Sockapalooza 4: Getting the Lead Out

I first realized that the Sockapalooza-4 database must be up and running when a friendly knitter showed up at my Etsy store to buy a skein of yarn for her sock pal. And what a sweetheart she was. She chose such a lovely skein. Lucky sock pal.

Even so, I was buried up to my eyeballs in yarn dyeing, mailing, and the regular sludge of life, and it was days before I checked the database for information on my pal. Turns out my pal has feet almost the same size as mine (that will help), and has left all the details totally up to me.

Here's the yarn I've chosen for my pal:



Yesterday I dyed up two skeins of the super-yummy Blue Face Leicester 2-ply Sport in this colorway called Twilight. One for my sock pal, and one for my shop. I like this choice for my sock pal because it is colorful without being loud, and the yarn should show off the stitches of the sock nicely too. The bonus for me is that I get to knit the super-yummy BFL sock yarn. Why should everyone else have all the fun??



Now I need your help. Yes, that's right: Your Help. I have knitted quite a few socks now, using everything from chunky to super fine sock yarn. I have always knitted them totally plain, and I like it that way. But I want something different for my sock pal. No lace. I don't want anything frilly and froofy. I like to knit socks from the cuff down, with heel flaps, and regular toe shaping. I'm looking for pattern ideas for nice stitchwork that will be fun for me to knit -- and to show off the yarn I've chosen. I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions on this.

This morning I went out to the chiropractor. He hurt me, but he made me feel better too. Divine pain. When I got home, it was like Christmas. Packages on my doorstep. Packages in my mail box. Look at 'em all!!



I had a blast opening them all up. Several fun things I ordered from Etsy shops, and a box of undyed lace-weight yarn I scored by trading some of my hand-dyed. And a box of Misti Alpaca laceweight, also for dyeing. My favorite of the Etsy items is the black leather bound journal. The book was made entirely by hand by a gifted artist in Nova Scotia. She tears her own creamy smooth paper, hand stitches it into a strong binding, and finishes it all off with a beautiful leather cover. You can view her journals and other hand-bound books at her etsy shop Here. I love journals, and I do write my little heart out in them. When this one gets close to full, I'm going back for another one.