I don’t know if you can tell, but I like socks. I’ve always liked cute socks but when I figured out that I could knit them, something clicked. I am by no means a prolific sock knitter, but it is definitely my go-to project.

I don’t know what it is, maybe the dichotomy of spending so much time and effort on such a practical object. Maybe it’s the freedom to put any and every color of the rainbow on my feet. Maybe it’s just that they’re steady and simple and I don’t need to think much.

Tumbleweed Yarn in Sidewalk Sand

I have certainly evolved as a sock knitter. This is the first pair of fingering weight socks I made and they took me months and months. I gifted them to my mom, because I knit them too short for me and din’t know how to take out the toe and re-knit it. I also have slowly gone down in needle size and stitch count over the years. I think I have some delusion about having very wide feet and legs, so my sock size has just slowly gotten smaller as I’ve tried to get a more snug fit.

Tempting Ewe Yarns, Rainbow Bridge

These are socks I knit a little over a year ago and you can see how loose they are! I was knitting those at 72 stitches, I’m down to 64 now. If you’re curious, nowadays I generally follow Susan B. Anderson’s sock recipe, except I knit mine on 2.0 mm needles (US 0).

Fish Lips Kiss Heel, Main: The Lemonade Shop in Magical Unicorn Supreme, Contrast: Miss Babs in Silas

Smooth Operator Sock, Nomadic Yarns in Sock Tawk

Cut in heel. Nomadic Yarns in Rhinebeck Sweater Weather

I do deviate from this pattern for self-striping socks, or any other yarn where I don’t want to disrupt the pooling or striping along the front of the sock, and for contrast heels. For those, I’ve done a fish lips kiss heel or the smooth operator sock, but now I am a full on Kirbywirby convert. I knit a 12-13″ sock tube and cut in the heel according to her tutorial.

All of this to say, that I love to knit socks. I love learning more about them, honing my skill and the fit, and of course, wearing them. My new pair is humming steadily along, and this color, Sweet Sweet Candy, makes my heart sing.

The Lemonade Shop, Sweet Sweet Candy

We’re on a surprise roadtrip to be with family, so my car knitting game has been strong—and my snowmelt is finally getting some love.

YoM day 62: Sock knitting!

YoM day 63: Sock knitting!

YoM day 64: Sock knitting!

YoM day 65: Sock knitting!

YoM day 66: Sock knitting and snowmelt shawl

YoM day 67: Snowmelt shawl, finished clue 3!

YoM day 68: Snowmelt shawl

Happy making!