Episode 22: Sock Mojo

Episode 22: Sock Mojo (45:38)

This week we talk about sock knitting and the elusive sock mojo, then we meet with two bloggers/Etsy sellers about their booming yarn inspired businesses.

Where's my mojo?
We discuss what is preventing Nicole from reaching the road to sock righteousness.

Lime & Violet
Ready, Set, Knit
Embossed Leaves socks
Shelridge Farms
Target vest (a.k.a. the Roundabout vest, scroll down to the near the bottom of the page)
Thuja
Cookie A

• Flicker
• Pomatomus
• Thelonious
• Gothic Spires

Child's First Sock
Gentlemen's Fancy Sock
J's Lorna's Laces
Regia Stretch

Meet the makers!
We talk to Aija of SockPron and Krista of PigeonRoof Studios about socks, dyeing, and stashes.

Pigeonroof Studios at Etsy
Pigeonroof blog
Zer0 markers on Etsy
SockPron
Aija's Lizard Ridge Blanket
Elfine socks
Article Pract
Susanne DPNS
Knitpicks DPNs
BMP
Aija was inspired by this Livejournal entry
BMPs in the German gaming magazine, Gee
BoingBoing
Top 10 Geekiest Craft Projects
Musee Mechanique
Wool 2 Dye 4
Crown Mountain Farms
Aija's literature-inspired colors
Black Dog Knits
Black Dog Designs
Rowan Studio
Twisted Flower
Teosinte socks
Dyeabolical Yarns
Hanami Stole
Raspy
Helleborus scarf
Etsy Fridays

Thanks Aija & Krista! We had a great time talking with you! Thanks to you for listening!

Comments

[carolyn]

you guys saved my life last week, no, really! I had a horrifying day at work with the boss-monsters, grabbed my iriver and walked and listened to you....ahhhhh...refreshed and refocused...keep going, don't stop. I really appreciate your promptness in getting your podcast out on Tuesday...just as anticipated! yeah! Carolyn

[Sharon]

Yay! What a crappy day at work. I just sighed heavily and opened bloglines praying there was a new episode of S&B. Thank you!! You saved the day.

*Happy listening and ignoring the work environment!*

[Steph]

Nice to hear you guys again!
I can't make socks, I've tried - god only knows I try to inspire myself! When I started listening to Lime and Violet, I would look at EVERY link they posted. I have a lot of stuff that is SO pretty, I just can't bring myself to make them.

I have been told it has something to do with the patterns I am picking too. I love Cookie A patterns, anything cabley. . .but then they take so long to complete, I get distracted.
I definately have second sock syndrome. I have singles that I made over a year ago, that I think have lost hope for a pair.

As for number of socks I CAN make (have the materials for), the number is well above 65. Number of PAIRS completed to date: 3

Help

[Jennifer]

Hey there. I haven't listened to the most recent podcast yet (am waiting for tomorrow's 9-hour car trip) but wanted to give you a "current" comment. I've been listening for a while (thanks to the pimping going on at Cast On and Lime-n-Violet) and you two are my current faves. Intelligent banter about knitting. sweet.

As I managed to download the episodes weirdly to iTunes, I've listened out of order and just recently discovered that Nicole is planning on/thinking about knitting the Sierra cardigan out of the last winter or fall IK issue. I LUV that sweater and it's in my queue. Once I'm on Ravelry, I'll have to spy and see what you've chosen for it.

Both of you made lovely Lotus blossom tanks. I have some purple/blue variegated SWTC bamboo set aside for that but other things are in line in front. Thanks for the modification suggestions.

[Leslie]

Great new episode. Nicole, I can TOTALLY relate to the sock mojo thing. I really WANT to be addicted to socks but every time I've knit socks (about 6 times), I've been eager to be done (even though, like you, I do like the finished result). For me, part of the problem is I haven't really figured out how to best wear hand-knit socks. I often wear them with Crocs, which is slightly geeky, I know. I haven't figured out how to stylishly wear hand-knit socks. One thing that has enhanced my sock knitting mojo is hearing about a must-have sock yarn. (In fact, I tried Lisa Souza after hearing about her on your podcast.) There's no denying, sock yarns are preeetttyyy! That helps. But, like you, although I do knit socks, I haven't caught the sock bug. Thanks again for the great episode! :) Leslie

[Deborah]

I'm by no means a Sock Knitter. A year or so ago I would have sworn I'd never knit socks! But I tried it and found I do enjoy knitting simply patterned socks now and then. Here's what I would suggest, Nicole.

