Remember that old "knock, knock" joke.. the one that ends with "orange’a glad I didn’t say banana"?
I tried a number of new things (for me) on this pair of socks. First, and most obvious is the picot top. I love it. I jumped over to Claudia’s and read her tutorial before I started. It didn’t take long. If you were to add up the time it takes to rib a top vs. using the stockinette for the picot, there wouldn’t be much difference. It’s something different, stronger and yet has a pretty sort of look to it.
The second thing I tried is a bit harder to see. I carried the slip stitch heel pattern down under the heel. I hope the little bit more density that it gives will add to the life of the sock. You can’t feel the difference, no bump, so far so good.
This was the first time I used the Knit Picks needles. I have to say that I really liked them. The points were great for picking up the k2tog stitches. I used the #2 as a magic loop for the top and leg. Then I put the heel stitches on the #1 and continued to use it for the sole and toe, while keeping the top of the foot on the #2, thus using the two circ. method. When I reached the last couple inches of toe, I switched back to the magic loop using only the #1.
The pattern stitch started out as my memory of the Mata Hari sock I saw over at Grumperina’s. Apparently I am not the only one that used it as an 8 stitch, 4 row repeat. Others seem to have read it as a 10 stitch, 8 stitches in between the yo, k2tog. I like it, simple with just a little bit of interest.
17 responses to ““orange’a glad..””
Simply lovely – the colourway, the pattern, everything!
They are beautiful and I love the way you tied them in with the other orange things in your life.
I am glad you didn’t say banana! Love the socks and all things orange here.
Pretty, pretty!
Anything more colorful than snow is a welcome sight to my eyes, and those are especially cheerful.
Lovely! I’m loving my knitpicks size 1 circs, but I noticed I grip them tighter than my Crystal Palace dpns, probably because the stitches slide around more. I have to consciously make my hands relax.
Now I want an orange!
And ya can’t beat that gorgeous color!
Beautiful shots, esp the clivia and geranium. I really like pointy needles for decreases.
Just what I needed for today. Thanks!
Orange is making me happy! I like the lovely pattern.
Gawgeous, gawgeous.
I’ve been contemplating carrying the slipstitch down under the heel to give it extra protection.
Is the picot edging really stronger? As in it helps the sock stay up better than ribbing?
I wore my orange socks today that I knit last summer. 🙂
Beautiful, Judy! The color is just right for this season. We need bright!
🙂
I like the tip about the picot top, I have to remember to try it!
I carry the slip stitch pattern down under the heel and I like the feeling of it. However, I am noticing that several pairs have developed holes right where I end the slip stitch part. So I am wondering if the slight difference in thickness is making a problem there. This next pair I plan to try carrying the slip stitch part further into the sole of the sock, to where my heel ends and my arch begins.
I love the color orange. What a happy colored post! Love the sock yarn.
This entire post is music for the eyes! It took many years for me to learn to appreciate orange, but these days it’s my very favorite color. Thank you for brightening my day! 🙂
Oh, and are you an official picot convert now? 🙂
thanks to you, I may give the picot edge a go sometime. I do like those Mata Hari socks and all the pics in orange are a pleasure to see.