The pure symmetrical geometry of argyle means that when you get to the intersection,
that magic row when the colour blocks reach each other to kiss against the background,
when the diagonals meet and embrace in a little four block island in the middle of a sea of pink or red or grey before continuing on their merry and lonely way to the next meeting . . .
The pure symmetrical geometry of argyle means that when you get there, if this doesn't all happen on the same row at the same time,
It means that you've f**ked it up and have to frickin frog the g*d*mned thing.
And frogging intarsia is a delicate thing. Don't walk away from it if you have a four year old in the house who thinks this is his opportunity to help with your knitting. Stay with it until the work is safely back on the needles, or put it on a very high shelf or behind a padlock, because kids think they're very capable and don't know until they've seen your reaction that you have high expectations and dash their little egos against the rocks.
Just Sayin'.
So, out of the generosity of my heart, and the dumb ass time wasting way I spend my late afternoons while the boy recovers in front of a Blues Clues jag, I charted the alternate jolly roger for anyone wanting to reproduce them as a single or a pair on the backgound colour over the ankle(s) instead of the one on the front of the sock as a single in the original chart, because the background colour blocks are two fewer stitches across that the coloured ones, and
transposing the original chart is not just a simple colour substitution
matter. Again, take note this is for a 68 stitch chart, 70 stitch sock (remember the selvege stitches). If you want a smaller or bigger sock, I trust you to figure it out for yourself.
Someday, I'll knit plain old sweaters again. Or maybe Icarus. Yeah, Icarus. Have I mentioned that I am totally in love with Miriam's Icarus pattern? It is a love eclipsed only by my love of Anne's pending Wings of the Moth shawl. How appropriate would that one be?
I just finished my Icarus, you should make it!
Posted by: Catherine Harrison | August 04, 2006 at 10:14 PM
I am totally making Icarus next. Love that shawl. Did you venture up north today?
Posted by: Cheryl | August 04, 2006 at 10:52 PM
I am so friggin' lucky to have miriam in my SnB...She's been a big help when I truely fucked up the feathers.
(yes I am bragging)
Posted by: Marlene | August 05, 2006 at 12:19 AM
Oh, yeah, and she's changed her blog address
http://www.mimknits.com/wordpress/
Posted by: Marlene | August 05, 2006 at 12:20 AM
Funny you should mention the 'background color' diamonds being a different size. Just noticed that myself after charting... twice. I'm glad you said someting. I was about to give up! I needed a 52 stitch sock based on my swatch. (yes, I finally swatched something) My first try gave me a 60 stitch sock. I've posted both the charts to my website if anyone needs that size. The skulls are exactly the same size on both. I got lazy after all that math. LOL! I really, really want 2 rows of skulls, but that would make the leg so long, I'm worried it won't fit my anckly AND my calf that far up. Help!
Posted by: Hope | August 05, 2006 at 01:15 AM
Dude, you're obsessed with pirates and argyles. You know this, though, right? mwah
Posted by: Carole | August 05, 2006 at 07:07 AM
Icarus is an amazing pattern. I just finished mine and LOVE it. Here (http://thepurloinedletter.blogspot.com/2006/08/icarus-flies-free.html) the shawl is pictured as a moth....
Icarus is almost as addictive as ARRGYLES!!
Posted by: The Purloined Letter | August 05, 2006 at 07:56 AM
I love this version of the pirate argyle, too. Especially the way the diagonals flow out of the crossbones. Very srtistic, that. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. | August 05, 2006 at 09:18 AM
YOu are an argyle goddess. I am properly awed!
Annie
Posted by: Annie | August 05, 2006 at 11:51 AM
Love those pirate arrrgyles. I will get roung to knitting them sometime. Mean time I actually cast on Icarus on the beach this afternoon (not bragging honest):-)
Posted by: janine | August 05, 2006 at 04:32 PM
I'm absolutely fascinated by your arrrgyles and the fact that they're knitted flat. I mean, it was only a couple years ago that I was fascinated by the fact that regular socks are knitted in the round on teeny tiny needles, so to discover flat sock... wow!!!
Posted by: janna | August 05, 2006 at 06:43 PM
Ouch. Poor thing.
BTW, also working on Icarus here, and it's lovely. I highly recommend it. Adamas is up next for me, I think, but don't quote me.
Posted by: Kellee | August 07, 2006 at 11:36 AM