Whatever color pathway is your favorite, how could you not fall in love with that? To me pattern and yarn are just beautiful.

I think your sock pal would love retro ribs made out of that yarn--it's very colorful, true, but hardly loud, and if she said she was open to a surprise she's probably not too fussy to appreciate something a little different from her usual color choices. Anyway, it's just one more step along the color wheel to go from pink and purple over to blue, right?

Who wouldn't fall in love with that? I'm fixing! I cleaned up my hat and neckwarmer set and yesterday I ripped back the top of a black sweater, and am 1/2 to the finish line. Thanks again for the motivation.

I love the colorway you've selected for your sock pal. I think that the recipient will love the socks even if they aren't in her normal color pallet. Part of the fun with exchanges is getting something you wouldn't normally knit for yourself.

Who wouldn't love a pair of Koigu socks!? The blue is lovely!

Heck no, its not too colorful. This could be a new opportunity for your sock pal to branch out and enjoy some jazzy blue socks. I think the colorway is very pretty.

The socks will look great under jeans and who doesn't wear jeans! Good choice, Alison!

Wow--that's pretty! Not too strong at all! I think anyone would enjoy socks made form that yarn (I sure would).

I think they are great. Feel free to send them my way if she doesn't like them!

That's a great color and I love the pattern too... perfect combination for jeans IMHO. If she doesn't like them you can send 'em on over to me!

She'll love them - knit 'em up!

I agree with the others - that yarn is not too powerful at all. Even if your swap pal is a pink/purple kind of person, every now and again you need some less-loud socks, or a little variety in your wardrobe. I think these would be lovely in the retro rib pattern. Go for it!

if your sock pal doesn't like socks in that color, I would love em :)

that said, if the person is open and you can find a fun pattern to match up I would say go for it. If that person doesn't appreciate such majesty well.... that is their (deep) problem

Wow - I really like that pattern - thanks for pointing it out. I think the colorway is beautiful too - not necessarily my style, but I'd love a pair like that!

that yarn is beautiful. i think you should definitely surprise your sock pal - after all, she may already have a drawer full of pinks/purples! :)

That color rocks! As a purple gal myself, maybe it will help you to know that I'm always drawn to that color blue.

I. love. it. And it would be fab in Retro Rib (currently my new favourite socks).

Maybe I'm your sock pal? (I keep saying that to everyone who's blogging about their socks--this is so fun).

I think its grand. Anyone who's in a winter climate would probably enjoy something bright, and the koigu will feel really nice on the feet.

I'm so glad you all think it won't be too much. It really is a rather bold teal blue. I'm partial to blue, of course, so wasn't sure if it was maybe just me who found this color so beautiful.

Hey Steph, I love that about this swap. I keep looking at socks and thinking, 'oooh I'd love those!', or 'those would be perfect for me!' It's so cool not knowing which will be for you!

All Koigu is wonderful, in my opinion. ;) The blues are lovely, and certainly not too powerful. They might make the ribs a bit harder to see, but I'm not sure. I've only used Koigu once, and not for knitting.

That yarn is absolutely gorgeous. If your sock pal doesn't love it, then have her send them back so you can appreciate them yourself!

Perhaps this is a trick. Maybe you are hoping many sockapalooza gals will reply and YOUR pal will say she likes them and then you will know. Wouldn't that be great!

Sure would.

Me...well, I'd love 'em!

I think your sock pal will absolutely love them! Sometimes it's nice to expand one's colors. Kind of exciting. What a lucky Sock Pal you have!

Well I'm about the biggest pink/purple gal you could ever imagine, and I LOVE that Koigu! It's so purty :) I don't think it's too powerful either, socks really can't be too powerful in my opinion. Great choice!

What's the color number on those? For future reference.

And, blue socks from 'the blue blog'? A must!

Being a pink, purple person myself blue is right in the same spectrum. She'll love them!!

I think that anyone who receives these socks will love them, especially knowing that you made them a pair of socks that you would have made for yourself! And I totally agree with Michelle, blue is best choice coming from the girl who is famous for her blue knits!!

Go for it! It is an awesome colorway and great sock pattern!!

Everyone enjoys a pair of blue socks, not matter what their favority color is. Who doesn't have a pair of jeans they'd love to wear the socks with? I love the retro rib socks -- did you notice that one was grey and the other blue? -- but am wondering how the horizontal varigation of the yarn will work with the vertical ribs?

Koigu socks in any color would rock my boat! Besides, everyone wears jeans and blue goes with jeans...

I love the blue koigu! It isn't "too much" at all. Besides that, who can turn their nose at koigu socks no matter the color!

Christy, you've seen right through me! I did think in the back of my mind that my sock pal could respond and then I'd be reassured. But it's very reassuring to hear from everyone else as well, especially other pink/purple girls. So thanks everyone!

Michelle, the color number is P320. I haven't seen it online anywhere. I got lucky and found it at my LYS.

