Olympic Socks

That's right.  I did it.  17 days, 2 new techniques, a new pair of socks!  The 2 at a time sock thing is pretty nifty, because it does eliminate the dreaded second sock syndrome, but I did miss my DPNs from time to time.  And as I said in a previous post, initially I loathed the afterthought heel for making me pick up so many freaking stitches, but it does look cool.  For some reason, the top of these socks came out longer than the bottom, but that just makes them look good from the top.  All in all, I'm happy with them.  

Pattern: Outside In, Janice Kang (Knitty Summer 2009)
Yarn: Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn, color - Seven Dwarves
Needles: US 1 1/2 /2.5 mm 60 inch circular (Knit Picks)
Ravelry Link 

Winner!

I did it!  And with a whole day until the Closing Ceremonies.  Extended picture-taking session tomorrow.  Now I'm going to bed.

You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore

Hey, Gwen, it's 1:30 am and Bob Costas long ago handed the reigns over to Mary Carillo, what are you doing still up?

Oh, I don't know...  maybe OBSESSIVELY FINISHING THE FIRST HEEL OF THESE SOCKS!

 

At first I hated the afterthought heel because I had to pick out and pick back up 74 freakin' stitches, but then I kind of loved it.  Nice to have the pattern seamlessly continue on the heel.

Back to the Olympic grind... 

Ba ba baba ba ba ba dum dum dudum ba ba dum ba ba dum dum dum

Um, that was the Olympic theme...

Because I am hardcore and because I am crazy and because what better thing to do when you just started a giant sweater project than to start another project, I signed up for the 2010 Knitting Olympics.

(I will admit, I cast on during the opening ceremonies at 10pm EST because I couldn't take casting on at midnight when the flame was lit when I had a 15 hr work day to look forward to the next morning.  But, the rules clearly state to cast on between 6-8pm PST.)  

Anywho, my project is Outside In by Janice Kang.  17 days.  2 new techniques (2 at a time on one circular and an afterthought heel).  1 crazy goal to finish before the flame goes out.

 

Just starting out during the opening ceremonies (I think this is some IOC address)

 
 

Progress thus far

 

The glorious inside of the Outside In socks

Random notes:  

1. There is a big difference between size US 1 2.25mm (what the pattern called for) and size US 1 2.5mm (what I have) needles.  After 4 rows, the sock was clearly going to be giant (and I was already making the medium size) so I managed to whittle down each sock by 8 stitches over the next few rows and am now knitting the small size (for my size 8 1/2 - 9 feet).  The beauty of this is that the tops of the socks will not be too tight around my legs.  Bonus.

2. For some reason (probably because it was near midnight when I checked the pattern) I thought the pattern said the cuff was 15 rows.  When I went to start the leg, I noticed it was actually only 12 rows.  Valuable time has been lost!

3. Only a few snafus so far - mostly 1/2 of one sock where I forgot all decreases for a row, but then made up for it later.

4.  This 2 at a time sock thing is pretty darn awesome.

5.  Sometimes I miss my DPNs.  But I do not miss Second Sock Syndrome.

6.  That is all.  Goodnight!