Of Yarn and Socks
I spent quite a bit of time in Woolen Treasures yesterday trying to pick out the best yarn for DH’s socks. We talked over lunch at Henry’s what colors were and were not acceptable. I was hoping for a nice heathered gray or oatmeal, but DH had said an orange/rust as well as most shades of green, tan, or gray would be acceptable, but nothing too bright. Well, I have alterior motives for knitting the exact same pattern immediately after completing a pair and that is to have a pair that is more photographable.
See, No-No Kitty Yarns has closed their doors, so my sample sock that I’d normally use for photography for the pattern uses yarn that is no longer available. And, that yarn is rather busy (but lots of fun) and kind of obscures the knitting pattern. But, because of this need to be able to better photograph the next pair I needed a light to medium color - no evergreen or charcoal gray or even a deep rust.
If I didn’t find any heathers in the DK weight I was hoping for something kettle dyed so there would be some variation in depth of color throughout the skein for some knitting interest, but that didn’t work either. I thought the Araucania Nature Wool would be nice, but I’m thinking they perhaps are not carrying it any longer. I know it’s labeled as a worsted, but I think it’s pretty light for a worsted so I thought it would probably work for DH’s socks. But, I ended up bringing home three balls of the Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Big. It feels much like a larger version of KPPPM, very tightly spun/plied and very springy. I have some gray reinforcing yarn I’ll use on the heels and toes (and I have better remember to use it this time) so I think it’ll wear pretty well and if it doesn’t it will likely have taken me just a little over a week to knit the pair once I knit them so it isn’t like I’m out a ton of time. And, even though they are solid colored, it’ll be fun to knit just because of the bright color. It also is almost a dead ringer for DH’s “terracotta” chinos he got from L.L. Bean this summer.
One thing I’m learning about “Mating Month” is that is doesn’t give you a ton of blog fodder. You’re being monogamous to one project, and one project that every one has seen take shape previously… But, despite the repetition, I’ll present you with what should be the final in-progress photo of Dimple Socks #1… I completed the heel flap, heel turn, gusset and a fair section of the instep yesterday! I should be done tonight as predicted yesterday. Though I’m getting antsy about having enough yarn. I know it’ll be *very* close, close enought that if I run out it’ll probably be part way through the toe decreases so I’ll probably just tip the second toe with some black yarn.
I think I’ll stop at Textiles A Mano this afternoon. It’s one of those crazy days with water aerobics this morning until 11am and then voice lessons in the mid afternoon. I’ll be back over to this side of town around 4pm or so and will probably just stop there until DH is on his way home from work. I think I like the gathering of people that end up there at the end of the night better, but it’ll be good just to be out of the house and interacting with people for a little bit and sometimes when I’m there at that time of day I get to see some people whom I used to see at another LYS that I don’t usually frequent these days who are also spinners. So, it’ll all be good!
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