Friday, February 5, 2016

2016 FO #1: Embossed Leaves Socks

How is it almost the second week of February? Where has the year even gone! I certainly haven't used any of it blogging - it's been six weeks since I posted here last. It's strange - usually I start they year enthusiastic and full of plans to blog everything and get better at photography and be a more active member in the online community. This year I feel a bit meh about the whole thing - like is there any point in me doing this? More and more bloggers are moving to other platforms like Twitter and Instagram and it's not even like anyone would notice if I never blogged again. That said, I do like blogging - it's a great way to write without the pressure of academic publication and it's nice to have a record of what I have made. Clearly, I decided to keep going, inspired by the resurgence of the Mason-Dixon women. After not blogging for a long time, they're back at it with a vengeance and it's been great. So, here I am, blogging away, talking about socks. It's like I never stopped/

In knitting news, this year has been pretty good so far. After Christmas, Sam and I went on a road trip to South Australia. I'd never been there before - Victorians famously like to hang shit on South Australia all the time for basically being not as awesome as Melbourne is (in fairness, Melbourne is pretty awesome. We're pretty hard to beat.). I think we should stop - South Australia is fantastic! There are like a hundred wine regions, all of which have great wine that is often cheaper than Victorian wine and they don't charge for tastings. Plus, the scenery is gorgeous! 


The Adelaide CBD is not great but the Art Gallery was fantastic. Plus, there are places within half an hour of the city, like Hahndorf, that are fabulous centres of art and artisans.


I could happily have spent a fortnight in the South Australian countryside, visiting tiny towns and wine regions. I would be very fat when I returned home, but it would be worth it.

The best thing about road trips is the time they leave for knitting. On the way out of Melbourne, I cast on for a pair of socks using the Frog Tree Pediboo that I bought at the Australasian Quilt Convention last year (pattern is Embossed Leaves from my favourite sock book, Favorite Socks).


I got to the calf on both pairs of socks before I got home then finished them off over the next few weeks.


The are so soft and squooshy!


To get the most out of this yarn, I knit them toe up with a short-row heel. That means the leaves are pointing up instead of pointing down, as per the pattern.


I actually think that looks better, with the leaves springing clearly from the heel.


All in all, a great pattern that was intuitive and speedy to knit combined with a lovely soft sock yarn (80% merino, 20% bamboo) results in a very nice pair of socks.


I am definitely not giving this pair away!