WHY SOCKS? WHY SO MANY??

** I'm participating in NaBloPoMo, so I'm committed to posting something to my blog every single day in November... wish me luck. :-) Since some days it's difficult to think of things to write about, I decided it would be fun to ask YOU for your ideas.

Now's your chance ... if there's something you'd like to know more of about me -- regarding the liveaboard lifestyle, my passion for all things fibre, what it's like to be a grandma, living in Victoria, whatever -- leave me a comment with your question, and that will give me (hopefully) some 'subject fodder' for the month.** 

Cherrie in NZ and my blog-pal Grace in New Jersey both wonder about the sock knitting obsession.

I only learned to knit socks (after being a knitter for 30+ years) a few years ago, and I fell in love with the whole idea immediately. First of all, they're highly portable, and I like to have a project to pack around with me, because I knit in public every chance I get -- at the doctor's office, waiting in my van when I pick my daughter up from work, etc. Secondly, even though they seem to knit tediously slowly, I can finish a pair or two a month just knitting during those 'waiting' times, or at Knit'n'Cafe (when it's hard to knit anything complicated and carry on conversations at the same time).

Thirdly, there are a badillion kinds and colors of sock yarns on the market, including the self-patterning type, so you never need to knit the same pair twice (and you always look like a frickin' genius, too, which is a bonus)! Fourth(ly?), once you've mastered a basic sock pattern, you discover that you're working with basically a blank 'palette' and can do ANY stitch pattern you want -- so it's fun to play. Fifth -- and this is the thing that stopped me from knitting them for YEARS -- they are NOT hard to learn to knit! And there's no seams to sew or fancy 'finishing' to do, either.

And finally, if you've ever had a pair of hand-knit wool socks on your feet, you will never want to wear 'store bought' socks again -- they are SO warm and comfy! A friend once described them this way .... "It's like wearing love on your feet." I couldn't agree more.

So... why so many? Well, I've kept myself in hand-knit socks since the day I learned how to knit them, and I've given lots more than that away as gifts for Christmas, etc. -- everyone absolutely loves them.

The only 'negative' thing I can think of is that sock yarn is not cheap to buy ... generally enough yarn for a pair of adult socks is about $20. So I've taken to checking out second-hand stores and buying all the sock yarn I find, and I seem to have quite a stash of it now -- the socks I'll knit for the family for Christmas will barely put a dent in it!

*****

 

Well, it's the weekend and we are helping our Galiano Island friend Mike ... he has bought a bigger boat for himself and it's here at our marina; we will be helping him cruise it back there either tomorrow or Monday, so there's lots to do to get it -- and us -- ready. It's about a 7-hour cruise, all being well, so Michael and I will spend the night there and make our way back via ferry and bus the following morning. I'm looking forward to the cruise, it should be fun!