Aug 17 2006
Knee Highs No More
Merrily knitting along on the lacy cuff, and I finally got to the ankle decreases on the Lace Knee Highs, the thought struck me "I really should try these on, just to see how they look", so I transferred the live stitches to some circular needles and …
This is as far as they went!
I never thought of my calves as exceptionally big or fat (its muscle, baby!), but they are obviously bigger than the socks in the magazine… I had the whole story worked out in my mind: how these socks would fit so perfectly, and how they would look so great with a cordouroy skirt and some cute shoes, and back-to-school and all of that… alas, knee highs no more.
I could rip back and work the knit math and all of that, but they are still pretty, and I will undoubtedly wear them this way. The good news is that I can start the heel now, without working through 42 more chart lines… and this means I may actually finish a pair of socks this month, for the second round of the Sock-A-Month Club and for this last month of Project Spectrum.
Perhaps it is in my best interest to check the calf measurement for my other knee socks in progress, the Blueberry Waffle socks…
Next time, I will use a customizeable pattern that takes my measurements… I want some knee highs!!
nice legs chica!!! see you on Monday!
I’ve been using that pattern for my knee highs and it’s FANTASTIC! The socks I’ve made fit PERFECTLY. So much fun.
The socks will still look great. YAY!
The socks look lovely, and I’m sure the customized knee highs will be perfect! What is it out there with all the knitted knee highs? You all knitting them are superstars!!! I can barely get through a regular pair of socks these days
There are still very beautiful socks. Knitting knee highs is a huge undertaking . . . but I know you’ll be knitting some soon. Maybe it would make a good Socktoberfest goal.
My mom asked me for some knee highs for Christmas…done in Trekking. (She likes the yarn, it happens to be Trekking , she didn’t ask for it by name or anything.) I had better get started now!
The socks look great, knee highs or not! I’ve been wanting knee highs; maybe someday I’ll get around to it. Between all the other things I’ve been wanting to make:)
aww bummer dude, but the sock is beautiful knee high or not!
you’ll join the knee high club soon enough ; )
Too bad they’re not going to work out! You will find a great pattern for a pair of knee highs! I’m sure of it!
eiyiyi! knee socks take forever…but these are going to still be very pretty to wear as traditional length socks.
oh no!!! well, at least you can save them and make them regular socks. seems like knee highs are ALL over the knit blogs lately. it’s really inspiring me to make some!
So sad, but they are still very pretty socks! Lesson learned the hard way I guess!
those are pretty socks. and i just looked at the original picture, and they don’t look like they reach the model’s knees either. so i don’t think it’s your calves, i think it’s the sock.
oh well.
Oh well- they’ll still be pretty socks!
I love the color of this socks. Even though they’re not what you intended they’re still very nice.
I think I’ll get in a few more months on the treadmill before I attempt knee highs! I’d like my calves to be smaller and need fewer stitches. Ha!
Knee highs seem to be the rage. Good thing we have the internet to show us the proper way to knit a pair. Good luck!
I’m finally de-lurking to tell you the socks still look gorgeous! Chalk it up to knitting lessons learned.
Leslie (in San Francisco)
just last night, sandra at imaybeknittingaranchhouse was lamenting her calf size and knee high issues. go there for moral support! (this also remind me of how i used to wear knee-highs when i was an alternateen. i was so edgy).
That’s a bummer that they don’t fit. I made a knee sock pattern. I don’t have skinny calves either. My pattern is with Wool Ease though, # 4 dpn’s. It’s on my blog’s sidebar if you want it. Just a thought…
Well, I think the socks are lovely shorter too.
Hugs and have a great day!
Knitting is like life in that sometimes you need to change course midway. Luckily, these will still work out just wonderfully.
I want some knee socks, too! Have you seen the ones in the new Vogue Knitting? TO.DIE.FOR. I’ve wanted some plain charcoal colored ones, too.
oh no! at least they’re salvageable. plus, you’ll certainly be done with yours quicker than mine.
ps – i added some width to mine so if you ever do want to increase the size i can help you with that!
Hey Lolly, check this website out for customized knee highs.
http://www.hjsstudio.com/p-knsock.html
Hope it helps!
Aren’t you glad you tried them on? They are still lovely socks. I just may have to break down and make a pair of knee highs one of these days.
Oh, that totally sucks! I feel for you. At least they work out as regular-socks, in that stunning brown yarn.
I love these socks and the color is beautiful. I have to say, even in the interweave picture they look like they could be shorter than knee-highs.
arrrgh! I can’t ever wear knee socks – even when I was younger (and thin). Those are gorgeous though and jus think – they’ll still look great with cords & clogs or loafers – oh yes – navy loafers!
the socks look great, even if they weren’t the planned knee-highs. well, as you said, at least you get to start the heel already!
and thanks for the compliment on annabelle!
