Aug 22 2006
Trekking through Memories
When I am making something, I try to take in all of my surroundings, almost as if I am knitting these memories into the item. Where I was, what I was thinking, the weather outside… all of this is knit into the piece. The sweater that I made on our Alabama roadtrip, the scarf that I finished while watching a whole season of Carnivale on DVD, the sweater I finished during the 2006 blizzard… and the pair of socks that traveled with me…
Yarn: Trekking XXL in colorway #108
Pattern: "Heeless Sleeping Socks", Knitting Vintage Socks
Needles: Size US 2 metal DPNs
Started June 25, 2006 / Finished August 21, 2006
Alternate View
I modified these quite a bit - most notably giving them a heel, where the pattern did not call for one. I followed Ms. Bush's impeccable instructions and added the Dutch/Horseshoe heel to my socks, outlined in the same Knitting Vintage Socks. The pattern is a broken / spiral rib, perhaps clearer in this alternate view. The socks were a "three-fer", fitting in with the Trek Along with Me knitalong, the Summer of Socks, and since I started them in June, the blue month, they were also a part of Project Spectrum. I could also consider them part of the Summer of Stash, as they used yarn that has lived in my stash since January… I think that is it.
I started sock one at the beach back in June. Like all of my socks, they seemed to take forever to complete on account of my large feet.
Sock one completed last month, I did not start sock two until last weekend (a little case of "second sock syndrome", no doubt!), and by some stroke of luck, I actually finished it pretty quickly…. but I had some help.
My help came in the form of an amazing story… I simply could not stop listening to this book, and my hands were not idle.
I finished the sock in two days.
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A truly powerful story, one of the best I have "read" in years. The Kite Runner taught me a great deal about Afghanistan and its culture, before and after the wars. I was so moved by the human drama; my little sock caught more than a few of the tears that rolled down my cheeks while I was listening. |
I think I was really captured by this book because of the great storytelling; perhaps it was an even better experience hearing it because of this oral presentation, like true storytelling in days of old. While the plot is quite heartbreaking, I completely and wholeheartedly recommend the book, it is a truly powerful tale that makes the reader "feel".
… and a few hours later, my sock was done, just like that. Every time I put on my lovely new fraternal twin socks, I will remember the beauty of the story I listened to, when I cast on for them at the beach, as well as the great energy of the knitalongs I participated in with them.
What are some of your knitting memories?
I finshed my purple Trekking sock on Sunday and I’ll (hopefully) be doing the second one while we’re at the beach next week. it’s the only knitting that’s coming with me, so I won’t have temptation to stray! I will be visiting the LYS I discovered while I was there last year and I’m going to pick up some sock yarn that will remind me of the warm sun and salty air in the cold, nasty days of winter.
I do this, too, trying to knit memories into items. Right now I’m knitting my Toasty Toes swap socks and I’m taking them to special places in my area so that I can tell my swap pal all about the places they’ve been.
Great socks! I haven’t read the Kite Runner yet, but it’s on my shelf. What did you think of the audio version? That might be a good idea for my long commutes.
Be still my heart, I’m the first commenter? I humbly accept this honor… (I better cut it short or someone else will beat me to it.)
My most memorable knitting memory is my oldest UFO. I started knitting a baby sweater for my soon to be baby (we were adopting after 6 yrs of infertility) out of periwinkle and white. Striped, sailor-ish. Dear Hubby said it wasn’t periwinkle but lavendar! And no son of his was going to wear lavendar…. and we had our “first” parenting diagreement. It was a really wonderful time, filled with hope and excitement. All knit into that little sweater.
2 weeks before bringing our beautiful son home, due to very unfortunate circumstances relating to the birthfather (in jail for what he did to cause our baby) was able to intervene due to a legal loop-hole, and our son was no longer “ours”.
It was too painful, so I stuffed it away. It’s been almost 6 years now, and I just recently stole some yarn from this project to make a swatch for a class I was teaching. Later I realized I must be healed. I’d been “protecting” that project for so long. One of these days I’m going to sit down and rip the sweater apart. I’m going to use that time to pray for him, whereever he is.
It’s a sad memory, but the joy I knit into that sweater is still there. It will be comforting to revisit it.
It’s hard to believe that the Kite Runner was a first novel, isn’t it? I loved it, too. Some of my favorite knitting memories are knitting with my sister and her son and daughter on our annual week-at-the-beach trip. I taught all three how to knit, and it’s a peaceful, productive time for us all. I also love that much of my knitting is done in the company of smart caring SnB friends. My Jaywalkers, for instance, are my Albuquerque SnB socks. My ankle socks are imbued with my CT girlies.
Thanks for a lovely, thought provoking post!
3 people beat me to it, I should have remembered a shorter memory!
PS Have you seen or read “Like Water for Chocolate”? The main character crochets her sadness into a blanket, just as she weeps her heartbreak into her sister’s wedding cake…I’m always moved by that.
Ohhh I love that colourway in your socks! They look fabulous!
