Avoiding Second Sock Syndrome

March 27, 2014March 27, 2014 | yarn & yarns

In response to my last post, Jane asked how I combat second sock syndrome. It’s a good question and one that I’m hoping will generate some discussion. Here’s the answer I gave her:

I’ve found I’m happiest when I’ve got two different pairs on the go at once — when I finish the first sock for pair A, I start a new pair. Then when I finish the first sock for pair B, I cast on the second sock for pair A, which I now want to finish so I can cast on pair C.

It’s my personal wooly version of Pavlov’s dog since I only own two pairs of 2.5mm small circulars. Plus, I always have two flavors of knitting to pick up depending on my mood — “challenging” (new pair) and comfort (second sock).

But I’d really love to hear other tips and tricks for dealing with this all-too-common malady. So I ask, “How do YOU combat SSS?”

Sock Anniversary

March 24, 2014March 24, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Given that I finished my first-ever pair of socks a year ago today, I’m as surprised as anyone by my new-found love affair. Yet, a passionate affair it is.

Evidence: a half-dozen socks that have left my needles since December’s Canyon Flower Socks.

sock madness2 — **Clockwise from upper left:** Vintage Office Socks, Lichen Socks, Scrappy Solidagos, Painting Primavera, Ribbed Submarines, and Fresh Hickory.

And, my dear friends, I have a few more finished pairs waiting to be blogged. Yep, I’m in deep. And I’m not even going to try to blame this winter. There’s just something so satisfying right now about playing with color and texture on a small canvas — feeds my creativity AND my need for completion.

Perfection.

Let’s Just Pretend Winter Is Over, Shall We?

March 21, 2014March 24, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Can’t hurt, right? Maybe that Polar Vortex will realize it smells like three-day-old fish and just move along now that we’re on the other side of the equinox.

You could say I jump-started my spring cleaning with this blog. A refresh and move were long overdue. I’ve swept up many of the loose pixels on old posts… Please forgive the rest you find lingering in the corners.

While I’m not so foolhardy as to actually box up the knitwear, I’d like to put my winter FOs into a tidy pile here.

First up, my Frosty Fiddleheads. Taking the time to add the lining was worth every second.

Pattern: Fiddlehead Mittens by Adrian Bizilia Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts DK (Lucky Penny & Charcoal), lined with Frost in fingering — **Pattern**: Fiddlehead Mittens by Adrian Bizilia
**Yarn:** Tanis Fiber Arts DK in Lucky Penny & Charcoal, lined with Frost in fingering

Next we have my Ravellenics project, the Hat Halfpipe: Ogiku. Here’s how the photo shoot played out, in case this series isn’t clear. Izzy grabbed Lily to help her model. The predictably ~~jealous~~ loyal Violet decided to join in. No surprise who won the “battle of the pets.”

Pattern: Ogiku by Sarah Mombert Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Cosmic label in Atlantic & Natural — **Pattern:** Ogiku by Sarah Mombert
**Yarn:** Tanis Fiber Arts Cosmic label in Atlantic & Natural

And last, but not least, the infinity cowl and fingerless mitts I made my mother for Christmas. While she was excited to receive them, know that this shot if more about what a good sport she is.

Patterns: Cafe au Lait Mitts by Paula McKeever & Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino in Jupiter — **Patterns:**
Cafe au Lait Mitts by Paula McKeever
& Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland
**Yarn:**
Malabrigo Silky Merino in Jupiter

FO: Canyon Flower Socks

December 15, 2013March 20, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Consider the subtitle to this post “Ode to Elizabeth Bishop.” Or maybe just “One Art: Part 1.” The hardest part about moving cross country is that there’s always people and places left behind. Let’s just say I was especially missing the splendid colors of a New Mexico sunset when I knit these socks for the TFA Holiday KAL.

canyon flower 1 — **Pattern:** Fair Isle Flower Sock by Candice DeWitt
**Yarn:** TFA Blue Label OOAKs (Canyon & Blue Iris)

They’ve been finished for nearly two weeks now and even worn and laundered. Just took awhile to document them here. Slowed, no doubt, by my scramble to finish up a pair of KAL mitts by this Friday and some covert holiday knitting.

Don’t get me wrong: Minnesota is home and always will be… Yet, January is sure to be good sock knitting weather and I have a pair of Maryland socks in mind. Albuquerque and Baltimore — two lovely cities.

FO: Second Socks for Izzy

November 17, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Let the kiddo pick out her own sock yarn at Michaels — the right price-point for a growing teen with a tendency to be extra tough on her clothes. I’ll give it to her: Izzy located a skein with cashmere in it.

izzy-socks2 — **Pattern**: Yarn Harlot’s Sock Recipe
**Yarn**: Loops & Threads Luxury Sock (Ocean)

These socks also mark a first: major surgery. When both pairs were done, Izzy tried them on…only to discover that I’d made the foot too short. So I snipped apart the toes, ripped back to the start of the toe decreases, added a good 1/2″, and then finished them up again. Can’t tell you how clever it made me feel.

FO: Primavera Socks

November 8, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

It’s Friday night and I have a new FO — what better way to kick off the weekend?

No chance of my new love affair with socks waning after this pair. These are now hands-down (feet-down?) my new favorite socks. To start, there’s the yarn — isn’t it lovely? Not sure how she manages it, but that Tanis continues to outdo herself with each Etsy update.

tartan primavera 2 — **Pattern**: Primavera Socks by natalja
**Yarn**: TFA Blue Label in Yellow Tartan (OOAK)

Then, the pattern: Easy to memorize and with a six-row repeat, it’s the definition of potato-chippy. (Just one more repeat…) I also really like the look of the heel flap with the 2-stitch garter edging; tidy and makes picking up stitches easy-peasy.

Since this is a knitting blog, guess I should mention the two mods I made: Changed the p3tog to Sl1, P2 tog, psso (much easier on my hands) and added slip stitches between the garter ridges to make the heel sturdier.

FO Parade: Blue Iris Rivercats

October 24, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

So that sock pattern that wasn’t quite right for the If a Tree Falls colorway I got at Yarnover? It was perfect for this OOAK lovely from Tanis Fiber Arts.

riverbed 2 — **Pattern**: Rivercat Sock by Brenda Patipa
**Yarn**: TFA Blue Label (Blue Iris)

So success on that front, but I should have gone down a needle size. They’re a bit big inside shoes, but they will keep my feet toasty at home. Or be great layered over another pair for January outings. As you can see, they’re too pretty not to wear.

And this brings our FO Parade to a close. Hoping to keep up better in October.

FO Parade: Spiced Cotton Reels

October 23, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Why, yes. You are correct. I did already knit another pair of fingerless mitts this year. But in my defense, I live in Minnesota.

Plus, I used fingering-weight scraps to create these. So I’m feeling all “virtuous” in a waste-not, want-not way. (What’s that, you say? My fingers are in my ears, so no, I can’t hear you laughing.)

cotton reel mitts — **Pattern**: Cotton Reel Mittens by Ysolda Teague
**Yarn**: TFA Blue Label (Plum and Spice)

What do you do with your yarn scraps? I’ve got lots more itching to become something…

FO Parade: If a Nutkin Falls…

October 22, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Nothing like washing away the taste of an FO Fail with a great pairing of yarn and pattern, is there?

I got this lovely skein at Yarnover last April. My first choice didn’t work so well, but I knew to cut my losses early and frog before the heel flap. Love, love, LOVE how these turned out. The pattern is that perfect combination of interesting knitting but easy to memorize. Also, they’re clearly too big for Izzy, who’s modeling in the photos. Phew, that should keep them safe from sticky fingers.