It was inevitable, really. Having tried pretty much everything else in my knitting career, I’ve finally succumbed to sock-knitting.
And my fear of developing a sock-knitting addiction? Hmm, probably justified, judging by the fact that I’m tempted to phone HR at work to find out whether they’ve got a special-leave-for-sock-knitting policy. (Surely they must have? They’re reasonable people, yeah?)
All right I admit it, sock knitters of the world: you were right. There is something special about pulling on a woolly, hand-knit, perfectly shaped sock that you’ve made yourself. The problem is, I’m turning into the knitting equivalent of one of those new parents who talks as though they’re the first person ever to reproduce. ‘Wow, you turn the heel like this? How marvellous! And look at this ribbing! Isn’t it astounding what you can create?’
‘Yes,’ replies the person sitting next to me, before informing me that they’ve been knitting socks for nigh-on 40 years and yes, they do already realize how neat a well-turned heel can look.
‘Oh,’ I sigh, slightly deflated.
Now I realize that there’s a tradition amongst internet-savvy sock-knitters to display their completed hosiery in a lovely pose that looks like it’s out of a manual of ballet positions. But this is TheTwistedYarn, and (i) I haven’t quite completed the second sock yet, and (ii) I was being climbed by the Toddler Twinnage whilst photographing my socky progress, which pretty much prevented anything elegant from occurring, and (iii) well, however lovely, these are pretty much just plain vanilla socks.
Still, the second sock is well underway:-
And as if this wasn’t addiction enough already, I found some Noro sock yarn languishing in a remaindered bin at the yarn shop. What was a girl to do? Can you even begin to imagine the wonderfulness of these future socks?
Anyway, if you need me, you’ll find me in the gutter, neglecting my life/family/job/sanity, but knitting socks. Lots of socks. All the socks. Oh yes. 🙂
Oh these are just fabulous! Who needs a complicated stitch pattern when the yarn can steal the show?
That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
You’ve just made me realise it’s been a age since I last knitted a sock. How have I coped? And is there anything better than sock yarn in graduated colours? I don’t think so.
I’m a huge fan of vanilla socks. It’s nice to do the occasional fancy one, but handmade socks are awesome enough on their own, really.
Yup, and I’m guessing that smooth vanilla ones are possibly the most comfortable ones to wear, too.
I love vanilla socks too! They are my perfect carry-around project – no need to carry a pattern or actually concentrate. And I can just do a round or two if I have 2 minutes spare. And there’s some gorgeous sock yarn out there which means vanilla socks don’t have to look boring!
Hugs in 4 ply – love your socks. Great colors looking forward to your next pair.
Ah, you succumbed!! I hope that you don’t get second sock syndrome! xx
hehe, right there with you. I’m avoiding starting down the “sock path.” But I see all those lovely sock projects posted on Ravelry, and I’ve started trying to pick out a good beginner pattern 🙂
Well, you can’t say you weren’t warned of the dangers of sock addiction! Congratulations on taking the plunge and you are so right about the hug in 4ply.
I have one sock knitted in a fetching combination of pink and purple sitting in my old ‘knitting container’. The sock and the knitting container have sat beneath the coffee table for several years now where they form a stylish but incidental addendum to my general decor. Said sock stopped at the heel turning bit. It did my head in. The end.
That’s not just a sock. Not just any sock. That is… dom-dom-dom… THE sock of sockyness sockville socktatiousness sock-a-doodle-doo, sock it to me baby SOCK!
Welcome to the world of socks – there is probably a 12-step program, but don’t worry about it. Socks are the most portable project, I’ve been known to wander around fishing shows with my yarn in my pocket and the sock continues to grow. Also great for waiting in doctors’ offices, stuck in traffic jams, and other unexpected pauses in life.
Sounds like you are hooked, just watch out for those gorgeous sock yarns that seem to accumulate in your stash when you take your eyes off the needles. I’m sure they breed behind your back. Lol ! xx
Congrats on your courage! Such beautiful colors! And you even figured out how to make to two socks match!
Now I want to try knitting socks. The woman on a podcast that I watch just knit some beautiful socks and now I see that you are making beautiful socks too. I may have to try this!
Oh dear! You are a goner… sock knitting will get it’s little hooks in you and you will be addicted. Another knitter succumbs. 🙂
Hi hi hi hi now your’re in the sock whirlwind and I hope that you’ll enjoy it! Oh, and what beautiful colours….. astonishing !!
