Queen of Sock

Over the past couple of months I've been making some discoveries and realizations about my sock knitting. I am the purported sock queen at the yarn store, mostly, I realize, because I teach the basic sock class and am in charge of sock club. However, I seem to have developed (understandably) the reputation of "Queen of Sock". As in, I have trouble finishing a PAIR of socks once I've started them. So far I've joked about this malady of mine, but no more. I've determined it's necessary to fix that reputation, and I've developed a personal challenge to do so.

It's a two part challenge. First, I have committed to finish one pair of socks each month for the next six months, starting in June. Second, I have committed to not buying any sock yarn for six months, also starting in June. A number of terms and conditions apply, for example, all of the socks must be adult socks, and I only have to finish a pair per month, not start AND finish the pair within the month. There are to be no exceptions on the sock yarn buying, however.

The punishments? Well, if I fail to complete a pair of socks in a month, I must donate sock yarn from my stash to an established sock club incentive. If I purchase sock yarn between June and November, my friend Wendy will choose sock yarn from my stash to donate to said incentive.

Ouch.

I'm pumped. I know lots of people are able to knit a pair of socks in a month, there's even a knit-a-long for it. This is my own personal challenge. Some people I know are also joining in the challenge, but they have to set their own challenge and their own rules. I'm bound and determined to succeed and change my title from 'Queen of Sock' to 'Queen of Socks'!

Here's the proposed lineup, however, roster changes may be made as I deem necessary.

Co-worker socks. Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks. Lorna's Laces, Vera colorway. US 2 dpns.

More co-worker socks. Jaywalkers with modified picot edge. Artyarns Ultramerino, pink/white. US 1 dpns.

Store sample socks. Cherry Tree Hill, orange. Basic toe-up pattern. US 2 dpns.

BFF socks. Cable rib pattern from Interweave's 25 Favorite Socks. Claudia's Handpainted, black walnut colorway. US 2 dpns.

Argyle socks. Modified basic sock pattern. Opal and Pace yarns. US 1 dpns and 24" circular.

Arrrgyle socks. Modified basic sock pattern. Chart from Moth Heaven. Pace sock yarn. US 1 dpns and 24" circular.

Scapegoat socks, just in case. Railroad rib pattern. Orange Pace sock yarn. US 2 dpns.

You'll notice I finished the real scapegoat socks last week. There's a reason for that. I'm trying to show I'm serious about this challenge.

You can rest assured knowing that if any of these pairs of socks don't work out, I really have enough sock yarn in the stash to continue this challenge through sometime in 2009. Rest easy, dear ones.

This weekend, though, Kimmie and I are off to the Great Lakes Fiber Festival in Wooster, OH. (There's a reason the not-buying-sock-yarn part doesn't start until June, you know...)