Sunday, June 17, 2007

Different sizing of yarn needles

The Monkeys were bad and the needles were worse!




No you are not seeing a bad image. The socks are different sizes! The top was done with Addi #2 and the bottom was done with Hiya #2

There I was knitting away and trying to finish the socks for the Monkey Sock Swap. I never measured the socks against each other since I was doing pattern repeats. I get done, graft the toes and UH OH! Major problem! Significant difference in socks! I almost cried! I thought I must have mixed up the #2's and #3's in their package. But nope, 2 sets of #3's were in their package!

I then got out the needle gage and lo and behold......#2 Addies measure 3mm....which is between a #2 and #3 and the Hiya's measure 2.75mm. This is a signicant difference in the smaller size needles.

So, I ask myself: "How come I never noticed this before?" and then it dawns on me. I've only used the number #2's for hubbie's socks and I do it by measurement. 68 stitches of 2x2 ribbing for 6-1/2 inches, the heel, and then stockenette for a total of 14" in length and then the toe start.

Now don't laugh (which I know you will!), but this now all makes sense to me when hubby said one of the socks feels tighter than the other! Duh! It would!

So, how do the solve the problem with my monkey socks? The only way I could, I went to my LYS, got another skein of yarn, started another sock, emailed the swap hostess and my partner and say! "I have a problem! The socks don't match!" So I'm late for mailing my package, but am making good time on the second (or would you call it the third) sock and should have them finished, washed and blocked sometime today!

So excuse me all as I go back to knitting this sock so it can be mailed, hopefully tomorrow! :)


3 comments:

Lovs2Knit said...

Looks like you had a good time on vacation and brought home a good amount of yarn for your stash. :~)
As for the socks, I feel your pain. I ended up riping a whole sock out due to swapping from bamboo to metal needles. Apparently for me I knit a lot tighter on metal needles. :~)

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

Oh no what a painful situation to be in. I love knitting socks but would hate to have to knit a THIRD sock ... there's enough SSS around here as it is.

I stopped by to say "Yay, for Team #19 in the Dish Rag Tag." ;-)

KrisW said...

Thank you, Cindy!!!!!!! I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE my socks! :) Beautiful knitting...and the embroidered Sock Monkey bag is great!!! Thanks again for all the goodies you sent...I posted pictures on the swap blog.
Kris :)