I can’t believe what a response there was to my last post about the light bulbs. This appears to be a subject that strikes a chord in many people!
Shelly sent me information about this article in the New York Times. The reports experimented with different bulbs and types to see what most people preferred. Good old incandescent came out way on top — even against the warm white cfl’s.
After much soul searching a bit of thought, I’ve decided to stick with the standard bulbs for now. As well as disliking the light that the cfl throws off, there’s the issue of how to dispose of the darn thing because it contains mercury. I don’t want to be putting more mercury in the environment. That seems as harmful as using more electricity. Plus, it appears that all of the manufacturers are coming out with energy-saving incandescent bulbs that will meet the new government standards as well as being a much nicer light. And new technologies are coming. So I will leave my one cfl in the kitchen. But I doubt I’m ever going to like it.
On a totally different subject, here is as far as I’ve gotten on the clown-barfish socks — sorry, but I just can’t think of these as anything else now. This picture was as of this morning, so you are as up to date as possible.
In defense of the yarn, it was gorgeous in the skein. I couldn’t wait to knit with this stuff. And, indeed, it is really nice to knit with. But, gentle reader, look at the way that the red is striping with the yellow to make muddy orange, and the green is striping with the blue to make muddy teal. That blue is bright — almost electric! But you would never know it the way it combines with the other colors. 🙁
My current sock class was polled for their opinion. It was a pretty universal thumbs-down.
I am continuing to knit them, however, because one person who saw them exclaimed, Oh! What gorgeous colors! Those are so evocative for me! Since it turns out that the gauge is a little off for me, but appears to be just the size to fit the exclaimer, she is obviously fated to be the recipient.
I’m thinking short-row heels on these. Or maybe flap-and-gusset but knit with the opposite end so as not to mess up the striping.
Opinions?
Have you considered doing a sidewinder pattern? nonaknits has a neat pattern that may change the way that the colors meet? It’s on Ravelry and at http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2007/06/sidewinders_the.html I haven’t tried it yet but it seems that it may make a difference?
1Good luck!
Remark from Amy — Thursday, 3/6/2008 @ 10:01 AM
I do like it the way it is. oddly. I oughtn’t really.
2But I can see that I’d like a different color juxtaposition better. The individual colors are being subdued by each other (subdue that dormouse!), not enhanced.
bummer.
(Oh, and thanks ever so for the picture of the Gorge!)
Remark from Helen — Thursday, 3/6/2008 @ 1:06 PM
I don’t know if I like it or not. Hmm…. I love the toe part, so maybe it’s the color playing off the stripes that I’m unsure about. Every once in awhile I knit with a yarn I think I hate and end up loving, and vice versa. That may be part of the excitement from the purchase of variegated yarn.
An energy efficient incandescent? YEAH! I’m sticking with your plan also.
3Remark from ~Kristie — Thursday, 3/6/2008 @ 1:16 PM
Okay Judy – totally serious here. What is wrong with them? Okay, imagine this… your favorite jeans, a nice sweatshirt and these socks on a Saturday – getting your favorite cup of joe…. are you catching my drift??? They are totally Weekend Socks – weekend khaki’s, weekend faded jeans, weekend comfortable socks.
Close your eyes and knit on sister. They rock!
4Remark from Kat — Thursday, 3/6/2008 @ 3:23 PM
Hm. Or, you could frog them, and make Eunny Jang’s entrelac socks out of them. The colors might show up better if they’re in nice, neat little blocks…
5Remark from Laura — Thursday, 3/6/2008 @ 10:51 PM
Frankly, I like them. I’m too green to know the difference if someone didn’t point out stuff like this. You are not green at knitting socks, so you expect something different. If I had been knitting them, I’d be saying “ooooh, pretty colors!” I agree with Kat, a weekend sock with your fave jeans… [unless one’s work environment would support them].
6Remark from Sheila in Ohio — Friday, 3/7/2008 @ 4:08 AM
Sidewinders are a good idea! I recommend my mods for working them on two circular needles: http://maiaspins.typepad.com/maiaspins/2007/07/sidewinders-on-.html.
Or you could just make the socks and get them out of your sight and into the exclaimer’s hands (feet?). A short row heel or an afterthought heel worked from the other end sounds like a good idea.
7Remark from Maia — Friday, 3/7/2008 @ 9:22 AM
I love the color and the pooling. But if it makes you unhappy, I would frog it and knit a scarf or hat or something that would pool differently.
8Remark from Sally Villarreal — Saturday, 3/8/2008 @ 11:58 PM