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You never know where the yarn will lead you.
Designer's Corner, March Kit Questions | March 23, 2008
Hi, I’m JC, and I hope y’all like the Leafling pattern in this month’s kit. It’s another example of a design that ended up a good distance from where it began.In this case, it all began with a stitch pattern that caught my eye: a simple chevron pattern with a columns of purl dots. Hmm, I thought. A rib pattern like that would work well for socks. In Socks that Rock, of course.So I played around with the pattern on paper, charting out a bunch of variations–I tend to do that a lot–then swatched a few of them. As I was swatching, it dawned on me: why not arrange the decreases into feathers or leaves, rather than a plain chevron?More charting and swatching: oh, yeah, I liked that that variation. But instead of a rib that went all the way around the leg and all the way across the instep, how about just one panel running the length of the sock?Bingo, that’s what it had to be. Chart out a slick way of switching from a matching rib to the main pattern, cast on, and away we go.But what kind of heel? Usually I like flap-and-gusset heels, but I’d just finished reading Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters, so naturally I had to try a gusset-and-flap heel instead, with the gusset increases flowing from the leaf pattern. Sweet! Bonus: getting the heel stitch to cup all the way around the heel, for durability and cush padding.So the Leafling socks were a fun designing adventure. Hope y’all find them a fun knitting adventure!-JC
48 Responses to “You never know where the yarn will lead you.”
Thanks so much for posting this! I LOVE the pattern! I don’t usually knit patterns that are too complicated, but I have already cast on for these socks and I just can’t wait to see how they turn out!
It’s absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to have time to start them!
I love this pattern so much JC, thank you! I was hoping I would see more of Cat’s influence with the designs and you did just that and what a beautiful job!
Thanks, JC! This pattern is just what I needed - an interesting panel of leaves in green for spring, and overall simplicity and clean lines to work within the confines of even the worst case of Spring Fever.
I haven’t read / knit anything from Cat Bordhi’s new book, and I’m just to the heel now on my first Leafling, so I’m excited to get to play with it!
An exciting knitting adventure, for sure!
The pattern is beautiful. I’m 10 rows into the ribbing and looking forward to making more headway today.
What came first? The yarn or the pattern? Did you know the yarn would be green?
Thank you for the wonderful pattern! I’m looking forward to knitting it.
I love the pattern and can’t wait to start - thank you!!!
CO girl asked, “What came first? The yarn or the pattern?” The stitch pattern came first. STR came in a close second.
“Did you know the yarn would be green?” Oh, jeez, no. The original is actually blue: I knit up a sample in yarn I already had, and sent Tina a photo. Tina said, “I gotta have this!” so I sent her the pattern. Then she dyed the yarn, and had someone else knit up the sample.
Honestly, I haven’t even seen this month’s colorway yet–it hasn’t arrived in my mailbox!
JC, you are brilliant! I am 4″ or so into both socks on one circular needle and loving the pattern. Looks like a cable without the need to take stitches off and put them back again…tricky! Thanks so much for this pattern!
Thanks to Tina for the marvelous spring color, too.
Your pattern is fabulously delicious!
JC, thanks for the lovely pattern. I have knit nothing but flap and gusset socks so far (plus January’s short row heel), so I love being “pushed” (every so gently, and following the carrot of such a great pattern and yarn combo) to try new things. I’ve finished sock number 1 and am starting the ribbing on #2, and I think this is my new favority sock pattern - I’ll be sure to use this again!
JC, thanks so much for this luscious pattern! Even though you didn’t know the yarn was going to be greens, this pattern is perfect for it! And I SO love Cat’s new book of ideas, and have been working my way through it… it totally RAWKS that you incorporated some of these ideas into your design. I wish I could cast on tonight, but I am behind in a lace knitting class, and if I don’t catch up, I am in trouble deep. (she says this knowing that she will soon be winding this yarn into a ball, and casting on…)
Thanks for such a lovely yet challenging pattern!
Simply Lovely!
I love the way the pattern looks and am really looking forward to knitting it. And to try a slightly different heel. Now to dig up my #1s (being a slightly loose knitter)…
Absolutely wonderful pattern, JC! Another winner in my book!
I love the pattern. I just got “New Pathways” and was trying to decide which sock pattern I was going to do with that new heel construction….and then the perfect pattern just shows up in my mailbox! Thanks.
Hey, TINA gets all the credit for the yarn matching the pattern!
The pattern is lovely, JC. I cannot WAIT to start them. Righty and Lefty toes and all.
I very rarely knit a pattern as written. I have always designed my own or made lots of changes to the pattern to make it my own. I have hardly made any changes to this pattern. I am even knitting my first pair of top down socks. I have always knitted toe up socks. I am also a big fan of Cat’s book and have knit several pairs in different sockitectures. I know I will enjoy wearing my new green leafling socks next week.
I love the pattern, but my fear is that it’s too difficult for me. However, I’m game to try anything. Isn’t that how we learn? Here goes….
It’s a lovely pattern. I can’t wait to start on them!
I’m working away and nearly up to the heel. A question. Is there a typo in the first paragraph on page 4. It refers to a dotted feather pattern at the end, but earlier in the paragraph it’s a dotted leaves pattern.
Just wondering if I’m missing something. I’ve been particularly ditzy lately.
COgirl wins the Kewpie doll: yep, “dotted feather” ought to be “dotted leaves.” Back before Tina dreamed up the green colorway, when my lone sample sock was knit in blue, the working title of the pattern was “Dotted Feathers,” not “Leafling.” Apparently, the change didn’t make its way through the entire pattern. Whoops!
