Sock It To 'Em

I'm doing some practice socks in preparation for making alpaca socks for Brian. I bought the yarn last summer at the Jefferson Park Farmer's Market. It is so nice. It is 90% alpaca. And the label has the pictures and names of the animals from which it was sheared. But it cost me $20 a skein, and I have two skeins, so I want to try out some patterns using a cheap acrylic sock yarn before using the alpaca yarn.

I finished one sock on Monday. It looks pretty good but it is too big. But I got the general procedure worked out and can make some adjustments in the size. Basically, it is crocheted from the top down and includes shaping for the heel. The ribbing is back post dcs alternated with front post dcs. And the starting row is double crochet foundation stitch: no starting chain as usually instructed. It is supposed to be more stretchable that starting with a chain, therefore, better for socks.

Tuesday I started another sample sock in another pattern. This pattern starts at the toe and works up. There is a hole left for working the heel at the point where the top ribbing begins. I have my doubts about how that is going to work out! There is no picture with this pattern. The ribbing on this is made by doing a row of three front post dcs with 1 sc in between, ch 1, turn, and then a row of all scs. On the foot, the ribbing is only on the top of the foot, with the remainder being in sc. Then, after the opening is made for the heel, the ribbing is started all the way around. There are some general instructions added at strategic places in the pattern that make it possible to adjust for different sizes. Most of the pattern is pretty understandable. Except for the place where it says "Alternate Rows 2 and 3 until sock is 2 3/4 inches from the back of the heel when tried on." Which is the back of the heel??? I'm not sure! But the designer said that there were 30 rows when she made the pattern which she says is a man's shoe Size 9 medium width. So, in an attempt to make a small man's size, I'm decreasing the stitches per round and the number of rows. I was able to meet the gauge stipulated on the pattern, surprise, surprise.

If I like the way the heel works in, I'll probably use this pattern. I'm not sure I can meet the gauge with the alpaca yarn, though.