Sadly, it would appear that my sock knitting Mojo has up and r.u.n.n.o.f.t.*
I can't find it anywhere, and this is particularly frustrating since Bloomin' Feet is coming up, not to mention the prime knitted sock wearing weather we are experiencing here in the Southwest. I thought I left it with the last finished project (the nontraditional Christmas socks), but apparently that is not the case.
Since I did not immediately notice its absence, I have cast-on for two pair of socks in the last week. It was only when things felt a bit off that I realized that I was knitting without the essential ingredient that is Mojo.
It was when I started the pattern section of the first pair that I began to have an inkling that something might be amiss. The yarn is pretty, and I love the pattern, but I am quite ambivalent about the bold striping.
STR Scottish Highlands
Chain Rib Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks
So I put that sock aside to ponder and cast-on for what I thought would be a sure thing. Fabulous pattern knit over and over again by sock knitters everywhere, gorgeous yarn which contains just about all of my favorite colors. I thought I had reached sock knitting Nirvana.
STR Dutch Canyon
Embossed Leaves Socks, IK Winter 2005
Unfortunately, the called for cast-on is less than stretchy, and these socks will only fit me if my legs are shaped like dowels, which they are not. They gradually get larger as they go up, like most people's.
If you see my Mojo, would you please send it home? Thanks.
*Gold star if you can name this movie reverence (one of my faves)!
Comments (20)
I'm missing my mojo too. But I love that yarn! It's really looking gorgeous in your embossed leaves socks. Funny thing - the one I started is fine through the cast on, but it would fit a giant. I really need to rip it and go down a needle size. Maybe if you did the cast on with larger needles, then went down a size?
Posted by Terby | January 30, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 12:19
Movie reference: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Hilarious.
If it's any consolation, whatever mojo it takes to pick stunning sock yarn is obviously alive, well, and hanging out with you!
Posted by Mary-Heather | January 30, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 13:03
I love both of these yarn options but I'm particualarly falling for the embossed leaves. Nancy Bush had a good trick for this. For Top down socks she suggested always doubling up on the yarn so that it provides more elasticity on your calves. Sundara does this too on a couple of her patterns.
Hope your Mojo comes back soon:)
Posted by Marisol | January 30, 2007 1:30 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 13:30
One of my all time fave most bona fide movies ever, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, n'est-ce pas? Hehe...my mojo has been long gone. I know exactly when/where I lost it too. Maybe we need to have a get-your-mojo-back-convention with motivational speakers for all of us pathetic mojo-less souls.
Posted by amanda | January 30, 2007 1:37 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 13:37
Oh man, I've gone long stretches without my mojo, and it is not fun. You have my sincere sympathy. There's not much to do but wait for it to come back and complain about it a lot in the meantime. :)
Posted by Rachel | January 30, 2007 2:00 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 14:00
Eh, I didn't make the Embossed Leaves with the cast on the pattern wanted. They start with ribbing like every other sock, so it didn't bother me to start with the same cast-on as every other sock. I'm liking them in the Dutch Canyon, though. A lot. Your color Mojo is alive and kicking.
You could always make a couple dish cloths to get your head back in the game.
Posted by Emily | January 30, 2007 2:11 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 14:11
Sorry about the mojo. Maybe a pair of plain stockinette socks would bring it back.
Posted by Carole | January 30, 2007 2:39 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 14:39
That is too bad the embossed leaves socks won't fit because they are just gorgeous! Your mojo will come back when it is ready. :)
Posted by Karen | January 30, 2007 2:47 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 14:47
Leah,
boy I am clueless about your mojo...dont even know what one is....
but I hope you find it. I have my yarn sitting in a large oval wooden fruit bowl on my printer so I can see it. Still not brave enough to try some socks with it. I think I am going to make some baby socks with the pattern from felting up.....
Posted by Marti | January 30, 2007 4:38 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 16:38
The colorway is looking pretty for your EL socks! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for a sockapalooza pal that likes that pattern because I'm really itching to make it! Hmm. There are so many patterns I'd like to make for my pal! Who will it be? WHO will it be? I'd say ditch socks for a while. That Mojo will come knockin when you start ignoring socks, I bet. :)
Posted by Laura | January 30, 2007 6:36 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 18:36
Oh no! Just when I get mine back yours goes missing! Are they in cahoots???
I love seeing the scottish highlands knitted up. I have a ball of that in my stash that I've been dreaming about knitting up.
Posted by keri | January 30, 2007 7:38 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 19:38
Hey Leah, I was just reading the blog "DancesWithWool" (Lene in Finland or Iceland or something) and she is showing a picture of her Embossed Leaves socks - the cuffs look very loose compared to your picture. Maybe you could email and ask her what she's doing different than the pattern so the cuffs don't come out so tight.
Posted by Laura | January 30, 2007 8:23 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 20:23
Sorry to hear that your knitting mojo is missing in action. I have been through periods like that, too, and there isn't much you can do but wait it out.
I knit the Embossed Leaves socks with the cast-on used in the pattern, and I don't like it. If you can bear to, rip it out and start over with a regular long-tail cast on. I don't think it'll make a difference in the look of the finished sock, other than the fact that you'll actually be able to wear it.
Posted by Rachel | January 31, 2007 2:57 AM
Posted on January 31, 2007 02:57
There is an error in the Embossed Leaves pattern. It calls for a tubular cast on but the directions have you make a very non-elastic cast on (as you now know!) If you go to the designers website (google Mona Schmidt) she did a tutorial for the cast on she *intended* - I made my pair of EL's with a German Twisted Cast on like I do for all of my socks! The socks are stunning in that colorway tho!
Ready for the FPS? :)
Posted by Debi | January 31, 2007 5:05 AM
Posted on January 31, 2007 05:05
The STR colorways that you are knitting up or gorgeous! That is good to know about the fit on the embossed leaves socks, they were in my queue to knit... my legs are not dowels either.
I hope you find that mojo!
Posted by nova | January 31, 2007 9:07 AM
Posted on January 31, 2007 09:07
That would be rom one of my favorite movies... Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (You gotta love George Clooney dirty and clean in that movie. ;) )
I understand the sock mojo, if I find it, I'll send it your way.
Posted by Gracie | January 31, 2007 8:15 PM
Posted on January 31, 2007 20:15
Ooooh, I know exactly what you mean about that cast-on. The frist time I knit those socks, I finished the cuff and realize that there was no way that cast on would be comfortable on my lower legs. I had to start over.
Posted by Allison | February 1, 2007 7:38 AM
Posted on February 1, 2007 07:38
Funny, my sock mojo is also off and hiding. Do you think they're having a convention this week?
Posted by Theresa | February 1, 2007 6:19 PM
Posted on February 1, 2007 18:19
missing mojo - oh no. I shall light a candle to the knitting elves for you, and perhaps they'll return it :-)
Posted by Teyani | February 2, 2007 9:14 AM
Posted on February 2, 2007 09:14
I love that movie. The characters remind me of a lot of people I know around here!
Beautiful socks...I'm off to read your more recent entries now. Hope you found your mojo.
Do...not...seek...the treasure. Hee.
Posted by katie | February 19, 2007 3:00 PM
Posted on February 19, 2007 15:00