July 52PPIV Progress Update

This is the progress update after the second month of the 52 Pair Plunge IV. I’m going to evaluate myself according to the 4 goals I’d set for myself at the start.

1. Finish the 3 WIPs and 8 pairs of hibernating socks I currently have on the needles. One of those pairs is from April 2009. Really it’s time to finish it.

This month there were 5 Works In Progress (WIPs) on the needles. I finished two of them, The Opal of My Eye socks, a 4x2 rib using Opal self stripping yarn. And the second pair was torturous. The Angle Socks knit with the most hideous yarn ever. I enjoyed the alternate construction of the pattern and would definitely do them again with another less obnoxious color. I’ll be carrying 3 WIPs into August.

I’ve finished two hibernating sock… The Canute Take 2 Socks and The Lion In Winter Socks. I also frogged The Bernstein socks made with Mountain Colors Barefoot. The pattern was too intricate for the dark variegated yarn. Nothing showed so it wasn’t worth the effort to finish them. And luckily I have not added any additional socks to the Hibernating list, leaving me with a solid 5 pairs of hibernating socks. Oh and I did find the missing yarn behind the TV so one of those pairs that went into hibernation due MIA-Y should be finished sometime soon.

2. I currently have give-or- take 90 skeins worth of sock yarn. Enough to make 90 pairs of socks with lots of remnants. I will not stop buying new sock yarn but what if I can only knit the new after I’ve completed a pair with the stash sock yarn. Imagine if I cut the stash down by 26 skeins? That’d be a good part of a yarn bin free.

I’ve started and finished two pairs of socks from stash yarn, the Opal of My Eye and The Angle Socks. I’ve started a third, forth, and fifth pair from stash yarn, but not yet finished them. I think that’s an excellent push towards utilizing some of my stash yarn. And two of those skeins really did irritate me so I’m glad to see them gone. I did however buy some “new” sock yarn. Try not to be disappointed. I basically replaced the two completed socks with two new skeins. The Opal I showed you earlier this month and a skein of Berroco Sox that is a lavender-fuchsia self stripping delight. I couldn’t resist it. Plus a girl needs to have self stripping yarn for those mindless socks. So no more purchases until I’ve finished these 3 WIPs from stash. Hold me to that!

3. Knit more with DK weight yarn. I’ve never knit a DK weight sock but it couldn’t hurt to make a pair of house socks for The DH, Mum, Dad, & Myself. Those will be quicker than regular socks.

The only DK weight knitting I’ve done lately is shawl knitting. No socks to report on. But I still see some great Christmas Gift Opportunity here.

4. For every full size pair I knit, knit a pair of kids socks. Not baby socks. Those are so small they’re useless. Kids socks that I can give to Sophie or Simon or put away for some future child.

Definitely not keeping up this end of the deal. I can’t help it. I don’t like knitting baby socks. So far this month I’ve knit 3 pairs of socks, added to the 5 from last month and I’m on track to achieve the 52 Pair Plunge. I refuse to stress over not knitting baby socks. I’d much rather stress over where to store the new socks I knit for myself. It’s funny, The Boyfriend and I had to pack up our closets so that the painters can paint the trim white to match the rest of our condo. As I was packing I found that I had more socks (on the shelves not hanging, that’d be crazy if they were hanging.) More socks than all my other under garments combined. That’s a lot of socks! Goodwill did get several pairs of store bought socks that I haven’t worn in years but still, more socks than bras, underwear, slips, undershirts, camisoles, and nylons combined. Soon I’ll have to face the grim reality that those first dozen or so pairs that I knit while I was learning construction and proper fit really need to go. I pass over them time and time again in favor of my newest favorite pair. Poor unloved pink Governess socks, faded Dorchester Farms, and STR rainbow monstrosities. I promise to find you loving homes.

Sorry for that tangent. Back to the point. I’ve done fairly well this month achieving my goals. Ok I’d give myself a 50%, but hey that’s not all bad when you consider the fact that I haven't felt like knitting socks for a good two weeks but I’m still on track to hit the 52 pairs in 52 weeks.