Sometimes looking at a sock is like looking at the rings in a tree: you can see what's been going on in the past over the period of time the sock was being knitted. Case in point: the first of two socks for my brother as part of my Family Sock Challenge.
Amazing how much stuff gets caught up in one size 11 man-sized sock.
What stories do your socks have to tell? I'd love to see other people's sock-life diagrams!
For the record, the sock was knit top down using Regia Linien Color # 5281, on US size 1 needles, at approximately 8 stitches/inch. There's an inch and a half of K2P2 ribbing at the top,5 and a half inches of straight stockinetted, a short-row heel a la Patricia Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, and a 4 point toe after 9" of straight knitting. It took darned near all the yarn in the skein. It's a simple sock, but given that it's recipient is male, I think that is a good thing.

This is a nifty illustration of what else went on while you knit this lovely sock. I often think of other happenings and doings that my knitting has accompanied. Perhaps I should write some of it down. This kind of reminds me of a series of books of short stories I read/had read to me when I was a child. There were stories told by looking at different squares of a patchwork quilt. Each patch came from something different and held a story and a lesson.
BTW, I think you mean Priscilla Gibson Roberts. I love her book, Simple Socks Plain and Fancy. The whole spinning thing is finally beginning to happen for me (drop spindle for me for now), and I am considering her book Spinning in the Old Way. OF course I've got a possible upcoming fiber acquisition opportunity, and I might want to save my money for that.
Nifty illustration! What software did you use for the captions?
You made it with just one skein? I always get nervous when knitting for DH's size 11 EEE feet and change up heels and toes because of that. I promise to post the story of his latest sock when it is finished.
Sarah: you're absolutely right about Ms. Gibson-Roberts name. I've fixed it.
Savtadoty: I just used Photoshop Elements. I don't have any other special image editing software.
Devorah: This sock is not going to be big enough for a guy with EEE feet. My brother is whatever regular guy width is (about 9" around at the ball of the foot). If your hubby has wider feet, I think you'd need more than one ball per sock.
What a great idea! I'm just starting as a sock knitter and love this idea. My current project has taken so long that that's no way I can remember what I was doing during various parts!
Great sock, great idea and I love WeizenBier. A slice of lemon and we're set.
If anyone were to look closely at my handknits and comment, my reply would have to be, "Why, yes, I do have 3 cats and 2 long-haired dogs. Why do you ask?"
As a data point, I am not getting any image at all using Safari on a Mac. I shall trot off and try Explorer or Mozilla or something for now.
i came yesterday, it didn't work. today it still doesn't show. using IE newest edition..hmmm
Sock story...heh, I love it!
This is exactly why I like to keep certain pieces of my knitting. They're almost like journals of my life.
What a neat idea! I'm going to start keeping track of my socks stories, too.