Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Firsts

It’s been and is going to be a month of firsts. This month of June 2007 is supposed to be the month of the birth of our first child. If s/he is interested in arriving on time that is.

This is proof of my first turned heel.


This is proof of the completion of my very first sock (I learned how to graft and wove in the ends just an hour ago).



Let me digress for a moment. I think stockings should be hung to the left, as above, and not to the right (see below).



Why is it so many Christmas stockings are oriented to the right and not the left. Am I crazy? Wait a minute, I don't know if I want you to answer that...

To avoid that terrible SSS problem (Second Sock Syndrome), here’s proof of starting sock number two (look carefully into the background of this picture).


I have some questions for you:

  1. How much do you have to knit on your second sock to avoid SSS?
  2. Have I met the goal (see photo above)?
  3. Is it okay to continue using the same ball of yarn and not starting a fresh ball (thereby needing to join yarn at some point in the second sock)? This may be a stupid question but, hey, I'm just learning over here!
  4. I’ve heard from a variety of sources that sock yarn does not constitute stash yarn. I’m keen to know why (I remember reading why but, I was too scared of socks at the time so I glossed over that section). I am all ears and interested in a compelling argument...one that's useful on DH's would also be of interest.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the sock! I can't answer any of your questions though being a sock virgin myself, I'm waiting for the answers from others more learned than me though!

Alisha said...

Awesome socks you have going on there!!

I have found that with any socks I knit I have to finish the second one cause I want to a) wear them of b) they are a gift. I have yet to surcome to SSS.

I have used the same ball of yarn and just joined in the second sock if needed.

Anonymous said...

I really hope your baby comes sooner rather than later! Clarabel's bday is June 30, it's a good day b/c there will always be a holiday the day after.
Socks- I would say that to totally avois SSS you have to knit the SS completely. No sweat with joining the yarn, though if you are trying to get the pattern on each sock to match you might not be able to. I think you are ok with your yarn.
I am not an authority on stash but was told by some wise bloggers that sock yarn does not count. Does "some of my blog friends said" count as a compelling arguement?

froggiemeanie said...

Ok. Answers, according to me...others are free to shoot me down:

1) A fair bit
2) No, you need to do enough to feel committed to the thing (1/3 of a cuff is good)
3) Yes, ok to use same ball as long as you are cool with joining in the new ball later.
4) I think it isn't stash because a) it is relatively cheap b) can be bought without specific plans in mind c) can be snuck in under the husband radar. The goal here is deception not coersion - sorry.

Congrats on the first sock

JustApril said...

YOU DID IT! Yaaaay! Your first sock, I'm proud of you. I know how scary it was for me to venture into the intimidating Sockdom. Looks like most of your questions have been answered and I don't know the answers to the ones left. Sock yarn is small, too, so you can fit a lot of it in a small place, it doesn't significantly add to the volume of the stash.

Jen said...

Congrats on the sock! Feels good doesn't it?

I can't answer the questions on SSS, because believe it or not, I've never suffered from it. I loves knitting socks so douing the second of a pair is as cool to me as doing the first. And I knit them both at the same time now. heh

I solve the problem of deciding to join a second ball by only buying 100 gram balls. It's always been enough to do the pair. I always take the easy way. LOL

And the only reason I can think of for sock yarn not being stash is... b'cause socks are special? :)

Yarnhog said...

I ONLY hang Christmas stockings to the left. I can't tolerate having them facing right.

sophanne said...

I'm with Renee on the sock yarn. It slides in below the radar and you can buy enough for a pair for about the cost of a meal (as opposed to sweaters costing a week's worth of groceries.)

I also rarely get SSS because socks have become my "relief" knitting- something to do when it's not time to start something big.

Good luck in mommy-ville!