Test Knitting That Failed My Test

Sometime back in 2006 I knitted the first pair of socks I’d done since the 1970’s. All I knew back then was cuff down socks on double pointed needles. I found a pattern online on Knitty by Cookie A. that looked intriguing, Monkey Socks.

I grabbed some wool/cotton/nylon blend sock yarn from a yarn shop in Plano, Texas and dug out my double pointed needles. I liked the pattern. I liked the yarn. But my socks were too large and sloppy. I machine laundered them a few times but they didn’t shrink up much at all. I still have them and can wear them if need be. But the knitted fabric is too loose and not comfortable on my feet.

Some time later I discovered knitting socks from the toe up using Judy’s Magic Loop and a 40″ size 2mm needle and fell in love with that. I’ve knitted a dozen or more pairs of socks since.

Then I thought I had gotten lucky when I discovered that someone had adapted the Monkey Sock pattern for toe-up knitting. So, last night I cast on for the toe-up Monkey Sock for a test knit to see what I thought. I was not impressed and ended up frogging the socks just three rounds into the lace pattern. It’s just not the same at all. I still like Cookie’s pattern and maybe someday I’ll knit another pair from the cuff down, but for now I’ve got a skein of soft sock yarn divided into two center pull balls, ready to knit another pair of socks when I decide on a pattern.

I’ve stuck the yarn in a project bag and tossed the bag into a basket in the studio. I’ll get my thinking cap on and try to decide on something besides a vanilla sock with K2,P2 ribbing up the top of the foot and around the leg.