Monday, May 17, 2004

Socks and Steeks

We have been playing with Expression Engine over the weekend as a probable replacement for Movable Type.  Personally, I have quite enjoyed Movable Type and have learned a great deal from working with it.  However it’s parent company, Six Apart, has overhauled their licensing structure with the release of Movable Type 3.0 making it unlikely that we will continue to use it.  Pmachine made a timely offer with Expression Engine, free to the first 1000 requests and quick-thinking Myria was able to obtain a copy of it.

I’ll be working on moving the blog over the next couple of weeks.  The address will not change and, I hope, the look won’t change too much.  I’m sorry not to be able to continue with Movable Type, which I have liked and I’m not too thrilled with having to learn to manage another piece of software but - that’s life :)

On to the good stuff!

Emboldened by Ryan’s successful steeking experiment, I embarked on one of my own.  Since I don’t have access to a sewing machine, I opted for crocheted steeks.

Crocheted Steek

I have to admit, once the crocheting was done, it wasn’t too traumatic to cut the steek.  Maybe because I’ve been thinking about it so much - and maybe because this is just a practice piece anyway :) When (and if) it ever comes to slicing open a real garment...let’s just say I’ll have the whiskey handy - for medicinal purposes, of course!

Cut made

I didn’t know how to handle the cast on and bound off edges, so that’s something that requires further study because they aren’t holding.  However, the edges of the steek, where the crochet stitches are, are holding amazingly well.  I tugged and pulled on them, sure that all the little ends would come flying out - but they stayed right where they were supposed to.

Panel pattern

This was a fairly traditional type pattern executed in less than exciting yarn, but for all that it doesn’t look too bad.  I’m still not sure this is a technique I’ll ever do much with, but it’s nice to know I can if the need ever arises.  Frankly, I like the colorwork so much, that the need probably will arise sooner or later :)

And last but certainly not least:

A whole sock!

I did finish the first Dublin Bay sock and am pretty darned pleased with it over all.  I’ll make both the leg and the ribbing a little longer on the next one.  The ankle is a bit baggy for my taste so I am considering what to do about that - besides live with it :) I could do some more ribbing in that area to help pull things in.  I’m also wondering about going down to size 0 needles for a couple of ankle-inches and restoring the size 1s when I get to the heel.  The heel and foot are perfection; they fit wonderfully well.

I did not, as I had hoped, master the fine art of grafting.  It seemed so simple in the directions and was so frustrating in reality that I eventually abandoned it.  I put the toe stitches on holders, turned the whole thing inside-out and did a three needle bind-off.  That does put a seam across the toe, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem.  I can’t feel it when I have the sock on and it looks nice.

Additional Note

Ryan’s pattern for the Dublin Bay socks was one of the clearest, most well thought out patterns I have ever had the pleasure of knitting.  I can (and many times do) interpret, but it’s such a delight when I don’t have to stop in the middle of things to puzzle out something obscure or unclear!  Kudos, Ryan!

Hope your collective Mondays aren’t too taxing!

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1. That’s too bad about movable type - what changed with the licensing structure?  I honestly haven’t looked into any of the issues at all.

   Posted by Gail  on  05/17  at  11:28 AM
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2. Gail - Go here:

   Moveable Type

   Also, check out these two posts on Myria’s blog:

   MT TEOTWAWKI?

   MT TEOTWAWKI (Pt II)?

   for a more articulate discussion than I could provide.

   Posted by Robbyn  on  05/17  at  12:07 PM
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3. Your Dublin Bay looks very spiffy! Thank you for having the faith to try the pattern, Robbyn! Since you were my first official “knitting tester” who knit the sock from top to bottom, did you find any problems or errors I need to fix?

   As for the baggy ankle, it gave me pause, particularly because all of the photos of Dublin Bay show socks with similar ankles, a little shorter and a little looser than mine. Maybe I’m just a really tight knitter and other folks need to go down to a size 0 needle to get the same gauge as I do. Anyway, your sock looks beautiful and I love the yarn and the color you picked!

   Posted by Ryan  on  05/17  at  12:12 PM
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4. Ryan - The pattern was a pleasure to knit - clear and well thought out all the way through.  I wouldn’t change a thing :)

   My gauge on #1s was a bit looser than yours, but it worked perfectly for me - except for the ankle and I could live with that if necessary.  I will be messing with it on the next sock though, just to see what happens.  The socks will be fraternal twins - but nobody but Myria is going to see under my jeans to know that :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  05/17  at  12:29 PM
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5. I love your sock, it’s a great pattern and your knitting is beautiful.

   Posted by Pamela  on  05/17  at  02:42 PM
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6. ::blush::  Thanks a bunch Pam :) I don’t guess I ever think of my knitting as beautiful - acceptable, perhaps.  It’s nice of you to say.

   Posted by Robbyn  on  05/17  at  02:54 PM
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