The End of Socks

Socks in Progress at the Arabian Sea

First, the sad news. I wasn't able to get together with the Zippy Pins people this last week, we are going to try again this week. I will post their interview after we can finally connect.

Then, the happy news. I get to tell you about my most Courageous Knitting - ever! But before I tell you about that, I should mention why this post is entitled "The End of Socks." I've recently been grieving over two pairs of hand knit socks that have holes in them. Add to that, a little bit of tendonitis hanging on, and you have someone who doesn't want to do knitting on small needles. So I've decided - I'm just not going to knit socks anymore (at least for awhile). I get sad when my socks have holes, and I really don't want to fix them either. Although I love the sock and lace yarns, I think I'd rather go with larger projects now. So I am declaring, THE END OF SOCKS for me. Which will also tie in somewhat to my knitting adventure which you will find out about as you read on.

A year ago, I was either on my way or had just returned home from India. I had been gone for two weeks to go to Goa, India and teach knitting. I had never taught a formal group before and never in another language. What would I start with? What would I bring? Why do they need me to come all the way over and teach?

I found out that the women in Goa did not know how to knit, mostly. Because it is a more tropical area, they didn't have sheep and a fiber community. Also, being from America, I would draw people to come to learn that normally would not do so. Ladies came from as far as two days travel, took time off work and came from different class levels.

At one point, one of the leaders stood up to say that they were women, and their jobs were just as important as men. They needed the support of other women and hoped that they would continue to get together. In the end, they formed their own group that would continue to meet once a month in each others homes. The significance of this is that there are not many groups for women in their area. Much less one that crosses class levels. I felt as if I had a glimpse of a women's revolution that started simply because I showed up with yarn and needles. It didn't matter if I was a good teacher or not, it was only that I came and shared my joy of knitting.

While in India, I of course had brought several projects to work on. One project was a pair of socks. A few of my advanced students were curious about these 2-at-a-time, toe-up, magic loop socks. Not one had seen circular needles before! I showed Lydia (who knew how to knit already) how to knit on the socks. I let her do a few rows, thinking that I could always rip back later. But to my surprise, I could not tell were my stitches ended and hers started.

Lydia trying out sock knitting

I didn't finish the socks on that trip. In fact, I couldn't bring myself to knit on them for months. Each time I would bring them out, memories would surround me. I felt that if I finished the socks, the trip would truly be over. But a couple weeks ago, I found the socks again and found to my surprise, that I could work on them again. I cast off last Friday at Silver Creek Cabin. I wasn't sad to have finished them, because I had made plans. See, I had already decided that I wasn't going to knit socks anymore. These didn't count; they were just finishing work. These socks were going to be framed. I am going to find a shadow box and print some pictures including Lydia knitting on the socks to put in it. It shall be a remembrance of my time there, the wonderful women I met, and an honorable way to end my sock knitting. This is truly the end of socks (at least for now).

The Knitting Class

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Thank you to everyone who responded this last week on your courageous knitting! I hope that you are each inspired to try something new. And now, the winner of the egg! I have ran the RNG and it picked #1. So, Congratulations to Andrea! Please send me your address and I will mail it out to you.

The giveaway this week is a skein of sock yarn. This is Colurophobia Superwash Merino Sock yarn in the colorway, Crazy On You. Just because I'm giving up knitting socks, doesn't mean you have to!

In order to enter for this prize, please reply to this post and tell me where was one place that you knit/crochet/spin that was memorable, or where would you like to? Post your reply by Saturday March 6th midnight, CST. I will use a RNG to pick a reply at random. You are welcome to reply more than once, but only your first reply will be entered. Good luck, and have a fun fiber week!