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

[sev]

eee! pretty!

So, since my lace-obsession has begun giving way to a sock-obsession, would you recommend the Favorite Socks book as a second book on socks? I got the basics from Sensational Knitted Socks but I'm not feeling inspired by that book anymore.

I'm also tempted to just Make Stuff Up, but I have this sneaking suspicion that there's more sock wisdom out there I could absorb.

[firecat]

Thanks! What sort of inspiration do you want from a sock book?

[sev]

Something more than "here's forty-six more stitch patterns you can use on the instep of your sock!" which is mostly what's left for me in the SKS book. SKS feels like one designer's take on sock construction -- granted, there's top-down and toe-up options, there's a couple of different kinds of toe options, but it still feels like one person's wisdom.

I guess I'm looking to deepen my understanding of sock construction.

[firecat]

I deepened my understanding of sock construction by taking a class called "design your own socks" by JC Briar. It's a good class and I think she's in your neck of the woods. In the class she recommended the following other resources:

• Cool Socks, Warm Feet, Lucy Neatby—patterns, tops, tips
  
• Ethnic Socks and Stockings, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts—Eastern socks, toe-up, with inserted heels, historical, several toes and heels covered. charts. "inspirational".
  
• Folk Socks, Nancy Bush—Western Europe socks, history, and patterns based on historical examples. flap and gusset heels.
  
• Knit Socks! Betsy McCarthy—patterns, some in worsted weight. tips. suggestions for ways to use self patterning yarns.
  
• Ribbing Plain & Fancy Slayton—booklet, mini stitch dictionary, design advice
  
• Sensational Knitted Socks, More Sensational Knitted Socks Charlene Schurch—many sizes, gauges, stitch patterns arranged by size
  
• Simple Socks, Plain & Fancy, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts—Unusual short-row method using yarn overs and decreases
  
• Simply Socks Anna Zilboorg—Turkish socks (toe up)
  
• Socks, Socks, Socks, Elaine Rowley—70 varied patterns
  
• Designing Knitwear, Deborah Newton

People have also recommended Cat Bordhi's books (Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles and New Pathways for Sock Knitters); I haven't investigated them myself.

[sev]

yay, thanks!

My local library has Folk Socks and New Pathways for Sock Knitters so I've put them on hold.