I can’t tell you how excited I am! I finished my very first pair of socks in my very own handspun yarn this morning.
Before I finished them, I was afraid that I’d run out of yarn. Even though I calculated how many yards I had, I did not trust my math. I could easily have been wrong and have been off by a couple of hundred yards. And knit and purl patterns eat yarn like wild animals, don’t ya know?
So I deployed the demon eyes of Scheyer to tame the yarn. Either he was on overdrive that day or I’m an abysmal judge of exactly how much yarn I have or my math was actually correct.
This is how much yarn I had left.
I’m thinking that I need to trust my math. I’d sure save myself a lot of angst in the future if I did. I swear I was in a constant panic attack when I was knitting on that second sock. Boy, do I feel silly now.
I bet you want to see the socks. That’s what it’s all about right?
Pattern: Primavera by natalja (available from Ravelry as a free download)
Yarn: My own handspun; roving from Yarn Wench in the colorway Napa
Needles: US 1 / 2.25mm
Started: March 5, 2008
Finished: March 12, 2008
After 3 repeats of the pattern, I decreased from 66 sts to 54 sts by reducing to 2 purl stitches between each stockinette stitch block instead of four. I hope that makes sense. If not feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to clarify.
I loved this project from start to finish. From spinning up the yarn to knitting up the socks. I was constantly tickled pink by the fact that I was knitting with yarn that I made. Yarn. That I made! And it’s soft! Really soft and cushy!
*deep breath*
Some people say that Merino is not a good choice for socks because it isn’t strong enough. I don’t care. I’m not hard on my socks and I get such pleasure from this beautiful fiber. If they wear out faster then other fibers, I’ll just have to make more. I have no problem with making more.
I also have no problem with the fact that the stripes are more like huge rectangles of color. Nor do I mind that the colors don’t run in the same sequence on each sock. I think they look rather artistic and eclectic.
I’m thoroughly addicted to knitting with my own handspun yarn now. This spells trouble for my stash of commercial yarn. Luckily I can only spin so much, so fast. So there will be no giving away of the stash anytime soon!
Happy Wednesday, everyone. :)
Punkin on 12 Mar 2008 at 12:51 pm #
I like everything about your socks. Very nice!
I agree about knitting more socks out of nice fiber so that any one pair doesn’t get too much wear. I am working on filling my sock drawer.
fleegle on 12 Mar 2008 at 12:58 pm #
I am so proud of you–the yarn, the knitting, the final product are just wonderful! Wear them in good health!
Dee on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:05 pm #
Those are gorgeous socks! An inspiration to get spinning.
Karen B. on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:22 pm #
Oh, Opal! Those are so very beautiful - and even more so since you spun the yarn to make them!
I gasped when I saw them. Kudos.
Jeanne on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:44 pm #
Beautiful! Nice job on the spinning. Did you stop to admire them every so often? I find that when I knit socks with yarn I dyed myself, it takes longer because I keep stopping to admire them and pat myself on the back.
Jeanne on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:50 pm #
Opal, they are just gorgeous! I don’t think I’d be able to take them off - they are just so pretty. Gorgeous yarn, gorgeous pattern. I really need to start spinning again!
Hattie on 12 Mar 2008 at 1:53 pm #
How funny, I just finished MY first pair of socks from handspun today! Lol. I ADORE yours. I like that pattern so much more in your yarn than others I have seen. Absolutely gorgeous. Great job!
bockstark.knits on 12 Mar 2008 at 2:17 pm #
OMG, they are gorgeous! You picked a perfect pattern too!
Kelley on 12 Mar 2008 at 2:26 pm #
Wow — yet another reason to spin. I love the combo of the yarn and the pattern. And the large rectangles of color look intentional! Great job.
KnittinDoula on 12 Mar 2008 at 2:30 pm #
That pattern shows off your beautiful handspun so well! I love the bold color transitions. Truly a remarkable achievement to be proud of, Opal!
Barb on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:09 pm #
Lovely. You have good reason to be proud!
loribird on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:16 pm #
Oooo! So pretty! Handspun socks are SO addictive…
hetty on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:16 pm #
They’re beautiful! I love everything about them - the spinning, the colour, the pattern, the artistry! You did a great job, but I think you couldn’t have knit them without Scheyer’s help!
