Posts in this series:
Sock-A-Long: Getting Gauge and Getting Ready
Sock-A-Long: The Discipline of Knitting the Whole Leg and Not Skipping to the Heel (because I know how I am)
Sock-A-long: Don’t Get Flapped by the Heel Flap
Sock-A-Long: Turning a Heel is Like Freaking Magic
Sock-A-Long: Knitting the Foot is Like Freaking Boring
Sock-A-Long: Toes and Done!
I’ve been knitting on my socks, my Cirque Socks. Its a nifty free pattern written by The Sexy Knitter and you can grab your copy right here.
This is what they should look like when I’m done:
I’m making mine in colorway Matcha but I’m using the same yarn as the designer did, Stroll Fingering, so I’m pretty confident that they will turn out to be just like that picture… but only if I knit the whole leg.
You see I have 2 and a half repeats done of this cable pattern.
Since I’ve managed to get that done for both socks, its a nice amount of knitting. The legs of these socks are looking pretty good. They are not done yet… but they could be.
I like to cheat. I admit it. I don’t cheat on anything that would hurt other people but when I can get away with some victim-less cheater-ly, corner-cutting shenanigans, I usually go for it. What can I say? Cheating makes me feel clever. And the only place you can cheat in sock making is on the leg.
You can’t cheat on the heel. If you make a short heel your socks won’t fit. That goes for the foot of the sock too. You can’t cheat on toes because toes are all about finishing up and being done with it all. So the only place to cheat in is the leg. I’m always tempted to cheat on the legs of my socks.
When I first read through the Cirque Sock pattern I noticed this:
That translates to “work 3 full repeats… start a fourth repeat… and stop when you are halfway through it after round 8 (or 9 for the large size)”. I instantly realized that I could stop after one and half repeats. Or two and half. Or I could go onto four and half (yeah that will never happen). From the moment of that realization to right now I’ve been secretly thinking about stopping after only two and half repeats.
I could so do that.
I’m the Knitter and I can do what I want. I’m not the Assistant Knitter or the Knitting Partner or even the Regional Supervisory Knitter. I am The Knitter. I can do whatever I want up to and including blowing off a whole repeat on my Cirque Socks.
Its tempting.
"There is no failure. Only feedback." - Robert Allen
19 Comments on "Sock-A-Long: The Discipline of Knitting the Whole Leg"
Don’t do it! They won’t be ankle socks…..too long…..and they won’t be knee socks (which they weren’t meant to be to begin with of course) but they won’t be tall enough to be whateverthehell you call the socks in-between ankle socks and knee highs!
Of course, I’m not the knitting police or sock supervisor or Empress of the Entire Universe and All Who Dwell Therein (yet) so you can do as you will with your socks, lol! (But they sure look nice with four and a half repeats…..just sayin’!)
lol
All very good points. But I’m leaving you in not-suspense-but-maybe-curiosity about the length. I will say that its cold and overcast and rainy and I’m knitting as fast as my fingers will let me!
Giggle! If it were me, if I could knit anything even vaguely resembling an actual sock (I’m still at the cussing, throwing knitting on the floor, stomping on the stupid square that refuses to be square stage of knitting) then I would totally make thigh highs! I HATE being cold! How many repeats to achieve thigh highs? Lol!
By all means listen to your inner self. Firstly the winters are milder and (most importantly) no one will see it. You also may have enough leftover for dynamite fingerless gloves! Then there’s the other benefit off not having to wrestle with the demon (I know all too well) ” it’s taking too long”. Be true to yourself and love will follow.
Socks do take too long to knit! But then almost everything does.
And I’m not sure why I love to cut corners on my knitting. It may save time… but I spend that time knitting something else.
Hmmmmmm, sounds like a case of “boredom has set in”. Maybe start a fun scarf or something on another set of needles…..and keep adding repeats to achieve thigh highedness to your socks? Lollollol!
l’m not to the point of making that decision yet, but l can say l “love” this pattern. lts not complicated, but looks it. Thanx for the KAL & your socks look great! 🙂 ps..Can you tell any difference in the looks of knitting 2 separate methods for your socks??
Glad you are enjoying the pattern. I am too. Nope its not hard it only looks that way.
I can’t tell the difference between the two. But my gauge for dpns and for circs is pretty much the same. Personally I think cabeling is easier on dpns but that is just a preference.
Cheat if you want to, Ms Zimmerman jr. But. A few years ago i received for Christmas from my lovely, kind, caring, sweet, talented daughter a pair of socks that starts mid thigh and warms me all the way to my ice cold feet. They are my favorite all time socks.
Yep, Ms. Zimmermann definiteness approved of going your own way. She was a gem!
And those socks sound awesome! Maybe she’ll knit me some, lololol
I am a bad example and I won’t apologize! {insert evil laugh here}
I have not made these socks before. Its my first time. But having read through the pattern and “knit” them in my head, I have a pretty good idea of have the pattern works and where adjustments can be made.