I also read the Kite Runner, about two months ago. I love it, I agree with you, one of the best reads of the past years. If you liked this one, I would suggest God of Small Things, this one in India. It is a very powerfull story too, maybe more than the Kite Runner.
Kite Runner is definitely on my list of must reads. Once school starts, though, I have no idea when I’ll get to it.
Your socks are super!
Those are great - I really like that color!
I’ll have to put that audiobook on my list - I’m always looking for some to get out of the library.
I love thinking about where/when I was knitting something. It’s neat how slipping on a pair of socks can take you back to the beach they were knit on, or pulling on a sweater can remind you of the new couch you got just days before starting (and how you discovered how comfy it was to knit on!)
I love the socks! Great colors. I am glad to hear you liked Kite Runner I just picked it up from a library sale I will have to give it a go sometime this year.
Amanda
My Trekking sock has taken a bad turn. My memories may not be very happy or memorable at this rate. Your socks are darling!
Love the socks! And I, too, loved the Kite Runner. (The author is from the Bay Area, incidentally!) Great post today.
i recently read the kite runner as well and loved it. for me it had special meaning because of the references to pre-revolution iran which is when i lived there. so i could actually imagine what being there was like.
I TOTALLY know what you are talking about with the knitting memories. When I pull out something I knitted it always brings back strong memories of what I was doing at time. I think my most recent and my fave so far is my Artfibers silk scarf. It reminds me of the beautiful Oregon coast
The socks are so lovely! I also loved the Kite Runner. The story is very powerful. I read it in print, but I bet listening to it would be wonderful depending on who was reading it.
BTW, I moved my blog over to typepad. Blogger/bloglines was messing with my feeds.
Those socks are great. As you know I kind of liked that colorway myself. I haven’t tried knitting while listening to audio books yet but it seems like a logical solution for someone like me, who can’t knit and read at the same time.
I agree that the Kite Runner is an incredible book. I also “read” it with my ears, and the narrator was perfect. The socks look great! As for knitting memories, I love pulling out my FOs and being reminded of the places they have been. I’m knitting a sweater for DH and only work on it when I am happy so that all my happy memories and thoughts will be in it.
I have many knitting memories
First, my lumpy legwarmer, my first knitting project, done with guidence of my Mum while watching lectures on Brit Lit during my summer session. Wearing my first real scarf on the first really snowy days of winter the first year I moved out. I remember a dinner party at which wine got spilled on my in-progress first pair of mittens. I remember my boyfriend’s face when he first tried on the hat I made him, and how nervous I had been working on it. I remember the hope I put into the hat I made my Mum, the winter she went through chemo for the first time.
I remember going to my first knitting meetup, meeting the lovely ladies there. I remember this one woman, who would bring her young son who would also knit. I remember teaching my best friend to knit, and then marvelling at how quickly she was learning, and how she very quickly surpassed me in skill and FOs. I remember the first time I bought non-walmartacryliccrap yarn (I think it was an alpaca blend if I remember correctly).
So many memories
Thank you for sharing some of your knitted memories with us!
I wish I could read with my ears while working on knitting! Unfortunately I just space out too much to pay attention to the audio book. Podcasts are about the best I can do.
Hmm, knitting memories…..Butterfly (which I finally bought a slip for this weekend! yay!) traveled along with me when DB and I went on our vacation to New Hope, PA and Kinderhook, NY last year. It was also present when he proposed to me during the same trip! And Annabelle was along for the ride during the aweful heat wave a few weeks back. Cashmere + 100 degree heat + deadline = never forgetting that one!
Ah..I have a few of those…HandKnit with memories. I always try to think of the person I’m knitting the xmas present for…and when I knit Kiri, my heart was full of memories of my sister and I…
love the trekking! My next socks will be the Trekking color 107!
You are much more observant to your circumstances and environment while knitting than I am. I suppose that may be due to the fact that knitting and yarn is my life (LYS owner), and it is hard to recognize the details.
What I do think about while I’m knitting is my knitting heritage. All of the ladies on my mother’s side knit, at least as far back as my great grandmother. I like to think about the tradition that I’m carrying on and passing down to my daughters.
Great socks! That trekking is beautiful - I love those muted shades. And thanks for the book recommendation - I think it’s my turn to host the next book club for my group and I think I just found my book!
cute socks, Lauren. How neat that you finished the second one so quickly!
I love the socks! My favourite knitting memories are knitting and yarn shopping with my mom. She taught me how to knit and is still my favourite person to knit with!
Great socks, Lolly! I do the same thing: that is, associate a memory with almost every thing that I have knit!
LOVE the socks. The colors are so fab. I’m surprised you didn’t put in some of the knitting memories (ands pics) from saturday
Probably the knitting memories tha are most embedded in an FO are from the mini sweater I made in India. I worked on it while traveling on trains and many women wanted to knit a few stitches into it. Who am I to refuse? They would say it’s a “good time pass.” Unfortuantely, I’m going to ripping the sweater to get a better fit but to me, those women’s stitches and conversations will always be with that yarn, no matter what I make it into.
aw lolly! what a beautiful post!! and how adorable are those socks?? I love the way the colors came together!
and I’m there with you. nothing is nicer than carrying around all the memories and love (or hate) that went into each piece! now I’ll think about it even more as I knit…so thank you.
hope you’re doing great!
