Once I finished my last pair of socks, I needed to cast on with a yarn that counteracted the pastel miasma I had been immersed in. I also wanted to stick to my self-imposed schedule of knitting one project with commercial yarn, then one project with handspun yarn.
I hoped that my latest yarn off the wheel would serve the purpose, but as you can see in the skein there was definitely a lot of pink peeking out. I decided to cast on anyway and from there much ambivalence ensued.
I hemmed and hawed over whether or not I had used the right pattern for it. So I took it to knit night and cornered anyone who was sitting still for their opinion. Which was, of course, nearly everyone there.
In the end, the consensus was that the pattern was indeed right for the yarn. Once that was settled, I was able to fully commit to the project. During two movies, one good and one bad, I was able to finish the first sock and start the second.
I find it interesting to see that the yarn looks so different from the skein once knitted up. The browns are really dominant in the sock and I barely saw them in the skein. The pinks are very easy to live with when sitting along side the blue and the browns.
Truth be told, the pink is starting to grow on me. I don’t think I could handle the color all by itself, but I’ve taken a liking to it when it’s paired with other colors. In fact, I’ve been thinking a pink and brown roving would be rather fun to work with.
Another something I’ve been working on are stitch markers. I found some really cute ceramic beads that are extremely lightweight. They’re just perfect for socks and I get such a kick out of seeing them as I knit.
As you can see, Quincy was just fascinated by all the stitch markers.
Happy April Fool’s Day!
Dee on 01 Apr 2008 at 11:45 am #
Very cute stitch markers. It took me awhile to realize that the one was a dragon.
The sock turned out lovely!
And Quincy? Always adorable!
Dave on 01 Apr 2008 at 11:54 am #
It’s always interesting to see how the colours play out. I’m surprised more often than not — I think that’s half the fun!
Hattie on 01 Apr 2008 at 12:30 pm #
Oh wow, I LOVE those socks! I think that’s a great pattern for handspun. I think my next pair will have to be those, handspun-wise that is. You are right too, I notice the pink much more in the skein, but not hardly at all in the socks.
Cookie on 01 Apr 2008 at 12:33 pm #
Very nice joining of pattern and yarn.
Agnes on 01 Apr 2008 at 1:04 pm #
Oh those stitch markers are lovely! And I love that pattern too.
I haven’t watched American Gangsters yet, but both husband and I love No Country for Old Man … it’s very violent, yes, but the directors were so skillful in telling the story that we found it almost hard to breathe during the whole movie! We so much hope the guy could beat the odds and made it through alive … but it is just realistic that he couldn’t.
Jeanne on 01 Apr 2008 at 2:14 pm #
Very pretty socks - the yarn is gorgeous and love the pattern!
Peggy on 01 Apr 2008 at 2:14 pm #
I love the whimsical markers. They would make any project more enjoyable, ;)
hetty on 01 Apr 2008 at 3:15 pm #
Wow! You knit a whole sock while watching two movies?
You’re amazing! I love that pattern! By the way, the colour is great! And I love those stitch markers. But Quincy takes the prize for being the cutest!
Shell on 01 Apr 2008 at 3:52 pm #
Okay - slow down on that sock knitting - you are making me look bad!
I love the stitch markers, and Quincy is soo sweet.
fleegle on 02 Apr 2008 at 12:06 am #
The yarn is just glorious, Opal, and the socks are really lovely! I envy you your adorable stitch markers, too!
Kelley on 02 Apr 2008 at 1:20 am #
You are speeding along! Isn’t it great once you commit to a project?!
textillian on 02 Apr 2008 at 1:52 am #
It still doesn’t look all that pink to me (which is a compliment!)
The socks look great, and you seem to be knitting at Roseann speeds!
Robbyn on 02 Apr 2008 at 3:59 am #
Really nice socks (and many thanks for the pointer to the pattern!) and really *really* nice yarn! To me, the pink is barely noticable while the rich browns and blues look like oak trees by the water.
Heh - Quincy looks very settled and happy :) And about as appreciative of knitting as my two are!
knitnana on 02 Apr 2008 at 4:41 am #
Ah Quincy - you shouldn’t be fascinated by stitch markers anyway. You’ll just take them off into a corner and Mom won’t be able to find them when she needs them!
Cute markers…and the socks are cool.
(oh, well, no I guess they’re warm, right?)
lolol
(((Hugs)))
Roseann on 02 Apr 2008 at 7:17 am #
I can’t believe you made those stitch markers! I was looking for the vendor name and then realized that you made them, they are very pretty. I love your socks and pattern, they are simply gorgeous together and fit you so nicely.
tiennie on 02 Apr 2008 at 9:10 am #
I think they turned out wonderfully! Cute stitch markers!
Carrie K on 02 Apr 2008 at 10:31 am #
Quincy’s completely mesmerized, I see. They’re really cute. Lightweight too? Perfect.
The skein looks so differently knitted up! It always surprises me. Pink looks really good in tandem with other colors. I’m not a huge pink fan myself, but I’m getting there.
Lisa on 02 Apr 2008 at 10:39 am #
I love that sock pattern. It’s amazing how a color can be either more or less noticable in the skein vs knitted up. Such a mystery!
Cute stitch markers and cute kitty! Give Quincy a scritch for me.
hakucho on 02 Apr 2008 at 10:53 am #
I love the socks…love, love them :)
Cute kitty picture too :)
dorkyquilts on 02 Apr 2008 at 11:00 am #
The socks are beautiful! And thanks for the link to the wonderful pattern…it looks like a great one…
becky on 02 Apr 2008 at 11:09 am #
Love the socks. I think that yarn works very well for them.
Jeanne on 02 Apr 2008 at 11:13 am #
I do love the way those socks are knitting up. You are right…the pink is not all that objectionable. Cute stitch markers. Qunicy does look impressed.
Carol on 02 Apr 2008 at 1:29 pm #
The socks are fabulous! Hardly a touch of pink at all! And do I spy a pink stitch marker?! They’re great!
Karen B. on 02 Apr 2008 at 1:50 pm #
Let me get this straight: you spun the yarn, knit the socks AND made the stitch markers???
(shakes head; admires general craftiness. And cute kitty boy.)
Wendi on 03 Apr 2008 at 3:37 am #
Oh my gosh! I LOVE your handspun yarn! It really knits up different from the skein. I think I need to learn how to spin yarn…
KnittinDoula on 03 Apr 2008 at 12:45 pm #
Your handspun looks delish. And I love that pattern (added to Ravelry queue before I even typed this!).
domesticshorthair on 04 Apr 2008 at 3:09 am #
Nice socks, and I like the yarn. Cute stitch markers!
alice on 04 Apr 2008 at 4:33 am #
ooh, pretty! And I think that’s a great pattern/yarn combination.
nova on 04 Apr 2008 at 5:16 am #
As one who is not really a fan of pink either, I think the pink is fairly negligible. I like it, and it’s so exciting to see people knit with their handspun!