Socks, and more socks

Published on Tuesday July 11th, 2006

It’s another sockfest Chez Blue Garter these days. My mother’s here (she’s actually painting my basement as I type – such a good mother is surely deserving of handknit socks!), so I’ve been able to gift her these:

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These are, of course, the Conwy socks from Knitting on the Road. My mother and I have actually been to Conwy (I was thirteen, and thought scrambling all over the crumbling castle was about the best thing ever) and blue is her favorite color, so I thought these would be perfect for her. I knit them on US #0 circs, so I had to adapt the pattern somewhat. In hindsight, I probably would have been fine with #1’s. The socks are a pretty snug fit, even on my narrow feet. But I like the way the Lorna’s Laces stripes so beautifully on #0’s – #1’s make it flash, in my experience, and this sort of tabby effect pleases me much more.

I’ve also finished one of these:

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Love, love this Pomatomus sock. I made one little error in the last chart repetition before the toe – I swear there’s something a little goofy in the instructions – but you can’t really tell, and it’s the part that will be in my shoe anyway. Again, this yarn is fabulous Claudia Handpainted in “Plumlicious”, worked on #2’s as the pattern directs. I didn’t get row gauge, so I shortened the heel flap to avoid knitting a full-on toga for my heel, and I sort of freestyled the toe decreases. Other than that, I’m working Pomatomus exactly as directed. Time to cast on its mate!

But first, back to the basement. My poor indentured parents shouldn’t slave alone, handknits or not.

One last peep before I go:

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Tour de Fleece handspun, Part 1! I’ve made two spindles full like this. The folks at the local bike shop where I’m watching the Tour have probably never seen anyone spin and watch cycling at the same time. But they’re kind of digging it, I think. Our new neighbors manage the store and they’re awesome. Yay for awesome neighbors!

10 Comments to “Socks, and more socks”

  1. gleek Comment Says:

    spinning and spinning 🙂 they go together well!

    love all the socks! great colors and patterns both. miss you around here!

  2. elizabooth Comment Says:

    Your Pomatomus looks great! I really struggled with these socks (I just finished a week or so ago and am slightly tramautized). I also think there’s something a little goofy with the instructions right before the toe. Luckily, especially if you’re using varigated yarn this pattern seems to hide even major mistakes (um, mine, not yours).

  3. john Comment Says:

    Wow! Do you have a sock machine that just spits socks out? Seriously, girl. Great job on the handspun.

  4. Lisa Comment Says:

    I love the Conwys!! The tabby-like striping is very pleasing, I agree. And I can’t wait to make some Pomatomases! I need to find a great variegated solid like your Plumlicious… Hmmm, maybe I’ll grab some Claudia Handpainted too. And like Ms. Gleek says, we sure do miss you round these parts.

  5. Marie Comment Says:

    I love those Pomatomus socks – it’s such a great pattern and a wonderful yarn to do it in. Look at that handspun – sweet – I can’t wait to see it plied!

  6. Becky Comment Says:

    Great socks. (I’d love to start a foray into sock knitting with those Pomatomus socks; they’re the only socks I’ve seen out there that have actually made me want to knit socks!) My favorite photo is the one with the reverse cuff jeans. You have got to put that up on the sidebar in the future.

  7. Nanc Comment Says:

    Great socks! I like those Conway socks, but I’m loving on your Pomatomous! (Or the HippoTomatoPotomous socks, as I’ve taken to calling them.)

    I’ve just found your blog (from the PurlingPs) and wanted to say that I like your masthead (header/footer) and clean design. I know that typically these things get overlooked, but I just wanted to give a compliment where due. And don’t you just love Lightbox? (This is what you’re using for pictures, right?)

  8. minnie Comment Says:

    i did the pomotamus socks on 1’s. i don’t recall the pattern calling for 2’s, lol. and they fit my sockpal000za pal just right, lol.

  9. Blue Garter » Blog Archive » Trekking Pingback Says:

    […] Unfortunately, now I have three socks without mates: I still need to knit a second Pomatomus, and my poor solitary Retro Rib is pining away in the yarn drawer. I have terminal Second Sock Syndrome, people. And I’ve got this crazy idea I’m going to knit mittens for holiday presents this winter. If that’s going to be any kind of a success, I need to prove I can finish a brace of matching socks. So let’s vote: which pair should I finish first? Posted under Lady’s Shooting Stockings | | Trackback […]

  10. Blue Garter » Blog Archive » Take it all OFFF Pingback Says:

    […] The lovely Sporfarms merino/silk was a souvenir for Katrin, who couldn’t come with me to OFFF because she had to work. And the Socks That Rock? Lord knows there’s plenty of that in the stash, thoroughly marinated and aged to perfection, but I liked these two skeins together so much that I couldn’t resist them. The Rare Gems are mistakes or experiments that aren’t replicated, and mostly I don’t find them too attractive. But this one looks like sunset over the desert, and I thought it was particularly harmonious against the blues of Blue Brick Wall. I was thinking of Kate Gilbert’s Syncopated Caps when I picked them up, but then I started to think of interesting designs for syncopated kneesocks. I hereby vow to knit a second Drunken Bear kneesock — and a second Pomatomus — before I cast on a new pair, but I’m looking forward to them. […]