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Clara
queen bee
USA
4363 Posts |
 Posted - 07/08/2009 : 09:52:33 AM
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Hello there!
I'm collecting tales of sock yarn woe and deceit in preparation for my class at the Sock Summit. Have you ever been betrayed by your sock yarn? I would love to know more about the experience - which yarn, which pattern, which needles, and how the whole thing fell apart. Was it on the needles, in the wash, or on your foot?
I realize it can be painful to revisit these things, so I'll kick it off with my own story: I once bought two skeins of yarn to complete two socks. I knit the first one from one skein, ending with just a few leftover yards. Then I knit the second one with the second skein. So far so good.
Until I held the socks next to one another and noticed that the socks were TOTALLY DIFFERENT SIZES.
Same yarn, same color, same everything. How could this be??
I looked more closely at the label (it was one of those industrial German sock yarns) and realized that I had knit sibling socks out of two different gauges of yarn. Somehow they'd been tossed in the same bin and I didn't notice or think to check.
Whew, I feel better getting that off my chest.
What about you?
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4292 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 10:34:58 AM
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I wish I could help you, Clara, but all my sock yarn is exquisite, and every sock I knit is Perfection itself! 
Jane
Betty needs a warm hat: Support KR
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: My Flickr Album
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4363 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 11:06:09 AM
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Good point. Perhaps I should have made this anonymous...
Clara
Your friendly and oh so infallible Knitter's Review publisher |
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noallatin
Chatty Knitter
257 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 12:17:25 PM
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| I made some socks of the early Flat Feet (Cojoined Creations) yarn. It was a beautiful mix of brown, orange and green, real autumn colors. Now, after a few washings (both Eucalan and the machine) they still fit just fine but they've faded like the aging quarterback going after the fifty yard pass half a field away. |
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queen of the east
Seriously Hooked
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 1:56:05 PM
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Last fall I knit myself a pair of socks from Fleece Artist 100% merino sock weight yarn. The colour way was a scrumptious red/burgundy and the pattern was from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways fpr Sock Knitters Book 1. I really loved these socks, I derived a great deal of pleasure each time I gazed down at my feet. My tootsies were ecstatic to be cocooned in such sensuous beauty.
After a few weeks I noticed a thin area on the outside edge of the sock near the little toe. I got out the leftover yarn and darned the area before it became a hole. During the next 3 months I discovered more holes in the making and dutifully darned them as well. After 6 months I had darned the socks at least a dozen times. The foot area had more darned areas than original yarn. I finally threw my beloved socks out after just 7 months of wear. Boo-hoo.
I didn't wear the socks every day and I am not as a rule hard on my socks. This was the first time I used a sock yarn without nylon and I knit them on 2mm to make sure they were tightly knit. Maybe I got a "lemon"skein, All of the other skeins of this yarn in my stash will become mittens, hats or scarves.
I did find another sock yarn (with some nylon content) in a similar colourway and I plan to knit the same pattern again. Someday.
Ann in Montreal |
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 3:15:51 PM
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I knit a particular pair of socks in a lace pattern with Lorna's. When they were done and I was done admiring them I threw them in the washing machine with other socks & then the dryer. I took them out slightly damp and slid them on a pair of sock blockers to finish drying so they would look pretty in my drawer (dedicated sock knitters are often nuts). Imagine my surprise when one sock fit perfectly on the blocker and the other was way too long. Counting the repeats on the foot I found that I had one too many repeats on one sock. I had to de-kitchener and frog and refinish the sock.
Could that story be any more boring? Sorry, Clara, I'm of no help in this dept.
GFTC of NYCmy knitting photos on Flickr or Ravelry
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socker
Chatty Knitter
258 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 5:18:05 PM
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I bought a beautiful colorway of On Your Toes Bamboo. I'd used their DK weight and their wool/nylon blends and loved knitting with them, so, I started making a pair of socks for my can't wear wool MIL. All I can say is, I'm glad I started them at the toes, because they became a pair of shorty socks. And the worst thing is, my MIL loves that pair more than any of the others I've knit her, and she wants another pair.
Then there is the skein of Berrocco Comfort Sox that the puppy thought made a wonderful toy. Right after he had dined on one of husbeast's blueberry waffle socks. |
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Coolj
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 5:33:23 PM
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In the Yarn Market at Knitters' Connection, I fell in love with a sample sock made in the Mermaid pattern from Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks, Warm Feet. I have a sock yarn stash of astronomical (some would argue asinine) proportions and knew I'd find the perfect, colorful yarn from among the skeins. I selected Jojoland's Melody, located the book and launched into the pattern.
