I wanted to knit a pair of socks for a good friend's birthday as I know that she likes wearing socks. So I showed her some of my handpainted sock yarns & she said she will prefer BLACK socks - so I thought that should be an easy choice - ordered some black yarn from Pick Up Sticks & cast on.
After 3 days & 3 attempts, I wanted to give up as I was knitting like a blind bat - I could not see what I was doing & if I split the yarn or drop a stitch - I had to re-do the toe twice & then dropped a stitch midway on the foot - I never ever realised that knitting with black yarn was that difficult - at least the bats could hear where they were going but I could not!
Thank goodness, I perserved & carried on & finally finished 1 sock - the 2nd sock was a little easier going although I was still blind but now I had a better feel.......
Yarn : Shelridge Farm Ultra SoftPattern : Diagional Rib Socks by Ann Budd from Knitting Daily
(but modified to knit toe-up)
Needles : 2.5mm Clover bamboo dpns
Needles : 2.5mm Clover bamboo dpns
I really love the pattern of this sock & it was an easy pattern to knit but after this experience, I know I would not be knitting with black yarn again ! Here's another shot of the lovely pattern ....
I have also cast off the Lorelei vest ...
This pattern also gave me a fair share of headche as I had to rip the back & front as the shaping of the neck in the pattern was all wrong - I had to re-write the shaping & knit it all again. It is now looking alright but I have another problem. The finishing to the armholes & neck is a slip stitch crochet which I did but I don't like the look of it ....
I did one of the armhole & it is neat but still curl a little - just that the look does not look right to me - what do you think ?
11 comments:
Stunning socks Ann. Perseverance paid big dividends and I am sure your friend will love them. Still hard to believe that she still wanted black socks after seeing all those gorgeous coloured skeins you had.
The Lorelei vest looks stunning. From what I can see the crocheting doesn't look too bad, but it probably isn't wide enough to stop it curling back. May be blocking might help, otherwise if it bothers you too much you may have to do your normal pick-up edging. Bring it on Tuesday and I can take a closer look. May you have a smoother run with your next projects. Knitty hugs
I have heard so many people say that knitting with black yarn is not as easy as one may think that I have steered clear of it. I'm glad you persevered because those socks are dynamite! Your friend will LOVE them!
Your black diagonal rib socks are incredible!!! I have some Shelridge Farm yarn in black and white to knit some fair isle socks.
Your Lorelei vest is well worth all that extra effort. Did you try steaming the armhole a little? If that doesn't work and you decide to re-crochet it, you might use the next size up crochet needle. It looks like the slip stitch edge is smaller than the armhole which might be creating the slight puckering.
That vest is so pretty! I love the colors. From here, the armhole looks fine, really, but I know how little things can sometimes bother the person who knit it.
The socks are fabulous. It was good of you to stick with it, though the black yarn was a nightmare, lol. Your friend should love them!
What beautiful black socks, worth all the effort, the pattern looks great!! I LOVE Lorelei!!! Bad luck about the rewriting and knitting though. I agree that maybe the armhole edging is too narrow. Maybe it needes to be dc??? Good luck with it!!!
hurrah!! you finally finished knitting the black socks. although the process was quite hard, the FO looks beautiful!!!!!!
you should have made her some socks in some psychadelic colours and told her to live dangerously! lol They both look beautiful Ann. I'm inspired to try that Ann Budd pattern - it looks beautiful, even in black!
Pretty vest! Great socks! Do I remember that you had this problem before with black yarn? What a good friend you are!
The socks are great.
I have the same problem with vest/tanks at the shoulders. they always look a bit too wide and curl. i think tacking it down and then seaming it under might help.
I am interested in knowing what you did to resolve this issue.
Knitting with black yarn is indeed a nightmare ;( I have a couple patterns for sweaters and cardis here that I'm dying to make, but I would only wear these particular designs in black and just the thought of going halfway blind while knitting sure scares me off ;(
But the black socks you did are nonetheless totally beautiful, they look so elegant and I'm sure your friend is going to love them! Beautiful pattern!
And I absolutely adore your Lorelei vest - all the headaches it gave you seem to have been worth in the end as it turned out super cute! Fantastic work indeed!
I think you did a good job, considering you where working blind, hehehehehe. The pattern is very cute also foe black socks. I also made the fat bag in black, and i only could do it during the day time with ligth on top of me. welcome to the blind knitting club ;)
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