Before the Summer of Socks Began...
I knit Monkeys.
Monkey Dos* are done...fini....off the needles. It was just as fun to knit the second pair as it was to knit the first and I made the same modification...a picot cuff (and my toe is slightly longer). This is my last Monkey.
There are just TOO MANY fabulous sock patterns to be knit. A long row of sock yarn, avec patterns, sits on the floor of my 'fiber studio'. In addition, Sunday will be the first day of my Sock Club for One! It's already time to pick a package from the wrapped up yarns in the sock club bag. This is truly turning into the summer of socks and I wish for the ability to knit faster! (Yes, I know IT IS the process and I do enjoy it, but the desire to knit so many different patterns has me wishing the process was faster. Not very Zen, I know.)
Speaking of the Summer of Socks...
Meet Shock Wave, knit with my very own Strawberry Fields (Spunky Club) handspun. While spinning, I wasn't that careful about spacing the color changes and I'm sure the socks will be fraternal, but so far the sock looks pretty good! I've heard it said the little joins that happen when you ply in chained singles will disappear in the fabric of knitting and I am finding it to be true. Knitting with this tightly spun yarn is much like knitting with any other sock yarn, except it's not quite as perfect. It lets me know it is MY yarn - yarn spun by my hand, a humble yarn that meets the need and fills the heart with the happiness of a job well done.
*Monkey2 is knit with Red Rock Canyon STR and took about 1 week...you gotta love that!
Great Monkeys, but very pretty Shock Wave in your own handspun no less! Nice job.
Posted by: Manise | June 28, 2007 at 04:30 AM
good morning. i just put the last Kitchener stitchin my Opal Tiger Jaywalkers. Well done me. and now, on to socks from my summer of socks which was two years ago. i started (a*hem) several pair, just now getting them finished up. it was a mass attack of SSS.
Posted by: marie in florida | June 28, 2007 at 04:35 AM
Great Monkeys! Nice job with the dying too! gotta love that sock club for one!! Maybe I should try it! ;o)
Posted by: michelle | June 28, 2007 at 04:44 AM
I think I'll knit monkey socks in about 6 months - when everyone else has stopped! I agree there are way too many beautiful sock yarn patterns to keep up with! Loving yours, though. Let the summer of socks commence!
Posted by: Carole | June 28, 2007 at 05:17 AM
There are so many beautiful sock yarns and patterns that I'm a little bit overwhelmed--but it's a happy overwhelmed.
Your handspun is stunning!
Posted by: Vera | June 28, 2007 at 05:19 AM
Fantastic socks! One week for monkey socks, that's amazing. Hooray for handspun
Posted by: Amy Boogie | June 28, 2007 at 05:24 AM
I love the little picot cuff on the Monkeys.
Posted by: AmyP | June 28, 2007 at 05:37 AM
Your socks, knit with YOUR yarn are going to be so so special! Although I don't think I'd ever wear them - just fondle them lovingly. Enjoy the knit!
Posted by: Cara | June 28, 2007 at 06:02 AM
Your yarn is so beautiful! And as much as I like the Monkeys, it will be nice to see some other socks floating around in blogland.
Posted by: Zarah | June 28, 2007 at 06:10 AM
I love your Red Rock Canyon monkeys!
And your Strawberry Fields looks luscious all knit up! But could you please tell me (or link to a place I can find out) what a chained single is? I 'm not sure...
Do you have any plans to knit Sidewinders a la Nona?
Posted by: Arianne | June 28, 2007 at 06:26 AM
I have been looking at all the different sock patterns out there just wishing there was another one of me who could just sit home and knit socks...LOL. So many wonderful yarns and patterns, so little time.
I LOVE your Strawberry Fields socks and believe it or not, I found that I love my fraternal socks the best :-)
Posted by: Kim | June 28, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Cool Monkey socks. Your hanpdspun yarn looks great! I've mostly given up on matching socks, I'm just too lazy.
