This one's for you, Christine.

Of course I want to win a contest, but more importantly I want to talk about SOCKS!


I actually started knitting socks shortly after I learned to knit at all because the construction is fascinating. I think if you understand how a sock pattern works you can figure out just about anything else. This past year I discovered toe-up sock knitting - what a revelation. I love the seamless toe that a figure 8 cast on gives you. (Check out the instructions by Wendy. And if you have some beautiful yarn you're working with, you can just keep knitting until you run out!


Speaking of beautiful yarn, I just can't get enough of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. Beautiful colors and knits up really easily. I noticed the other night working on my Jaywalker Socks that the yarn is kind of tight and stringy-feeling (? - I know what I mean...) while knitting with it, but it blooms so nicely in the wash and makes for a really soft sock. I'm so in love with Lorna's Laces that I have to have some ready to go at all times. When I cast on the Jaywalkers I had to quick make an order for my next color. The problem with that is now I'm kind of tired of the greys of Mineshaft


and want to finish up and work on my more Spring-y looking pink, sage, and brown of Vera.




I have yet to meet a sock pattern I don't like, but I have 2 particular favorites. I made the Widdershins socks last Summer(?) and it was the best-fitting sock I ever made. I actually re-wrote the pattern for my own use with just the construction and I use it with other stitch patterns because it fits my foot so perfectly. I made the Almost Argyle socks last fall and really liked those, too, although when I resized the pattern I lost one repeat and the argyle pattern didn't come out even, but they are still terrific. I've thought of resizing the pattern for a man's sock - I think it's perfect for a man. I also really liked the Latvian Twist cast-on edge. This pattern was the first time I'd seen it and it makes a really lovely top if you're doing top-down.


Now, Christine wasn't specific about what to say about socks, but one thing she offered was that if you are not a sock knitter you might talk about how you don't get why people want to knit socks. I say, what's not to get? You have almost instant satisfaction while being more involved than making a scarf; you can buy the most lovely yarn in small quanities and don't have to invest hundreds of dollars to make a sweater that you may or may not like when it's done; you can make socks that fit your feet perfectly in the colors that you want to buy; and you can stash a sock project in a Ziploc bag and hardly take up any room in your carry-on bag. My only caveat with sock knitting is to be careful if you're knitting while watching football - that's when I'm most likely to drop stitches!