Too many ideas

I seem to be coming up with pattern ideas faster than I can knit them. I tend to be a monogamous knitter, but I've been so tempted to start casting on single socks. Thank goodness that I mostly knit 2 socks at the same time or I would move on and knit a new idea after the first sock was done. Right now, I've gone back to my standard short row heel. I just find this heel so much faster than the gusset heel. It's the gusset increases that make the rows seem never ending. Short row heels are so easy--no looking at numbers--and they fit my foot really well. But gusset heels are so pretty. I'll still do gusset heels on a few designs, but that will be determined by the stitch pattern in the sock. I think some stitch patterns work really well down into the heel flap area.

This sock was fun to knit and seemed to go so quickly. The yarn is Enchanted Knoll Farms in the Silk Road colorway. It's so pretty. I love the stretchiness and squishiness that this yarn has. This pattern reminds me of a geometric pattern that might be found on a rug. It works great with this variegated yarn too. I might have to write up this pattern.

Details:
Pair #33 in the 52 Pair Plunge II
Pattern: not named yet by me
Yarn: Enchanted Knoll Farm in Silk Road
Needle: size 0 (2mm) Knit Picks Classic Circular
Method: magic loop, 2 at once, toe-up, Turkish cast-on, short row heel
Start: February 27, 2009
Finish: March 2, 2009

Besides that sock, I've decided to try the Sock Knitter's Anonymous(ravelry group) challenge this month. It was either a Cat Bordhi pattern, lace, or the mystery sock. I chose to do a Cat Bordhi pattern. Not just one of her patterns, but a stranded pattern. I'm not the best at stranding knitting, but I think that I just need some practice.

This is the Clematis Vine pattern from the New Pathways for Sock Knitter's book. It's unique in that the gusset increases are on the bottom of the foot. I thought that was a strange place to put them, but you don't really feel them. There's something about stranded knitting that makes the projects go quickly. I think it's the "I'll just do a few more rows to see how the pattern is coming out" thing. On these socks, it was the leaves for me. I'll just finish one more leaf before putting the sock down. Before I knew it, the socks were finished.

Cat's patterns in this book rely heavily on accurate row counting. I'm pretty sure that I counted correctly---at the time. I think my stranded knitting tension is just all over the place that it was hard to get a good count. These socks ended up a little long. That's okay. I can always give them to my sister. She likes thicker socks for wearing at home and these are definitely too thick to be worn inside regular shoes.

Details:
Pair # 34 in the 52 Pair Plunge II
Pattern: Clematis Vine from New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: Araucania Ranco in dark olive green and Cherry Tree Hill solid in pink
Needle: size 1 (2.5mm) Knit Picks Classic Circular
Method: one at a time, magic loop, toe-up, Turkish cast-on, picot cuff
Size: largest size
Start: March 2, 2009
Finish: March 5, 2009

Up next, a lace sock in a solid Opal yarn. I started those on Friday and they're almost finished. After that, I don't know. I have a few ideas that I want to try, but I'll have to match up patterns with yarns first.