I have been feeling a little guilty about the Hurricane Socks. The packages don’t have to be mailed until Labor Day, but so many folks already finished that I am starting to feel like an Underachiever. To combat the feeling of inadequacy, I am making up the pattern for my Hurricane Pal’s sock.
I began the development process by renaming my yarn of choice (Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Pioneer) to “Squall.” The mixture of brown, grey and blue suggests the color of the sky when the first squall lines come in from the Gulf. I found it apt.
As most of you know, I like my sock yarn knit at a smaller gauge than the wrapper usually suggests – I think it makes for a sturdier and longer lasting sock. I’ve settled on a gauge of 9sts to 1 inch for Shepherd Sock, so I picked up my needles, cast on 80 stitches and was off. The ribbing went very well, but when I started my pattern: a disturbing pooling thing happened.
All the blue is on ONE SIDE. Dum Dum Dumm.
I considered switching to another stitch pattern (I came up with three before beginning the sock), but one of them was entirely too complex. I’m not sure if my Hurricane Pal is into making socks that take that much concentration (in this swap, we make one half of the sock pair and then send the yarn and the pattern to our pal to make the other sock), so I decided to play it safe.* The third stitch pattern wanted different ribbing (K3, P2 instead of K2, P2) so I yanked it all out and started over with a new 80 stitches and the new stitch pattern. Two pattern reps into the leg, the pooling thing was still happening. I yanked it out, dropped four stitches from the total (it will still fit my pal’s foot just fine – the 80 stitches easily stretched to 10″), and went back to my original leg pattern. With great success.
Pretty! And swirly, just like a storm. Yay!
If you’re interested, I’ll have the pattern on the patterns page when the sock is finished.
Angus is better: he eats a fair amount of turkey, chicken and brown rice and has more energy. You can tell that life is returning to its default state by the length of my posts.
*Seriously, I am already making her knit these at an impossibly small gauge. I need to cut her a break.
Glad to hear Angus is doing better! It took a few tries to get there, but I like the way the sock is turning out.
Very pretty sock Emily!
I’m so liking that colorway, whatever you choose to call it (though Squall is quite apt). And I like that pattern too. Very pretty!
What a courage!
I cant even match my own gauge when I let WIP’s lie more than a year, and you are out to match a whole different persons gauge in socks? WOW!
I am in awe.
Lene
Ooooh… what a pretty “squall”!
Socks looking good – yay Angus.
oh my, squall is beautiful! Your pal will be so pleased.
And hurrah that Angus is beter.
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
So glad to hear Angus is better!!
Ilove the final pattern for your Hurricane sock!! You are right about the colors swirling like a hurricane! I know your sock pal will be excited to get this one!!! ESPECIALLY as it will be from your pattern!!
Very pretty Emily! Much nicer than the pooling version.
I glad Angus is eating and feeling better!
The sock looks great! You have a lucky partner!
Oh I’m so pleased about Angus! When our ‘puppy’ was down with un-diagnosed Addison’s disease he also got to eat lots of lovely people food – lots of chicken and rice and grated carrots. He just loved those carrots……. I, though, was quite pleased when he went back on standard food – cooking up enough chicken & rice & carrots to feed an 85 pound dog was quite a lot of work!
As for the sock, I’m sure your swap pal will be really pleased. Is part of the swap deal that if a hurricane makes its way through your neighborhood that you have to have your picture taken in torrential rain wearing the socks? ;>
Wow, I can’t believe the difference! The final version of the sock looks great!
Although I’m not sure Lorna would like your changing the carefully chosen names of her colorways all willy-nilly. 🙂