Tuesday, June 12, 2012

50 Shades of Green ~ Socks

Socks are the comfort food of knitting.  They are relatively quick to knit, easy to get a good fit, and oh so satisfying to wear.  And there are an infinite number of yarns and patterns to choose from ensuring there is something to delight the heart of every knitter no matter the skill level or persuasion.


I would rate these socks as an advanced knit due to the twisting and cabling on virtually every row but it's precisely because of this twisting of stitches that they have great detail and are probably my favorite socks so far.  I say "probably" because I have a tendency to always love my most recently completed project best, but in this case it happens to be objectively true.  At least, at this moment, I think so.  I can be fickle.


And since I am in need of comfort these days, I might just have to cast on another pair.  But who am I kidding?  I rarely knit the same pattern twice.


Particulars:  Kelmscott (formerly Mystery Sock 2012) designed by Kirsten Kapur (blogs as Through the Loops); US 1 needles; 1 skein Primo by Plucky Knitter (385 yards~ colorway Faded Grandeur).  This is a wonderful pattern but not the fastest knit due to all the twisted stitches and cabling.  The following are skills used in these socks: twisted stitches; cables; bobbles - while none of these stitches are difficult you do have at a minimum twisted stitches on every row and often twisting stitches combined with cables.

The Misadventures of Simcha and a Skunk  ~



Eww.  We were skunked.  At least one of us was and it wasn't me.  The price of enjoying the great outdoors is the occasional interaction with native wildlife.  I didn't know Topanga had skunks until one appeared in our path while Simcha and I were out hiking.  I was shocked to see the tiny black and white creature meandering along in stark contrast to all native flora.  It's tail was held high and it looked like a strong gust of wind would blow it away yet it wafted along toward us without a care in the world.  At least it didn't have a care until it saw a 90 lb. German Shepherd charging him.  Then he got all huffy and turned tail, so to speak.  I obviously yelled "leave it" but a dog skidding to a stop 5 feet from a skunk is not enough to stop the inevitable.  Like all disasters it felt surreal. I had this hopeful thought that maybe Simcha hadn't actually been sprayed.  Maybe that smell in the air meant the skunk had missed his intended target?  But then why was Simcha laying on the ground rubbing his face in the dirt?  That did not seem like a good sign.  And on the walk back it became increasingly pungently clear that the skunk had not missed his target.  Oh joy.  All things considered it could have been worse.  I ran into a buddy who walks her dog on leash and they had both been skunked the week before.  These, folks, are the moments that separate the true dog lovers from the rest.  We were both out hiking with our dogs the very next day.

Until next time, be well and love well and if you have never knit socks then this Summer is the perfect time to indulge in a quintessential comfort knit.

22 comments:

jillian said...

Lovely socks. That is positively a favorite shade of green, and the stitch work really pops.

Looking forward to a get-together this summer :)

At Home Mommy Knits said...

Love your socks! I really want to master two socks at once to avoid Second Sock Syndrome....because I can't seem to find the urge to cast on for any socks until I master two at once :)

So did you read 50 Shades of Grey? ;)

P.S. Bummer about the skunking...do you bath dogs in tomato juice or is there something else to help remove the smell?

Unknown said...

Ugh. Timber got skunked the summer before last. Of course this skunk came into our backyard and I'm sure Timber was trying to make friends with it. Hazel took off and avoided being sprayed. Unfortunately it was 10pm on a Sunday night so there was no deskunking until Monday morning. Hopefully Simcha is smelling like her old self again.

Andi said...

You my dear are absolutely correct, socks are the comfort food of knitting. I have been looking for a more challenging patter, these fit the bill! Gorgeous color choice.
Heh..poor Simcha got skunked. I didn't think we had them here in AZ till I saw one by a dumpster near my work.

shabby girl said...

Oh my Lord, those socks are gorgeous! Wow! I recently finished my ONE pair of socks that I knitted, and I was so pleased. They are very, very basic, but are so warm, soft, and fit better than any sock I've ever worn. Just waiting for winter to be able to wear them. :)
Maybe some day I'll be able to knit socks like yours!!!

Allie said...

Oh my gosh Claudia those are so beautiful - I love them! I think socks is one reason I'd take up knitting. You just can't buy socks that pretty.

Poor Simcha, lol - I remember when my Molly got skunked in the back yard - you could tell she knew she was in the doghouse with us!

t does wool said...

