Sock it to Me

Much like a favorite bite-sized snack or candy, I can not stop at one sock. I’m even reading a book titled Sock! Kim Adrian’s book is an object lesson study and hoo-boy, do socks have some history. I picked this up solely (hah!) based on the cover, but also I was looking for some lighter reading following Radium Girls. It’s interesting and enjoyable, but I also started Lab Girl and turn to that one more frequently. My kids and husband have an ongoing joke about my husband’s sock that resulted in the above artwork. I swear I had nothing to do with it!

After I knit Nate’s socks he asked for Rainbow socks. I have decided to indulge that request and use up my Rainbow Oops leftovers for tube socks. I’ve finished one Winter Weekend sock for me and plan to cast on the mate this evening.

I will be casting on for a sample knitting sock project, and need to be sure that I get gauge so my sample fits correctly on the display model. I decided to cast on with the same yarn (different colorway) for a pair of socks on US1s as I normally would to see where my gauge lands. This is totally and completely the wrong way to check gauge, I know that. But once I got started, I fell in love with this project!

(For the record, I will be doing a swatch for gauge on a smaller needle size. I have a US0 and ordered a US00.)

This yarn is Knitted Wit Victory Sock in Charm Quark, February’s Herstory yarn in honor of particle physicist Sau Lan Wu. I stash dove in the minis and found four neon pink sparkly minis to use on the cuffs, heels, and toes. This is the first time I’ve tried to mix it up like this on socks and I absolutely love how it is working up! Two-at-a-time, plain vanilla, in the most sciencey-est bag I had nearby when I wound the yarn. This one is made by One Sock Wonder Bags on Etsy.

Where do you get minis for contrasting heels, toes, and cuffs? I have so many random minis, but they are singles from swaps and usually less than 8-10g. I’m still learning how much you need on average for those parts!