Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mysterious Mutating Yarn!

I've knitted enough socks from variegated yarn that I can usually predict what the finished article will look like. But the socks I finished a few days ago proved that (1) appearances can be deceiving and (2) I don't know everything. I should have asked my neighbor, Nancy, about the yarn before I touched it with a needle. She knows everything!

Here's a candid photo of the leftovers--a pretty rainbow variegation.


And here's what happens when this lovely skein was knitted into socks (Warning! Sunglasses Alert!):






The heels and toes look charming. The rest of the sock bears an unearthly resemblance to this appalling cover of Knitter's magazine.

It's an interesting transformation, isn't it?

Note added later: These are my very own fleegle socks. You can find the basic pattern here.

And before you ask, the yarn in Yummy, from Miss Babs, in the Rainbow colorway. It's lovely yarn and I am sure Miss Babs would never have thought her gorgeous colorway would ever mutate into electric pink and fluorescent lime stripes.

Roy likes the socks, though--they match his recently purchased tuxedo--so all has ended well.

The current pair of socks is being knitted with Julia's amazingly priced yarn. So far, I have no complaints. It's soft, has very long color runs, and is a thoroughly pleasant knit. It's about the most cost-effective sock yarn you'll ever find.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the heels on your sock too. Can you tell me what kind it is?

Also, had a great laugh about your comparison to that particular cover. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it was appalling but it is uncanny (or should I say scary) that the socks match it.

Anonymous said...

I gotta break it to you. I like the socks. I'm with you on the cover of Knitters though!

Dave said...

Aww, too bad they match Roy's tux. It would've been nice to have socks that go with the new sweater I'm sure your busy knitting. Well, at those prices, you can easily get more.

It's funny how the colours meld and disappear and then pop out. I've had some yarns do that too. The only place you see a particular colour is on the heel. It's magic. :-)

Shea said...

You enabler. Now I gotta go buy more sock yarn. Like I really need more sock yarn.

Kitty Kitty said...

I absolutely love how the heel turned out. May I second the question from Sue, What kind of heel is it?

Poor socks... to be mentioned in the same sentance as that cover. :)

fleegle said...

Dear Sue and Kitty Kitty:

These socks are my very own pattern, which you can find here:

http://fleeglesblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/leegles-toe-up-no-flap-no-hassle-sock.html

KSee said...

Love them. I couldn't beleive that they thought that was the best picture to put on the cover! Heading over to check out your pattern.

Anonymous said...

I like the socks too - and the heel.

Have you seen my yarn? You'll like the prices, and shipping to Japan is fast. The only issue is that you would have to dye it yourself.

Carol said...

I think the socks look great. but I like bright colours....The hubby says if it's bright or shiny, I like it!

LittleBerry said...

Nope I can't quite work out either why you ended up with socks like that from that yarn :oS

How's the lace going?

Soo said...

Perhaps it comes from making socks primarily for 8 - 14 year old girls -- but I love those socks.

florencemary said...

I think they are extremely zingy socks! I do hope that you're going to post a photo of the 'matching' tux... phew.

And thanks for the cost-effective 'Julia' link: fingers crossed they ship to the UK.

Anonymous said...

Of course this begs the question (or a couple of questions):

- is Roy's tuxedo multicoloured as well?
- if not, which of the colours is it?
- where are the pix of the tuxedos?

:-)

Nnairda's said...

Followed you from Neatly Tangled. You've got SKILLZ!!!

Opal said...

I think that yarn knitted up beautifully!

BadCatDesigns said...

Did you leave that yarn next to the Knitter's magazine? You warned me about the infectious nature of that magazine cover...

I love the way you did the heal, and how you got the two socks to match so perfectly. Fabulous, even if I need my sun glasses. I hesitate to imagine Roy's tux, though.

Leslie said...

I love the socks! And I love the copyright statement in the entry below it. In fact I love it so much I copied the sock pattern (thanks so much) and the copyright statement and will be using them in the toe up class we're giving at the LYS in June. I was asked to help do a magic loop class and this pattern will be one handed out since ml and 2 on 2 can be easily interchanged.

Laritza said...

I've said it before and say it again. Not all fiber is meant to be spun, not all yarn is meant to be knit.....

Heather said...

omg! it is spooky to look at the cover of knitters! how weird!
but i love the heel anomaly.

Kris said...

While I'm not into that magazine cover... I'm lovin' those socks!

Judith said...

I *really* want to see a pic of Roy in his matching tux and those socks!!! Interestingly, I had something similar happen with roving that was dyed "english garden" colors - looked like there was a more or less equal amount of each color, but when spun and knit, the lavender & lime completely took over the pink, orange, yellow, etc. Not a happy surprise :{{{

Batty said...

AAAAARGH, Chameleon Mutant Socks! Aaaaaaah!

Lacefreak said...

I love those socks! Of course, I love bright shiny things too caw caw. Since they are on your feet, the brilliance is toned down a bit.

Monika said...

I have made a pair of socks, which looks amazingly similar to yours, but I added a stitch pattern. IT was some Lorna's Lace sock yarn, and my heels looked like yours, and the toes too. I liked the yarn in the skein, but not knit up.