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Along the Natchez Trace

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

My $100 Pair of Socks

I bet not many of you could say you'd paid $100 for a pair of socks.  Well, probably not many of you would admit it if you had... it's kind of a dumb thing to do.  But...  let me tell you about my $100 socks.....

It all started out when we were on that cruise...  Barbara, one of the folks with Wholly Genes, the software company that sponsored that conference...  spent much of her time knitting.....  socks.  In fact, when Bill & I were in a yarn shop in Nova Scotia, I saw her there buying some lovely yarn.  During the cocktail hour at the end of the cruise, I looked her up to ask about her knitting.  (Doesn't everyone spend their cocktail hour talking about socks?)

Anyway, she told me she got that particular pattern from Ravelry and got her yarn from Simply Socks, a company located in Ft Wayne, In.  Now, for those non-fiber folks, Ravelry is a great website that I've subscribed to for several years...  great patterns, great resources, great forums...  all for the knitter, crocheter or anyone who loves working with the fiber arts.  

As soon as we got back to the farm, I  looked through all my stored books and magazines, but...  alas...  no sock patterns. When I had internet access, I checked out the books Amazon had for sock "know-how".  Amazon had several...  and I chose 2 ...  each cost about $20.

Then...  on to Simply Socks..... oh my goodness!  SO many choices...  so beautiful.  I love working with fine yarns...  I love the colors, the texture, the ease they flow through your fingers....  
Okay...   these are the books I bought at about $20 each.....  The yarn on the right is the one I chose to start with...  if you add in shipping, it's probably about $20.  The problem here was that as I knitted along, I didn't think I'd have enough yarn in one skein to make a pair of socks...  so....  I got on-line and ordered another skein of each color.  Hmmm... this pair of socks is getting a bit pricey.....

I've been knitting for over 50 years, and still have my original knitting needles and other knitting supplies.  So why should I need anything else?  Well...  truth is, I probably didn't....  but....  these new bamboo needles feel so nice...  so easy to work with.  Besides (do I need to discuss my rationale here?) bamboo can be taken through security on airports...  I could knit while flying to...  well... Costa Rica next week.  

More knitting supplies....
Okay... besides the airport security issue (hmmmmm) I'm going to learn how to knit a pair of socks on circular needles.  Yeah...  I have much of this in my stash of supplies, but it takes TWO PAIRS of whatever size you need.  One 16" needle and one 24" needle of the same size.  Who'd'a thunk?  Okay...  into the shopping cart.  There's a Michaels Craft Store in Granbury...  they had pretty much what I needed.   And, truth is, it cost "a bit" more than I'd expected.

Oh well...  I finally finished the first sock...
And I'm well on my way with its mate....
I chose "Hermione's Everyday Sock"  (you know... Harry Potter)....  and I love it.  I love the pattern, I love the yarn, I love the texture, the feel of the yarn...  I love working with it.  I'm not ready to tackle the circular socks yet... so these are one at a time.  I will NOT have the "Second Sock Syndrome"  (I think that's a knitters term that means they have fun with sock #1 but get bored with sock #2).  In fact, I can hardly wait to finish this pair so I can start on another pair.

I mean, seriously...  with colors named as...  "Malibrigo Lotus" or "Iris" or "Hand-dyed Sapphire"....  how could you not get excited about making a pair of socks...  even if the darned things DID cost me $50 a sock?

Okay folks...  don't get upset about my spending habits....  the 2nd pair will be only the cost of the yarn...  less than $20....  and if I have leftover yarn from several pairs of socks...  just think...  that last pair of "Joseph's Coats socks" will be absolutely free!

I'll report back when I finish that 2nd sock.  I promise!

That's All For Today!

20 comments:

  1. Funny, funny--it is amazing how much these "hobbies" cost us, isn't it!!

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  2. Nothing quite link hand knitted socks, used to wear them as a kid, sadly no more.
    Have fun and sock it to them!

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  3. I throw the left overs into a tote bag, and when it's too full I knit Dobby socks. They absolutely do not match.

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  4. Ha! You are so funny. I love the yarns you picked. I don't knit, crochet, needle-point, embroider - well, you get the "point". But I love seeing what others are doing.

