No, It Isn't A Myth...

...finishitis is real. If you've been reading here, or here, you know what I mean. Is it fall coming closer by the minute having the opposite effect of spring? I don't know the answer, but I know it's either contagious or spontaneous.

Though I've acquired numbers 154, 102 and 40 in Kureyon for Lizard Ridge, some Dream In Color Smooshy, and three more skeins of Baby Ull for a "quad sock" brainstorm project in the last week, I haven't been casting on.

Instead, I finished that beasty Log Cabin blanket over the space of a couple days. I tore out the applied I-cord edge (that "I" really does stand for idiot, though not in the way EZ intended) and whipped up a simple and fast (i.e. perfect) single crochet border. The blanket softened way up with Eucalan, and now its all dry and waiting to be sent. Pictures to follow in future post.

I also pulled out a striped baby hat I knit up over a year ago and sewed in all the ends. Now to find someone to give it to. Suggestions?

Then I unearthed a wacky sweater I don't think ever got posted about made out of some awful acrylic and wool blend in colors I would never, ever pick for myself. (What else does one do with 1500 yds of handn-me-down yarn but self-teach?) I had originally thought to slog my way through a sweater with some basic knowledge and see what I learned. But now that I've finished the body and I can't imagine myself wearing the silly thing, I don't know if I should continue. At this point I don't think I can just hand it off to Goodwill - who would buy the half-baked thing with extra skeins in tow? I could whip up the sleeves then send it to a shelter. What would all of you do?

With all that under my belt in a few short days, I decided I needed to start a new pair of socks for an upcoming birthday. More to come on that. I've also managed past the heel on the first WTS. Specs:

WTS Men's Sock, Part Deux

At the beginning of the next round, assuming you've got the leg length you want, knit the first stitch of the first needle onto needle three. Now you're ready to fashion your heel flap.

Heel

Row 1: K across 32 st. Turn.
Row 2: K2, p28, K2
Row 3: K2, *sl1, K1, repeat from * until 2 st remain, K2

Repeat rows 2 & 3 until your heel flap is 31 rows long, including row 1, which should mean ending with a RS row. Begin turning.

Row 1(ws): K2, p15, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 2(rs): sl1, K3, K2tog, K1, turn.

Continue in this fashion until all heel stitches have been incorporated, ending on a right side row.
Gusset/Instep

I found on the Pig Tail Socks that picking up along a garter ridge on a heel flap looked nicer and was actually easier than slipped stitches, so I've continued that in this pattern.

Taking a spare needle, pick up 16 stitches (one for each ridge), then knit across with the heel flap needle. Continue across the top of the foot in this way:

Foot Pattern

Row 1: K1, *p1, K1, p1, K1, p2, K2 (K1 on final repeat), repeat from * three more times.
Row 2: K1, *p2, K1, p1, K1, p1, K2 (K1 on final repeat), repeat from * three more times.

Of course, you will need to adjust which row you start with based on where you ended the leg to keep the seed stitch pattern.

Then, pick up the other gusset ridges (hopefully sixteen in all), knit across and knit ten stitches from the heel flap. As you knit around the instep and gusset, reduce one stitch every other row at the beginning of each gusset. On needle one that would be a K2tog, on needle three a sl1, K1, psso. Continue in foot pattern as well.

When I get to the toe, my plan is to do a standard paired decrease every other row over stockinette and then Kitchener it shut once I reach 16.