Socks socks socks socks socks

By far my favorite thing to knit is socks. I was terrified of knitting socks for so long because everyone told me it was so difficult, but finally in the fateful fall of 2007 I decided I wouldn't let anyone scare me off anymore. I grabbed some Regia sock yarn I had bought on a whim, some size 2 dpns, and the Basic Ribbed Socks pattern by Kate Atherley. One messed up heel and a few weeks later, my first pair of socks were born into this world.

(Please ignore my ankle brace. I tripped and fell off some improbably tall shoes in Bend, Oregon and my ankle was swollen like a grapefruit for months. It's never been the same. Also, I don't remember having a Wii in 2007. What's the deal with that?)

It really wasn't so bad, and the addiction had begun. I decided size 2 needles were too big, and since have mostly knitted socks on size 0 or smaller.

My second pair of socks was made of Koigu yarn with size 1 dpns, following this Knitty pattern. Koigu, Imma stare at you all the time when I go to Weaving Works, and Imma let you finish, but you are the worst wearing sock yarn of all time. I wore them very few times, they were uncomfortable and quickly developed holes, the color faded to a pale imitation of the original, and they're sitting in the back of a box somewhere. Bleh.

See that ottoman? I used to have a loveseat, armchair, and ottoman all in that print. Free from craigslist. So hideuous and very dearly missed. I gave it to a friend when I moved and one or more of her eleven cats peed all over it. Nothing gets the stench of cat urine out!

Other notable socks I have made. I fell in love with the Falling in Love pattern from the now defunct MagKnits. Luckily I think you can still find the pattern on Ravelry. I knitted these super adorable socks when I moved from Seattle to Minneapolis and didn't drive for even a second.

Gradually I became familiar with the basics of sock construction, with a lot of help from the Yarn Harlot's book Knitting Rules! I highly recommend this book to intermediate knitters that are comfortable with patterns and want to hone their skills. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is always entertaining and informative. Once I figured out the different steps to sock construction I started to experiment with freestyling socks of my own. Some of my favorite socks have happened this way.

One highlight were these Manly 80's socks. I love Opal sock yarn very much.

Also freestyled were my Eccentric Socks, when I went on a bender trying to use up all my yarn scraps. These are a combination of Knitpicks Felici and Regia sock yarns that I had left over from two previous sock pairs. That reminds me that I don't have a pair of the Regia socks I knitted for a friend. I hate that. I must try to get a picture.

There's a lot more where that came from, but for now, that'll do, pig. That'll do.

Enjoy your weekends, everyone!