I have been rendered speechless and am over the moon in love with the mailman right now. Within a space of 36 hours, I have not only received the latest STR package (which the goth chick in me is loving), but also a shipment of yarn from Nordic Fibers (see below) as well as, most significantly, my Single Sock Swap package from Alice of Slipped Stitch. She has spoiled me beyond all belief--the sock is called Rambling Vines and was designed especially for this swap. The yarn is Wensleydale Longwool, from Yorkshire, my ancestral home! She even hand wrote out a chart on graph paper!
Aren't I lucky? Not to be all emo as Tween Thing would say, but when I opened the parcel I wanted to start crying. I couldn't believe that something so beautiful would have been made for me by such a talented knitter. And English chocolate bars and a lovely, baubly i-cord? Alice, you are a wonder. *sigh*
Now my most fervent desire is that my swap partner will experience a bit of the same joy as well...but the pathetic, insecure loser in me is worried that she's going to receive my sock and feel crestfallen, like in junior high gym when you're assigned to have Husky Jeans as your tennis partner and you say 'What???? No fair!!!!'. Flashbacks of middle school aside, I am hoping that my sock doesn't suck. Of course me being me I had to make the whole process 8 times more complicated than it needed to be. I cast on, in order, the Twisted Flower (rats my partner is knitting that for her partner!), the Winding Cable knee socks (knee socks, when you're on a deadline?!), Uptown Boot socks (just didn't look special enough), The Twisted Tweed socks (awesome pattern, wrong yarn) only to settle on the STR Central Air pattern (finally, a winner!). Now if I can just get to the heel...
Despite my fits and starts, I am enjoying the swap, but am also looking forward to future projects. That Cobblestone will be done soon enough, now can you guess what I'm going to be doing with the yarn pictured below?
39 comments:
Holy speechless bat man! That sock is nothing short of incredible, thoughtful and amazing - and you are so deserving! I am so excited for you! And your Central Air is coming along wonderful!
I am officially Extremely Jealous.
Thanks A.LOT! After reading your post, the song Happiest Girl in the Whole USA by Donna Fargo (circa 1972) popped into my head, and I can't get it out! Dude!! That is the awesomest sock I've seen since Flintknits posted her Autumn Aran sock. I wasn't even finished reading before I said to myself, "Self, I MUST have that pattern!" Then I kept reading and realized it was an original.
Oh, and I was always the last one picked for gym class events. I am quite certain your partner will love the sock you send her!
Oh, wow! I'm jealous too. Incredibly so.
Oh wow! Alice has really spoiled you...that sock is beautiful.
Wow! What an extremely generous pal. I know the anxiety you feel about your package to your pal. I'm feeling that way about one I will be sending out, maybe, this coming week. I love the STR kit, too. Are you signing back up?
That is a great sock! I love mail, as long as it's not bills or flyers.
Those are some extremely gorgeous socks -- you are one lucky knitter!
Are we seeing some serious colorwork in your future with all those gorgeous colors?
Lucky, lucky you! That sock is gorgeous!! I'm sure your pal will love the sock you are making for her. You are NOT husky jeans girl!
It looks like there is a bit of colorwork in your future. Those are some beautiful colors.
Wow, you totally hit the SSLM jack pot, didn't you? Also, your pal will *not* be disappointed. And I have no idea what you're planning to make, but it will be fantabuous, if those colors reflect anything. Mmmmm, so wintery!
The sock is amazing - I would be equally touched by the beautiful work, and the hand-written chart! So. beautiful. If I had to guess, I'd say you are knitting the December Lights tam from IK Holiday Gifts! I am also coveting it...sigh.
Beautiful gray sock! And you can have more just like it since you have a chart! Don't know what you are going to knit, but the colors are beautiful.
Damn that is a purty sock. And now you can make your own, too, when those wear out. Look at those tiny little bobblitos. :)
No guesses, but the sock you received *and* the sock you're making look phenomenal!
What a sock!!! NIce tasty treats to go with it too. I am sure your sock will be equally well received, you just have that competitive streak don't you? I am assuming all those yummy colours are for something fairisle, what I have no idea. ANd I was always last for gym, I was 5'10" 110 lbs and had grown so ridiculously fast I had absolutely no coordination, a tall scrawny uberclutz! Still a tiny bit of an uberclutz, but I filled out not too bad ;-D.
