It started with a ball of Kate’s Elmer in the Storm and Stephanie’s Mars.

I have since added a ball of Madeline Tosh pashmina and another ball of MadTosh really dark almost black-blue. I think it was called Thunderstorm, but it has been in my stash so long and I no longer have the tag.

The first sock is Elmer & Mars one way, the second sock reverses the colors. It is too hard for me to re-create the same sock pattern twice, even though these work up practically in moments thanks to the springy, heavier weight yarn (dk rather than sock). My attention span and sock knitting dedication just won’t allow the repetition.  Each sock has to be tweaked.

The third iteration with the popping blue has a different striping sequence that I’ve reversed with the fourth sock (shown in the blue and red, it’s a popping combo to be sure!)

The long stretch of color is where the afterthought heel will go in, created from the very dark black-blue yarn for all the socks.

So here is the idea. If I make an assortment of socks in a variety of ways using just 2 colors at a time but make all the heels alike, I should get socks that sort of match one another. Based on weighing the yarn I am using per sock, and keeping in mind the amount of yarn that remains, I should be able to create 6 individual socks this way, maybe-just-barely 7, as well as 1 crazy mixed up sock from all three yarn scraps.

There is no logical reason for this activity to be as engrossing to me as it is, but it is! I think it may be in part, due to the speed at which these tubes fly off the needles. The first three were done in 3 days. The fourth is taking a bit longer, but only because I had a migraine. And once recovered I spent an inordinate amount of time weighing yarn, weighing socks and strategizing as to how much I need for each sock & how many I can create…as well as the variations I can put together.

So, in short, I distracted myself.

If you are interested in the formula for these socks let me know (— I say formula as it isn’t a true pattern, more of what I am doing and what finished object is created)

In the meantime, I will be making socks for the next few days.

I am also putting the final touches on a project I can’t wait to share, but I will have to wait another day or two.

While you wait…

• be sure to look at the free patterns I have been adding to the site

• spend a few moments considering these much loved projects I recommend knitting (more are in draft form to post in days ahead)

• listen to the podcast! It includes a free sweater patterns well as a story adventure!

• enjoy a few stolen moments together in the wild! Join me here.

• And most importantly tell me in the comments about your current obsession! Are you knitting socks? sweaters? shawls? Are you sewing? 5 lucky comments will be chosen to receive a care package from me, so be sure to add your 2¢s below before April 19th.

  • Curious as to what the care packages will include? Good, because I am bursting to tell you! There will be 14 sweet little treats individually wrapped up for you to open one a day for 2 weeks. There will of course be yarn, but also knitting related goodies and just tiny treasures to brighten your day! Be sure to check back here on April 20th at noon AST and see if your comment has a comment from me declaring YOU ARE THE WINNER!

• One last thing…why not brighten someone else’s day and share this giveaway with them? Anyone can enter, one comment per person please.