I blame my parents for raising me as a hoarder. Whilst the word does have some negative connotations (think of those sensationalist newspaper items about someone being crushed to death by an avalanche of books in their own home, while sourrounded by their 48 cats), it's not all bad. Those that hoard tend to have grown up without a lot and therefore like to keep stuff around for the 'just in case occasions'. I abhor wasting things and one of the most difficult things that I have to do is throw away food... you know, the 3 stalks of broccoli left over from dinner or the half a sarnie that no one wants). Unfortunately, as I don't own a pig, it's throw stuff away now or put it in the fridge and throw it away after it has turned green.
It's the same way with sock scraps. I save all the bits and pieces, knowing that they will come in handy some day. Most adult ladies sock use about 65-70g of sock weight yarn (unless it's like koigu which you do use up 100g), so there always tends to be some left-over.
So, I hoard them, until I find a use for them. Here is Juta** from Nancy Bush's Folk Knitting in Estonia (I love the cultural bits in the front of the book as much as the patterns.). I'm using Cygnet 4 ply superwash. This is the first sock and with some careful weighing, I ought to manage a second sock from the 50g skein of lilac. I'm surprised by how much I like the way that these 2 colours look together.
There's a story about this pattern, one that demonstrates that I can be a total numpty. I saw the pattern in the book, but couldn't find the first page of instructions. I searched everywhere for the errata and in the end, contacted Interweave Press. Although the site says that they will get back to you in 2-3 days. I was surprised to see an email that evening when I got home from work. Nancy A. wrote me and .... most diplomatically explained that I ought to turn the page since the instructions started on the previous page. Needless to say, I was mortified by my bone-headedness. (Yes, I am college educated but I didn't think to turn the page...which goes to show that a college education (or university educated as they say in the UK) is not a good indicator or intelligence or ability or common-sense) The moral of the story is... turn the page before asking for help... The folks at Interweave, sure are nice.
Thanks to everyone that sent me suggestions on hard-wearing sock yarns. I might also try a 'refootable' sock in the future.
** I wonder if Juta is pronounced with Juta with a 'J' sound, a 'Y' sound or an 'h' sound.
That's a nice sock & a good color combination! I also hoard my leftover sock yarns & still thinking of ways to use it up. Using scraps for toe & heel is a good idea but I just hate the sewing in of more ends later on.
Posted by: Ann at October 16, 2007 11:55 AMI also save all the leftover yarn bits to be used one day. I like the combination of colors you put together for these gorgeous socks.
Posted by: Sarah at October 15, 2007 05:49 PMI, too, am a hoarder. I figure all those leftovers will make an awesome project some day. I love the socks! Those colors go together really well.
Posted by: Sallie at October 15, 2007 05:13 PMI'm with you on the sock yarn. I've yet to try the 'stashbuster spirals' pattern, and there's also a great leftover sockyarn scarf on Ravelry which looks fantastic.
I love blue and lilac together, they look beautiful.
I use all my left over yarn from socks for matching storage bags or kids socks
Posted by: Kat at October 15, 2007 08:31 AMWhat a good idea. Sock yarn leftovers make good baby socks too.
Posted by: Dianne at October 15, 2007 08:03 AMIt took me a while to find those instructions too!
Posted by: dawn at October 14, 2007 10:17 PMI love this sock AND when hoarding pays off :)
As is well documented, I am a hoarder extraordinaire (OPI anyone?) and saved ALL my sock yarn remnants....until someone was making a blanket for her kids out of sock yarn and put a call out for scraps. I sent her my YEARS of scraps (for which she never even said thank you!)
Of course NOW, I want to crochet a scrap yarn blanket...figures, right?
It pays to be a hoarder (or a little OCD, heh!)
Posted by: Debi at October 14, 2007 07:58 PMI'd guess it's Yuta, with the u pronounced like the oo in pool.
Posted by: Kristel at October 14, 2007 07:41 PMI save all my leftover sock yarn too. Not sure if I can combine the colors I've currently got. They're all of the variegated handpainted variety. Purple multi doesn't go with brown multi or a grey/blue/pink/green multi. Oh well, I'll just keep collecting colors!
Thanks for the advice about your Kiri pattern. It's coming along!
Posted by: Stacey at October 14, 2007 07:32 PMI wondered about that name, too. Curious ...
Those two yarn colours do go well. Are they lilac and denim blue? That's how it comes through on my monitor, anyway!
he he he, I like the story of your seach for the previous page ;-) Sounds like something I would do if I really wanted to start THIS pattern, you know!
Oh, and I hoard leftovers as well, and also knit socks with them, whenever I feel like it ;-)
I think your sock is very beautiful!
Duh! Then there was the time I bought several skeins of yarn which had a nice picture of a design that I really liked. I got home and immediately removed a lable strip from one of the skeins; NO pattern instructions on the back! I threw all the skeins back into the bag and went back to the store. The very kind sales clerk pointed out fine-print instructions on the outside of the label -- right below the picture!
Posted by: Bobbi at October 14, 2007 05:19 PMA woman after my own heart, I save all my leftover bits of yarn too. I blame my mother who was brought up in the war and sees any form of waste as a mortal sin.
I am knitting my first moccasin sock (it's not made it to the blog yet) just to see if the ease of refooting it is worth the effort of knitting it.
Posted by: Caroline M at October 14, 2007 04:52 PMI'm all for the saving - good for you for hoarding! And those colours do go together.
Posted by: desiknitter at October 14, 2007 04:31 PMLove the sock - nice use of yarn bits! Yes, I too, have been a numpty (great word!) - 2 different sized needles in a sock and didn't realize it until 1-1/4 socks were finished! The "turn the page" one is also very familiar, as I have to constantly remind students (8-11 years old) to do that very thing. Oh, and "read the words..."
Posted by: Kathy in San Jose at October 14, 2007 03:37 PMthat is a very cool sock, I love the two colours. I too, unfortunately, am a hoarder, its all my parents fault. I am sure all the little bits will come in useful, someday!
Posted by: yvette at October 14, 2007 03:06 PM