Friday 1 July 2011

FO Friday - the sock edition

That's right, you heard it correct. I finished my socks. I'm very excited about this. It's taken months to get them done, mostly because I kept bumping them down the priority list instead of working on them. But, as my WIP list diminished in size, I was forced to come back to them, and got the second sock done in record time!

I still don't get the fascination with making socks, although I do feel proud to have made a pair of my own. Maybe when I'm done with my year of projects, I will consider knitting a pair and see how that compares.


Pattern: Ultimate Crocheted Socks (direct link here)
Yarn: King Cole Zig-Zag (just under one skein)
Hook: 3.5mm

The first comment I will make on the pattern is that it is incorrect as written. I cannot stress that enough. When you reach the gusset, it tells you to place a marker in the middle of the foot, then count out to the sides to place the side markers. What it fails to tell you is this: the middle marker should then be removed, it's only purpose is to allow you to properly locate the side markers. For the rest of the pattern, when it refers to the "mid-point marker", it is actually referring to the side marker opposite the start of the round.

Once you get that right, the rest is easy. I think what the pattern could really do with is diagrams. That would help out a lot of people. The author has added comments to the tune of the corrections noted above, but hasn't seen fit to amend the actual pattern as written. I find that odd, personally. But, it's a free pattern, so there's no point complaining I guess! I got there in the end!

I could have made them a touch longer, as I had spare yarn. I only used about 91g of the 100g skein. But, I did get the stripes to line up, which I am very pleased about.

I altered the pattern only when it came to hook sizes and cuffs. The pattern recommends you use a 4mm hook for the main sock, and a 3.5mm hook for the cuff. I used a 3.5mm throughout, and only did three rounds worth of ribbing (one round of dc, two rounds of fpdc and bpdc).

They fit Jamie perfectly.

Yes, he is wearing pink and purple socks. He likes them!
As ever, more fabulous fibery goodness on show over at Tami's blog!

16 comments:

  1. Alittlebitsheepish1 July 2011 at 08:50

    Great socks and good on him for wearing pink socks :D

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  2. The socks do look great. Having crocheted socks and knitted socks, I expect you will find knitting them more fun. Crochet socks never grabbed my attention the way knit socks have.

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  3. I suspect knitting them (a basic, non-fancy pair) would be quicker, although I reckon if I'd not been distracted by so many other things I'd have got these done in just a couple of weeks.

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  4. I've never crocheted socks. I don't think I'd enjoy making them as much crocheted as I do knitting them, just like how I prefer to make crochet toys and leave knitting out of it, heh!  I'm glad Jamie likes them!

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  5. Congrats! They look great!

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  6. Beautiful! The socks match your blog... awesome.

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  7. A real man can handle pink!

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  8. HIP HOORAY! Congrats on finishing your first socks! My first pair were enormous on me, but fit my husband perfectly! He didn't mind that they had eyelet running up them; he calls it "vent holes" and he still has them! 

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  9. They do look like they fit perfectly!  What a great FO photo of the socks on his feet.  And congrats on finishing something that's been hanging around.  That is always a good feeling!

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  10. I think it's great that you achieved completing this project even if crochet socks aren't something that you're going to do a lot of. It' s good to meet a challenge like that and they look great!

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  11. Job well done, even with the pattern error!  That would have completely screwed me up. 
    They look great, and it's awesome when a guy owns his pink. :D

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  12. They came out great!!  I've only knit socks - never crocheted them before, so I am impressed! 

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  13. One of the best pairs of crochet socks I've seen! So glad you finished them both.

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  14. W0w they look fantastic. I just knit my first pair of socks this Spring and although it took me a very long time to work up to the challenge it was so worth it. I am now hoarding sock yarn as if I have years of extra time to spend on socks alone. Nice project, thanks for sharing.

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  15. Is it weird that I'm a little glad that you made these and don't understand the crazy-appeal of socks? ;)  I always feel like I'm missing something by not making any, but now I feel better. 

    Anyway, this pair turned out awesomely, I like the way the stripes worked up, and as always, reading your pattern-troubleshooting makes my brain hum happily.  You would be an awesome pattern editor, I think, you always have such clear and interesting thoughts and ideas about how to improve or just remix stuff.

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  16. pretty colorway! I've crocheted a few pairs, but I have to say, knitted socks are really so much better, I think the fit is just a little bit better & they feel just a little bit more comfy on your feet. The colorway you picked is just gorgeous, though!

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