Surprise! ( Big Sigh)
Way back a year ago...I knit my only pair of Claudia Handpaint socks. They were the Ingrid's Blues colorway, which I liked a lot, and to begin with I had problems just getting the yarn into a ball...(I believe I called it Claudia Spaghetti, but I finally did get it wound up).
I knit a lovely pair of socks, in only a month...which was a huge improvement over another pair I'm going to talk about...the Cherry Tree Hill Green Mountain Madness Feather & Fan socks. Those were started TWO years ago, and finished a mere 6 months later...yes, to say I have progressed in speed, is a bit of an understatement.
I have worn the CTH socks more, because the colors go more with my clothing, and I've had them longer...
So tonight, when I took off my Claudia socks...I was totally unprepared for this:
That is one huge honkin' hole. I'm really glad I ran into a tutorial not long ago for darning socks. I am going to need them. I'm also glad I saved the leftover yarn...
But here is a comparison of the underfoot of both of those socks. The left one is the CTH. It's 6 months older (and a lot more "time on the hoof") than the sock on the right, the Claudia sock.
Not sure what the base yarn is on Claudia...It's my understanding that CTH uses Louet Gems. But I knew when I knit up the Ingrid's Blues that the yarn was far softer than I like for a sock...I guess I should have decided there and then to use the gorgeous yarn (the colors are phenominal) in something else. A Chevron Scarf perhaps...
(sigh)
So here is another knitting rite of passage...My FIRST sock hole, after only a year of sporadic wear. How many of you sock knitters darn your socks?
I will darn them. If only because it's an art form I'd like to add to my repetoire. No. I like the socks, too...Hmm...wonder where my mom's darning egg is?
*wink*
I knit a lovely pair of socks, in only a month...which was a huge improvement over another pair I'm going to talk about...the Cherry Tree Hill Green Mountain Madness Feather & Fan socks. Those were started TWO years ago, and finished a mere 6 months later...yes, to say I have progressed in speed, is a bit of an understatement.
I have worn the CTH socks more, because the colors go more with my clothing, and I've had them longer...
So tonight, when I took off my Claudia socks...I was totally unprepared for this:
That is one huge honkin' hole. I'm really glad I ran into a tutorial not long ago for darning socks. I am going to need them. I'm also glad I saved the leftover yarn...
But here is a comparison of the underfoot of both of those socks. The left one is the CTH. It's 6 months older (and a lot more "time on the hoof") than the sock on the right, the Claudia sock.Not sure what the base yarn is on Claudia...It's my understanding that CTH uses Louet Gems. But I knew when I knit up the Ingrid's Blues that the yarn was far softer than I like for a sock...I guess I should have decided there and then to use the gorgeous yarn (the colors are phenominal) in something else. A Chevron Scarf perhaps...
(sigh)
So here is another knitting rite of passage...My FIRST sock hole, after only a year of sporadic wear. How many of you sock knitters darn your socks?
I will darn them. If only because it's an art form I'd like to add to my repetoire. No. I like the socks, too...Hmm...wonder where my mom's darning egg is?
*wink*
posted by Nana Sadie at 11:00 PM
10 Comments:
I need to learn how to darn. I tend to like to knit at a fairly loose gauge for socks, I prefer soft fabric, and I've noticed a hole or two threatening in some of my handpainted yarn (a pair from Tempest and a pair from Fleece Artist) socks that are barely worn. Massive pilling, too.
I think what I'm going to do from now on is go down a needle size for the heel and toe so I get a tighter gauge. I've heard that helps them last a little longer.
OUCH!! Poor sock heel.. Wish we shared a backyard fence because I know exactly where Mom's darning egg is located (I just haven't used it yet) {g}
Claudia's base is Louet Gems too. Looks to me like your gauge is tighter on the CTH than the Claudia's. I'm eager to see your darning adventure tho :)
I don't darn them, I chuck them.
Good luck with darning :)
My theory is that though some companies use the same base yarn, they might use different wash agents which seem to make the yarn harsher. I've compared Claudias to Koigu and they certainly don't feel the same to me. I wonder if they use sythrapol (sp?) to wash the fiber once dyed? That's some harsh stuff on natural fibers. Just my theory that has yet to be proved...
So far [knocks rather wildly on wood] no holes, but OTOH, I barely wear any of my handknit socks except for the ones that are so felted that holes are probably impossible.
I'm hoping that after the election that the hyperbole dies down but I'm afraid that's when the reality of our financial situation is going to be apparent.
Yikes!
I don't darn; I chuck.
I've only had that happen to one pair of socks, and I'm pretty sure it was my own fault for not knitting them at a tight enough gauge.
I hold them over the trash can and say "Oh Darn"! ;o))
Darning is an art though that shouldn't disappear, but I just enjoy knitting a replacement pair and let it go at that. But I do understand the love of a perfectly colored pair of socks.
If I am knitting socks without some nylon content I will hold cotton quilting thread with the yarn in the heel and toe and it keeps them from stretching out as much.
Sorry I have not been keeping up lately, but it's now less than 2 weeks before the big flight and I have tons to do!
That is a rite of passage. I need to learn how to darn myself (thanks for the link to the tutorial), and honestly, I keep staring at those darning eggs and wondering what they heck they're for, so perhaps it's time... Good luck!!
I'm sorry to hear about your holey socks. I've knit one pair of socks from Claudia yarn and will never use it again. I don't have holes, but the color has almost completely faded on the underside of the foot (I hand wash all of my socks, so that's not the problem). I'm very disappointed in the yarn.
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