Deciding which yarn to use has been way more difficult than it should have been! I have a ton of worsted acrylic I could have used, but acrylic on feet… ew. So then it was a matter of deciding which wool to use, and all of the worsted wool I have is too nice to use for socks, especially just sample ones to try it out for the first time.

So I decided on the Copper Corgi that I have. Bought it in Savannah, made some boot toppers from it, but not much else. The dye job came out splotchy, so I was disappointed. It’ll be perfect for this project! I’m holding it double, so things will be a wee bit on the bulky side, but I’m OK with that. It’s really the process that I’m focusing on -- not product.

Cast on with Old Norwegian cast-on. Started with bamboo DPNs, but switched to Boye aluminum and put ChiaoGoo 5s on order.

UPDATE: Finished first sock on 19 September. Had a slight disaster when, starting decreases, I neglected to acknowledge that there was a round 2 that was meant to be knit only. I ended up having to frog back a good 10 rows and pick up all the stitches -- while on pretty heavy pain meds (which is probably why I messed up to begin with, to be honest). But the morning after, I powered through, and now I have one finished sock!

Back on active WIP status - 12/25/14! (I really need these for winter! I can’t wait to get the 2nd one done!!)

UPON COMPLETION: So, once I cast on the 2nd, it took me just about 3 evenings to finish it all up! I’m soooo excited to have gotten this much faster at knitting. I know there are plenty of people out there who could whip out a sock in a day, but compared to where I started, I have come sososososo far. I’m quite happy with my speed.

I’m also really impressed with my stitch pick-ups. The gusset looks so nice and geometric and distinctive from the rest of the sock.

The only little thing that I feel like I need to actively work to improve (as opposed to passively, which will simply come with more experience) is my kitchener stitch at the end. And I do mean at the very end. Right now I’m not quite certain of how to treat the very last stitch, so it left a little loop that I was unable to get rid of except my stretching out the next lowest loop. So I suppose I’ll work to even it out that way, but I’d like to avoid it altogether in the future.

So I’m wearing them right now and they feel sooo very comfy. I’ve gotten used to wearing my husband’s loose, floppy socks or some of mine that are thin and drafty. I can’t remember the last time my feel felt this toasty, but not sweaty, and well-snuggled all over. It makes me want to go pilfer my sock stash and cast on another pair right now! Maybe 2 at a time next time? Sounds like a decent goal!