Friday, August 31, 2018

FMM - Ahhh, Socks!

I've knitted twenty-six and a half pairs of socks - really twenty-five complete pairs, but I'm counting the three sad lonely singles in with this tally - and I don't think I've ever finished a pair of socks as quickly as I did with my newest pair.  A few things factored into how this happened:

First, the yarn.  It is so pretty and I loved knitting it, anticipating each new color as it appeared:
I was so happy that the first set of stripes were fully complete when it was time to begin the heel.

Second, my poor calf muscle.  Which made for a lot of lying on the couch with the leg elevated and iced - extra knitting time!  A week after the injury, my calf is bruised like crazy but I can tell there is improvement with how it's feeling, so that is good.  Still, I can't resist showing you this picture from yesterday:
Oh, we takin picturs of back leg?  OK den.  (I swear, that dog just KNOWS when the camera is out)  It's still bruised at the very top of the calf, but this huge bruise lower down appeared a few days ago.  I really did a number on my calf!
 
Third, I knitted both socks at the same time.  Which is not two-at-a-time, as it's known in the knitting lingo...to do that, you use a set of needles with a long cord and somehow go around using the magic loop method and knit the exact same rows.  I can't wrap my head around that, plus I like knitting my socks on 9-inch circular needles, so I just started one sock and when I'd completed the first stripe, I started the second sock, and knit them like that - one stripe here, one stripe there:
Of course, to do this you need to have two separate balls of yarn, which I did because that's how this yarn is sold.
Heels finished, just the top part of the legs to do - easy peasy at this point!

I finished them on Wednesday, blocked them, and woohoo, I have another pair of handknit socks:
Yarn is Must Stash Perfect Self-Striping Sock, colorway is Jelly Belly, pattern is my own plus the Fish Lips Kiss Heel.
LOVE.
 LOVE.
LOVE!  

I don't even remember how much this yarn cost - quite a while back I saw it on other knitter's Instagram feeds and wanted to buy some but it was always sold out.  That happens a lot with small hand-dyers - they make a batch, list it, and poof - it's gone.  So when I happened to catch the newest shop restock, I jumped at the chance to buy some, and I'm so happy I did.  Must Stash Yarn - I'll be back!

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Have a great weekend - I'm taking Monday off from the blog because it's Labor Day, but I'll be back on Wednesday with another exciting workout update...will there be burpees?  I hope not!

14 comments:

  1. LOVE the socks. LOVE.

    I too have a mysterious bruise on my calf. My left calf. I got one when I was in Alabama with Holly and when I was up in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. I think it has something to do with waterskiing but for the life of me, I don't remember hurting it.

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    1. Weird how bruises can show up when you don't even remember hurting yourself!

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  2. Glad your calf muscle is feeling better! I love how Paco seems to always know when to get in your pictures! Too funny. Lovely color of sock yarn.

    Have a great Labor day weekend!

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  3. Hope that calf keeps getting better. I can see why you liked that yarn - what fun socks!

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    1. Fingers crossed on the calf - I'm itching to go for a run but I know it wouldn't be a good idea right now.

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  4. Happy Labor Day to you. I hope you don't labor too much! Those socks are so pretty! Amazing how fast you got them knitted. I'm glad your calf is feeling improved. Maybe another week of knitting will help it heel completely? :)

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  5. I find it humorous that you live in the most hot and humid part of the country and yet you make knit socks! Do you ever make low socks?
    I love this yarn color. It reminds me of ice cream for some reason!

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    1. Hey, we get a few months of cold weather...and that's when I wear ALL THE SOCKS. I don't make low socks because for me, it'e either cold enough that I need my ankles covered, or else I'm in flip flops.

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  6. That yarn is awesome! I love, love the colors. If you find more of that yarn, I would pay you for a pair of socks :D

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  7. That yarn is so fun and the socks turned out fab. It must have been such a treat to watch them "grow." LOL. Also, that two-at-a-time method sounds effing nuts.

    I love the Paco photobombs! Do NOT love the bruised calf :(

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