« Exciting Times | Main | It IS Easy Being Green »
June 12, 2007
Man Socks
I think you might already know this but I learned to knit socks so that I would have something to do at our Civil War reenactments. This was back in 2001 and the sock pattern I was using was from the Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society. Back then, they recommended using worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles and truthfully, that was a wonderful way to learn to knit socks. Everything was big enough that I could actually see what I was doing and the learning curve was swift. Unfortunately, I knit that first pair from Lopi and Dale wouldn't wear 'em because they were too scratchy.
I've knit loads of socks since then, including several pair for Dale following that worsted weight pattern, but the one thing I've never knit for him is a pair of socks with sock weight yarn.
Until now, that is.
The pattern is Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. 72 stitches with a 7 inch leg and a 10.5 inch long foot. They took nearly 3 weeks and my usual time for a pair of socks is 2 weeks. You wouldn't think those few extra stitches and inches would make that much of a difference but "man socks" really do take longer.
The yarn is Claudia's Handpaint in the colorway "Boot Camp" and I purchased it from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe. I used 2 skeins of the Claudia's plus part of a skein of Lorna's Laces in Chocolate. I really like the way those contrasting heels and toes look, even if it did mean having a few extra ends to weave in.
I had a 3rd skein of the Boot Camp yarn for justincase but I didn't need it. I came pretty close, though.
I was originally going to keep these a secret from Dale but that's kind of hard to do when you're sitting next to each other on the couch. And he takes a pretty active interest in my knitting so of course he asked who they were for and I couldn't lie to him. He'll have to wait until his birthday at the end of the month to get them, though.
You know, he's getting pretty old. Maybe he'll have forgotten about them by then.
Posted by Carole at June 12, 2007 7:00 AM
Comments
Those are some good looking socks --- I'm sure that he'll love them.
Posted by: Kathy at June 12, 2007 6:44 AM
Comfy socks for the Sherpa Dude. That's an interesting color- must have been fun to knit.
Posted by: Manise at June 12, 2007 6:44 AM
I'll take 'em if he doesn't want 'em. Very nice.
Posted by: DebbieB at June 12, 2007 7:07 AM
Lovely! I've only made worsted man socks...for size 11's! You are a far better woman than I! (plus my dh really doesn't care about what's on his feet!)
Posted by: lisa at June 12, 2007 7:26 AM
Really nice! Somethinf about contrasting heels and toes that really make a terrific difference!
Posted by: Carol at June 12, 2007 7:39 AM
They're hand knit socks! He won't forget. They really do look manly.
Posted by: margene at June 12, 2007 7:40 AM
I really love doing a contrasting heel and toe. Those are great looking socks!
Posted by: Kim at June 12, 2007 8:02 AM
I really love doing a contrasting heel and toe. Those are great looking socks!
Posted by: Kim at June 12, 2007 8:02 AM
Love that colorway...and I agree with you, Man Socks do take longer!!
Posted by: Robin in VA at June 12, 2007 8:03 AM
Those are wonderful socks Carole! I love that colourway and the highlights with the Lorna's - works really well.
It is nice to have a partner who is so attentive and supportive of the knitting isn't it? (Also makes knitting those manly sizes really worth it!)
Posted by: Cynthia at June 12, 2007 8:04 AM
I don't think I knew that was why you learned to knit socks. I don't blame him for not wearing the lopi ;) And can I just say, you're lucky his feet are not larger! Jason's feet are friggin' enORmous. He's overdue for another pair of socks frankly so I suppose he'll have to be next after my Sockapalooza ones.
Posted by: Julie at June 12, 2007 8:18 AM
Ooo love how that color combo works up with that pattern. :D
I'm knitting my first honey socks. The extra stitches take longer for me as well. Plus I ran out of yarn halfway down the foot. Contrasting feet and toes don't bother me though. ;^)
Posted by: KnittyOtter at June 12, 2007 8:35 AM
They're absolutely gorgeous. You've got such a nice sense of color. Lucky Old Dale!!!
