***
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!