A Step Above!

This sock is called "A Step Above" and it really is. After first reading about it on Bogie's blog, I was a little apprehensive to start it at all. She was ready to burn it, after she was done. Which would have been a shame, I love the color she chose. You can read all about it in her Friday, September 22, 2oo6 entry. After reading all her tips and modifications, I thought, I would never be able to make this interesting sock. But, as you can see, the first one is done. It takes a lot longer to make these socks, than the usual socks I've made so far. The leg is long too, just a couple of inches beneath my knee.

I found another pair on Debi's blog. It's the Friday, October 06, 2006 entry. She's started another pair as well.

On the left you can see the fully finished first sock of the pair. You are making an afterthought heel (a first for me). This method is very fiddly and takes some patience. The toe part is made the same way. I had to graft two times with one sock. Heaven help me. I've got to practice grafting a bit more. It's not perfect, but it will do.

The entrelac itself is easy to knit, which surprised me. I've only done Dave's "garterlac" dishcloth which is not quite the same, since this entrelac is ribbed. All the other entrelac tries I had to rip out again until I lost interest.

Here's the heel. Can you see a difference in the colors? This pattern needs more yarn. I knew that, so I had to order a third skein, which, after several month, was not the same dye lot. No surprise. I've used it on the heel and the toe, so there's some symmetry there. Can't do anything else about it.

For the cuff, leg and heel I've used 2.25mm needles and after the first round of rectangles after the heel, I switched to 2mm needles for the foot. As it turns out, a wise choice, because the sock fits perfectly.

I'm really happy with the outcome. I was almost afraid to tackle it. I had yarn and pattern sitting on my desk for a while now. I did a false start and waited a little longer. And all that for nothing. It was easy, but time consuming. The only thing what bothers me is, that now I have to make a second one. I've started it already. Even David thought the color and pattern are interesting. One more thing. Normally you'll knit the heel after you are done, but I had to see if the sock fit at all, so I did it as seen above.

Now, for you who would like to know more, here's the information:

yarn: sweetgeorgia yarns, superwash sock, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, fingering weight, handpainted, colorway "Angel"

needles: 2.25mm and 2.00mm (steel and bamboo)

pattern: (now we are talking): Knitter's Magazine, Summer 2004 K75, " A Step Above" by Kathleen Power Johnson

By the way, Sam is going to have surgery on Thursday, October 09th, 10 AM.