Oct 06 2007
Sock Starts
Project Spectrum may be over for now, but that doesn’t mean the fun with color has to stop… I have been particularly drawn to the bright and colorful sock yarns in my stash, and I have been wasting no time getting these same yarns on the needles.
Green Macaw anklets
At first, I was a little shocked at just how bright these socks were knitting up. The yarn is the beautiful Woolarina Handpaint that I purchased at last year’s Crafty Bastards fair. I loved the deep azure and emerald green. Once I got the yarn wound and started on the needles, I began to wonder if it was a little too garish - of course, what I was forgetting is that you can get away with garish socks much easier than any other garment or accessory. Additionally, like the name implies, I think they look like a green macaw parrot. That reminds me of the Amazon, and in turn, that makes me happy. (We did see quite a few macaws while in the Peruvian Amazon, and they are quite noisy birds with their squawking…)
Silk Garden Lite Socks
I could not ignore the siren song of Noro. When I bought this yarn in Napa, California last November, I planned to try my some Silk Garden Lite socks. Noro is not a common sock yarn, but I thought they would be warm and cute with the color changes. When I saw Good To Be Girl’s Silk Garden Socks last winter, it solidified the deal. Hers turned out so well, and I am hoping these do too. I am loving the colors, and there seems to be enough yarn in this ball for some pretty tall socks too. The colorway is #2015, and I am using US 4 (3.5mm) needles.
Socktoberfest can be about finishing up your single socks, working on holiday knitting, challenging yourself with a new technique or pattern or even about finding new ways to wear the socks you have already made. This year, I felt that my Socktoberfest would be based on the simplest of terms: ENJOY KNITTING SOCKS. (Terhi seemed to have the same feelings…) I have cast on for several pairs, all simple and plain patterns, and I don’t feel a shred of guilt over it. I am loving the colors, the yarns, and the process. I am loving every minute of it!
How is your Socktoberfest progressing?
Il love the colors in both of these socks. I still haven’t decided what socks to work on this month. I think I am thinking it through too much. I should just pick something and start. Or decide to finish the pair I’ve already started.
Still working on my Cascade Sassy Stripes socks. #1 is complete. #2 is just started.
I had a visit to the frog pond! Booooooo!
[…] nobody@flickr.com (LollyKnit) wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAt first, I was a little shocked at just how bright these socks were knitting up. The yarn is the beautiful Woolarina Handpaint that I purchased at last year’s Crafty Bastards fair. I loved the deep azure and emerald green. … […]
Doing penance knitting my daughter’s poncho (unfinished for over a year!) mostly (like when she’s awake). But Bellatrix will be done soon and then on to Pomotamus. I will have to start something for TV watching, though, as the lace is too easy to mess up and I’m not quite good enough at it yet!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the socks. Heck girl, socks should be happy in the knitting and happier still in the wearing! They’re wonderful!!
I feel the same way you do about the colors of socks. I feel I can get away with wearing colors on my feet I’d never dare to wear in a sweater, etc. I think perhaps that’s part of what I love so much about socks!
I am so excited about Socktoberfest this year. I set an initial goal of finishing a languishing pair, which I did last night! Now I plan to make a pair (long ago promised) for my Aunt…step by step if how I’ll set my goals for the month.
I have some Kureyon in my stash that I’ve been planning on using for socks, love the colors of Noro!
I love that yarn, very vibrant and colorful, we have the same taste
That is the best color of silk garden lite! It looks so pretty knit up like that!
I know I have that color somewhere, I have to do something with it now.
Mine is currently stalled thanks to a sprained shoulder muscle. I hope to make a dent in it starting today. Yay!
I love the Macaw colors! Fabulous. And I love the gradient feel of the Silk Garden. I want to try dying that way sometime. I’m working on a pair of simple socks for the BF, and then a pair of original cabled socks for my dad in Alpaca. They’re both going splendidly. Amen to not feeling guilty about enjoying my socks. =D
The Noro socks are truly a WOW!!!! for me.
Gotta get me some Noro lite a.s.a.p. and join Socktoberfest.
Wonderful colours – I especially like the Noro socks, they are really beautiful. I have to check out that yarn, I haven’t heard of it before. Happy Socktober, Lolly!
Utterly gorgeous!! That blue and green is so cheerful!
Wow - I love those colors! Especially the macaw socks. I’ve just cast on for the Marina Piccola pattern - I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Socks in Silk Garden Lite? Okay, I need another trip to my LYS now.
