Deviation from Standard.

Sigh. I was so excited that I could knit the Monkey Socks Pattern as is. Once I did a few pattern repeats, I tried the sock on. And it was difficult to slip it over my heel. But I could pull it on if I used some force, so I knit on. I decided to add some extra stitches when it came to the heel, and was part way down the foot. I had got alot done when I was stuck in the hospital Saturday night because of the snowstorm; it was probably 60% completed. Yesterday, I tried the sock on to see how much further I had to go before starting the toe. That was when I finally faced reality - it's REALLY REALLY difficult to slip the sock over my heel. And the pattern is pretty stretched out when it's on my foot. The sock is too small, and this is the reason why: 12.5 inches - that's how far the sock has to stretch to make it over my heel. A pattern that boasts that the lace pattern easily stretches up to 12 inches? No good for me. Sigh. I guess I qualify as having a high instep. And nothing I do can change it - I could lose 50 lbs and those bones wouldn't get any closer together. Once again, it's been frogged. I'm now knitting it using an adaptation to the pattern that enlarges it to 72 stitches. Speaking of bones - I really wish that I had shorter arm bones: Sleeve progress is snail-like. So what better way to console myself than to start a new project? This is Standard Deviation from the book Knitting New Mittens & Gloves: Yes, I am knitting myself some fingerless gloves. My rationale is that I am taking a cruise to Alaska in May, and it's going to be a bit nippy at times, but I fear being mocked by Alaskans if I wear real mittens. Plus, it's a chance to try some colourwork before I cast on for Glenna's Amazing Argyle Socks. It's also a bit of a stashbuster - these are the yarns I am using: I had the blue, the blue marl, and the purple yarns in my stash (buying 3 single skeins of 3 different colors of sock yarn seemed like a good idea at the time). Today I picked up the white and the purple marl - I'm going to Kool-aid dye the white yarn red. Because none of the colours match those in the pattern, I will call these The Deviation From Standard Handwarmers. BTW - Why is it that so many "stashbusting" projects end up requiring the purchase of new yarn?