Took long enough but they are finally done!

I love the sinuous lines of these socks!
If only I could knit faster!

I was going to post a photo of my progress on The Sock. I spent Saturday afternoon chugging along, doing the heel flap, turning the heel..... and noticing that the heel pocket was strangely off center. This, after having to rip back many rows when my needle slipped out of my stitches and picking them up again proved to be rather problematic due to the very splitty nature of this yarn.

Anyhoo, I rip it all back (again) to the beginning of the heel shaping, clucking my tongue at sock pattern writers who can't get long division correct - after all, how hard is it to figure out 50% of 36 stitches? I was just about to "correct" the pattern when the horror of it all struck me: before starting the heel flap, three stitches were to be switched from one needle to the other (I am using the Magic Loop), and those 36 stitches were to form the INSTEP - I had used them for the heel flap! %^$&#&^@%^%^ there went an entire afternoon's work. Arg! I could barely stop myself from throwing the darn thing in the lake and starting something else, but I restrained myself.

I am finally back to where I was two days ago, and if all goes well, will be turning the heel tomorrow on the bus to work. Wish me luck!

Inspired by the Harlot's sock photography, I offer my own WIP nestled in a bed of what could be greener grass, Pattern: Spring Forward, yarn: not sure!

I have got to devise a system that lets me know the name of the yarn I am knitting with - once the ballband goes, and it usually goes quite early in the process, my memory of what it was goes with it.

This pattern has to be done in a solid yarn or a pastel-hued handpaint. I did it in a beautiful jewel-tone handpaint and it could have been all in stockinette, for all that the pattern was visible. I love the way the pattern makes those sinuous curves and I wanted them to show, so I am knitting the pattern again. Still, it doesn't pop the way I would like it to. The yarn needs more twist. I bet this pattern would like great in some STR. Should I dig through the stash and knit this pattern a third time? For a knitter with pronounced second sock syndrome, this would be an achievement indeed!