Swatching Sockapal2za

Swatching Sockapal2za

I followed Jess's advice, and tested my stash yarn by swatching. (Swatching for socks means starting them, since I start with the toe. ;) ) Since my sock pal's feet are narrower than mine, I decided to swatch with the same brand yarn that I'll be making socks for me with, and see how they fit. The yarn recommended 2.5-3 mm needles/hook, and I usually use a 3.5 hook. I checked out my selection of sock hooks, and the only one in the recommended range was 2.75 mm, so I started the blue toe with that. I found it annoying... I kept snagging the yarn when I tried to crochet. I ended up with a very dense fabric (boy, would those keep feet warm!), and much smaller than usual. I checked the ball band of another sock yarn I used, and it recommended a 2-2.5 mm hook, so I figured if the 3.5 produces fine results with it, it would likely be fine for these. Plus, this yarn is pretty similar in weight to the Scheepjes yarn I used once. So I started a swatch in the orangey yarn. Much better!

However, it's not striping. From looking at the ball, I was thinking it would produce subtle stripes, but it appears to be a regular variegated. Nice, but not stripes. For some reason, I really want to do stripes for my sock pal.

I think I'd prefer to create the stripes myself, rather than use self striping yarn. Since I don't have any strong feelings about the remaining three options that meet my desires, I'll go with the Silja. Economical is good. ;)

However, since these balls have been "broken into," I guess I'll just have to add them to my WIP list, and keep working on them! (I *have* wanted to play with this yarn since Josie gave it to me in January.) I can use the start on the orangey yarn (which I'm calling "falling leaves"), but I'll have to frog and restart the blue yarn (which I'm calling "midnight waves").

Also shown in this picture is the latest pair of toe socks. I've renamed them "silver lining," because they remind me that "every cloud has a silver lining". ;) They look like the rainbow that comes after a storm. I really think grandma S will love this pair! I can't wait until she opens her birthday present, and sees all the toe socks I've made her. :))