Posted by: Lauren | June 28, 2007 at 06:48 AM
I love your monkeys!!! Maybe now that swag is done I will pick up my knitting again. *sigh*
Posted by: scout | June 28, 2007 at 06:51 AM
I'm with Carole about waiting on knitting myself some Monkeys... the line ahead of that pattern is way too long! I love it that you have gotten to the point of being able to produce a sock yarn that you love enough to use in a colorway you like. It is a great accomplishment.
Posted by: Birdsong | June 28, 2007 at 07:04 AM
Ooooo I love the Shockwave. Have to bookmark that one. Very cute. Thanks for the heads up, Margene!
Posted by: Ann | June 28, 2007 at 07:08 AM
I'm still trying to figure out what the heck "Monkeys" are, but I have to tell you that I get a warm, fuzzy feeling from your Strawberry Fields handspun....it reminds me of something, don't know what, from my childhood! Maybe a favorite dress with those colors? (Hmm, I have yet to make socks from my own yarn! I should get busy.)
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | June 28, 2007 at 07:14 AM
I love how the Strawberry Fields is knitting up! How pretty with the thick and thin stripes!
Posted by: Cheryl | June 28, 2007 at 07:22 AM
Your strawberry fields socks are turning out amazing!! I love the pursuit of spinning yarn suitable for socks! Now if I could just "not suck" at that chain plying!!!
Posted by: Rebecca | June 28, 2007 at 07:36 AM
Yay for [slightly imperfect, but delicious] handspun handknit socks!
Posted by: Norma | June 28, 2007 at 07:37 AM
Beautiful sock pictures! I know what you mean about too many patterns wishing to be knit. Working really bites into my knitting time! I haven't done ANY Monkeys (yet); it's one pattern still on my To-Do List. Your handspun looks wonderful knit up. I am in awe of you, but still not tempted to try spinning. (How would I ever get anything else done, then?) Right now I'm in the middle of a Kauni cardigan, but maybe it's getting to hot to keep knitting a sweater. So, I'm thinking about what socks to make next.....
Posted by: Nancy | June 28, 2007 at 07:39 AM
I think knitting with handspun is so much more fun because of the imperfections. That is what makes it special.
Posted by: Jen | June 28, 2007 at 08:00 AM
I love when you knit with your handspun. It's twice as exciting as any other kind of project. :-)
Soon I'm going to work up the nerve to cast on with some of my own... ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. | June 28, 2007 at 08:01 AM
I love your handspun socks. What a feeling of accomplishment and joy. Congrats!
Posted by: CindyCindy | June 28, 2007 at 08:27 AM
Yes, but are we going for perfect? Or are we trying for yarn that is alive, that has energy and balance that we put into it? There is no commercial millspun yarn that has the feel of yarn spun by ourselves, for ourselves, with our thoughts and passion right there in the thread. Perfect? Bah!
Posted by: Wendy | June 28, 2007 at 08:35 AM
I love the Monkey's very cute. And the new one you are working on looks fabulous thus far :)
You have inspired me to get my Monkey's out of the deep dark depths of my backpack and finish them up :)
Posted by: Meadow | June 28, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Yay! Knitting with your own handspun sock yarn! Such lovely yarn, too. Enjoy!
Posted by: Judy H. | June 28, 2007 at 09:13 AM
At first I just admired your Sock Club for One idea. Now I think I really should set it up!
Posted by: Theresa | June 28, 2007 at 09:17 AM
No fair! You have 4 monkeys and I have none (for now.)
Ah well, I trust that when Mr. & Mrs. Monkey finally get things straightened out they will reproduce too.
Blessings!
Posted by: Susan P | June 28, 2007 at 09:28 AM
Oooo I love how your Monkey's turned out. :D
Posted by: KnittyOtter | June 28, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Adore the second set of Monkeys. I'm sure I will make another pair, just not sure when. There is an abundance of sock patterns out there right now and I want to knit them all! Your new socks look great too!
