Socks with Socrates!

I bought this yarn on a bit of an impulse on the way out the door at my local yarn store, A Stitch in Time. I do not regret it one bit. What I *do* regret is not buying more of this yarn.

Socrates yarn from Alpaca with a Twist, Wednesday Night Green

This yarn is absolutely amazing. The singles are a bit heathered. In this case, the main color is the bright green but there is a bit of yellow heathered in. This provides the most amazing color.

I searched high and low for a sock pattern I liked. After looking at 5o or so sock patterns, I settled on Spring Forward from Knitty. My only reservation about the pattern was the slouch in the leg of the sock.

I am working the instep on the first sock. I love the pattern, it is easy to memorize and great commuter knitting (or TV knitting). I am knitting the sock on 1 1/2 DPN's. The leg is a good bit more slouchy than I would like - and I will be seriously disappointed if the leg ends up overly baggy. Every row or so (or even when I have completed knitting the stitches on a single needle) I pet the yarn. And pet the yarn. And look at my progress. And pet the yarn. And wonder how it would go if I asked the people on the bus to pet my yarn.

The pattern is only obvious when stretched. See?

(Relaxed)

(Stretched)

Do YOU want to pet my socks?

ON THE NEEDLES: Spring Forward Socks and Hanami
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor
ON THE iPOD: Splendid Table podcast
ON THE TABLE: BBQ meat salads

Blasphemy!

There are a couple of things you should know about me before you read this post:

1. I am a die-hard sock knitter.

2. I am a die-hard sock knitter who loves to use wooden DPNs to knit my socks. I love how they feel in my hand and, like the Yarn Harlot said once - they look pretty impressive to the uninitiated.

3. I secretly mock people who knit socks from the toe up the same way some knitters secretly mock people who crochet.

4. I hate change.

Moving on to the post:

See that book in the front of the pile? Yep. The book on knitting socks from the toe up. I am about to commit blasphemy against my personal sock philosophy. Chrissy the Great of the Manic Purl podcast recently reviewed this book and I had to buy it.

Everyone: please note this historical event. Refer to items 3 and 4 above.

Some might chalk this up to personal growth but I know better. I am just stubborn. There are a few sock patterns that I really want to knit but the toe up thing is holding me back. Trust me - change is still bad and I will bitch the entire time. I will lose sleep over it. But in the end, I am mighty mighty and toe up socks will not control me.

I hate change.

ON THE NEEDLES: Testing toes for toe up socks and Hanami
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Across the Nightingale Floor
ON THE iPOD: Silk Code podaudio book
ON THE TALBE: Sliced turkey sandwiches (crockpot turkey breast!)

Happy Got Lucky!

Happy Got Lucky - Sock Club Yarn from the Politically Incorrect line by Sugarbee Studios. 440 yards of wooly goodness. Would you look at those colors!!

I don't do yellow in general. I look sickly in yellow. This is sock yarn, though, so my feet will be far from my face (with any luck) and it will all work out awesomely! Although I have a ton of older sock yarn, I am going to cast something on with this as soon as possible.

I have been perusing my Ravelry favorites for a sock pattern that would compliment this yarn and its colors. Options thus far (all free!):

Circle Socks by Anne Campbell (link is for PDF of pattern)


Sunrise Chevron Socks by Carol Sulcowski


Ampersand by Kirsten Kapur (link is for PDF of pattern)


Vortical by Phoenix Bess


My first choice is Ampersand and my second choice is the Sunrise Chevron Socks. Before I make my final decision, I am going to pull out my copies of the new (relatively) Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns by Carol Sulcowski and Sock Innovation by Cookie A.

The first time I knit with this sock base from Sugarbee I was not sure how I was going to like it. I had only used superwash wool sock base up to that point. After the first few rows, I fell in love with the "new" base. There is a sheen to this yarn when you knit it up, no matter what pattern you are using. The stitch definition is just perfect. And, to make matters even better, the sock softens up even more after the first wash! I am now a true fan of Sugarbee's choice of base yarn.

Sugarbee is taking the summer off from all things fibery and who can blame her. Who wants to dye and card fiber when it is 100 degrees out. The fiber clubs will be back in the fall. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

ON THE NEEDLES: Clapotis and Hanami
ON THE BOOKSHELF: The Graveyard Book by Gaiman
ON THE iPOD: NPR - The Manic Purl podcast
ON THE TABLE: Turkey salad on homemade Wheaty Rolls