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June 5, 2007
What Happened?
Because it's summer and because Butterfly is not very portable and because I finished my Jaywalkers, I started a new pair of socks. I've still been working on Butterfly when I'm at home, but somehow I've managed to almost complete a sock in a week (is it the yarn? the needles? the pattern? i've never knit a sock this fast in my life).
That is the Retro Rib Sock from Favorite Socks. The yarn is some blue Trekking I bought at least a year ago with the thought of knitting my brother a pair of socks. Well, the time has come. My brother has been quite amused and a little intrigued by the sock knitting I do so I thought I'd just go ahead and knit him a pair. I debated about this pattern. Was it too girly? Was it too fussy? Was it forgiving enough to stretch enough to fit him? The pattern is very simple - a 4 row repeat of knits and purls, but it's a pattern... After the leg I asked Travis what he thought and he said it was ok for a guy. Good to know. I tried it on after the heel and was surprised that it fit me as well as it did. It's a little big and the heel flap is a touch long, but I feel confident it will fit Tait. I saw him the other day (it's an interesting milestone when your baby brother turns 25) and I told him I had started his socks. He was so excited it really made me feel good. I think he will really appreciate the socks.
For the horticulturally brilliant among you, here is a photo of the mystery plant - leaves and all (they tell me you need to see the leaves to identify the plant - who knew)
And in some very exciting garden news - my first ever iris has bloomed!
Comments
It looks like the leaves of a Bleeding Heart to me. Of course, it would then be missing its blooms.
Posted by: Kaitie Tee at June 5, 2007 7:37 AM
That is a great sock pattern - it went really fast when I knit a pair for my husband, too. I'm not a plant genius, but I don't think that's a bleeding heart. (At least the ones in my yard don't have red stems.) To me, the leaves look a little bit like a columbine, but the flowers are wrong.
Posted by: Zarah at June 5, 2007 7:42 AM
Those are some turbo socks! I like that pattern - very guy friendly!
Posted by: stacey at June 5, 2007 8:07 AM
Great socks -- love the colour, and it goes wonderfully with the pattern stitch. It's a columbine -- different varieties have different flowers.
Posted by: Dave at June 5, 2007 8:08 AM
i think those socks are perfect for a 25 year old! they are not at all girly, before i read what was under them i saw the pic and thought, "what a difference from the yarntini, those are kinda masculine!" it is nice he is so excited about them! i also just noticed in the lawn pic from the previous post what a nice view of some distant mountains you have!
Posted by: kaetlyn at June 5, 2007 8:08 AM
Yes, whoever first said Aquilegia (columbine) first, YOU ARE THE WINNER! Here's a link to what seems to be your variety:
http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/product/3587/1
Posted by: Barb Outside Boston at June 5, 2007 8:09 AM
Very nice socks. Suddenly I'm feeling inspired to make a pair for my little brother. Even if he is 31 he's still little to me. I like your iris too. Mine have alreadty been and gone.
Posted by: Hillary at June 5, 2007 8:29 AM
the retro rib is looking great! love that yarn!
the pattern is indeed manly enough - i made them for the husband and even managed to get some lilac into the yarn without getting any complaints.
Posted by: kris at June 5, 2007 8:30 AM
A wonderful sock for your brother! and it looks great in the blue. How nice that he is excited about them too... I wish my family got excited about socks :)
Mystery plant solved! and a lovely iris!
Posted by: Lolly at June 5, 2007 9:00 AM
Yep, I knew that was a Columbine. Nice sock! Socks are great summer knitting.
Posted by: margene at June 5, 2007 9:34 AM
Great sock - FANTASTIC Iris! YAY!
Posted by: Cara at June 5, 2007 10:53 AM
I'm thinking columbine because of the leaves but the flowers didn't really look like columbine. Hmmm.
Posted by: Carole at June 5, 2007 11:12 AM
Definitely a double columbine (the flowers don't look Columbiney but the buds sure do!) Thanks for the pic of the leaves
Posted by: Robyn Red Bird at June 5, 2007 11:25 AM
No clue about the flower, but I love the socks. In my experience, Trekking sock yarn always manages to be perfect for any recipient, and you've chosen a great "manly" pattern to show it off!
Posted by: Sulafaye at June 5, 2007 12:59 PM
Not a sock or Columbine comment, I'm afraid, but rather a 'thank-you' for telling us all about your bread-making ventures lately. I called up the Farmhouse Oatmeal recipe that you've been raving about & made my own 3 loaves this weekend and gave two away to some very happy family members of mine who promptly devoured them. More is certainly coming!
And if you want one of THE best banana bread recipes that I've had in a long time, check out Clotilde's Flambe Banana & Pecan bread - a simple change in preparation yet SO MUCH BETTER than the average garden variety banana bread!!!
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2006/11/
cake_a_la_banane_flambee_et_noix_de_pecan_caramelisees.php
Posted by: Susan B at June 5, 2007 1:23 PM
the socks look great! sadly i know nothing about plants. i have a black thumb. thankfully my husband is a great gardener!
Posted by: gleek at June 5, 2007 3:22 PM
I was doing research on Magic Loop. I see you did that method with the Harry Potter socks, but not these cool socks. Do you prefer the DPN's? I'm looking forward to trying out the magic loop.. any suggestions to sites would be appreciated. I've ordered in the book, but my mom 500 miles away has it. Hard to wait! =)
Sooz
Posted by: sooz at June 5, 2007 3:54 PM
I'm making those for my fiance, and the consensus is that they are very manly :)
Posted by: Theresa at June 5, 2007 4:10 PM
Hurray for first blooms and speedy socks!
Posted by: yaiAnn at June 5, 2007 4:49 PM
I think it is a manly sock, very appropriate. Good work!
Posted by: Knittripps at June 5, 2007 7:56 PM
Your flowers are beautiful and I love the sock. But I have a totaly unrelated question for you. I have just purchased 16 acres and it needs fenceing for my horse kids. I have been reading up on all sorts of fencing but I want opinions too. Is there a type of fencing you would recommend or ones to stay away from? I would realy like your input. Thank you, Heather
Posted by: Heather at June 6, 2007 11:16 AM
The beautiful plant above the iris is what we call in France "Ancolie" it is my favorite flower with so many differents colors and also form of the flower which can be simple or double.
The special from the Alps is blue lavender or black like eggplant, and it is forbidden to pick up
Posted by: cybermamie at June 7, 2007 6:52 AM
since no one else mentioned it, one of the good things about columbine is that they grow quite well in Wyoming, where the growing season is short and perennials are difficult to find and nurture...
Posted by: danielle at June 7, 2007 10:57 AM
Columbine is the mystery guest :-) (but I guess some others have told you that already) They come in a zillion varieties of color and size- and they love to reseed themselves everywhere.
Posted by: Teyani at June 11, 2007 8:56 AM
Hi, The plant in question is in fact a columbine but a different species of it. It is called the Nora Barlow Columbine. I have a zillion of them~
Posted by: Beth at June 18, 2007 6:23 PM
