FO: Jaywalkers

Ta Da!!! My first socks done!! The sweet taste of de feet! These were pretty fun and I will definitely make more socks and probably more Jaywalkers in the future...since I caught the sock yarn bug and was buying up a storm a few months ago. I don't know how much "out of the house" use they will get because they are pretty thick in relation to my microfiber socks I normally wear. I wear thin socks because there is not a lot of leftover room in my already wide width shoe to accommodate a thick sock, but I do like them a lot.

Yarn: "Knit and Tonic" Vesper Self Striping Sock Yarn
Inspiration: Jaywalkers
Needles: Size 1
Yardage: Little less than 1 skein (approx. 350 yards)
Modifications: Used instructions for making a 9.75" circumference foot
Enjoyment Factor: 8

• The Good:
  
• The pattern: It was very clear and I was sooo happy that Grumperina posted instructions for making a larger sock. It made me actually have to think about the fact that socks actually DO come in different sizes and I had to measure. I would have been pretty upset if my first sock pattern did not fit.

• Turning the heel: I LOVED turning the heel! This was the best part of the sock by far. Not only was it great fun building all those stitches and picking them up but it signified the home stretch on the sock. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

• The Bad:
  
• The first try: Figuring out that I do not always have to go with the biggest size offered. This is normally my default mode as in clothes and shoes I am pretty much on the bleeding edge of normal sizing. Therefore, I first started out knitting the 10.5" sock and had to rip and reknit when I found it was going to be too big. Definitely not heartbreaking since these socks are pretty big already.
• The heel: since I wasn't paying attention I knit the heal a bit too long on the second sock. I didn't take a picture but the heal on the other sock is grey. Woops! Oh well, they still fit fine though...just one better than the other.
  

• The Ugly: Not much on these socks. I can't say I love the ribbing as it looks like it is just for show as opposed to keeping anything up since this is a fitted sock. I would probably have made them a little shorted to compensate for this since the circumference of my leg expand exponentially after about 4 inches.
  

Knit Time: November 24 - January 13

• First sock BO: January 3, Second Sock BO January 13 - definitely a marked difference in knit time due to knowledge of technique and pattern memorization

No...It's Not a Stocking

No. It is not too big.

No. I will not be felting it.

No. It is not a Christmas stocking.

Yes. That is the size of my foot

Yes. They DO fit!

Sorry for the outburst there but these are just some of the questions and answers my first Jaywalker has solicited from fellow knitters and non-knitters alike.

As you can see from the picture this is no ordinary sock. This is the sock that brings out all the insecurities of a large size foot. Before I casted on I had researched the Jaywalker and hear of regular sized feet having trouble with the fitted design of the sock so I knew I had to do something. Grumperina came to the rescue with the larger size modifications. I originally casted on for the largest size (10.5" circumference) but ended up ripping out and going with the 9.75".

When I casted on I was amazed at the size. As I continued to knit, I was appalled by the size. This is like walking past a mirror and realizing that your butt is about 2 sizes bigger than you imagined it. THIS IS THE SIZE OF MY FOOT. If you ever wondered what a size 12W looks like, here it is! I was even in the Payless a few weeks ago and saw a mid-40, possible cross dressing man trying on shoes in my section!! Normal people would have been shocked to see a man trying on woman's shoes, but I was more angry that this 6'2", 200+ man fit into MY size shoe. Is there no relief!

Now don't get me wrong. I love my first sock. It came out wonderfully and fits like a rather large glove. I have already begun the second sock and am working diligently to finish.

But sometimes I want to have those really cute shoes that everyone else has. Oh well, we all want something in this life. I am just grateful that my height and shoes size provide me with excellent balance. Tree pose ain't got nothin' on me. And if I can ever stretch this far, I am sure I will rock the Lord of the Dance Pose too.

Giving Thanks the Knitter's way

Today I am giving thanks for all the things, including those things knitterly. Since the last time we spoke I...

Finished my snake skin (a.k.a. Mermaid gloves). I will have to give more detail and better pictures when I have time, a photographer other than self-timer, and adequate sunlight. In the meantime here is one:

I also started my first socks, which is the every popular Jaywalkers. I got some Vesper Sock Yarn in Knit and Tonic last week so I was so eager to start. Here is a picture of my sock in the Denver airport

since this picture I worked another 4.5" into the pattern, ripped it out because it was way too big (I am using the extended pattern sized because my feet are so big) and have reknit about 2" into the pattern again. My heart bled when I had to rip but this yarn was too expensive not to.

And here is a picture of the snow capped mountains in Denver. They are beautiful, but I do not like the cold.

Which brings me to the subject of how freaking cold it is here in Tampa, Florida where I will be spending my Thanksgiving. It was 55 degrees when I got here! It seems as though the cold snap happened the morning of my arrival. I guess I wished too hard for the weather to not be hot and humid. Instead I have been bundled up for 3 days now.

I will be back with some Thanksgiving pictures tomorrow. Have a great Turkey Day.