Okay, where to start with this one. Let me start with the fact that I love the finished product. I think the mesh pattern works well with the sock yarn – a great match of yarn and pattern that were both provided by the Blue Moon sock club.

I did, however, have many, many issues with these socks. First I had gauge issues (totally my fault, I didn’t swatch or even read the details on needle versus sock size, or I would have noticed that they used a smaller needle than I normally do). Then my heel was too shallow. Then I tried a heel flap, and realized that 40 instep stitches are too many for me. I decided to start all over. I cheated with not just one, but two pairs of socks in the meantime. But now they’re done!

Pattern: Hippy Crunchy Socks, designed by Peace and Love exclusively for the Blue Moon Rockin’ Sock Club
Yarn: Less than one skein of Blue Moon Socks That Rock in Peaseblossom
Needles: Inox US 1 (2.25 mm), Addi Turbos US 1 (2.50 mm)
Date Started: August 27, 2006 (the second time – the first time was August 6, 2006)
Date Completed: October 7, 2006
Time: 12 hours for the first sock, 12.25 for the second for a total of 24.25 hours (not including the 14.25 hours of the first effort)
Modifications:
1. I cast on 60 stitches instead of 64 and eliminated the four edge stitches on the chart for the leg. They aren’t necessary when working in the round. You do, however, need to occasionally move a stitch from the end of one round to the beginning of the next or the other way around – it’s important to read your lace. This eliminated the seam, which allowed me to place my heel where I wanted to. This sock will not work two at a time on two circs or magic loop.
2. I worked a heel flap over 32 stitches using an Addi Turbo US 1. I used the Addi US 1 for the heel as that’s the normal needle I use for lightweight STR (the mesh pattern is stretchy, thus the smaller needle) and I didn’t want to have to knit a large number of rows for my heel flap. I started by knitting 10 stitches of the round (I started my heel on a knit row), then turning around, purling those 10 stitches, and purling another 22. I worked a standard slip stitch heel flap – *S1, K1 on the knit side, S1 purl all on the purl side. I ended up working 29 rows of heel flap for 2.5 inches. Then I turned my heel, starting with K18, SSK, K1, then on the purl side, S1, P5, P2tog, P1. I continued that until I had 18 stitches left for my heel, then I picked up 21 stitches along the heel flap. I worked my gusset, decreasing every other round, until I had 32 stitches left in stockinette. The 28 instep stitches I continued to work in pattern, this time including the four edge stitches in the chart.
3. I worked my regular toe, after moving one stockinette stitch from each side to the top (so 30 stitches on each needle). I decreased every other row until I had 20 stitches total, then I kitchenered the 10 stitches together.

Just for fun – a bad cell phone “in action” photo of the sock enjoying John F. Kennedy’s favorite table at Union Oyster House on Friday night.

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