After a frantic period of knitting projects for others this year, and the realization that I haven’t knitted anything for myself in about two years, I have decided to dedicate this year of knitting to me. [Now I’m sure you’re all convinced that I’m on a narcissistic freefall into Egoville…]
It all started with my sock drawer. Or maybe it was my washing machine. Perhaps it was the dog…Regardless, I seem to have fewer socks than I used to have. I definitely have fewer pairs of socks, with some of my favorite fluffy socks so sad and mateless in the sock drawer, pining away for the unlikely return of their sole mate.
Now, fluffy socks, with thick yarn, are my very favorite type of sock. Some people call them boot socks, but for me there are no other socks, so I just call them socks. When I say “socks” I mean thick, wooly, slouchy, warm saaaw-haaawkssss. White, generic hosiery that comes six-to-a-bag for $5 at WalMart need not apply, and will be given no consideration. Fie on you, feckless footwear! You are a disgrace to knitted toe-warmers everywhere.
Ahem. Sorry about that rant.
Anyway, the boo-hooing of the mateless socks in my sock drawer has started to keep me up at night. I’m almost afraid to go in there each morning….which pair of brown Fair Isle socks will have recieved the dreaded “Dear Lefty” letter in the last wash? While I was out Christmas shopping this year, I searched for socks that would meet my requirements, but found surprisingly few. I asked my family to give me socks as a gift, but they just laughed at me, as if I had said something comical. What crazy person, afterall, would request socks for Christmas? Socks are traditionally the “I don’t know you well enough to get you something meaningful” gift, not the object of Christmas desire. It was just too unlikely a request for my family to take seriously.
No socks in drawer.
No socks in store.
No socks under tree.
No socks for me!
And suddenly, two days after Christmas, a stroke of genius occurs to me! Let’s do the math together:
Knitting knowledge + yarn + needles + pattern = socks!
Okay, it’s not really an original thought, and if I’d really been a genius, I would have embarked on sock knitting long before now, but I’ve done most of my knitting for other people that it honestly had never occured to me to look to my own knitwear deficiencies as a source of inspiration.
So here’s the plan: This year, I will learn how to knit socks. I will knit socks for myself out of decadent yarns that will make my feet feel like royalty. I will buy funky colors as well as traditional colors.
It feels good to have a plan. It will feel even better to have new socks!
Albus Dumbledore asked for socks…
greatest wizarding mind in a generation… and what he wanted most was a pair of socks.
Great minds….
Say… if you make a pair that are way too big for your dainty feet….
🙂
You can count on it!
Hey, Trish,
I love fuzzy, plump warm socks, too, but I usually wear mine to bed. My feet are always cold when I get into bed. So, there’s an idea – wear your mateless socks to bed or around the house. Who will know?
I have knit one sock in my life. No, not a pair, just one. It actually fit my foot, but I was afraid if I knit another one, it would not match, so I didn’t attempt it. Perhaps my mateless sock would like to meet your mateless socks!
Are you planning to knit on three needles or in the round? I’m up for the challenge it you want a fellow knitter. Although you must know I am a notoriously slow knitter.
I’ll probably knit on double-pointed needles. I’d love the idea of a “knit-along”! I’m going to start with the simplest basic sock pattern I can find. I’ll email you the link when I find it, and then you can decide if you want in on this madness. ~Trish
I am commenting before I ready anyone else’s because I want you to get my total first reaction: I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!! I just think it is the coolest idea ever–especially since I can’t knit. Anyway, a friend of mine brought me some funky woolen socks from amish country a few years back, and when the cold spell comes and floors dip below 60, I am putting those socks on my feet. They are sooooooo warm and nothing else toasts my toes like those babies. You must certainly post a photo of your first funky pair!!!!!!! Gosh – you could probably market them to your fan base—–Heather and me for sure!!!!!
BW
Thanks! I’m very excited about the whole prospect of hand-knitted socks. In fact, I’m absurdly excited about it. I’m going to go to the yarn store tomorrow and see what I can find! Thanks for the encouragement! ~Trish
Good luck with the sock knitting! I’m fairly new to it myself, and I recently discovered an alternative to DPNs, two circulars, and one extra-long circular: one 12-inch Addi Turbo. You still have to you DPNs at the heel and at the toe, but wow, you can really cruise through the “straight” parts (and easily avoid ladders!) with the 12-inch Addi Turbo.
You’re so funny. That’s a great idea however! I love fuzzy warm socks that I wear over my $5 walmart socks (have to for boot purposes. Leather rubbing on my calves no bueno.
And yes on the cowgirl creed. It’s all about the attitude 😉
I must be weird: I gave socks as stocking stuffers to all my family this year because I wanted to. I really enjoyed picking out a different type of sock for each person.
I wish I had known of your desire for socks, I would gladly have included you in my list.
hope you enjoyed the Dawg Romp yesterday.
Deirdre
I had the same sort of revelation when I was knitting Christmas gifts and wondered why I didn’t have any cozy wool socks without holes in the toes. Good luck with your socks. I love having such a portable project to carry to doctors’ offices etc.
If you are on Ravelry, there are several groups working on socks and there are several Yahoo groups as well. I personally like both Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’ basic sock pattern (http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/na_knitting/article/0,2025,DIY_14141_5489009,00.html) and Wendy Johnson’s Generic Toe-up sock (http://wendyjohnson.net/blog/sockpattern.htm). I hope you enjoy your toasty toes.
That’s great!!! I’ve knit knit my first sock and you can view a photo on my blog.
I hate turnign a heel and so I found a pattern that requires no heel to be turned.
I think it turned out well, for my first attempt.
Stumbled upon your blog. I recommend “Sensational Socks” by Charlene Schurch. Very clear patterns and even a small practice sock. And learn the Magic Loop way – you will not be disappointed! I myself want to learn how to do two at once
[…] January 19, 2008 by etrish Well, just in case you thought I had fallen down in my pursuit of wooliness, I wanted to give you an update on Sock-It-To-Me-2008! […]