Victorian Boating Socks

PATTERN: Edwardian Boating Socks by Emma Grundy Haigh.

YARN: Fable Fibers Novel (80/10/10 merino/cashmere/nylon, 600yds/150g skein), colorway "Denim."

NEEDLES: US 0/2.0mm

MODIFICATIONS: Virtually none.  I used the twisted rib adaption of the heel for extra stretch, and made the leg longer than called for in the pattern.  I did end up with differing numbers of stitches occasionally, because Ms. Grundy Haigh uses the (frankly) stupid "needle 1, needle 2" method of pattern-writing, which is impracticable for anyone wanting to a) avoid ladders, b) use a different number of DPNs, or c) use something other than DPNs in the first place.  I may not be the best designer in the world, but I do try to write my patterns with an eye to flexibility, particularly when it comes to something as individual as sock-crafting preference.

You may notice that these are way too long for me.  That's because they will be a birthday gift for my father in November.  (Seriously, Camp Loopy.  Get shit done.)

Yet Another WIP

Last summer, I participated in Camp Loopy, and it was so much fun I'm doing it again.  (Not to mention, I got three FOs--including a sweater for myself--in three months.  V. efficient for the normally non-monogamous knitter.)

The first month's challenge is to knit something inspired by a favorite book, movie, or TV show.  At first, I was stumped, so I went prowling through my Ravelry queue.  And what should I find but the Edwardian Boating Socks, which I queued way back when the Yarn Harlot knit them.  (Whenever THAT was.  Some time ago.)

I immediately thought of To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis, one of my favorite novels by one of my favorite authors.  Much of the action takes place in the 1880s, while boating, you see.  (The book was inspired and heavily influenced by Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat.)

So really they should be Victorian boating socks, but WHATEVER.  A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

I am knitting them in Fable Fibers Novel (80/10/10 merino/cashmere/nylon), which I am liking very much so far.  Nice and plump.

I am also absurdly pleased by the matchy-matchy stitch marker.

Still Yet One More WIP . . .

. . . about which I will be coy a little longer.

But doesn't it look nice and squishy?

Giant Blue Socks

These were the Irishman's Christmas present for 2012.  As is the custom, he received only one sock (but at least it was a complete sock and didn't have any needles in it or ANYTHING) at Christmas proper, and I finished the other in February.  (In my defense, his feet are very large.)

Pattern: Mindless Socks 

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere (70/20/10 merino/cashmere/nylon).  This was really a wonderful yarn to work with--the hand was lovely, and it made beautiful socks.  Himself had been begging for cashmere socks forever, and I finally managed to oblige.

Needles: US 1/2.25mm

Another WIP

Last Christmas, my mother gave me a gift certificate to the LYS in my hometown (which is fabulous, by the way, hi, Shelley!) and oh-so-casually mentioned that they'd had "really beautiful socks in this yarn that was right by the register!"

I took a hint.

(That's a Crazy Zauberball in colorway "frische Fische.")

Back!

Hello, kittens!

Just a note to say that I am back and lining up more knitting for your amusement.

In the meanwhile, here's what I was doing while I was away: