Just in Time for Boot Season

I have new socks.

Finished and photographed late last night.  These were knit using Sakkie by Plymouth Yarn Company, a yarn I bought up in Clinton during the East Tennessee Yarn crawl, when my mom was visiting in early June. They are, pretty much, the only knitting I've done this summer, not that I've been particularly consistent about working on them at all.

I love the simplicity of knitting socks.  I love that they are so useful.  Admittedly I also love that my handknit socks fit my narrow heels well, and don't slip down into my boots or shoes and bunch up under my arches, like most commercial socks do.  Mostly I suspect I just love the fact that they are hand made, made to fit my feet and the act of making something that serves such a basic purpose makes me happy.  I certainly can't justify sock-knitting based on cost.  My hand knit socks are probably among the most expensive I own, even when compared to smart-wool socks.  I can say that they are durable.  I am still wearing the first pair of socks I ever knit, really bright striped socks finished in January 2006.  They are showing no signs of wearing out.

In fact, I think my hand knit socks are more durable than any socks I've ever bought, except perhaps for old LL Bean Rag Wool Socks, which I no longer have because I wore them with my bulky rubber snow-shoveling boots, and they didn't come south with me to Tennessee. All my other sock needs are met by hand-knit socks, even in the summer with my gardening boots. The only exceptions are those little no-show foot socks by Hue that I wear with my Supergas in the summer, and a couple of pairs of thin "trouser socks" which actually don't see a lot of wear.  It is possible in fact, that despite the expense of good sock yarn, and the time to knit them, that I have spent less on hand-knit socks, than I used to throw away regularly on store-bought socks.  Certainly I've never lost a hand-knit sock in the wash.

The trouble is, I now have more socks than I need, and therefore have no reason to knit more.

 Perhaps I'm hoping one of these pairs of socks will wear out this year.  The pale blue pair is getting a little thin in spots.  And it is possible that I need a pair of knee socks, or a pair in colors that actually goes with my wardrobe.  But really those are just excuses. 

But then, there is more to knit than just socks.  I have a shawl to finish.  And perhaps, by the time that is done, I will be ready to knit a sweater again.