Saturday, July 07, 2007

The Sock has spoken


Sock wanted to Undulate.

And I'll tell you why. I switched to straight stockinette and something became apparent. My dye flaws. There are quite a few sections that look like this.


Spots where the dye didn't penetrate in the center of the hank. Lesson learned.

SO, at least when it's undulating, it's not so apparent that this is a flaw. It looks a bit more like it's meant to be that way. I like the way it looks. It's not showing off the pattern, that's for sure. But the pattern does keep the yarn looking good. So, we're undulating.

One quick note about the pattern: If you've cast these on using the rec'd needle size... you might get an odd result. What I've learned from looking at Ann Budd's sock patterns... she's a crazy tight knitter who needs big needles. So check the gauge my dears! Ignore the rec needles!

I've been looking at Lotus some more. Yes, I've thought of Monkey as a couple of you mentioned. I also had looked at the eyelet rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. Then I did something dangerous... I got out a stitchionary. There IS a design contest for the SOS...

What I am wondering is... what makes a sock pattern your own? I mean there are only so many ways to make a sock... (unless you're Cat Bordhi of course) So you take a stitch pattern or two and plug it into something that will work out for your sock. It seems like cheating to me to call this "my own". Maybe it's not. I don't know. How does one know that this particular thing hasn't been done before? There are millions of patterns out there. One person can't possibly search them all...

I'm rambling, but these are the questions that have been plaguing me.

2 comments:

Sarah said...

I've often wondered the same thing. I once tried to design a sock and got all excited about trying to submit the pattern to Knitty or MagKnits when I was done -- and then THE VERY NEXT DAY the new Knitty went up with a sock pattern that used THE EXACT SAME STITCH PATTERN. So clearly other people out there are thinking about the same design-y things as I. And I haven't tried any design since.

Anonymous said...

I like the undulations. Subtle effects are not to be sneered at. Not all patterning needs to be blatantly obvious to be effective.

I just signed up for two weekend yarn dyeing workshops at Weaving Works. I haven't been tmepted by spinning yet, but I love working with colors so dyeing calls to me.

Well, I know that in stitch patterns, if you 'alter' it to fit the construction of a knitted object, that's enough to not be copyright infringement, especially if you credit the source of the stitch. I'd think that was true of sock construction parts, too. Maybe Judy's Magic Toe is unique, but if you figure it out in two sizes and the size yarn you write the pattern for, plus credit the source, you should be fine.

I've forgotten, what part of Washington are you in? If anywhere near Bainbridge Island, I just found that Amy Singer's (Knitty.com editor/owner) classes there on the 24th and 25th still have lots of spaces.