Phaeodaria (plus giveaway)
You know how sometimes I come along and say ‘so I know this looks tricky, but you’ll have it down in no time?’ Well that’s not these socks. Phaeodaria actually are just a tiny bit tricky, but wow are they worth it!
The leg? It’s one big chart with a lovely, intricate, twirly, swirly extravaganza of tiny twisted cables. I won’t lie to you, you will totally need to pay a bit of attention for that part (really though, I have faith in you, you can totally do it). But I’m not completely heartless. By the time you get to the foot, I know you’ll want a bit of a break. So the pattern on the foot is every bit as lovely, but much more relaxing. That part you really will have memorized in no time!
And really, if you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know I don’t believe in boring socks! We’re knitters, we’re mighty, and we deserve to be entertained by our knitting.
One of the things that helps make these entertaining is the gorgeous Haiku yarn from Anzula. There are some sizeable stretches of purl stitches on these socks, so you want a yarn with fairly subdued color changes (purl stitches mix up yarn colors more than knit stitches do, flip over a piece of colorful stockinette to see what I mean, things are way more chaotic on the purl side). But the patterning, especially on the foot, is regular enough that you can absolutely get away with something more interesting than just a solid. This Shiitake colorway is absolutely perfect (though I confess quite a few of Anzula’s colors are delightful and would be amazing here).
And the lovely folks at Anzula are going to make one of you very happy. I’ve got a beautiful skein of Haiku in Shiitake to send off to one of you. Just leave a comment telling me how you feel about slightly fiddly socks to be entered to win. Do you love a bit of a challenge? Only if the pattern really grabs you? Or do you want your socks to be simple as can be? There’s no right answer, I just want to know what you guys like!
And while I can’t quite manage to yarn to everyone, I can give everyone a discount. You can use the code TWISTY to get a dollar the price between now and Friday. Just put Phaeodaria in your ravelry cart, click on the ‘use a coupon code’ button, and type in the code TWISTY. You’ll see the change in price reflected right away.
Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Friday, April 8, 2016 will be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to send yarn their way. Be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them. Sorry, but I can only ship physical prizes to US addresses.
I’m completely okay with fiddly, as long as I love the end result! If I’m not completely in love with the pattern, fiddly isn’t worth it.
Slightly fiddly socks can be SO worth it!
Now that I’ve done a few plain vanilla socks, I quite enjoy fiddly socks. I’m working on a cabled pair for Sock Madness 10 now. They definitely keep your attention!
Fiddly is good for keeping focus! I don’t mind as long as I have some quiet time.
I can do fiddly for a beautiful result, but I must be in the mood! And not tired, cranky, or hungry. Alone is good too so someone doesn’t distract you in the middle of a fiddle.
I don’t mind fiddly socks if I’m in love with the pattern. These are beautiful–thanks for the giveaway and code!
Christine
Fiddly socks would be a good challenge and the results would be worth the effort. Even better if I learn some new skills along the way!
I usually find slightly fiddly very addictive!
I don’t mind fiddly as long as the yarn can hold up to being ripped out once or twice! These are beautiful socks!
I love to knit a challenge! Lace is my preference, but I took a class on twisted stitches last year and enjoy the process, too. Yes, please keep up the fiddle socks. The Anzula color ways are lovely.
I love both vanilla socks for using yarns that are patterned with colors.
For more solid colored yarns I prefer to knit a sock with an interesting stitch pattern.
Socks are a great way to try interesting techniques in a small project!
I love a more challenging sock pattern, as you said it makes it interesting.
I like fiddly patterns when I know I have the time and attention to devote to them. The challenge is what is most enjoyable to me and if the pattern is knit-worthy and the end result is beautiful, well that’s just about all a knitter can ask for. 😉 When life gets hectic, the no-thought-involved knits are a soothing outlet. So honestly, I need both. 😉
Fiddly is great! I need a break from garter and stockinette. Keeps my brain flexible. And, what a great color!
I adore fiddly! Please sign me up, they’re gorgeous!!
They are wonderful! And the color is perfect! I’d say fiddly is a good thing when it comes to socks. Thanks for the chance to win a skein and the code 🙂
I don’t mind fiddly socks at all. It may feel stressful When you start, but you only knit one row at a time, and every time you move the tape that marks your row on the chart, you see how much you have accomplished and how much less is left to do. And the feeling of “OMG, I really did that!” When you finish outweighs any ore-start jitters!
Something new and different is always welcome. Fiddly is okay if there are breaks for my brain and hands. Of course if it is truly beautiful who cares.
I’m not quite ready for fiddly socks yet. I’ve only knit 7 socks so far (just started #8). But these are gorgeous and the yarn is stunning!
How can it be “fiddly” if the pattern makes sense and guides you along as you knit? That is the best kind of challenge, where you are gratified as you see the pattern and structure of the sock come together! Perfection! Thanks for creating these lovely socks!
I love cables so fiddly for me! Most of my 86 socks completed so far are patterned, I have only made a couple of plain stockinette pairs.
I love patterns that keep me focused. When I’m focused on my knitting I’m not worrying about all the troubles in life.
Fiddly socks are what first hooked me on socks 🙂 they have the advantage that I’m never going to grow out of them if I eat a few too many mini eggs, and they’re little enough that I can take them on a plane to keep me going for 7 hours. Can’t do that with a cardigan! Fiddly socks will always have my heart <3
Sock knitting is my therapy. So sometimes, the more complicated a pattern, the less time I have to worry about unimportant things, the more relaxed I feel.
I love complex socks! They are a challenge that results in beautiful socks without morphing into tedium.