12/21/07

First sock and no direction

What we have here is a first sock. Complete by fiberguy, toes and heels grafted. Second sock is up to row three to avoid the dreaded second sock syndrome. I am really proud of him.


I only wish I was doing that well. I have ripped out my shawl three times. Apparently I can't count OR read directions. I don't follow patterns often, usually glancing at them and use them as a general guideline. So when I actually try to follow directions, I can't seem to get it right. On page 111 of Knitting Around, I am told to cast on 20 and knit two rows (one ridge). Ok, got that. Then place markers at 2 and 19. Good so far. That would mean I have 18 sts between the markers, right -- or am I reading that wrong? Anyway, I YO on each side of the marked stitch every other row until I get 3 ridges, then YO, knit 1 across between the markers. It should be 18 + 2 + 2 (for each of the right side increase rows)=22 *2 (for each yo) = 44 between the markers. Ok, really off at this point. The pattern calls for 16 sts, increasing to 32. It only gets worse the further I go.

Now I don't really care about the garment as I am sure mine will turn out swell and be warm and wearable. But, clearly, I need help reading directions. I seem to be screwing up royally and just can't figure out where. I think I don't understand HOW to read directions anymore. If you have a suggestion, I'd love to hear it. Or maybe it is just a match for me with these particular directions. Did any of you read this and get it right? Not the garment, but the count? Even if I moved the markers to 2 stitches in from the edge on each side, it would give me 16 for the first ridge, but 2 more on each of the next two ridges.

Brain bad. Brain no work.


At least my fingers know what to do. I needed Steeler socks BAD. So my perfect gold and some new black went into a toe-up mucking about with peerie patterns. This is not blocked at all. I just noodled around until it was long enough. I don't know if I will do the second one the same. It made me realize that no where in my stitch libraries do I have anything organized by stitch count. Most have row count. If you wanted to search for all the peerie patterns you have that would fit into 64, 32, 16, 8, 4 or 2, how would you search except to flip through. I don't think I know of any site that organized this way either. I know that I can look at Knitting Fool to get stitch counts for some lace and textured patterns. But is there a book out there that would give me a chapter of say 16 stitch repeat colorwork?

[Washed out color on my first sock.]

7 comments:

knitmd said...

Have you tried the Fair Isle books? I am certain either Ann Feitelson or Alice Starmore's books arrange Peerie patterns by stitch number...

Caroline M said...

You've got 16 stitches between stitches 2 and 19 (18 includes them and you're doing your YO before you get to them). When you do the doubling it says double the centre 16 to 32, not double everything that you have between the markers. The diagonal increasing bits go off and do their own thing, it's just the central bit that you double. That's where you're redesigning the pattern and that's why it's carrying on getting worse as you go along.

Did that make sense or did I just make it all worse?

Marcy said...

Nice noodling! Yeah, I agree with knitmd, one of those does so. More than that, I'm certain St*****e's stitch pattern dictionary does so. Now if only I could find it.

Marcy said...

Oh, and Fiberguy's socks? Fabulous! But can he do it again? ;)

Anonymous said...

I'm no help whatsoever on questions involving numbers of any kind, sorry, but I do want to state that Fiberguy rocks. Fabulous job on his first sock.

Anonymous said...

what the heck is a "Peerie" pattern?

I'm sorry it's still to early to think math.
I got the kid,gifts for teachers and gingerbread diorama out the door before nine, brain off now. Need to finish gifts for tonight cause of a big family ballet party.(we are going to see my youngest,Cyrus be the "head mouse" in the Nutcracker tonight. Got to go dye some hats I knit. chow

Anonymous said...

p.s. Yeah Dan ginger bread Diorama was cool. made tons of glue icing. It's being eaten now.