solved: Second Sock Syndrome, originally uploaded by earthchick.

So. I broke my ankle and I made a sock.

There’s a lot more to share, knitwise, etc., since my last post, but for now I’ll start here. I broke my ankle a couple of weeks ago in a fiber-related accident. Or you could call it a clog-related accident. Or both. It’s the stupidest, most uninteresting broken bone story. I was walking through the living room, carrying Lila, my English angora rabbit. My ankle buckled, as has frequently happened in my Dansko clogs. But usually, I recover, no problem. This time, though, I think I must’ve been trying to keep from dropping the rabbit, because my ankle just kept rolling. And then I heard a snap.

I broke the tip of my fibula, which, as far as broken ankles go, is a pretty good break to have. But yeah, it’s still a broken ankle. Which sucks. (By the way, the bunny is fine.)

But two days later, I flew to New York, for my first ever Rhinebeck experience at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. And it was pretty much everything I had hoped it would be (except for the no walking part). I rented a scooter and drove around meeting folks and having fun. Other than my lack of mobility and physical pain, it was a fantastic weekend, and I am so glad I didn’t cancel it after I broke my ankle.

At any rate, it was Socktober, so I knit socks. I finished a long-standing WIP (pictures another time), and I knit along with the Through the Loops 2010 Mystery Sock. I’m almost done with the pair, but for now, one will do me just fine.

I pretty much love it, as I pretty much love every Through the Loops design (did you see Kirsten’s latest pattern? LOVE!).

I love what Kirsten does with texture, and these socks are a great example of this. The sweet cuff, the tiny trowels (which look like little acorns, don’t they?), the long thick lines of the heel and toe – I love it all. Kirsten recommended a solid or semi-solid yarn for this pattern, and I’m thrilled with the yarn I chose. This is Kitchen Sink Dyeworks, by indie dyer Mercedes Tarasovich. It’s the Luxe Merino Fine (a superwash merino, cashmere, nylon blend), and the first of KSD’s yarns I’ve tried. It was a sweet knit, and I LOVE this colorway, which is called “Dram” (as in a serving of scotch). The color is exactly what I was looking for – a perfect honey brown for fall. By the way, if you knit these socks, I would highly recommend following Kirsten’s advice – don’t use a highly variegated yarn, a striping yarn, or a yarn that is too dark. This pattern is too lovely to waste on yarn that won’t show it properly.

I knit the medium size (64 stitches) on size 0 dpns, which is my standard for socks. If I had it to do over again, I would probably shorten the heel a bit, but otherwise, I’m so happy with the sock, and can’t wait to finish (and be able to wear!) the pair!

raveled