So, I wore my handmade socks today. And I have to say, I'm not convinced. For starters, they're hideous. I'm trying to get with their variegated-laide but really.
On the plus side, with utterly no trying, the stripes more or less align between the two socks. And they're slim, I'll give them that. They also fit very well and they're extremely warm. I know. Today was -16C.
But I can feel every little waffle-y stitch on the bottom of my feet. Seriously, it's like they're wacky "massage" socks. Only I'm not sure I actually like feeling the stitches of my socks on the bottom of my feet.
And, also, I think I may have mentioned, they're kind of ugly.
Thoughts?
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That waffle-y feeling is exactly what I don't like about them. The thing is, I'm not sure if it's something you either like or don't like, or if it's something you get used to (such as the tight bra band)? There are other things I personally don't love about them so I've never investigated further. Maybe try wearing them for a week before making a final verdict? (That may however require more socks!)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I put them on, I knew what you meant. Your comment popped right into my mind. It's totally weird. I wonder if softer yarn would mitigate it.
Delete(They do look very well made!)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI'd take them! ;-) I think they're actually kind of pretty, and I hate browns! However, you're the one who has to wear them, and if you don't like them, maybe your daughter will?
ReplyDeleteHa! I think M might get lucky. But I'm not ready to write them off yet.
DeleteI don't knit but my ex-mil did. She would knit me socks constantly and I never could get used to the feel on the bottom of the feet. I never did tell her I didn't like them because she could knit a gorgeous sweater and I didn't want to discourage her!
ReplyDeleteOK, so you know what I (and Katy aka Ms. Modiste, above) mean.
DeleteHmmm, not sure what's wrong with me, but I kinda like the colours now that they're knit up . . . And I don't know what to say about the waffle stitches. I do know what you mean, and it's probably why I generally just wear my socks at home in my slippers. I suspect if I lived somewhere where it was routinely -16, I might learn to embrace the wacky massage that accompanied the warmth, but that's just me . . . ;-) (I'm being way too obviously partisan on the sock front, I know. Sorry)
ReplyDeleteIt's totally bizarre, the waffle feeling. Today I decided to make another pair using a diff pattern and a sport weight yarn: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brigid. Subject of another post: Why is it that one never has enough stash yarn to make anything? Not even a freakin' pair of socks.
DeleteI love them! Wear them with slippers or clogs around the house. Toasty!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter. Something tells me knitting might be in your near future :-)
DeleteI love the socks - super - but I am outdoorsy and these seem great for hiking. . .
ReplyDeleteBut, the "waffle" - "can feel the stitches" would wig me out - I too don't want to feel any stitches
I'm completely engaged in this discussion - I plan to make socks this year. . .
Minus 16! Wow, that is something I DON'T miss about home! ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit of a compromise...Like someone else said, if it is that cold and my feet are warm, I don't think I would care too much about what I am wearing (case in point - I am currently wearing Ugg like boots which I HATE because of the snow here!).
Think you would get used to the waffle feeling after a while?
I suspect anything is possible :-) It isn't painful. It's just disconcerting.
DeleteI like them too, for what they are. My hand knit socks are generally worn inside of boots or in my house, so no one sees them but me. Thus, I feel free to make them in whatever wacky color combo I want!
ReplyDeleteA friend was telling me last week about a "princess sole" - basically you just knit the sole of the sock in reverse stockinette so that the smoother part of the fabric is against your skin when worn. Might be worth a try if your skin is sensitive. Because you sure can't beat the warmth of hand knit socks!
Oh that's really smart, I hadn't considered just knitting the bottom of the sock in reverse stockinette to get the same effect. "Princess sole" is a very appropriate name for that!
DeleteHa! Princess sole. That is so my thing! But I don't know if I can handle them being partially inside-out. That seems as wrong as stitches you can feel. Hmmm... I do appear to be fussy.
DeleteOh now, don't be too hard on your creations. I wonder: If you chose a different colorway, would you be enamored of them?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the feeling of the stitches, though; socks are meant to be forgotten, not remembered with every step you take. Different yarn?
I think the execution is superb!
Just left a whole response and blogger ate it! Gist was that another colourway might work, esp. as I do appreciate how they turned out from a construction perspective. I will give it at least one more try. And knowing me, 10 :-) Thank you for your lovely compliment about the execution.
DeleteLOL - in my saga of learning to knit socks, one of the deciding factors to NOT knitting socks was that I hate the way they feel. Every little stitch. Kind of sliding around under my feet. Just like you said. The same yarn wrapped around my neck feels tremendously better so I'm knitting in different directions like the sock gone scarf that I just finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's it! It's the way the tiny stitches move around very slightly. And I prefer scarves too. Maybe you will do a shawl next?
