Even though these are officially the fifth pair of socks completed in 2013, I have very little information to offer you about them. I believe I started them way back in February but I lost the wrapper to the wool so I don’t know the brand or make or fiber content. I bought the yarn on sale at K2Tog a few years ago. I CAN tell you that I made them extra long in a nod to my friend Janine who feels that socks won’t get worn if they’re not long enough (I disagree).

Any-hoo, sock production has slowed significantly around here owing not only to the beautiful, warm, summer-like temperatures but also to the demands of my new J-O-B. Nevertheless, I strive to always have at least one pair of socks on the needles and I’m currently nearing completion of the first sock in a pair of Spring Forward socks (how appropriate).

I’ve knit these pattern a few times already but never for myself. I don’t think this pair will be for me either as I’ve got PLENTY of socks  – I’ll share my personal sock collection with you soon.

So yeah, summer temps have turned my attention to gardening. My tomato plants have gone crazy! Planted on March 1, here is a shot of the plants two months later. From left to right: Cherry, Early Girl and Roma tomato plants.

I couldn’t decide which shot of Fifth Socks I liked best  – sometimes it’s so HARD to edit – so here’s another shot. My sister Liz is such a great sock model.

I am right on track to completing twelve pairs of socks in 2013 and actually a little ahead of schedule. Maybe I should make it THIRTEEN pairs of socks in 2013.

Here is the pair I recently finished for Marisa whose feet are so small, one ball was sufficient to make a pair. The ball contained 262 yards and I used nearly all of it. Hurry down to JoAnn’s if you want this fiber – I recently saw it on close-out.

Opal Rainforest Zorro.

I’ve made so many socks for friends and loved ones over the years that I’ve lost track. This current pair is for my friend Marisa who loves blue and because she has such small feet – size 6 – I think one ball will be enough for both socks of the pair.

A good value because the yarn was on sale at JoAnn’s and I think I paid $4.49 for the ball. A pair of socks for under five dollars? Unheard of! And even though this yarn is inexpensive, it’s not cheap. The fiber is deliciously soft and knits up strong and even. Highly recommended and I stocked up as you can see. I think I should start calling myself the FRUGAL sock knitter.

Ever since I decided to devote 2013 to knitting socks – at least one pair per month – it’s become a mania with me. I have at least five pairs of socks going and I can’t seem to stop starting new pairs or buying more sock yarn. The wide strip purple sock on the left in the photo above is an unknown fiber that I bought several years ago on sale and have subsequently lost the label. The sock on the right is Deborah Norville Serenity sock yarn which I recently discovered at JoAnn’s – a SUPER DUPER value. So much so that I stocked up recently while I was up in Oregon:

Although I have to say that I really don’t like any of the colorways as much as I like the “Spring Fling” color way from above but it’s a good quality, *soft* yarn. Some of you old timers may remember Deborah Norville from the Today Show oh so many years ago and her fall from grace vis a vis Katie Couric (google it if you’re interested). I keep asking if anyone remembers her but get only blank expressions from folks.

Also on the needles is a lovely stripe from the Opal Rainforest collection – yarn I also purchased in Oregon but at Web-sters in Ashland (gotta love sales tax-free Oregon).

I’ve already completed one whole sock so perhaps I can have a better photo for you tomorrow as well as Marisa’s socks…and the socks for my mother…etc, etc. Meanwhile I’ve also developed a new passion for gardening and completed my first raised bed – yes, little ol’ me.

I will leave you with a shot taken in Liz’s garden which brings us back to where we started – 2013 The Year of the Sock!

Get out and enjoy the sunshine!

The best part about this project? The cost of materials – about 5 dollars. It’s Deborah Norville (remember her?) Serenity Sock Yarn bought at JoAnn’s. The color way is “Spring Fling”. Still on sale last I checked.

I suppose my first attempt at darning socks could be considered successful, although a little more devotion to duplicate stitch might have made for a more smooth patch. When I walk on this patch long enough, I hardly feel it anymore. The technique I used is similar to one promoted by Cookie A.  I was lucky in that I was able to find similar yarn both from Pagewood Farms. Needless to say, I hope I don’t have to do through this again anytime soon.

I finished these socks about 10 days ago but haven’t had a chance to post until now. The “recipe” came from my good friend, Janine, of the feral knitter. The yarn is Paton’s Kroy in the colorway “Blue Striped”. However, I recently discovered a source of abundant – and cheap – self-striping sock yarn which I will share with you shortly.

When I first started this blog in 2007 my goal was to blog at least once per week. <<sigh>> Needless to say my resolve has been low these days. I’ve been busy, I’ve been knitting and I’ve been busy knitting.

Yesterday I returned from a wonderful weekend in Ashland where my son, who was visiting from Indiana and I celebrated Ali’s birthday with her. Here we are in Jacksonville enjoying the sunny (but cold) weather and sights. It’s rare that I get to spend time with both of my kids who live in far flung corners of the US simultaneously.

I presented Ali with the first of two Gap-tastic cowls I knit back in December and she was overjoyed (I had to make myself one, of course). Ali is actually the person who requested an infinity scarf/cowl and she knew I would drop everything to make her one. She knows me all too well. BTW: The yarn is Lion Brand CHUNKY as suggested in the pattern.

Like I said, the weather was frigid but clear – rare for southern Oregon – and here’s a shot of Ali “skating” on the frozen duck pond in Lithia park. As you can see, she took to the Gap-tastic cowl like a duck to water. It was the perfect accessory for the weather.

Oh and I also visited the lovely yarn store in Ashland called Websters and picked up a skein of Opal sock yarn. They have an AMAZING selection of self-striping sock yarns in a crazy array of colors. I’m back on socks – in a BIG way. There’s more to show…tomorrow.