Here’s the February installment of #operationsockdrawer2017. Named Amethyst for the gorgeous color of this Barrett Wool Co. yarn (Pepin colorway) and as a nod to February’s birthstone. This color was so difficult to photograph, but trust me when I say it is a true, deep amethyst purple. Gorgeous. 

This was my first attempt knitting a toe up sock and using the magic loop method instead of DPNs. I used this pattern, but added the cables for some interest. I love the the magic loop method, will definitely use it again, but not a fan of the heel construction. Might have to look for a different version, because I did like this construction. (Complete details can be found on Ravelry.)

I finished these mid-February, but it took time for me to block and photograph them. I’m already on my second sock for March. I don’t want to jinx myself, but I might be able to bang out two pairs for that month. Or I might try to take on something new, we’ll see. 

Originally posted in Instagram, I wanted to record here these wonderful socks now that they’ve finally been blocked and finished.  (Full details on Ravelry) 

I started knitting these socks at the start of the Cubs post-season play. Filled with excitement and anxiety, it helped to keep my hands busy while watching the games. We kept advancing and I kept knitting. Every stitch is filled with joy, fear, anxiety, elation. Amazingly, I finished them at the end of the 9th inning. . . and the rest is history. 

https://wordpress.com/post/widdershins22.comSo I made a scarf for my sister, Ashley, as a Christmas gift. (Forgetting to take a photo of it before gifting it to her.) I had some leftover yarn from the project, so I decided to make her a matching pair of mittens. I used the pattern  “World’s Simplest Mittens” by Tin Can Knits and Sheep Shop 2 Yarn. (Full details in Ravelry.)

Ashley is an amazing pastry chef who lives downtown in Chicago, so he has to deal with the awful, windy winters there. I wanted to make sure she was toasty warm on her commute, so I added a liner using some charcoal gray sock yarn I had in my stash.  This will be a little softer on those hardworking hands that the outer mitts and will help insulate them again the cold. I hope she enjoys them!

 
*This also crosses off one of my 101 Things List.

I decided to participate in #operationsockdrawer for 2017, with the goal of knitting twelve pairs of socks that are just for me. I usually gift the socks I knit (looking at you mom) instead of keeping them for myself, but I’ve decided to be a bit selfish this year. 

The goal is to finish a pair per month, which should be reasonable since I tend to work on something most nights while watching tv or while traveling. 

January’s are complete, although I am cheating a bit since I cast on the first sock in December. I used some long-hoarded Anuzula Squishy (since 2010!) in the Seaside colorway. It’s gorgeous and so soft. The color is hard to capture on film, but it’s a griege-stone-putty color with a slight variation that perfectly captures the color of wet sand. I went with a simple stockinette stitch so the yarn could really be the star of the show.  

I’m finishing up a secret project (I’ll be sharing later) and hoping to cast on my next pair by the end of the week.