Fixated on Socks

I figured by now I'd be knitting sweaters, but I got sidetracked.  I fought the urge to get into slippers and socks, but it didn't last.  Now I'm hooked.

Maybe I can blame it on Craftsy.  They had this free class on short rows, and the topic absolutely fascinated me!  When I was watching I was envisioning doing bust shaping, and then they mentioned sock heels.  That made sense, but I still wasn't hooked.

Next I was in a bargain bookstore, and guess what I found.  That's right, books on knitting socks.  I bought them because they were great books for less than $20 for the lot.  I read some and learned a lot, but I still wasn't hooked.

I was in Austin on business, and happened to visit Hill Country Weavers.  Now that's an amazing yarn store, let me tell you!  I was impressed, bought some really pretty fingering yarn, and decided to visit the website and bookmark them.  When I went to the website I happened to glance at the upcoming classes, and guess what I found.  A class that was on a Saturday that followed one I had to be in town for business anyway on knitting socks toe-up with short row heels using the magic loop method.  One of life's "meant to be" moments, for sure!

The picture above shows the finished product.  There really are two and I wear them as slippers all the time.  They are comfortable and wash well.  Since they're mostly wool, I don't stick them in the dryer.  Now I'm working on my first real sock-yarn sock using a merino and nylon blend on size US#2 (really small) circular needles.  The first sock is about finished.  It's a little bigger in the foot than I wanted, but it's a live and learn process.  I'll probably make its mate a little smaller, but I'll wear them with pride.  I'd love to make pairs for the grands for Christmas, which seems a long way off now, but truly isn't.  We'll see if this sock love affair lasts. . .but for now, I'm having a ball and I'm hooked!