Ooh, the Noro socks are delightful! I’m sure they’ll be even better on your feet with that nice silk content. It seems like you’re taking a playful approach, which is necessary sometimes. Also good to use up yarn that’s been in the stash for a year or more!
As for me, well, I don’t have any socks going…but I’m making things for charity right now instead! When I finish, definitely back to socks.
It’s going well. I’m making about a quarter inch to half an inch on the socks (HoHI) a night, so that’s going well. I’m really looking forward to finishing them and seeing the nice comments on my flickr in-progress shots is keeping me motivated. Yay Socktober!
Wow, both of those socks are so bright and colorful and happy! I love them! I posted yesterday about my plans for Socktoberfest…mostly I hope to make some progress towards finishing the frighteningly large number of socks-in-progress that I’ve got going on. That, and to just celebrate the wonderfulness that is sock knitting!
I feel the same way! I really feel like doing very simple ribbed patterns, like the ones in the beginning of Knitting Vintage Socks with some really bright colored yarns.
I never would have thought of Silk Garden for socks - what a great idea! For me, Socktoberfest is going to be about trying to overcome second sock syndrome (and finishing a few first socks!)
Yay for the mention of Napa! I’m in Napa visiting my parents right now
Um the socks are gorgeous, but you know what this post has actually convinced me? I need a lightbox. :o)
Now I have to knit a pair of Noro socks! I love the colors.
Socktoberfest is moving along nicely, even if i did have to frog 60 rounds on a second sock today. Sigh. I had made sock number one so long ago i had forgotten that i decreased the first sock’s gusset by 10 more rounds to make a more snug sock. Ooops!
I have managed to finish a second sock for another pair and got the frogged sock back on the needles, but had to put it down after my Cubs lost tonight…so i could have a few tears and not have to frog again. Pout.
Yum to both of these lovely colourful socks. I’d not seen the SG Lite used for socks before; they promise to be really beautiful.
Aw man, now I’ve gotta go out and buy some Silk Garden Lite. . .
I love the colors in both of those. I’ve wanted to make a pair of socks using Kureyon for some time. I’m sure they won’t match, but they sure will be pretty!
I love the idea of casting on as many socks as you’d like.
I like it a lot!
The Noro sock looks beautiful - it’s not too scratchy?
I dug out some sock yarn that’s been part of my stash longer than most sock yarn I have. It’s going to be pretty pink Waving Lace socks. I can’t wait. They have started out beautifully.
lovely!
well, I have purchased yarn and needles — now I have to get over my fear over how small those needles are and then I can get started! If I have a good start on the first sock by the end of Socktoberfest, I’ll be happy! : )
Lovely! I can’t wait to see the Noro Socks completed.
I’ve been soo busy lately, I just noticed the new look of your blog. It looks wonderful.
OMG. I love the Green Macaw!
Lovely work! I’m enjoying the lower stress Socktoberfest!
Wow - they look great- both of them. I love the doing plain socks. (Although I have Charade on my needles now - it’s a simple pattern - two rows and one of the row in knit around and the other is easy to memorize).
Question to all - I have always been put off by Noro in the stores. It seems so not soft! Does it soften with wear/wash?
I like a plainer sock. It makes it easier to think about wearing them. Some of the more complicated lace socks really are too pretty for me to think about putting on my feet. The Noro socks are the best kind of sock.
Congratulations on your feature in National Geographic’s Traveler! That’s awesome.
Lovin’ the colors!! If I’m going to spend time knitting socks, it’s a MUST in my book, that I have fun colors. The more “out of the ordinary” the better.
I finally cast on for Socktoberfest! A pair of socks for my 4 1/2 year old, made with Swizzle. I’ve got to really push myself to finish these. I cast on some winter gear for him too…..
Super cute socks! I need to work some calf shaping into my knee highs. I should probably not put that off for much longer…
so cute! look at all the colors! enough to chase away the drab fall blahs!!!!
Loving the new look of your place here
lolly, if i go out tomorrow and purchase some silk garden lite, i will have you to blame (thank) for it =)
this is noro? for a sock? how amazing! And just one skein?
unbelievable…I must trie them aswell. Great to see something different on the internet. Noro and Sock: I think this is the beginning of a new friendship
Love the Green Macaw socks. Not at all too bright - especially once the weather turns dreary. There’s nothing like some cheery hand-knit socks to make you smile.
The Noro socks are so cute! I think they are going to be PERFECT.
I tried to look at the macaws picture, and flickr told me I was not allowed:(
[…] the one but I did finish the second on Sunday evening. I was influenced by the lovely photos that Lolly and Mary had posted on their blogs so I had a good hunt round my stash and came up with some lovely […]