Stupid %&*$#^@ Socklet!!!
Last night I almost finished the first socklet in Regia 4fäedig, and when I got to the shaping parts I nearly had an apoplectic fit trying to understand the directions.
Friends, please turn to page 57 in your devotional sock readings. Together:
“When work measures about 5 cm work one-sided toes with separate big toe.
For the big toe slip last 10 sts. on needle 3 and first 10 sts. on needle 4 onto a holder.
Cast on 4 sts. to the rem 40 sts. for bar between big toe and next,, and cont over all 44 sts. in patt.
Amen.
Now, I ask you my friends to look into your hearts and answer me this question:
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???”
Okay, I’m willing to cut the pattern some slack since English is obviously not its first language (”work one-sided toes”???), but the original language is German, so I’m expecting some exacting engineering here.
Do they assume that you’re working the sock on a set of five dpns and that you’re keeping the stitches distributed evenly on all four? It seems that they do, but the pattern doesn’t say that anywhere. And even if that’s what they assume, the directions about slipping the stitches doesn’t make any sense to me.
Let’s just look at the instructions for needle 4: “slip . . . first 10 sts. on needle 4 onto a holder.” Okay, to me that means take the ten stitches farthest from the working stitch on the last needle and put them on a holder. That’s great, but then you cast on 4 stitches to form the bar between the main toes compartment and the big toe. But that bar doesn’t bridge any freaking gap, because the gap is ten stitches away on a needle holder!
I understand what the pattern is so desperately trying to say, but I cannot figure out how it could be saying it so horribly wrong.
Anyway… Here’s an almost-finished socklet.
July 12th, 2005 at 8:20 am
well - it makes sense to me. The four stitches are cast on at the point where the reserved stitches for the big toe begin. They allow you to connect the just knit “other toes” portion in the round to the beginning of the 40 other stitches. they DO form a bridge at the division between the big toes and the “other toes”- giving you some depth to the “other toe” portion.
But no one ever accursed me of being logical.
July 12th, 2005 at 9:31 am
See, I understand that that is what is supposed to go on, but I don’t see how the directions will lead you to that result.
It never says to break the yarn, so I can only assume that you cast on the four new stitches at the end of a round. If you’re doing that, then for those stitches to form a bridge, they need to be cast on right next to (just before) the stitches that you put on the holder.
It seems to me that the correct directions would be something like “when you come to the end of the round, slip the first twenty stitches to a stitch holder. Cast on four stitches and join.”
I’ll have to track down a German knitter and get them to translate the original directions for me to see if the translation I’m working off of is faithful to the original. Not that I’m being obsessive or anything.
July 12th, 2005 at 10:20 am
Dude. The pattern makes perfect sense, and you HAVE figured out what you’re supposed to do, so what the @#$% are you freaking out about? There is a logical leap or two to make in most patterns, and as with this one, with a modicum of thought it’s usually quite clear what you are to do. Relax. The socklet is turning out fine.
(Why are you letting such a simple pattern scramble your eggs? You feeling okay?)
July 12th, 2005 at 10:48 am
Ooh, very cute socklet!
July 12th, 2005 at 11:41 am
Cari,
THIS PATTERN SUCKS. Yes, it’s simple and it’s easy do divine what they meant, but it’s just written really really badly. And that vexes me.
Don’t worry though, I am not taking it too much to heart. I’m fine. Really. The sweating has stopped and I’m barely even twitching now.
July 12th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
As you know I do teach German, (BIG) however, I just looked at the German instructions for the Socklet and suffice it to say that I am very glad that I don’t KNIT in German. I didn’t understand the pattern at all! Just like any other discipline, I’m sure, there is a vocabulary known only to the participants. German knitters must be a cult that has a secret code for reading and writing patterns because it made absolutely no sense to me. Maybe in my “free time” I can get into the cult and learn the code!
The socklet is cute though. (Perhaps we will be reminded of this episode when trying to help a newbie learn to knit!)
July 13th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
Oh I get it…german toes are a little odd….I am so sending you a real sock pattern.
July 21st, 2005 at 1:13 pm
If you’re still interested in trying to work it out, maybe I could help with the German pattern? where’s it at?
H x
September 8th, 2005 at 11:51 pm
LMAO…OK…I am SOOO glad to see I’m not the only one PULLING MY HAIR OUT! It’s midnight now ….and I just ripped out the whole damn socklet! why???? Because the stupid ass instructions are as clear as mud when it comes to the BAR….WTF???? and when I tried to just frog back one round…well the itty bitty shitty stitches were all dropping…ACCKKKK!!! Most patterns are kind enough to tell you how many stitches you have on what needles…and where to do the cast on …and come on…if you can’t lay it out clearly…then at least give me a fucking picture already!!!
Anyway…anyone who can help me with this thing…please email me at scubaqueen@2wetfins.com
Thank you…