Sock It To Me

In what alternative Universe was I in, when I thought buying this book, (a bargainous £3.99 from TK Maxx), and having a go at knitting Japanese stitch inspired socks?

Knitted Socks East and West by Judy Sumner

 I am knitting the socks on the cover, 'Fuji', specifically because they were designed to be worn when doing a pedicure.

 

One of the 2 things that I kept doing all the time I was at my lowest ebb, (very low for a very long time!), I painted my toenails. I may not have bathed for a week or washed my hair forever, but my toenails where always dapper.

(The other thing was keeping all 'the paperwork' in order...bills, bank statements etc, all filed and tickety-boo.)

 

 

But I just can't get the 'hang' of this at all. Even when I hit a 'respite row' of just knitting every stitch, it drives me nuts!

 

To start with there are 4 needles, then you go down to 3. I bought a new set for the size and thought "what'll hold a lot, will hold a little". Big mistake as Julia Roberts says in Pretty Woman. Big, big mistake. Too much needle length. But having said that, when using two shorty needles from my stash, I am forever losing stitches off one end or the other.

 

You can see how thin the needles are next to the pencil above.

 

Also, I can't see the stitches very well with my varifocal specs, so when they drop off I just watch the rows unravel before my very eyes!

There IS a stitch pattern, but I've got to the point of if there is the right amount of stitches on each needle at the end of a row I'm happy.

 

Regia Design Line Ombre Stripe 4 Ply - Frost Colour (04480)bought from deramores

But, it is very beautiful yarn.

Designed by my beloved Kaffe Fassett.

 I am wondering, as the yarn is so lovely, that I should bypass the stitch pattern and just knit it up

 in plain knitting.

 

What do you think? Any ideas, please.

Zxx