The ARRRRgyle socks have to be knit. I mean, it's just too funny an idea not to make them a reality. So I dove into the Sox Box and turned up about a dozen solid colours of sock yarn (because mine is, after all, THAT kind of stash), and while I lack the grey of the chart, I do have two entirely other skeins of orange and pink sock yarn, and combined with black as the background diamonds and white for the Jolly Roger, I think I will have me a hearty pair of stockings, matey. For anyone keeping score, that's Wildfoote in black and white on the bottom, and Kroy in the orange and pink. All of this is subject to their happy marriage in the gauge swatch, of course.
To answer a few questions that keep popping up in my email regarding argyle socks:
Why are Argyles socks knit flat? Why not just knit them in the round?
I knit the Dunkin' Donut Argyles flat because that is the traditional way to knit argyles. If you knit across a row in intarsia, for example -- dropping the pink to pick up the green, when you come back around again on the next row, the end of the pink yarn will be all the way over on the other side of the diamond. That is why intarsia is knit flat. I know there is a technique for knitting intarsia in the round, and a version of that for knitting argyles in a tube, but for me, knitting argyle socks was an exercise in tradition. I applaud anyone who tries the argyle tube out, but for me, the old way is the only way I have time for at the moment. Besides that, I fear no seams. I have a ruthless mattress stitch and Nancie Wiseman on my side.
Do you duplicate stitch your diagonals like in the Sockknitters Tutorial? I did duplicte stitch once and I never liked the way it looked.
I don't like the way duplicate stitch looks either, and I avoid it at all costs to my laziness and personal comfort. I do in fact, knit in the diagonals as I go, using a wingspan's length of yarn dedicated to each diagonal. I use about a double wingspan of yarn for each of the contrast diamonds as well, until I run out. Then I start a new length, and ::gasp:: I don't wind them into bobbins. I leave everything loose, trailing yarn around after me like some kind of mad Penelope. And here's a little secret of mine that may not work for you: I knit the background colour straight out of the skein. I use both ends of one skein at once, each end supplying a different diamond. It sounds like flirting with a massive tangle, but every once in awhile, when I feel like the ends are getting unruly, I simply pull the lengths free, and because there are no bobbins (except the one skein), there are no tangles. There are a few ends to weave in, and I know how much people hate to weave in ends, but for me, it doesn't feel like any kind of chore. Those diagonals are a great place to hide the ends in, and I just love how tidy everything looks when I'm done. That sounds a lot like why I used to run for exercise: it always felt so good when I stopped.
Hee. You must be feeling sassy recently, becaue your funny is on fire. Arrgh.
Posted by: Juno | July 25, 2006 at 04:44 PM
Those are really great. I've never really been into argyle (it hearkens back to all the preppy vests I so desperately wanted in 7th grade but couldn't wear at my Catholic grade school) but your funky colors are really making me rethink it. I just had my first try at two-color knitting and loved it, so this might be fun! (And a good excuse to buy some more sock yarn.)
Posted by: Carrie | July 25, 2006 at 04:51 PM
you know how much i love those colors. i'm looking forward to seeing the arrrggghhhyle socks. will they come with a coordinating eye patch?
Posted by: maryse | July 25, 2006 at 05:02 PM
Okay, now I HAVE to get back to my own pirate socks. So that I can then print that argyle skull pattern and make pirate argyles for myself. Curses!
Posted by: Marianne | July 25, 2006 at 05:25 PM
I love the evil ones. That just make you want to talk like a pirate. Right, matey? What's a pirate's favorite letter? Rrrrrrrrrr. (Joke courtesy of Storyland.)
Posted by: Kathy | July 25, 2006 at 05:38 PM
OK having just finished Boston Red Sox for my little brother - I AM SOOOO TEMPTED by the Dunkin' Donut Argyles - you do this ex-patriot so proud. Keep up the inspired work!
Posted by: k in WA | July 25, 2006 at 11:49 PM
Thanks for the tips...I'm trying to memorize so I'll be ready when I take it on!
Posted by: Christie | July 26, 2006 at 01:24 AM
My mom had given me a book a few years ago that I wasn't able to really appreciate until now with my increased knitting knowledge. It's called "Knitting: 19th century sources ed by Jules and Kaethe Kliot" Lacis Publications Berkley, CA. She got it at the Wordsworth bookstore in Harvard Square I believe before they closed their doors. It's a complilation of the English Weldon's Practical Knitter magazine series. In it I spied the Knickerbocker Stocking "knitted in Cromartie plaid" which looks suspiciously like argyle to me.The instructions are rather long winded, but interesting. It's available at Barnes and Noble (search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?TTL=Knitting%2D+19th+century+sources&z=y) I'm willing to lend you mine if you're interested.
Love the argylie things you're doing btw- way cool.
Posted by: Manise | July 26, 2006 at 08:40 AM
ARRRRgyle - I love it
I'm going to be watching this...
Posted by: alice | July 26, 2006 at 09:58 AM
I'm currently working in my very first pair of argyle socks, special request from my father, and I found it very frustrating getting started. I did use the bobbin method...just because that's what the pattern said to do and being the first time, I felt it best to follow all instructions. I am also knitting in the diagonal lines because I hate the duplicate stitch with a passion. Anyway, having just found your blog via YarnHarlot, I'm intrigued by someone who loves argyles because right now...I'M NOT LOVIN' IT! But I'll keep trying because I think it's very very cool looking.
Posted by: Katrina | July 26, 2006 at 10:11 AM
NOW I understand! You're right, one row and I'd have seen the error of my ways. Duh.
Posted by: Martha | July 26, 2006 at 10:42 AM
I can't wait to see the Arrrgyles!
Posted by: Kristin | July 26, 2006 at 11:39 AM
You make it sound so simple! And yet I know it must be completely crazy-making. You know, like Latvian mittens. ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. | July 26, 2006 at 01:12 PM
Girl, you successfully kitchenered that Annie Modesitt ballet cardigan. I have no doubts that you can seam everything and anything you want. There is an interweave knits article by Priscilla-Gibson Roberts about intarsia in the round, and I have always wanted to try it. Some day it will happen. In the meantime, I think flat is just fine, though the tube link you posted is darned cool. I am just loving what you're doing over here lately. So different and fun.
Posted by: Julia | July 26, 2006 at 03:06 PM
You have just described the precise way I'm handling the yarn for my argyles. You know. When I'm home with them.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 27, 2006 at 01:44 AM
OK. I've finally found plain solid sock yarn. (why is that so hard?) I can't wait for it to get there and start on a pair of these. I'm soooo excited!
Posted by: HOpe | July 27, 2006 at 08:55 AM
More proof that I all about form (words) over substance (deeds)--I had no temptation to knit argyle socks (or, to be fair, any socks) until the Arrrgyle name got invented. That just makes them SO much more tempting. Who doesn't want such clever, clever socks!!!! xoxo Kay
Posted by: Kay | July 27, 2006 at 11:25 AM
I totally applaud your values -- "too funny not to make it a reality"
Posted by: deanb | July 27, 2006 at 12:17 PM
how wonderful to know! want to give a mattress stitch photo tutorial? ;-D
Posted by: heatherly | July 27, 2006 at 12:56 PM
This may be the single funniest post about argyle knitting - maybe any knitting - ever.
Posted by: Donna | July 27, 2006 at 10:13 PM