the blue blog archives: you just finished a pair of Germany socks, what are you going to do?

Really, in a couple of days I'll be in Germany. Usually the in-laws visit us in the spring, but they can't make it this year, so I thought, what the heck, I'll fly over there with the kids. Hubby's stuck at home working, so it'll just be me, the boys, and the in-laws. And my knitting, of course. I'm filling hubby's suitcase with knitting projects.

How perfect was it that Carola sent me this Regia German nation sock yarn just a couple of weeks before I leave?! I knit my fingers off to get them done in time for the trip! But I got such a kick out of the flag stripes that it was really a blast to knit them (even with my little falschrum flag flub). I used my patent-pending method of cutting out color sequeces to get the entire heel to be a solid color and keep the striping in tact across the ankle (first used on my Gryffindor socks). And my foot was just long enough to end the sock in the yellow, the color at the bottom of the flag. (Oh, did I mention that these socks are for me? I had planned to make them for hubby but when I asked him if he wanted a pair of Germany socks, he sort of paused, not wanting to disappoint me. I interrupted the silence with a 'woo hoo, I can make them for myself!' and everyone was happy.)

posted by alison at 8:19 am | in socknut , vacation 2006

Comments

Woo-hoo, you're going to Germany! Just in time for the Karneval ;-)
I don't know about yarn shops in Frankfurt or Köln, but you can make a search at www.gelbe-seiten.de - for "Branche", write "Wolle", and then the place. That should do it.

Enjoy your trip, and have a "Berliner"!

Posted by: Dorothee at February 13, 2006 8:29 AM

Love the socks, I have been known to cut out color repeats ever since I saw it mentionned on your blog. ;) Have a great time in Germany.

Posted by: ~Jo~ at February 13, 2006 8:36 AM

Hey must be a special german thing, I wont wear german socks either. I dont know about Cologne, but if you are there, we now live in Bonn and thats 20 minutes away. Would be nice to meet you. :)

Posted by: Sibylle at February 13, 2006 8:42 AM

Soso, you've got affiliations in Germany after all. I'm not around the area, so I don't know....although Daniela from Secret Knitting Podcast is opening up her shop in Köln tomorrow....so maybe you should go pay her a visit. ;)

Posted by: Elemmaciltur at February 13, 2006 8:57 AM

I love them! And dang. You are brave to travel across the ocean with kids by yourself. I bow down to you!

Posted by: Scout at February 13, 2006 8:57 AM

Have a great time! Drink lots of beer, that's my advice.

Posted by: Carole at February 13, 2006 8:58 AM

Gute Reise!!

Posted by: Anna at February 13, 2006 9:11 AM

Dude! You finished those fast! I am very impressed, and they look great. Are you willing to share your secret trick for getting the heel in a solid color? Have a great trip! -- Carla

Posted by: Carla at February 13, 2006 9:43 AM

Hooray for the socks and hooray for a trip to Germany! The socks: I wouldn't really call it properly dressed for a trip to Germany, but somehow appropriate anyway ;-)
Have fun und gute Reise.

Posted by: carola at February 13, 2006 9:49 AM

Great-looking socks!! My sister is in Europe right now and just sent me a message yesterday that she bought me some yarn in Frankfurt - I can ask her where if you want. :)

Posted by: joanna at February 13, 2006 10:06 AM

Yes, Sibylle, I totally understand. It may seem strange for Americans to hear that some people don't want to wear their country's flag all over their clothing or hear their national anthem at every public event, but our sort of patriotism is really a bit over the top and a little out of place in Germany. I'm hoping that since I am American and not German, my enthusiasm for the German flag socks can be forgiven. :)

Posted by: alison at February 13, 2006 10:09 AM

O! Have a wonderful wonderful time and take lots of pictures!

Posted by: Frarochvia at February 13, 2006 10:20 AM

Martina of Martina's Bastel und Hobbykiste (http://www.bastelundhobbykiste.de/oxid/oxid.php/sid/bf19d37bd08bc936ffdfbb0757d36910/cl/alist/cnid/f6e408a8177199c81.89074739) lives near Giessen. She doesn't have a storefront that I know of, but I went to her house sevral years ago to buy from her directly and that worked out very well. It's quite a bit off the beaten track, but she carries virtually every color of every brand of sock yarn.

