Yet another sock August 20, 2008
I probably should have joined the Ravelympics Sock Put. I can’t seem to stop knitting socks. Case in point: West Coast Swing. I started this sock last week after I finished my second Algernon. My head-first dive into stitch dictionaries found a stitch pattern called Swing. Because my parents met during the 1950s when swing dancing was all the rage, and they lived here on the west coast so always danced the west coast version of that dance, the pattern name was a given. I fiddled with it a bit to come up with the right number of stitches for a 64-stitch sock, and haven’t looked back since. 
I even have a copy of the pattern to my test knitter, Denise (sadly blogless).
I always forget that I need to knit Blue Moon’s STR yarn on size 0 needles. I picked up my size 1s, and actually made it through the entire first sock, blocking and all, before realizing that on those needles with my gauge and my foot size, the sock is simply too big. I hate it when that happens.
When I cast on for sock number two I went down to size 0 needles. This second sock fits much, much better. Plus, now you can actually see the pretty stitches swinging back and forth. When I’m done with it I’ll rip out the first one, and re-knit it with the smaller needles.
   
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At Knit Knight on Monday Debbie had to come over from the other side of the group to see what I was working on, and ooh’d and aah’d over the design. And the yarn. Shanda decided right then and there that she must knit 
these socks when the pattern’s done. I’m workin’ on it, ladies. Kristie convinced me that with simpler stitch patterns I should include written stitch instructions as well as the charted ones that I always provide. I’m horrible with written stitch instructions. When I come across them in someone else’s pattern I always chart them so that I don’t get lost. We’ll see how this goes. My written stitch instructions will need to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb. Never fear, though. I’ll have at least two extra sets of eyes on them, to make sure they’re correct.
LisaK August 20
Wow, I love that pattern. In that colorway it makes me think of sunset at the end of a long hot summer day.
~Kristie August 20
Is Denise test knitting them from the chart or the written out directions? Inquiring minds want to know. ;-)
Bummer about the first sock being too big, but it was fun to see it in person and see what you had been working on during your time in Vegas. What projects are going with you to Palm Springs?
Are one of those pair of eyes mine? tee hee :-)
babyface August 20
I love your new sock pattern and I love the color that you did it in.I hope
that you will put written instructions in this pattern. I am not well,
and it’s so hard for me to figure out charts. My brain just doesn’t compute a lot of things anymore. They are really pretty. I’m like
your parents; I married in the 50’s also.
Danielle from SW MO August 21
Cant wait for this new sock to become available, its really pretty esp in the STR! Give Ricki extra loves and maybe she wont be to mad that you left again and have fun on your trip!
KeanaLee August 21
You are GENIUS! I love these! I am going to make them for my sister, she loves the 50’s - her and hubby even took swing lessons a few years back……can’t wait to buy the pattern!
allena August 21
I love that sock and the color. signing up for sock wars kinda killed my obsession for a bit… but now it’s slowly coming back. love your socks.
Jocelyn August 22
What a great pattern! And it looks awesome in that colorway :)
Robin August 22
Love, love, love it Laura. You should make your mom a pair.
Angela August 24
Oooh I love the pattern.
christina August 26
Love this pattern! It’s awesome!