Sockapalooza'd!

I'm rather late in showing off my great new Sockapalooza socks, but I really, really love them, so I figured better late than never!


These beauties were made by my sock pal, Julia of Moon Tea from a shade of Koigu that suits me absolutely perfectly. And they're Roza's socks! Yay! I love this pattern, and it was literally the next one on my list of socks to knit... excellent choice, Julia! (Though, now that I have one pair, I feel the need to have many, many more so they remain as the next on my list of socks to knit).


And look at all the goodies she included in my package! On the left are some super-crafty sock blockers made specifically for my sized feet that Julia cut from IKEA placemats. So cool! And some delicious, natural bee hand balm! Yum, yum! Thanks for the great package, Julia!


And I feel especially lucky to have gotten these socks because they are Julia's first pair of knitted socks. Yes, the first pair ever. I can imagine that these babies were difficult for her to give away... I am sort of nostalgic over my first pair of socks. And she did a terrific job on them, being her very first pair! Great job on the learning to knit socks in the name of Sockapalooza, Julia!


The computer remains incapacitated and I have only a mere two weeks left to finish my exhibition (opening September 25), so blogging time continues to be nearly nil. I have been knitting when time permits, and I'll have some pre-fall sweaters to show off soon, I hope. I can already tell that my summer sock knitting is falling by the wayside, and I am gearing up for fall sweater knitting.

I'll check back in soon with a WIP report on the nearly finished sweaters...

Til then, happy Sunday everyone!

Finished: Sockapalooza4 Rococo Socks

They are finished. On time. My sock pal will have socks! And a matching pair at that. And, um, they fit me perfectly, despite my apparent sizing them for a foot two sizes smaller than mine. Hopefully with a little wash and block action, they'll fit her, too.


Finished: Sockapalooza4 Socks for my sock pal!
Pattern: Rococo by knitspot
Fiber: All Things Heather 100% superwash merino in "Orchid"
Needles: size 1 dpns
Date Started: 20 June 2007
Date Completed: 10 July 2007
Modifications: A few minor modifications. See below for more details.


First, I now love these socks. The whole time I was knitting them I was so not into them. But they turned out great. They're sort of difficult to photograph with any due justice, mostly because the yarn is very fine and the pattern is subtle. But the combination of those two qualities created these amazing light, wispy socks. Love the Rococo pattern. I *will* knit some of these for myself, definitely. And see that cool detail in the above photo? Gutters of purl stitches along the sides of the sock, which work a lot like elastic. For, you know, a perfect fit. Great design detail.


The most extreme modification I made to the pattern was knitting the back panel of the sock in plain stockinette, rather than repeating the front lace panel. I just fell in love with the little stripes the colorway created on the foot bottoms that I wanted to keep it going on the back of the sock. Now, I have to admit that I do like the lace panel knit in back too... have a look at the newly finished pair knit by the chemgrrl. Very pretty. But I think the plain stockinette works better in the case of my socks. The yarn is thin, so stockinette adds stability to the sock and seems more balanced for the variegated colorway.


Cute toes! I love the combination of pseudo-cables and laciness.


And check out those cute lacy cuffs! Love that detail.

Did I mention already that there are two? That's right, there are two. I hope my sock pal loves them.

Next up: 'Tis the season for blogiversary celebrations! Seems mine is coming up in a few days. There will be a big-time-fun contest. With some sort of give-away, I'm sure. Though I have yet to establish what that will be; I'll have to get creative, as I am beyond poor right now. Yay, one year old blog!

My sock pal has a sock!

Okay, sure, so maybe it's just one sock, but one is better than none, right?


And look: it's a pretty sock! I'm happy with the way it turned out. I had some trouble knitting this sock... for one, the yarn I'm using is very fine, and, well, I really dislike knitting with fine yarn. I always feel like I can't keep the stitches at an even gauge. I almost ditched it for another pattern (again!) but then I decided to stick with it. And... I'm glad I did. It's a nice sock. I did modify the pattern a bit... I only did the lace panel on the front and left the back in plain stockinette. I just really loved how the subtle variegated stripes looked on the bottom of the foot that I wanted to continue it up the back leg.


