15April2012: One of the most wonderful things I’ve ever knit, and this is saying a lot!! This is quirky, sexy, hipster and awesome.

To control sizing better, I changed needles once past the calf to 1) shorten the row gauge 2) slim down the sock. I suggest a 3.0mm for the large part of your calf, and once in Chart B, reduce needle size by 0.25mm every 25 rows, to end with 2.25mm. If you do not reduce your needles, the intarsia section will be longer than your lower leg.

I only picked up 18 stitches for each gusset, and reduced 8 sts in addition to that specified by the pattern. Stockinette socks can be so loose! I’m used to tons of cables and things.

AMAZEMENT: One sock took only one skein of Cascade Heritage sock yarn, and I lengthened it!

The sock is actually not done. I will be picking up from the top thigh silver band and re-knitting upwards. I will not increase at all from the width of the silver band, but actually decrease. I want it tight, and then I will weave black elastic through the top two inches. Otherwise, there is no hope of this staying up. Isn’t that ALWAYS the problem with thigh-highs?

Bravo Anne (Oriocookie!), I wish this design would win a huge prize somewhere. <3

10March2012: I had to be creative with the ribbing to make it fit.

I am doing the Medium sock, but I cast-on the Small number of stitches (152) and worked the rib on 2mm (US 0) needles. I decreased every other row for 6 decreases, then every row until the Small number of stitches before the first silver stripe (132). I continued decreasing over the stripe and the black until I reached, now, the Medium number of stitches before the 2nd silver stripe (105). But then it wasn’t an even K2/P2 so I decreased once more to 104 sts.

I am now knitting at that stitch count until I feel I have fully gone over my knee. I have ~8cm of ribbing above the first stripe. 152 sts, cast-on, is 10in unstretched, and 16.5in super-stretched. 104 sts, my holding pattern at the knee, is 7in unstretched, and 12in super-stretched.

3March2012: The minute I saw these I thought of my man playing my legs (used to play clarinet and saxophone). That was enough for me. =)

This is a test knit for Oriocookie’s new clarinet pattern, in her instrument sock series. They will take awhile, but I will link to the pattern as soon as it is up! So check back if you are interested.

Very excited, except that I will be extending the ribbing quite a bit on top so they are tall enough, meaning that the exciting part will be a long time from now.

Intarsia, bobbles, embossing and embroidery, wow!

Picture is from Anne Pickering, a.k.a. Oriocookie, the lovely designer.