A pair of socks

   

Well, here they are -- the Lacy  Mock Cable socks in Megaboots sock yarn.  Started Thanksgiving weekend, and finished today, Dec. 17.   Three and a half weeks, with occasional forays into other fiber work: some spinning, some other knitting, and putting a new warp on the loom and starting to weave that scarf.  And a break to untangle the sock yarn.  The picture on the right shows that on the leg portion they became fraternal twins, which is fine with me.  (The original picture also showed the quality of light in December in central Pennsylvania. Photographed in the lightest spot in the house, they were practically impossible to see.  So I took advantage of the bizarro 59 degrees outside and took the pictures out on the deck.  The temperature has changed in the winter in PA, but unfortunately the light -- or lack of it in the winter -- has not.)  On the left, a detail shot showing why this sock was a pleasure to knit -- great pattern, pretty yarn.

I am going to cast on right away for another pair of socks, using the blue and green Megaboots from the stash -- a very different yarn -- and I think I will try the honeycomb pattern I was talking about.  It uses a slip-stitch purl pattern.  I have already wound the 100-gm ball into two equal weight balls, and am so pleased to have it ready to go that at some point I will do the same with another 100-gm ball in the sock stash. 
     But... I don't want to be knitting only socks.  So here's the plan.  I am going to tackle the garter trim on the neckline and front edges of the Garden Gate vest, and invent a garter stitch trim for the armholes (the pattern is for a sweater, but there is just no way I have enough yarn for that, not after the garter trim).  And then, since this has been haunting and harassing me for weeks, I am going to start a lace project.
     Why am I having such a hard time deciding which one to do?  Partly it is because I have two gorgeous sport or sport/dk weight yarns I would like to use for lace -- one is a handpainted Wensleydale I have talked about before, the other is some gorgeous Brooks Farm Yarn Primero.  In a fit of extravagance -- OK, two separate fits of extravagance -- I bought each one, but managed to buy not enough for a sweater.  Probably enough for vest but ya know what -- I don't wear the vests I have made.  OK, no vests.  Even though I bought vest patterns for them.  Instead, they will be scarves/shawls/shrugs/whatever.   Though the current object of my fascination is the Ella shawl from Knitty, which calls for worsted.
     What bothers me about using the sport weight and two appropriate patterns -- and I know this is silly -- is that the Forest Canopy shawl, and the South Slocan scarf will take less than half of the yarn I bought.  And I am playing a silly game of trying to match the amount of yarn I have to a project. 
     I could make a sport/dk weight version of the clapotis.  It would look gorgeous in either yarn and would be a manageable size.  But I am worried about the boredom factor.  (The South Slocan scarf, by the way, is the Feb. 17 pattern in the 2006 Knitting Pattern a Day calendar.)  So I should just knit what I want from the yarn I have, and find other uses for what is left of the yarns.  Beautiful hats.  Accents in weaving.  Or finding someone who wants to make a gorgeous sport-weight lace scarf or shawlette.  Oh well.  At some point today, a decision will be made. 

Comments

[KimB]

The socks came out beautifully. I suggest you make what you want to make from those gorgeous yarns. So much stress will cause lack of knitting enjoyment. You have been yearning to do lace...so do lace.

[Laritza]

I have alpaca/wool blend in lace weight. Brown and white. We could trade if you want. Do you have pictures? and yardage? or weight of the sports/dk yarn?

[Robbyn]

Your socks are just beautiful. In fact I like them so much I went and scrutinized the pattern (and also the Honey of a Hurricane socks). You couldn't have left it alone and just posted one link, could you. You had to give me a choice! LOL!

I'm with Kim - make whatever pattern sets your heart on fire :) Damn the leftovers; full speed ahead!

[lella]

Those are very beautiful socks. I wish I could make a pair as quickly as you do.

Loved the article on Alphabets. Thanks for posting your interesting findings.