Yes, yes, I know it’s November, but I am certainly still knitting socks. I managed to finish just one of the pairs of socks I set out to knit last month, but since I knew my plans were a little on the unrealistic side, I’m not too broken up about it.
Stepping-Stones.
To recap: I finished the Stepping-Stones for my mum and mailed them (she received them about a week later and said they fit perfectly and were keeping her warm, which is excellent feedback). I really like this pattern, and I have several stashed yarns that would perfect for more pairs (maybe this time for me!) once the mid-winter chill sets in and my feet really need something extra.
I’m farther along now than I was when I took this picture.
All the other socks remain outstanding. I finished the first Saltburn sock and am a cuff and two repeats into the second. I’m knitting these at the rather absurd gauge of 10.5 stitches per inch, so it’s slow-ish going. Why so tight? Well, as with most charted patterns, the jump between sizes is specific (in this case, 9 stitches). I’m knitting the medium size on a smaller needle (rather than the small size on a larger needle) because generally speaking the tighter the gauge the longer they’ll last. I knit a pair of socks at 11 stitches to the inch and, almost two years and a ton of wear later, they’re still in amazing shape. But yeah, it’s slower.
Mushroom Hunting is a perfect, perfect name for this colour.
I’m not as far along on L’s Charade socks – just half-way through the foot of the first sock. These were my transit knitting, but then I started a really good book* and wanted to read both to and from work (for a while there I was reading on the way there and knitting on the way back), so they got put aside, through no fault of their own. The more I knit this colourway, the more I love it, and with only a couple of inches to go before the toe, this sock won’t take long to finish.
So, there you go. In aggregate, I guess I knit four socks, but since the sum greater than its parts, that only adds up to one finished pair. In a surprise twist, though, I did finish the Riverbank cowl! It’s lovely and, while I don’t have and proper photos to post here (and won’t until after it’s gifted), I’ll post some on my Ravelry page once I get around to taking them.
This month looks like more socks, plus a shawl, and since it’s getting ever colder, I might have to take a quick break from the gift knits to whip myself up a hat – I’m thinking this one. What are your November plans? When I left the house today I was wearing hand-knit wool socks, sweater, shawl, and mittens – are covered in wool yet too?
*Edited to add: I fully meant to tell you what the book was – sorry! I was thoroughly captivated by A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. It is so, so wonderful, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Pans & Needles 
It’s certainly getting chilly! I wish I could get such a tight gauge on my socks, I’d have to knit with whatever needle sizes are smaller than zero and I just don’t think my fingers could take it.
Honestly, it has been killing my hands. I can knit about two repeats of the cables and I need to take a break. The stockinette parts are okay, but the cables are a little much.
Your socks look lovely. I had the same problem with being over ambitious with my plans for Socktober! and yes there will be more sock-knitting here this month too 😉
Oooh, that Mushroom Hunting colourway looks delicious! Yesterday was the first day that felt like “winter” this fall and I was certainly covered in wool as well. My November knitting is a continuation of knitting my way through ISLAND – hopefully I can bang out two more projects from there but I’m also hand quilting a bit so that I have competition for my evening crafting time. What are you reading that is keeping you away from transit knitting?
Hah. You know, I added that asterisk with the full intention of naming the book at the bottom and then totally forgot. I was reading A Tale for the Tim Being by Ruth Ozeki (long listed for the Giller). It was so, so excellent.
I love that you’re going to continue knitting through ISLAND. I cast on for Grace in the spring and then got sidetracked, but I fully intend to return to it. What are you planning to knit next?
Ah, thanks for the book title. I’m always on the lookout for good books and the Giller shortlist is usually a good bet.
My next project from ISLAND is the Arbutus cowl, which is currently on the needles. After that it will be the Strathcona scarf and I’m hoping to start on Grace over the Holidays. If you are ready to move on with your own Grace by then we should get together and knit-along!
Oh, that would be excellent! My plan is to pick it up again once my holiday knitting is finished, but I can definitely see myself getting distracts so this would be perfect.
I keep putting together outfits in my head and wishing it was finished already.
11 sts an inch? Wow! I don’t think I’ve gone smaller than maybe 9.5 sts/in. That’s wonderful. I knit on 0’s for most socks, but I’m kind of a loose knitter. I’m unwilling to go for a smaller needle, because I think I’d bend the heck out of it.
Still loving that Mushroom Hunting color…I’ve put it on a wishlist for xmas. Can’t wait to see them all done!
I usually knit socks on a 2.5mm needle, so when I go down to 2.25mm and the yarn is a bit finer (like with Splendor and Malabrigo Sock) my gauge gets very tight. My bamboo needles used to be shaped like rainbows after a pair of socks, but my Signatures stay nice and straight.
I love Signatures! I wish they made 40″ O circs. I’d be all over that.
Gosh, I want to wear all those socks. They all look cozy and wonderful.
Every year I try to see if I can add one more knitted garment towards my goal of being covered in wool. I remember the year that I learned to make socks was particularly exciting. So far I’ve got the sweater, socks, scarf, hat, and mittens. I also have a pair of knitted longies (pants) but they only appear when there is some sort of camping going on. I’m not sure what else I should knit to add to the covered in wool goal!