Girl Who Knits - socks

Allison's Toasty Toes

noreply@blogspirit.com (Erin) — Wed, 1 Nov 2006 12:15:00 -0700

So I got word this morning that Allison received her Toasty Toes socks from me. She sent me the nicest thank you email ever and I am so pleased that she likes them--honestly, you can't imagine how relieved I am. So without further ado, here are the socks:

I was so excited about completing the second sock that I immediately washed them. Kind of dumb since I now don't have a pretty on-my-foot picture of the finished pair. I finished them last week Tuesday. They took two days to dry fully and I sent them off last Thursday along with a few other goodies. I am so thrilled I finished on time. I am also thrilled with how the socks came out.

I have long admired the Petticoat Socks from Weekend Knitting. When I was faced with having to find a new sock pattern after I realized the Lombard Street socks weren't going to work, I immediately thought of this one. I love the way the picot edge curves at the top of the sock. I also find the lace pattern really pleasing. Can't really tell you why but I love it.

The stats:

Pattern: Petticoat Socks

Source: Weekend Knitting

Yarn: Plain and Fancy Wool, single-ply sport weight, Avocado

Needles: US 3 dpns

Mods: None

Notes: I loved the way the greens in this yarn had such subtle differences of color. It also slightly varies in thickness which adds a different texture to the sock. I also LOVE the toe. Again, it is very pleasing.

The verdict--I like them and will likely make myself a pair in the future. They are very comfortable and warm and pretty. I couldn't be happier with my pal and had a lot of fun reading her blog--getting to know someone while knitting them socks. What a cool experience. I have to admit to some intimidation though. I mean she runs Simply Socks Yarn Company. Not only is it a yarn store...but a SOCK yarn store. Honestly. Talk about being thrown in the fire for my first exchange. But I think I came out okay and will certainly do another exchange in the future. What fun.

I did get an email saying that the socks intended for me are a little delayed so I will show those when I get them. I don't mind the delay at all. It was fun enough to make and send out the socks I made. I can wait. So since the socks were completed, I have been back to sweater knitting. Forecast is up first. I am thinking it could be done this weekend--finally. I have been loving getting back into sweater knitting. I have several sweater projects that I want to get done before the year ends. More on that later.

In denial

noreply@blogspirit.com (Erin) — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:27:49 -0600

It has been way too long since I have had an update. Our internet is down at home and work has just been too busy to get much blogging done. It has just been one of those weeks.

Last week, while knitting amongst the very talented knitters in Salt Lake City, I was forced to confront the denial I have been living in over the last few weeks. The denial went deep and started with the assertion that this:

will fit my Toasty Toes pal even though i have to pry it on my feet praying that the fabric will hold as it painfully stretches over my heel. For some reason, the fact that I was able to get it on eventually and allowed me to forget the pausing and the slow cinching required to do so.

Unfortunately, the fit wasn't all. I also have been ignoring the fact that in order to finish the toe of the first sock, I had to break into the second skien of Koigu. Um...why I didn't at that point realize there is no way I will have enough yarn for the second sock I don't know. I really was living under the hope that the second skien magically will have more yardage than the first. I am stupid. Unfortunately for me, I had to be outed as a dumb dumb at last week's SnB in front of smart knitters.

My eyes finally opened and not wanting to send my pal socks that don't fit, I went home and immediately went into full scale fix-it mode. I found another pattern I have been wanting to try and that I think my pal will be into, grabbed some awesome green yarn I bought from Plain and Fancy Wool at Estes Wool Market and cast on the next day. I have been knitting ever since. I am done with one sock and 80% done with the second.

Meet the Petticoat Socks from Weekend Knitting:

Here is me trying it on (it fits!)

These socks are SO comfortable and very...dare I say...toasty. I am pleased with how they turned out and hope my pal will love them--more than anything I want her to be happy. I am still morning the loss of the Lombard Street socks and I know those would have been great, but how great can a pair of socks be that take 10 minutes to get on...and with one having a missing toe.

So there is the knitting update. On a different note, today is my birthday. I wish I could live in denial about that but I am all too aware that I woke up one year older today. Just like that. I am 31. I know, not old but still, not super young. A good age I think but one that really makes me reflect on my life and the direction it is taking.

I will give you a full report on all the festivities (they started on Saturday) and on all the fun things my clever sisters have done for my birthday. But as a teaser, here is how it all began at 3:30 Saturday afternoon:

Intriguing no?

Going down Lombard Street

noreply@blogspirit.com (Erin) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 22:25:00 -0600

Some of you may have heard me mention my selfish knitting tendencies. How my knitting and I form such a tight bond, I have a hard time letting go. So if you are reading this and I have knit for you, you should know...that's love. True knitter's love.

Toasty Toes is the first knit exchange I have joined and while I am excited to take part, I can see the potential for tragedy. You see, I think I am in love with my pal's socks.

This wasn't anything I planned. It just happened. I think they had me at the Picot edge. So. Cute. The pattern is Lombard Street, designed by Susan and found in the most recent MagKnits. The yarn is Koigu KPM in this great steel blue color. I love mostly solid color yarns for socks--slight variations in the color give it an added dimension that I love.

My only worry about these socks is that there is not a lot of give in the fabric so I am holding my breath over sizing. I am on gauge though so hopefully I will be okay. Once I turn the heel I will try it on and make sure I can get it over my ankle--so let's just hope they fit shall we? The only thing more tragic then the fact that I have to give these up, would be if they didn't fit my pal. As much as I love the socks, I want her to be happy more.