Posted by: Wanda | June 28, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Your strawberry fields yarn is lovely. I have two rovings that I'm going to attempt spinning sock yarn out of. I suspect I'll have to knit the results rather than crochet them, because I don't seem to get as much yardage as I would expect from the weight. Oh well... I'm looking forward to trying!
Posted by: Andrea | June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
They look great! You're right, there's nothing like knitting with your handspun. Now if I could just stop spinning long enough to knit....!
Posted by: elizabeth | June 28, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Gorgeous Monkeys! Curses, I hadn't seen Shock Wave before. *sigh* Another one for my list! ;)
Posted by: Chris | June 28, 2007 at 01:03 PM
I'm so glad you did those! Not only do they look great, but they helped me see that heavily variegated yarn does not necessarily look bad in a lace pattern. I have been putting off casting on my next pair becuase I thought the pattern I wanted wouldn't work with the yarn I'm in the mood for.
Posted by: Sneaksleep | June 28, 2007 at 01:03 PM
Your handspun is wonderful and the sock is beautiful. Of all the socks I've knit, the handspun socks stand out the most.
My father is a zen Buddhist, has been for 40 years or so. He says that the zen way is to do something so fast that you don't have time to think about anything else. That way you are truly in the moment. With that in mind, I say knit as fast as you can!
Love the sock club for one!
Posted by: Maia | June 28, 2007 at 01:08 PM
I love the Strawberry Fields socks!! Yay for handspun sock yarn. :)
I'm still considering making my sockapalooza socks from homespun.
Posted by: Laura | June 28, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Your Monkey socks came out great!
Love how your handspun is knitting up. Such great summery colors.
Posted by: Kelly | June 28, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Great Monkeys!
I really do love how that yarn turned out and now how it's knitting up. You rock!
Posted by: Cookie | June 28, 2007 at 01:25 PM
I love that idea for a sock club for one! I just might copy that one! I could even get my kids to do the wrapping and then I really wouldn't know what skein I would pick! You are a genius! Love the Monkeys and the Shock Wave!
Posted by: Lori | June 28, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Lovely!
(((hugs)))
Posted by: knitnana | June 28, 2007 at 02:25 PM
lovely! and kudos to you breaking out the handspun for some knitting action :o)
Posted by: amanda | June 28, 2007 at 02:27 PM
Good luck with your private sock club, I love the idea and will like to know if it helps you achieve your goal. I love the way your yarn looks in the shock wave.
Posted by: Rachel | June 28, 2007 at 02:39 PM
I look forward to seeing what turns up in your grab bag SCFO.
Strawberry Fields knit up with a lovely little stripe variation so far. Fraternality will just reinforce the by you own hand effect.
I'm just on my 4th pair of socks, so still want to pick each yarn for the techniques I'm trying. Right now I plan to knit plain socks to try out as many different heels and toes as I can handle before I settle on ones I like and wade into the disorienting sea of possible sock patterns.
Posted by: KarenJoSeattle | June 28, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Carol | June 28, 2007 at 03:32 PM
I saw your personal sock club idea some time ago and thought it was great, as my sock yarn stash would last me for a good, long time. In the meantime, I signed up for three other sock clubs. I think self-control is overrated, but I certainly admire it in others!
Posted by: Laurie | June 28, 2007 at 03:52 PM
Love the Strawberry Fields sock.
Posted by: Suzanne | June 28, 2007 at 04:13 PM
beautiful socks! I agree there are TONS of beautiful patterns out.
Posted by: Kelly | June 28, 2007 at 04:58 PM
Nice job on the Strawberry Fields!!
Posted by: Sharon | June 28, 2007 at 05:30 PM
The socks look lovely! I'm glad to hear the bumps in chained singles are disappearing. I haven't knit with my navajo plied handspun yet :-)
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool | June 28, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Strawberry Fields "Forever"!!...How pretty!!
Posted by: Dianne | June 28, 2007 at 06:20 PM