Thursday, May 28, 2009

Gauge issues

I just tried on my nearly finished Typhoon socks (pictured in the post below) and sadly realized why they're pooling differently. You see, I started the sock on the right with a large circular needle and magic loop months ago, and knit the sock on the left using DPNs over the past few weeks. Since the needles are the same size, I naively expected to get the same gauge. I guess that's one in the lesson column for a) not leaving projects half done for months and b) making sure to knit all parts of a project exactly the same way.

Also, since this skein of yarn was extra large and I wanted to use as much as I could, they're the tallest socks I've ever knit. Which is tall enough that theyreally probably should have calf shaping. But, ugh, I don't have the patience to figure that out.

Now I have the unfortunate problem of deciding whether or not I want to frog them completely and reknit, or just live with what I have. I'm fine with the pooling/striping being different on each sock. The left sock is a bit tighter overall, but I can still get the socks on. What concerns me most is the tightness around the ankle and top of the sock. I'm not sure if blocking would loosen things up enough or if I need to find new gauge.

What made it easy to get these finished was a lot of mindless knitting during a grad ceremony, car rides and playoff hockey. I don't have much more of that coming up this summer. I know I'll prefer something more interesting to knit, so even if I do frog, the yarn's most likely going to sit there.
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 29, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    Hey Jason...I read a great post by someone once that mentioned all they did for calf shaping was go down a needle size or two over the calf. Then they went back to her original needle to finish the sock. Now, this is coming from the girl who has NEVA finished a pair of socks, and since I can't remember who said it, is giving you the infamous "they said..." opinion! Ha!

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  2. TedJune 1, 2009 at 5:32 PM

    It's really common for socks to be tight around the heel and over the top of the foot. One of the ways to deal with this is to work small gussets on the instep side of the sock, which gives you more circumference where you need it. I routinely do this with my socks. Works with toe-up and cuff-down socks.

    I wrote about this a bit in my blog post of Jan 28, 2007, if you want to look it up. Feel free to email to ask questions.

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  3. MaiaJune 15, 2009 at 3:52 PM

    Maybe a compromise of knitting the leg with the circs? Then you don't have to frog the foot.

    I agree that you may need a gusset in your socks. I do. I wrote a tutorial on a toe-up gusseted heel flap a while back. Of course, that would mean some frogging.

    For calf shaping, I increase in the ribbing, either add extra purl stitches or extra knit stitches. I do tend to knit the entire leg in ribbing though. You can always add stitches in a stockinette leg too. Add in the same multiple as your ribbing (as in add 4, 8, 12, or 16 for a 2x2 rib or even numbers for a 1x1 rib).

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