How to Take Five Years to Knit a Pair of Socks

1. October, 2003: Need project to pass time at home after new baby arrives. Buy yarn and divide into two equal balls--one for each sock.

2. October, 2003: Begin first sock. With two inches until ending with the toe, run out of yarn. Throw in knitting basket for several months.

3. May, 2004: Rip out almost entire sock including a little more than 2" from the cuff. Finish knitting sock down to toes (very slowly--no need to rush the five-year socks, after all).

4. June, 2004: Forget how to do kitchener stitch, throw back in knitting basket with only toe left to close.

5. January, 2005: Realize you need the size 3 needles currently sitting on the sock. Transfer stitches to holder (or in my case, twist ties for the garbage bags). Throw back in knitting basket for one year.

6. February, 2006: Decide that this is the THE YEAR for finishing the socks. Look up kitchener, finish one sock.

7. March, 2006: Look for other ball of yarn to begin sock #2. Can't find it, place lone sock in knitting basket for several months.

8. September, 2007: Organize stash, find missing ball of yarn. Cast on and knit 1" of sock, get bored and throw back in knitting basket for several months.

9. June, 2008: Need something boring to knit at meeting. Realize child born when socks were started will start kindergarten in two months. Grab sock, work all week and FINISH seven days later.

So, it turns out I can actually knit a sock in one week if I so choose. Who would have thought?


Update: while going through my yarn stash today (a few days after writing this post), I found another skein of yarn for these socks. So, I guess I didn't really run out in the first place.

First Attempt at Altering a Pattern

I am not one of those people who can just create knitting patterns. I envy them. I need explicit instructions on what to do and when to do it, or it's likely to be a colossal failure. For me, it's like comparing actual painting to paint-by-numbers, and I'm definitely a paint-by-numbers kind of gal.

However, I found a dress pattern that I MUST make for Jordan. It's from the Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits, and is featured on the front cover. I love, love, LOVE the fuzzy yarn on the hem, and I know my little girl will love it too. It's right up her alley.

So, here's what I did--let's see if it works.

I made a gauge swatch (something I NEVER do) and found out I'm knitting 3.5 stitches per inch (gauge is 4.5 stitches per inch). I measured Jordan and came up with reasonable measurements for the circumference of the hem along with her waist and chest measurements. I added some wiggle room to those (I don't want it to be tight!) and multiplied each by 3.5 to get the number of stitches at each point.

Oh, and did I mention I'm knitting this in the round rather than in two pieces? I thought it would (1) be easier--no seam stitching, and (2) look better, since I'm using variegated yarn. We'll see how the top turns out...