And my sock pal suggested lacy socks, and, while this pattern isn't the laciest ever, I think there's just enough of a lacy look to suit my sock pal just fine. {And let's not mention to my sock pal that I squeezed my size 9 feet into her dainty little size 71/2 sock.}


And you know me, I'll have that second sock done in no time flat, what with me having the reputation for being such a monogamous knitter. I mean, if there's one thing I endorse it's finishing what you start. One project at a time. I'd never fall prey to Second Sock Syndrome. Not me.

Oh, and I'm not a sarcastic person, ever. Nope. Never, not at all.

Sweet as...

Fiberlicious! An update for those interested: Fiberlicious! isn't limited to Fridays. Initially, I was going to establish a "Fiberlicious Fridays" thing, but that's sort of silly. You should post when the fancy strikes you. No need to put rules and restrictions and days of the week on this. Also, there's a button, now, for those who are kind enough to advertise this silly idea of mine on their blogs. Feel free to take one, just please link it to your own server, yaddah, yaddah.


Okay, real reason for this post: a Sockapalooza sock update. In the wake of a series of unforeseen decisions, I was forced to scrap the double set of Marigold socks. Now, I stand by my love for this pattern and my desire to have a garden sock drawer filled with blooming Marigolds (I already have very definite plans to knit another pair of Marigolds in some STR Sunstone). But I decided that the All Things Heather yarn just wasn't fit to be Marigolds. It's just a little too fine to knit up ruffly. That said, I've decided that I couldn't just scrap the yarn altogether. It really is perfect for my sock pal, I think. She likes pinks and purples AND she prefers variegated yarn over semi-solid. Check and check. This yarn fits the bill. So, I decided to try another sock pattern that I've been eyeing, knitspot's Rococo Socks. Love them. And the pattern suggests using a finer weight yarn. Check.


Here's the part where you have a good look and tell me if this was a good move. The socks are coming along rather slowly, as the pattern is not the easiest to memorize, and the yarn is pretty fine, so there are more stitches that usual. But I've finished one foot and am about to begin the leg. There is a bit of awkward striping of the dark purple sections of the yarn, but I think it works with the pattern. And my sock pal DID say she liked variegated yarns, so surely she likes the variegated effect (insert liberal amount of paranoia from one who doesn't like variegated yarns so is unduly concerned about variegation). What's the consensus? You likey?

And thanks so much to everyone who helped me do a little destashing. It's much appreciated, given the absence of grad student stipends during the summer months. And there are still a few things left in the pot, so if you're interested go have yourself a look. Destashing pot this-a-way.

Have a manageable Monday, all!

Singles and toes.

The Single Sock Liberation Movement continues! As it goes, there is waxing and waning of members, and there are those that don't realize they are taking part until it is too late. Then, of course, there's the plain ol' mutinous. But all is well... this leader understands that some second socks must be knit... how desolate knitblogland would be without any FOs!


But since the Movement must march on, have a look at my most recent contribution: an unmatched pair of pastel beauties.

Left :: Giotto by Anna Bell :: STR lightweight "Blue Moonstone"
Right :: Child's First Sock by Nancy Bush :: Fleece Artist Sea Wool "Buttercream"


I've never been much into pastels, but it seems that I've acquired a taste for it recently. I really do love how both of these socks turned out. And oh, the textures! Don't they make a handsome pair?


The pastels phase has left as abruptly as it had come, and I've moved on to purples and more purples. Though I've been partially encouraged to this new palette by my Sockapalooza4 sock pal's color preference.

Left :: All Things Heather Fingering Weight Merino :: "Orchids"
Right :: Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Lightweight Merino :: "Star Sapphire"


A pair of toes has been completed in each of the two yarn choices for my sock pal's socks. Remember when I said I was going to knit Lombard Street socks for my sock pal? Well, that was before Pamela Wynne so graciously published her Marigold Socks pattern. I absolutely love this pattern! So much so that I am knitting two pairs of these socks in a row... one for my sock pal and one for me! What's more, I've *finally* learned how to knit toe-up AND how to do magic loop (yes, yes, I know, "welcome to the 21st century of sock knitting)! I'm knitting one of the Marigolds on DPNs and one with the magic loop method. By the end of it, I should know which method I prefer, once and for all.

Now, if I could just decide which pair of Marigolds my sock pal would like more: the reddish-fuschia-purple ones or the bluish-purple ones? I'm leaning toward the reddish-fuschia ones for her, but I'm still undecided. Knowing me, I won't decide definitively until the very last second. So until then, each purple Marigold will grow at the same speed.

Happy Monday, all!