You know it's time to think about packing it in when the crazy guy in the public park (where you are doing your FO photo shoot, because it's right across from your hotel) stops his ham-fisted rant about the One World Bank and the Endtimes to sheepishly ask you "Hey, what are you doing?" in a very well-mannered, even reasonable tone. Why, I'm taking picture of socks that I made, why do you ask? NOW who's the crazy one?
The Socks That Need No Introduction are finished and I am predictably quite pleased with them. The Socks that Rock Sunstone color has been quite the conversation piece for me as the color seems to attract onlookers droves. "What a gorgeous color!" has been frequently heard as I have been working on these solidly during the past week. It kind of reminds me of my twenties when I used to read the comic book Eight Ball in public and get propositioned by nerdy guys on a regular basis. Such a great pick-up strategy, don't you think? Sadly none of them were old enough to drive, and barely-legal wasn't really my thing anyway...but I had a good thing going there for awhile.
The Specs:
Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A.
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in 'Sunstone'
Needles: HiyaHiya 1.5 circs
Time: Feb.-June 2008
I worked on these during breaks and work stoppages from the correcting I have been doing. One of the people who stopped to admire my knitting was a very gracious French woman who noted that she wished she's learned to tricoter (knit) so she too could have something to tripoter (fiddle with/fondle). The word can also have a slightly dirty connotation, like to feel someone up. Besides the obvious phonic and graphic similarity of these two words, there does appear to be a semantic link as well. It seems to me that it is this notion of fiddling/fondling that does contribute to the appeal of our little hobby. The tactile sensation of knitting is in my mind one of its greatest appeals. It just feels right to have a little something soft between the fingers, doesn't it?
38 comments:
beautiful! yes, knitting soothes my soul.
I totally understand why you had gawkers when you worked on these - they are lovely!
Your Daniel Clowes appreciation is yet one more proof of your coolness. Oh yeah, and the socks are awesome, too!
Another fantastic post. You never fail to teach and amuse. Great socks!
That really is a gorgeous color.
Very nice indeed. You're very brave taking pictures in the park ;)
I knit to keep from twirling my hair, which drives my husband crazy. I've done it all my life (the hair twirling, I mean). I just love the feel of fiber between my fingers.
And yeah, when the crazy guy in the park thinks you're weird, it does give one pause.
Beautiful socks, beautiful photos!
right with you on the tripoter semantics. Love the sunstone colour.
I agree with Kim...I can come to your blog for knitting p0rn AND some interesting information! Thanks!
I want to Tripoter with my tircoter baby!!! Very informative post!
BTW, Thanks for the Louisville Pics in the previous post! I stumbled on your blog today and it was a welcome site to see pics of home!! The Knit Nook is an awesome little store! Can't wait to visit it this summer when we travel to KY for a visit! :)
Gorgeous! Is it dirty if I say "Je voudrais tripoter vos chausettes"?
I love that sort of play on words.
Hé hé je le savais que tu étais une tripoteuse compulsive ;-)
Veeery nice socks. How come I haven't tried that Monckey pattern yet ?!? Stupid!
Loevly socks! and I especially loved the little French linguistics lesson there at the end! Great tidbit :) thanks for sharing!
That colorway is definitely a winner, and Monkeys never disappoint, do they?
My biggest regret in life is not speaking a second language. I wish I had kept of with my French. Sadly, I'm the sterotypical English-centric American.
Hee hee hee, you feel your socks up. Sock perv! Sock perv!
Tee hee, too funny!!! So hand-knit socks will stop a crazy guy mid-rant, huh?
Oooh the french thing is very cool. I def. knit becasue if I didn't I would fidget. I hate just "sitting still".
Your monkeys are beautiful!
They really ARE a lovely color!
Those are gorgeous! I can see why you were stopped so often while knitting them! (I myself have a much-fondled skein of Sunstone in my stash, which I love with all my heart.)
Ahh, Monkeys! My very favorite sock pattern. Yours a re gorgoeus and that yarn is a traffic stopper. At lunch today, I was snapping photos of my grilled cheese sandwich but no one paid any attention. That's NYC for ya. Hey, the Sunstone yarn is kinda the color of the cheese in my grilled cheese.
we knitters can always out-crazy the crazy! lovely color.
Knitting definitely soothes the soul. Lovly socks.
Beautiful, beautiful!! No wonder the crazy guy had to stop and gawk. Definitely fondle-worthy too. :)
You make me feel like knitting more Monkeys! I'm surprised the guy in the park didn't ask for the pattern.
Nice! That color is really pretty, too:)
Ang
love this post. you teach me something every time i stop by!
lovely little socks!
Je suis définitivement une tricoteuse tripoteuse!
And those beautiful orange socks are surely tripotage-worthy!
Yep, it feels right...
Lovely socks- I'm sure they'll feel good on the feet too!
Happy knitting-
ali
They are, of course, gorgeous. And you are so funny, what with the word play and all.
Perect timing, with the knitting in public day coming up - taking pictures of knitting in public could be another knitter gathering:) solidarity! The socks are gorgeous, love the colorway!
Ha, I laughed out loud thinking about you and the soapbox man!
Great sox, summery colour, too. Looks a little like orange ice cream.
Lovely little French lesson you worked into this post. Love it!
Les chaussettes? Magnifiques!
Fabulous!
I love these!!
I adore these socks!! And what a charming little phrase too ;)
knittymuggins
I love your monkey socks! They look like melted creamsicle, very Summery.
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