Posted by: Kim at June 12, 2007 8:42 AM
Excellent work on using up all the yarn!
Posted by: susan at June 12, 2007 8:44 AM
Those man socks look great. My husband has really big feet so I've only made 2 pairs of socks for him so far. They just seem to take forever.
Posted by: hillary at June 12, 2007 8:56 AM
You can't lie to a spouse about a present? Hmmm....
Nice socks!
Posted by: Chris at June 12, 2007 9:01 AM
They are so manly! Maybe you could use the left over yaran to make sock strings - ya know, like mitten strings. So he can string them together and not loose them and keep them together as a pair! ;-)
Posted by: Deb at June 12, 2007 9:23 AM
Laughing . . . I didn't think his memory was that bad!!
Posted by: --Deb at June 12, 2007 9:32 AM
I like the contrasting yarn. Nice touch. I always envy people with small feet.
Posted by: Judy at June 12, 2007 9:33 AM
Snap! No fair making old jokes on that guy, you know, what's-his-name. (I'm getting up there myself.)
The socks are gorgeous. :-)
Posted by: jessie at June 12, 2007 9:36 AM
Lucky Dale! I knit that pattern for M as well and while it is simpler, it really does take quite a bit more time for those man feet!
Posted by: amanda at June 12, 2007 9:36 AM
Lopi socks? I totally understand why he didn't want to wear them. Those garter-rib socks are beautiful! I love the brown heel and toe!
Posted by: jessica~ at June 12, 2007 9:50 AM
Oooh, very manly! I got started knitting socks by making worsted weight man-boot socks myself; makes me nostalgic.
Posted by: Birdsong at June 12, 2007 9:56 AM
Great socks! And thanks for the warning on the man socks taking longer. I guess I should have logically known, but maybe I was in denial ;). My husbands feet are a good 4 inches longer than mine, so I'll be prepared to work on them a lot longer ;).
Posted by: Meadow at June 12, 2007 10:03 AM
I am in love with this yarn and these socks. They look awesome!
Posted by: J.P. at June 12, 2007 10:10 AM
Man socks definitely take longer - I think it is that way to help the recipient appreciate the sockage more since it's harder to produce ;o)
They look v comfy and the colors are wonderful - the heels and toes are set off perfectly. Great job!
Posted by: JessaLu at June 12, 2007 10:11 AM
hee hee.
i love the heel and toe. nicely done.
joe wears a size 11 shoe. luckily he has issues with socks -- they have to be just right -- so i'm not knitting any for him. ever.... ;)
Posted by: maryse at June 12, 2007 10:14 AM
I like the contrast heel/toe too! I recently made my hubby a pair of socks in a yarn of his choosing -- plain grey tweedy Regia. He has size 10.5 wiiiide feet -- YAWN!
Posted by: Danielle at June 12, 2007 10:16 AM
I'm thinking that Dale won't forget those! They are gorgeous!!!
I have several socks planned with contrasting heels and toes. I love that look!
Posted by: Leah at June 12, 2007 10:20 AM
That's pretty funny (that he may forget about them)! :)
I want to knit some socks for my mom for Christmas. She has size 12 feet and usually buys men's socks and shoes. I think she deserves to have a nice pair of socks. Do you think I'll be able to guess how large to make them? I'm hoping to surprise her with them. I'm glad to know how much yarn they'll probably take.
Posted by: Beth at June 12, 2007 10:28 AM
Very handsome and manly! Dale is gonna be so happy he's gonna want 100 more :)
I love the chocolate heels and toes, great addition!
Posted by: Debi at June 12, 2007 10:29 AM
I don't think it would be possible to knit something for DH on the QT either. He actually picks up on the jargon and everything and stuns that SnB gals when he asks them if they used steeks in their sweaters, LOL!
