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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
Modified Toe
Designer's Corner | April 09, 2008
This is a modified toe that I made, with directions, pictures included.
When I got to about 2 3/4 inches from the end of the toe, I stopped adding more leaflets, and instead did this:
ending with a row 7, the next three rows, repeat row 8, then on the next row I started shaping the end of the leaf by (just over the pattern stitches)
row 1: LLI, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k4, p1, k1, p1, k4, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI, knit to end.
row 2: Continue in pattern only now there are only 5 stitches over each side of the leaf.
row 3: LLI, p1, k1, p1, k5, k3tog, k5, p1, k1, p1, RLI.
row 4: Same as row 2 except only 1 p between sides of leaf.
row 5: LLI, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k3, p1, k3, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI.
row 6: Same as row 4, but only k3 on each side of leaflet.
row 7: LLI, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k2, p1, k2, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI
row 8: Same as row 4 but with only k3 on each side of leaflet.
row 9: Start the first toe shaping as per pattern, and at the same time LLI, p1, k1, p1, ssk, k1, p1, k1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI.
row 10: Same as row 4 but only k2 on each side of leaflet.
row 11: LLI, p1, k1, p1, ssk, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI.
row 12: Same as row 4 but only k1 on each side of leaflet.
row 13: LLI, p1, k1, p1, k3tog, p1, k1, p1, RLI.
row 14: P3, k1, p3.
row 15: LLI, p2tog, p1, k1, p1, p2tog, RLI.
row 16: P5
row 17: LLI, p2tog, k1, p2tog RLI.
row 18: P3.
row 19: LLI, k3tog, RLI.
row 20: P1.
Then continue to shape the toe per instructions.
Leafling heel…..
Designer's Corner, General Knitting Questions, March Kit Questions | April 03, 2008
I have a question, but I guess it’s kinda sorta a general knitting question that happens to apply to this sock. I have noticed that most socks that do the heel “flap” the way it is in this sock (slip 1, k 1), never tell you which way to slip. Do I want the knit stitches to twist or not? I always assume when told to slip, if not specified, that it is knitwise. If they are supposed to be slipped purlwise, wouldn’t it make more sense to tell the knitter that? I looked through the abbreviations just to make sure I wasn’t missing some important note on this, so if it is stated in the pattern somewhere, I’m sorry for asking a stupid question. But, I seem to remember having this confusion before, so I think it’s standard isn’t it? So….best to clear up the confusion once and for all, lol. Thanks!!
Wrapped heel
Designer's Corner | March 28, 2008
I was fortunate to attend one of Cat Bordhi’s floating workshops last fall. She spoke of making the wraps invisible in this heel design. Is this techniques appropriate to your “Leafling” sock? I haven’t reached the heel yet but soon will be there. I **love** yarn and the pattern. It should go fairly quickly.
Thank you for your reply
R………………><>
once upon a time
Designer's Corner, Notorious Sock Knitters | February 27, 2008
there was a yarn. it was sent to me by the lovely tina. it was meant to be used for a sock which was named “clueless #1″. but alas, the yarn did not want to be THAT sock. it striped! it fought with the pattern. “no, don’t make me”, it screamed!
so, stripey yarn, what do you want to be when you grow up? you need to be something special. the more i looked at the stripes, the more i thought that it would be fun to “play” with the stripes. maybe a simple lace to make the stripes go zig-zag. who wants plain stripes when you can have wild, fun stripes?! i found a simple lace and used the stripey yarn. YES! “serendipity” was born.
original “serendipity”
“serendipity” was originally knit with a heel flap and gusset (because i am that kind of gal) and a wedge toe. but the sock lost its cute stripyness over the gusset area. what to do?! ah, the voices in my head said, “short row heel”. yes, that will work. then i looked at the wedge toe. it was “ok” but kind of plain compared to all the fun striping on the foot. the little voices popped up again. ” how about a cute little star toe? ” why! it even looks like a little “bellybutton”! 
original wedge toe on left; cute little bellybutton toe on right
after that, i sent my little baby to tina who worked her color magic on some yarn. i didn’t know what colors tina was going to use or what the colorway would be called. i waited but didn’t hear from tina in like forever (ok, maybe it was 2 months, anyways it seemed like forever). “tina, the kit! tell me about the kit!” i saw the final product in the early weeks of january. be still, my heart! tina had used chinese new years for inspiration! “dragon dance” and ” serendipity”! it was meant to be.
i have enjoyed following your adventures through rockin’ sock club land. and i am thrilled to pieces when i see your pictures of “serendipity” and your lovely comments.
p.s. i know a lot of you were skeptical about combining lace and stripes. yes, the lace is hidden by the stripes but the purpose of “serendipity” was to play with the stripes; not the lace.
…and yes, i am of chinese heritage! gung hay fat choy! may the new year bring you good health, prosperity, happiness, and all kinds of fibery goodness!