Not to worry. That’s what I guessed had happened. It’s all Tina’s fault and the green yarn. I just had to be sure that I wasn’t losing my mind and missing something.
I’m having fun with the pattern. I’m working on the gusset right now.
Hope you got your yarn, JC.
JC, loving it! Tina, I can feel spring coming!!!!!!!!!!!
after being busy knit other deadline items in Jan, i decided to drop everything (because i can!) and cast on Leafling! i am finishing up the gusset of sock one (on dps because that’s what was open!) and am loving the beauty of it and the colors. i took a great picture of Lucky in my brown twiggy flower pots and wish i could post it for you. BRING ON SPRING, Tina!!! JC, thanks for the beautiful sock!!!
i finished mine last night, wearing them to work today! Love them.
I just got my kit yesterday (I was out of town and itching to get back and check out my yarn…)I love it so much!!! Green is my favorite color and I have a thing for leaves, so this month’s kit is perfect for me. Alas, I have some knitting that I have to get done for others before I can cast on something for myself. As soon as I can, however, I will be knitting these socks!!
JC I absolutely love this pattern!! It has so much meaning to me right now!
Thank you so much for creating this for us! Although I feel like you created it for me! ROFL
I have been a huge “New Pathways” convert so I was delighted to see the a Bordhi construction. Thanks so much!!
after round 5— doing next round am confussed about remove beginning-of-round marker, knit 13, pm to indicate new beginning. when I do this I do not have 21st inside markers. Am I doing something wrong. If I do not do the knit 13 everything looks right.
Ditto what Carolyn Wood just said! Are we missing something? I really love the pattern…can’t wait to see it completed. Am thinking a whole sock in the dotted rib would look cool!
Let’s see… yes, after moving the markers, you should have three markers in place: a beginning-of-round marker that’s shifted 13 (18, 16) stitches to the left of where it was before, and a pair of markers surrounding 21 stitches for the main pattern.
Why move the beginning-of-round marker? After casting on, it’s placed at a convenient location with regard to the dotted rib. After the transition to the main pattern, it’s moved to the division between the back-of-leg/sole stitches and the instep stitches.
How do you get 21 stitches between the other two markers? By following this instruction, which appears in the last paragraph of the “leg” section: “…, pm, p3, [k6, p3] twice, pm, ….” Working [k6, p3] twice is 18 stitches, plus p3 is a total of 21 stitches.
Oh, duh! Guess I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. :> Thank you, JC!
Is it safe to assume that the beginning marker is moved to the right closer to the 1st pattern marker? Having trouble with starting the gusset, the pattern will then be offset, is this correct? thanks, Fara
I figured it out! After ripping and redoing and of course rereading the instructions it has all come together. Am almost done. Thanks, Fara
Could someone (JC or someone from BMFA) take a look at the Ravelry discussion about sizing in the Socks that Rock group? Many knitters seem to be having trouble with the sock being too large. I’ve gotten a small to fit, but my gauge is somewhere between 8 to 8 1/2 st/inch on size 2.25 mm needles.
Hello! The pattern and the yarn are really beautiful and I can’t wait to get my socks finished. I am concerned that there is a lot of noise over on the Ravelry STR boards about sizing issues—very many people are simply not able to get guage without producing a too-stiff fabric and even then, its reported to be very chancey whether a knitter’s usual size will produce a sock that fits. Can you please comment?
hee hee. Cross posting. Oops.
Great minds think alike.
COgirl, KHM: thanks for the heads-up! I’ve posted over on Ravelry.
Love ‘em!!!
Help?? I thought I knew what I was doing at one point (always a bad decision after 9pm!) and removed all my markers except for the center back one. Proceeded to knit the leg with 21 stitches on the “front” dp needle and the rest of the stitches divided between the other two needles. Now I’m ready to start the gusset, and, of course, the directions refer to markers that I don’t have in place. What’s the best way to figure out where they should be? I’m knitting Adult Small… Am trying to reconstruct the plan - any hints would be appreciated.
JC -
I postponed starting these socks so I could have them as “airplane knitting” on my vacation this past week. I started them one week ago, finished one and have just a bit more to go on the second.
I like the design very much. But I have to say that the pattern was EXTREMELY well-written. There were a few things I had never done before (especially the heel and gusset construction) and I never once got stuck or confused. Since I was away from home I didn’t have the benefit of running to the blog or ravelry for explanations. You did a great job with this pattern!!
This was the most sock progress I ever made on a one-week vacation. Usually I come home with two partial socks and then finihs them months later. But these will be done today most likely.
Thanks for a great pattern!
I must agree with Marlene, the pattern left nothing to ponder,you could teach other designer a lesson or too!!Cheers!!
I finally started the first sock while at sock camp and worked on it on both flights home. I made it to the heel and I agree with the comments before this! Bravo, JC!
Thanks for the lovely pattern. Sadly, my feet are very narrow and even when I knit them on size 0 dpn, they are still too large. I think the problem is simple the medium weight sock yarn. Also, while Cat Bordhi gusset construction appears to work for most people, my experience has been that the gussets become too deep so I had to alter that substantially. Since these don’t fit me, I’ll have to gift them. I love the pattern so I’ll try again with some fingering weight yarn.
Hi again, this may be a dumb question, but as I’m trying to be very sure…I’ve worked row 1 and row 2 of the heel turn. Row 3 instructs to “Work in pattern to wrapped stitch,…” The pattern referred to here is the slip 1, knit 1?
Thanks, Holly
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