secrets

I hate having secret knitting in the works, because really, if you can’t blog it, is it worth it? I just spent a bit of time knitting something for a designer, and I hope I’ll be able to share it with you when it’s made public. Not taking a single shot of the completed project was really weird, but I packed it up and delivered it this past week.

There was also another secret project, and I can tell you guys about it now, but it’s not directly knitting so it will wait.

Happily, I was working on some secret knitting that I can now share.

366.125 • they're done. (by mintyfreshflavor)

The pattern is my own—and is not what I’d originally intended. The legs of the socks were supposed to be an intricate, elaborate, jaw-dropping design of interlocking cables. I’d charted dozens of variations, settled on my favorite, and knit it up. But the dang things wouldn’t fit over my heel—even though I’d added stitches in order to accommodate that! I do know how physics works!—and so I had to simplify, or else I never would have hit the sock swap deadline.

As they are, the cable is Hartshorn from Barbara Walker vol II, and I may yet write these up for public consumption. It was fiddly to get the dang things to work, so you may well need some guidance. My tentative name, already dubbed on Ravelry, is Spidey Sense. I’ll of course let you all know when I’ve worked out the buggers for various sizes—these are quite tailored to the recipient’s feet (luckily, the same size as mine).

socks (by mintyfreshflavor)

The yarn is Neighborhood Fiber Company. The color here is not as vibrant or “green” as it was on the skein—when I washed them, blue dye started pouring out and didn’t really ever stop. In fact, it stained the drain on my bathroom sink bright blue and even left blue stains on the towel that I set them out to dry on. Perhaps if you’re using this brand of yarn, a vinegar rinse would be in order. Also, at the center of the skein (I knit the two semi-simultaneously from opposite ends of the ball) there were a lot of jagged spots in the yarn—areas with little bits hanging off that looked as if the yarn had been broken and felted back together or something. I don’t know what that was about. In some cases I skipped ahead in order to avoid the questionable parts, weaving in additional ends, and in others I just knit on, tucking the stray bits to the inside. I hope that wasn’t a foolish decision.

socks (by mintyfreshflavor)

If I can set aside what I wanted them to be and take them for what they are, I have to admit, I totally love them! I hope Sukyong, who unfortunately couldn’t be at the sock swap party to receive them in person, does too. They went in the mail yesterday!

43 Responses to secrets

  1. Wendy says:

    The socks are wonderful. Sorry you have had trouble with yarn that happens to lots of us. Keep up the great work. I will be looking forward to seeing your secret
    knits;-)

  2. jess says:

    they really are fantastic socks! I also very much love the Spidey Sense name, even if that doesn’t end up being the final pattern name. :)

  3. Dave says:

    I *love* these socks, and what a perfect name for them!! I do hope you’ll be able to find the time to write them up.

  4. karida says:

    Hi, I’m Karida and I dyed your sock yarn. I’m so sorry for the trouble you had with them! I do always rinse and try to ensure color-fastness. I’m happy to send you a new skein of yarn that will hopefully not end with blue mess and such. Just send me an email. Other than that, the socks are gorgeous!

    Karida

  5. Adam says:

    Despite the yarn problems, the socks are lovely! I really like that cable, and Spidey Sense is a great name for the pattern :)

  6. Nell says:

    I love them! Sorry about the dye though. That stinks.
    You should definitely write up the pattern. You know, when the time comes.

  7. connie says:

    I love the socks! And I love the name. I was a huge Spider-man fan as a kid. What a pain about the bleeding though. You’ve had some bad experiences with dyed yarn lately.

  8. Heather says:

    Umm, hello, still completely jaw dropping! I think I bought that very shade of ‘Neighborhood Fibre co. yarn at MD. Sheep and Wooll–is it ‘Logan Circle’ by any chance?

  9. teopea says:

    Those are fabulous socks, I just love the cable pattern. If you do get round to writing them up I would certainly make a pair.

  10. Jocelyn says:

    “I hate having secret knitting in the works, because really, if you can’t blog it, is it worth it? ” I’ve been doing a research outline for my thesis project and I find this question really interesting. In the process I’ve been reevaluating my whole relationship with flickr & the flicr community & knitting etc. etc. and debating some sort of internet sabatical to revalue things I love(d) best (knitting, photography, writing). At some point, my wires got crossed and I’m not sure what’s motivating me anymore. The media is the message, right? Anyway, gorgeous socks. Luf’m!

  11. Meg says:

    I love the pattern, especially the angularity (is that a word?) of the cable – kind of art deco looking. Another feather in your cap!

  12. Nichole D. says:

    They’re GORGEOUS! I love the cables. I really hope you write up the pattern! If you need a size up test knitte,r I’m a little slow, but more than willing! I’m about a 9.75”, or 25 cm. Let me know!

    Great work, too!

  13. Specs says:

    The color still looks great, but it’s such a shame that you had to lose a dishtowel for the socks. But if any socks are worth losing a dishtowel, it’s those. They are lovely.

  14. courtney says:

    I know that they may not have come out as you intended, but these are STUNNING…nice work. That yarn could not have been a more perfect choice!
    :)

  15. Preita says:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! The cables & the color work well together. & I love the name. I read the name thought “What?” then looked up at the picture again & thought “Brilliant!!!”

  16. Rachel says:

    I’m not sure how I’ve missed this blog so long, but I came over from the links in Fricknits (such a cool get together you guys got!)…and I’ll definitely be coming back. It seems like everyone has said it, but it deserves one more…that pattern is stunning and it would definitely go on my list of knits if you were ever to write it up!

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