Sunday, June 01, 2008

Half an Ornette

It starts at the top and spirals its way down and around ...



... across the front ...

.
.. down to the gusset and stops there. But another one starts at the flap ....



... and flows along the foot, then across top ...




... all the way to the toe.



And now I get to do the other one. Only backwards. :-)

Except I won't be using these. I couldn't figure out why this sock was taking so long, and I seemed to be always fighting with the stitches. Then I stopped and had a good look at the needles.


Can you guess which four of the five Knitpicks needles I'd been using? This is only the third sock I've knit with these.

48 people had something to say:

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous sock. But -what- happened to your needles? =:o

HPNY KNITS said...

OMG! the most amazing sock ever! and this yarn is great for stitch definition.

Virtuous said...

Oh my goodness I love the structure and cables! That has Bordhi all over it! :oD
AND you get to do the 2nd one backwards! Nice!!

Plain Jane said...

I've been having good luck knitting with KnitPicks Harmony DPs in size two, but I haven't tackled anything as complex as your sock yet. It's a wonderful pattern.

Debi said...

Yikes! You wore the nickel right off those babies! If you contact KP I'm sure they will replace them.

Those socks are beyond gorgeous - I NEED that pattern STAT! :)

Anonymous said...

There goes my Rav queue again! Oh wait, I added this to the quese the last time you posted this "in process". Phew!

Anonymous said...

tHAT IS FREAKING COOL! Did you make it up or is it from that new pathways book?

mikka said...

That's happened to my Knitpick dpns too, and after just two pairs of socks :\ I was wondering what happened to them, if I could treat them or somesuch to make them better. It's too bad, because until they got icky, they were wonderful.

Unknown said...

I love your socks. I use the harmony knitpicks needles and love them.
I think knitting those would make me dizzy! LOL

Teyani said...

whoa . ... awesome sock!! Dynamic blue - fabulous pattern. I bet it keeps you totally entertained:-)
what's with those needles? sigh. frustrating for sure.

LaurieM said...

The sock is cool looking. It looks like it would be quite the challenge to knit. My honest feeling is that I'm not a big fan of the asymmetrical look. Just not my cup of tea.

My favourite sock needles are Aero. Do you have them in your LYS? They've got a nice finish on them and they don't warp in my hands. If you don't, let me know and I'll try to get a set to you. The price is very reasonable too.

Kay-From the Back Yard said...

Wow. Nice socks. They are a testament to your skill and determination, given the problem you had with the needles.

My KP dpns have been used a couple of times and have darkened a bit. I'm wondering if they will get worse, but I set them aside quite a while ago and haven't used them since. Do you think it's a reaction to hand lotion or the natural oils in our skin?

knittinandnoodlin said...

I love the socks! What an awesome yarn choice!

But, oy! Your poor needles! It kind of makes me glad I went for the instant gratification of the LYS when I was looking at metal dpns.

StellsBells said...

I have KP nickel needles, and love them. But they do get grungy. I've found that if I clean them - each one in a round a couple of times per sock - with cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol...they shine right up and move smoothly. That's a reminder to me to wash my hands, the actual delivery device of most of the grunge. For my woods, same procedure, cotton ball with damp (not wet) dilluted Murphy's Oil Soap. Equally amazing results. And the Murphy's smells like I've been cleaning....instead of avoiding it. Which I haven't of course....

Anonymous said...

That is so cool!

picperfic said...

I am up too early because of a headache...I thought the title of your blog post was Half an Omelette! hah! What a stunning sock, absolutely beautiful stitch craft. Those needles are a bit of a let down..

Anonymous said...

Now THAT'S a sock!

Ulli said...

What a beautiful sock. I hope the second one is faster to knit.

fleegle said...

Those are fantastic socks! And the color is luminous!

My hands do the same thing to KP needles, as well as other metallic thingies like Japanese scissors. I try to use aluminum or wooden needles--they don't seem to react with my skin.

sgeddes said...

What a great sock! I think they would make me crazy, but I love them. I may just have to try the pattern out.

Donna said...

That's so nice; I still prefer Cookie's Thelonious sock, but your knitting is beautiful! You should also know that thanks to your queueing on Ravelry, my sock queue and favorites are getting longer - thanks to you, I'll never run out of socks to knit ;)

Patricia said...

