Knitting Fast

So we've all heard that if you knit really fast that you won't run out of yarn, right?

I think I'm going to test that theory.

I'm working on a pair of socks (currently on sock 1 of 2, almost finished with the heel flap - the socks are worked top down). The pattern is New England socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road. I'm using one skein of Socks that Rock Lightweight (approx 360 yards).

So I'm working on the first sock last night, about the begin the heel flap, when I happen to look at how much yarn is left from the first of the two separate balls that I split the skein into. It's not much. I become a little concerned so I check the yarn requirements of that pattern. This is something I should have done before I started knitting. The pattern calls for 3 skeins of Koigu yarn, approx 525 yards. Of course, I don't know for sure that three complete skeins of Koigu are needed - it could only be part of the third skein. Still, there's quite a big difference between 360 yards and 525 yards. So far I've cut out one repeat of the pattern, because I didn't want an 8 inch leg, I wanted a 6 inch leg. So that's 2 inches for each sock. Also, I'm using US 1 needles instead of US 0.

Will this be enough to make a difference? I have no idea, and I'm thinking of using contrasting yarn for the toes to also help account for the difference in yardage.

It's an interesting dilemma and we'll just have to see how it turns out.