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Knitting Confessions: I’m Scared of Socks

March 27th, 2012

My name is Nadya and I think I have a sock phobia.

I’ve generally played it safe with my projects – scarves, hats, mittens, and the occasional sweater.  I stick to the usual yarns like Cascade and Malabrigo without venturing too far out into the great unknown of Art Yarns or Frog Tree (exotic, I know). My knitting is manageable and mild-mannered.  And I’ve never every tried socks or any pattern using needles smaller than size 4.

It’s too delicate, I tell myself, I’ll never be able to manage it.  It’s too intricate, I think, I wouldn’t be able to keep the pattern straight.  I’ve breezed right through gorgeous sock patterns on Ravelry in the same way vegetarians skip over the burger section of the menu.  But now I figure if I don’t try the hard stuff, what’s the point of this expensive, time-consuming hobby?  Maybe it’s just me growing up.

As a college student, maturity is often thrust upon me – I do all my own laundry now.  I mean, I can even cook myself pasta without burning anything.  I’m beginning to view the world as something I will soon be a part of, and jobs as a necessary, and even exciting, prospect.  University has meant that the last three years saw me grow up and take on adulthood.  Despite all of that, and despite being able to argue with my professors over world issues that baffle the best, I have refused to knit socks.  It seems a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it?

Therefore, to see me through the new year and my new signs of waning adolescence, I have decided it’s high-time to tackle a part of socks.  I’ll start with an easy pattern.  No need to be overly ambitious at the beginning.  I’ve started saving some interesting sock patterns with the idea in mind that I will actually do them one day.  No more great sock experiences will be forgone in the same way as all those mouth-watering gastronomical experiences being vegetarian has denied me.

I’m taking hold of the knitting needles of fierceness this year and I’m gonna make myself a pair of warm, pretty socks.  I’ll do it even if it takes months.

So, if knitting socks is a sign of maturity, what’s lace?

Entry Filed under: Written by Nadya