Blogtober 2020 :: Day 2

Over the summer I kind of mislaid my crochet mojo somewhere along the line, and it was the strangest feeling I have to say. I finished hooking the Aria blanket in late May and then I couldn't really seem to concentrate enough to decide what I wanted to do next.

In June/July I was working on the design for my next CAL blanket which I'll be able to tell you more about towards the end of the month. So I wasn't exactly idle on the creative front, but there isn't really a lot to show at the moment for the many hours that I spent faffing with colours, crochet stitch samples and colour palette ideas. It's exciting though, and I can't wait to share more with you when the time is right.

In August I created the Leo granny square in celebration of Granny square day and worked on a tutorial to share with you. Again, I guess I was still creating in a slow, gentle way, but this year has had such a different pace and feel to it don't you think? Kind of subdued and introverted, well at least that's what it has felt like for me.

So in September when the Little Peeps finally went back to school and life regained a bit more of a routine feel, I found myself looking for an easy project to keep my hands busy and my mind settled. I decided on socks as they provide a bit of familiarity and a portable project for days when I felt like taking something out and about with me.

I chose an Opal yarn which is probably my favourite brand of sock yarn on account of the delicious stripyness of it, and the fact that it is very accepting of a 40 degree machine wash. There are sooooo many ranges of Opal yarn to choose from, and I had a fun time searching through them all to find something that would be just right for the recipient. Yeah, these beautiful denim blue stripes won't be keeping my feet warm, they are another pair for J who has now decided that stripes are perfectly acceptable and he will happily wear whatever I choose to make for him (oh happy days!)

You can find the yarn I've chosen ((HERE)) - it's part of the Fairytale range, the colourway is "Heroic Deed".

And if you are remotely interested in the business of making Man Socks, you can see the two pairs that J already owns and wears to death in this blog post.

I knit socks using short circular needles (23cm / 9 inch ones), following my friend Christine's excellent basic sock pattern (which you can find HERE). I have two sets of needles so that I can knit two socks along side each other, and I find this method works really well for me.

I've certainly been enjoying my cosy time spent indoors at weekends, snuggled up in the big chair with a frothy coffee and my sock knitting on the go....

.....and these beautiful blue stripes are making me very happy indeed. Self striping sock yarn is just so bloomin' clever and it never fails to wow me. I adore the way it plays out as the rows build, and the way that it very cleverly takes on the look of fairisle as if by magic. If you have a spare six minutes, there is a brilliant video clip on YouTube which shows how Opal sock yarn is made, it blows my mind every single time - so, so, brilliant. You can find the video ((HERE)).

My hands haven't been too happy with the drop in temperature just lately and my poor joints have been pretty achey this week. I find that if I keep my hands cosy and warm then I can still manage to knit/crochet without too much pain, so I am hugely grateful for these delicious woollen mitts that Christine knitted and gifted to me a short while ago. They help my hands enormously and I pretty much wear them all day, every day at the moment. Yarny friends are the best!

So this is where I'm up to after two or three weeks - I've finished both legs and am now ready to begin the heel flap. Please do note how well I've done with matching the stripes, I'm pretty happy with my matchy-matchy skillz!

Oh, those perfectly neat little knitty stripes get me all of a jitter, they are just beautiful.  I LOVE them!!!!!

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Comments

[berryblue]

It's November 9th, but I am enjoying catching up on your Blogtober posts that I missed. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I love seeing all the "little things" from your days. It makes me so much more mindful in my own. I'd love to know how you make your milk so frothy and what it is that you sprinkle on top! (Cinnamon? Nutmeg?) It looks delicious!

[Wintu Nancy]

I too love how the self striping
yarn works. Good job on the matching. I love how it is so easy to accomplish a matching pair of striped socks. I need to try another pair. I've unfortunately discovered I cannot wear wool socks, feels like a sock full of stickers! I've found some other yarn to try, now to motivate!

