Glasgow Socks complete!

The sock recipe is complete! A Bosnian toe, a turkish heel and Elizabeth Zimmermann's sewn cast off make a lovely snug sock. The pattern was adapted from Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks, Warm Feet.

I say adapted ... what I mean is adapted with many, many froggings, swear words, loss of heart and lots of tears.

I increased the toe to 80 sts initially; too big. 70 sts for the next attempt. It occured to me on the 2nd attempt that I'd made a pair of Lucy Neatby socks before - maybe I should go and see how many stitches I had for that pattern, as they fit really well. They had 60 stitches ... another frogging.

For a while there I was off - round and round to the afterthought heel. Waste yarn added without a problem.

The heel. Oh the heel. First attempt too big. Tried the second, smaller attempt on the second sock. Too small. Now both socks need their heels frogged and an in-between sized heel added. At least the after-thought heel made this relatively easy, but I was starting to lose hope at this point.

Finally, heels that fit! Now, onto the cast off (both socks were sitting on waste yarn while I used the needles for the heels).

Cast off as normal. Way, way, way too tight.

Cast off one socks with needles 1.25mm bigger. Too tight - can pull on at a push, but cutting off shin circulation *sigh*

Frog back a row on other sock; knit last row and cast off with the bigger needles. Tighter than previous attempt ... what the [insert expletive of your choice here] is going on here!!

Consult the oracle of the toe-up sock for advice and try Elizabeth Zimmermann's sewn cast off. Advise boy to leave the room before trying the socks on.

Perfect fit!!

Why is she taking pictures of her feet and not paying attention to me!? Very well, I shall bite her stupid socks *receives smack and scream from sock owner* ...


... I wonder what'll happen if I bite these? *another scream*

Fun at the New Lanark Mill on Monday. This was the walk to the Falls of Clyde and the nesting Peregrine Falcon at the end. Here I am below, looking all up for it, and stylish in my new fancy wellies...



... which were crafted by evil and far too narrow for my big boat feet. Every step back down was like razor blades on my poor footsies. It was 4.35pm, we were still walking back to the mill and I hadn't yet been to the New Lanark gift shop to score some yarn. Hysteria was setting in. Torn between walking faster and literally shearing my toes off, or walking slower and not getting yarn.
There was a point where the pain almost won, and a fleeting thought of "screw the yarn" may have crossed my brain, but it passed a nanosecond later.

I made it with 15 minutes to spare and dragged my limping, sobbing self over to the yarn, which was (of course) at the far end of the shop. Bought 20 balls of DK for £20.00 - it was worth it!

And these final two shots (both taken by the boy) were of Vane Farm - a lovely sunny hot day. I didn't wear my wellies, and had a great day.