Double Cross

Perhaps a funny name choice, but what the heck. There are two crossed stitches after all. This is pair 15 for the 52-Pair Plunge. My own design based on a stitch pattern from one of Barbara Walker's books.

Yarn is Fleece Artist's Basic Merino Sock in Autumn. Knit on Addi Turbo US#1, Magic Loop.

I like the way this stitch pattern breaks up the colors in variegated yarn. Easy pattern to knit too. Three rows of essentially plain ribbing followed by two rows in which the crosses are made. On the first of the cross rows you do a yarnover before each knit stitch. Then on the second row, drop the stitches created by the yarnovers and slip the stitches that were knit to the right-hand needle. Pass the 1st two slipped stitches over the second two, transfer those two stitches back to the left needle and knit them. Then pickup the two stitches that passed over with the left needle tip and knit them. Hmmmm. I'll have to go back and read Walker's description. I'm sure she is much clearer.

I started the Coriolis socks from Cat Bordhi's new book yesterday. Measured my boat-like feet, figured out my gauge, looked up all the appropriated numbers in her charts and cast on. When I did the measurements I was a little confused about exactly where I was to position the tape for my mid-foot circumference. So I took several measurements -- difference between largest and smallest was more than an inch. Seemed like using an average was reasonable. By the time I'd reached my arch it was obvious that I was knitting a coverup for the Titanic. Frogged back to the point where the number of stitches matched my smallest measurement. Much better.

I am confused about the formula you use to determine how long to make the toe before starting on the arch section increases. I ended up deciding to just do what she says (foot length - (# of stitches around midfoot / rows per inch)) and put off trying to understand the why of it. Turns out that it did in fact give me the right length. Now if I can just wrap my brain around why... If anyone has an explanation please enlighten me.