Wow, another gorgeous pair. It does have the Cookie A. trademarks.

Nana Sadie said...

Great sock! I don't use the metal Options, as I have a nickle allergy, and then the extra weight affects my hands, but I love the Harmony's!
(I truly didn't realize your photo was of the Options, till I read the comments!!! I thought they were Harmonys...then I realized they weren't multi-colored!!!)
(((Hugs)))

Mary Lou said...

wowie zowie! I'm no Ornette Colman fan, but these socks are hip and cool man

Marjorie said...

What a fabulously interesting sock design. I haven't graduated from the standard sock designs (in fact, I'm mired in the basic top-down, heel flap variety), but those are really inspiring.

lexa said...

What a cool sock! The middle needle I'd say wasn't used since it's shiny, and the others aren't. Interesting.

Jennie said...

Wow! Nice!!

Frieda said...

Impressive socks ! Too bad the needles were a disappointment . Maybe contact Knit Picks and see if you could get a replacement set. Can't believe that the finish would disappear so quickly .

Agnes said...

The sock is very interesting ... but I can't say the same for the KnitPicks needles! I have a set of US3 but haven't used them much since they are too heavy ... and I don't use US3 for socks that often. I would feel pissed if I were you ...
Actually I recently thought of trying Hiya Hiya dpns ... saw them in a LYS and they seemed pretty pointy.

limedragon :-: Harriet said...

It looks fabulous!! I like how you were able to get a full (or close to it?) cable repeat before the toe. So you used only four needles? I ended up using 5 or 6 at a time with these socks, especially during the gusset section. : )

Alwen said...

Fascinating sock pattern - that's Cookie A's new one, correct?

If cleaning the surface grunge off with rubbing alcohol doesn't do it, try a gray nail buffer.

I use a black-white-gray nail set to clean old corroded steel dpns smooth enough to knit with again.

(Oh, and re knitting dark yarn in June: I was thinking about the hot sun heating up the dark yarn :D while car-knitting, not one of those old "no white shoes after Labor Day" rules.)

Carrie said...

Oh, very artsy and beautiful! I love them.

Carrie K said...

That is a fabulous looking sock there, Dave! But good god, what did you do to those needles? My specialty is snapping (wood) ones in half.

You're wearing your out!

Irie said...

neat socks! is this your own pattern? I love the blue color too...

I am familiar with the tarnished nickel as my sweetheart makes nickel-plated yo-yos and they tend to turn black ... some people's skin pH causes nickel to tarnish faster, but it is not being worn off, just changing color. It can be seen as a nice feature if you like the aged look. There are various tarnish removers to shine them back up.

Still, anyone using nickel needles should be aware that this is a common allergen, one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis :-o

Jennifer said...

That sock is amazing! I've been magic looping for so long, I don't think I could go back to the old DPNs.

Valerie Polichar said...

Yeow on the needles, but what a beauty of a sock! Good luck with the second one!

Nan said...

Fantastic sock Dave, I just love it, if only I was as patient as you to try something so creative! Great job.

Karen said...

As my son used to say when he was very little, "Oh my goonitz!" On both counts - the socks (in a good way) and the needles (not so much).

I totally heart those socks.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous socks!

Anonymous said...

er, I mean 'sock' ;o)

- Sandi - said...

Very, very cool socks. You have good taste!

RenateS. said...

If you call Knit Picks, they will replace the needles for you. Love the sock. Renate

BEESTLYproducts said...

crazy+amazing=cramazing.

that sock is cramazing!

Anonymous said...

I got to the end of your description of the sock and found myself singing "Helter Skelter, ba dada dada dada, Helter Skelter...." Hee! Beautiful socks!

Anonymous said...

Truly lovely, sir!

turtlegirl76 said...

The sock is absolutely stunning! But what fresh hell is this? The needles went all tarnishy after only 3 socks? That's BS. It's not like you're E.B> Farnum and have unusually moist palms. (Deadwood reference there for ya.)

knitspot anne said...

wow, nice socks! i like that tip about cleaning the needles.

Anonymous said...

Although I often read your blog, I am a lurker,
I guess, but I am moved to comment.............that sure is one heck of a sock (or 2).I'm not really anonymous!!, but I don't have a blog....... Anne