Step 1. Frog the Hippy Crunchy Socks immediately.

Step 2. Pick your most favorite sock yarn from your stash. Cast on for a pattern that's interesting but not overly complicated.

Step 3. Knit on this project when you want mindless knitting. Before you know it you'll have a pair of cool socks.

Step 4. If you still don't get it, you'll have no trouble finding 10 or so devoted listeners, including myself, who will knit up your sock yarn into a pair of socks just for you - in appreciation for making Tuesdays more fun! (and you, too, Jenny!)

[mr. E-man]

howdy,

i listened to this based on a pointer from the pr0n. i'm not a knitter, but i wear and LOVE LOVE LOVE handknit sox.

i'm also an armchair philosopher and problem solver, so i suggest to you cast-lets, the following:

for me, the joy, beauty and wonder of wearing handmade sox is knowing that they are yours. that someone spent hours of their time doing something exclusively and especially for *me*. so being able to see or display them is not a big deal. (although you should ALWAYS wear handknits when you go through airport security -- they get comments EVERY time.)

i have unbelievably fair skin -- to be whiter than me, you'd have to be transparent ... but one side effect is that my skin is also super-sensitive ... when i wear handknit sox, i can feel the weave on my feet as i walk and it's great -- i know this is going to sound cornball (but hey, you're chicks so i can get away with it) but i think of that feeling as a feeling of love. i feel the weave on my feet and i think, "this person, did these, for me." it invigorates me as i walk, or when i'm down. a little insecure or unhappy? just rock your feet. wiggle your toes.

like i said, i don't need to show 'em ... most of the time i just wear tennis shoes and they're great.

but to your point, how *do* you get your sock mojo back? you do this: don't knit sox for yourself, knit them for someone else.

what's that? you have yarn you really like and want to use for your own sox? great. go to another knitter, give (probably a) her your yarn, have her knit you some sox -- get some yarn from her and knit some for her in return.

it may sound like i'm joking, but i assure you i'm not. NO ONE understands the care, patience and fortitude that goes into knitting sox like another knitter. no one will appreciate them as much. no one will love them as much.

you'll work harder because you know they're going to a scrutinous eye, they'll be better appreciated because of an understanding of the craft, and you'll get 'em done because you know someone else is waiting on them.

to re-phrase do diddley: you may not have your mojo workin', but it just might work on her.

[Sally Villarreal]

Nicole, I have the book for you (if you don't already have it)

Have you seen the Koigu book?
http://www.amazon.com/Knits-Painters-Palette-Masterpieces-Handpainted/dp/1933027061/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-2682832-4833631?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185336326&sr=8-1

I splurged on it a few weeks back. I could just look at the pictures for days!

I love the way they combine different handpainted yarns in the same project. Normally you think of using handpaints either by themselves or with a coordinating solid. Anyway, the patterns are all for Koigu yarn, but would probably work for other handpainted yarns of the same weight.

Personally, I like making socks, but I haven't actually kept a pair for myself yet. I've made 4 pairs, all given as gifts. The thing is that my feet get hot, and I tend not to wear socks very much (handknit or store bought.) I still like to make them, but I think they are "in proportion" with my other projects.

I just ordered some materials for hand dying. I'm starting to wish I bought more superwash after listening to the podcast.

[aija]

Thanks so much for having me on, it was a blast! I can't imagine my voice sounds like that irl though :)

One tip I have for making socks (and its just a rip from Jenny)-- stockinette socks. Lately I have one "real" ;) pair of socks otn and a stockinette pair... when I have empty hands and don't really want to concentrate on a pattern, I can knit by touch round and round (on my dpns). I keep them with me pretty much whenever I leave the house, putting in a few mindless rows while I wait in the line at the grocery or post office.

