FO - Seduction Socks

This weekend I finished my Seduction Socks.



And yeah, they are everything I thought they'd be.



Pattern: Seduction Socks by Ann Budd, from Interweave Knits spring 2007 (also available as a free PDF here)
Size: women's US 9
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss, 70% Merino wool 30% silk, 4-ply fingering weight, color Dusk (dye lot 29279), less than 2 skeins or approximately 330 yards
Needles: Knit Picks 6" nickel-plated DPNs, size 2.5 (3.00mm)
Modifications: worked toe-up with a short-row heel, added length to leg and changed cuff to 2x2 ribbing

Started: March 1, 2008
Finished: April 12, 2008



I absolutely loved this pattern, and these socks were a joy to knit. The 8-row sequence was extremely easy to memorize, as it was actually two very similar "patterny" rows, with 3 rows of simple filler in between.



If it were poetry, the stanzas might have gone ABBB CBBB (does that make sense?). In this case the difference between A & C was practically negligible, so it was really more like a 4-row repeat, where 3 rows were the same. My point is that it was very easy and fun lace that I worked from a Post-It for the first two or three repeats and from memory for the rest.



I am simply thrilled with the elegance of this approach. I'm a huge fan of patterns where you get a big pay-off for a simple effort, and the graceful, dancing movement of this lace makes me so happy for both its economy and beauty.



I decided to go toe-up so I could make the most of my yarn and decide on the length of the leg as I went. Conversion was simple, and I'm really happy I made that choice. I used a figure-8 cast on (12 stitches to start, for a wider toe) and increased to 56 stitches. I worked 5 rows after my increases to get a toe length of about 2". I determined this length by looking at where the decreases were supposed to begin in the original pattern.



I worked 64 rounds of lace (8 pattern repeats) on the foot, then worked a short-row heel calculated from this pattern. Because I had 56 stitches, I worked the heel over 28 stitches, with 10 in the middle and 9 on each side (if you're looking at that pattern, E=10). I am really happy with these heels - the fit is spot-on perfect. I hope it's not immodest to say they are probably the best heels I've ever worked.



I worked 96 rounds (12 repeats) after the heel, to give a leg that came just to the point in my calf where I'd have to start thinking about increasing. I had an abundance of yarn leftover, probably enough to have made knee socks. I used 2x2 ribbing with a stretchy bind-off at the top, and they feel marvelous.

The yarn is more than heavenly to use, with a decadent feel and insane softness. They really are luxurious on the feet, and worked on such large needles, I worried they might not be strong enough to wear with shoes. Because of the silk content and the fairly open lace, I was planning for these to be lounging or bed socks from the beginning, though once I've worn them around the apartment some, I'm no longer concerned about their strength.



I would absolutely recommend using Gloss if you want to fall in love with socks. The new colors are especially appealing, and I am exercising tremendous self-control by resisting the urge to buy every available color immediately. As for this blue, it has a seductive power all its own, and I'm really pleased with the fit of yarn to pattern.



I think these socks would make an excellent beginning lace project, and I actually think they'd make great first socks. Using a row counter alleviated any anxiety I had about having to pay attention or making sure they matched, but it's simple enough to see what's going on in this pattern by itself. I think I've reached a comfort level with sock-knitting that there was no point where I worried about not knowing what to do - actually, I knit these socks on autopilot, so they were wonderful stress relief and downright meditative.



In conclusion, I am utterly, thoroughly seduced... and now rather smitten.

Previous Entries on this Project:
- More Socks on the Needles
- Seduced