Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rains comes tumbling down
Dave Mallet (listen to a youtube version here)
Garden season seems like a long way off here in the mountains, so working on this sock has been the next best thing.
Working with the colors of lettuce, cabbage and carrots, lets me dream of the days ahead when I can work with the soil again in the warm sun.
This is a fun pattern to work on. Plenty of things going on to keep your interest, but also big areas of mindless knitting as well. Great travel knitting! I spent a good portion of last weekend in the car and this was the perfect companion. The upcoming weekend may be a repeat of last weekend, so I will work on sock number 2 then….at least I think I will. I have to admit that another sock has captured my attention and you know how I can be with that second sock….
The other day when I was cruising around blog land, I read this post and it made me laugh! I’m thinking something like this would be a perfect display in the studio I hope to have this summer…LOL!
As I was binding off my sock this morning, I started thinking about all of my single socks, and why I have such a hard time motivating myself to knit the second one right away. Most of it I imagine is boredom…..been there…done that already….don’t really want to do it again right now. Kind of like reading a book and then picking it right back up to read again.
The thrill of a new project almost always wins out. I guess for me, it really is about the process and the enjoyment that I get from the knitted stitch. If I finish the pair right away…wonderful…. if I don’t, I completely enjoyed the process on that first sock, and I will get back to that second one eventually :-).
Speaking of binding off a toe up sock….my good cyber friend Gina sent me a mini tutorial on a sewn off binding and I want to send her a huge THANKYOU!
This method of finishing the top edge of the sock works perfectly! The ribbing was comfortable on my leg with no tightness at all. For those of you, who like me, had never heard about this bind off, here is my little mini tutorial…
This bind off is worked from left to right. (opposite of the way you were knitting)
Cut a long tail, 3 or 4
times the length of the edge you’re binding off, and thread it through a
tapestry needle.
Slide the first 2 stitches on to a tapestry needle as if purling, right hand stitch first.
Gently pull the yarn through the
two stitches.
Place the next stitch that is on the knitting needle onto the tapestry needle and sew the tail through it and the stitch just to the left of
it (except for the first stitch, every stitch gets sewn twice).
Continue around the top of the sock,slipping the right hand stitch onto the tapestry needle and sewing it together with the first stitch to the left. Make sure to keep the tapestry needle underneath the working thread as seen above.
…and that’s it! Easy Peasy!
This kit will be available on my website Monday, April 7th.
The Woolen Rabbit 
Yeah! Glad that it worked for you too. Now we have to get you doing two at a time…toe up!! I can hear you laughing now….can’t wait to get my kit and get going on this one.
LikeLike
It’s really sweet. And perfect for Project Spectrum this month.
I like to knit the second sock immediately because 1)I want to wear them and 2)I don’t want to forget the pattern.
LikeLike
Cute socks! Can’t wait for the kit. Monday’s not looking so bad now.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tutorial. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.
LikeLike
Yippee!!! I’m so glad the pattern and kit is almost ready. I love the color. Thanks for the link to the Loopy Ewe and the picture. It is funny. I must admit that I could string my singles up like that. I hate making the second sock, unless they’re little kid socks. Those are fast and fun. You just have to knit the second sock first! One blog author I read, somewhere, said she avoided the second sock syndrome by knitting a whole bunch of different patterns, one sock, and then by the time she got back to the first one she knit, to knit the mate to it, it was like a brand new sock. I kind of like that idea too. Thanks for making these!
LikeLike
It’s such a pretty sock and perfect for that colorway, too. The second sock always goes faster for me and I’d rather finish than having it hang around. Great tutorial! Thanks.
LikeLike
Great sock! Sewn bind off is my fave. Guess where I learned it… yep… EZ. 🙂
LikeLike
This is a gorgeous GORGEOUS sock!! I liked the little swatches you’ve been showing snippets of, but I really _love_the actual sock. I couldn’t really imagine doing it in a different colorway… your choice is impeccable! You have me really looking forward to starting up for my first pair… but first, finish two baby sweaters and a cardigan for me!!
LikeLike
yeah for Monday!! I can hardly wait!! The pattern and the yarn look fabulous!! I’m telling my husband that sock yarn doesn’t count as stash….the wall of single socks is hysterical! Single socks as art….I love it!!
LikeLike
love that sock!
I know all about second sock syndrome – I knit so many for booth samples, that are now sitting in my drawer… too funny. I figure that by the time I get around to knitting all the mates, it’ll feel like a brand new sock!
LikeLike
Nice – very nice – thanks for the tutorial!! Hopefully spring really will arrive at some point and stay. 🙂
LikeLike
The single sock display is actually a good idea for featuring your sock yarns in your shop. This sock is really pretty, whether it ever gets a mate or not.
LikeLike
Kim- They are so cute. Alot of people cast on for the second sock immediately, so they don’t lose the mojo.
Your studio sounds like heaven.
LikeLike
oh it’s SO so cute! love them and love the color.
LikeLike
Georgous colorway for a georgous sock! 2nd sock syndrome is forcing me to learn to knit 2 at once. Thanks for the tutorial! 🙂
LikeLike
Georgous colorway for a georgous sock! 2nd sock syndrome is forcing me to learn to knit 2 at once. Thanks for the tutorial! 🙂
LikeLike
First of all, I love the sock! Secondly, I also love the song – I have it sung by The Limelighters years ago. Have to pull out the Ipod and listen to it again – well sing along too.
The tutorial is great – corrected what I was doing wrong. Thanks for that!
LikeLike
Hi I’m interested in getting some of your hand cream for my dh. He has psorisis and his hands are in terrible shape, snagging on yarn, etc. I don’t do paypal, so wondered if you would take a check or money order?
I’m hoping your hand cream will be the key, we have been lookng for..
LikeLike
Absolutely gorgeous sock!!
LikeLike
Ooh! I like yours better than mine. Too cute! And now you have your very own woolen rabbits. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Profound thanks from a humble designer.
May your life be blessed as you have blessed mine. It’s been quite a ride, hasn’t it?
Catch you on the flip side…
LikeLike
This sock turned out beautifully! 🙂 And thank you for the sewn bind-off tutorial. I always do my socks top-down, but there are plenty of other places where a sewn bind-off would prove very useful.
LikeLike
I love doing the EZ sewn bind off. Great tutorial!
LikeLike