It's only six stitches, so how could I encounter a problem with such a simple pattern? In my hands, the pattern is tight, tight, tight, and the yarn split without compunction.
I believe yarn should have a conscience or at least be loyal to the knitter. Not Melody! She refused to let go of the needle. I was working over 72 stitches, and I wasn't sure it would fit a third grader with skinny legs! After probably four inches, I frogged the entire cuff.
When I calmed down, I apologized to Melody for attempting to arrange a marriage to the wrong pattern. Her stubbornness has not made me dislike her at all. She's quite beautiful but suited for a much looser pattern. Mermaid will work better for me in a nice sportweight, and today I bought a 330-yard skein of Sarah-Dyed in Deep Rainbow. The yarn is rounder, so it shouldn't split so badly.
Lucy Neatby recommends the knitter swatch this pattern, but did I? Heck no! I've made loads of socks and become rather arrogant about swatching. However, Melody gave me my comeuppance, and I will not make that mistake again. |
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minh
Permanent Resident and Destasher Extraordinnaire
USA
3416 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 8:00:33 PM
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My first hiccup was not so much the yarn's fault as my ignorance. I knitted a pair of socks in Vesper hand-wash merino and started wearing them as soon as I finished. Either it was my sweaty feet or the friction in my winter boots but the sole of the socks felted! After posting on KR about it, I learned that some people like felted soles :)
My second hiccup has to do with swatching like Coolj's story. The yarn was Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Seduction and I used Ann Budd's pattern especially for this yarn. Did I swatch? No, because I never swatch for socks! So the socks came out a little too big, because the tencel was not very "springy" and "stretchy". They're good lounge socks but fall a little on my ankles. |
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MindyO
Permanent Resident
USA
2493 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 01:45:18 AM
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My very first pair was an experience. I used tofutsies. Splits like crazy! Knowing this I still bought more because once you get it knit up it is very soft. But after fixing many, many split stitches along the way I finally gave up in some case and just left them. The yarn also seems to relax and grow a bit when washed. The socks fit tight (yes I swatched-15% neg. ease) the whole time I was making them. Once washed the cuff refuses to stay up, the twisted rib stitch I did doesn't hold snug, the short row heel pulls really badly across my ankle bend. I guess it's not a good heel for my foot.
Mom's birthday socks, only complaint (aside from taking 6 months) I was using Great Adirondack Silky Sock. Two skeins, one sock from each, same dyelot so the color matches, but the color runs must have been different because the socks looked different. One sock had a more diagonal appearance to the color changes, the other more of a vetical stripe.
And the last socks I was just plain old unobservant and dumb. Chose a stitch from Favorite Socks, but I didn't notice the difference between / and \. So I k2tog where I should have ssk. It was consistent throughout (consistently wrong) I finally noticed an inch from the end of sock 2.
My Ravelry
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debshaver@gmail.com
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 04:35:41 AM
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| I once knit a pair of Old Shale socks in two colors: a beautiful Opal yarn leftover from another project for the cuffs and toes, and the rest from Baby Ull because someone told me it is so soft and wonderful for socks. It IS soft, but does not hold up with wear!I got so many compliments on those socks because they were so beautiful to look at and feel, but I think I may have worn them three times or so before I had a big hole in the heel. I don't know how to darn, though I tried, so they are now sitting in the bottom of my drawer - I don't have the heart to throw them out! |
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knitz2
Permanent Resident
USA
1800 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 05:35:50 AM
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it may not help now, but it is my understanding that if you walk into a room of sock knitters and ask "has any used Mini Mochi and do you like it?" you'll get lots of horror stories. I have some but haven't used it yet.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass ...
.....it's learning how to dance in the rain!Come visit me at http://yarnbasket.wordpress.com |
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Mirl56
Chatty Knitter
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 05:57:16 AM
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I bought some sock yarn at E-Bay - 2 different colorways from the same person, enough for 2 pairs. Hand dyed, so beautiful. I knew it was 100% wool and would need special hand washing. No wories, I was up for it. I knit one pair and loved them. Dutifully hand washed and air-dryed each time I wore them. Didn't take too long for them to wear a honkin' big hole at the ball of one foot - and just the wearing of them caused them to felt more then I liked.
