Attention, attention, your sock momma has finally started her socks! St. Patrick's day seemed like the perfect opportunity to start my sock pal's green Koigu knee-highs. Yes, you heard me right, knee-highs. She mentioned knee-highs in her preferences, and since I kinda requested knee-highs from my sock pal, I figured I should just knit knee-highs and get some good sockapaloooza karma going. I went looking for a pattern in Knitting Vintage Socks and other books, but once I saw the stocking that my radio box pal, Emily was making for her sister, I knew I had to make them for my pal.

Over the Knee Stockings from Handknit Holidays

They're so gorgeous! I was particularly pleased by the balance of lots of stockinette (which I really like) and a little something fun (which my pal really likes) in the back. So far, I'm loving the pattern. The little mini-cable ribbing looks so great and the koigu is scrumptuous!

I wasn't sure how my pal would feel about lace in back though (I don't like lace on my socks - brrrrr!), so I'm inserting a cable pattern along the back instead of the lace.

I figure with about 48" of sock to knit and 6 weeks to finish, I've got 8" to knit per week. My hand-saving sockapaloooza regimen: these socks are the only project I'm allowing myself to knit with my right hand for the next 6 weeks; all other projects will have to be knit continental; and no more using the laptop trackpad.

Okay, now that we are all mildly reassured that I will not be a sockapaloooz-er, are you ready for the updates?!

Finished sockers!

Now, I don't know if these are her sockpal socks, but Abigail has just finished another gorgeous pair! She's knit 5 pairs already for her May contest where we get to guess which pair was really for her sock pal. I can't wait to see how many more she makes.
Alden knitted Traveler's Stockings in a stunning purple shade of Fleece Artist merino.
Becci is a flapper! She's finished fun, red, stripey socks for her pal. With heel flaps.
Bfmomma finished her pair of hand-dyed socks. She picked the colors especially for her pal!
Carol finished her purple-and-green stripey Koigu socks. Yay for knitting both at once!
Christine finished her Pomatomi (yay!), despite her little weiners', er, gastrointestinal issues (boo!).
Eliza had a very fruitful weekend that culminated in a finished pair of socks!
Fayme has finished her scrumptious stripey socks. (Actually it was over a week ago, sorry!)
Heather has finished her Embossed Leaves in Lorna's Laces for her pal. She was really impressed working with the Lorna's Laces.
Jodee has finished her socks!
JennyRaye has finished an amazing pair of pink Wyvern socks. Go drool over her stash also...Yum!
Julia has finished her Mata hari socks for her pal. Check out the pic in the sidebar and her Jaywalkers and her new maryjanes!
Kit finished her beautiful pink and orange "Calcifer" socks. And she has a question: what else are you putting in your sock pal's package?
Melissa has finished vivid Lava Flow socks in Knitpicks Flower Power. Check out the close-up!
Miz_Booshay has finished Impressionistic blue socks in Trekking XXL.
Sally has posted a picture of her finished Lacy Mock Cable Socks.
Sheri has finished her Friday Harbor socks in swirls of watermelon. They're absolutely gorgeous!
You guys really rallied for a fellow knitter! All of your encouraging comments on Deirdre's blog were just what she needed to be inspired to finish her socks.
I don't know if I (sock sister, Lisa) believe her - we have no physical proof that these socks actually exist - but Uylond swears that she's finished her bright pink knee socks in a mock islet pattern. Must...Send...Pictures...Must...Find...Friend...Or Family Member...With...Digital...Camera! OK, you asked for it, here is this week's placeholder picture.
It's almost sad to see her finish, but there'll be no more updates from Sabine, the nicest, most enthusiastic and sweetest knitter of SP3. (Really, I love you all the same.) Nancy Bush, the sock pusher lady has got her hooked on socks with her rib and cable design from IK. This is her first completed pair of socks and there's no going back. Would someone please translate her post entitled "SHEEPS AND EMOTIONS". All I can understand is the word Brokeback Mountain and my curiosity is piqued. I just have this image in my head of a man and a sheep sitting in front of a roaring fire, and the man is telling the sheep "I just can't knit you."
(can't you just tell which updates come from Lisa??)
Lararoy has finished her pretty blue stripey socks unscathed. Now she has to knit some for a 3 1/2 year old.

Highlights:

From my crew:
Allie has started up a new knitting blog and has finished her first stripey Thuja sock. She's knitting the socks on size 00 needles at 10 stitches to the inch - really!
Anne writes that she's been busy knitting socks for 3 people at the school where she works. The idea is to raise funds for a school in Africa that her school has 'partnered' up with. She's providing the yarn and the 3 highest bidders are getting made to measure, hand knitted socks! 2 down and 1 pair still to go and then she can begin her sockapaloooza socks. Awesome project, Anne!

