Journeymen Socks…
Perhaps you recall back to last fall when I was spinning like a crazy person with some Blue Moon Fiber Arts fiber? The results of which shared on November first? Well, I am finally able to show you what it grew up to be…
Many of you who are subscribers of Spin-Off already have left comments or sent e-mails because you have a keen eye and spotted my by line yourself. Thank you SO MUCH! Others of you may not be subscribers (or even spinners) so I thought I’d share the news. It is at least one thing I’ve worked on in the last many months and have been unable to share with you. The pattern is called Journeyman Socks. I named as such because the socks were going to be for DH and use traveling stitches. However, he doesn’t wear much blue so wasn’t terribly keen on the yarn in the skein so I made them for myself. But, the design itself should appeal to men while helping us knitters keep our sanity by allowing us to do some more than stockinette or a vanilla flavored ribbing.
There are syncopated twisted ribs, and traveling stitches throughout. But, not so many as to make it tedious as some have found the Gentleman Socks (rav link) to be. The all over twisted mock cabling stops on the back of the leg to help it retain some stretch that the traveling stitches reduce. The lines of the syncopated twisted ribs were also carried onto the heel flap which you can kind of see in the photo on the left.
Inspired by the Bordhi constructions I’ve been knitting with since New Pathways I came out I moved the gusset by way of placing the decreases differently. This brought the leg patterning to a point on the top of the foot and created a decorative means to transition from the leg pattern into the stockinette of the foot. I maintained the usual top-down gusset rate of decrease of two stitches every other round however, so the length of the gusset is normal.
I have to confess that these socks are my most comfortable and best fitting handspun and handknit socks I’ve made so far. The sizing worked better than nearly any other pair and the handspun was just the right balance between hardwearing and elastic and softness so the purl bumps are not annoying to walk on.
You can find the pattern now on newsstands and in spinning shops that carry Spin-Off Magazine. It officially hit newsstands last Tuesday. It is the Summer 2008 issue. You can see the pattern page on Ravelry if you wish to queue or favorite it.
