Pattern: "Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks" from
Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: GGH Marathon (discontinued)
Source: Received in a trade with Debi
Needles: Size 2 DPNs, Clover Takumi (bamboo)

Click to enlarge

The pattern was easy, and great to customize. The heel was a nice unique touch to a very "vanilla" pattern. These turned out so well, and Kris loves them too. He wore them to work today! (See how they match his new shoes?)

Socks [usually] take me forever to complete, but that does not diminish my love for them… I finished sock one in about a month, while sock two only took me four days.

I guess now that I am finished with school, I have more time on my hands. More time to actually finish the knits that I start… ("ahem" said my Sesame cardigan)

Sock knitting is all about the process for me. I just love to feel that yarn in my fingers, creating beautiful designs. I am planning to knit several Nancy Bush patterns this year - part of my own little compendium project. In fact, Project Spectrum knitting will consist of a lot of socks, as I have several lovely yarns and patterns that I am dying to try…

*** 

The beauty of socks: they always fit. 

While your tummy and thighs may fluctuate in size,

Your feet remain the same. 

***

Yeah, there are a few exceptions, but usually, socks fit.  You make them, and as long as you measure correctly and take good care of them, you can wear those socks until your dying day.  You gotta love something that has that kind of consistency.

Last November, Maritza and I set up a little swap.  She sent me a skein of lovely Socks that Rock yarn (I didn't have a skein to my name), and I sent her a hank of my beloved Tess Designer Yarns, fresh from Stitches East market. 

Since I also bought a skein of the same lovely green colorway that I sent to her, we decided to do a little informal green sock knitalong at some point. Well, turns out that neither of us could really hold off that long.  I mean, come on, look at that yarn!  You can see why, right?  So, although we both have full plates already, we decided that now is as good a time as any to cast on for the green socks. 

Maritza's button creation!

There is a big stress on the informal nature of this little knitalong - no signups, no deadlines, nothing like that.  It is really just about using green yarn and making socks. Feel free to download the cute button and join us!   For me, this knitalong comes at an interesting time - on the cusp of Project Spectrum 2.0 - which looks like it will be another successful round of the colorwheel! Green is not the first two-month span of colors, but there is some time before PS2 officially is underway, so I went ahead and chose a pattern and cast on.  I know I won't finish in time (socks take me forever), but that will give me something to pick up again once April and May's green comes around!

I decided to use the "Juta's Stockings" pattern from Nancy Bush's Folk Knitting In Estonia.  The pattern is simple and sweet, and a nice complement to the yarn's ever-so-slight variegation.

If you have a good eye and keen observational skills, you will see that I am using my new rosewood needles.  Wow, what a great set.  I think I may be spoiled now.  I didn't think there would be too much of a difference, but I can now report:  there is a difference.  These particular needles are wonderfully pointy, very sturdy (I am hard on my double points - nearly all of my aluminums are bent, and my bamboos are definitely "bowed").  Plus, there is a great "grab" on the yarn, but also a smoothness when sliding yarn across.  Very nice indeed.

Alas, I am also knitting socks for my mister.  I finished sock one of the Plain Winter socks from Nancy's Knitting Vintage Socks.  I am so pleased with the fit.  It is hard enough to get socks that fit me well, let alone Kris's big man foot.  Knitting socks for other people is often a challenge, but this one turned out well.  Now onto sock two!

Thanks to Chawne, it looks like I have the perfect sock yarn for April and May's color triad. I won a little contest on her blog a few week's ago, and she sent along this lovely skein of self-striping Mama Llama.  So pretty!  Thanks C! (Check out her lovely knits - she makes some amazing things!)

Inevitably, many of my Project Spectrum crafts will be knitting related.  Of course, since I encourage people to "think outside the box" in terms of crafting in color, I am doing the same thing.  I am planning to expand my crafty repetoire with some sewing, paper crafts, beading, quilting, and crochet.  The idealism that comes early in the project!  Savor it now!  :) 

I am beginning to feel the call of the sweater again - goodness me, I have enough stashed yarn for many more! - but I am trying to resist for a short while to work on these socks, and some other lovely accessories… more on that later!

In closing, I was overwhelmed by your kind words and sweet wishes on my anniversary post.  Thank you so much.  Kris is wearing his sweater at work today!

Well, the holiday was not completely handknit… I didn't finish my mom's present, so I worked out a little surrogate gift… and I didn't make anything for dad, but I am already thinking about next year's, and I still have some knitting to do for the nieces…

Despite these things, we had an absolutely wonderful Christmas.  Kris and I spent Christmas Eve with my family:  we prepared a wonderful feast, attended a service where my sisters sang beautifully, and came home to desserts, presents, and some yummy wine.  We laughed and shared gifts into the late hours of the night.  On Christmas morning, we awoke and headed to my brother-in-law's house for another wonderful brunch feast and opening gifts with all of Kris's family.  Things were relaxed this year, and it felt so nice to be "in the moment".  A wonderful two-day celebration with our loving families.

