Dashing outside in between showers to take a photo of my pal’s finished socks:

Pattern: Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks by Ann Budd, from Favorite Socks
Yarn: Lucy Neatby Celestial Merino in Fiery Fuchsia and Turquoise
Needles: 3mm and 2.5mm dpns

I really enjoyed knitting these. The pattern was simple, but the variation for the second sock stopped there being any danger of second sock syndrome. The yarn is gorgeous. Rich colours, sproingy and delicious to knit with. It was also good to have the challenge of knitting longer socks. I am far too lazy normally! And I probably wouldn’t have run out of yarn, but I think the contrasting heel and toe are an improvement on one-colour socks, anyway, so I’m not bothered.

Now to block them, wrap them up and hide them away for a month before they’re sent off to my not-so-secret pal!

* * * * *

I wasn’t feeling the love with the socks for my saviour pal. Could you tell? I frogged them yesterday without even bothering to knit any more. So while I ruminated over a possible new design, I finished off my first ever toe-up sock:

The lastest issue of Interweave Knits has a splendid step-by-step article on knitting socks from the toe up by Ann Budd (my new sock hero!) and after a few false starts with the cast on, I was whizzing along. I do think the heel needs improving, but it’s my first try at a short row one, so I wasn’t too sad. I just wish I’d had the patience to knit them a bit longer (see above!). Though the sewn cast-off is nice and stretchy and they really are very comfortable socks.

The yarn is my lovely mint choc chip yarn from Middle Earth Yarns . Cairi is truly a wizard with her dyeing. She’s just started signups for a sock yarn AND a lace yarn club. I am looking at my huge medium sized yarn stash and wondering whether I could just squeeze in a skein or two more…