I will never again use sock yarn that isn't machine washable and have some nylon or soemthing in it to help them wear longer.
I still have the other colorway, approx 100 g of it but haven't come up with something else to knit it into. |
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BristolTalladega
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 05:58:43 AM
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| I picked up some Tofutsies to make "summer socks". I knit all our socks but had moved south and thought less wool might be cooler. The sock fit well and was comfortable but after 3 wearings there was a big hole in the ball of the foot of one. I pitched them and now have a lifetime supply of yarn to use for provisional castons! |
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MEnck96@aol.com
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Posted - 07/09/2009 : 06:06:08 AM
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Oh No! Those were my first words when I took off my beautiful socks and found a hole under the heel. This was Noro, as most of us know, there is a bit of thick and thin going on in their yarns. Obviously, this leaves a rather thin spot in the knitted item. I love those socks. The colors were just awesome. Actually, that is the thing Noro has going for it more than any other.
I had washed the socks. They came thru with a very nice settling in of the stitches. They felt so good on my feet as if they were wrapped in a baby blankee. Now, what to do? I have not tried to mend them since I feared that this would just happen again. Guess I will and save them for bed socks. Sad that no one will see them but me.
I have some more Noro sock yarn that I bought at the same time and I will probably just use it to make a hat. Unless I start trying to stand on my head, maybe no holes will appear. |
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baldocchi
Chatty Knitter
198 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 07:37:50 AM
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Last year, after a particularly messy yarn vomit episode, I vowed to wind all my yarn into balls before use. A few months ago I decided to attempt to knit 4 socks-at-a-time on magic loop (a dare from a dear deceased knitting pal) with a couple of sets of Paton self-striping sock yarn from my stash. Imagine my horror when I found a KNOT 2/3s of the way through one ball. Because it is self-striping, I tried to match the pattern. No way, no how could I match it. I tried every which way but loose. I had the yarn strung out across the living room and dining room and still no obvious match. I think I would have popped a vessel if I had found this knot 2/3s of the way through this project!!!
Of course I didn't have the receipt from Michael's so I couldn't return the yarn. So all this yarn will become fingerless gloves. Fortunately I volunteer at a White Elephant Sale that requires long hours of work in an unheated warehouse. Even in northern CA it gets cold enough that we want something to keep warm and fingerless gloves are ideal so a lot of my volunteer pals will be getting some for Christmas this year!
But I won't be buying Paton sock yarn again. Just don't want to take the chance and there are so many other great yarns out there.
I will, however, wind every single ball of yarn before starting a project forevermore!
Nicole
If we don't get there together, we won't get there at all. |
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housegecko
New Pal
8 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 07:39:59 AM
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Oh, I saw a lovely pair of socks in Smooshy at a LYS, kind of magenta and pale blue all mixed up. I bought the color, because it's MY kind of color, and knitted up my socks. To my dismay, mine did not have "all mixed up" colors, but pooled heavily throughout both socks. They're OK, and I won't toss them in the trash, but they sure don't look like I expected (and wanted!)
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msbeader
New Pal
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 07:46:01 AM
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| I've had very good results from all my sock yarns so this may be OT. Fifty six years ago I knit my husband a pair of socks with a surfer design knit in. Even used angora for the wave. I chose this design because he was a surfer. He never wore the socks and would not even try them on. |
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longhairedspider
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 10:32:48 AM
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| I bought a skein of Smooshy to make lacy ankle socks. I wore them about 4 or 5 times on special occasions only, and they never showed any signs of wear or thinning out. One day last August I went to put them on...put my left foot in the sock, pulled up the cuff and my foot went right through the heel. I still haven't found the courage to try to fix it, and I can't wear one without the other. I have another skein of Smooshy but I'm afraid to make socks with it! |
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Joanie48
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 10:42:11 AM
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I bought a beautiful skein of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn to knit a pair of socks. As I balled it up, I came to a knot. So I started a new ball. I knit the first sock, then started the second with a different ball. As I knit the second, I realized it was a different dye lot. I finished the second sock and took a picture of them together. Quite different  . Oh well, I wrote the company and sent the picture, but never did hear from them. |
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Clara
queen bee
USA
4363 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 11:38:24 AM
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I am so loving your stories - THANK YOU! It feels very cathartic to read them all, too, and know that I'm not alone in the occasional sock tragedy. And Nicole, I love that phrase "yarn vomit episode." Definitely will come in handy someday. 
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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Tales of Woe and Deceit
