Timing is everything

Who would have known when I started these socks back in August that I'd finish them just in time for Husby's birthday tomorrow? Yay for good timing! And an example of what happens when I only have 1 pair of socks on the sticks - I finish them reasonably quickly (for me!). I mainly use socks as my bus knitting, and tend not to work on them at home, preferring to work on larger items or more complicated patterns. These were quite quick to knit - I like the 5x2 rib - stretchy and interesting enough to knit without having to be swapping the yarn back and front all the time.

Details:

Pattern: Spey Valley, from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush - cannot praise this book highly enough - I want to knit almost all the patterns in it! I did modify the pattern but adding an extra repeat, so cast on 70 stitches rather than 63 (63 on 2.25mm sticks just not enough!)

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Camouflage, 2 skeins (well, probably 1.5 skeins) - I really like this yarn but think if I buy any more I will get the solid colours as both times I've used the variegated yarns they have pooled around the gusset area. These weren't as bad as my Jaywalkers though!Sticks: 2.25mm KnitPicks metal dpns. I usually knit socks on 2.5mm sticks but decided to go down a size for these - loved the fabric I got with these sticks - very smooshy and not as firm as I feared. But next time, I might try 76 sttitches, these are a fraction tight around the calf although that was pre-blocked.

Time: 15 August 2007 - 2 October 2007 - pretty much got these out of the way before Southern Summer of Socks!

What I learnt: This pattern includes a "vikkel braid", which basically looks like sideways knitting, but obviously isn't. Very clever and a feature I plan to incorporate into other socks as a nice finishing touch (eg between the ribbing and the leg part on a plain stocking stitch sock).