Third time's a...

...well.  I'm hoping it's going to be a sock.

The first time was going to be a sock.  Knitting a pair of fingerless mitts (I haven't told you much about those yet, but I will!) on double points made me remember how much I like the fiddly feeling of double points and so I settled on socks.  Out of my sock yarn stash leapt the skein of Opal I brought home from Scotland more than three years ago, because the colors reminded me of the stones and sea there.

I searched for a pattern that could also remind me of the sea, and picked Jaywalker (sorry - Ravelry link!) with its pointed chevron waves.  The pattern actually called for Opal yarn on the exact size needles I planned to use and so I skipped the gauge swatch (not that I would have been inclined to knit one anyway).  I had read on Ravelry that the pattern didn't have much give, but all yarn gives, right?

I cast on and found the pattern perfect for the yarn.  It was easy to memorize and before I knew it I had turned the heel and was well on my way through the gusset.  No matter that it seemed a little narrow.  All yarn gives, right?

Finally I had knit enough to try the sock on, and I pictured my toes sticking out from between the double points as I happily slid it on.

All yarn does not give.  Not when you knit it in patterns that don't give.

And yet I kept knitting, because surely all yarns give after you've washed and blocked a garment, right?  I kept knitting, because even if the socks didn't fit I could give them away to someone with smaller feet.  I kept knitting, because the thought of ripping out socks knit all the way to the gusset...

Which meant that when reason finally prevailed (or it may have been selfishness - I really wanted to keep the socks) there was all that much more sock to rip out.

So the second time was still going to be a sock, still using Jaywalker, still using the same yarn and needles - I just went up one size in the pattern.  I cast on again, and because the pattern was now so familiar, the sock went quickly.  I could tell it was larger, and was certain that this time it would fit just fine.

Just after knitting the gusset, I tried my sock on...

...so, the third time I am really, really, really hoping this is going to be a sock.  No more Jaywalker, even though I love how the yarn looked knit up in that pattern.  Now I'm going with Twisted, which reminds me of the ridges of stones and sand and shallow ripples of water along the seashore in Scotland.  The yarn called for and needle size are comparable, so I skipped the gauge swatch (I learn slowly) and cast on.

They say the third time's a charm.  I just hope the third time gives.