I seond the idea of blue socks from the blue blog. And I am also want the color number so that I can run out and buy that color. I love purples and pinks but that blue rocks!!!! Okay, I also like blue. But that shade of blue and he pattern together are perfect.

again with the channeling! I just picked up 4 skeins of Koigu the other night! One set is a curious shade of leafy greens with some autumnal red shades tossed in. The other are shades of pinks...sooo pretty! What size needle do you use to knit Koigu with?

Definitely go with the blue socks. First off, you love the colorway (as does everyone else) and you should always give gifts that you yourself would love to get.
Secondly and more specifically, you ARE the blue blog. Ergo: blue socks.
And last, but never least: despite what color someone may favor, it hardly is and never should be the only color in their wardrobe. I'm sure your pal would lurve this colorway in the retro rib pattern.

Not too much at all. Who would be unhappy with a gorgeous pair of handknit Koigu socks?

It's wonderful! Love it. Go with it.

Yes, yes, yes! Knit 'em up and don't look back!

It's gorgeous! If I were your sock pal I'd swoon! (But I'm assuming your sock pal will be somewhere in these comments.)

Is two skeins enough for the retro ribs? I love them. My sock pal is more of an ankle sock girl, so I'm going with Crusoe from Knitty.

PERFECT color!!! just love it :) I say go for it!

I was just browsing back through this issue of Interweave Knits, and admiring that sock pattern last night! I think that, like most variegateds, the color is going to smooth out and the pattern will highlight little glimmers of the various colors on the high points of the ribs. Won't your sock pal appreciate getting sexy feet with the combination of a beautiful yarn and subtle pattern?

What's not to love? I can vouch for the retro rib pattern, I just knit a pair and they are so squooshy and springy. A hug for the feet.

OOH, To die for! So sad that I know they're not for me, because I'm pretty sure I didn't say 'surprise me'. bummer!

PS,
Before being attacked by the knitting bug, I spent years quilting, and I loved doing quilt block swaps. The whole point, as one famous quilt author put it, is to have a piece of someone else's 'personality' in the object we receive. If we only wanted to recieve what WE would make ourselves, then we need to just make our own and forego the swapping alltogether!

That Koigu is to die for! Lovely- anyone would love that! And the retro rib pattern is great, too... knit on!

That color is beautiful. It will work perfect with that pattern.

You've made a great choice in color! The socks will look great.

Three words...everybody loves Koigu!!

That is very pretty yarn.

Ooooooh that is gorgeous yarn AND pattern!!! I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I am your sock pal!!

DEFINITELY all wrong for your sock pal! However, I would be glad to take them off your hands (just to help you out). It's just me being generous (snork).

That koigu couldn't be any yummier -- what a lucky sock pal you have!

Not for the first time, I'm thinking that it's probably a very good thing that my LYS doesn't carry koigu. How would I ever resist it otherwise?

Who doesn't love blue? And especially in Koigu? I say go for it.

I'm usually no big fan of blue, but i guess nothing says "the blue blog" like a pair of blue socks. Go for it!

Lovely! And what appropriate colors for you to knit up for your sock pal!!!! Who could resist?

sarah

I am usually a PINK girl, but I looooove that colorway. (if you needed a 55th opinion to encourage you, I'm here!)

Like everyone else I would be pleased to get these socks. The koigu is gorgeous and I like the retro rib pattern :o)

Happy sockknitting!

I love the color. I thin kit would look great in the retro rib sock!

it's koigu! it's gorgeous! i think that if you can bear to part with it, anyone would be happy to receive it. plus, it's from the blue blog! blue socks make sense. :)

I am not a huge fan of brightly coloured socks, yet I would love a pair of socks made out of that yarn. So, judging purely by my own infinite pickiness I would say it is definnitely not too much. It is absolutely gorgeous.

This is my first exchange & I am still a fairly new knitter. I love that yarn! I am going to be excited no matter what! I just can not wait.

Very nice! I doubt anyone would turn those down. I think it's perfect yarn and a perfect pattern.

I think that is a beautiful color.

Sixty some comments, one more seems redundant, but anyway --- Ooooh, that's *gorgeous*. What's that color number? I love love love it.

Kick but yarn + Fanciful pattern = one happy recipient.

Anybody who doesn't like blue socks is just crazy! And KOIGU, come on, they will be fabulous!

butttttttttttttt (tt)

Oh.My.Goodness. That yarn is gorgeous! :) I'm with Stinkerbelle - if your Sock Pal is crazy and doesn't like 'em, I'll take them off your hands, lol! I'm a pink/purple kinda girl too and I LOVE this colorway! :)

I love it. Wish I was you're sock pal!

i'm a pink/purple girl myself, and that's a FANTASTIC blue, i think you're pretty safe :)

I think, my dear...that unless your secret pal is Claudia, that you will be just fine. Very nice.

Lucky Sock Pal, I say! Both the yarn and pattern are great choices!

I am also a purple/pink type of person. But.... Koigu in any color is gorgeous and would make beautiful socks.

I love this blue colorway that you chose. I am sure your pal will love them also.

There is no such thing as a color too powerful, at least, I haven't come across one - knit away!!!