Handknit Socks

 About two weeks before Christmas, I asked my middle daughter, Lucy, what we should get her boyfriend for Christmas. She mentioned wool socks, because he was working outdoors and complaining his feet were cold. Since we knew I couldn't handknit a pair of socks in two weeks, we opted to get some store bought wool socks of various styles, and to wrap up the socks in progress. Apparently, his first knitted gift was also a wrapped up work in progress (hat and mitts, a couple years ago). 

I picked out this dark green from my stash. According to this blog, I bought it at the last Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair that I went to, in 2008. I didn't know at that time that I wouldn't be living in the area by the next show, so it was a good thing I went, AND bought yarn. This yarn was from the Boo-Boo Bin at Sweet Sheep. I can't find any indication they are still in existence. Although still on Ravelry, the links don't work. This yarn had obvious flecks of a bright green from where the skein ties were too tight. It was only $6. I didn't realize until I got into the socks that it was basically a two tone stripe! Bonus.

The project followed me around for 3 months. It was just a simple 2x2 rib. I actually used ChatGPT to help give me the stitch and heel counts this time, and it worked out. 

I washed them up, and the soak water, and the rinse water were both very green. I hope he didn't have green feet after wearing them! I finished them March 11 so he could wear them to the Toronto Zoo on March 13, when we were expecting another snowstorm.

See the striping? Cool! I didn't even notice that when the yarn was skeined.

There's not really much more to show. I used grey for the heels and toes in case he wears them out, it will be easy to replace. They were knitted top down, two at a time on Magic Loop. I was working on them while waiting for a doctor's appointment, and a more senior lady asked me what I was knitting. She knew about Magic Loop, but not two at a time. She was really impressed. It looks impressive when you're working on them, but I have to admit, I still have a hard time starting and will usually start them separately and then put onto one circular needle once I'm sure it's going okay. These socks took 94gr so I do have a small bit of the green left.

Yarn In: 500gr

Yarn Out: 94gr + 2916gr = 3,010

Balance:  2510 gr more OUT than in

Costs:  $15.81