See that? That’s a sock. Just a plain, ordinary 3X1 ribbed sock for Dale. And yet – it’s kicking my ass. I swear, I knit around and around and around on this thing and it just simply refuses to grow. The other day I measured, knit for an hour, measured again and it was shorter. I am not kidding.
Truly, this sock is the black hole of sock knitting.
I can hear you laughing, you know. Stop that. This is serious.
Ruth Said,
Man socks. Ugh.
Kathy Said,
Oy. L wants socks. I am resisting.
Manise Said,
Is Mason frogging back and quickly putting the needles back in when your back is turned?
*snicker*
DebbieB Said,
How big is his foot??
Kirsten Said,
I have had yarn for another pair of socks for my son sitting in the stash for over a year and just can’t bring myself to cast on for this very reason. The sad thing is, the kid really loves handknit socks.
Laurie Said,
Laughing, yup. Quit stretching the damn thing when you measure, grrl. And keep it away from the lace, so it doesn’t get more shrinking ideas.
Julie Said,
Mansocks just seem to take FOREVER, don’t they?!
p.s. I love you little stitch marker
Beth Said,
Sounds like the trouble I have with scarves. It’s pretty yarn, though!
margene Said,
That is because you don’t really want to knit it. Brown socks just don’t float your boat. Tell him to pick a color YOU like.
maryse Said,
well you know what they say … big feet …. big socks.
sunflowerfairy Said,
So basically it’s my term paper, only in fiber.
We’re in trouble.
Jean Said,
I’m not laughing. It’s happened to me. Put it down and knit something else for a day or two.
deb Said,
Maybe his foot is growing. Or he doesn’t really want the sock and rips it our when you’re not watching. Just sayin’…..
Donna Said,
I am working on a sock – your favorite picot edge plain stockinette sock – and it has the same problem. Maybe we need to give them socks some growth hormones.
LittleWit Said,
I think men’s socks are like that in general. Especially if they have long feet. Don’t remind me that my dad’s socks probably won’t be a Christmas present this year. It’s ok though, his birthday is in March, it’s not that far off.
Wool Winder Said,
I’d check into buying a new ruler.
Laura Said,
I know what you mean! I am on my third man pair in a month and still have two pair to go. They never seem to grow. I’m saving the largest until last and it will take forever, a size 15 foot.
Kim Said,
Ken wants some new socks ……..um, once a sales clerk told him he had oar paddles for feet. (that didn’t go over to good, btw).
can see knitting socks for him being a black hole too…
Karen Said,
The yarn is lovely so maybe knitting that sock forever won’t be so bad…
Barbara-Kay Said,
The black hole of socks has been well documented by the Yarn Harlot. However, it was known to hover over Toronto. It must have blown down to you by the Canadian Clipper cold front that came through.
Just keep knitting, it’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow. Perhaps the black hole of socks can’t tolerate southern weather?
pumpkinmama Said,
Been there. There now actually: cast on koigu (on 2s no less!) for a quick pair of socks and they are stuck in the same black hole.
Robin in VA Said,
Kinda like eating spaghetti…
I love my men in the family but I sure hate knitting socks for them…big feet!!
Jean Said,
I think we must be traveling in the same time warp, I too started a pair of man’s socks (we’ll see if we get that far, a pair hah!) and it is taking FOREVER, have barely made any progress. I’m trying to think of any excuse to drop this dreaded project, maybe the sock would be better in another yarn such as Lorna’s Laces, he has a large foot and this is never going to end. Oh I long to get back to a cowl (I love the instant gratification). I will slyly ask him if he likes the yarn, perhaps there is hope yet and I’ll have to shop for something else and thicker yarn that will knit up faster.
HB Said,
I guess that black hole thing will let me off the hook for Hubby’s Christmas present of socks – besides I have a quilt to finish!
Chris Said,
It could be a wormhole sock – you knit, it gets shorter, and someone else’s sock is getting effortlessly longer.
Deanna Said,
I so feel your pain. I am knitting a pair–toe-up, 2 at-a-time. I call them my neverending socks. I know you’ll finish yours. I’m not so sure about mine.
Here’s a pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkdykstra/3080145696/
Mary K. in Rockport Said,
(I love Chris’s comment.) You have my sympathy. To divert you, have you seen the new Berroco Sox Metallic? I’m warming up the charge card right now.
