After my relative success with fair isle in the Endpaper Mitts, I thought I'd try a bit of fair isle in a sock. Not the whole sock, because I really think double stranded 4ply/fingering socks are really too warm for our climate. But just a little bit, around the top of the leg, that'd be alright, and then the rest of the sock would be plain sailing.
I thought these two colours would work well - the red is Dunkle Kirsch and the black/grey/white is Birkenrinde - with the main part of the sock in the Birkenrinde, a suitably boyish colour.I've called this the Frankensock as I've cobbled together pieces of two Nancy Bush patterns for the cuff of the sock - the Latvian Twist cast on from Canada, and the fair isle chart from Christmas in Tallinn (both from the excellent Knitting on the Road).
And quite frankly, I think Frankensock is apt because they are a bit ugly (yeah yeah, I know Frankenstein was the master, not the monster!). The WM label told me: Don't dream it - knit it!
Unfortunately, my dreams for this sock haven't quite translated into reality. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to keep this or frog, or maybe just frog the fair isle part and knit the whole sock plain. Maybe I'll reverse the colours and see if that looks any better. Either way, the Birkenrinde is going to pool and flash (I was really hoping it would stripe) but if husby doesn't mind then I won't let it bother me. Much. Another GAAK experience, I think. What do you think?
26 comments:
oh i like it! I vote for keeping it. It's MOST unusual. Keep it keep it!
I like it...Keep it! Keep it!
It's really lovely and very different
Ohhh, this is so hard. Like Bells and JP, I think they are fun and unusual, but if you're uncertain about them, they'll be a misery to knit...and will husby wear them? However, if you do decide to unravel them and knit up the stunning grey and white, keep the red cast-on edging! That would be such discreet fun.
I would swap the colours over, so the variegation of the Birkenrinde looks like lots of different colours against the red. I'm just contrary though!! Love your cast on. Lucky Mr RoseRed!!
I know i'm only repeating what i said earlier today, but now i'm on the record and have a seconder in Lyn.
Keep the Latvian Twist cast on with Dunkle Kirsch, and knit the rest of the sock plain with Birkenrinde. I know i'd wear them ;-)
Oh, I don't think it's ugly - and for a men's sock it would be kind of interesting. But what is funny is there is a frankensock pattern (maybe that's not the exact name) on Knitty I had, at one point, intended to make, and at first I thought you were talking about those... But it is sort of the same idea, where you use two yarns to come up with a sock...
I am so behind on your WOW week! It's dizzying!! I can't decide on the socks. What does your husband think?
oh, don't fear the fugly - there's beauty in there (somewhere?!)
here's hoping it flashes in a really COOL way ;)
Maybe I'm just really shattered, but I kind of like it - it's got a nice Gothic vibe! And I just love the cast on edge.
I hate pooling and flashing in my socks. I know this is an unpopular view but I can't help it. I love the red bits and would definitely use the red cast on but I'd have to find a different contrast yarn.
My opinion is to frog the colorwork, but leave the red cast on. I have a feeling that the colors won't look any better if you reverse them.
Hmm - the cast on is gorgeous but I'm not too sure about the fair isle bit - maybe a couple of stripes of the red would look more striking?
Pretty cool looking and I like the Frankensocks name!
i find i am in agreement with donna lee! i am not a fan of pooling in sock yarn anymore, but it doesnt look fugly here, so i think you could also keep going and it work out ok. it depends on whether you can live with knitting it! the red bits do look fantastic tho.
OH - I like it - so I'm a vote for keeping - and WM is notorious for pooling and spiralling - but it is rather cool - and the toes and heels could be red..........
Ok - I'm going to write what I first thought...deep breath...cause you asked for it..."Ohhhhh-Ewwwwwww-ohhhhhh".
This in no way reflects your very cleverness at the cast on and the whole idea of the sock, or the fact that we are ex-roomies soon to be roomies again, and YOU KNOW what that means (I can always do a repeat performance) (Ohhh - that sounds very weird and strange), it's just that it's very "Ohhhh-lookathatewwwwwwidontknow -ohhhhh" type of sock.
Whilst this is a very long winded and thoughtful (in my case) answer, I'm not feeling the love of the red section.
I say Frog.
Now, young lady, don't think that just because your 7 days of WOW are over, that you can slack off. The whole world is now expecting daily reports on which of the 7 you have been working on!!
thanks for the wild ride over the past 7 days! It's been wonderful to see what patterns and colours you combine and how great they look. I cast on a measly 3 new projects, but still intend to cast on a Clapotis in Wollmeise in the next couple of days! Definitely a good influence, you made me remember why it is I love knitting so much!
I like the red cast on but not so sure about the fair isle. Since there's pooling, it will be sufficient to knit the sock in one color - that will be enough variation.
I think I'd try Julie's trick of photocopying the two yarns (or taking a photo of them in B&W mode, if your camera has one).
I'm thinking the black and the red are not different enough in darkness to contrast, that's why the pattern is vanishing there.
I love the combination - keep it
I'm voting to frog - I would really like to see it the other way around - with the B&W variegated as the clever bits and the solid red as the main part of the sock. I think the black and white would really pop against the solid red.
But ask Husby - he's the one who has to wear them.
I have so enjoyed your Week Of Wollmeise - it's been an absolute treat!
Oh, and have you read Frankenstein? He may have been the creator, but Victor had an ugly little soul.
these socks are ugly? where? where is the ugly - i don't see it. i think they look masucline and strong and canadian and very nice!
I think that you should try reversing the colours just to see. they are both lovely yarns.
I'm knitting some socks in almost the exact same colors, which I think are perfection together. After posting the progress on Ravelry, not one heart or comment. So go figure. Here's the link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kathrows/clouds-sock
Furthermore, I believe the cover socks on a recent Vogue sock knitting book are in these same colors. Also, check these out where the black and white is the dominant color: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sandra/bloody-mary
I certainly don't think it's fugly! But I think it might look better with the yarns swapped. That's the most beautiful red, isn't it?
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