.♥.
I’ll have to think about the knitting stories, but I just wanted to sound out about the Kite Runner! Absolutely fabulous book! Loved it!! It gave me a whole new understanding and appreciation for the Afghani people! Good for you making the recommendation Lolly!
I think that’s what’s so cool about knitting. I can pick up a piece that I knit years ago and remember where I was knitting it and what was going on in my life at the time. When I knit for family and friends I think of all the wonderful things about them and what they meant to me.
Your socks are gorgeous!
Your socks look great!
I love the idea of knitting your memories into what you make. And thanks for the book recommendation. I’m always looking for books to add to my must read list.
My favorite knitting memory is 2 winters ago. My boyfriend (now husband!) was out of town and I rented like 6 movies for the weekend. There was a snowstorm outside, and I hunkered down with hot tea and good chick flicks and made scarves for some of my girlfriends for Christmas. It was exactly where I wanted to be at the time.
Those socks look great! One q — why’d you add the heel? I keep wondering if being heelless is part of their charm… or if it would drive me bonkers.
I loved The Kite Runner too. If I remember correctly the author read it himself. I think his voice and his accent made the story even more authentic.
Lovely socks! And you knit one in two days! Wow.
I have memories related to many things I have knit. Sometimes it is where I was knitting the item, sometimes it is a certain skill I struggled with or conquered when I was knitting it. It’s funny how you never forget these memories too.
Love the sock colorway, and I particularly love that you didn’t try to match up the stripes! I think handmade socks with random stipeyness are the best!
Great socks! Waah, I need some Trekking, heh. I always see that Kite Runner book and wonder if it’s any good.
Very powerful book! I read it last year and was moved to tears more than once. I’ll bet the audio version was incredible. Just might have to pick it up.
The socks turned out great! Um, knitting memories… Knitting with Christine Lavin before her Minneapolis show at the U of MN a few years ago. And of course all of the wonderful people I’ve met.
I do just the same thing with “knitted memories” - I thought it was just me! In particular I remember the conversations I shared with friends and family while I worked on the piece. One pillow that lives on an armchair in my living room is particularly significant to me because I crocheted it while talking with my grandma, which was the last time I saw her. So I definitely know what you mean!
Your socks are gorgeous, as always - and don’t worry, I’m right there with you in the big-footed club!
I love the socks!! I also try to knit a lot of memmories into my knitting. Isn’t it a great idea?
Love those new toe warmers! I didn’t realize how close you were to finishing them last night. I must go get that book!
If you liked kite runner, you may enjoy The sewing circles of Herat, and also the bookseller of Kabul.
Great socks!
I finished my first Trekking socks a week or two ago and it was wonderful yarn to work with. I’ll have to get my hands on some more and try one of the patterns from NB’s Vintage book. Great sleeping socks!
I have the Kite Runner and haven’t read it yet, but after your glowing review I should get cracking.
The socks look great!
I tend to remember where I was while working on a project. I have one sweater that makes me think of watching my 24 dvds last summer, sick as a dog… knitting was about all the activity I could manage for a week.
Love the socks! I think one of my fav knitting memories (although at the time it was a bit scary) was knitting my poncho (back when they were in!) during Ivan. I had never been through a hurricane/tropical storm before, and it was nice to be able to have an excuse to sit on the couch all day and knit.
Hi Lolly! Your Trekking socks look amazing. I have some XXL Trekking sock yarn in my stash that my husband has claimed. I will start them next week when I can get home and grab some more yarn for my trip next week.
I read part of that book Kite Runner - but I have to say - I found it too depressing. I actually stopped reading it mid way through.
Have a great week!
-Jody
I do love the way those socks ended up, and am considering making them with your modification of an added heel.
And yeah, it’s funny especially how memories are associated with specific knits, at least for me. Even when I’m working on different projects simultaneously, each time I pick one up it brings back its own specific set of memories and images and feelings. So cool how the mind works sometimes.
That was such a powerful book. I agree with everything you said. It was a very good story, but heartbreaking. I cried my eyes out on it!
I totally hear you on the long-sock-project-due-to-big-feet. Thing. My sneakers are size 11, and my soccer cleats are men’s 9 1/2. Or, 11 1/2. Socks take FOREVER. =D Those socks are so pretty. The pattern is beautiful with the colour. Yay!
Have you lost more weight? You’re looking so slim! Great socks!
knitting memories:
the Christmas morning Kitchener on my husbands ski socks…
THe socks that were made on the car ride to Tennessee
[...] to at this point, and if I could, I would just listen through the night. Much like my other audiobook - sock knitting marathon last summer, I will remember this story when I wear the [...]