Stockinette's also helped me power thru some stash-- I just cast on with some bearfoot that I think is so beautiful, but perhaps too dark/deeply colored for patterning not to be lost in. I held onto the yarn forever hoping to find a patt for it, but I feel so accomplished stashdiving and know they'll be made into a pair eventually.

My stst socks have evolved into just 1.5-2" of rib, and them all stst. I go toe up using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' method (so a short row heel). All over ribbing just isn't mindless enough for me, I can do it by touch but part of the fun and speed of these type of socks is just round and round and round...

I never think of the stst socks as "the" pair of socks I'm working on, or even that I am working on them-- they may not be done for months, but they've mainly been knit up in the spare stolen moments of time or when I have empty hands. Its cool to look at them and think, this is time I would have spent wasting when waiting for the bus...

Anyway! Thanks again :)

[Roxanne]

Oh hey, don't forget about me!! I'm also an indie dyer and been around for ages and gosh, people seem to just forget me in these kinds of posts/links/podcasts. So here I am!! LOL

[Lori]

I have a little suggestion for the heel: Afterthought heels. If you get a hole, you can very easily repair the heel because you can replace the whole heel. It ends up looking like a short row heel, but is so much easier to make. Here's a tutorial:

http://www.keyboardbiologist.net/knitblog/archives/000336.html

[Holly]

I'm midway through the latest show, but just wanted to say I'm thoroughly enjoying it! I am sort of in the same sock boat as Jenny, so I'm going to check back for additional ideas for finding the mojo. I have three pairs I'd like to finish for holiday gifts. It shouldn't be a problem, but it will if I can't get past this block!!

Thanks for the great shows.

[Catie Phillips]

I am a relatively new listener and I just wanted to let you know that I love your podcast. It is just the right length for my commute too! One thing I really appreciate is how the volume within a given podcast is pretty even so that I don't have to turn up/down the volume while listening. I am slowly listening to the back issues, that is how much I like to listen. Keep up the good work please.

Catie

PS: I'm from Calgary Canada.

[mandy]

i don't think i would knit socks if they were for anyone other than myself. Nothing looks better with my red Danskos than handknit socks. However, I don't have any other shoes that I can wear them with, but does that matter if i wear the dansko's 99% of the time...

i'm not a stasher like you guys, just usually enough yarn for the projects on my mind. After I finish the current pair, i have yarn for one more pair of socks!

[Rebekkah]

I haven't finished listening to the episode yet, but want to comment before I forget. (Am back from 2 weeks away, and on a knitting podcast listening marathon. Can't remember comments for more than 20 seconds.)

First of all, I want to thank you for putting out such an interesting, funny, and high quality podcast every week. I love the detail you go into when discussing designs and problems, and you always keep me entertained in the process. Keep up the amazing work.

On the topic of socks, a tip I've heard to help avoid holes right above the heel flap is to start knitting the slip stitch heel pattern an inch or so before you start the flap, across those back stitches on the sock. (Knitting every other round instead of purling, obviously, since you're still in the round.) I haven't tried it myself, but might in the future, as I find that my flaps are often a bit shorter than I'd like. I suppose I could also just lengthen the heel flaps, but that will obviously affect the gusset, so you need to figure out whether a taller flap will work for the shape of your feet or not.

I agree about finding flap/gusset shaping easier, despite the fact that there are so many steps. The thing is, just as you desperately want to want to knit socks, I want to like heel flaps, even though I'm only lukewarm on them now. One of my problems, besides the fact that I find them less intuitive (understand the concept, too often lose my place in execution), is that I need something in the foot of the sock to be shaped for my high-ish arches. Regular short row heels without gussets are too flat for my archy feet. I have an idea up my sleeve to try to combat this (not adding a gusset to the short row shaping, which I know is an option), and hope to try it out at least within the next few months.

