Not Starting Stockings

[atherleisure]

I finally gauged the late Victorian openwork stockings I've been wanting to make for a bit. I really like this eyelet pattern.



Unfortunately, the gauge came out at 8 st./in., and that's way too coarse. The coarser gauge given in the book I got the fancy pattern from works out to about 13 st./in., and naturally they recommend a finer gauge than that. So new yarn is in order.

It's not like I don't have the yarn to knit 2.5 more sweaters so I'm not in a huge rush to find new yarn, but I'll start keeping my eyes open again.

Comments

[mala_14]

Oooh that is a very pretty stitch pattern.

[atherleisure]

I like it too. I'm looking forward to using it whenever I actually start the stockings.

[penwiper]

Oh, that is pretty! And oh, how dreadful to have an excuse to buy more yarn...

[atherleisure]

Thanks. Any suggestions for fine cotton yarns that aren't hard like the crochet threads?

[penwiper]

Oh, I wish! I will say that I feel like the things I've knit with pearl cotton embroidery thread are a smidge softer/less stiff than the things I've knitted with crochet cotton, but not massively so. I have been curious about trying Knitpicks Curio, since a lot of people seem to knit actual garments out of it instead of just doilies, but haven't actually gotten around to acquiring any yet.

It's not cotton at all, but for a fine yarn with a nice sheen, Knitpicks Gloss (merino/silk) is very pretty and VERY soft. I have some of that to hand and would be happy to send you a swatch if you want.

[atherleisure]

I've knit a couple things out of the Knitpicks Gloss, and it's just lovely. I really want these to be cotton. I had assumed that the Curio would be like the Aunt Lydia's cotton, but I guess I could gauge some #10 cotton I've got to see whether that makes gauge and then try ordering some of the Curio. Come to think of it, the natural #10 Aunt Lydia's is not as hard as the colors I've used. I wonder what the white is like...

[penwiper]

Some reviews on the Curio say that it knits up at a smaller gauge than standard #10 because of its softness, so keep that in mind. Mind you, I think that most of the reviewers who are saying that are wanting "hard" crochet, so they have to knit a softer yarn tighter to get it, so you might do just fine.

The dyeing process definitely does seem to affect the texture!

[atherleisure]

I'll definitely have to get some to try. It'll be after I have something else I need to order, but I'll let you know how it goes.

[penwiper]

Thank you, I'd love to hear it! It's always nice to get a review from someone else who does historical knitting, because it's definitely a different perspective.