skein of STR, plus the extra from Nora7 - thank goodness I found a kind soul who could help me with this wonderful yarn!

Sticks: 2.5mm KP Fixed circular - magic loop. This pattern is written for socks on two circs or magic loop - it's much easier to manage all the cabling this way, although you could of course use dpns. I upsized from the recommended 2.25mm sticks, although in hindsight I could have used the smaller needles. I was worried about having enough room in the leg, as the cables pull the pattern in, but as it is they are slightly loose - which is fine, as that's how husby likes his socks!
Time: Not as long as I initially thought - I remember the first few rows after the cuff took me hours! But once I got into the swing of things with the cables, it was much easier and quicker (thank goodness!). And once on the foot, even more so, given the cable was only one side, and the number of stitches on the needles had decreased from 92 down to 72. So 30 March 2009 - 20 May 2009.
Modifications: As noted, I used a size larger needles. I also decided to change the way the pattern is set up on sock two, to avoid having to break the yarn and rejoin when doing the heel. I wish I'd thought that through a bit more before I rushed in and did it, as it meant I had to do an extra row to get the yarn in the right place for the heel, and it really was a bit of a pain (although not as much of a pain as breaking and rejoining yarn...I think!). I also omitted the beads - I just don't like the idea of beaded socks (although never say never!). Lucky though, as after I started this pattern I decided I'd give these socks to husby, and I'm pretty sure he's not a beaded sock man!
What I learnt: To think through modifications to their logical end, BEFORE I rush in and do them! Overall, I love these socks! And finishing these means another brown bag from my personal sock club - woo hoo!

25 comments:

DrK said...

they are stunning, that yarn is the perfect colour for that pattern. lucky husby!

MadMad said...

Oh, WOW they're gorgeous! What a lot of work! I am just loving the whole Ravelry assistance thing - can you even begin to imagine if you'd come up that short in the "olden days?" I mean, what would you have done (other than slit your wrists, of course!) That is just awesome. I have to learn to use that feature, to see if I can help someone out... or someday be helped!

m1k1 said...

I find the way the ribbing becomes the cables (and back again) especially pleasing. Fortnuate man, to have such a knitter in the house.

m1k1 said...

also he is fortunate

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know why husby's socks don't have his signature red toe? That's the SECOND pair he's missed out on ...

Nellie said...

They look fabulous RR! Husby is very lucky.

Ann said...

Wow - they are fantastic. All those cabling will take me quite a while to finish the socks. Great work.

LynS said...

Hurrah for RoseRed - another Personal Sock Club goal achieved (though I must admit I've lost count of where you're up to). Whatever, these socks are so beautiful and so elegant and so wonderfully patterned that I declare they count for 2 pairs! Looking forward to seeing the contents of the next brown bag and the pattern you choose.

TinkingBell said...

Gorgeous, stunning and totally worth it!

kgirlknits said...

seriously impressed with those cables on the back/heel!

Bells said...

oh they are so good. A work of art. One of your very best sock projects. Husby is a lucky, lucky boy!

Gidgetknits said...

Amazing socks!!! And Ravelers (is that the term?) just rock...

Lea said...

what a lot of work - and worth it by the look

Michelle said...

OMG.

OMG.

O - M - G!!!!

I love these socks! The colour, the cables, husby's hairy legs - everything!

;-)

Caffeine Girl said...

I hope husby appreciates all the work that went into these. They are fabulous.

Sarah said...

Love them - absolutely fab!

Donna Lee said...

They are beautiful! I am sort of on track with my personal sock club. Although I have given away two pairs and they were all supposed to be for me!

Diana said...

Wow, they are super nice!!! I love the green and the cables galore!

sweetp said...

I am seriously impressed with these, I loved them the minute you loaded them up on Rav. Very cool! You are so clever

Michele said...

i love the little cables up the back of these! so sweet. you've done an amazing job on these.

Margarita said...

Woo Hoo... my first post on your blog, finally figured out HOW TO !!
So apart from that comment I'd like to say lovely dovely!!

Lynne said...

Thanks Nora7. We may have missed the FO otherwise!

Alwen said...

Getting a comment in here late, but dang, I would pinch those out of your sock drawer in a second!

Nora said...

True works of art!

nora7 said...

They are gorgeous! :) Congrats on finishing!