It feels, today, at last, as if the season could finally be turning.
After all those weeks of enclosed grey, dark mornings and cold evenings I am desperate to see the sunlight again. Today it feels like something has turned - the energy is on the up and the sun is shining.
I have even turned the radio off this morning to hear the frantic cheeping of the birds - they are definitely in egg mode.
My project for the new year was to teach myself to knit socks! I got this great book and new that it would be something to aim for, but first I just have to knit a pair of socks from this book to understand the technique. It took a lot of effort to get started - first I couldn't find the weight of yarn specified in the pattern. In fact the assistant in John Lewis wool department disappointingly didn't know what 'worsted wool' was - a good start, eh?
Next I couldn't find any stock of the needle size I wanted! A few enquiring emails to Pebbledash, to see if she would be my sock guru. Eventually, with patience I found some lovely merino wool here and needles here! It occurred to me that the more difficult it was getting, the more I was actually learning about knitting socks!
They may not be the greatest pair of socks ever - but last night I 'turned the heel' - the part I was most afraid of. Reading patterns is rather like gobbledegook - I just had to take each step at a time.. Another lesson I could apply elsewhere in life. That plus a few videos on Youtube!
Consequently I have turned the heel following one of these videos, so it may be a bit different from my pattern. I really just made it up as I went along - determined not to get any holes! I also noticed last night that I was supposed to have ribbed the heel flap - which I didn't pick up on at all until a bit late! Nevermind.
The foot of this one looks like it may be meant for a giant :) - but these are my practice socks - probably to be worn of an evening infront of the fire next winter! However I am really happy to be learning something new that I can see progress in stage by stage.
The heel has turned - hurrah!
Hi C, great to have a new project. Did you know there's a wool shop down the road, just off the main street in Alex. near the library? Helpful staff as far as i have experienced (being a non-knitter).
More sunshine to come this week. Enjoy.
Posted by: Debs | February 27, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Fabulous Caireen, and love your choice of wool. Well done, turning that first heel is a milestone to be celebrated!
D x
Posted by: Pebbledash | March 01, 2011 at 09:51 PM
I am so impressed - well done! I haven't even managed to start a sock despite having a mountain of wool and several books on the subject.
Posted by: Suzanne Field | March 09, 2011 at 09:31 AM