Where have all the socks gone?

I've been in kind of a sock rut lately. I used to be a sock knitter...a hard-core sock knitter. I always had at least one pair (but usually two) on the needles at all times. All of my free time was spent knitting socks. I didn't suffer from second sock syndrome (a.k.a. SSS). I had my sock plans laid out several pair in advance. I don't know how it happened, but the sock mojo vanished.

I think it all started with this pair. I liked working with the yarn, but I didn't really like how they turned out. Way too busy for the pattern.

Then I started working with the April Socks That Rock Sock Club yarn. Yep, the Silkie Socks That Rock. I love the colors and its very soft, but the yarn is splitty and I don't like working with splitty yarn.

That's the Retro Rib pattern from 25 Favorite Socks.

In an attempt to woo my sock mojo back, I decided to temporarily abandon the Silkie Socks That Rock and work on something that I thought would knit up pretty quickly. So, I pulled out all my medium weight Socks That Rock. I lined them all up and picked the color that I thought would be the most fun to work with. (As a side note, I was kind of shocked to see that a lot of my Socks That Rock colors are similar.) I decided on Seal Rock and picked the Thuja pattern from Knitty. In theory, this should have been a really quick knit, size 2 needles, thicker than usual yarn, a pattern with only a 2 row repeat. It took me a little over 3 weeks to finish the pair.


Pattern - Thuja
Yarn - Socks That Rock mediumweight in Seal Rock
Needles & Gauge - Size 2 DPNs, 7 st/in

I don't think my sock mojo has completely returned yet, but I do think it's lurking around the corner. I've got yarn picked out for my next pair or two (although since the June shipment of the Rockin' Sock Club arrived today, I may be rethinking those plans a little). And looking around on Ravelry has inspired me to get back to socks.

It's a Sickness!

It all started innocently enough. A few months ago, I decided to make a Ballband Dishcloth for blogless Mary for a monthly Dishcloth Exchange that I participate in.

Yarn used: Sugar & Cream in Over the Rainbow and Hot Orange
After finishing it, taking a picture, and sending it on its way, I didn't give it or the pattern another thought.

Then for the May exchange, I decided I'd make another one for blogless Marilyn.

Yarn used: Lion Brand Cotton in Mixed Berry and Sugar & Cream in Hot Green
Things were a little different this time.

Before I even finished the second Ballband Dishcloth, I visited the Elmore Pisgah site and decided to make a purchase.

This picture only shows a portion of my order (the 6 big balls of white cotton that I ordered (they were on special, I couldn't resist) are not pictured).

After finishing the second dishcloth, I immediately cast on for another. And when that one was done, cast on again for another. You get the idea. I even went out and bought another set of size 7 needles so I could have more than 1 going at a time.

Yarn used: (from left to right) Peaches & Cream Fiesta Ombre and Peacock; Teal Ombre and Sunburst; Gumdrop and Sunburst; Sour Green Apple and White; Pink Lemonade and Apple Green

With all the yarn I bought and all the yarn I already had, I've got lots of possibilities for more of these. And for now, there's no sign that I will be slowing down.