Dave on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:20 pm #
Oh, they’re gorgeous. I was expecting a more tweedy, barber-poling type effect. I love the gentle striping. Well done!!
Peggy on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:21 pm #
How satisfying that must feel, sort of like the way you feel after a decadent meal!!!! They are lovely, a wonderful yarn and great with the pattern you chose.
Shelly on 12 Mar 2008 at 3:29 pm #
Hehehe - Now I just need to get you processing your own fleece - and take it from fleece, to prepared fiber, to dyed fiber, to yarn, to socks… then I shall have accomplished my goal!
Wicked evil laugh……
Lisa on 12 Mar 2008 at 4:18 pm #
YOUR!
OWN!
YARN!
I am so jealous! Wear those socks proudly girl!
carrie on 12 Mar 2008 at 5:22 pm #
Wow Opal, those are SO PRETTY! I like the way the colors look too (and I am not a stripey person), and the pattern is perfect! GOOD JOB!!
Kate on 12 Mar 2008 at 11:41 pm #
Beautiful socks, and beautiful yarn. My spinning wheel is standing alone in my room in the basement. But, in the Easter I will try to spin a bit.
alice on 13 Mar 2008 at 2:53 am #
they’re beautiful! :)
textillian on 13 Mar 2008 at 3:45 am #
Those are some of the most beautiful socks that I have seen. COVET! If they were mine, I would be shoving my foot into people’s faces saying, “LOOK! LOOK!”
Meredith on 13 Mar 2008 at 4:51 am #
Socks! Those are great, and I’m so glad you have fallen in love with knitting your own handspun. It’s a wonderful and mysterious feeling to take something from the sheep to a finished garment (if you buy raw fleece) or even from roving or tops or batts to the finished garment! Congratulations!
mer
Robbyn on 13 Mar 2008 at 5:00 am #
Oh my goodness! Those are just beautiful! I love the color pattern and am in complete agreement with you about the eclectic look. I have seen the pattern before, but would never have thought it would work up so wonderfully in a color-striped yarn.
And you made it all yourself! You have every right to be proud, girl.
Quite the inspriation, you are :)
Rosa on 13 Mar 2008 at 5:08 am #
It is BEAUTIFUL! I think the pattern is lovely and the colors are divine. I should definitely knit myself some handspun socks. Thanks for the inspiration.
I don’t believe that handspun sock yarn is meant to be perfect. It is meant to represent our craft of spinning and the uniqueness of how we split the colors, spin and ply. I love the fact that they aren’t symmetrical. If that were the intended effect, I am sure you would have knit them with Regia.
Congrats!
knitnana on 13 Mar 2008 at 5:52 am #
How exciting! And they’re gorgeous…you SHOULD be proud!
(((hugs)))
Cookie on 13 Mar 2008 at 5:57 am #
Trust your math!
Great socks, Opal. Congrats!
tiennie on 13 Mar 2008 at 7:29 am #
What fun socks!
Amanda on 13 Mar 2008 at 8:56 am #
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!
I love that you matched them up so both are identical in the color changes. Great job!
Mokihana on 13 Mar 2008 at 10:13 am #
Fabulous!!! Did you spin from roving or a batt? I would have loved to have seen the original fiber; maybe I just missed the post.
I love the colorway, love the sock pattern. Your yarn is just beautiful and knitted up into a pair of socks to die for. Way to go!
becky on 13 Mar 2008 at 11:06 am #
Congratulations on the socks! They are beautiful. I love the colors of your yarn.
dorkyquilts on 13 Mar 2008 at 11:52 am #
Incredibly gorgeous. Totally awesome.
Agnes on 13 Mar 2008 at 3:01 pm #
Beautiful pattern plus lovely yarn! Great job!
limedragon :-: Harriet on 14 Mar 2008 at 5:37 am #
Congratulations, very exciting project! They’re lovely. : )
Debi on 14 Mar 2008 at 8:33 pm #
I love the color! Very pretty.
Dude, get yourself a digital postal scale that measures grams….for about $30 you could save yourself a lot of anguish! You could have weighed the finished sock and the yarn you had left for sock number 2 and voila, calm knitting without worry!
debbie on 16 Mar 2008 at 7:50 pm #
what a lovely pair of socks and in your own handspun! that is just the perfect pattern for that colorway!
nova on 20 Mar 2008 at 2:43 am #
Very impressive, O.