But All I'm Knitting Right Now is Socks
I see all this delightful lace knitting going on when I read other people's blogs. I feel like I should be inspired to knit lace. After all, lace is lightweight and compatible with summer knitting needs (as long as one is not knitting with Kidsilk Haze). But right now, there's no lace on my WIP list, and I've decided that it's time to keep marching the number of unfinished projects down a little bit. One of those truly long lingering projects has been my Mermaid socks (design by Lucy Neatby in Cool Socks, Warm Feet). I started the first sock at the time that I went to the 2004 MS&W. I decided to start the second sock at this years MS&W. Because I wasn't paying attention, I made a mistake in the transition between the cuff and the body of the sock. So, annoyed with myself, I stuffed the sock back into it's project bag (what would I do with out Ziplocs eh?) and didn't pull it back out until Saturday when I headed out to the Worldwide Knit in Public Day festivities (want to see some of what was going on there? Check out Bonne Marie's excellent coverage as well as Lynette's photos from the day. I forgot to bring my camera...)
I did make an attempt to get them to be identical, but, if you've ever worked with this particular brand of Regia yarn, you know, like I don, that it's relatively challenging. So I settled for "mostly identical". I've never been all that hung up on the need for identical socks, so the slight difference won't bother me all that much -- especially with the riot of color that is going on in the sock.
I'd forgotten how easy this pattern is for the neat effect it gives you. Almost mindless, except that I can't do a k2tog without looking at my knitting.
Since I'm very close to finishing my mom's socks (just the toe decreases remain now) these socks will likely make the jouney with me to Ann Arbor this weekend along with my cross stitch dragon and my wheel. This is one of two pairs of socks I get to make for myself as part of my Family Sock Challenge (I'm allowed to finish the two pairs that are lingering in my WIP list). Once I finish Mom's socks, I'll be 2/3 of the way through, so I think I can give myself a little sock reward.
P.S. To My Fellow Sock Challengers: I'm sorry I missed our update over the weekend, I was distracted by a bunch of things. This weekend I'll be in Ann Arbor, so no update this coming weekend, either. I promise that we'll have another update the following weekend. After that I should both be in town for a while and have my head better together, so the postings should get more regular.
Wow - fabulous socks! I may have to buy that book. They look great in that colourway too.
No apologies necessary! Your socks are wonderful and no guilt about what you choose to knit, please. As for my sock challenge, I gave up on socks for Dale (for now) so you can remove that from my name but I am knitting socks for my sister-in-law, Mary.
I love those socks! I have that book, but missed that pattern - I need to go find it. However, I'm on a sock hiatus at the moment - I finished my own socks, and am taking a break for a while.
The problem with lace is, for me at least, that it's not portable. Not even within different locales in my own house. I have to work on this shawl in one particular chair with everything "just so." Socks are much less stressful - and that spiral pattern is fab!
Thos socks are nifty!
I usually have socks as my KIP project too--I even work on them during the eight minute passing time during the school year where we teachers are supposed to stand out in the hall. I had to laugh this time though--I have a lace project for the first time ever, it's a feather and fan pattern and seems to require thought only once every four rows. I can only work lace when it's quiet and I can concentrate. Now that it is summer vacation with two kids, 3 and 8, that doesn't happen often.
I too, have a few sock projects happening right now, (due to portability) and that's getting in the way a teensy bit, of my lace knitting desires. I do need to get started soon though. Pretty socks, though!
That is the best sock book out there, hands down.
I love those socks! Both the pattern and the yarn.
I have some sock yarn for ya over here!!!
that pattern is really great! So few patterns take real advantage of self-striping yarn - that one is a real winner. Cool colors too.