Across the Knitterverse

The Summer of Socks knit-along has already been in progress for a few weeks, and I’ve only just started my first pair of SOS socks. I was actually holding off, trying to finish my 9 to 5 socks before starting a pair for SOS, but with a good portion of SOS already over, I started to get concerned that I would run out of time for SOS knitting. Plus, I had new and unique yarn calling to me, so I was very much ready for a new sock project.

I was lucky enough to snag some sock yarn from the most recent update on the Twisted Fiber Art website…the Playful yarn base in the Netherfield colorway, along with a ¼ skein of coordinating heel/toe yarn.

Netherfield is a really interesting colorway…it’s a variegated yarn…it’s a self-striping yarn…it is both at the same time. The colors of the variegation shift as you knit along, creating a gradual striping effect. And not only is the effect really cool, but the color combinations used to create Netherfield are totally gorgeous. I’m a big fan of pink and green together (this colorway ranges from peachy-pink to deep rose and from light yellow-green to olive, with a bit of brown), so this is a great combination for me. It reminds me of a rose garden part in sunlight and part in shade.

Since I knew I wanted to use this yarn, I went looking through my queue for a pattern that wouldn’t get lost in the striping, and hopefully a pattern that might even enhance the striping. I think I have just the thing – the Marigold Socks pattern by Pamela Wynne. I started knitting two socks at once, toe-up on one circular needle (magic loop) and I’m past the toe and three repeats into the pattern on the foot.

The pattern is just a little bit lacy, and includes a ridge of purl stitches every 7^th row. The way the yarn-overs and decreases stack up on themselves cause the purl ridge to have a bit of a wave to it, making it almost look like a little ruffle. The combination of the lacey/ruffle-y pattern and the colors in the yarn seem to be making for some very girly socks. I’m not normally into things that are super girly, but I think I’m smitten with these socks. I’m excited to keep working on them to see how they turn out.