The fourth and final pair of Christmas gift socks went to Josh, my daughter’s boyfriend.
I forgot to get a good picture of the completed socks before Josh left with them, but I’ll edit the post later if I do get one.
In the meantime, here’s a picture of the start and a close-up of the knit stitch.
The sock pattern is, once again, from Favorite Socks: Diagonal Cross Rib Socks by Ann Budd.
The socks are knit in one of my favorite yarns, Schaefer Yarns Anne that I got from one of my new favorite yarn sources, The Loopy Ewe. The colorway is Full Moon, and I like it so much I’m going to try to snag another skein before they’re all gone to make a pair of socks for John. It is a very subtle hand-dye of shades of slightly blue tinged gray. Very lovely. The fiber is superwash merino wool, mohair, and nylon. Very soft, washable, and durable, I hope.
John got left out on the Christmas gift socks because I ran out of time, but mostly because I learned while making his Buffy Tracks Scarf that I cannot knit anything for him in secret. So I’ll be making his Christmas socks in the New Year.
John says one of the best things about hand-knit socks is that they don’t fall down. It’s especially true with the trick that Ann Budd uses on her men’s sock patterns–and maybe others. The first several inches of the leg are knit with one size larger needle than the rest of the sock.
Well, it’s the last day of the year, and I think I can say I accomplished a lot in 2008.
Knitting: 12, yes, 12! pairs of socks.
I finished the October socks yesterday and will post them tomorrow.
2 Sweaters
4 Lace Shawls
1 Bison yarn scarf — Buffy Tracks
1 Entrelac Headband
1 Flower Washcloth — for fun — have to make more of these
Sewing: 3 Bow Tucks Totes
Quilting: Two lap-size quilt tops, yet to be quilted
A set of pot holders for the Taos house.
On-Line Classes: Journal Making w/ five journals completed
Monoprinting
Spinning: 1000 yards of Coopworth yarn spun and plied — My first handspun!
Dyeing: Lots of fabric and yarn
Challenges: 6 months of projects for the Take It Further Challenge
Plus some miscellaneous things here and there. Not to mention making a cross-country move and starting back into full-time ministry. Granted, a lot of this was done before I went back to work, but still, it sort of astounds me when I look back over the year.
This is starting to sound like one of those awful Christmas letters bragging about all you and your kids have done over the year–and I hate those. But since this blog was started to help me keep on track and get more accomplished I have to say it has fulfilled its purpose.
I’m sure next year will not be quite as productive, but hey, I’ll be working on the Doctor of Ministry, so who knows what that will inspire?
