Pattern: Eesti Trail Hiking Socks by Nancy Bush
Source: Favorite Socks by Interweave
Size: Men's
Yarn: Cascade 220
Colours: Red #8895 White #8010
Lot #'s: Red #1703 White #1693
Needles: 3.25 mm dpns
Start: October 21 Finish:December 2, 2009
Modifications: Colour/Lengthened Leg between colourwork and Heel/Added Colourwork at Toe
Blogless Barb was right when she predicted in the comments that the colour of the Cascade 220 would run. I did do the vinegar in cold water bath first just as she suggested and there was no running there. Despite that, instantly upon hitting the tepid blocking bath the water turned red. The effect in person does not appear as pink as it does in the photo. I don't think My Beloved will even notice. But if you're anticipating it and looking for it, there's no denying its there.
Nonetheless I LOVE the socks. I'm happy with the longer length provided by adding several rows between the bottom of the colourwork cuff and the top of the heel. (When worn I wanted them to be at least as high as the tops of the ski boots.) I'm also pleased as punch with the little colourwork band I added at the base of the toe which is made by working the pattern above and below the snow flakes back to back.
They are squishy and warm and the colour combination screams skiing - which is when these will get worn. I was working on them at a school parent meeting last week and the dad beside me snorted when I answered his inquiry as to who the socks were for. I guess he thought the red with white snowflake design wasn't sufficiently manly for a real "guy" to wear. Being ski socks I'm the only one who will even know the snowflakes are there. I'll get a glimpse of them in the wee dark hours when we haul ourselves up to make it the 2 1/2 hours to the hill in time for the lifts to open. At that hour and in that context I need all the help I can get to be happy about going out to hit the slopes and these socks will definitely aid in that regard.
I hope the fit is good! I won't know for sure until Christmas morning but for now its enough that I just LOVE these socks and I think My Beloved will too!
Now I'm off for my hateful walk actually happy to do it today because I'll be "test driving" the ear band I mentioned I was starting last week. Hopefully I'll have FO pics of that tomorrow. University Exams have started so time with my primo FO photographer will be even more hard to come by in the next few days than they have been in the last couple of weeks!
Have a great day and thanks for dropping by!
I love these socks! They are so fun!! They will definitely be a hit on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteActually snorted?! Some people make no sense. People used to wear this kind of stuff all the time - it's nicely sentimental, I think.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, congratulations on the FO! I bet they'll definitely be appreciated.
I like the extra little detail of white you added near the toe. They look great! They'll make a wonderful gift. :-)
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely. I am sure your 'beloved' will love them. Unlike the 'stuck in last century' father at the meeting.
ReplyDeleteI love the socks, the red is spectacular. Too bad about the running.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the white at the toe was nice. Good adaptation.
I can't wait to hear about the headband as I was just thinking I need one.
These are such fun! Almost (but not really) enough to make me want to go skiing. Sock hero Nancy Bush rises to the occasion again, though it's good to know even she can be improved upon - I really like the band of contrast around the toes.
ReplyDeleteFirst: "blogless Barb" made me laugh so hard it's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything - I don't think I've been called that before! Second: I'm glad your experience with the dye bleeding wasn't too bad. In my case, I had knit an entrelac bag in 5 colors of the 220, alternating cream with purple, red, blue, and green, and when I felted it, the red and the purple ran so much the bag was essentially ruined. It became a cat bed, since they don't care about how it looks :) Your socks are wonderful, despite the pink tint.
ReplyDeleteBarb