Posted by: anmiryam at February 13, 2006 10:21 AM

What huge fun! I have taken my kids (now 3 and 6) to Ireland to visit all my in-laws by myself too. The planning always stressed me (what if they go crazy on the plan?) but my worst fears were never realized. It was fun--AND one year I even ditched the BoyWonder (he was 2 then) for a wild weekend with the girls (mu SIL and cousin) in Liverpool!

Enjoy--LOVE the socks--cannot wait to see what gorgeous stuff you will bring back-

Posted by: suzanne at February 13, 2006 10:23 AM

I like them. Share with us the German reaction to them, OK?

Posted by: claudia at February 13, 2006 10:23 AM

Oh you are so lucky. You will have a blast in the yarn shops there. I am planning on going the end of May and I cannot wait.
You might also want to look up hand arbeiten, as when I was there this was always on their signs, it means hand work so the problem is it could also be embroidery, needlework etc.

Posted by: Cathy at February 13, 2006 10:24 AM

The socks are great! Sounds like it will be a very fun trip. Is there an Opal millends store somewhere?! :)

Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2006 10:31 AM

They look fabulous!

Posted by: Monica at February 13, 2006 10:38 AM

I'm a knitting freak living in Bonn and am pretty well aware of the yarn possibilities in Bonn and Köln. In Köln, you could try CASA LANA on Schwertnergasse 1 (smack dab in the middle of the pedestrian zone. They have mostly Lana Grossa, Noro, Debbie Bliss and Colinette. The Karstadt and the Kaufhof in the city center have a good selection of Schachenmayr and Regia. There are also four good shops in Bonn I could give you directions to if you want (representing Lang, Austermann, Rowan, Lana Grossa, Regia, Noro, Bliss, GGH, Gedifra). In general, Lana Grossa, Regia, Schachenmayr, GGH, Gedifra and Colinette are cheaper over here than at home. The rest of the things might be a better buy at your LYS.

Posted by: Medina at February 13, 2006 11:12 AM

Wow! You are fast. The socks looks great and so perfectly matched. I'm jealous :)

Posted by: Cristina (CrissyPo) at February 13, 2006 11:20 AM

oh wow! how fun for you :)

Posted by: rebecca at February 13, 2006 11:50 AM

wow! going to germany? cooooool! and I love the socks! They look awesome! I hadnt' thought about cutting yarn to make solid-color heels. (duh!) have to remember that...

Posted by: bfmomma at February 13, 2006 12:07 PM

Hi Alison!
I wish you a great journey! How long do you stay in Germany? Once you are in Cologne, don´t forget to visit me. Well, I don´t have a yarn shop, just a boutique with handknitted stuff, but I can give you some hints where to go:-) You find me about 15 minutes walking distance from the cathedral - at the Christophstr. 9-11:-)))

I wish you a greeeeeeat time!:-)

Daniela

Posted by: Daniela at February 13, 2006 12:10 PM

You're coming near Cologne when it's Karneval? You must be mad! ;-) But that's YOUR occasion to wear the socks. Only make sure your trousers are rolled up properly.
And by the way, I'll let you know when I finally decided on the yarn for my sockapaloooza-socks.

Posted by: Alexandra at February 13, 2006 12:36 PM

There are three yarn shops in Frankfurt. I know this because last year a friend of mine was posted there for several months and I asked him to go and look for me! He is not familiar with knitting culture and was very doubtful that there would be any wool shops.

He was amazed to find three in close succession but I haven't been able to get any more details out of him as to their location. They must have been pretty central though as he didn't have a car. He sent me several different sock yarns. But I'm sure you wouldn't be interested in sock yarn......:)

Posted by: purlpower at February 13, 2006 12:43 PM

also, see this

Posted by: purlpower at February 13, 2006 12:46 PM

I love the simplicity of the socks.

Have fun in Germanyland!

Posted by: Nadia at February 13, 2006 1:10 PM

There is a yarn shop in Arheilingen, a small town near Darmstadt, not too far from Frankfurt. The owners' name is Bachmann - you can find them in the yellow pages. They have pretty much everything, and are kind of chaotic. Well worth visiting :-)

Posted by: Lisa at February 13, 2006 1:12 PM

i love them! wow, i probably can't finish a pair of socks as fast as you can! great job!

Posted by: Emily at February 13, 2006 1:58 PM

This entry feels very familiar, since I am also traveling to Germany to visit the in-laws in a couple days since they couldn't visit us. I guess now I'll find out how it is to fly with a child that can walk. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of running up and down the aisles. Is that about right?