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  5. what fun, Sharon. I have absolutely no skills in the knitting world ... I wanted to learn at one time, I have a book ... bought a bag with yard ~ needles and whatever 'they' said I needed ... I think it's been at least 8 years ago because I did this while taking care of my Mother ... stuff is with my shop stuff ~ saw it the other day while going through a bunch of ... what's in there totes ... still in packages. I dunno.

    $100 socks... hahaaaa... ooh, me I have spent so much money on my 'want to aspirations' ... my $100 is still in a tote... !

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  6. Ok. You did it. I am going to knit socks. I tried one pair a few years ago and haven't tried again. Karen in the woods sent me a great pattern but I was still intimidated. Goingmto amazon. And the simply socks. Lol

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  7. Lovely socks - worth every penny!

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  8. The amount of money doesn't count when it goes toward something you like to do and what you like to do makes useful things you can wear or cover up with or. . . and yes, walk on.

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  9. That is a cool pattern and I love the multi-colored yarn.

    Do bamboo needles have a different feel to them when you're using them?

    I used to travel a lot for work, usually had knitting with me, and never got hassled about my knitting needles. It was weird -- Homeland Security in the form of TSA was still freaking out over nail clippers and there I was with these 12" pointed metal rods, usually fairly heavy (size 8 and up) and no one ever told me to ditch them. Maybe it helped to have a work in progress dangling from them? One of my friends has worked as a security consultant for quite a few years now and says it's because of gender bias. If it's a device that's associated with women, to men (and most of the people deciding what's a threat and what isn't) it's either invisible or harmless. Or maybe it's because so far as I know no one's been killed on screen in an action thriller by someone using a knitting needle.

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  10. Your knitting is just beautiful!!
    The enjoyment you get out of creating and wearing your socks will be worth every penny.
    Teri
    markteri.blogspot.com

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  11. Your knitting is just beautiful!!
    The enjoyment you get out of creating and wearing your socks will be worth every penny.
    Teri
    markteri.blogspot.com

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  12. I do like your sock. I have just learned to knit socks using the "magic loop" technique. No more second sock syndrome because you knit both socks on ONE set of needles. Totally cool.

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  13. Love your story - and your socks. I am not a knitter (I crochet) but I feel your pain. Went to Joann's today - senior day 20% off everything! Well, when yarn is already on sale and you get another 20% off of that, how can you NOT buy? PLUS, I got an online coupon for 50% off on one item. I too love the feel of yarn. Have you signed up for Michael's online? They send out coupons all the time, like Joann's does.

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  14. What a coincidence to read your posting toady. I was just thinking of getting into the knitting again after a 20 something year break. I own several pairs of knitted socks (mom did it) and they lasted for years. She bought colored yarn that made a pattern by itself while knitting, you didn't have to switch colors yourself. Neat.
    I guess if I would start know, I would have a fresh supply ready when the old socks go off duty. Like in : start early because of that 'darn' "second sock syndrome". ;))

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  15. HI Sharon:
    I belong to ravelry, too. Sometimes I just go on there and spend hours looking at others' work. I certainly believe the $100 pair of socks. I've been there. If you get a chance let me know what your ravelry name is. After seeing the work you've photographed for this blog I'd love love to see more of your work. Unfortunately, I'm not currently knitting or crocheting because of arthritis in my hands - it seems to be worse in Winter, when I'd really love to be knitting nice cozy socks. Drats. Love this post.

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  16. Those are beautiful socks!! I don't think I EVER heard anyone ever say that crafting is cheap, no matter what form it takes... :)

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  17. Great stuff:) Actually I am kind of a sock guy. I try to mostly wear Bare Foot socks from a company in Indiana. They are really great and made in the USA!

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  18. I started a pair of socks, toe up magic loop 2 at a time, with sweater weight yarn on size 8 needles. They were going to be too large, but I got the technique down. Now I'm making a sweater from the yarn. I'll get some sock yarn and do socks next. I'll check out the yarn shop you mentioned.

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  19. Great story - sure hope when you finish the second sock that one of them doesn't get lost in the wash as mine always do.

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  20. You do a beautiful job of knitting!!! Behind a little on reading your blogs. Have a wonderful time in Costa Rica. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both.

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