Thoughts on Socks

In my previous post on socks, I didn’t really get into detail about my experience with sock knitting, just how obsessed I am with it. Here’s a little more about how I feel about the technical part of it. I’m not adding any links or photos in the body of this post, but I will add a few links at the end.

I’ve only done about four or five pairs of socks at this point, mostly with worsted weight yarn. I tend to really like small, portable projects that can be finished relatively quickly. I have done many hats and arm/wrist-warmers, so socks seem like a natural extension of that philosophy. They knit up fairly quickly, and I can knit them on the bus or while watching a movie or listening to the radio. I like that they give me the option of trying new techniques like lace and cables on a small scale before committing to a larger project that incorporates them. Of course, I could just practice them on yarn from my stash, but it would be less fun, and I like to have something to show for my efforts.

I have tried both the Magic Loop method and knitting on double-points for socks. I prefer the double-points, but mostly because I don’t like maneuvering my circular needle for the Magic Loop– it gets twisty and I feel like I spend more time moving it around than knitting. If anyone has any pointers about this, please feel free to comment. I’m open to trying again, but for now I’m sticking to double-points. I’ve been using Clover Takumi Bamboo needles, but just by default since they’re what my LYS has the most of, and I have a cat that likes to chew on the ends of them.

In terms of construction, I’ve only done cuff-down socks, though I’m interested in trying to do them from the toe up. This month’s Interweave Knits has an entire section dedicated to toe-up socks, and I ordered some lightweight Socks That Rock yarn that I think I’ll use to try out this method. I have done one pair of socks with a short-row heel, but I think that until I get better about modifying patterns to fit my foot more precisely, I’ll stick to the heel flap and gusset for awhile.

As far as fiber is concerned, I’m really loving merino right now. In general, wool is my fiber of choice, and now that I’ve knitted socks out of merino, I don’t have a huge interest in using any other fibers. I’ve used Cascade 220 and Noro Kureyon for thick, warm socks, but now that I have a pair made of merino, I think it’s worth the treat. I love how they feel on my feet, and I enjoy the tactile sensation of knitting merino. It also gives me a chance to work with beautiful hand-dyed yarns that I might not be able to afford for a larger garment, like a sweater.

In the recent weeks since I became sock-obsessed, I have noticed that there is no shortage of sock knitters on the internet. I’ve seen many knit-alongs and sock clubs, but I appear to be late for the party. Is this actually sock season? Though I enjoy knitting socks anyway, maybe next year I’ll try to get in on the sock club action for some camaraderie.

Cascade 220
Noro Kureyon
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, home of Socks That Rock
Interweave Knits

Sock Obsession

The sock yarn I mentioned a couple weeks ago arrived the same day I posted about it. Since then, I have finished one pair of socks, and one sock of a second pair. During the last couple of weeks I have been printing out (and purchasing) sock patterns, browsing for sock yarn, and reading sock blogs. Yesterday I went on an internet sock yarn shopping spree. I think it’s safe to say I have a sock obsession.

Yarn: Socks that Rock mediumweight
Colorway: Fire on the Mountain
Pattern: Rockin’ Sock pattern

I had long admired the patterns of Cookie A. on Knitty, but wasn’t sure I had the patience or sock expertise to do them justice. Last Saturday, while checking out Knitter’s Anonymous for the first time, I found a great pattern that seemed like exactly what I needed: something beyond plain old ribbing, but something that didn’t seem like a lot to keep track of. I’ve just finished the first sock, and I’m smitten. The pattern is easy to follow, and it’s really boosted my confidence level–I’m going for a more involved pattern next time. I don’t have a picture of the completed sock yet, but here it is in progress (apologies for the bad photo, I promise to put a better one up once the pair is finished):

Yarn: Socks that Rock mediumweight
Colorway: Love in Idleness
Pattern: BFF Socks by Cookie A.

Depending on which yarn arrives first, my next socks will either be from the Monkey pattern or Gothic Spire pattern, both by Cookie A. Since I’d never used either of the yarns before (and because I’m kind of a yarn-nerd), I ordered the yarn specified in both of the patterns on-line (I have only seen one of them in my LYS, and in colors I wasn’t interested in). These will be my first purchases from both Shelridge Farms and The Loopy Ewe and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of both orders. I also ordered some sock blockers from The Loopy Ewe, along with the Gothic Spire pattern. I’m pretty sure The Loopy Ewe will be getting plenty of my paycheck in the future– there are so many sock yarns there that I might actually be able to burn out my sock obsession without using the same yarn twice.

Big props to Cookie A. (is it alright if I just call you Cookie?) for having such cool patterns, and especially such cool FREE patterns. Thank you for sharing.

Crafty

I just finished a spinning class. No, not the formerly trendy class-based cycling type of spinning. Yarn spinning. I wasn’t really sure I would like it, but Dave’s mom had been singing the praises of spinning one’s own yarn practically since I first met her (and she recently acquired some lovely angora goats and a couple of shetland sheep), so I gave it a shot.

Here’s the thing: I LOVE it. I love it enough to have purchased my very own spinning wheel. My project for this weekend is to put it together, since it’s currently living in pieces in a flat box, not unlike the kind you might get your shelving in at Ikea. It’s supposed to look like this once I’ve got it together. When I am sucessful, you can count on seeing pictures.

I’ve surprised myself with this whole spinning thing since I’m not usually the kind of person who has a lot of patience for learning something new–rather, I’m not very patient with things I’m not good at. I have learned the basics of spinning quickly enough, but it’s going to take a while before I have yarn I am really proud of. I know this, and I am ok with it. Spinning just speaks to me in a different way than knitting does. A woman in my spinning class said it perfectly when when she said that spinning is more about the process than knitting is. In my (admittedly limited) experience, it’s often quite difficult with knitting to remember to enjoy the process, instead of just looking ahead to the finished product.

The same woman in the class was also in the process of knitting some beautiful socks that she finished before our class was over. They were knit from Socks That Rock yarn. I was totally unfamiliar with Blue Moon Fiber Arts before this, and I have a feeling that was probably a good thing for my wallet. I’m sure that part of the reason that Amy’s socks are so beautiful is because she’s a talented knitter, but her talent, combined with the colorway in that soft, beautiful yarn totally inspired me to knit a pair of stripey socks. I’m now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Rockin’ Sock pattern and two gorgeous colorways.