did i mention?

... oh yeah, i finished another pair!


aren't these pretty?! i have now knitted this pattern 3 times. it's called papaver sok, by anne hanson of knitspot.

i got the yarn this past may at our local fiberfest. it's called tinsel toes, and it's by the unique sheep. the colorway is called 'prince of the wood elves', and was dyed especially for a sock club. perhaps this hank was unclaimed, or just extra.

i grabbed it because i love the sheen of a wool/tencel blend, and i loved its subtle coloring ... this wonderful silvery gray with blips and stains of greens and browns.

anne designed the pattern with a shortrow heel. i prefer the fit of a heelflap, so that's what i did ... though you cannot see it in my picture. i also knitted the 70 stitch size on 2.25mm dpns.

so, so far in this august challenge of finishing PAIRS of socks, i have now finished 8 pairs. if you're a long time reader, i'm sure you're impressed. heck, i'm impressed!

i still plan on finishing 2 more pairs ... and more if i have the time, or don't get distracted.

2 more pairs in the bunch!

i am thrilled to report that the finished sock pile is growing! i finished two other pairs this week ... actually, i just finished this pair today.


these are my skew socks which i had cast on in april for ska's "unusual construction technique".

this pattern is free on knitty.

these socks are knitted on the diagonal, from the toe up. the construction is "unique" to say the least, so you just have to trust the pattern. and i can attest, the pattern is correct. so, just trust it and knit.

i used lion brand's sock-ease yarn. i really like that yarn. i like it even more when i can buy it with a 50% off coupon! i just wish they would expand the color line. i've never seen their solids in any of my craft stores, and the multi colorways are the same as when they first rolled it out. i like ALL the colors, but i do expect a company such as lion brand to change things up a bit (more).

the other pair i finished is the honeycomb socks by mona schmidt.


these socks are knitted with the reynold's soft sea wool. it's a heavy fingering, thus the sock has fewer stitches than most of the socks i knit, and i knitted them on 2.75mm dpns.

this pattern is from reynolds steppin' out.

let's just say the pattern & book have lots of mistakes. the pattern is very pretty, but if you knit the pattern as written, it won't look exactly like the socks on the book's cover. that said, i left some notes on my ravelry project page.

i now have 7 pairs completed for this august challenge. i intend to complete at least 10 pairs. more, if i have the time. i think i will at this rate!

i am finishing my pairs!

as i posted in my prior post, i'm trying to finish as many sock pairs this month as possible. i did a lot of "homework" in july to get ready for this knitting frenzy in august. and, it has paid off.

i have completed 5 pairs thus far!


this first pair was started back in the summer of 2007. i really do love this design. it's by mona schmidt, and is called "lace and diamond socks". the yarn is reynold's soft sea wool. the yarn is inexpensive, a bit of a heavier fingering wt, and must be hand washed. i don't know how it will wear, as until this month, i'd never completed a project with this yarn.


jaywalkers is one of my alltime favorite sock patterns. i swear it can make any sock yarn look good! the yarn is by opal, and is called 'krokodil'. these are actually pretty "fresh". the yarn was in stash for many years, but i cast these on in june.


this pair has been my biggest challenge thus far. i had started the 2nd sock some time ago, and put it down, and didn't leave myself any notes as to which chart i was knitting from, or if this was considered sock #1 or #2 (different instructions for each, as they mirror each other).

it probably took about 2 evenings to get on track. the pattern is 'cadance socks' by verybusymonkey on ravelry. at the time, i had decided to knit 2 pairs, but had only finished 1 of each colorway i was knitting. now, if i really want to be a rock star, i will have to cast on the 2nd yellow sock.


this one was super duper easy. there's nothing like mindless knitting in stockinette with a self striping yarn. i bought the yarn about 4 years ago, and cast on immediately, and then ravelry came along, and i dropped my needles for another project. the yarn is by opal, and is called 'lollipop'.


and lastly, a fabulous pair designed by nancy bush, "birch leaf socks". it's from the book _a gathering of lace_. the yarn is st. ives by wendy, and ... i like it, but it kinda has a hairy look to it that compromises the stitch definition. i think it's a good yarn, but probably a poor choice for this pattern. i started this pair back in 2009.

my goal is to finish 10 pairs. it's just that the other 5 pairs may take me more time to finish .....