Wooo! My yarns came for Sockmas!
They actually came on Halloween, which was a nice treat for me. I've been anxiously waiting to show them off and tell you about the pattern I picked ever since. That moment has finally arrived!
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The Yarn
The theme for Love In Stitches Sockmas this year is "Classic Christmas." It only really applies to the sponsors Natalie had for the project bags and yarn kits curated for the event, however it could be applied to your socks if you want. I initially decided to loosely hang my project on that idea and was thinking more winter-friendly and less Christmas-heavy. But my plan changed quickly. I'll get to that.
Enter Miss Babs Yarn.
I first saw her yarn through an Instagram ad. It certainly worked because I ended up on her site, oogling over the Rhinebeck 2022 colorway that ad was showing off. That colorway is called "Harvest Plenty" if you're interested. I'm still eyeing it but haven't committed to ordering.
Her yarns are super popular in the fiber world it seems, and I can understand why. She offers a lot of bases for her colorways, and a lot of pretty color varieties with fast shipping. I chose to get my yarns on her Putnam base because it's meant for sock-making.
A few days after ordering, my yarns came beautifully-wrapped with a couple extra goodies in tow. Included was a sample hank of a different colorway to swatch with, and a little stitch marker! It was a nice touch.
Enough about the packaging; are you ready for the yarns?
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Ta da! I'm in love!
I have to come clean though: these are not my first-pick colors.
I initially chose a colorway called Apple Season for the main body of my socks. It was actually Miss Babs' special colorway for Rhinebeck in 2020. It has gorgeous speckles of green, browns, and reddy pinks on a white base. Online, it looked like what cool, peppermint-filled air with a touch of pine smells like to me. When I got it though, I realized it was too purple-pink for my winter dreams, so back to Miss Babs I went.
That's when Tucked Away came to the rescue.
I admit, it's a lot more Christmas-heavy than I originally wanted. It makes me picture a foggy Christmas evening after dinner has been eaten and guests have said their goodbyes. I think of putting my feet up and finally getting a chance to relax in a quiet home with a book. There's a cozy Christmas library to disappear into when I look at this colorway...
I think I'll call my socks "Bookish Christmas" from now on.
My contrast color is Sempervirens.
I recently learned that it means "always flourishing," and for plants, it means "evergreen." How perfect for Sockmas socks! It's now a firm nod to Christmas trees and holiday wreaths.
This color was part of my initial order with Apple Season. It pairs way better with Tucked Away as a contrast though.
"But I can't see where the contrast is going!"
Ah, I'm glad you said something! Let me show you:
The Pattern
I chose "The Camp Socks" by Darling J'Adore of Ravelry.
When I think of a camp, my mind goes straight to our family's cabin in Maine. I think of the cold hardwood floors on chilly mornings that need thick, toasty socks to walk across. I think of cuddling up on the porch during a rainstorm with a blanket and a book. The camp is closed before winter, but I still think of it tucked against the rocky shoreline in a delicate layer of snow.
Beyond its personally-endearing name, I picked this sock pattern because it's listed as "first time sock-maker friendly" (not in those exact words, but pretty close!). I need beginner-friendly all day long for my first pair of socks. She has video tutorials to help, too.
I also picked it for the little bit of contrast the socks have on the toe, heel, and cuff. I was suggested another pattern that didn't have this detailing, but I couldn't part with the added interest. I like the "classic sock" look. It's possible I could alter the other pattern to include these color blocks, but I don't want to mess with that on my first pair.
Other Prep Musings
I'm excited for the cast-on party November 25th. I'm looking forward to the collective happy energy that time will bring as first-timers like me get to start knitting with Sockmas veterans all over the country and world. It'll feel nice to be part of a small event like this.
I admit though that I am concerned about the needle size. I'm currently working with US1 double-points for my Sockmas yarn cozies, and it hurts my hands. I hope to work smarter and healthier this make-along by spacing out my knitting time and taking breaks more often.
I also don't want to swatch. That's living dangerously in the knitted wearables world. Gauge is very important when doing things that need to fit a certain way. I'm thinking I'll be okay because The Camp Socks pattern is one-size, fitting adult women size 6-9.5, so slightly tighter or looser stitches won't affect fit too greatly. I have a feeling my gauge will be on the tighter side because I have a tendency to hold my needles and yarn taut when learning a new pattern. Blocking may fix it a bit...
Which brings me to a sock-related notion: sock blockers! I don't have a pair. I'm eyeing a few on Etsy, and I should probably get a set before Sockmas is over to properly shape my first socks. I'm not sure whether to get an adjustable set or fixed sizes. Hopefully I'll decide soon to avoid any holiday shipping delays.
Despite a few worries, I'm ready for this Sockmas adventure. Bookish Christmas Socks, here I come!
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