Finished socks // snow day

When I left for spring break, I had big plans to start and finish a pair of socks while in transit to/from Europe. I have to admit, I cheated a little...I knit the entire foot of the first sock the night before I left. But the rest of the pair was knit exclusively in planes, trains and automobiles (and hotel rooms)! They'll be a cute reminder of a very lovely trip, but more importantly, they're my favorite pair of socks that I've ever knitted.

They're nothing special really, just a very plain pair with a ribbed leg adapted from this universal pattern by Amy Swenson. When I was first knitting them up, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish so I stopped a little short on the foot, and I'm very glad I did. They are perfectly snug. I have heard many other knitters say that they make sure to size down their socks, and I finally see why — they feel comfy, warm and like they'll stay in place rather than slipping around like some of my other hand-knit pairs do.

Still, there are always some improvements that can be made! If I had had enough yarn, I would've made these a few inches longer...I think next time I make socks I might do knee-highs, even. Also, I don't love that the ribbing starts so far down on the foot, so I'd like to try adding a few rounds of stockinette after the heel turn on my next attempt.

In other news, it's still winter here in Georgetown. As much as I'm dying for spring and it's hard to come back to the cold after such nice weather in Paris and London, I took a walk this morning to get breakfast and it was absolutely gorgeous. There are few things prettier than my neighborhood in the snow!

Lauren's seed stitch socks

Months ago, I promised one of my best friends, Lauren, that I'd knit her a pair of socks. Finally, I've got them done. She'll be getting them as a birthday present along with a hand-bound book I made for her.

This is my first time knitting toe-up, and I can’t believe I ever did it any other way — I find the construction to be so much simpler and more logical than in cuff-down patterns. For whatever reason, the idea of starting at the toe intimidated me before, but now I’ll never go back. With no stitches to pick up or decreases to do, there’s just less room to screw up, creating a cleaner, less hole-y end product. And no more of those silly looking triangular toes you wind up with when knitting a cuff-down sock! Love.

However, I found the leg construction to be a little too simple, and they ended up a bit baggy around the ankle. Next time I'll try a ribbed leg, or I might reduce a few stitches on the way up. Still, it’s not anything that a little blocking and shrinking can’t fix…with a bit of work, they’ll fit Lauren just fine.

Knit with Blue Sky Alpaca Silk