Apparently not. I was mocked for doing so by both Kris and Polly. But if you are me and have not knitted that many pairs of socks in your life and know that your tension tends to be a bit odd (and you have some really bad tension experiences such as my calmer nightmare) - then I would argue that it's ok to knit a tension swatch.
I am just saying.
That was a lot of loopy bits around the back. Anyway, having got my tension swatch about right, I then immediately cast on for a pair of socks.
The yarn is Ripples Hand Dyed Sock Yarn from the lovely Helen. I love the colour, it's called Plum Crush and it's very scrummy indeed.
Anyway, I cast on on last week.
My mother has been staying with me on and off for the last week so we've been out and about doing lots of fun things and I've loved every second of it - but it's not conducive to lots of knitting to say the least. So you'll have to accept a few pictures of the same thing for this post.
I actually finished the sock this morning whilst still in bed but didn't manage to get a picture of it. Who knows by next weekend I may have a picture of two finished socks!
Posted by Amelia at October 19, 2008 08:47 PMAmelia,
Would you share what sock pattern you are using? I like the "fullness" of the pattern.
Thanks in advance,
Sylvia
The yarn is lovely & the pattern too. Unfortunately, I don't swatch for socks & I just use different needle sizes.
Posted by: Ann at October 22, 2008 01:50 AMWhat pretty yarn and a lovely pattern, No I think you are right to swatch for socks too, this is coming from someone who never bothered with swatches and tension gauge six months ago, then always wondered why nothing ever fitted right. After reading Sharon Brant's Finishing Techniques book, the importance of swatching, no matter what you are knitting, really clicked with me now. I swatched for my Lucy Neatby socks and I now have a lovely snug fit with them, instead of my usual baggy unwearable, apart for bed sock type style. lol! Also swatching is good to try a particular stitch pattern to see if you like it and the look of it with the particular yarn you are using. Your socks are looking superb, so well done for swatching first :)
Posted by: Tracy at October 21, 2008 10:55 AMAmelia, that pattern is lovely with the yarn. Thanks for the photo's - it's lovely to see the yarn knitted up. And no, I'm afraid I never swatch for socks! My theory is they'll always fit somebody.
Posted by: Helen at October 20, 2008 10:22 AMI'm sure that we hadn't mocked.. maybe gently teased ;-) those are lovely. the pattern works really well with that yarn
Posted by: polly at October 20, 2008 07:51 AM