Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

This year, I am adding hand made socks to my gift list. Socks are a wardrobe staple and, if knit well fitting, warm, and attractive, they are truly an earthly delight. With the abundance of sock patterns and yarns available, it is easy to match a perfect pair to everyone on your list. As the yarn requirement is usually 100 grams or less, socks are quite an affordable gift. Although I remember that not so many years ago, I thought making socks was only for the experienced knitter, with the written assistance of Cat Bordhi and Kate Gilbert, I am now able to tackle basic socks worry free and more complex pairs with the confidence that comes with understanding basic concepts.

A sock is comprised of but a few components: the leg portion, the heel, the gusset (really the only part that is a bit tricky), the foot, and the toe. Socks do have a goodly amount of shaping for their size, but once that shaping is learned, all socks are variations on the same structure. Many of the women at my weekly knitting circle, the Noble Knitters, knit socks from memory. The outcome is an attractive and practical gift, whether for oneself or some other lucky person.

My ambition this holiday season is to give every man on my list a pair of socks. I mean, who doesn't need more socks?! Even basic sock patterns look quite impressive with the widely available self patterning yarns. Sock yarns are currently one of the most popular specialty yarns on the market. Manufacturers are formulating yarns that all but assure success, from self striping to mimicking fair aisle, from kettle dyed to deep solids, and most are spun in easy care superwash fibers. The addition of luxury fibers ensure an accessory that is not only appealing to the eye, but even more delightful to wear. These yarns are hard core indulgence.

A recent delivery to Rare Purls included a bag of Classic Elite Alpaca Sox. Though sock yarns come in every color of the rainbow and a multitude of combinations, this color batch was named simply "Wren", a perfect, lofty blend of ashy medium brown with muted enhancing tones - just lovely! Alpaca Sox is super soft due to the high alpaca content and durable from the addition of 20% nylon, a must to ensure a long wearing sock. Most sock yarns are spun in superwash wool and come in a standard 4 ply or the more bulky 6 ply. Although wool is the standard, blends containing silk, alpaca, and even soy are available. Some yarns come with additional fine yarn to work in the soles, but my preference is to work the bottom of the foot in a more dense gauge using a needle a size smaller than the rest of the sock. This fortifying technique is a breeze when using the socks on two circulars method, but is also easily achieved with double point needles. The outcome is a sock that will withstand both wear and the test of time. After all, whatever lucky person gets these handsome tootsie huggers will want to wear them any time they are clean. With this in mind, a drawer full of hand knit socks would not be too many, making this the perfect gift year after year.

Other ideas for man pleasing gifts projects are cowls, ski hats, gloves, and ties. All require only modest amounts of yarn, which gives you the option of splurging on the good stuff! A cashmere scarf is a truly luxurious accessory, even when knit in a simple stitch pattern, and ties knit in quality sock yarn can be quite dashing. But in my book? Nothing says love quite like a gift of super soft, hand knit socks.

Copyright Kay Mather 2008