Lacy Scallops

I thought it was time I posted on the Sock du Jour. Sockbug's Lacy Scallops pattern, in Fleece Artist 100% merino, 9 sts/inch on 2.25 mm Susan Bates circulars.


The colour isn't really accurate in this photo, but it's the same yarn that you can see here, and I actually like the way it's knitting up in the lace pattern. I know the pattern is obscured by the variegation, but the colours are so pretty that it really doesn't matter. At least they are not striping (the horror). I am actually quite a bit further on than this photo shows - I have turned the heel and picked up the gusset stitches - but the light isn't great for photos right now. I might wait til I have the whole first sock done, then post.

I know I kept saying that Bayerische and Chuck's Cabled Socks were next on my list, but I just haven't had the courage to start them. They both involve cabling, and Eunny Says that they should be done without a cable needle for speed. This terrifies me because I just can't get cabling without the cable needle. Every single time I try it, the temporarily-dropped stitches ladder down immediately, and I am left cursing and madly picking up with my spare 2 mm, trying to reconstruct the cables I've dropped off. I can do okay when the stitches are held (or, in this case, NOT held) in the front, but the back seems to be particularly troublesome. I don't know if I'm too tight a knitter to do this, or what.

But look how pretty the Mac Socker's Bayerische sock is:
http://web.mac.com/redlipknit/iWeb/RedLipKnit/Blog/34C55F4A-459E-4F96-BBD9-DD23EA81A037.html

It's tempting. Should I just do it with a cable needle, and commit to spending the next two years of my knitting life staring at the chart, painstakingly crossing stitch after stitch? I dunno.