Madtosh Socks

Earlier this year I approached Mr. SpiderKate and gave him a choice of yarns that I could use to knit him a pair of socks.  I don't remember exactly what choices I gave him, but I do know what he picked out.  A man after my own heart, he picked out the Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in the colorway Stovepipe. I debated retracting giving him that choice.  I mean this is Madelinetosh yarn we are talking about.  I was going to use this to knit a shawl or socks for me!  I questioned him a bit to find out his commitment to wearing the socks "are you going to wear these?" and "are you sure you want this one?".  He didn't relent and assured me he would wear the socks because he loves socks and because they would be made by me.  What a sweetie.  

Next came the search for a pattern.  I wanted to knit something that wouldn't be too boring, but not too much of a crazy pattern that he wouldn't wear it.  I showed him this pattern and that pattern, on and on.  I heard a lot of that "that is okay" or "not that one".  But nothing either of us was really crazy over.  Then I found a pattern by Hunter Hammersen called Whippersnapper.  I knew that this was the pattern for Mr. SpiderKate's socks.  Just enough interest/detail without being boring but not too much pattern that it's too overwhelming for him to wear.  

I started these socks back in February and got through the leg, heel, gusset, & decreases pretty quickly.  In fact, I finished all of that within about a week of starting the socks.  Then came the never ending knitting that comes with knitting a sock for someone with a size 14 shoe.  The foot.  You can guess what I did next - these went on the back burner for a bit.  Well, I've picked them back up and plan on working a few rows on them when I can.  

A few notes on this pattern: I love how Hunter does her sock patterns.  She doesn't give a gauge in the traditional sense you see gauge listed for socks.  She gives gauge listed at stitches per inch (spi) and what size that correlates with knitting.  This gives you the flexible to pick what size needles you want to  use to knit your socks.  All you need to do is make a gauge swatch to determine your stitches per inch in your needle size & yarn weight and then follow the appropriate directions.  Such a good way to list gauge since it essentially forces you do to a gauge swatch (at least it forces you if you don't already know your spi for your chosen needle size & yarn).  

I'm knitting mine in the round using two circular needles.  I picked US 2 (2.75 mm) Karbonz needles.  My main reason for picking these needles & size is that I really wanted to try out the Karbonz and I didn't already own size US 2  twenty-four inch circular needles.  My gauge swatch gave 6.5-7 spi per inch.  I knew I needed a sock with approx. 9" circumference and with my gauge that meant I needed to cast on for the large size.  I'm really loving knitting with the Karbonz needles.  They are lightweight like wood and the steel tip gives them a nice, sharp point.  I keep describing them as a perfect hybrid of wood & metal needles.  If you haven't had a chance to give them a try, then I definitely recommend you do.