Bayerische socks

Well, yesterday I did the first pattern row, messed up the 2nd, and wound up having to rip completely back and cast on.

Today I got through the 2nd pattern row, messed up the 3rd, but only had to rip back to the increase row. So I'm actually progressing, if only in small increments.

I think Ill be fine once I get about half-way through the 16-row chart, but I keep getting confused on the last repeat of Chart D (it goes Chart A, Chart B, Chart C, Chart D, repeat). I don't have enough tiny markers to mark all 8 patterns, I only have 4, so I'm going to try putting them at the end of Bs and Ds (Charts A and C are identical except for a 7-stitch cable that crosses in opposite directions). Then I'll have a place to start counting stitches when I get lost.

These are not relaxing socks, at least right now--my shoulders and neck get really tense. If I were working this pattern in sportweight or bigger, I'd be a lot more relaxed, but it wouldn't look nearly as cool. I'm hoping once I have the rhythm of the stitch pattern I'll be more relaxed as I work.

Er, actually, I also need a light over my left shoulder, not just off to my left, and I think I need to get a stronger pair of readers. Getting old sucks. To pick up stitches when I ripped back this afternoon, I ousted Taenzer from the couch, so I had 3 east windows at my back and 2 south windows at my left, and it was still sunny, so I had lots of light and could sit up straight. Both things helped.

Right now it's all clouded over and windy, and we're under a severe thunderstorm alert until 9 tonight.

Cool song of the moment: "I'm punching radio buttons like typewriter keys, trying to find someone to sing truly to me." Ghostriders Medley by Steve Gillette.