the blue blog archives: a sock yarn

Remember my cashmere sock yarn? It was supposed to get me excited about socks again after my first failed attempts at the "dream socks". Well...

The yarn is the most fabulous cashmere/nylon boucle that I picked up at School Products on my last trip to NYC. It's wonderfully soft and light as a feather. It looks like it could be fingering weight, but when I asked the saleswoman at the store what needle to use, she suggested US4's. Um, okay. So I swatched, and having seen how their samples had bloomed with washing, I decided on US3's and started the sock. It seemed a bit small, I ripped, cast on more stitches, and after a few inches, I could tell it was too big. Don't you hate when that happens?! I ripped again, adjusted my stitch count and away I went.

It's a beautiful sock (the dream socks are easy on the eyes, that's for sure) and it's divine to touch. But notice how it looks a little big? Yup, it's big, like Texas big. This cashmere yarn has absolutely no stretch. It lies perfectly flat, even in ribbing, and did not tighten up or bloom as I had expected with washing. Wierd thing though has happened as I've tried the sock on over and over again. I started trying it on in hopes that it had somehow shrunk and fit perfectly now. No luck there. But now I keep trying it on because it just feels so damn good. It's like having a cozy little shawl draped over my ankle. It's the perfect slouchy sock.

Me likey. This wasn't even supposed to be for me. Hell, it didn't even come out the right size. And now it's my little treasure. Someday, when I'm finished with all the gift socks, I'll have to knit myself another giant sock to go with it.

And I've fallen in love with another sock yarn. (Regular sock knitters, please excuse me, but I've ignored sock yarn for years, having hated knitting them so. Heh, heh.) A couple of my sock class students were using a new sock yarn from Idena called Crazy. It's self striping, like the Regia, but I like the colors and the uniformity of the stripes much better. Plus, it's DK weight. Yes! I've resisted buying some - when am I ever going to get around to knitting socks for myself, um, except making the partner to the sock above - and so have left the last two skeins at the store for two weeks. How 'bout if they're there next time I'm at the store, they're mine? Do you all approve?

posted by alison at 8:43 am | in sock block

Comments

Mmm... big cashmere slouchy sock. I think I may have some cashmere from School Products lying around. A sock would be perfect.

Posted by: Iris at November 28, 2004 9:35 AM

I can't think of anything better than a big cashmere slouchy sock - except wearing them with big (fuzzy) shouchy pjs while curled up on the couch reading (or knitting) all Sunday afternoon . . . Think that's in your kids plans for today??

Posted by: Jenika at November 28, 2004 9:52 AM

Did you not get the memo? A REAL sock knitter has enough handknit socks to wear every day of the winter.

Better get moving.

Buy the sock yarn.

;-)

Posted by: claudia at November 28, 2004 10:36 AM

Yeeeeeessssssssssssssss!
;-)

Posted by: valentina at November 28, 2004 12:48 PM

I definitely approve. You sock sounds wonderful. Make sure it doesn't end up lonely. ;)

Posted by: Jessica at November 28, 2004 4:59 PM

I guess I didn't get the memo, either. I consider myself a real sock knitter, yet I don't own ANY hand knit socks. All of my socks end up on my kids' feet!

Posted by: Dani at November 28, 2004 6:02 PM

This blogger just finished some socks using the Idena Crazy yarn that you mentioned:

http://string-or-nothing.blog-city.com/read/931357.htm

I thought you'd be interested in what she said about the yarn especially if you're knitting soft and comfy cashmere socks!

Posted by: monica at November 28, 2004 11:23 PM

hmmmmm, why would i suddenly feel the urge to knit socks?

Posted by: froggy at November 29, 2004 6:00 AM

;-)

Posted by: Helene at November 29, 2004 8:06 AM

That sock looks wonderful -- so soft. I have lots and lots of that same yarn from School Products. I haven't tried making socks with it, though. I'm doing a simple lace scarf (on size US5 needles - probably would have worked better on sixes), and then maybe a stole, and maybe another scarf.... It is really, really soft. I just like petting my half-finished scarf. If I followed your lead and made slouchy socks, I could wear it all the time...

Posted by: Andrea at November 30, 2004 11:18 AM