Monday, July 7, 2008
Close but no cigar...
Last year, my knitting goal was to understand the anatomy of a sock and to be really comfortable knitting them. To find out what yarns I liked to knit them with, what needles I preferred and to figure out what heel and toe fit my foot the best. I succeeded and became obsessed with knitting socks. The love affair is still constant and beautiful, but I decided that I wanted to knit them with more consistency and that I was ready to take on some more advanced sock patterns.I joined the Sock A Month KAL 5 which started this past January. The goal was to knit and post a pair a month...I did great....until the last pair. I finished a day late. At first, I was upset about it...feeling like I didn't meet the goal I set out to make, but then shortly realized that...well, that's not what knitting's all about. For me, it's my stress reliever, my social outlet and my little piece of heaven. I got over it and looked back at all the beautiful socks I knit over the past 6 months and was again, ever grateful that I'm a knitter. The people I've met, the things I've done, the skill I've gained, the peace it brings...it's not about the ultimate goal, but the ultimate feeling of joy that it brings into my life.
January
February
March
April
May
June
My June socks, finished July 2, are Hedgerows by Jane Cochran. I used Sundara Sock in Candied Chrome and size 1 Knit Picks Nickel Plated DPNs. This sock yarn was a DREAM to knit with!
So there it is....6 month's worth of socks. Socks I'm happy with. Socks I learned a lot about knitting from. I knit my first pair of lace socks during the past 6 months. I also used several new sock yarns that I'd never knit with before like Yarntini, Vesper, sKNITches, Dream in Color Smooshy and Sundara. I think that's a lot to be satisfied with.
I decided not to join the next 6 months of the KAL because I'm going to start on another knitting goal...one that's kind of well....FREAKED ME OUT....I'm going to knit my first sweater.
My sweet friend, Gherkin and I are going to knit Pamela Wynne's February Lady Sweater out of Cascade 220 on our knitting retreat to Greer this coming weekend. I did my swatch the other night and got gauge spot on!
I'm excited. A little nervous. And eagerly anticipating what this next goal will bring to my knitting....I have a sneaky suspicion it will be, stress relief, socialization with dear friends and my little piece of heaven.
Labels: Life...le sigh, SAM KAL, sock love
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Enjoy your retreat - how awesome! I am starting the February Sweater this week too - I am going to imagine I am doing a KAL with you lucky girls! Gorgeous socks too - I need to get that Candied Chrome to the top of the pile, once I get done loving my Mama Blue - it's torrid, this love affair...
Oh I sooo want your sock drawer! gorgeous!
Can't wait to see your first sweater! Have fun!
beautiful socks girl!! My favourite are the June socks. Don't be nervous, don't freak out, you will learn lots from this sweater and will never look back or be afraid of sweater knitting. You will wonder why it's take you so long to start on a sweater and never look back....you will be juuuuuusst fine. Good luck!
I love how your socks look all spread out like that. Too bad I would only end up with three pairs. I'm still happy that I joined the KAL and completed what I did.
I can't wait to see what your sweater is going to look like.
have fun on your retreat!
and i second the comment that we need, i mean NEED, a picture of your sock drawer! knowing you its perfect....
and i cast on for my first pair, again. but i made it through several rows.... ah the air up on the cape made it easy to concentrate!!:)
love you
your socks are beautiful! congratulations for finishing your goal. i think it's great to challenge yourself with each project. i can't wait to see how the february sweater turns out.
Gosh, they are all so beautiful - I especially love Feb.
Oh you are so talented. A sweater, oh my!
I've been participating in a project a month club. June's project wasn't complete until July (such is the way of my life). Every month I pick something that seems easy or manageable, then when the end of the month comes I'm not quite done yet. Do you see a pattern here? I do.
Either way, I find some peace in blogging about the process. Do you?
i love the color you chose for your feb sweater! i can't wait to see what the finished cardi will look like! good luck:oD
Truly impressive dearie - truly. Each pair more lovely than the previous. I have absolutely no doubt that you will totally conquer the sweater too! Yay!
You have a fantastic time in Greer - I'll be thinking of you....
: )
socks are fab! i love them all. handknit socks are the best!
as for the sweater, i think i might have picked the very same yarn/color for the very same sweater as you! and it is my first (sorta) sweater i am knitting. i have a mini knitalong going with some seasoned knitters so hoping they can help me out. can't wait to see your progress!
Great socks!!!! I love May and June. And February! I think the sweater idea sounds great! Such excitement! [and what a cute sweater!]