Today is my dissertation defense at 2:00pm! I’m nervous, excited, and so ready to be done! Think good thoughts for me, y’all. There is power in the collective unconsciousness…
As for knitting content, while I’m working on larger projects, socks that I’m working on often get set aside. I always have at least one pair of stockinette socks going, and sometimes many pairs of socks of varying styles. They’re excellent knitting projects for traveling, commuting, knitting in the movie theater, and reading. Right now, I just have a pair for me and a pair for Matt on the needles, but there is always more beautiful yarn in my sock yarn stash calling to me. It’s hard not to cast on 10 pairs right now.
My pair is made with Juliana’s Lucky Star Sock Yarn in Truly Outrageous. This yarn makes me happy every time I work on the socks. It’s so ridiculously bright, and has just a hint of sparkle. To keep from interrupting the stripe sequence, an afterthought heel would be best, but I really like the feel and security of the slipped stitch heel flap that I used. I got lucky with this yarn and the stripes weren’t altered too badly.
If you’d like to know more about this heel flap, check out my sock patterns. You can see what it’s like for free on Earlybird and Summer Slice if you just want to quench your intellectual curiosity. Basically, going toe-up, I start the flap under the heel and continue the pattern to wrap around the back of the heel too. It makes for a nice cushion on the heel and adds some durability.
Matt’s socks are made with Lorna’s Laces Shepard Sock in Fiddlehead. This color is so perfect for many things in his wardrobe, in case he ever wants to match his crazy hand-knit socks to things. There are a ton of colorways in this yarn, and many of them would work well for fellas that like their socks to be both fun and slightly conservative. Matt is fine with wilder socks like this pair, this pair, and this pair. I’m very happy about that, because the wilder self-striping yarns are so fun to knit!
It would be incredibly hard for me to pick just one favorite kind of sock yarn, but out of the ones that I have tried I love Koigu KPPPM, Tosh Sock, Hazel Knits, and Colinette Jitterbug for amazing colors, Regia and Opal yarns for amazing durability and crazy fun self-striping yarns, and Anzula Squishy for it’s maddeningly soft cashmere-induced coziness. I’ve used other kinds of sock yarn, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind and will be brands I’ll go back to often. What are your favorite kinds of sock yarn? I always love learning about more kinds of sock yarn to covet!
My favorite sock yarn so far has to be Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! Talk about amazing colors, and the hint of cashmere is just so luxurious.
Good luck at your dissertation defense!
Good luck, bonne chance!
That sock yarn looks WONDERFUL. I like your idea of having stockinette socks on the go at all times.. I might do that myself!
Thinking lots of positive thoughts! (And have you tried Zauberball? Not too soft but strong and fun colors)
OMG! I love the colors!
Good luck with the defence! And I love those 80s colours 🙂
Hooray for defending! (I’ve been slow to blog these last several months, in part because I’m plugging away at my own dissertation.) Your knitting is super inspiring — and so is finishing! Congratulations!
Wow, these are so cute! I love the stripes! Good luck with your dissertation- you got this!
good luck good luck good luck, not that you need it I’m sure. I’m also a tiny bit jealous, wish I was defending!
Eek, hope it went well! Love the striped socks!
Socks! It seems that everyone (including) me is knitting self-striping socks at the moment. Hardly a surprise since they are so much fun!
Sock-yarn wise, in addition to the ones you’ve mentioned (especially Koigu and Tosh Sock) I’m a huge fan of Indigodragonfly Merino Sock (for both fun colours and excellent colourway names) and Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 and BFL Sock. They’re all yarns I’ve knit multiple pairs of well-loved socks with.
congratulations Dr Dominick! All that hard but fantastic work finished, well done!
For a New Zealand take, as you love KPPM Koigu, you would love Knitsch yarns (http://hollandroadyarn.co.nz/collections/knitsch-yarns-sock). The same base, and beautiful, vibrant colours. It’s my favourite sock yarn – so springy, so comfy to wear! I also love Happy-go-knitty’s BFL self-striping sock yarn especially – more vibrant colours in beautiful slim stripes. Opal and Regia are my favourite for durability too. Congratulations on your dissertation defense!
I’m just getting into sock knitting (after knitting for 15 years!) and am loving the world of sock yarns. I was in Portland a few weeks ago and found this amazingly soft wool by a little local dyer called Bumblebirch (link to it in my stash: http://www.ravelry.com/people/littleolivebranch/stash/wellspring). It’s sooo snuggly and the colors are insane!! Thanks for all your suggested yarns – will have to check them out!
Let’s see– I’d have to say Malabrigo Sock is a favorite, but there are many, many more!
It’s so nice to have one of those socks in progress nearby just when you need it. I happen to have a project in progress as well, and I think I just might get back to finishing it!
Thanks for the great post!