Welcome to the dark side! At least you knew up front that sock-knitting and wearing-handknit-socks are addictive! And this is a fantastic colour mix 🙂
Woot! I can’t handle the ballet poses either, so mine are always ‘feet propped on a table in front of me’ poses 🙂 Whatever works!
Welcome to socks anonymous. True addiction occurs when you have several different pairs on the needles at the same time and an attic full of sock yarn. And everyone in your family gets socks for every special event! It is wonderful, no more wasted time just watching TV!!
Lovely colors <3 I love knitted socks.
And there she goes! Down the rabbit hole of sock knitting! I just really like the photo of your toes sticking out–maybe a new trend in socks?
Oh you did it! Isn’t it just wonderful? Socks are my favorite (besides ANYTHING cabled). I always have a pair on, whether “just” garter stitch to something more fancy. There’s just always a pair! 🙂
Enjoy. They look fantastic!
Welcome to socks! Very addictive, very useful things to knit. Check out the Knitting Sarah’s Sock KAL on Ravelry – it has kept hundreds busy knitting and shooting strange angled photos for over a year now. 🙂
You are inspiring me Phil. I haven’t made socks in ages. Time to get out the double pointed needles. By the way, I love Noro yarns. ? cheers
You gave in. Isn’t it marvelous? A whole new world of comfortable feet has hit your life —
Well…you’ve done it now.? there’s no going back. WAAAHHHHOOOOO!!!!!
And here I was thinking that it was an overcoat for a leprechaun Ms Twisted! Love the wooly rainbow sock “cast” Ms Twisted…next time you break a leg you can make one of these lovely accoutrements to facilitate speed of recovery. That ball of discount sock wool is heaven on a stick. I am lusting after socks at 4.13am on a Wednesday. How can today get any better?
At last I can make a confession. I knitted a pair of socks for my husband about 20 years ago. I was very proud of them but I kept my handiwork under wraps, or at least under my husband’s trousers. It just wasn’t cool in the eighties. Now it’s trendy so I can reveal my sock making skills! Love the colour of your socks!
we could make a Secret Sock-Sillies-Society-Circle
Ohhhh, not another sock knitter. You see I can knit, honestly, so long as it is straight and simple eg a scarf!! But hey, never mind, I can crochet. So I decided to join all you socky peeps and crochet some. I found a fantastic (or so I thought) one size fits all, use any yarn pattern. I was worried about the heels and with good cause. They are okay on, but off, unless you lay them out just so, they are hilarious! So now I can either give up – I hate giving up – or learn to knit better. Meantime I shall enjoy looking at all your gorgeously knitted socks! Sharon xx
Love the rainbow colors!
Once you start wearing your own handmade socks, you can never go back to socks off the rack!
Lovely!!! That’s a good addiction to have 🙂
what brand dpn’s are those?
KnitPro Karbonz. If you’re outside Europe, I think they might be called KnitPicks or Knitter’s Pride or something. I recommend them. 🙂
Surely HR would give you pattern-ity leave 😛
You are a terrific writer. Your words alone make me smile. The pretty knitting is the frosting on a well-baked cake.
Your socks are going to be gorgeous. It would be marvellous if we could have special leave for knitting (or even crocheting) – I would make full use of my entitlement.
I love reading your blog , you add so much humour and its true about sock knitting 🙂 I love the colours in your socks , they are gorgeous . Ive knitted with Noro before and you are going to love that yarn. and I do agree with Crooked Tracks, Its hard to go back to store bought socks 🙂
Izz
I love the yarn! What kind is it?
Rico Superba Poems. 🙂
It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it… I actually found myself waiting for this post : ) I like the outcome!
How to skip second sock syndrome: start with 2 sets of needles and 2 balls of yarn; work on sock A for a section, such as the cuff, then do sock B section. Switch back and forth, progressing on each one. Then when you are done, you have a pair! Less remembering, less notes to scribble. May take twice as long, but they get done as a pair! 🙂
love the shot
I can TOTALLY relate to the sock fetish…..I have fallen hard-core for sock knitting, but am sadly stuck trying to start my first pair of lace socks….any advice?? I seem to pick out the hardest patterns for my skill level!!!
Also, can you PLEASE post the final product of the Noro yarn socks??? I have been eyeballing the Noro pile at my local yarn shop for months but can’t justify the price unless I see a finished product first…and can you knit a complete pair with one skein??
Thanks!!! Also, nothing wrong with “vanilla” socks! Yours are lovely and long and I love them!