Whenever I knit a gift (and I do it fairly often), I’m always pretty paranoid that the recipient won’t like it. I can’t really quell that urge entirely, but I’m definitely not as worried this time.

Pattern: Baroque, by Janice Kang, from Fall 2008 Knitty
Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering, Eggplant, 2.3 hanks
Time Elapsed: (Why do I even write this one anymore?) Awhile…
Notes/Modifications: No real modifications. I knit the large size, and my gauge was a teeny bit tighter (on the order of a quarter-stitch per inch). I knit the ribbed toe instead of the plain stockinette.
These socks are not nearly as difficult as they look. It took me a little while (5 rows?) to get used to the cabling–stitches are re-ordered as usual without a cable needle, but then you also do a “mock cable” on two of the stitches that have been re-ordered. At first I found this to be fiddly, and the yarn splitty, but I hit my groove quickly enough. The second sock did drag on–the leg of the sock represents two run-throughs of the chart, and the foot 2.3 (ish) more. So by the foot of the second sock, I found myself needing to look at the chart, still, because it was juuuuuust complicated enough that I couldn’t remember the whole thing—but also being bored with the chart, because I’d knit the same thing 6.5 times already.
However. I think they’re well worth the patience. I’m more enamored of these socks than almost any other project.

These are for the lovely knitting lady Danielle, who is doing something I can’t imagine because I don’t spin, and spinning me something luscious. Hooray for such enjoyable swaps! Of course, I won’t be able to actually knit her creation until probably December, because I have some ideas waiting to get out of my head first…

…but such is the way of knitting. At least in this house.