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Socktober.


The autumn/winter season started officially two days ago: it's October already and there was frost for the first time two nights ago. In the morning I realized I don't really have any woolen socks that would fit in my boots. I only seem to have thicker socks that I wear at home so I grabbed my needles and some yarn from my stash and started to knit. The good thing about having knitting as a hobby is that you don't have to rely on the quite boring supply of socks in the shops but have endless possibilities regarding color, shapes and patterns to choose from.

So now I'm knitting Cookie A.'s Stricken socks. I already started them two nights ago after finishing the Lady Stardust scarf, even though I do have other projects on my needles as well. I'm clearly not a monogamous knitter!


It has been another tough and exhausting week at work and I'm so happy it's Friday... This weekend I'm going to take it easy and just stay at home reading and knitting. Our summer exhibition at the museum came to an end last Sunday and this work week has been consumed by packing everything up and removing all the installations and showcases to make room for the next exhibition. Lot's of carrying, dismantling, bubble wrap and lifting...

I'm using ruby red Drops Fabel for these socks. I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to buying yarn: I refuse to buy anything other than yarn made from natural fibers like wool or cotton. First of all acrylic and such tickle my skin and secondly they seldom look good as they pill really easily and don't hold their shape. I don't see the point of spending ages knitting a garment that I can't wear comfortably or one that will look frayed and worn-out after using it for just a couple of times. The downside with natural fibers is that they are often quite soft and don't fare well as a sock yarn (especially if you want to use the socks with shoes). That's why I regard sock yarn as an exception, but I only buy sock yarns that are mainly natural and have just a small part of synthetic fibers (like Fabel, which is 75 % wool and 25 % polyamide).



I was planning on making a couple of other pairs of fingering weight socks as well, it being Socktober and all... My favorite sock patterns at the moment are Water for the elephants socks by Rose Hiver, Smaug socks by Claire Ellen and Cassidae socks by Rachel Coopey. I think I have enough stashed sock yarn to make all of them, and I do need more than one or two pairs of woolen socks because I wear them daily and sometimes even nightly in the winter-time. Plus I love pretty socks!

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