Scallops with conch

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that I was inspired to knit socks after receiving beautiful Sierra Sock yarn from Tactile Fiber Arts and by the sock knitting explorations of hand knitting designer Vashte of makeone. What you may not know is that I finished the socks, my first pair ever, this past weekend!

Scallops with Conch

Sierra Sock yarn is superwash merino, soft and squishy. It doesn't contain nylon as many sock yarns do but is "spun tightly for better wear resistance." The Conch colorway is self striping. As double bed machine knitters know, while working on the machine it's quite difficult to see the knitting much beyond the row you've just completed. I admit I got a tiny bit distracted following the lovely color blends as I knitted each row. The following early socklette in the yarn ended up a complete surprise:

The stripes developed differently once tuck stitches were introduced. 

After research and experimentation with various machine knitted heel techniques, I decided to go with short row-based heels and toes, modified versions of Makoshark's Unholy Heel. I ended up doing so much swatching, I was unsure if I'd have enough yarn for the sock pair. In order to play it safe, I wound the yarn onto two equal cones by weight.  The plan was to knit one sock toe up and decide on the final length as I used up the yarn and then knit the second sock with the second cone to match. I totally overestimated the yarn I would require for the scalloped cuff. Each sock could have been at least another three inches longer. Design-wise, however, I do think the scallops sit in the right place. And yes, I was prompted to knit "scallops" by name of this colorway.

Sierra Sock yarn knits beautifully on the Passap DM-80. I used stitch size 6 on each bed for plain circular work. As with most yarns created for hand knitters, it's important to wax the yarn before (or while) machine knitting. Since I don't have a wax holder for my machine, I removed the wick from a tea candle and passed the yarn through the candle hole while winding my cones. Easy!

I totally "get" sock knitting now. I don't mean the technical part; I know I have lots more to learn. I mean the part where knitters, hand and machine alike, become so obsessed with knitting them. Sock knitting requires skill, yet the project is always small and manageable. Socks can be knitted simply or elaborately. There are many possibilities within the rather strict form. And they feel fantastic on the feet! I am so eager to design a complex multi-textured sock now. Fortunately, I have a skein of Sierra Sock in Nutmeg waiting patiently.

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I received two skeins of Sierra Sock yarn as an  unsolicited gift from Tactile Fiber Arts. I was not asked to review the yarn nor was a review ever discussed. Opinions are my own.