Tuesday, September 02, 2008

be one with the yarn

This lovely sock yarn is Arequipa, 65% superwash merino, 20% alpaca, and 15% nylon. It is very soft but twists up like crazy when knitting k1, p1 ribbing and is a wee bit splitty. That makes it sound like I don't really like it but I do. It was just one of those smack-you-upside-the-head experiences. I persisted with the rib then started Wendy's Eyelet Rib Socks pattern which is really pretty and a no-brainer to knit. My sock is not looking like Wendy's sock at all. The pattern stitch is not as defined as it should be.

It finally occurred to me that I was trying to make the yarn fit the pattern instead of listening to what the yarn wants to be. The alpaca gives the yarn a bit of a halo which is very pretty but it doesn't lend itself to stitch definition. I forgot the cardinal rule of knitting: be one with the yarn. This yarn wants to be luxurious and comfy plain vanilla socks where the yarn, not the pattern, is the star of the show. So I will frog this sock and obey the yarn. I'm quite sure that I won't have to dangle the sock from the needles to unkink the yarn nearly as often if I stick to stockinette.

5 comments:

Lovs2Knit said...

Love the yarn you're working with. I'll have to try some soon.

Sometimes a plain sock is the best choice. :)

Aunt Kathy said...

I still have yet to learn how to be one with the yarn. I am such a novice

Lynn said...

that yarn just LOOKS soft! So I can imagine what it feels like. Yes I agree, with fuzzy yarn, the sock just needs to be simple. Simply beautiful that is!!!!

Heidi said...

Ahh, so pretty!

Geri said...

I love this yarn. I knit the "Embossed Leaves" socks from Interweave Knits 'Favourite Socks' book. Check them out: http://bp1.blogger.com/_8jRsPkFiE8c/SBvAiHVMmQI/AAAAAAAAAtY/Xx_jiiLFkdg/s1600-h/P1000490+cropped.jpg

or look them up on my ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/geri/embossed-leaves