Let's Talk About Socks (baby?)

As you may recall, I started out the year with goals. Real, silly, and optimistic goals that I kind of managed to stick to for the first month (and third and kinda fourth). I really wanted to spend 2011 breaking out of the spell that knit hats seemed to have cast upon me and knit new things. My FO count has dwindled as each month has passed (excuse me for walking and designing and being silly), but I have tried new things. This year has seen shawls, shrugs, a pullover, 1.5 cardigans (I still hate you, February goal), fingerless mitts...and a few hats.

But the one goal that should have been accomplished in May (and then August) brings me to this very post: the sock.

I'm not scared of socks, but it would be a lie to say that they don't intimidate me. I've heard about second sock syndrome from countless people and I can share their pain. Remember the 6ish single gloves/mittens I have lying around? Yeah, remember these guys (and their lost little friends)?

So, yeah. SSS. I am a little intimidated. But I will survive! And celebrate my first Socktoberfest!

The yarn I've elected to use is  Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Rustic Wedding," the Jimmy Beans Wool exclusive color for September. If you know me, then you know that I love me some Lorna's Laces and some Jimmy Beans. Every month I look so forward to the JBW exclusive color, and while I have bought quite a few (oh man. Harry Potter madness), I decided that Rustic Wedding is the perfect, perfect first sock color. A couple of my crafty ladies were supposed to buy it too *cough, cough*, but they decided to be responsible. Boo. Hiss.

The colors in "Rustic Wedding" are nothing that I usually go for, but the combination was just too beautiful to not buy. As it is a variegated yarn, my sock options are a little limited in terms of what I usually go for (cables, lace, etc.). But there are some crazy beautiful sock patterns out there that were just  *made* for variegated yarns.

Like Monkeys. As you can see, October has not necessarily yielded me a bountiful, socky harvest. While I have knit a few more repeats since that photo was taken (this post has been sitting in Knit Blog Limbo for far too long), I still kind of suck at this goal thing. I selected Monkeys as my first sock because the pattern is interesting and simple without being boring. I like to challenge myself and I didn't want to do plain vanilla stockinette socks. Monkeys have managed to keep me entertained and make me think, but I'm still able to throw them in my purse (carefully) and lug them around the city with me.

And the colors...oh my. I love Rustic Wedding even more now that I've started knitting with it. On my size 1 DPNS (oh god, whyyyyyyy?). Maybe I will be able to finish one before November 1, but my hands have run away from me and picked up too many other projects. Too. Much. Knitting.

Did I mention that Christmas is only two months away? Maybe my second Monkey will have to wait...

*smacks self in face*

Happy Knitting!

-Ashley

The day of 95 skeins & a most excellent LYS

Remember when I accidentally ordered 83 skeins of yarn from Little Knits?

Yeah, me too.

Well, I didn't exactly order 83 skeins of yarn all at once. As I mentioned a few posts back, Little Knits holds orders (if you've placed, oh, I don't know, two or three in a week) and then ships them all together. Which is really good (they offer free shipping), but also really bad. Especially when your yarn weight amasses to a whopping 19 pounds. Which is what happened to me.

This is what 19 pounds of yarn looks like.

Using my chubby fluffy cat as reference

As Kate made a point to tell me, when I texted her said photo, "you're crazy." Well, yeah, but now I have some luscious, luscious new yarn. 

Now, dear readers, you may be viewing the post heading and scratching your head. "But Ashley," you may ask, "where did the other 12 skeins come from?" The answer, my dear Watson, is the magical place known as The Fold.

Located in Marengo, which doesn't really seem to offer much to passersby, The Fold is an amazing little yarn shop. They sell some incredible yarns (Blue Moon Fiber Arts! Malabrigo Sock! Frog Tree! Etc.!) and have the best selection of spinning wheels, roving and spindles that I have ever seen in a LYS. And you can really find some amazing deals. Or, in Christie's case, you can walk away with a free skein of Art Yarns Ultramerino ($22).

"It doesn't have a price sticker. It must be free!" - Toni, the owner

While I didn't get any freebies (oh wait, I did...), I did find some incredible steals. My entire haul cost around $60. Did I mention she offers a 10% Guild discount? Even on sale yarns?

2 skeins of Cascade Heritage Paints

This Cascade Heritage Paints cost me $1 (pre-discount). I snatched up the last two skeins. Same thing with this Beatrice I bought. I should have enough for a hat.

2 skeins of Beatrice by Classic Elite Yarn

I also bought two skeins of Artyarns Ultramerino 4 (fingering weight) for $2.25 each. They're two different colors, but Christie suggested I make some funky socks using both skeins. So much sock yarn!

Amazing, right? I also got a freebie mystery skein (I suspect it is Koigu) from the free basket. I'm pretty much in love with the colors.

Can anyone tell what this is?

I also bought some Classic Elite Miracle and Blue Moon Socks that Rock, but I shall save those for the next post. Because they are just that delicious. Plus this post, dedicated mostly to The Fold (and also my yarn hoarding tendencies), deserves its own digs. I will definitely be returning again, because each time we go it just gets better and better. And I'm sure we'll need more yarn in a few lifetimes weeks.