Lucia Said,
I too love Chris’s comment, and am starting a sock immediately to see if I can take advantage of this.
(This is why I put cables in all my socks. The sock knows it can’t pull those cute tricks on me when I can see the cable growing.)
Kate Said,
After Chris’s comment, I think I need to go check my own mansocks-in-progress (3×3 rib)…perhaps they’ve gotten longer since I put them down!
Liz U. Said,
Christmas socks? I know the feeling.
Good luck!
Cheryl S. Said,
I don’t think I’ll ever make socks for Larry on anything thinner than sport-weight yarn. I’d go crazy.
Heather Said,
Stop mocking me, sock!!!!
Carrie Said,
The only thing you can count on is that when you come out of the other side of the black hole, knitting will seem to just FLY off your needles. (In a good way.)
JessaLu Said,
Let me know when you want me to crank out a pair for ya… ;op
Katie K Said,
That happened to me, too, when I knit my husband a pair of beaded rib socks (no, the bead is not a bead, but a stitch). It felt like they took 6 weeks. As opposed to the stockinette socks which I just finished in 1 week. Maybe we should knit the patterned socks for ourselves only.
Imbrium Said,
*stifling laughter*
Ahem.
Hey, I shouldn’t laugh…I go my arse kicked by a STOCKINETTE sock…and not just in a “this isn’t growing” way, but in a “I totally screwed this up” way. Talk about embarrassing….
kmkat Said,
Are you sure you measured the real sock and not that teeny tiny stitch marker? ::runs for cover::
Margaret Said,
You know, if we could get physicists interested in this bending of the space-time-fiber continuum, it seems like there would be grant money in it somewhere.
Carol Said,
I’ve been working on a pair of black socks for my husband for more than a year. One is finished. I feel your pain.
Nora Said,
LMAO. I started a gauge swatch the other night on size 9 needles. Measured 18.5 stitches over 4 inches. I decided I wanted a tighter fabric, so I went down to a size 7 needle.
Measured again. 18 stitches over 4 inches. ?????
Kat Said,
Are you jumping to the left and stepping to the right?
Ina Said,
Whatever the cause, it’s catching! My mansock is making reverse progress, too.
Doris Said,
It’s happening to me on a sweater. No one in my family believes me, they think I am nuts, but I know better, just like you do!
Cookie Said,
Are you remembering to bring your knees in tight?
Ya know, I think Dale would like some house socks made out of a nice worsted weight yarn. I’m just sayin’…
And I do feel your pain. I’m knitting the same socks and it’s taken my will to live. xo
dana Said,
sounds to me like true love. why else would you torment yourself?
Nell Said,
At least the yarn is pretty…
Beth Said,
I feel your pain, I have 2 pairs of man socks in progress.
e Said,
LOL – it was shorter? I think you need to make him socks from at least DK weight yarn from now on!!!
Karen Said,
Oh, I hate it when you knit and knit and the thing doesn’t get any bigger. Maybe you can put it away for a while?
christine Said,
Ha…………I’m thinking that maybe there are some martinis involved in your knitting time?
jill Said,
I have a sleeve that has a similar ailment. It’s not getting smaller, it just keeps eating yarn with no growth. I think my issue is that I have too many things in progress. It feels like I’m knitting a lot on them all, when actually, I’m just knitting a lot.
Stephie Said,
I am knitting a pair of man sock, two at a time and I swear that I am going backwards also!! Next time maybe DK weight. Good luck!
Norma Said,
Haha, YES, I saw it at the end in the comments — someone said DK weight, but I’m suggesting go for broke — HEAVY WORSTED boot socks.
Sarah Said,
I would never laugh at this predicament, but only offer sympathies.
Sara Said,
I know you heard me laugh when you wrote that you knit for an hour and it got shorter!
Oh, I have been there – and this week it has been with a scarf that is 6 inches away from being finished – and every day when I measure after having knit all evening – it is still 6 inches away…
So know I was laughing at myself, too…
Teyani Said,
hahahahah… (holds her sides) hahahahaha..
oh. my. ahem.
so sorry..
but… hahahahaha
Emily Said,
I have SO been there.