I finished my Merino Lace Sock this weekend. I have to say, I really enjoyed going from my first Child's First Sock directly to a new sock. There was the excitement of a new pattern and new yarn, which still the comfort of knowing I would eventually return to a pattern that I (now) know really well.
I want to do that again. In fact, I've decided that May is my Month of Single Socks. I will only knit the first sock in a pair and then move on to a different sock. There are several reasons that I decided on this.
1) I enjoyed doing it with the above two singles (aka Coordinating Socks).
2) I have received a lot of sock yarn recently, and I want to knit with all of it at once. Even with this one sock thing, I'm having trouble deciding where to start. The Knitting Philistine suggested to me that I start with my favorite one. Hmmm, could you pick a favorite?
3) I have a lot of traveling to do this month. I'll be making trips to Maryland, Boston, San Francisco, and Indiana in the next five weeks. Socks are a perfect project for traveling. New and different socks are even more perfect than that.
4. It's now May. I won't be needing to wear woolen socks again until at least September. I can mix around the order that I make them and still have them done in time for colder weather.
5) I'm not the only one. OK, all of these other lovely ladies might be knitting perfectly sensible pairs, but I want to knit what they're knitting, and that requires some skipping around.
I'm finishing up a sweater tonight, and then it will be socks! Different ones! For 31 days! I can't wait.
Edited to Add: It looks like I now have some company! Single sock knitters unite!
ps. Don't worry about me not finishing what I start. The socks will all be pairs eventually. I really like to finish things :)
yay for single socks! I'm right there with you. :)
Posted by: pamela wynne | May 01, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Yay! I'm so very happy to see my One-Woman Single-Sock Liberation-Movement in action! Woo! It can now officially be called : Two-Women Single-Sock Liberation-Movement! Sweet!
PS: I can't wait to see which sock yarn ended up being the favorite...
Posted by: knittingphilistine | May 01, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Both socks look great! I'm impressed that you don't fear SSS. I'm pretty good about finishing my projects but I don't know that I'm THAT good! Happy travels!
Posted by: Elinor | May 01, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Single socks unite! They are very pretty and I don't blame you for only wanting to knit one at a time. I'm too anal and start getting itchy if I don't finish a project all the way out.
Posted by: tiennie | May 01, 2007 at 03:03 PM
That's it: I'm linking to you as an ETA!!
Posted by: Nora | May 01, 2007 at 05:11 PM
I don't think I can let myself work on more than two pairs of socks at a time. If I did I would put the singlets in a "safe place" that was so safe I'd never find them again.
The socks look wonderful! Such beautiful rich colors, too.
Posted by: Brenda | May 02, 2007 at 01:15 AM
What a great plan! Summer is the right time to spread out your knitting, after all - unless you do so many single socks that you don't get back to the pairs by fall (that's what would happen to me!).
Posted by: Beth | May 02, 2007 at 07:02 AM
This actually sounds like a fabulous idea (despite the fear of not having a pair ever). Good for you for going for it! That travel to Maryland wouldn't involve a certain wool festival now would it? ;)
Posted by: Jessica | May 02, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Sounds a bit scary to me (sss) but sounds like it will be fun and different. My only word of advice (and I feel I am telling a sock guru what to do) is to take copious notes on any and all changes you did to sock #1. I always think, "oh, I'll remember that I..." but I hardly ever do. Well, I guess this is only important if you are obsessive about your socks being perfectly matched (like me!).
Posted by: Tanya | May 02, 2007 at 09:48 AM
That is a great idea - looks like you're well on your way to a bunch of singles! They are so pretty - I would have a very hard time picking a favorite to start with - maybe throw them all in a bag and grab one?
Posted by: stacey | May 02, 2007 at 10:17 AM
I could never do that, because just as Tanya described, I always make those little 'adjustments'. I do write them down on a post-it, but I sometimes have a hard time to understand what the * I meant a week ago, let alone two months (with other socks in between). And indeed my socks match perfectly. They have exactly the same amounts of rows and I make an adjustment to the star toe (folk socks) to have the star point in the reverse way.
Posted by: Ühltje | May 02, 2007 at 04:30 PM
The socks are gorgeous! I absolutely hear where you're coming from: so many wonderful yarns and patterns, so little time! I believe that you will finish the other half of the pairs before the cold weather returns. I doubt I could do that, though. But that's just me. All the more reason It's going to be fun to watch and live vicariously through you. Btw, did you see the pattern for the spiral boot socks in the new IK? It just went on my to-knit list.
Posted by: Jean | May 02, 2007 at 04:43 PM
That's pretty ballsy! There's no way I could do that, I'm much too uptight. Both of them are beautiful!
Posted by: Faith | May 02, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Awesome plan. And did you say Boston? We have many fine purveyors of sock yarn for single socks here in Boston. :)
Posted by: Ariel | May 04, 2007 at 07:41 PM
Ah! A great idea indeed! I definitely missed this post, I'm really far behind.
Posted by: Carol | May 10, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Thanks for stopping by my blog! How do I join the liberation (HAHA!)?
Smiles,
Erin
Posted by: Erin | June 19, 2007 at 02:03 PM