Wanna see the handknits?  Well, you may be surprised… 

This is the happiest picture of my mom EVER, so I had to share She is a cutie! You see, I was making another gift - still a secret - and I quickly realized that there was no way to finish it in time for gift-giving. So, the trusty Fetching mitt pattern worked in a flash! I used Knit Picks Andean Silk and lengthened the wrist.  This pattern is so cute and quick.  I think she likes them

She didn't seem to mind that the mitts were only a hold over until the real project is complete. Now, I need to motivate myself to actually work on that!

… and these are gifts you may remember!  I made the mittens for Mimi all along, but played them off as my own on the blog.  She loved them!  and Sarah was thrilled with her braided Rapunzel scarf.  In fact, the day before, she had just asked me if I could make one for her! :) 

~We had a wonderful time with both families~

Daddy and the stockings, Mimi and her little Oscar cat

Kris, Lolly, and the nieces, and the new gumball machine

In between it all, I managed to turn the heel on Kris's Plain Winter Sock.  The yarn, and the fun heel construction are definitely keeping my interest on this sock.  That and warming my husband's feet ;) 

This heel construction was really fun and I am hoping it will wear well.  It is outlined for this pattern "Plain Winter Socks" in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks book.

Today is Kris's birthday too!  Unfortunately, no handknits were finished for the birthday, but I hope he likes the gifts I did get him…

…and speaking of handknit holidays…

Don't forget about the Bejeweled Knitalong!  You can join us in knitting up Shobhana's beautiful and simple lace scarf - you can buy the pattern on her site - and for SIX MORE DAYS only, the proceeds of the sale will go to F.I.R.E., the organization behind the Dulaan Project, that provides clothing and warmth for the children of Mongolia.  Pick up the pattern, choose a yarn, and join us for the knitalong - it starts on New Year's Day!

Monday came quickly after a nice relaxing weekend, but Kris and I still had some fun activities planned to beat the Monday blues…

HOCKEY NIGHT!

It was a special night - the Pittsburgh Penguins were in town to play the Washington Capitals!

Kris has been a Penguins fan from an early age, and I will readily admit that I developed my love for the game after meeting him (of course, I did like the Disney Mighty Ducks movies when I was a kid…)  From the time that Kris and I started dating, I attended many of his hockey games and practices; with each one I learned more and more about the game: the rules, players, and history.  So, attending a professional game is always a treat! 

We rode the train down into the city, and our Penguins "gear" stood out among the Capitals' fans on the train - luckily no altercations!  Kris has had this jersey for ages - it is probably 15 years old.  My t-shirt is a remnant of my college wardrobe, the days we used to listen to the Penguins games on the radio :) 

Of course, I came prepared!  See my little bag? It was a birthday gift from sweet Heather.  It is another cute little sock pouch from TipsyKnitter.  Reversible even!  And what is inside?

I realized that there was a real lack of sock knitting happening around here after the Socktoberfest activities. I still have two socks in progress on the needles, but I added another to the mix. This time, some socks for Kris. The yarn was a wonderful trade with Debi - she sent me two balls of this beautiful GGH Marathon, now discontinued, sadly. Debi made some socks earlier this spring in a similar yarn, and I commented on the colorway. Before I knew it, she had sent 2 balls to me! I picked up some lovely Tess Designer Yarns at Maryland Sheep and Wool this past year, and the trade was done And now I am working with it! Thanks again, Deb!  Perfect for Kris - he wears greens, browns, and khakis often, and he likes this yarn.  I am following the Gentleman's Plain Winter Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. With my secret Christmas knitting, these socks may be all of the new knitting that you see around here for another week!

Most of the knitting occurred on the train ride to and from the game - the game itself was too exciting!  I couldn't wait to get to the end of the row before I cheered for the goals!  :)  We had fourth tier seats, and a great view of the ice.  The game started on a bad note for the Penguins, and by the beginning of the second period, they were down 4-0.  However, a few lucky strokes, and before we knew it…

They were tied!

After a short overtime period, the score remained the same - so under new NHL rules, the game went into a "sudden death" shoot out. 

The PENGUINS won!

Celebrating after the win - the players crowded around Marc-Andre Fleury (the goalie with the big yellow blocker pads) to congratulate him.  The player right in front of Fleury - #71 - is Evgeni Malkin, who scored the game-winning goal, and a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year.  It was so exciting to see them play!

Great night for hockey (and socks!)