Sock projects
There was a time, when socks were the last thing I wanted to knit. I found the whole process of sock knitting tedious and pointless. Not that I didn’t love to wear knitted socks but to knit them… A big no in my books. My family was kept in knitted socks by friends and relatives, I had absolutely nothing to do with that. Also I found it so discouraging that all the socks I knitted seemed to dematerialize under our feet. Simply vanish after just a few weeks of wear. Why even bother?
But recently something has changed! I keep knitting pair after pair and absolutely love every single stitch!
I love the quick nature of sock knitting, I love that I can use complicated stitch patterns without committing to many weeks of knitting, and I love that even if the socks are not completely perfect there will be someone who loves to wear them near me.
I have been designing socks on and off for the past 5 years at least, oftentimes typically when there was a clear need for the socks. Especially when a publication asked me for a pair for a magazine or book (hello 52 Weeks of Socks Vol 2!) or when my husband's birthday was near! But last autumn things started to change.
The first pair that really got me into all of the sock knitting was knitted in Portugal, on a lovely knitting retreat last October. I wanted to knit a pair that would always remind me of that lovely time in the Douro region in Portugal. On a side note, if you ever get the chance to go to see that part of the world, you should go! It was a dream. And talking about retreats! There’s a new one coming up this fall, again in Portugal but this time in the Azores! How exciting! If you want to spend a weekend with me and Maria and in good knitting company, enjoy some great food and lovely knitted things, there are just a few last spots available. Contact Maria for more details if you are interested.
Anyway, back to my socks: I knitted the first sock, started the second and almost got it done during that week of traveling and finished shortly after returning home. I used a slightly modified version of the lace pattern from my Douro Shawl (that was designed for the retreat!) and loved every little detail I added. I also tried out a garter stitch short row heel - something I hadn’t tried before. A heel with garter stitch is so yummy!
Then late last year I published a little collection of socks and that really made me feel accomplished and proud sock knitter and designer. Yes, two of the included designs were already published in earlier publications but still a little booklet of just socks was a huge milestone for me.
Now I can feel a whole new chapter in my sock knitting and designing enthusiasm. I dream of wearing socks, trying out new details and making so many pairs that I will never run out of fresh socks again.
I have just completed DK weight socks (with added halo form a thread of silk-mohair!) with lovely lace pattern and just yesterday finished the first one from a fabulous colourwork pair! Lilac and neon colours seem to be my ultimate spring colours! I also have discovered that a heavier weight socks will last even in my feet and it gives me so much joy. Now I’m thinking about knitting my next pair with a fingering weight yarn (or sport weight) and add a strand of silk mohair. Fingers crossed that they too will last more than just a few weeks.