Claudia..beautiful knit...the pattern,the color..done with style~

Kristen Rettig said...

I just love your posts. You combine knitting and dogs, two of my favorite things. Hope you are having a good summer.

missyinedmonds said...

Poor you and poor Simcha!!! At least your feet looked lovely in your newly knitted green socks :D

Reminds me of the Beeber kids down the street when I was a kid, we were playing hide and seek after dark...the Beeber's hid in a bush...with a skunk...I didn't play with them again until they were de-oderized. lol

Tracy said...

Oh, no SKUNKED??!! Poor Simcha.. and poor you to have to smell it. ;o) I've not encountered skunks here, and hope never to. During my childhood I grew up in a very rural area... skunk scent was not uncommon. LOL... LOVE the socks, Claudia! I like the heathery mossy green and such an elegant pattern. I have yet to master sock-knitting--especially sizing correctly, as most sock patterns are too large for me. Working on it. ;o) Wishing you a WONDERFUL SUMMER ((HUGS))

SissySees said...

Love the socks. Don't love the skunk story. The Knight and the fur-girls had words repeatedly Monday night when he got home (well into the night... from the firehouse). He had smelled skunk strongly, and they wanted to go out in the pen and explore. Nothing doing, he said... over and over...

Anonymous said...

That is a pair of socks that needs to be worn without long pants! They're gorgeous! And poor Simcha, and poor you! Were you able to de-skunk him?

Monika said...

Lovely socks!
Oh no! How did you deal with a stinky Simcha? Poor boy, right in his face too. You know, Skunk stink, but it's a natural stink. I find some perfumes more insulting to my nose than this. And we had two dogs skunked, plus my son on his arm, and his shoes in 2010. :o) I just saw a big skunk in our driveway the other day. They have adapted to suburbian life very well it seems.

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

Your socks are beautiful - I love cabled knits of any type.
I feel so fortunate that none of our dogs have ever been skunked! What a way to find out that there are, indeed, skunks in Topanga.

Hilary said...

Um, yeah, those would be my favorite socks, too! They're gorgeous. And I wonder if the twisted stitch pattern makes an interesting texture to wear against your feet?

Ugh to the skunking. :( Indeed you are a true dog lover!

gMarie said...

Beautiful socks. Do you have the book Joy of Socks? KK has some lovely patterns in there - challenging as these appear - keep your interest, without knitting the same pair twice.

Poor Simcha. Good for him for skidding to a halt. Too bad he skid so close. g

Gail said...

Oh Claudia....the socks are beautiful! I have sock envy! I doubt that I could ever find comfort in making socks, frustration....maybe! I hope you don't run into anymore Peppy Le Peu's! Poor Simcha! Poor you!

Renee said...

Lovely socks!! Definitely a luxury to enjoy.

Oh, the skunking... been there so many times. Piper was skunked 11 times. 3 times sprayed, the other ones she hunted and rolled on before I could get her away from her treasure. We call her Piper la Peu, and one summer included 7 skunkings of her own doing where her black coat had a definitely Lucielle Ball red tone due to all the skunk baths she had. Oh, not fond memories! She's been skunk free for the last 3 years, likely she's run them all off the farm. sigh...

Hope you are keeping well otherwise, wishing you many more uneventual hikes! :-)

kathy b said...

oh Huck got skunked many a time. Usually when we were all so overtired an dlet him out for the last time that day...
We found that the groomer told us:
every time they get wet , until that hair is brushed out or falls out, they will stink again....

just saying! Might want to shave him down......silly boy.

Unknown said...

Is Mr. Puffy the beagle? He looks just like my Sweat Pea! He is beautiful! So are the socks. :)

betty said...

Nice socks. I wonder if I will ever like to wear socks.

My current dog has never been skunked but my prior dog got skunked twice in the back yard. One time she rubbed her face all over the carpet before we realized why she was doing it!
(Since then, we now have wood flooring).

I thought of you and dogs just before writing this because HGTV had some show called "Posh Pets" and they did a feature on the Canyon View Dog Ranch in Topanga.

KnittySue said...

Love Love your socks. I've knitted my sock yarn up...now will make a pair from the scraps. Socks are the best knit for calming me and since I'm taking care of Dad 24/7 I need that.
Oh and skunks...been there done that YEWWWW :<