Sock Yarn

I have been so inspired by the sock fanatics over at the podcast Lime and Violet. I understand the basic concept of socks, but had only knit a couple of simple pairs before this. Of course, once I understand a basic concept the creativity kicks in so I thought I would go ahead a design a sock using one of my favorite lace patterns. Because I plan to submit this design to a publication I can't share particulars about the sock but I can wax poetic about the sock yarn. I was looking for a particular color (a light gold) and found my color in the Louet Gems. I ordered my yarn online from the Loopy Ewe, (a Fantastic shop, will definitely be ordering from them again). And sat to wait. The yarn showed up and was all that I expected and more. So soft and knits like a dream, I am knitting on size 1 needles and the definition in the lace pattern is beautiful. Another thing I love about this yarn is its durability. I decided to try toe-up socks for this particular pattern (now I have never done toe-up before, but I am nothing if not ambitious). After some research I came up with a way of beginning that I could do and liked the look of, however it took a try or two to get it perfect, so this yarn was cast on, actually like 4 times and was just as nice the fourth time as the first.



So here I am knitting away on my pretty golden yellow socks when, listening to Lime and Violet (they really are quite influential, enablers in the best sort of way), I heard about a sock contest over at Hill Country Yarns, so I had to enter. I ordered the chartreuse color of the sweet feet yarn. This pattern was not near as easy to come up with, but after some starts and stops I have come up with another lace pattern (I'm feeling the yarn-overs, what can I say), but completely different from my Gems socks. The yarn is also very different, for one thing it is actually sock weight, whereas the Gems is more of a lace weight. I am doing the pattern on twos and it is coming out quite nicely. I love the semi-solid nature of this yarn. It makes the design really pop! I was at first apprehensive about the feel of the yarn, it wasn't as soft as the Gems but once knitted it makes the most comfortable fabric. And that is my tale of two socks.
Holly