Sunday 23 October 2011

Did I drink the kool-aid? I did, didn't I?

There I was, loudly denying my conversion at knit night when it hit me . . .
I have one pair of hand-knit socks. One pair that I made myself, and even though they're slightly too small, I still wear them the second they're dry. When I was looking for new shoes recently, I looked for shoes that would display my socks, not hide them. I've queued 4 or 5 sock patterns. I've wound 3 balls of sock yarn into cakes . . . and the final nail in the coffin -- I bought more sock needles.
I'm a sock knitter now, aren't I? Doomed to second sock syndrome, mass amounts of fingering weight yarns, and constant WIPs.

It's not like I've never knit socks.
I made my mom a pair years ago.


P1010229


I made myself a pair that I couldn't even get on my feet (cast on was too tight).

And then only doll socks and baby socks for roughly 3 years.

 But one day I was complaining about my uncomfortable store-bought socks when my good friend Jen suggested I give hand-knit another shot. And the seed was planted. I thought about it. And I thought about it.
And I decided to give it a shot . . . after I found an absolutely lovely sock yarn that just called my name.


So I made myself 'Jeck' . . . and at first I didn't like them much. I mean, they looked great, but it takes some getting used to.
IMAG0660


Hand-knit socks feel odd around the ankle. And my cast-on was still a little snug, so it takes some work to actually get them on. But I'm a mom with 2 little wee kids, and that particular day once I had my socks on, I didn't have an opportunity to take them off again. And I learned that hand-knit socks are actually pretty decent. I mean, sure they cost more than bagged socks from the store. And yeah, washing them is less convenient and more work than other socks. But I like them.

So I picked out some patterns, and wound some skeins of yarn into cakes, and had a 3 day hunt for sock needles, ending with the purchase of new needles. And then I cast on for another pair of socks. This time it's a different pattern. I've already finished the leg, turned the heel, and finished the gussets. I'm 3 pattern repeats and a toe away from finished the first one!

I've been so crazy with Making Friends that it's nice to take some time to do something for me.  

6 comments:

jennyp said...

You're welcome :)

etcgirl said...

Ditto. :)

And next we'll get you knitting them toe-up, so that pesky cast-on becomes a stretchy cast-off.

Mmmm, Koolaid.

Beth said...

Mmmmmm....socks. I've always hated Kool-Aid, but hand-knit socks? Can't live without 'em. Welcome to the fold. :)

Beth said...

And, by the way. Cuff-down? It's the only way to fly. (Pfthpt, etcgirl!)

Stickyfingers said...

I've done toe-up, and I like it fine. I'll do whichever, really. I have no directional loyalty. Just a magpie-like thing with sock patterns.

Anonymous said...

yay!!! sock knitting is so much fun!! better watch out tho, it can be addictive. Then we'll find you making socks and nothing more. As for me , toe up is great. Sorry Beth *smile* kwgma