Hello and sorry to have been absent for most of November. Things with Toby have been a bit intense and we’re not quite sure why he’s finding life hard at the moment, but it is taking lots of energy to keep him happy, relaxed and occupied. Still, there has also been a lot of knitting going on, although it’s been of the dis-organised type, which has meant lots of projects started and in progress, but nothing finished.
As I’ve sat here knitting, I’ve been contemplating how useful knitting is as a way of coping with life’s harder patches. There’s something soothing about the rhythmic action of wrapping the yarn; something comforting about the stillness of your body while your hands are busy; and something meditative in the way that part of your brain is fully focused on the task in hand while another part is free to wander and ponder. I been wondering too about the nature of what I knit, and what it says about me that I seem to knit mostly the same kind of thing. Are you the kind of person who likes constant variety and the excitement of something new, or are you someone who sticks to what you know and is happy with a tried-and-trusted familiar? I think that I must be more in the second camp, as my sock draw shows all too well.
I came late to sock knitting – only making my first pair 2 years ago, but since then I have always had at least 1 pair on my needles. Currently in my work basket there are 3 single socks waiting to be knitted a twin and be united into a pair, and of the pairs that do exist there are a couple that are still waiting for ends to be sewn in and trimmed. I do though have lots that are wearable and my feet are very much enjoying the cosy comfort of them and wondering why it took my fingers so very long to get around to sock knitting.
The other day I was rooting about in my sock drawer for a warm pair and realised that I must be a creature of habit, as you can see…
Above are 3 pairs made from Helen Stewarts ‘fragment’ pattern.
The dark pair on the left are knitted in ‘loam’ Bien Aimee tough sock, the middle pair in ‘well water’ Madeline Tosh twist light, and the pink pair on the right are in ‘tea smoked’ The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock.
These 3 pairs (and the 2 on the left in the picture below) are from This Handmade Life’s ‘Wildflowers and Honeycomb socks’ pattern.
The pair on the left are knitted in alpaca sock from The Wool Barn, the middle pair in ‘tea smoked’ The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock, and the pair on the right are in ‘ lime mortar’ Ainsworth and Prin classic sock from The knitting shed
The light blue pair on the left are knitted in ‘memory’ Madeline Tosh twist light, the middle pair in ‘space oddity’ The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock, and the pair on the right are from Hermione’s Everyday socks by Erica Lueder, in ‘surf’ The Wool Barn Cashmere Sock.
Both the 3 pairs above and the 3 pairs below are made with Emily Fodens ‘Emily’s Favourite sock’ pattern
The pair on the left are knitted in ‘limpet’ crush sock yarn from Skein Queen, the middle pair in ‘mellow monster’ sock set from Studio Meez, and the pair on the right are in a one-of-a-kind dyed super sock yarn also from Studio Meez
These 3 pairs are all knitted in beautiful shades of twist sock from The Wool Barn
Above are 3 pairs made from Lucky Me Socks by Sofia Kammeborn and all are knitted in The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock ‘attic room’, ‘cobble’ and ‘peat’
The 3 pairs above are all made from Skein Queen Crush DK in ‘limpet’, ‘dreamcloud’, and ‘highclere castle’ with the pair on the left knitted from Emily Foden’s Snowshoe pattern and the other two from Cabinfour’s Laule’a pattern
Well, I do hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of my sock drawer! Though I know that’s most likely not the reason you visit me here, so please be assured that along with sock knitting I am working on lots of knitted little cotton rabbit animals and some new patterns too 🙂
Before I go, I want to send love and best wishes for a joyful Thanksgiving to all of you friends and family in the USA,
‘Til next time, keep well and happy and thanks as always for visiting xxx
little cotton rabbits 
Hi Julie, what a comforting post on a wet November day. Lovely pictures of your beautiful work. I very much enjoyed the biscuit 🙂 I hope Toby will feel better soon!
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Your socks are beautiful and, in their own way, little works of art. Thank you for sharing.
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“And when life became too frenzied, she took up her knitting and breathed a while to the rhythm of the stitches and rows until her smile returned, and her mind was calm.” Love all your socks. I, too, have quite the drawer full of them, and yet I find another sock on my needles.
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Well I’m officially jealous of your sock collection Julie! 🙂 Lovely patterns and gorgeous colour choices too.
I’m pretty much a creature of habit too, I find I’m happier now with one skein projects rather than big ones and I seem to make a lot of ‘little people’ hats! I do need more socks in my life though.
Hopefully things settle down with Toby soon.
V x
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Sorry Toby is finding things a struggle at the moment, I hope he finds his equilibrium very soon and that things will be easier for you all. Your socks are things of beauty, they really are. I definitely stick to the same things – scarves and blankets, where measurements don’t matter. Although I do have half a jumper languishing in a basket. I’m not sure I can even remember what the pattern was. I wish it would magically finish itself to be honest. It is gently scolding me from its place on the top shelf. I am trying to ignore it. CJ xx
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It’s oddly comforting to simply read about your knitting, and gaze at all that productivity. Hope Santa fills them all with goodies next month.
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I loved visiting your sock drawer! I only wish I could wrap my mind and my hands around knitting.
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Love to Toby and all of you. Socks….I love seeing others knitted socks ❤❤
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C’est vrai que se concentrer sur un ouvrage permet de laisser de coté ce qui nous préoccupe et de reprendre le cours de ses soucis de façon plus calme, surtout que nous voulons toujours faire les choses correctement.
Bravo pour toutes ces très belles choses qui nous motivent.
