Socks—Again!

I am over my slump. Minutes after finishing my pink crown socks, I started a new pair. Five days later, and I am half way through the heel flap.

These are your basic generic socks, with the self patterning yarn doing all the work. Another lost label yarn—but I remember some details—German in origin, and popular about 10 years ago. I didn't buy it then, (and later regretted that decision)--so when I found it for $3! at a garage sale 5 years ago, I snatched it up. It was one of a half dozen skeins I bought. It's been waiting a while for me to knit it up.

These socks are for my DD—who loves animal prints—and while they are not perfect tiger stripes, they are close enough. I didn't bother to try and start them at the same point in the pattern, so the striping on each sock isn't identical. But, then, striping on tigers isn't identical either. These are basic, generic socks.

Some minor detail changed—The stitch count (64 stitches in leg, but that will be reduced to 60 for foot), 2 by 2 ribbing (and I was reminded why I don't chose this option often—I don't like knitting it!) but there is still the standard (for me) 1.50 inches of it. 7 inches of stocking knit before I started the heel flap-DD and I both have high insteps, and flapped, turned, gusseted heels fit us best! Standard flaps –with a garter stitch (not chain stitch) selvage, and heel stitch in the field. I have come to love a garter stitch (2 stitches on each side of flap) for heel flaps. I have always disliked the chain stitch selvage, and the garter selvage works just as well. Stitches are picked up in the “valleys” (garter makes “ridges and valleys”) and this makes it easy to pick up 1 stitch, ever other row. And garter has about the same gauge as the heel (slip stitch) pattern, too.

Will I have them finished by May 28^th? I next spend the day (and it will be a full day!) with the girls then. There will be The Little Hatch-lings program at the Queens zoo, and then a few hours later, setting up and organizing the first pick up for the CSA my DD is part of. The usual location is not available, and the alternate has some disadvantages—Primarily a narrow driveway (gated) that requires the truck to off load at the curb, not the back (the HIGH ground back)--There will be a team of workers bring the boxes of fresh veggies up hill to the distribution center. Mostly, I will be a baby sitter—and will be there to not permit the girls to run down the driveway and out onto the street--they have a zeal (if not the skill) for assisting.

The location also has an advantage—it is an historic building—a wood frame building from the 1650's, a church that was a stop on the underground railroad. I've known about this building for a long time, but I have never actually been there. It's a nice big piece of property, on Route 25/aka Northern Blvd—which is now a busy street in Queens, but in colonial times was a major road—going from a boat landing on the west end (at East River) to the end of the Long Island in the east. In many towns along the way, the road still is Main Street. (and other churches along the way were also stops on the underground rail road.)

I will have pin wheels, and bubbles and bouncing balls as distractions.. that should be enough!

My next socks will be for me, and then a pair for the son in law. Summer always flies by—and another warm pair of wool socks will be welcome come hunting season—which also corresponds with his birthday. I don't think I currently own any solids in a suitable color –(I am easing him into the enjoyment of hand knit wool socks—once he is firmly addicted, I will try out some brighter colors or stripes—but the next pair is going to be shade of grey (not 50)--since I know I have several partial skeins of at least 4 shades of grey, and some black too. Totally black socks are a drag to knit—unless they are lace—and I don't think he is ready for lace socks—Yet.