The leaves have fallen

At long last, I’ve finished the Koigu Falling Leaves socks, making them my first finished objects of 2006… notwithstanding that they were started October 9, 2005. Moving right along, here’s a photo of them nearing completion earlier today – can’t you just feel the excitement?

Here’s the rest of the cat, if you were curious (and even if you weren’t):

“Huh? You woke me up for what?!?!?”

I meant to follow this pattern as written and do the short row toes and heels. In fact, I tried the short row toe from the pattern, but I didn’t get very far into it before the cursing started up (are you having a flashback yet, Ana?!) and I decided I would just use my regular old toe and heel. Whew. Much happier.

I also decided to do the lace pattern the opposite direction on one sock, but you have to get pretty darn close to my feet to detect that they’re the socks are mirror images lacewise.

Top view
Side view (featuring my regular old heel)

I do all my socks toe-up because those are womens size elevens you’re looking at… running out of yarn is a constant worry for me and toe-ups let me maximize the yarn. Good thing I don’t like tall socks, because this is all the yarn I had left:

Tomorrow I’ll reveal what my first Stashalong project will be.

21 thoughts on “The leaves have fallen”

  1. Yeah for the first FO of the year! Mine is too far away I fear. Just finished the 4th of 8 pieces it takes. Yea, 3 of the remaining are not too big, but still. Love the socks! Just wish I could get into making them again. Maybe next year.

  2. Those socks are lovely! I have tried the toe up cast on but ended up hopelessly tangled and snarling at the yarn, so I went back to my good old top down method.

    P.S – That is a beautiful shot of Chaos, although you may not want to tell him there is now a shot of his big furry belly up on the web for all to see!

  3. Those are some gorgeous socks! I have yet to even turn the heel of my first sock, so I’m always in awe of sock knitters. The comment about your cat and his “Jackson Pollock phase” nearly had me snort tea up my nose.. I guess you should just be thankful it wasn’t Van Gogh?

    Chaos is a beautiful (oops, he’s a boy.. that’d make him handsome then..) cat- makes me miss my black kitty so.

  4. Them are gorgeous socks, ma’am!

    I’ve never done toe up socks… I think I’ll make that one of my resolutions for the year that ISN’T on my Challenge list. Because this one I really want to accomplish!

    And we are Sisters In Shoes – in fact, my feet are also tres wide, so that as often as not I have to wear 12’s just to get enough width to fit! My sympathies… it’s my wretched fate that the only clothing item I’m really obsessively drawn to is shoes, and my feet are too big to fit most of the things I really love.

    (yah, all together now – “Awwwww…”)

    ~Eileen

  5. Hmm, I wonder what’s up with my comments.
    I am more worried about the lingering cough my youngest has more than my malaise. She’s off the meds, but still the cough.
    I forgot to say how comical Chaos is in the photo! He’s one crazy cat.

  6. Congrats on your first finish of the year–I should have mine in a couple of days(jaywalker socks). We should get on Yahoo about adding more hobbies, you’re right, at least stick a couple of needles out of one of the bags or something 🙂 And they need to expand their pet section–none of the cats look like mine.

  7. Pretty socks. Must learn that toe-up thing.

    Jake, btw, is a cat. He’s usually very sweet but has a penchant for chewing black (yes, only black) cords. Beast. I have put a photo of him in the entry so you can see his large hairiness.

  8. Kellie – Well, at least his belly isn’t as big as it used to be. His peak weight was 17.5 lbs. He’s down to 15 lbs and is fit and sassy.

    Mouse – Thanks! 🙁 about your black kitty. Sock knitting isn’t as hard as it looks – you just have to take a leap of faith and follow the pattern when you turn the heel. It’s pretty amazing the first few times.

    Thanks, Chris, Lynda, Eileen, Irene, Kim, and Kirsten!

    Everyone should go check out Kirsten’s blog to see her completely hysterical picture of Jake. Hee hee.

  9. Beautiful socks! You are so talented. I can sew a button. Maybe a hole. To which you all can wonder, “How do you sew a hole?!” I’m that untalented folks. If you see a needle in my hand, TAKE IT AWAY.

  10. i have a first wip of the year, a very fancy alien illusion scarf courtesy of stich n bitch. i rogged it five times before i finally got it right.
    congrats on the socks. i’m working my way that way… i’ll get there eventually when i have the right tools for the jobs.
    hey… chaos! what’s up buddy?! naps says hey. he’s been gettin locked in the bathroom nights lately because he’s a pain in the ass and won’t let me sleep past 2 or 3 in the morning

  11. Well done on the socks. I always stick to my trusted basic heel but prefer top down. Tried one of those short row/wrapping heels and it nearly sent me barmy. Never again.

    Love the pic of Chaos. He looks like he’s overindulged with too much Xmas Pudding!

  12. NICE!

    And wow, impressive yarn shortage. I’m always jealous of people with tiny feet who can whip socks off in a matter of a day. Oh well.

    I’ll let you inspire me for the stashbusting!

  13. WOW! I love these socks! They have been on my list for a while maybe I should just start them with my new yarn!

    I hear ya on the toe ups! it is the only way to go!

    I also want to comment on your lovely Black Purl! That is my all time favorite colorway, I nee3d to get my hands on some sock yarn! I cna’t wait to see your complete jaywalkers!

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