happy feat accomplished

So, I go on and on about my desire to knit socks, I even share a stunted test specimen, and then I fail to write about my first actual pair until >two months after completion?? Apparently once the mountain is topped, I move on. I’m sure that means something. I’m still into knitting socks mind you, I just clearly haven’t been into blogging about it. Anyway. Enough about my weirdness. SOCKS!

As I previously mentioned, I tackled this learning process with a great deal of help from Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd. That’s where this pattern is from, as well. I can’t recommend that book highly enough. I could barely knit and purl when I decided to start this, and yet the incredibly detailed descriptions and images held my hand at each stage. The only part I didn’t fully grasp from its instructions was the Kitchener grafting, but apparently that’s pretty hard to learn anyway. I finally got it, with Gail’s help via FaceTime. (Thanks again, Gail!!)

This pattern uses sportweight yarn, so they’re a little bulkier than normal, but they work fine under boots or my roomy Dansko clogs. I’m glad that I used sportweight for my first pair, since it helped me to see the stitches better and it went a little faster. The main adjustment that I need to make is to increase the negative ease — these have very little and they get kinda loose within an hour. Yet still, I have worn the hell outta these things since I finished them. They get machine washed, dried flat, then worn within 12 hours of becoming dry just about every time. I might have to learn how to darn soon.

I have two other pairs in progress — one for me in the more typical fingering weight, and a slipper-type pair for my husband in worsted weight. The first one for Al has been complete for quite a while. I think I may be a victim of Second Sock Syndrome, but only when it comes to selfless socks. ;)

Question for you sock knitters out there — how much negative ease do you plan for, specifically in the foot portion? I know the leg/cuff will depend on the type of ribbing, but assuming the foot is just stockinette, then… ?