Pattern Notes: Old Rose Stockings

I photographed these lovley stockings last week, but when I looked at the pictures again, I just didn't feel that I had done them proper justice. These are beautiful socks. The pattern is wonderful, the yarn is wonderful, and since I'm giving them away, I want to have pictures that truly capture their spirit. So, I pulled them out this morning, and took a little stroll down the brick pathway in the rose garden of my friend's house.

Those of you who do most of your own blogtography can envision the position I had to get in to take this picture!

Old Rose Stockings (aka Diagonal Rib Socks)
Interweave Knits Subscriber Only Pattern,* by Ann Budd
Knit with one skein (370 yards**/skein) of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock(100% Superwash Merino) in Old Rose, in a gauge of about 7 sts per inch in Stst on size US2 Clover bamboo DPNs.

Size: 7-8.

The Pattern
I love love love this pattern and intend to make it at least one more time for myself. I want to experiment with some other sock patterns, so I may not opt to make it obsessively (cough::Cara::cough), but I could definitely see this becoming my gift sock pattern of choice, since the results are so lovely.

The stitch pattern gives the sock a lot of resilience and memory, so it ends up being the type of pattern that has some sizing flexibility. If you make it too large, it will cling. If you make it too small, it will stretch. I don't know that I'd classify it as a beginner sock pattern, because the pattern takes a bit to set up, but if you feel like you just can't quite get your sizing dead on and you're an advanced beginner sock knitter, this is the sock for you. (Compare this to Crusoe, a pattern which I love and wear all the time, but which requires that you get the fit right.)

Modifications:
I changed the yarn and therefore the gauge is a little different. Other than that, not a one!

Impressions of Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock:
LOVE IT. This is KPPPM's twin. Same fiber content, same machine washability, and slightly higher lustre. There are really only three ways to tell Supersock from Koigu. Supersock is shinier and has a little less texture (maybe that's why it's shinier?), and the colorways seem to have fewer component colors. Otherwise almost an identical yarn. Although I know some die-hard sock knitters who think this type of yarn is a little delicate, I personally prefer it to some of the scratchier (and more durable) alternatives out there. A single skein was enough to get two socks that were 7" in length prior to the heel flap, with leftovers. Cherry Tree Hill is now making it's skeins in 420 yard lengths (mine was 370 yards), so you can easily get a pair of ample socks out of them.

Possible substitute yarns:
KPPPM. See above.

Tips for Making Diagonal Rib Socks:
Patience. There are 65 stitches in this pattern, so it gets to be a loooong haul. Just remember its worth the effort!

Gratuitous Sock Photos:

*For this issue, IK is giving access to the subscrber only portion of its website to all who purchase the magazine. Check your issue for the password and then hightail it to the sock section - it's great!

**This is the old yardage for this yarn - it's now sold in a hank that has 420 yards, so you get even more bang for your buck.