Those are some fantastic socks and I'm sure Dale will be counting down to his birthday so he can wear them!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool at June 12, 2007 10:38 AM
Gorgeous. LOVE the yarn. I suspect he'll remember THOSE socks by his birthday!
lolol
(((hugs)))
Posted by: knitnana at June 12, 2007 10:48 AM
I was just over at Maryse's -- did I not get the memo that today is pick-on-the-husband day?
Posted by: Lucia at June 12, 2007 10:57 AM
That's a fantastic color combo! I think some boys like the contrasting toes and heels too, whether they know it or not. The only successful man socks I've ever been able to make for mine all had to have that, 'tho the man of the house hasn't seemed to notice yet that those are the only ones he wears.
Posted by: Kellee at June 12, 2007 11:32 AM
Very handsome socks! I love the garter rib pattern.
Posted by: Jennifer at June 12, 2007 11:35 AM
Those socks are gorgeous! I love how you used the brown for the heels and toes.
Man socks really do take forever; poor Chris has only 3 pair to my 15 (not to mention all the gift socks). I think it's time to knit him some more!
Posted by: Julie at June 12, 2007 11:43 AM
Man socks... my own personal Everest! One day I'll reach the summit, I know, but time really seems to slow down while you're at it, doesn't it? ;-)
These are very good--colorful yet Manly--and Dale is lucky to get them. ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. at June 12, 2007 11:59 AM
Those look great! I have big feet (size 11), so we have big socks all around in our house. I am making a pair for my mother right now and wow... size 6's sure are faster! lol!
Posted by: Jess at June 12, 2007 12:10 PM
Love the socks with the contrasting bits!
How could he forget those socks?
Posted by: Cookie at June 12, 2007 12:34 PM
Those socks are great, I love the colorway and the contrasting chocolate bits. I agree, I think the chocolate toes & heels make them more interesting.
Posted by: BigAlice at June 12, 2007 1:57 PM
Just so you know, those aren't only "man" socks. They are also "women with big feet" socks. Like me :)! Now I don't feel so bad about taking longer to make my socks!
Posted by: Lisa at June 12, 2007 2:26 PM
Isn't Claudia's Handpaint wonderful? Those look so good I bet my picky husband would even want them. Nice job!
Posted by: ~Kristie at June 12, 2007 2:43 PM
Worsted Weight on #5's is the best way to learn how to knit a sock! But, oh, your newest man socks are very "pretty!"
Posted by: Lynne at June 12, 2007 3:55 PM
Haha...oh I bet he's going to love that comment! Very handsome socks! You really did cut it close. I like contrasting heels and toes a lot. I don't know why I don't make them that way more often.
Posted by: Karen at June 12, 2007 4:49 PM
Very very nice Carole. Of course he'll love them, especially being fingering weight yarn. My husband will probably drop down dead from the shock when I finally get around to knitting a pair of socks for him. hehe Maybe I should just avoid doing that. Hmm.... :)
Posted by: Laura at June 12, 2007 5:20 PM
Love the socks. Man socks do take more time, but I'm finding that a good pattern makes all the difference. I'm sure Dale is anxiously awaiting his birthday present.
Posted by: Stephanie at June 12, 2007 11:20 PM
you think he'll forget about hand knit socks, in a weight that he could wear them with regular shoes??? does the phrase 'no chance in He#@' mean anything? (grin)
They are so handsome. wonderful. Great job grrl.
Happy early birthday, Dale.
Posted by: Teyani at June 13, 2007 12:54 AM
Very manly man socks! I love 'em!
Posted by: Annie at June 13, 2007 6:20 AM
Gorgeous, gorgeous color, Carole. Wonderful socks (lucky Dale!).
Posted by: Vicki at June 15, 2007 10:16 AM
hahaha! you got me with that last line!
Posted by: anne at June 15, 2007 10:02 PM
Hello! I've been inspired by these socks! I've never done the contrasting toes and heels--is it hard? did you have to change needle sizes for the lorna's laces? what's your choice of join for the yarns on the socks? at what point do you start and end for the heel?
thanks
anita
Posted by: anita at October 22, 2007 1:34 PM
