DVD Signing at Book People

Our local independent book store hosted a DVD signing and sock fashion show to introduce our DVD, The Zen of Socks. We had a great time, and sold quite a few DVDs. We also sold sock kits that included yarn, needles and the DVD. People bought the kits, pulled up a chair, and started knitting! Note the brownies.

My sister Barb decided to buy our Zen of Socks DVD and take up knitting socks. She has knitted before, but is not a basically crafty person. She took her needles and yarn with her on a vacation to Florida. It has entailed several cross-country phone calls, but she has persevered. Last I heard, she was past the heel and heading fast toward the toe. I suspect I might get another call when she hits the kitchener stitch.

I was reading Lida's post about her first pair of socks, and it got me thinking about the first pair of socks I made on fingering yarn. It was just when Opal came out with the computer dyed fair isle type yarn. I bought a beautiful skein and knit socks that I am still wearing today. However, I made several errors that I regret, mainly from ignorance. First, I made the leg portion all ribbed, like a crew sock. This does not show off the pattern the yarn makes to the best advantage. Second, I didn't think about making the socks identical so didn't pay attention to where in the pattern I started the second sock, so my socks are fraternal rather than identical twins. Third, I used #2 needles, and I have since discovered that for myself, socks made on #1 needles fit better. Last, I didn't do a good job of Kitchenering the toes.
So, imagine my pleasure when I found another ball of the exact same yarn that I had used all those years ago. Now I get a chance to knit that yarn again, correcting all my mistakes. How many times do we get a second chance like that?

I am working on a pair of socks for one of my students who will be graduating this spring with a DVM. In her chosen field, large animal medicine, her usual garb is a T shirt and jeans. Consequently, she likes to wear unusual socks to make thing a little more interesting. She has lots of unique socks, but no hand knit ones. I think she will enjoy these. The yarn is Opal, in their Rodeo series. They have several nice color variations in this series. I used # 1 needles and cast on 64 stitches.