Second verse, not quite the same as the first

Thank you all for the lovely comments about my Cairi socks. They were really enjoyable to design and knit. I think it was just one of those occasions where the combination of a gorgeous yarn, a cute stitch pattern and a rare flash of inspiration come together perfectly. (According to my site stats, the pattern has been downloaded over 1,000 times. This might be bad news for even my new and improved bandwidth..!)

And so my sock kick continues! Click on the link to read about it.

This is the progress on the new, (possibly) improved and generally rejiggered Gothic Lace sock. Very much like the old one, but with the lace pattern continuing down the foot, instead of just being on the leg.

The yarn is Lucy Neatby’s Mottled Solids. I haven’t used her yarn before, but have heard good things about it. Unfortunately, as I seem to be developing a deep and enduring love for Lorna’s Laces, it’s got a tough act to follow, but still it’s very nice and soft on the heel and sole (and more expensive than Lorna’s Laces, so it should be..!). The lace pattern, however, looks and feels like it’s been knitted from spun Brillo pads right now, which is not helping me love this yarn. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it will soften and relax considerably after washing. I do vaguely remember in all the Christmas-induced speediness of knitting, blocking and sending the original Gothic Lace socks – knitted in Rowan 4ply Soft – that they were a bit crunchy before blocking. So it is probably the pattern. I wish I had taken more (can you have more when there are none to start with?) notes when knitting the originals!

I particularly wanted to use this yarn for the socks because of the colour, which is the favourite of a non-knitting friend who saved my sanity by taping (well, DVD-ing) The Hogfather for me at Christmas! I don’t want to give scratchy socks as a present. Death would not approve.