Okay, it’s not exactly a bag or a pouch but it is sort of sack shaped and it does hold things.
Foot Bag, eventually...
It’s a Dublin Bay sock (.pdf pattern courtesy of Ryan over at Mossy Cottage)!
The cuff is a bit ruffled because I cast on with size 2 needles, being paranoid about getting the top up over my elephantine calves. When I see how this one works out, I may make a couple of minor changes for the second one.
Remember the experiment with the circular needle sock? The inconvenience of the needles and the Sasquatch size of the result? Well, after discovering last week that working on three DPNs was much easier for me than working on four, I decided that attempting another sock was in order. That meant finding a pattern written for three needles. I know that any pattern could be adapted. However, as I’m still working out this whole “sock” concept it seemed to me that something that didn’t require finagling was the way to go.
Mmmmm….lacey!
I’ve also discovered a reasonable fix for forgetting a YO :). After the wave of panic subsided when I realized there was one less stitch than there should be (and why), I decided to try an experiment rather than frog back. I had forgotten a YO after a k2tog. To remedy that, I picked up the running stitch between the needles - just as though I were making an M1 - and knit that through the front. Normally, when you’re making an M1, you knit the stitch through the back to twist it so that it doesn’t make a hole. Here, I wanted the hole :) For a couple of rounds, the resulting eyelet looked a bit small, but after that, as I proceeded with the pattern (trying very hard not to forget any more YOs), it stretched just enough to integrate virtually invisibly with the rest of the pattern. Forget the “running horse” - you’d need a magnifying glass and 20 minutes to spot the fix. That works for me :)
I am absolutely astounded at how nicely and evenly the knitting is coming along. I tend to be a somewhat klutzy type and my hands are sufficiently large that I seriously wondered about my ability to manipulate size 1 needles. But you know what? It ain’t too tough - even for me. Like the stranded bag last week, I can’t quite believe this is my work! I haven’t had any difficulty maintaining even tension, though it’s a bit looser than the pattern recommends (8-8.5 stitches/inch rather than 9.5). I believe this is all to the good as I wear size 10 shoes and have large calves.
Gauge = 5 sts/coffee bean
Funny how things snowball. I’ve been using four size one needles for this project, but one of them was a steel lace needle that was heavier and about twice the length of the others because I couldn’t find the fourth DPN of that set. I set out to find that fourth blue needle yesterday and wound up cleaning and straightening up my entire work area. I’m embarrassed to tell you how many tag end of yarn, darning needles and skein/ball remnants I ran across. I also found a couple of projects that I knew weren’t going anywhere (including the Sasquatch circular sock) and frogged them, reclaiming needles and yarn.
Myria, bless her, seems to believe I can do anything. When I was a couple of inches into the lace on the Dublin Bay, I held it up for her to see saying something like I couldn’t believe I was really doing this. She was impressed, but not surprised. There I sit, worrying and dithering, and there she sits, believing I’ll figure it all out in the end. I can’t tell you what a comfort it is to have that kind of solid faith at your back.
It’s a good life :)
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The Dublin Bay looks beyoooootiful, Robbyn! Love that pink! (Hmmmm, I’m noticing a pattern—the Dublin Bays that other folks are knitting are all ending up looking better than the sample sock I knit!)
Need I say, if you have any questions…?
Ryan :) Well, I’m enjoying it so far but I haven’t turned the heel yet :) And your sock looks great!
Seriously, if the heel instructions are as clear as the rest of it, I won’t have any problems. This is a nicely written pattern, Ms R.!
Isn’t Dublin Bay a nice pattern? I’m loving it, though your pictures do it justice far better than mine. Funny, I’m knitting it for a guy and thought the lattice pattern quite manly, but in your pink it’s pretty and girly.
Love the Dublin Bay - I’m working on it, too. If fact, I enjoyed the lace insert so much, that I made my sock leg a couple of inches longer than I usually do, just so I wouldn’t have to stop knitting the lace pattern!
Smart solution to your missed k2tog. I wish I had thought of that before I tinked 3 rounds! I’m sure I’ll need your fix when I get to the second sock, though.
Finally, just a note to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your blog. I’ve been following it for a few months now.
Yeah! That sock looks great! What yarn are you using and do you like it? And you’re seriously a woman after my own heart—using a coffee bean to measure! If only more things in life were gauged by their coffee-ness!
Stephanie - I think yours looks pretty good but I hadn’t thought about it being a suitable pattern for a man. My dad would be appalled - even if I did it in grey - the brightest color he wears :) Actually I thought your original stab at it looked nice in the Aslan - even if it wasn’t exactly the effect you were hoping for.
Samina - It’s a real nice pattern, isn’t it? I kinda like the lace myself :)
I so glad you introduced yourself and glad you enjoy the blog :)
Laura - LOL! As friend of mine used to say, “Death before dishonor. Coffee before everything!” The yarn is just acrylic fingering weight - baby yarn, actually. If I’m successful with these, I’ll break out the Opal for the next pair :)
Oh, I need some of your sock karma. It’s just beautiful. Now to add that sock to the growing ranks.
Thank you for the comment you left at my blog. It was well said. Maybe if we keep above the fray it will help to keep others focused.
Margene - I don’t know if I have any sock karma, but I’m perfectly willing to share whatever I’ve got :)
