Another pair of socks
It’s always nice to have a project on the go that does not require much thought. Currently I have a couple of these: a nearly completed pair of socks for Mr Snail-of-Happiness and a cushion cover for my sister. The latter was requested, but the specification was simply that it had to be in greys and purples to match her newly decorated living room. I really like this sort of commission – no exact colour-matches required, no compulsion to follow a pattern I don’t enjoy making, plus a great excuse to toddle off to Red Apple Yarn. And in this case, it has given me an excuse to have a go at a design that I’ve been itching to try out for a while now, namely Attic24’s Neat Ripple pattern. If you have never visited Attic24, do go and have a look at Lucy’s wonderful patterns and creations… just bear in mind you may be some time!
Testing out the colours of the cushion in situ at an early stage of creation
These sort of projects are important to me because they give my hands something to do whilst my brain is elsewhere. Admittedly, the elsewhere may be watching the TV or listening to an audiobook, but it might also be thinking about the garden, planning a new blog post, mulling over a course that I’m going to be teaching or simply letting my mind wander, nevertheless it means that I am being physically creative. One of the reasons that we have so many pairs of hand knitted socks is my commitment to keeping my hands busy. Many of the socks have been knitted whilst I have been teaching. I often set learners tasks to do and need to be available to answer questions; reading a book whilst being on hand is impossible, but I can knit, keep an eye on activities and chat all at the same time… and at the end of the day there are socks. I also work on such projects in meetings. Colleagues have finally got used to me doing this and know that it doesn’t mean I’m bored or not paying attention – quite the contrary: it keeps me focused and enhances my creativity.
Of course, I also create things that are much more of a challenge – you need to focus when knitting a snail or crocheting a mushroom – but there’s a time and a place. All this goes to explain, at least in part, why I have so many projects on the go simultaneously… well, that and my short attention span!
Neat ripple pattern
The Snail of Happiness 
wscottling
/ May 20, 2014Those socks are gorgeous! I will knit socks someday. I will.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 20, 2014Once you start, you won’t stop… they really are addictive 🙂
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davidprosser
/ May 20, 2014The socks are definitely nice but the cushion cover is gorgeous. I’m sure your sister was over the moon with it.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 20, 2014She loved the colours!
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narf77
/ May 20, 2014Are those socks knitted on 3 needles?! I have a phobia of more than 2 needles. I have enough trouble manipulating 2 let alone factoring in another one or 5! I have always wanted to make socks but the fear of more needles has always kept me from it. Those springy round long needle thingos are just as terrifying. I love the look of Lucy’s ripple pattern. I tried to get into a pattern making an afghan yesterday but it required me to keep concentrating on counting to 5 and by the end of the evening (and a couple of nana naps on the couch) I had lost count, had stuffed up the pattern and my patience was next to nil. A nice simple afghan is on the cards to keep MY hands busy while I think 🙂 Kudos on your socks, they are really lovely.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 20, 2014The socks are worked using five needles… a fiddle to start, but I find it easy once I get going!
The ripple pattern requires counting to four… 20% easier than five!
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narf77
/ May 21, 20145…needles…I think I am going to have to go and have a lay down now…
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katechiconi
/ May 20, 2014As women, we are almost required to keep our multi-tasking skills honed, wouldn’t you say? So of course we need things to keep our hands busy while other parts of us are at work. The colour of those socks is divine; it’s almost a crime to hide them inside boots or shoes….
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 20, 2014And, in fact, the picture doesn’t entirely do them justice!
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iamsimplyhooked
/ May 26, 2014Love the colours of your ripple cushion – and the way you have used the ripple edge as a feature. I have used the New Lanark wool too and found it a joy to work with – and not expensive. http://iamsimplyhooked.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/a-labour-of-love/
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 26, 2014So pleased with the way this came out… to begin with I was just going to make a square and stitch a plain back on, but then I realised how lovely the wavy edge was and decided to make a feature of it. It’s in the post on its way to my sister now so I hope she likes it.
I had some left-over yarn, which I decided to turn into a yarn bag. Of course I didn’t have enough, so I had to buy some more… as you say, though, very reasonably priced 🙂
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