Sock-A-Palooza

I've finished a lot of pairs of socks, but I rarely knit them as pairs. Huh?? What I mean is, like lots of other knitters, I get just a bit bored with the project after that first sock is completed. There's even a fancy name for the condition -- second sock syndrome.

The cure -- for me -- has been to just toss aside that first sock and go on to something new. Others try knitting two socks at the same time, or playing mind games like knitting the second sock first (you may need to think about that one for a bit).

For me though 'knit and run' works fairly well. On the plus side, I don't get impatient to be done, and when a few singletons are completed I end up with several pairs -- like now, just finished 3 single socks and now have 3 pairs -- woo hoo, like magic! I know, I know, I'm simply playing a mind game of a different sort, but whatever works... Of course, if there's a plus side, there's also a minus. One of the big ones is actually remembering any pattern tweaks or changes when that second sock inspires renewed interest. If I were organized, I'd keep a notebook, but since I'm not (and don't) I have to rely on the shreds of a once-proud memory -- and feet that aren't exactly the same size anyway!

And so, a gallery of finished pairs --



Up first, Waving Lace Socks by Evelyn Clark, from "Favorite Socks" by Interweave. This one got delayed not due to lack of interest, but because I misplaced the yarn -- yes, perhaps I do have too many project bags. Yarn is fingering-weight hand-dyed merino from The Yarn Yard. I love the soft greens.

Next is a mock cabled rib knit in Apple Laine's Apple Pie sock yarn -- absolutely lovely stuff, and I think this will be a toasty, warm fiber combo (65%merino/20%kid mohair/10%nylon/5%silk).

And, at last, the partner for Rock Creek Yarn Company's (formerly) Simply Sock Yarn (now Super Soft Sock Yarn) "Koi Pond". You all know I'm a fool for orange, and this colorway is aptly named. I can see those fish flashing through the water and pond vegetation, can't you?

There's been bigger knitting going on too, but that's a project for someone else, and won't be making an appearance here until it's in the hands of its intended recipient. Fingers crossed that it will fit!

On a softer, gentler note...

...look what came in the mail yesterday --

I finally got around to ordering some new (to me) brands of hand-painted sock yarn. On the left is "Duet", so called because it comes with a little hank of coordinating heel/toe yarn -- listed as superwash merino with 475 yds. per skein. From the label it's not clear if that yardage is for both hanks of yarn, or only the main color. In the middle is "Chewy Spaghetti", also a superwash merino, with yardage listed as 430 yds. per skein. On the right is Apple Laine's "Apple Pie" sock yarn -- this one is 65% wool, 20% mohair, 5% silk and 10% nylon, in skeins of 190 yards.

I ordered from a source I've never used before: The Loopy Ewe. What a pleasant ordering experience! That's an Internet site I'll return to for sure. Service was quick and accurate, and the owner, Sheri, included a brief hand-written note of thanks, along with a little bonus of needle inventory cards and a couple of samples (Regia Bamboo and Regia Silk). Now that's a savvy merchant!

The Apple Laine yarn was so soft and nice it may have jumped the queue and onto the needles:









So far I'm loving both the yarn, and the colors. If I'm lucky enough to get to Maryland Sheep & Wool this coming weekend (a bit up in the air due to spouse's recurring back problems) I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for some more Apple Pie -- yummy.