the blue blog archives: sock race

A last minute substitution in the race to the holiday knits finish line. Since reallocating the black and gray socks to a Hannukah gift, I was left in need of new yarn and a new plan for the original pair for Christmas. Exit classic, neutral socks and enter color, color, color.

It's Koigu Kersti in gorgeous purple and orange shades (color #121). I wouldn't have ever picked out these colors for myself, but now that I'm knitting with it, even I, anti-variegation girl, have started coveting this sock. The colors are so bright and complement each other so well.

And the Kersti is all soft and squooshy just like a great yarn should be. Which made it easy to knit the first sock in one day.

posted by alison at 8:50 am | in holiday cheer

Comments

Wow! I love those colors, too! I've never seen that yarn before. I can't get koigu at my LYS. =(

Posted by: Zarah at December 22, 2005 9:05 AM

Good morning Alison,
Those colors are wake up colors, and truly beautiful! I understand the last minute sock knitting routine. I had a special request for gift socks over the weekend, and I am turning the heel on the second sock this morning. But one sock in one day? You have magic knitting hands!

I think last minute knitting is the best of Holiday fun.

Posted by: Katherine at December 22, 2005 9:08 AM

Beautiful yarn! I cannot believe how fast you knit! Or do you have knitting elves in your basement? :)

Posted by: Heather at December 22, 2005 9:09 AM

Koigu is just the best for color! I really like those together too, and I would never have though they'd go together...

Posted by: Judy at December 22, 2005 9:10 AM

Those colors look like a sunrise! I love it when people put colors together that I would never think of and it looks amazing!

Posted by: sarah b. at December 22, 2005 9:18 AM

oooooooh! pretty!

Posted by: Scout at December 22, 2005 9:19 AM

Wishing you a happy holiday from SLC, UT! I read your blog everyday and I am amazed with all your projects. Hello to the cute boys too!

Posted by: Judy at December 22, 2005 9:25 AM

Well, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll add that the Koigu Kersti is a sport/light worsted weight yarn, so it's knitting up nice and fast on US 4's.

Posted by: alison at December 22, 2005 9:28 AM

WOW! That was F A S T fast! You must be so sleep deprived! Only a few more frenzied days left.

Posted by: Johanna at December 22, 2005 9:30 AM

Those aren't colors I would have picked first, either, but I've got to admit--they look gorgeous!

Posted by: --Deb at December 22, 2005 9:33 AM

yes! kersti yarns for socks!! i've made a pair for my husband (he loves it!) and i'm making one for myself now. it goes so fast that i may have to start knitting socks on bigger needles!!

Posted by: blossom at December 22, 2005 10:11 AM

Artyarns Supermerino is my favorite quick knit sock yarn. Two skeins = One pair of socks - how can you beat that?

Okay - I'm off to troll the internets for Kersti. :)

Posted by: elisa at December 22, 2005 10:18 AM

just wow! gorgeous colors!! i can not believe you completed that sock in one day!!!
i'm amazed - and still too scared to try dpns.

Posted by: rebecca at December 22, 2005 10:46 AM

it's so beautiful, i'm drooling.
drooling over a sock! i think it's time for a vacation . . .

what's your strategy for dealing with the small gap when you do the shortrow heel and toe? I've done my first now (it's great- i definitely prefer it as a method) but have a little gap that bothers the perfectionist in me.

Posted by: shireen at December 22, 2005 10:56 AM

Those colors are awesome! Nice job on knitting the sock in one day... now don't hold back from us, we know you acquired some of Mrs. Weasley's magic needles!! I looked up the Kertsi but I noticed that it only had a lil over 100 yrds in a ball.... how many balls did you need to make a pair of socks? I really need some of that yarn!!

Posted by: Erin at December 22, 2005 11:13 AM

I love that yarn! Wow, such great colors and I love how it kind of stripes itself, while being varigated too! They look great!

Posted by: Carly at December 22, 2005 11:41 AM

What awesome colors!! Very pretty! What sock pattern do you use?

Posted by: Lynn at December 22, 2005 11:41 AM

Erin, the Kersti does only have a bit more than 100yds per hank, but since it knits up at 5-5.5 st. to the inch, you don't really need more than that to make one sock. I bought two hanks and used up all but the tiniest bit of the first to make the sock above.

Posted by: alison at December 22, 2005 11:51 AM

Like you, I usually stay away from variegated yarns and thick/thin yarns (just bought some expensive thick/thin yarn to once again dislike the finished sample), but love the way your sock has turned out. Speaking of the sock, how on earth did you knit (on 2's or 3's) an entire sock in a day? Are you continental knitting?

Posted by: Leslie at December 22, 2005 12:17 PM

I love those socks. The color is great. I think that I may have the same color in my stash. I am going to have to dig it out and knit them up.

Posted by: Diane at December 22, 2005 1:02 PM

I'm not normally much of one for orange/purple on my feet, but you're right, this is a great color combination. The only thing keeping me from making an order right this minute is that my New Year's resolution is not to order/buy any more yarn until I finish a number of items out of my stash. Sigh. But wait, it's not the New Year's yet, right? ;-)

Posted by: Diane at December 22, 2005 1:07 PM

Leslie, look closely at the label in the picture. Kersti is a sport weight yarn - I'm using size 5 needles!

Go for it, Diane!! :)

Posted by: alison at December 22, 2005 1:13 PM

I love that yarn. The colors are fab. I'll have to look for it next I go yarn shopping. By the way, I have become addicted to reading your blog everyday.

Posted by: tonia at December 22, 2005 2:04 PM

Too fun! I've never really thought about using Kersti for socks, but it does look nice and squooshy.

Posted by: Vicki at December 22, 2005 2:08 PM

I love those colors!!

Posted by: Jae at December 22, 2005 2:43 PM

alison, I'm concerned that you don't sleep. Or maybe you do, but you are still knitting while snoozing. Either way, that is Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous. I would wear a whole sweater made of it - and on size 5s, it's even in my realm....

Posted by: Thea at December 22, 2005 2:44 PM

That yarn is gorgeous! Where can I get hold of some? I googled it, but the name only came up on blogsites.

Posted by: Lily at December 22, 2005 3:49 PM

Great sock and great colors! Wow - you're a knitting fiend! ;-)

Posted by: Mary at December 22, 2005 3:54 PM

Lily, try Knit Happens, Kalidescope Yarns, ThreadBear Fiber Arts or Personal Threads.

Posted by: alison at December 22, 2005 4:00 PM

I love how it striped!

Posted by: Andrea at December 22, 2005 6:20 PM

WOW, I LOVE that sock. How is the Kersti different than the KPPM??????

Posted by: knittingnurse at December 22, 2005 6:38 PM

Beautiful, and what progress! You're flying, girl!

Posted by: Monica at December 22, 2005 6:56 PM

Beautiful sock! Fantastic! Congrats on all your holiday knitting! Two questions for you: One, how is the Kersti different from the KPPM, and also, what are your favorite DPN's to use for socks?
Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Carla

Posted by: Carla at December 22, 2005 8:52 PM

Great choice! I'm starting to like the variegateds more and more in my knitting. Shocking, but fun!

Posted by: Julia at December 22, 2005 9:48 PM

YUM - I'll have to get some to make socks for my older DD. When she was a preschooler, orange & purple were her favorite colors (Yes -together - I made an orange cake with purple frosting for her 4th BD party at her preschool - 28 years ago).

Posted by: Donna at December 22, 2005 9:55 PM

Who knits that fast? I have decided your superwoman. Merry Christmas.

Posted by: Kylie at December 22, 2005 10:12 PM