Well, I’m darned chuffed at how Jeeves has taken off in the last twenty-four hours. When I unveiled the pattern last night, I expected the following people to download it:
- My mother
- My aunt Gwen
- My friend Thomas, who’s just that kind of guy
I was not expecting so many other people to download it, as well. (Heck, I’m not quite sure if my mother even knows about the new pattern — it’s been a busy sort of Monday.)
Truly, I am overwhelmed with the comments and favorites and downloads. In one day, my silly little sock has received almost as many favorites and queuings as Blue Monday has in the past six weeks. I think that deserves a well-timed “Dude.”
Dude.
I’d say the experience today is rather akin to being doused in champers after the end of a grand prix, but that could be stretching the metaphor. You have all been very kind, and I thank each and every one of you. And here’s where I put in my request for pictures of finished products. There will be extra credit for the first pair of Jeeves I see knitted in a particularly riotous shade of purple.
“Not those socks, Jeeves,” I said, gulping a bit but having a dash at the careless, off-hand tone. “Give me the purple ones.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
“Those jolly purple ones.”
“Very good, sir.”
He lugged them out of the drawer as if he were a vegetarian fishing a caterpillar out of the salad. You could see he was feeling deeply. Deuced painful and all that, this sort of thing, but a chappie has got to assert himself every now and then. Absolutely.
– from “Jeeves and Chump Cyril”
All that said, I do have some pattern notes to pass along. Early adopters pointed out an embarrassing misspelling on the v1.0 .pdf. It’s since been rectified. A few others have asked about gauge.
Oh, here we go.
I hate gauge. There, I said it. I hate it. It’s my dirty knitting secret.
Knitting a gauge swatch pure torture for me, because I must experience the instant gratification of now, now, now, let me start now! Except I’m learning that other knitters (real knitters one might say, with lifted eyebrows and pointed tones) depend upon gauge, and if I’m going to try to pass myself off as any sort of pattern maker, I’m going to have to provide gauge, too. So last night, in a fit of pique (and yet, out of the goodness of my heart), I knit up a gauge swatch. For Jeeves, you’re looking at 22 stitches over 20 rows for a 4″ swatch. However, if you absolutely cannot get gauge, don’t fret. Jeeves is a flexible sock. If you cast on 48 stitches on 3.5 mm needles, you’ll be as right as rain.
Promise.