Anyway, have a great trip.

Tchuess!

Posted by: Sara L. at February 13, 2006 2:35 PM

Have fun! The socks are neato.

Posted by: Ruth at February 13, 2006 3:36 PM

They are fab!!! I wonder if they made any yarn that could knit up as the English Union Jack. Doh!

Posted by: Orli at February 13, 2006 3:53 PM

Alison I dont care, about someone else wearing socks in flag colour as long as that doesnt mean an embarassing statement. And again I would love to meet you with the socks, are there any possebilities?

Posted by: Sibylle at February 13, 2006 4:24 PM

Those socks are awesome!!

Have a great time on your trip!

Posted by: AmyG at February 13, 2006 6:32 PM

Whooohooo! I wondered about your German affiliations, too, after seeing the sock yarn. Just returned from Germany in January. My husband is also German, so we were visiting in-laws as well. We were in Ulm and the weather was terrific. I hear they have lots of wonderful snow right now. Hope you have a great trip. Drink lots of Gluh Wein for me!

Posted by: Sharon at February 13, 2006 6:51 PM

Wow, what timing! Have a great time in Germany.

Posted by: Norah at February 13, 2006 11:05 PM

oooh - Frankfurt is only an hour in the air from me and there is a flight sale on at the moment! Wonder if I should pop over and go yarn shopping with you one day. Cool socks, you knit those quickly didn't you?

Posted by: kerrie at February 14, 2006 4:48 AM

Good morning Alison,

Here are the addresses of some yarn shops in Frankfurt - Wolle Rödel has its own brand (cheap!), but also Regia and Lana Grossa. Karin Elflein's shop is tiny, but with a very mixed selection of yarns - lots of German brands, and last time I was there she had some Rowan yarns also. Katja Lejeune has luxury yarns - cashmere, lots of Noro, also nice buttons etc. If you have a chance to go to Darmstadt (approx. 25 kms from Frankfurt), visit Wolle Bachmann - huge selection (best in Rhein-Main-Area, imho), looks very chaotic, but FUN!

"Sachsenhäuser Wollstubb"
Textorstr. 81
60594 Frankfurt
Ph. 069/612791

Wolle Rödel
Töngesgasse 32
60311 Frankfurt
Ph. 0 69/ 21 99 47 95

Karin Elflein
Eschenheimer Landstr. 34
60318 Frankfurt
Ph. 069/59 79 20 80

Katja Lejeune
Große Bockenheimer Str. 35 (Fressgass)
60313 Frankfurt
Ph. 069/28 17 58

"Die Strasse"
Leipziger Strasse (Bockenheim - near the university - could not find the exact address)

Karstadt and Kaufhof (department stores on Zeil - Fußgängerzone) - Karstadt's yarn department is quite nice, always good for a "Schnäppchen". Kaufhof's is tiny ...

Wolle Bachmann in Darmstadt - Arheilgen (call before going there, they do not have long opening hours, as far as I know)
http://www.woll-bachmann.com/

Viel Spass in Deutschland!

Beate in FFM

Posted by: Beate at February 14, 2006 6:35 AM

Really excellent socks.

Posted by: Debbie at February 14, 2006 7:12 AM

Enjoy your trip! Would be funny to meet you in
a Cologne yarn store. ALFATEX (Köln-Arcaden/Kalk) has Trekking XXL sock yarn.
And no need to worry about the "falschrum" flag: even the German olympic team is wearing the wrong hats (which show actually the flag of Belgium). http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,400824,00.html

Posted by: Meike at February 14, 2006 1:12 PM

Ich wünsche eine gute Reise!

I love those socks. They look great.

Posted by: Lolly at February 14, 2006 1:15 PM

schöne Reise und viel Spaß beim Flugzeugsstricken!

Posted by: jennifer at February 14, 2006 10:36 PM

hey we should all get together and go yarn shopping together for sockapalooosa or what not. i'm about half hour away from frankfurt in ilbenstadt. (yeah it's a tiny, tiny town). also i'd love to get help from real knitters. i don't know anyothers in real life.

Posted by: lindsey at February 15, 2006 3:20 AM

How wonderful and spontaneous! Have a great time in Germany, with your Germany socks.

They DO rock!

Posted by: Laurie at February 15, 2006 10:51 PM