After two false starts, Sock Sister Ashley has finally finished a sock - but it might be hideous. Or it might not. Cast your vote!
Caitlyn has some questions about her Pomatomi and needs advice!
Cyndi has turned the heel on her first sock—but thinks it looks too big. Any opinions out there?

Carry's featured updates:
Elspeth has started her socks in her own design in Knit Picks Sock Garden in Zinnia.
Gleek has picked out a very nice brooklyn handspun superwash sock yarn in jungle canopy for her pal...she's still contemplating the pattern.
Grumperina has been putting too much thought into her sock pal's socks, I think her designer nature might just be getting the better of her!

From Cathy:
Julie has finished one lovely green Embossed leaves sock. Also check out her home made sock blockers!
Helene finished a beautiful pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks but is now trying to make a pair of Norwegian socks for her pal!
Holly is making some modifications to add St. Paddy's Day green heels and toes to her socks.

Donna's highlights:
Kate has finished her pal's first striped sock - it's amazing!
Karen is making great progress on her first Gentlemen's Fancy Sock in Schaefer Anne - no pooling for her!

Erin's group:
Lavendarsheep has some great pictures of her sock yarn in process. She has dyed and spun it and it's very pretty.
Marliynn is dealing with some sockapaloooza indecision. She has four pairs started and cannot decide which one to go with.
Mary Cis clipping along on her embossed leaves. She also has a pretty picture of her entrelac scarf.

Ina reports that stormy weather was the theme in the Mar-Pix tribe this past week:
Michelle has dramatic shazaaming on her Uptown Boot Sock.
Mozemen's socks missed a ride to Alonissos on the raging wine-dark sea.
Before evacuating because of Cyclone Larry, Nathalie posted heel and toe detail from her lovely Embossed Leaves sock. It's her birthday, too!

From Jenipurr:
PumpkinMama has finished her first lovely Mermaid Sock and is working on the second. Check out the picture!
ReluctantMANGO has finished the first sock and likes them so much she's looking forward to making a pair out of the same yarn for herself (when she's done with her pal's socks).
Rocketbride has finished her first pumpkiny striped sock and is working on the second.

Lisa's 50%-ers:
Fellow Knitsmith, Shireen sent me over a picture of Dina's FIRST SOCK EVER! Bravo Dina! Send details on the yarn and pattern when you get a chance.
Weeza has one down and one to go (although she might be finished by now since Weeza's update seems to have disappeared from my round-up last week...I coulda' sworn). She says the colorway isn't as "eye-seeringly" bright as it appears in the photo...You say "eye-seering", I say "eye-pleasing". (And speaking of which, did you see Alison's new Alchemy yarn yet? Ooo La La!)

Mary's highlights:
Go and give Laura some encouragement. So far she's had 2 broken dpns, tangling yarn and now a pattern that doesn't seem to work.
Ingrid is motoring along one her socks. As they are green, it was very fitting that she posted an update about them on St Patrick's Day.

(click on "more" for the BIG update!)

Update-alooza!

Sock momma Alison's group is having the usual ups and downs:
Alynda had to rip out the heels of her socks and reknit them five times to get them right. Finally, she's on her way down the foot!
Amy is past the heel on her first sock. She dyed the yarn herself with Kool-Aid and may overdye the finished socks again.
No pics yet, but Anastacia says she's "frogged & restarted & frogged & restarted", and started her pal's socks again.
The third time's a charm for Annette who's just finishing up her first beautiful Broadripple.
Betty is working on the instep of Elfine socks for her pal. And her finger is getting better!

Sock sister Ashley has a few more updates to report:
After going back and forth about what to knit, Bliss has her first sock all finished!
Carolyn started some purple Koigu Embossed Leaves socks--and sadly, they appear not to be for me. Unless she is trying to deliberately mislead me...hmm....
Cath is soldiering through a pair of Jaywalkers - and flashing her sock yarn stash! Yum!
Chawne is having problems settling on a sock she likes too--but she makes a darn good afterthought heel!
ChiaLea has some Crusoes underway in Lorna's Laces - but it's hard to knit when your cat keeps nibbling your needles...

Sock Sister Carry hopes that she was able to get all the updates in, please forgive her if she forgot you this week, it's been a doozy!
Deb has decided on the Jaywalker pattern in the lovely red Mountain Colors yarn.
Debbie Lindsey is working on two pair of fabulous socks, one for her pal.
Dragonfly_Judy has gotten through the first one and got through the heel on the second.
Elisabeth tried a new pattern but ripped out because of sizing issues.
Gwen has been working on her pal's sock, but feels like it's going really slow.

