diamond waffle / mock wave cable socks

[firecat]

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/firecat/diamond-waffle-socks

Needles:
US 0 / 2.0 mm Knitpicks nickel-plated 16" circs
US 1 / 2.25 mm Knitpicks nickel-plated 16" circs


Yarn: Fleece Artist Nova Socks
1 skein = 355.0 yards (324.6m)
Colorway amethyst
Purchased at Stitches West in Santa Clara, California



This one shows the color better:


This one shows the wavy rib pattern:


Notes:
I started out with this yarn thinking I was going to make Diamond Waffle socks, but the yarn is variegated and didn’t look good with the pattern.

So I decided to use the cable pattern from the Mock Wave Cable socks in Favorite Socks. That is a top-down pattern, but it seemed like the pattern would work toe-up also. So these socks are sort of a combination of the two patterns.

Tried KnitPicks rosewood circulars to start this, they were too grabby with the yarn. Switched to the nickel plated ones. Can’t figure out the “lighter circular beginning” cast-on to save my life, so did Judy’s magic cast-on instead.

I have thick insteps and ankles so I switched from size small to size medium at the point where the increases started. After turning the heel, I switched from size 0 to size 1 needles.

The 2-ply merino superwash yarn is nice to work with. It produces pretty, subtle color changes and a thick yummy fabric when ribbed. It also blooms sweetly when washed.

Comments

[dr-brat.livejournal.com]

Which part seems intimidating?

Using the dpns (I use circulars for almost everything) and turning the heel. Also, I tend to knit while doing other things, so having to pay attention during increases etc, seems inconvenient to me. I have a sweater that is very close to being done, but I'm at a decrease row on the neckline and just haven't sat down to it with intention in about 6 weeks now. OTOH, my stash has somewhat organically come to include several nice sock yarns, so perhaps I will use one of them for a pair of socks instead of a scarf.

[firecat]

You can use two circulars for socks or any tubular knitting. I prefer that method because there's less risk of the yarn falling off the needles.

I have some tricks with stitch markers that make it easier for me to keep track of increases/decreases. But I know what you mean about the difference beween knitting you have to pay attention to and knitting you don't.

As for turning the heel, it does require attention because you have to count. But otherwise it's not hard; the pattern usually includes line by line instructions.