AuburnChick's Adventures

Despite my scraped elbow from yesterday’s “adventure,” I still managed to finish another project!  Somehow, I suspect that you couldn’t stop me from knitting if you cut off one of my arms.  LOL

Anyhoo…my newest project is called Guided by Love Socks…

This was a pattern I <gasp> paid for!  You can read more about the pattern here, although it is no longer available for purchase.  She does have a similar pattern here.

Yeah, I know.  I’m cheap, and there are loads of free patterns available on the ‘net.

I bought it for two reasons:  1) When I bought it, two years ago, I was making more money, so I treated myself, and 2) 100% of the proceeds went to an organization that furthers independence for the visually impaired.  Paired with my love of dogs, I couldn’t resist.

I waited to knit this until I had the perfect yarn.  I finally found it during a soccer trip to South Carolina last fall.  This is Regia 4-fadig, color 44.  I used 345 yards (1.5 skeins/75 grams)…

I used US 1 (2.25 mm) needles.  I initially started out making the Women’s 7-8 size, but it was looking like it was going to be too large, so I frogged and cast on for the 5-6 size.  This seems odd because I wear a 7 1/2 shoe, but it’s all about gauge, and mine can be all over the place.

Now, let’s talk about the pattern a bit (without giving anything away that would violate copyright laws).

First off, I initially thought that this pattern would be easy peasy.  One look at the chart, and it looked like something I could do in my sleep…especially after recently finishing Bex.  However, the construction of this pair is very, very different from any I’ve ever made.

I contacted the designer through Facebook and asked several questions.  She responded immediately and was very helpful.  She assured me that no, I wasn’t dumb, and encouraged me to knit the pattern as the directions indicated.

You know what?

She was right!

The pattern worked out just the way the instructions said!  At one point, I had written the words, “Trust the pattern,” on the top of one of my printed pages just to remind myself to keep on plugging away.

The first heel I knit (yeah, I said first) gave me a fit, and I ripped back.  It is a modified version of a short-row heel.  The second time I worked the heel, I placed markers at the wraps to help me keep track.  I don’t know why I made things so difficult, because the heels were actually easy to knit and lovely to behind when finished…

One thing that makes these socks so cute is the paw print pattern that runs across the foot and up the leg.  If you look closely, you’ll see little paw prints.  Can you say LOVE?!

Another neat feature of this pattern is the cuff.  The designer incorporated the words, “Guided by Love” around the top in Braille…

Knitting with beads was a first for me.  I started out by buying the size recommended in the pattern (8.0 mm)…

I also bought a size 14 crochet hook…

When I tried to string them, the yarn was too thick, and oh my gosh, but the hook was way smaller than I’d ever expected! Oy!  So, I ran back to Hobby Lobby and bought the next size up (6.0)…

Along with another teensy, tiny crochet hook…

I struggled applying the beads.  Crochet hooks this small are good for fitting through the holes in the beads, but the hooks are so tiny that it’s difficult to grab the stitches.  Often times, my yarn would split.  Ugh.

But, I persisted…a time when I can thank my stubborn nature.  And I finally finished!  Woo Hoo!  Another pair for the sock drawer!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: Guided by Love Socks, Knitting, Regia |