I've finished my first project for 2010, and in keeping with my resolution to knit for myself, it's a colorful pair of socks knit with Opal's new Antonia collection in color 2802. And I'm happy to report that the ball had plenty of yardage for my size 10-11 feet. And I wasted a dozen or so yards so that I could make the pattern match for the socks, and I still had about 10% of the yardage leftover. Gotta love the yardage on Opal.
I finished this pair in 10 days time, which is a quicker than the 14 days that it typcially takes me to knit a pair of socks with all that goes on each day here with a busy business, toddler and, well, life. I think what helped speed me along was knowing that the sooner I finished these, the sooner I would be wearing them. That I wouldn't be holding onto them for 11 months to eventually gift them to someone else. (Of course, I have to find my tapestry needle to bind off the toe before I can wear them.) I also think that self-patterning yarns can be somewhat addictive. I like watching the design evolve as I knit. And if I'm doing a simple stitch pattern (like the 2x2 rib I did for the leg) then I may not even be looking at the sock for several rounds. Then all of a sudden, I look down and I see that the color has changed or that I'm finally getting around to that thin green stripe that I kept waiting for throughout this sock. Don't ask why, but that little bit of green was the best part of the sock for me.
Diane was nice enough to e-mail me this button she designed for my resolution to knit for myself, and I encourage you to right click on it, save it somewhere on your computer, and use it on your blog's post or sidebar to show that you too are knitting for yourself in 2010. Link it to www.simplysockyarn.typepad.com and I'll keep posting my knits and I'll link to you or show your pictures if you e-mail them to allison@simplysockyarn.com .
I don't even bother with a tapestry needle now:
http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/05/easier-way-to-kitchener-stitch-also.html
It accomplishes the same thing but for whatever reason I find it so much easier.
Posted by: Susan | January 11, 2010 at 03:16 PM
Pretty socks! I usually do knit for me, but if the results don't fit me or look good on me, the object goes in the gift drawer. That drawer is getting a little full - time for a give-away!
Posted by: Abby | January 11, 2010 at 03:40 PM
Love the socks! The colors are great!
Posted by: SusanB-knits | January 11, 2010 at 04:08 PM
I love the idea of knitting socks for myself!
Posted by: Linda Hillin | January 11, 2010 at 04:15 PM
I just love your socks. Self striping yarn helps me to knit along at a faster pace.
Posted by: Annette | January 11, 2010 at 04:25 PM
Oh that was fast. Love the colour changes of Opal.
Posted by: susan | January 11, 2010 at 06:42 PM
added to my blog! yay!
Posted by: sillyfru | January 11, 2010 at 08:58 PM
I really love these socks! Very cheerful!!! and I agree abt self striping socks, they seem to keep me interested. I can create goals of *I want to get to the grey stripe before I stop* which helps me knit a bit further a long in one sitting than variegated or solid color yarns.
Posted by: Lynn | January 11, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Gorgous - my favourite skein of the Antonia's - you knit them so pretty!!!
best Ute :)
Posted by: Ute | January 14, 2010 at 01:50 AM