Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Kicking Off Socktoberfest

To celebrate Socktoberfest, I cast on for and have been working on Unst from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road in my gorgeous rose Fleece Artist. I love, love, love this yarn; it may be my favorite sock yarn thus far. More Fleece Artist, please!


Wow, I just noticed that the contrast between Unst above and my first pair of stockinette socks below really represents a huge increase in my sock-making skills. Yay me! Although I am still making pink socks; I just can't help it.


Edited to answer Lolly's Socktoberfest questions:


1. When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

I made my first pair of socks just this spring. My friend Sue patiently and thoroughly taught me, after really having to work at it to convince me to give it a try. My first pair I made for myself from Cascade Fixation, just simple stockinette socks that I really have not worn that much because I don't wear socks often in the summertime.


2. What would you have done differently?

Nothing. Sue was a great teacher and gave me all the foundation I needed to run with the whole concept on my own.


3. What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I liked Koigu less than I expected. I really enjoyed working with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, and as mentioned above, I am loving my Fleece Artist. I have some Socks That Rock in my stash that I haven't touched yet, but based on everyone else's experience with it, it'll, well, rock.

4. Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I use DPNs, although I am dying to learn both two circs and Magic Loop. I have tried learning myself with the Knittinghelp.com videos, but they're not working for me, so I need to find someone local to show me.

5. Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I've only ever done the heel-flap, which I like. I like the way it looks as compared to short-row heels.

6. How many pairs have you made?

I have made 9 pairs (including three pairs of Jaywalkers!) since around April of this year and I am working on pairs 10 (one sock complete) and 11 (one sock almost complete).

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

The yarn and pattern worked perfectly together! I really love that pink color. I have some Fleece Artist in my stash, but haven't knitted with it yet. I guess it's time to move it up in the queue!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Emma, beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Emma,
Those are so pretty...both pairs, actually.
I may end up trying Fleece Artist someday soon, it looks really lovely.

Sheepish Annie said...

Oh, wow! Those are super-pretty socks!! And now I really want some sock blockers...

schrodinger said...

The socks look great - nice sock blocker too.

Looks like you are still alive an kicking on the sock wars.

Valerie Polichar said...

Wow. I don't usually like pink much, but that color is gorgeous — great pick.

Sanders said...

Those are incredible! Great job! Thanks for the kind words, but I knew you could do it and do it well!

9 pairs! also incredible...keep up the good knitting!

Anonymous said...

Emma, I can't seem to remember where you said you got the sock blockers from......

Beth S. said...

Oh, that Unst sock is lovely. :-) It really does look nice in pink, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! x

Rhonda said...

Gorgeous pattern, and I like the yarn too.

Theresa said...

I, too, like Koigu less than I'd have thought, at least for socks. It's too dense. Or maybe not dense enough. Or too something . . . But it's hard to beat the colors.

Anonymous said...

Love Unst, can't wait to see them finished.

Bettina said...

Hi Emma,

I love those Unst Socks. Once I saw them, I immediately ended up ordering "Knitting on the Road". So, another pair of Unst's somewhere else in the world.

Oh, by the way, the "sockBlock", do you know an online retailer for it. Over here, no one has even heard of such a thing. And since I am knitting socks a lot, it would be nice to block them instead of just wearing them like that (ok, doesn't really matter, they look good to me either way, but being a perfectionist and all..... ).

BrownPants said...

yay for Pink Socks!