Bon courage avec Toby.
Et en route pour le joli mois de Décembre
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Hi Julie,
I too find knitting very therapeutic – such a productive hobby whilst relaxing in a comfortable old armchair. I am at my happiest when I have needles in my hands. I do tend to stick to my favourite old patterns but I have just finished my first little bunny from your mini bunny pattern and I am so in love with him (and so is everybody else that has spotted him sitting next to my armchair!). I am now halfway through my second. Your pattern is brilliantly clear to follow and I loved knitting him (it’s the sewing up I am not so keen on). I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of your sock drawer – they look gorgeous. I shall have to have a go – I have never knitted socks before so I appreciate all your links when I take the plunge. I do hope Toby settles soon. Sending you good wishes for December.
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SO SO beautiful the way you combine colours and pattern to create such a soothing effect. LOVE your socks!xx
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Knitting is such a soothing process and even just looking at your beautifully knit socks is wonderfully calming. My mind and my hands just imagined the feel of the yarn, the softness and such visual pleasure. I also stick with the same thing, socks, mittens,cowls and of course little rabbits and their clothes. Thank you for sharing.
Have a happy, peaceful day. Hugs from Maine
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Ohmygosh Julie — you’re amazing! You have SO many BEAUTIFUL socks in just 2 short years — and you still have time for all your cute little animals! I’ve been working on your mini little teddies for a advent calendar — I hope I can get them done in time LOL! XOXOXO
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Sorry that life is hard for your little man and I send virtual hugs to you all. Totally understand the feeling of wanting to create the same/similar things, it is like listening to the same story again and again as a child, it brings comfort when the world around is strange. Beautiful photographs of your equally beautiful socks. Hugs again xxx
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I had to laugh because I LOVE knitting socks to the point I can’t GIVE them away!!!! (Well, almost!!). I love the self patterning yarn cuz it’s always a surprise as to what it will look like. Oh well. Happy Thanksgiving from Boston. I’m thankful for you!!
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They are all so beautiful!! Shame the biscuit has all gone, hope you have some more!!! xxxxxx
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There is something so soothing about the click of rhythmic needles. I also knit socks. Three pair in the last month. One pair for me, two as gifts; all from the same pattern. Easy, comforting and repetitive. Sometimes that’s what a mind needs. I so hope Toby starts to settle and feel better. Bless him! I’m off to check on my turkey. I’ve finally gotten a minute to sit and knit before the guests descend. Love to you from the USA.
Bonnie
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I find knitting comforting as well, but I can state with 100% certainty that I will never knit socks. That’s what it was a such a joy to see all the beautiful socks you have made. The colors and patterns are truly beautiful. So I can enjoy them vicariously while I work on less extraordinary but still enjoyable (and simpler) patterns. Thank you for sharing. Hugs to both you and Toby.
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😄☺️ That’s fantastic that you have so many duplicate sets! I smiled as I saw the first two pictures and just grew more amused with each passing photo!
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Ha. Glad to see another who has a favorite pattern and enjoys it over and over.
I have made a number of pairs of the Hedgerow Socks by Jane Cochran. Enough pattern to be interesting. Not so much that it overwhelms the simple pleasure of the knitting. Good fit, from the textured rib.
Sweaters I usually do one of a kind. But socks have their own rhythm.
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So many fabulous socks Julie! I nearly always have a pair of socks on the needles too but don’t actually own many pairs as I always seem tobe making them for other people (mostly Stewart!) I hope things calm down with Toby xx
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I found myself nodding along to your words, of how soothing the act of knitting can be in anxious times. I actually fell asleep with my needles in my hand the other evening.
I am completely and utterly in love with your socks… what a very random and slightly bonkers comment! Your colour palette soothes my soul. I am finding myself in the process of change, from a love of colour to the more gentle shades, a reflection of my life I think.
Thank you so much for all the enjoyment you bring with your blog, many best wishes, Muddy.
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For me making something familiar is like going home.
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Ohm I do wish my sock drawer looked like that! I am always crocheting a blanket, but do use different patterns.
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A local knitting/spinning group sponsors an informal Fiber Haiku Challenge every year to celebrate National Poetry Month (April). Last year, I had your blog/patterns on my mind:
Tranquil hours knitting
Sweet Little Cotton Rabbits
Mend the frays of life.
Thank you for all you do!
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Julie, I am green with envy looking at those photos of your socks – the colours and the patterns you have chosen are delightful. Have never learned to knit socks and never really been inspired until I saw your photos. Did you learn from an online tutorial or just followed a pattern? I’m sure it would take me a lot longer than two years to produce even one pair, if at all, as dpns and circular needles are all new to me, not to mention ‘magic loop’! Would love to know if there’s a foolproof method for unaccomplished knitters. Another soothing and calming post – hope things settle for you soon!
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I’m sorry to read Toby is having a rough time. I hope you all have a wonderful time during this Christmas season. Like you, I love knitting the same things over and over again. I haven’t tried knitting socks yet but I would like to! Just love your blog so much! Thanks for the update!
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I came for the very purpose of seeing if you were a sock knitter!! I have knitted several of your lovelies bunnies, and follow on instagram, but I have been getting rather slack on blog reading though. I am really enjoying knitting socks, and the thought came to me that perhaps you had knitted some lovely pairs – how happy was I to find this post!! Thank you for the links to the patterns you used, and the endless inspiration. Will be thinking of you, was glad to see in a more recent post you’ve been able to get out in the woods with Toby xxx
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