For the record, I wear out *all* of my store-bought socks exactly where you got a hole in your hand knit sock. I have yet to wear a hole in any of my hand knit socks, after 2.5 years of wearing them, including the Dale Baby Ull socks (no nylon in there) knit at too loose of a gauge when I was a young, naive knitter. I'm betting your sock got snagged on something. I go through store-bought socks in that spot as if my heel were made of acid, which gives me full faith in hand knit socks.

[Pattie in SF]

Hi: I have only listened to half of the socks broadcast but I wanted to send a comment about the Horcrux socks. We did them last quarter on the Six Sox KAL and these are the only pair of socks I have ever completed (out of maybe 20 starts) and the reason is that the pattern is very easy, the scars pattern is nice looking in all colors included hand dyes, and they fit pratically anyone. They are stretchy for a wide foot, or the wide parts of a foot, and the rib pattern will enable it to cling to the narrow parts of your foot without bagging. The pattern was orignally made for sport weight yarn and it knits up super fast. Check it out.

[Stephen]

Nicole, I have a pattern for you. It's fast. Looks very interesting, but the faux cables are done by increases and decreases. It's super simple to memorize.

Check out Vinnland from The Anti-Craft (http://theanticraft.com/archive/beltane07/vinnland.htm). I did my first one in a couple of days. Speedy, mostly stockinette and a good-looking pattern.

[Mae]

Ah. Socks.
I have yet to knit a sock, and have about three skeins of sock yarn already... and on my trip to Ottawa plan on picking up a bunch of cute sock yarns I can't buy here (like Tofutsies).
Did I mention I don't even knit socks yet?!

[Stephen]

Delete the ). from the URL in my comment to get the pattern... darn TypePad!

[Donna]

Hi Jenni and Nicole,
I became an obsessed sock knitter in 2003 and am now on pair #73 and #74. In my stash, about 20 pairs worth.
This year, I have lost my sock mojo too. But I still love my sox and my stash.
My solution, some yarns have been moved to my mitten obsession (I'm doing some Latvian/Norwegian style mitten knitting right now). Some yarns are destined for charity knitting.
But the biggest thing is not worrying about it. I have my basic stockinette sox in my purse for carrying around. And I have a pair of Monkey sox for those times when I want something more complicated. And if I only get 1-2 rounds done in a week, so what. Next week, I'll feel like doing more. It all will even out. And at the end of the year, I'll have a few pairs for Xmas giving, a few of the very best for me and a few for charity.
I guess what I'm trying to say, it's okay to slow down for now. The mojo will come back when it's ready....

Great podcast as always.
Happy knitting.

[Wanda]

I agree with Aija's comments on having one complicated or more intensive sock pattern and one stockinette sock going. I've found it really helpful for me to work on the stockinette sock when I really don't want or can't focus on a pattern. And it does add up in the stolen moments of time. I usually only had one pair of socks on the needles at a given time and they were usually always stockinette. Now that I've started branching out and working more patterns, I'm finding that I like having a patterned sock and one non-patterned sock (stockinette) sock on the needle. I think I need to cast on a stockinette sock now! Thanks for the great show, as always.

[Susan]

Don't sell your sock yarn! Knit mitered squares for a vest, or a poncho, or an afghan. There are many uses for sock yarn beside making socks.

Susan

[Jessica]

Another great show! Thanks for always putting out such well done and well planned podcasts. They are a real pleasure to listen to.

As for the sock mojo, I have to say I think you need to stop limiting yourself and just knit what you want to knit. Life is way too short! If you want to try a Cookie A pattern, go for it! If you'd rather do something else, do that. It's hard to get enthused about something you just don't really want to knit. Just my $0.02. :)

[carolyn]

let me know if you figure the mojo out.....i just can't get into the tiny needle/thin yarn groove, yet I LOVE handknit socks....maybe 10x magnified glasses and a huge spotlight would be my saving grace...lol

[Kellie]

De-lurking to tell you I love your pod cast! One of the reasons I really enjoy you guys, is that you don't just talk about socks. Can't get into the socks. I do one or two pair a year for my husband, who adores them, but size 12, black socks are mind numbing.... I'll think of you when I drive by Slater Kenney road on the way to Olympia.

Keep up the great work!

Kellie