Knitting Underway: Socktoberfest!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Socktoberfest!

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
-Benjamin Franklin

Socktoberfest is here! If you've ever even glanced at this blog, you know that I enjoy ~~nothing~~ few things more than knitting - and wearing - a good sock. I must admit, however, that it's been a little while since I've finished a pair. Summer in San Diego doesn't exactly make your feet cold. Nevertheless, the night air is getting a little chill in it, I'm wearing fun socks with my scrubs on call, and the ~~millions~~ 1500 of you all raising a glass and a set of dpns with me is very inspiring.

Expect to see many socks on the blog this month. I'll start with the socks I have in progress, but it won't stop there. So many of my best socks were knit pre-blog, so I'll share many of them, along with invaluable comments on how they've stood the test of time.

New England Socks from Knitting on the Road

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These were supposed to be my 100th pair of socks (I'm still holding at 98) in a symbolic way before I left New England. Eh. They'll go fast once I actually start knitting on them. I think this is Koigu, but it might be Artyarns Supermerino.

Wearing My Uniform With Pride Socks (x2)

Plain Black Sockotta. 2x2 rib. Doesn't it just make your heart go pitter-patter?

Trekking Socks

I did Trek Along, briefly. Now these socks sit by my computer and I do a few rows now and again.

Can that really be it? Only 3 pairs of socks on the needles? (And, really, only one of them counts.) Clearly something must be done to remedy this situation.

Contest Time!
In the festival-like spirit of Socktoberfest, I'll send two skeins of Claudia's Handpainted (photos when I get home) to whomever points me in the direction of my next sock pattern. Anything by Nancy Bush is cheating, by the way.

ETA: I'll make a decision on Monday, October 9th. Columbus Day.

25 Comments:

shireen said...: I can't believe you've kept track of all those socks! 100?!?! AND you finished med school?; 10/05/2006 9:20 AM
jennie said...: I'll tell you what -- I really enjoyed knitting the River Rapids socks over at sock bug: http://sockbug.blog-city.com/

Just enough going on to be interesting without being something I have to consult a chart for or look down all that often do make. My mom loved them...

I'm working, slowly and steadily, toward an all-handknit sock wardrobe. Do you ever wear machine made socks?; 10/05/2006 9:38 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh dear, I'm definitely not in a good position to point you to a good sock pattern. I'll be interested in seeing what does capture the honor, though.

I just ordered three balls of Trekking XXL from the Netherlands (cheap there!). My family members need to know the joy of hand-knit socks.; 10/05/2006 10:27 AM
Anonymous said...: Okay, I actually remembered that I really like these socks. If I knit fancy socks, I'd knit these.; 10/05/2006 10:34 AM
Anonymous said...: Let me try that again:

THESE SOCKS; 10/05/2006 10:35 AM
Anonymous said...: I really like these(If you are a member of BMFA sock club).

The other option I really like is these (which seems more you, really. You are such a cable kind of gal)!!; 10/05/2006 11:18 AM
Anonymous said...: I really enjoyed the Mock Croc's pattern... but I also want to throw Embossed Leaves out there just because I think they are cute :); 10/05/2006 12:56 PM
Anonymous said...: I'll throw out the Here There Be Dragons socks. They look great, and I want to give them a try too!; 10/05/2006 1:50 PM
Unknown said...: I've been looking at Anastasia or Zokni socks both here

Or Wyvern; 10/05/2006 2:19 PM
Anonymous said...: According to a May post it's Artyarns gunmetal yarn.

I think you should try this pattern:
http://autoscopia.com/amelia/archives/2005/09/roundup.html
I've started them in the same colorway as the example. They're pretty with the little picot top and eyelets.; 10/05/2006 3:12 PM
Anonymous said...: 100 socks? Wowza.