Sock sister Cathy promises a sock update of her own for next week, but until then, sends in these updates:
Jenny has started her socks using Jaeger Matchmaker and the Dublin Bay sock pattern.
Jasmine has started her socks with entrelac cuffs.
Jessica has finished one gorgeous New England sock in very appropriate Spring colors.
Jess has recovered from a broken needle and is now zipping along on a Wyvern sock in Lapis Socks that Rock yarn.
Joanna has finished one sock and started the second.

Sock sister Donna has a slew of updates to fill us in on:
Kari has started on her Little Shell Socks in Cherry Tree Hill yarn - her pal is going to get a lovely surprise!
Karola finished her sockpalooza socks, but needed to make the first one over and has already frogged it.
Kat's pal will be getting Mermaid Socks - look at the tempting choices!
Katie has finished her first pretty Lovely Lace sock, and she has a question for you - do you try your pal's socks on before you send them?
Katie has finished her first Glad Ragg sock, and is in the home stretch on the second - very pretty!
KC's lucky pal is getting the Cherry Tree Hill treatment - yum!
Kim has chosen a pattern and has started a beautiful, lacy pair of Child's First Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks - she's getting help from every knitter's secret weapon, the Post-it Note.
KnitaholicSkylar is making progress on her Lovely Lace socks in hand-dyed yarn - go see!
Kristen has finished a whole bunch of objects and started her sockpal socks; should she frog them, or does the pretty pattern work with the yarn?

There's lots of knitting going on in sock sister Erin's group:
Lelah has started her nautilus socks and a new job!
Lexa has started some orange Wyverns.
Lisa P has started her Falling leaves socks.
Lori E has almost finished one sock, and is anxious to start the other.
No pictures yet, but Lorraine has started some Hot pink Pomatomi for her pal.
Louise is working on some Karen's lace socks for her pal. She also has some progress on a pair of embossed leaves.
Luanne has decided to make her pal some blue embossed leaves, and then plans to make herself some brown ones.
Margene has one red sock done.
Marti has one River Rapids sock done, and looks great. Now she must embark on the second before SSS (second sock syndrome) sets in.

Sock sister Ina has a few less-stormy updates left to share:
Megan has finished one sock and pondering the benefits of blocking lace.
Michelle has finished training and has selected Lorna's Laces Pink Blossom and Embossed Leaves.
Mindy has been in hiding, but managed to work about an inch of ribbing for Sockbug's Not Cable Socks.
Miss_M shows off her new body art; plus has finished one sock.
Patty has sesqui (one-and-a-half) socks finished.

Sock sister Jenipurr's group has been keeping her busy tracking all their great progress:
Rachel is making River Rapids socks in blue stripes (so pretty).
Rebekkah will be making her very lucky pal some Mamluke socks (scroll down in the entry to see a picture of them).
Rose is making great progress on her first sock, done in varigated greens with a lace inset along the side.
Samantha has finished her first sock (no pictures though).
Shannon is making progress on her first sock, using a deep blue Koigu and the Denmark pattern from Knitting on the Road.
Sharon is making progress on her blue stripey socks.
Sheryl only has the toe to finish on her second sock and then she'll be done.
Shireen has picked her yarn - some gorgeous multicolored Socks that Rock.
Spinning_Sue is has a completed foot and is now working her way up the leg of her pretty purple sock with a lacy rib.

Sock sister Lisa updates us on those in her group who are just getting started:
Life certainly does have a way of cutting into your knitting time. But Tammy has finally cast on for her pal’s socks. She's knitting the Simply Lovely Lacy Socks from IK Spring 2006. She’s reaching into her stash for some vintage cashmere/lambswool/wool blend... mmmm, mmmm, good.
Things that make you go 'Huh?' Tuulia confesses that she hasn't started her SP3 socks yet but yet, her blog is ALL SOCKS, ALL THE TIME!
And yet another case of..."Is there such as thing as a too stiff sock?" First fellow knitsmither Shannon asked, and now after seeing Zina's sock, I have to ask it as well...tee hee!!!
Trish scrapped her Nancy Bush Vintage socks (too scratchy) and now she's flying on her floozy barista, or is it flirting barrister socks. (Where to they get these names?)
Yahaira as a contrite heart for her selfish knitting as of late and writes her sock pal a letter of apology for her late start. But she sure makes up for it with this fabulous yarn…I love ya' baby! That's who!

Sock sister Mary says things have been a little quiet in her group this week, but there were a few knitters making progress:
Erin has some lovely Koigu ready to be knitted up for her pal.
Peacock has posted about some of the socks she's knitted before Sockapaloooza.
Procrastiknitter is working on some Feather and Fan socks that may end up being for her pal - she's not sure yet.
Spinsterbat has started her socks.
Liz has finished one sock of her Broadripples. She feels she's falling over the edge into sock obsession...

And if you made it all the way through this whole update, you have gone way over the edge into sock obsession. See ya there!