Never Give Up. Never Surrender!

Not yet, at least.

I found two more tricks to try yesterday, and visited with Monika at Woolen Treasures in Loveland, getting another idea.

(I was on that side of Loveland, alone, before 5PM, which pretty much calls for a stop-in to see what is in the sale bin, don't you know.) (Elsabeth Lavold Silky Tweed, 60% off, for any that are curious.)

But I have to say that I am pretty close to saying short row toes and heels are a technique that I cannot get the hang of.

I have tried.

Lorday, have I tried.  Grandbebe Girls Three each have a new pair of shorty socks (and round two is starting) with short row heels and toes (heels and toes heels and toes..sing with me, won't you?).  The youngest two especially don't mind if the craftmanship isn't perfect, and wear doesn't play a factor.  The socks won't be walked in, after all.

I am glad I have somebodies to practice knit for, and my test articles are not just tree ornaments.

I have a book with short row heel directions.  I have watched YouTube videos with short row heels demonstrated.  I have downloaded 3 or 4 different blog entries with 3 or 4 different takes on how to do short row heels and toes (heels and toes heels and toes).  I have gone to the TechKnitting blog. There are a couple I have not tried, that involves SSSP on the back side.  (Seriously? SSSP?) And the Japanese dig and pin or some such label.  I couldn't figure that one out, and it always seems to be the last option given.  (Which does not seem to bode well for directional effort, being 4 on a a scale of 1 to 4.) (Just sayin'...)

But I might try the SSSP before I am through.  Because I am that way.  Often, I cannot say die.

The problem is not that I don't understand short rows.  I know short rows.  I do short rows on dishclothes, for pete's sakes!

The problem is how, on socks, one closes the gap left by turning.  I do what I am told, as close as I understand it, and what I am left with is...fairly neat on one side, and I am pretty sure will neaten up with practice.  But the other side looks like poo.  Loopy, gappy, uneven poo.

And the frustrating part is I have not been able to figure out if I am doing the knitting-back side tidy, or the purling-back side tidy!  I look and figure and flip and twist and calculate...all to no avail.

Of course, some of the suggested techniques have left both sides evenly poo-like.

So frustrating for me.  I have knit four socks, and am on my fifth.  By now, most techniques I would have had down pat, and have figured out whether I really liked doing this, or if it was something I just didn't find interesting.

But to have it elude me?  To read directions and not catch on?  To not knit up something and have it look spiffy?

Most recent effort was probably the most successful, but I am anxious to try what Monika offered, too.  I feel there is hope. But it is a thin thread, and I am prepared to admit that perhaps...

...that perhaps I need to take my socks into the LYS in person and have someone demonstrate exactly what it is I need to do...

Never give up. Never surrender!