Spring Shot
A long time in the works mainly because of the idea that I needed to think about the knitting of them here finally are the Spring Shoots.
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun - Soft Strength in club colourway - Persephone
Needles: 2.5mm DPNs
Started: April 2nd 2010
Finished: September 19th 2010
I wasn't sure I would ever be bothered to knit another sock in this way, it is based on Cat Bordhi's Houdini structure and I am quite wedded to the cuff down, heel flap construction. I suspect in the main I love my top downers because it is what I learnt first, though there is something very special in the rhythm of the knit. Normally a simple cuff to get you into the feel of the needles and the yarn, then a stretch of leg with pattern if you fancy, then the magic of the heel for a little razzmatazz and then gusset decreases ahoy you can feel yourself running down hill to the toe. This pattern taught me lots and it is fun to cut your knitting, but when I was sewing up the first one all the ends seemed so much work compared to my regular bit of kitchenering on a wedge toe.
However, there was quite a revelation when I slipped it on. The fit, especially of the heel, is really rather wonderful. The round decreases mimic the roundness of the heel very well. I'll certainly think of dropping in what is basically a star heel perhaps as an afterthought heel for the ole top downers, and you know, I'm thinking of digging myself even further out of my top down heel flap way of thinking and trying some more of these afterthought legs. One day then, they won't take so much thought and I might just have a couple of sock structures bedded in to my brain, variety after all is the spice of socks.
One thing that I did as written in the pattern that I wouldn't bother with again is the knit on moss stitch cuff. It's very pretty and gives a nice soft stretchy top but a regular cuff with a sewn bind off has worked quite nicely on other toe ups I've known and loved and as anyone who has ever knit the beret Verity with that band knows it's a long road to knit on.
So it's nice to start Socktoberfest (you remember how much I love Lolly's sock celebration) showing off a pair of finished socks, my goal for this month is to catch up a little with Sock Club activity which means finishing the Caretta's and starting in on 2LuvCrew. As that means knitting first with Socks that Rock and secondly with Lorna's Laces my fingers as well as my feet will be spoilt this Socktober.
Comments
I'm with you on the top down heel flap. It's what I learnt first too, and therefore probably why I feel more comfortable with that construction. I do feel like I need to expand my repertoire though!
I've put afterthought heels in cuff down socks; I just do them before I finish the toe so I'm sure of how long the foot is.
mmmm STR and LL - two excellent sock yarns indeed!
Lovely heel! (I know it sounds a little geeky - but it's true! you have knitted so well :D )
Isn't it interesting to have the garter edge and it looks like there are two darts at the heel?
Interesting!
I do like the short-row heel turn but they are not as strong as he re-inforced heel (I think this method can only be knitted top-down whereas the short-row heel turn can be used for both top down or bottom up).
x
Kyoko