Blossom part 2

The Blossom sock progresses, but not at all times well…

We left sock #1 at the mid-sole point. The remainder of the sole went well, though an accidental “jog” in the join continues to irritate. Eventually, the sole completed, we find ourselves with a tube for encasing the foot…

… albeit one manufactured for a veritable Gog:

Down at heel

After forming the body of the foot, it comes time to get down ‘n dirty with the short-row heel.  Regular readers will know that, despite several attempts, I have yet to make a successful sock with a short-row heel…  Yes, I am living dangerously in attempting this as an exhibition piece (Who am I kidding? The mistakes are far too visible, this sock won’t be going on public view!)

Being without an Internet connection, I did struggle with the pattern instructions- a video tutorial would have helped enormously with the tightened yarnovers.  I did my best, and that appears to have been less than perfect, as my stitch counts wandered a bit and at least one hole resulted.  Some tinking was involved, but not much – just a couple of rows.

Overall though, it’s not a bad-looking heel. I have yet to try it on. Previous short-row heels have failed to yield a sock that would pass over the heel to the ankle…

… I do hope that this one makes it. It’s a short-row heel with gusset. Maybe the gusset will make all the difference.

The gusset gave me some grief: 31 stitches are held on needle 2 and the rest are live and knitted on the circular. It was tight, uncomfortable , and slow. Once I suspended the stitches from needle 2 and placed them on a length of yarn, the whole exercise became much more pleasant. I will do this from the off on sock #2

And, speaking of that gusset, I noticed this morning that it is faulty. The right-hand side looks perfect (or as perfect as will “do” for me)

but the left-hand side is awful! It is full of holes and I have clearly failed to get the method right on that side.

Some of this afternoon will be spent in deciding whether or not to re-knit the gusset. Though, looking at that last photo, it’s a given, isn’t it? Damn – I do hate backwards progress.

Still…

… we now have something looking vaguely like it might be worn on a (very large) foot. It may one day morph into an actual sock!

The next step is to add the leg. I hope to begin that later today but I first want to spin some roving (24 days, and counting…)

Interactive Blog Time

So, what would you do? Would you live with that gusset? Or would you frog? Tell me!

Project Naming

This project now has a name: Banksia. Banksia is one of the Proteas – plants from the Southern Hemisphere that propagate by serotiny i.e. after burning. South/Fire/Blossom.  All bases covered.