And by cold in San Diego, you mean it's dipped into the low 60's? ;); 10/05/2006 3:50 PM
Anonymous said...: Having recently started and ripped out several fairly complicated sock patterns, I am singing the praises of the simple sock. Here is a pattern that's easy to memorize and looks great:

http://stitchesofviolet.blogspot.com/2005/08/more-fun-than-cables-sock-pattern.html; 10/05/2006 3:50 PM
Laura said...: Waving Lace, Spring 2004 Interweave Knits. There's your pattern. Fun to knit, not Nancy Bush, look impressive, plus holes. Holes because you live in San Diego. Ventilation is key.

:); 10/05/2006 4:17 PM
Pat K said...: Chevron Socks from Sensational Knitting Socks. I love this pattern. It looks fantastic using Trekking XXL. And the pattern is easy to memorize.; 10/05/2006 4:43 PM
Jenn said...: Some excellent suggestions above - what about the p-word socks from knitty (I loved knitting the first pair I've made), or the baby cable rib from sensational knitted socks.

I can't wait to "see" inside your sock boxes!; 10/05/2006 5:03 PM
Meg said...: How about Clementines Baltic Socks?; 10/05/2006 6:23 PM
Rebecca said...: Well how 'bout coming on over to the MY FIRST TOE UPS KAL that OzKnitter and I started and you can knit the Widdershins with us! I'm having fun learning how to knit from the toe up for a change.; 10/05/2006 10:48 PM
Anonymous said...: You've probably knit these but I take every opportunity to talk about my favorite sock pattern: Dublin Bay Socks. http://www.nwkniterati.com/movabletype/archives/MossyCottage/DublinBay4.pdf
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/; 10/06/2006 4:45 AM
Anonymous said...: WOW! ONE HUNDRED SOCKS?? Geesh! And I'm sitting here thinking that I'm gonna empty my sock drawer this weekend so that I can only own handknit socks. But unfortunately that would leave me without about 3 maybe 4 WEARABLE pairs! HA!

A few patterns for ya! (BTW, I'm knitting the Anastasia Socks now in a green Koigu and I ADORE this pattern!!! You can see them on my blog.)

Anastasia Socks:
http://pepperknit.com/patterns/anastasia.html

Elfine Socks
http://autoscopia.com/amelia/assets/elfinesocks.pdf

Falling Leaves Socks
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTfallingleaves.html

Fixation Socks
http://www.knitlist.com/01gift/matts-fixation-socks.htm

Gentleman's Socks
http://http3a//blog.designedlykristi.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/DKGentleman.pdf

Happy Socks
http://magknits.com/Mar06/patterns/Happy.htm

Lace Socks
http://magknits.com/May06/patterns/milanese.htm

RPM Socks
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTrpm.html

Thuja Socks
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTthuja.html

Zokni Socks
http://www.pepperknit.com/patterns/ZokniSocksPattern.pdf

That's it for now!!; 10/06/2006 6:56 AM
Anonymous said...: The NE socks are very cool looking.; 10/06/2006 10:17 AM
OzKnitter said...: I was going to suggest Widdershins, but someone ;o) beat me to it LOL. How about Baudelaire?; 10/06/2006 7:50 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey there are these socks called Jaywalkers, I hear they're pretty good you should try them. They're a bit hard, but you can prolly handle it, k bye; 10/06/2006 9:52 PM
Anonymous said...: Seriously, I'd suggest you try the Bazaar Socks from Interweave. They're a bit unusual, I really want to try knitting them at some point soon. http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/web_projects/sum_06/Bazaar_Socks.pdf; 10/06/2006 9:57 PM
eyeknit said...: Waving Lace Socks (old Interweave) or Cascading Leaves (Townsend KAL).

These are my newest faves in the sock drawer. It's so wonderful to wear the socks I knit all summer!

Amy; 10/09/2006 6:18 AM
Nikki said...: These Celtic Braid socks are next on my list!

http://www.theknitter.com/celbraidsoc.html; 10/09/2006 10:45 AM