02.25.08
Norwegian Stocking
Here’s my first finished sock! Ever! Not too bad, if I do say so myself. Halfway there- I’m not quite emotionally ready to cast on the second sock, but I swear I’ll make the second one! I won’t let Second Sock Syndrome control my life. 8-|

It is such an extremely thick, hot sock. As soon as I stick my hand or foot inside of it I feel like I’m going to erupt into a fit of sweating. Not quite the dainty little stocking I pictured! Oh well, it’ll make a great snowboarding sock!

Here’s an inside-out shot – I have to say I’m very proud of my first attempt at colorwork! It’s kind of uneven in places, but the puckering isn’t too bad at all!

It comes up to my knee when on, and the top is a little loose, but I’ll just add a little elastic thread to fix that problem. I’m still in love with the pattern of x’s and o’s. I’m a sucker for awesomely mathematical/logical geometric patterns.
As soon as I finish both I’ll make my hubby take a cute little photo session of me in my toasty knee-highs!
Making these socks is the first step towards fulfilling my dream of having a set of “knit woolens” like the American Girl Kirsten had. Ever since I was a little tot I’ve loved Kirsten’s Swedish patterned hat, cardigan, mittens and stockings, and now I can make them for myself! You’re never too old for the American Girls! Kirsten was always my favorite. Too bad I don’t have a drop of Swedish in my blood. Nada.
02.18.08
Norwegian Stockings – Ribbit Ribbit Rip-it!
No time to write, because I’m at work, but I just have to share my sorrow about these stockings I started on Valentine’s Day. I absolutely adore the pattern, Norwegian Stockings from Folk Socks by Nancy Bush, but apparently I knit really loosely, because the socks are looking like they were made for a giant! I’m using Dalegarn Heilo with size 3 dpns.

Right now the gauge is supposed to be 2 inches = 14 sts x 15 rnds. Well, 14 sts x 15 rnds = about 2 1/2 inches right now, and that amounts to the sock being about 2 1/2 x 6 = 15 inches in diameter unstretched, and these seem really stretchy. I was kind of hoping they’d be delicate, dainty stockings, not thick boot socks. Maybe I’ll make another pair out of a thinner/finer fiber another time, then I can have some thick ones AND thin ones. I love the pattern sooooo much that I wouldn’t mind making several pairs!
I’m going to go buy size 2 dpns – and maybe a pair of ones too – on my lunch break so I can get started on the new socks. Any advice before I go a-frogging?