Tuesday, February 17, 2009

In knitting, is there much better than this?

As a knitter, one of the things I really like to do is to knit something for another knitter. And, I have to say, I don't mind having the favour returned!

Last year, 2 of my knitting buddies and I did a 3 way sock swap - we each provided our own sock yarn, and the other two knit one sock each for the pair. And we got our yarn back, but made into socks!

We decided to do it again, and invited a couple of others along for the fun! So I knit for Donni and Bells (along with Kristie and Nora, respectively), and Donni and Bells knit for me!

Nora chose a fantastic pattern for Bells's socks, which goes so fantastically with the Knittery sock yarn Bells provided - the pattern is Merino Lace Socks (Rav link) by Anne Woodbury from IK's 25 Favourite Socks. I would never have chosen this pattern for this yarn, for a couple of reasons - it's so rare to find a lace pattern which works with variegated yarn, and because the picture of these socks in the book is pretty poor - it really doesn't show off the fantastic pattern at all. So Nora chose exceptionally well, I loved this pattern in this yarn so much, I threatened not to give them back to Bells when I'd knit the second sock!

I particularly like how the pattern continues all the way from the cuff down the heel. Really really great pattern!
And for Donni, who provided a squooshy blue yarn from Have You Any Wool, I choose a toe-up pattern called Cut and Paste - lots of lovely travelling cables and a really cool heel construction - I was a bit confused when I read the pattern but I just went ahead and did it, and it worked! Knitting is magic sometimes!
And now, what you've all been waiting for - my socks!! Lovely red Koigu, made into Summer! (Rav link) socks - very cool pattern with cables and lace , and a picot edge (huzzah! I hate doing picot edges, so love love love it when others make them for me!).
Mmmm, so precious, knitting which is mine but which I didn't have to do myself! They fit perfectly - like they were made for me (heh!)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh - they look great!!!!!! When's the next round I say?

Bells said...

oh wow, very nice post. Much more comprehensive than mine. I thinkall three pairs are wonderful. Good work for capturing the detail of the heel in a way I didn't.

Gidgetknits said...

Oh my, those red socks! And the blue ones... and the purple ones...

I'm suffering sock envy.

LynS said...

I particularly love the red Summers - though they're all wonderful.

amy said...

This post is just full of gorgeous socks! What a fun idea, you guys!!

And yes, I was talking about the lift-the-flap books with more stuff underneath. I think they drive me bonkers so easily because I find it a very haphazard way to read a book. There's stuff all over the place! I'm learning a lot about dinos, though. :)

Geek Knitter said...

The problem with keeping Bell's socks is that she knows where you live!

Oh my, my queue just got longer again...

Bells said...

man those blue ones are striking aren't they? I had to come back for another look.

MadMad said...

Oh, those are all such great patterns! What a cool idea! And it's the perfect anti-dote to second-sock-syndrome, isn't it?

Em said...

You guys have the best fun! What a great plan, and the socks are amazing. Whenever two different knitters can make two different things that still look almost the same, it amazes me. But this, I'm floored by! They all match! And they're all so pretty. Mmmm, handknit socks...

Lynne said...

Three beautiful pairs of socks!

Sarah said...

I don't about just restricting it to knitting, in life things often don't get much better than this!!

Alwen said...

It just amazes me how different a sock can look in a different yarn. Those look great - I'm partial to the purple, myself!

~Jody said...

Wow - awesome socks - and even awesomer (is that a word?) knitter friends!!

Michele said...

oh man i'm such a looser friend! i hope you aren't holding your breath waiting for knit socks from me :(

i love the ones you knit me though and i take very, very good care of them.

maybe i could bake you a cake? or many cakes?

Anonymous said...

Those are all so pretty! It's cool to see how other people choose patterns for you. What a neat idea.

Ann said...

The sock swap is a great idea. I love all the lovely socks.