January Socks

For non-knitting readers, beware.

One day early in January, Cece and I put together sock kits similar to what the yarnharlot did last year for her self-imposed-sock-club.  Strangely, simply putting the yarn and the pattern together in a ziplock bag makes a world of difference getting you all that closer to getting a project done.  I brought all my sock yarn over (not much compared with Cece's collection, but much more than I thought I had since I don't knit socks much) and some favorite patterns and we spent an afternoon figuring out just the right combos.  At first I was going to do 6 kits for the year as I still have two pairs of unfinished socks started in 2009.  Figured a sock a month was more realistic than a full pair.  Well, I'm happy to report, I exceeded expectations for January.  Behold my first pair of socks for the year - completed a week ahead of schedule.

Pattern:
- Cozy Armchair Socks by Nora Gaughan in Weekend Knitting
- Size: women's 9.5 (second size)
Yarn:
- Reynolds, Signature color 022 (magenta)
- Brown Sheep Co., Lambs Pride Superwash color SW90 Northern Lights (dark purple)
- Brown Sheep Co., Lambs Pride Superwash color SW08 Mowtown Mauve (light purple)
Needles:
- #7 DPs

Fast knit partly because I loved the colors and the yarn.  This gauge (18sts/4") is much more my cup of tea - quick knit - think the initial socks only took about two days to knit.  They were cuff down with an afterthought heel.  I really wanted to use up all the yarn, so after I finished, I picked up stitches on the cuff and added another 4 inches almost.  I like tall socks.  Short socks = cold ankles.  You can barely tell where the transition is.  Also, the foot was initially about 1.5" too short.  So I ripped it back and added more and now it is about 1/2 an inch too long.  Room for growth!

The yarn is a funny congruence.  They almost match the picture of the original pattern.  It calls for Reynolds Signature and I was surprised to have some.  It was a half ball that I had picked up from Cece's disposal pile - I have trouble letting go of yarn regardless of quantity.  And the Brown Sheep yarn I do believe I picked up almost a decade ago when I was in Berkeley, CA.  Not sure what I thought I'd do with the two balls, but this just goes to show it all comes together in the end.  Overall, very happy with the socks and I now have  happy January feet. 

Now on to the next sock project.  I'm choosing a different approach than Cece.  She blindly picks her next project.  For me, I peek.  I'm thinking of trying toe up and doing some more stripped socks in an attempt to stash bust.  Although I may need to go needle shopping.  I don't have many double pointed needles - lots of holes in the sizes and strangely am missing one here and there.  I don't know how I only have 3 #6 dps.  I'm sure when I bought them, they had more sisters and brothers.  I'm usually so good with my needles.  Oh well.  New year, clean slate.