Or, Over The Edge
I’ve finally done it. I’ve been making plain stocking stitch socks for almost as long as I’ve been knitting, straying into pattern stitches only a couple of times. Now I have not one, but two pairs of patterned socks on the needles. I feel like a lemming who has jumped off the cliff.
Here’s the first pair. That Irish Girl Arctic Circle yarn from a few posts ago just didn’t want to be a plain sock. The stripes were just a bit too weird even for me, so I fired up the computer* and printed out Cookie A’s Monkey sock pattern. I’m likely the only knitter on the planet that has not made a pair of these. I originally started the plain sock on 68 stitches, and because this yarn is what I would call a heavy fingering weight, needed to rip back and restart on 64 stitches. I still didn’t like the striping so ripped to the cuff and I’m now Monkeying around.
Irish Arctic Monkeys!
The second pair isn’t really my fault. I joined Sock Knitters Anonymous over on Ravelry, and the Sockdown challenge for September/October is to knit orange socks.** Well, boy howdy, do I have some orange yarn in my stash, so I couldn’t resist. I started this one as a plain sock too, but it was entirely too boring, so plugged in a stitch pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.
You can’t really tell from that photo, but there really is a pattern stitch. It’s Stansfield #10 from that book, which I think is a really dumb name. I’m not about to call these my Stansfield #10 socks for the next 2 months. I think it looks like Morse code, so they are forever hereafter my Orange Morse Code socks. This is lovely Trekking XXL sock yarn, in the color 145. Otherwise known as Orange. Just go ask Debi, the Queen of Orange.
Actually both of these qualify for the current Sockdown challenge. You could either knit orange socks, or knit a pattern by Cookie A. So there you have it. When I go lemming, I go all the way.
Next time in the Roundup, the Peacock lace!
*That’s of course not really true. My Mac is always fired up. It behaves very well even when I leave it turned on indefinitely, so I only shut it down completely when we go on vacation.
**If you want to get on the good side of Debi, the moderator over there, post a photo of some yarn and ask her if it’s ORANGE ENOUGH?? Just don’t tell her I sent you.
I just had to say that yarn is yummy and I’m jealous 🙂 I have two Aussie’s but you’re corgi is making wish I had a corgi too 🙂 Love your blog!
I knew one day that sock knitters anonymous must have made a plan for knitting orange socks when I sold about 12 skeins of orange yarn in one day. 🙂
I like both of your projects. See ya soon.
Love that orange! :0)
I haven’t tried the Monkey pattern yet … mostly ’cause I’m chicken! I love the orange yarn – it’s a great shade.
BTW, I mentioned you in a blog post today. 🙂
I’m so proud of you! I wasn’t going to do the current SKA because I don’t have any orange yarn and didn’t want to order any. I had planned to do some “Hibiscus for Hope” socks, but then it occurred to me I can do some Cookie A. socks instead. So guess what? I’m doing Monkey too! You are not the only one the universe who hasn’t done them. This will be my first pair too. Are you going to get to see Kris while she’s in Washington? I’m hoping to catch a quick meet up with her before she leaves Orlando, but I’m not sure it will work.
I love the Monkey! I am about to cast on some No Purl Monkeys. I don’t know if I will like the pattern as much as the regular Monkey…I really enjoyed knitting that pattern. It’s so rhythmic and soothing.
Both your socks look great. Love the orange, and yes, it is orange enough for me, at least.
Well, now that you’ve fallen, *I’m* the only person who hasn’t made the Monkey socks!
Your socks look great I really like the purple and gray!
I haven’t knit the Monkey Socks yet, but I haven’t gone on a sock knitting binge (probably one will start now that it is cold enough for my feet to register the temperature difference). Both pairs look great. But welcome also to the world of pattern stitches. I found that once I crossed the line, I could never knit entire garments in stockinette.
Both are pretty! I really like the arctic circle colorway. I made one pair of Monkey’s so far, and I want to make the no-purl Monkey’s next.
Monkeys and no-purl Monkeys really do bring out the best in certain trying variegated yarns, don’t they?!
Evil, just plain, unadulterated EVIL, you are 🙂
I thought I was the last knitter to make a pair of Monkeys – I finished mine about 6-7 weeks ago. I enjoyed knitting them & love wearing them. They fit my skinny foot better than most socks.
I haven’t made any Monkey’s yet. On my list, but just not there yet. Yours look wonderful!
love those patterned socks@!
I haven’t made them either, but they look really good in that colourway.