DeleteI have a few pairs of fluffy socks I wear as slippers because they are too warm, fluffy and colourful to wear in shoes but I love them around the house. I like the look of those socks but it sure wouldn't fit into my work wardrobe unless boots were part of the outfit.
ReplyDeleteI have no help on the sock texture, but it's something I've wondered about when seeing so many hand knit socks in blogs.
Hilariously, given how we have to bundle up right now, I forgot that I was going to have to wear them with my work shoes (a low heel). They did fit inside the shoe (a sign that they are slim socks) but what a style disaster :-)
DeleteI've only (once) knit really thick socks and I don't really feel the stitches on them. It might have to do with the yarn being softer or harsher. Perhaps you could wear them over other - thin cotton - socks?
ReplyDeleteI do wonder if it's about the hand of the yarn. Mind you, in my brief 5 minutes with the first pair (a much spongier and softer wool), I did feel the stitches to some extent. Ain't wearing them over socks. That's insult to injury! :-)
DeleteHave you tried wearing them inside out instead? If you think they're ugly anyway (which I don't, for what that's worth, but perhaps your photos are just flattering the colors/pattern), it probably doesn't matter as much to have the reverse stockinette side on the outside and that way you'll have the smoother feel of the stockinette stitch on the inside.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good suggestion - if only to see if it makes a difference. Of course, I don't think I could do that on a regular basis. It would just be wrong! :-)
DeleteI have knit socks that came out rather rough feeling on the soles of my feet, but after a few wears and washes, they softened right up. Mostly, though, I try to knit at quite a tight gauge (9-11 stitches per inch, ideally), with a yarn that is soft in the skein. Logic would say these yarns will wear out more quickly, but the tight gauge generally mitigates that and creates a smooth fabric to boot.
ReplyDeleteMy favourites are Malabrigo Sock, Indigodragonfly Merino Sock, and Tosh Sock, all of which are superwash and thus machine washable and dryable (like you, I refuse to baby socks).
I'm really glad to hear that Angela. My gauge was 8.5 (if I remember correctly). To go tighter, I'd have to go down to a 0 needle. Not sure if I have that in me, given my experience on the first sock with the 0 needle that was a misery and eventually broke. Of course, it could have been the needle that was at fault.
DeleteFor some reason, it didn't occur to me that superwash yarn would also be washer dryer safe. Do those yarns grow or is the size stable once they come out of the dryer?
I'm scratching my head wondering if I don't notice the stitches or if on some level I like how it feels. For my most worn socks, I don't think I notice it - they are also my most-washed socks. But then again, I also knit a bit tight. Hmmm. I'm going to have to think on this for a while.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, on second wearing (not yet rewashed?!) the stitches really settled down and I barely felt them.
DeleteOh. um. They are a bit plain Jane, aren't they? They'd be better in a hot pink/orange/yellow combination or maybe purple/blue/kiwi.
ReplyDeleteSure. Next pair. :-)
DeleteI think the socks look great, but I'm not that found of the color scheme. I guess I'm just not sensitive, because I don't get the "waffle" thing. Maybe it is because I'm used to wearing bulkier socks. I find hand knit wool socks to be nicely warm for those frigid days. (We don't get any -16 C in Seattle, but it does ocationally get chilly.)
ReplyDeleteIt could be that you like bulkier yarn feel. Or maybe I'm just crazy.
DeleteThey look warm and cozy. I say keep 'em.
ReplyDeleteI have decided to keep them. Kid's gonna have to wait for the next pair.
DeleteNothing beats a pair of warm feet in the winter time, so I say keep the socks and love your warm feet as a result. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a few pairs of gross looking socks, but I wear them because they're warm. (I hide them with my cute bunny slippers though).
I'm inclined to agree. It's been very cold here and those socks have done the trick.
DeleteI hear you on the odd stripes (I prefer the sock yarn that is designed to mimic fair isle or nearly solid), and the odd underfoot texture. But my favorite part of handknit socks, why I keep meaning to start another pair (obviously not a high priority) is that they theoretically fit my feet so nicely and no seam to irritate my toes.
ReplyDeleteWeirdly, I don't care about toe seams!?
DeleteThe mssage effect? You're not knitting them densely enough. Are you using size 0/2mm needles? A good side effect of making socks denser is that they wear out a lot slower too.
ReplyDeleteI used a size 1US needle and got more than 8 stitches to the inch. I don't know that I can go tighter without it becoming an overly fussy process. BTW, the stitches have calmed down. Will write more about that soon.
DeleteI have the same problem with socks! I solved it by using the princess sole mentioned above and going down a needle size. I have anemia/poor circulation and found the benifits of hand knit socks far out wayed the downside of having your purls on the outside of the sock bottom
ReplyDeleteJen: Of course, you're right. I'm going to have to consider all the options. :-)
DeleteI definitely don't think they're ugly! I like the colors and pattern. But feeling stitches can definitely drive you crazy :-)
ReplyDelete