Saturday 28 June 2014

Odd Socks

This month I have finished two socks, unfortunately they are not a pair though.  The first to be finished is a very plain, "vanilla" sock in Four Seasons Grundl Hot Socks, a German self striping sock yarn.  There is sometimes something wonderfully soothing about knitting a sock round and round, feeling the wool slipping between your fingers and watching the colours stripe themselves as the sock grows.  I did a good bit of the foot of this sock on my way to and from Sussex on holiday, a plain sock is perfect train knitting.

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Meanwhile the other sock, finished today, is at the other end of the scale, a gloriously complicated sock full of twisted stitches and cables, which I find equally, though differently, enjoyable.  Sometimes it can be wonderful to focus and be present in the moment, following the instructions and transferring a chart on the page into 3-D reality.  The pattern is a mystery knit-along from the designer Rachel Coopey, the first of her patterns I have knitted, although I have admired her work for a while.  I was especially drawn to this pattern because it was inspired by the Brighton Pavilion, the most glorious confection of a building, to which we were often taken as children.  Brighton is a place dear to my heart, so full of life and our nearest seaside.

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Throughout knitting this sock I have enjoyed the challenges offered and the yarn, Toddy by The Yarn Yard, is a delight, bright and soft, making the twisted stitches "pop".  I would definitely recommend pattern, designer and yarn; I have plans to try Rachel Coopey's Mixalot pattern using some of my sock leftovers.  Once I have finished both second socks that is - I have the leg done of the second Pavilion sock and have begun the second sock plain sock.

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Of course with a number of friends expecting babies I should be knitting baby gifts, but sock knitting has this way of taking over.

5 comments:

  1. Sock knitting is addictive - I used to have a simple sock knitting project as well as a 'complicated' one but these past months I've only knitted scrap socks. I might give mixalot a try - they are the perfect mixture of using up scrap yarn and having a pattern to follow so it doesn't get too boring ;)

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    1. And sock knitting is so addictive, they are so good to wear too, so it's a win-win situation :)

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  2. Yes they'd work well for your using up scraps

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  3. Socks baffle me and I so much admire people who knit them! I prefer larger projects on a circular needle (often used to make flat pieces). Roobeedoo is making the Brighton Pavilion pair at the moment. Both your socks are lovely.

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    1. See if the Yarn Cake or somewhere similar do a class on it? Also you can make them on circular needles, either by magic loop or using two circulars, they're fun, I never thought I'd manage them so I've confounded myself too! I'm sure you can do it. And thank you

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