Sock Design Progress

Well, I finished one sock of this pair, and will be working on writing up the pattern in segments as I knit the second. I'm finding that the bottleneck with patterns is the actual writing. I've found some test knitters, and will be giving them instructions as each part is written; I hope this will make a difference in my actually finishing writing the pattern.

I also need to do the same with the Winter Solstice socks I posted about before.

Hard work!

Design setback

I was just about to post that I was making really good progress on one of my sock designs and that I'd finished half a sock, when I realized that I had half again more stitches than I should on the instep. Then I realized why, sighed, and ripped back most of the way. Fortunately, I had used a lifeline right before the critical row, and so it wasn't hard to pick up the stitches again.

Onward!

Barn Raising for Doctors Without Borders

A community project which has arisen from the planning for Sock Summit 2009 is the collection of Barn Raising Quilt squares to be sewn together and auctioned off. The fundraiser will benefit Doctors Without Borders, one of my favorite non-profits.

Since I inevitably have some leftover sock yarn, I'm going to knit some squares for the project. The pattern is temporarily available for free for charity knitting.

Stretched thin?

I'm now working on four different pairs of socks, which might be a mistake, or might not. We shall see. I'm also spinning up some lovely, dark brown Romney locks. I'm planning on making four-strand, cabled sock yarn.

Twisty brain

All of a sudden I found myself doubting how this sock that I'm knitting will come out. I stopped and thought about the oddities involved, did some math, and still felt dubious.

Then I thought, "What's the worst thing that could happen?" and decided to forge ahead with my original plans. If I have to frog some knitting and start over a bit, well, that's part of designing!

Deluge

Each new design I knit seems to spark at least one new idea. I suppose this is a good sign, but it's hard to keep up! (I'm making sketches so I don't lose track of the brainstorms.)

Design progress

I'm pleased to say that my designing enthusiasm is continuing - now if only I can actually get myself to write things up!

I'm about a third of the way through one full-size sock from one design and have knitted up most of a prototype of the second. (The prototype involves just knitting a small version of the portion of the sock that has the unusual construction.)

A while ago I also started to write up the pattern for some other finished socks, and I need to sit down and finish them. It's very easy to see what the bottleneck is!

These are the socks that I've started writing up; it's a more conventional pattern, which I call Winter Solstice: