One Sock Off and One Sock On

I grafted the toe on the first Rivendell Sock last night...

I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

I then immediately cast the second Rivendell Sock on...

Lest I be tempted to do something else.

I didn't get much done on it. (Honestly, after the first row, I got nothing done on it.) But at least now I won't merrily start another pair before this pair is finished! And all those lovely skeins of OTHER sock yarn will be a great motivation to get this pair done so I can have the needles back!

Take that Second Sock Syndrome!

Progress Report

I worked on the Rivendell Sock on Thursday at the Survivor Kick-Off/Very Late Birthday Celebration. I was already to the foot with the gusset finished, so I was very comfortable working on it in the dark.

I got to within a 1/2 inch of the toe decrease, then put it away.

I got it out again Saturday night when Twilight came over to watch Big Bang Theory. There in the light of my living room I saw it...a dropped stitch...I had dropped it almost 3 inches back, and it had run for about 6 rows.

GASP! The HORROR! GASP! (Too far back to pick up...unable to frog the socks...I would have to tink...for nearly 3 inches!)

Once the hyperventilating stopped...I put it away. Worked on a garter stitch scarf.

Sunday afternoon, I got down to business. I tinked. I tinked. I tinked some more. I tinked for 2 1/2 inches, till I was close enough to pick the stitch back up.

Here is the current progress:



I would celebrate more...except I realize that in addition to the remaining 3-4 inches of this sock that I have to REknit, I have still another whole sock to knit!

Hindsight is 20/20

I took a picture this morning of my feet in the orange DC socks.



Upon closer examination, I wish that I had made sure to start the second sock at the same point in the variegation pattern as the first sock.

Mr. R pointed out that they are just socks, and that the pattern is meant to be random...but still, it bugs me.

On the plus side, I can tell the right sock from the left sock. As long as I can remember which one was supposed to be which!

Second Sock

The second sock in the pair I was making from DC's Christmas gift skein is done!

They took longer than normal, even though they are the easiest/most brainless/boringest pattern I have, because of the flood of baby gifts I have been making.

I think they are very cute, but am glad to be done with them so that I can finally get going on my Rivendell pair from Eclectic Sole. (I have changed my mind about which yarn to use for these at least 3 times...but I think I have finally come to a decision...we'll see when I actually cast on.)

However, before I cast on I need to cross at least 2 other things off of my queue.

I am going to be responsible...if it kills me...and it might!

Am I that obvious?

I received some lovely Christmas gifts from a friend.

They included sock yarn. Orange sock yarn. Self striping orange sock yarn.

Said friend and I had met via email through a mutual friend.

Apparently I talk about knitting often enough, and my love of all things orange, that he knew just what to get me. (Not just everyone would appreciate a gift that requires effort on their part. No-siree-bob!)

Here is the first finished sock:

Just my regular old plain jane sock pattern. 2x2 rib with a flap heel. Nothing super exciting since I didn't want to detract at all from the yarn's coloration.

I already cast on the second in an effort to stave off Second Sock Syndrome, and will take it on my trip this weekend...it will make a good purse project.

Because Her Foot Was Cold

I have a rule: I only make socks for myself. Everyone else's feet are too big.

The only time I broke this rule was when I gave a pair of socks to Ontie for reaching her Weight Watcher's goal. (Also, we have the same size feet, so it wasn't any added work.)

However, I recently broke the rule again for Blondie, whose feet are at least 3 sizes larger than mine. Why? Simple. Her foot was cold.

I was knitting on the sectional in our family room (surprise surprise), while Blondie played Guitar Hero barefoot. I was finishing up the Iris socks. (Plain vanilla sock pattern: 2X rib with a short row heel.) I had completed one of the socks, and had it sitting on the back of the couch for comparison with the mostly done sock. (I always size the first sock off of my actual foot, and then size the second one off of the first.) Blondie asked what I was working on. I told her a sock, and held up the in progress needles. She looked at it quizzically. (Which wasn't surprising since a sock in progress on two circulars IS pretty confusing to non-knitters.) I then tossed the finished sock to her so that she could see the end result. She was impressed, and then promptly pulled it on her foot.

I was shocked. It fit! It seems that though Blondie's feet are WAY longer than mine, they are also incredibly narrow. I have really short feet, but they are incredibly wide. So, the total area of our feet is identical, just the dimensions are different. She asked if she could leave it on, because her foot was cold. I said sure. (She looked adorable with one sock on and one sock off, and even at one point switched it to the other foot.)

When I finished the second sock, I looked at the pair. Blondie's feet, being longer than mine, had changed the shape of the original sock. I thought about it, remembered how much she had liked the sock, reminded myself that I hadn't exactly been "feeling" the yarn in the first place and had nothing that matched it....and caved.

Iris socks now live upstairs with Blondie. She was grateful...and since I have spent many an evening in bed with her watching tv, I was glad to finally have a barrier between myself and her FREEZING feet.