S is for Super Socks

The Letter People and ONline, the German manufacturer of this yarn (made in Italy), are in agreement that S is for Super Socks and Supersocke. I've started and restarted on a new pair of socks with this yarn as I try to get the correct gauge.

Granted, I'm not doing that in the conventional way. Initially I cast on the number of stitches recommended for the men's size. After four rows of the cuff I suspected that what I was making wouldn't be big enough. I ripped it out and cast on four more stitches, which the pattern lists as a "bigfoot" size. My feet are not extraordinarly large, but apparently the yarn and needle combination I'm using would suggest that.

Now I know I should be doing a gauge swatch, but I'm stubborn and don't want to be bothered with it. I've compared the stretchiness of what's on the needle with socks I've purchased, so for now I'm going to continue in the belief that what I'm knitting will fit. I expect I'll be regularly trying on this project to ensure that there won't be a size problem.

Based on my limited perusing of sock yarns, it looks to me like almost all of them are variegated or self-striping. Is this a fair observation? Solid colors, which are the safer choices I'd wear, seem to be rare breeds. My guess as to what this yarn will look like knit up is blue primarily with mottlings of brown and gray. So far that appears to be true, although I've only done eight rounds.

As for the sweater vest future project suggestion, I'm not sure that's my thing. Sweater vests seem really uncool, not that I'm going to be recognized as a hipster anytime soon. Perhaps my view of the item is colored by its association with Coach Sweater Vest, but it just seems like something for old people or ironic fashionistas. Trying to convince me through the "no need to knit sleeves" argument is somewhat persuasive, but the fact that I might never wear it cancels it out and then some. (I own zero sweater vests, for what it's worth.)

I'm not saying never, but I'm not saying it'll happen either. Yeah, I'm a stick in the mud sometimes, even if saying that in regard to sweater vests makes no sense whatsoever.