[Susan]

Thank you for posting the link to the self-striping yarn video - so pleased that I now know how it is made, it's puzzled me for ages.

[Astrid]

Ahh! "Die Sendung mit der Maus" - they explain so well all kind of complicated stuff. We here in Germany - we love it. And I have a lot of Opal sock yarn in my stash. The best sock yarn ever!
Lucky J :-)

[Manuela]

Look fabulous!!!! I am amazed at your nice, short circular needle, mine are all way longer than that... what brand of short circular needles do you currently use? I would really appreciate your suggestions! Love every single post of your blog!

[Tracy Bache]

I'm a terrible knitter but I've started to crochet some socks using Tunisian crochet technique.x

[Shirla Ghadaki]

I enjoyed following your blog posts in the past and was left without my daily dose when you quit posting. I also enjoy your cal's. I am glad you are back so please don't stop at the end of the month.

[Marly]

Thank you for the link to the sockalong. I need all the help I can get knitting socks so I'll be joining in as soon as I can get to a yarn shop.

[Cathy]

Oh happy days indeed! Much as I adore your beautiful blanket tutorials, I do like your little everyday small adventures with yarn, food, walks etc. And they're back for October, every day if you can manage it. You needn't say much, photos tell most of the story.

So good to have you back Lucy, it's raining here in Cricklewood but this is a lovely day!! I'm knitting Yarndale Hope socks and will be all day. I've got a sore leg. The oven door fell over on it and shattered After cleaning it, grrrr. Having swept the kitchen floor loads of times, it still sparkles like fairy dust in certain lights! Life eh?

[Pam]

I’m soooooo glad to see you back in the attic and feeling able to open the door to us all...
My sock, yes sock, is still a WIP, that I aim to conquer at some point..😊 loving those stripy blues

[Teresa Kasner]

Those socks are coming out spectacular! Lucky J! Do you knit socks for the kids, too? I'm glad you're keeping happily occupied. I had eye surgery a few weeks ago on my right eye and will have it done on my left eye in a week. Everything is brighter now and more colorful. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Jane McLellan]

Wonderful video. As a hand spinner and dyer, I spray different colours on with a repurposed toilet cleaner bottle, but the process is essentially the same.

[Helen Mathey-Horn]

Opal is so great for socks and their colors/patterns are so fun to knit and see what emerges. Great looking socks.

[Jen Keast]

I tried many times to knit six and always failed until I read Christines pattern which you are referring to - game changer!!

[Wendy]

Love knitting socks on mini 😀😀 Yours look fabulous and pretty wool. Hubbys socks perfect. But hooking is my real love ❤❤

[Iris]

Ooh socks , I’ve never made socks! Going to try the finger mitts for my thumb joint too

[Winwick Mum]

Your socks are looking fabulous - I love that you just fit them in amongst your blankets these days and I really must get better at fitting blanket crochet in amongst my socks! Glad your hands are staying toasty too xx

[trudipartridge@hotmail.co.uk]

Goodness!Every time I see you knitting socks I feel I should be making a pair. I've got all the equipment but need to take the plunge. I know what you mean about lack of crochet MOJO. I hope with the nights drawing in I can cosy up to finish my coast blanket and imagine a sunny beach. Looking forward to your on going blogtober x

[Sue]

Through you, I found Christine and then many new friends so thank you Lucy. Personally I struggle with short circulars; I'm a magic loop girl and have probably knitted over 20 pairs of socks in the last 3 years but I'm not as neat as you.

[CJ]

You're right, sock yarn is absolutely amazing, the results are brilliant, fun to knit with as well. I find my knitting mojo comes and goes. Autumn is always guaranteed to find me starting something new though. CJ xx

[kate bates]

Those are fabulous! he's a lucky chappie!

[Pamela Hooked]

Ooooo,socks!!! I'm trying to crochet my first pair ever & what a learning curve!! Your knitted socks look fabulous :)) Loving blogtober <3