FO Friday – Blossom Cuffed Sox IV

My first pair of socks is finally finished!!

I don’t think I can express just how much I love them!

This pattern is another great example of how I have no fear when it comes to knitting.
1. I had never knit a pair of socks before.
2. I had never knit with fingering weight yarn before.  Technically I had never crocheted with fingering either, but working with thread I didn’t see this as a problem.
3. I had done some lace but never worked on an item where you knit for a while and then turned it inside out (for the cuff).

4. I had never worked in short rows before.
5. I had never done cables before.  While this pattern doesn’t have many – just a few rows of 2-stitch cables on the heel, compounded with working in yarn and needles smaller than I’m used to and it became a challenge.

6. I had never done the kitchener stitch. Well, technically I didn’t use that stitch for this pattern. I just used a three-needle bind-off.  I think.  The one I know I did a 3-needle, I’m not sure what I did for the other as the toe seam is even more noticeable.

I recently tried the kitchener stitch when I made the Trimborn cowl, and if I hadn’t already finished one sock not using it, I would have used that closing for both socks.

I finished the first sock in a short amount of time – like July / Aug of 2012. I started the second sock and it sat for a long time.  I picked it up again this fall and promptly ended up stuck in the cable part on the second sock. What was worse was working on the part after the short rows. That should have started the easy section, but I had about 20 rows, thought I had the wrong amount of decrease stitches, ripped out, did about 6 more rows, and realized I was correct the first time around! Grrr. I almost gave up on these socks – either putting them back in the UFO pile or ripping the second sock out entirely. But I persevered and got the job done.

I know I’m supposed to be working on and finishing Christmas gifts, but actually, I had hoped that I could make some socks as gifts this year. I was scrambling to finish these so I could use the needles. I won’t have time now, but I’m so happy these are done.

I definitely see more handmade socks in my near future… Oh, and dear reader? No, you can’t have these. They are all MINE!