I completely sympathize!! I think knee-high patterns are designed for quite a slim leg… I tend to look at commercially available women’s socks for sizing clues, which are all too small around for me. I do’t have large calves either, for my frame… I just happen to have a larger frame than most women!
The socks certainly are looking lovely, though.
Your calves aren’t big, they’re *shapely* (as Grumperina puts it). I think that you have a pretty nice length going on there though. You can wear them with longer skirts.
The socks are gorgeous!!! And thanks for the link – it’s fantastic! I have a problem with socks as well, but the other way round, I guess – I am only 5′1″! Any normal sock I make is almost knee high!!!
I have muscular calves too. My problem is my legs are so short there just isint enough length to have a long lean calve like my husband’s.
Oh well, I also have Hobbit feet but thats another story. 8(
I am glad you tried them on to see how it was going.
Better to know now then after you finished.
Oh that’s to bad. Well even if they aren’t knee socks they are still beautiful!
I have the biggest calves known to woman. So I can relate. I’ve never been able to buy tall boots because I can’t find a pair to fit around my calves!
I’m knitting up the knee-high lacy pattern from Bush’s Vintage Sock book(can’t recall right now the exact name of the patten) and they actually fit quite well! you might try knitting those? It’s a fun pattern and really pretty on.
I wish I had calves like that. Good calves are what I envy most about other people. Mine are dinky little things, no matter how many toe-raises I do.
I want to learn how to knit socks on circulars, though I’ve just started knitting them on DPN’s. And I’ve just figured out how to avoid tendonitis while using them (I’m prone to tendonitis, and socks are my first knitting project, period).
The yarn is gorgeous, by the way!
Oh bummer…they really are pretty but would be so fab as knee highs. You should rip and make them longer.
At least you didn’t discover too late when your only option would have been to make it a Christmas stocking. : ) It is looking quite lovely!
Well, the socks may not end up knee high, but they are gorgeous nonetheless! I just LOVE the colour! Your knitting is always so lovely. The scarves you knitted for Christmas were wonderful (I’m doing the same for my family in England this year thanks to your inspiration). The first one will be a scarf for my mum from knitty.com (branching out) in silk yarn – yum!
I feel your pain, but the sock still looks fabulous!
Well, I have 18″ calves…lots of muscle from rowing…so I will be using the custom pattern too when I make knee highs for the first time! But the color of the yarn is very pretty and I like the lace. They will look terrific no matter what.
That could have very well happened to me! I understand your want for knee highs, me too!
Pretty socks in such a rich color!
lace socks never fit right for me
I love how you always look at the positive side of things. Now you can go on and finish your sock early! I love the color of that yarn!
Well it’s good you are still getting a pair of pretty lace socks! I’m glad you tried them on now and didn’t wait until they were knee high length.
I have the same problem!! I can never find knee-hi boots that go over my calves-it is so frustrating!! I think the socks are still going to be great, and will look wonderful showcasing those hot legs!
xo,
-T
They are still gorgeous! Don’t worry about them not being knee highs – you will probably get more wear out of them this way anyway!
-Jody
Darn it! I was so hoping those would work out. I have larger calves (alway difficult to buy knee-high boots, lemme tell you), and now I see that w/o math-y alterations, these socks won’t work for me either. I am sure they will be gorgy just the same!
Check out Cara’s knee highs at January One…so amazing!
They’re stunning, the lace pattern is sooo pretty fantastic job! I have the feeling you’ll want to go back, rip and extend… but maybe you’ll prove me wrong
xxx
Well, I tried to comment on your heart monitor, but apparently, my computer was being stupid at the time. Little did I know the power supply was about to explode. ANYHOO, congratulations on your weight loss! I am right there with you. I lost 50 lbs a few years ago and have since gained it all plus. I know how hard it is and I know how just a little encourament goes a long way!
I love the socks. I think their just lovely even if they don’t reach your knees!
Hey – what yarn are you using? It looks like one of my faves, that I used on a different Interweave sock pattern:
http://heatherknits.wordpress.com/2006/06/09/work-basket/
It IS the same yarn! I bought mine at the Carrboro Farmers Market in NC, where Three Waters Farm sells their yarn and goatsmilk soap every week!
I have the same problem – I have shapely muscley toned calves, but heaven help me if I ever want to buy knee-high boots – it ain’t happening…
They still look awesome!
I’m sure these socks will turn out great anyway
I think they’ll look great at any length. : ) Fun color choice – perfect for fall.
They are not knee-highs, but they sure are beautiful! They look great!
Aww, that’s too bad the knee-highs didn’t work out. They’re still lovely, though. I’m looking forward to seeing them! I can kind of sympathize. There’s a pretty big difference between my calf and ankle measurements, which means lots of mathy goodness.