Your anxiety about the swap is exactly why I don't do that. I'm afraid the stress of it all would eat a hole in my stomach!
Wow, oh wow! That is one absolutely beautiful sock!
You go and change your mind again girl? I love the colors on the sock your knitting now.
I have no idea what your doing with all that wool!
Great package and a gorgeous sock! I am totally neurotically worried about my partner liking her stuff in exactly the same way. You are not alone in that.
My crystal ball tells me there is colorwork in your future. ;)
Jessica
Great score! After my bout of stress and anxiety over gift socks, I've vowed never to join a sock swap for fear of ulcers and sleepless nights.
Got no clue what you're making with all that purty Norwegian stuff, but it will definitely be cheery. :)
I gasped in awe at that sock!! My god, it's unbelievable!!! Your osck is wonderful too and your pal will be happy to get it. What colorway is that? Watermelon tourmaline. My guess about the many skeins: fair isle????
Alice was my Secret Pal 7, so I can attest to her ability to give the best gifts! Her Rambling Vines pattern is beautiful :)
Oooo, I want to be in a swap too! BOTH socks (rambling vines and central air) are beautiful. No losers here!
Are you making the December Lights Tam? LOVE that pattern. The colours are so cool!!! And you know I'm a fair-isle loving fool...
Possibly a miripoix?
and that is a seriously cool sock.
That sock is effing incredible. So totally stunning. And I am very, very jealous!
I am a huge fan of English chocolate. Cadbury's is the best bar none. Your beautiful sock is a hit, but in case you are still worried accompanying it with chocolate is sure to lessen the blow.
You aren't going to knit mitres are you?
Just got back to catching up on your blog, I've been out of the loop for a bit, started my own cupcake catering. I love your February Sweater, I have the almanac, but can't follow EZ (I have gone dense). I have another grandchild due in two weeks, I've been hunting for a sweater set pattern for the baby, looking for a sweater knit sideways, noo luck so far. Here's hoping my daughter is as lagte with this baby as she was with her first, born last October!! Good to be back, I always enjoy reading your work. Peggy
That is so pretty! I'm feeling a bit nervous about my swap partner not liking what I did for her. Eep. Enjoy! You deserve it!
I was born in Yorkshire :) Alice is truly a great gift giver!! I'm so impressed (if not a little jealous) at the sock. I, too, am experiencing much anxiety about mine, it's going to be too small, the colour will be hated etc. PS, watch out for them wispa's - good stuff.
What an amazing sock! You are such a lucky swap partner. I can't wait to see what the Rauma is for. The colors are wonderful.
Whoa, that is so pretty! I need to turn my heel and get cracking.
Okay, wtf bloglines...I have not been seeing your updates! The sock is awesome!
I need to sign up for swaps! I want yarny goodness in my mailbox! Unfortunately, the only swap I've ever been in has left me very disappointed. It was for blanket squares, and half the squares I received were way off size, and some of them, the knitter didn't even bother to tuck in the ends. Or make them square. Or put any sort of effort into them whatsoever. It was disheartening and turned me off to swaps for a long time. But your sock partner was sure lovely! That's one pretty sock.
Wow - I would totally *heart* your mail carrier too!
That sock is totally amazing! And you totally deserve it :) I can't believe that you'd feel insecure about the sock you'll be sending out! You've got skillz and your sock shows it :) I'm sure your pal will *love* it! You wouldn't be making Mirepoix with that yarn would you? ;)
knittymuggins
yep, pretty damn lucky!! love how much thought went into it...and what thought you are putting into yours.
i can't wait to see what you will be making with the rauma.....fabulous colors.
I love the color of the socks you are working on. What are you using.
I've been admiring those socks on Alice's blog...and now they are *yours*! What a lovely exchange!
I've been admiring those socks on Alice's blog...and now they are *yours*! What a lovely exchange!
What fantastic sock love. Dude!!! And that Finnull-garn is most delicious. Whatcha making, Bacon????
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