January 12, 2011

There are worse things I could do (worse)

I like to knit and I like to talk about knitting, but I don't really enjoy taking pictures of knitting.  I like taking pictures of friends, capturing special moments, but I'm not a gifted photographer and it comes across in my photos.  And that's OK!  I bake better cakes and cookies and brownies than most people I know; I can spot a burgeoning romance a block away; I'm pretty good with languages and I get along really well with uncles and in-laws.  I'm not looking for sympathy; I'm just stating a fact.  A fact that is clear when you see these:



I did not take these.  Jim, the recipient of these tweedy socks, did.  I gave them to him before I had a chance to photograph them so I told him he'd need to take some snaps for me so I'd have documentation of the finished product (he's a professional, you see).  Man, did he pull through. 

Details:
Pattern: My own
Yarn: Rowan Rowanfleck DK Tweed
Needles: 3.5mm & 3.75mm
Started: January 4
Finished: January 8


Jim is a dear friend with excellent and specific taste.  His style is a little retro, a little modern and a little Scandinavian (perhaps I should have started with Scandinavian and just have been done with it).  He is one of my most adored friends, and I wanted to give him something special for Christmas, but I knew the gift would need to be both useful and tasteful.  Jim is one of those people who is always pairing down, so extras hold little appeal for him.  It wasn't until after the 25th (but before the Epiphany, so still in the Christmas season) that I knew what I would give him: a hand knitted pair of house socks.  What I call house socks are socks that are heavier and denser than usual and warm enough to function as slippers, without the bulky sole.  Perfect for someone who likes to open a window for fresh air, or spend weekends at an underheated Pennsylvania cabin.

I couldn't find a sock pattern that was quite what I was looking for, so I improvised this one after consulting a couple of toe-up sock patterns I'd followed before (for fingering and worsted weight yarns).  I really like to-up construction; I especially like the Magic 8 cast on.  It really is like magic because suddenly you have a toe without seams!  Anyway, I started these knowing only that Jim wears a 9 1/2 or 10 shoe.  Fortunately I have man-sized feet, so I was able to try these on as I knit them to see if they would fit. 

They do! And he loves them.  What's better than that?

So, in closing, I'd say  that there are worse things that I could be worse at than photography.  Right, Rizz?



2 comments:

Oiyi said... Best Blogger Tips

Fabulous house socks! I saw these on Ravelry first and was captured by the photographs right away. Gorgeous!

Photos aside, I think these socks are great. Not bulky, but thin enough to be warm and comfy. I think you chose the perfect weight of yarn.

LittleCanoe said... Best Blogger Tips

At first glance, I thought that was a picture of your feet in those socks, and I thought, "oh shoot, girl needs to shave her legs!" But then it all made sense. Beautiful socks. We can't all be good at everything and I think your pictures are just lovely.