Monday, March 28, 2016

March socks


I hope you had a lovely long weekend and that the weather was nice where you were. I have seen pictures of lovely spring flowers popping up over the internet and in many parts of the world, the garden work is going strong. We are not there yet, but I am right now enjoying seeing strips of blue sky as the strong wind is blowing away the grey curtain that was blocking the beautiful blue. And I did hear the trumpets of swans yesterday; that was delightful! The temperature outside is in plus digits and so far that is enough for me. The snow piles are diminishing, the birds are singing and summer is on its way. I know it is time to get out the cotton and linen yarns and start dreaming about summer knitting. Of course it would be wise to knit with cotton in January to be done by June, but let's face it ... here at the Arctic Circle, the truth is that it might be just fine to knit with wool all year round. I love wool, but I would not be too sad if I had to put it away for just a few weeks... (Last summer was good for wool.)
I finished my March socks. (The first pair.) These are almost knee-highs, the leg length of my socks has quietly been growing and I am beginning to think that they getting to be too long. They take a long time to make and now with the summer on the way, they seem little bit off the season. Parts of me don't want to think about next winter yet, I know it will come when the time is right, but today, with the spring wind and blue skies, next winter is far, far away, and that is a good place for it.
The contrast between the strong colored cuff and the off-white part seemed a little bit too harsh all the time while I was knitting the pair. The color difference bothered me little bit but so did the feel of the two yarns as well, them being different fiber blends. To calm down the long strip of off-white I added little bit of embroidery to the heels. Just very little, but I think it did make the socks little bit better that way. For the embroidery I used the same yarn as for the cuffs so that I would not run into difficulties with washing. For a while I thought about adding heel embroidery that would mimic darning, but then did not have the will power for that to happen. (I looked at sock mending pictures on Pinterest.)
Thank you for your comments on my sock drawer. I wash my socks with wool cycle and wool detergent but I never put them into the dryer. I don't think I have ever put anything hand knit into the dryer so far. I suppose I could, but I am never in such a hurry. In addition, I am little bit worried of the harsh treatment of the dryer; my machine is in the low range and I really haven't studied the manual carefully to be certain of what I am doing. I wear my hand knit socks during the winter all the time, and that is with boots. During the warmest weeks in summer, I love to go barefoot as much as possible, although I do have a pair of wool socks in my purse in case of emergency. Here I am sitting, looking out of the window into the snowy world, and I cannot remember what kind of shoes I wear during the summer... I have packed away all the summer shoes and at the moment it feels odd to be even thinking of them. I know I have plenty of summer shoes (I love shoes) but now I cannot remember just what do I use... or what I use most. My mind is so cluttered with winter gear!
The crochet scarf is still at the point where it was the last time I was here. The girls (with company) were home for the Easter break and getting the house and the kitchen to the state where it can accommodate/feed many people always takes some doing and that took most of my time, and then of course afterwards putting everything away again.  In addition, the little kitten has had his effect on my yarn life. He has been with us for little more than a month and last week was the first week I could knit in his presence. He will come to see what I am doing but there are so many things that are more interesting for him that he is not that keen on my yarn and needles any more. I would not leave them for him to play, but me knitting/crocheting is fine.
Here is a short video clip of Väinö and Ruusu. This happens on most days...

Have a good week and wool with you,
Lene

18 comments:

  1. Your March socks are incredible! I love the pattern on the leg, the contrast cuffs, and I think the embroidery is my favorite part. You make a unique and creative effort to make each piece you knit beautiful in its own special way!

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  2. I love the socks but I love the kitten and "puppy" more :)

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  3. I love your March socks. I found the color combinations and contrast quite pleasing and not so harsh, but then the little embroidered detailing on the heels are too cute! Win win all the way around :)

    Honestly I'd be happy to get around to knitting a plain old pair of stockinette knee highs, such a cozy addition to a sock drawer. But this pair of yours is really wonderful!

    Oh and yeah, I've never dried anything wool in the dryer and have no plans to, I don't have the luck like that ;)

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  4. Anonymous23:33

    The touch of embroidery on the back of the heels is really pretty. Also, loved the video clip of your kitten and Ruusu. Adorable!

    Melody

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  5. Love your socks !!! So much fun the embroidery on the heel too ;-)
    Go Marching ...

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  6. Your March socks are gorgeous. I am in awe! Love the touch of embroidery too. And the video of the two youngsters is so cute. How funny to watch Vaino washing Russu

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  7. The heel embroidery is lovely.

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  8. Trust a cat! Bite, lick, bite, lick. Never try to predict their mood.

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  9. They are gorgeous!!! I actually like the contrasts between the colors. Your knitting is so well done also!!

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  10. Oops, I just wrote a long comment and it got eaten. I love your socks, but the kitten and dog video is amazing! My dogs would likely eat a cat if given a chance...

    I too am still wearing my woollies here in Canada. I am lucky that my washing machine is gentle enough for wool, it makes cleaning up after little boys who paint their wool sweaters at school much easier... I try to avoid the dryer. Occasionally a wool sock ends up going into the dryer by accident, and seems to come out ok though. I love all your posts...thanks for such gorgeous photos!

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  11. Anonymous19:41

    I do love the March socks especially the added embroidery. The video of the kitten and dog is adorable. Such friends they have become! Thank you for sharing.

    annie in Colorado

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  12. PS - Susan Rainey recently blogged that after her 100% merino Newsom sweater became "ginormous" during wet blocking she, "threw it in the dryer a couple of times and that did the trick." It looks beautiful, but I would be terrified!

    annie in Colorado

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  13. Anonymous03:15

    So...are you putting the pattern on Ravelry? These are special!

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  14. Madeline05:23

    The socks are uniquely beautiful, and the touch of embroidery is charming.
    How lucky that Vaino and Ruusu are such good friends already! Ruusu seems to tolerate kitten antics with such patience. What a fine dog (and adorable kitten).

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  15. The socks are lovely. I admire the cuff you put on the top of your socks.

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  16. I really appreciate how you let the colours (from the verigated yarn) arrive in your work as they may. Beautiful!

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  17. Anonymous15:51

    Beautiful socks indeed. I am really enjoying seeing the results of your sock club.
    Have fun with the new socks.
    LisaRR

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  18. wow,,, amazing pair of hand knitting socks. design is superb. dark colored border is adding these socks' beauty. I am also a sock knitter but I have never tried to knit these types of socks but I am very much effected by this charming socks so now I can't wait to knit these types of socks with same colors.

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