Monday FO, Long Overdue

I kept meaning to post about this FO, but obviously didn't get around to it until now.  Not that you were worried or anything, right?

Project:  Don't Match Socks

Pattern:  My usual vanilla pattern

Needles:  US size 1 for the cuff, heel, and toe; US size 0 for the leg and foot

Yarn:  Cozy Knitter Bliss, in the Grocery Girls Edition colorway

Notes:  I have not broken my No Yarn Buying rule for a while, and then again, not even that often, but when I saw this yarn, I knew I wanted to have it!  The colors are just so very cheery, and plus I love striped socks (well, striped anything really).  So I ordered it and was thrilled when I arrived.

This is just my plain vanilla sock recipe - 15 rows 2 x 2 rib, stockinette leg, and regular toe.  This time though, I tried a heel pattern that was new to me, and it was a lot of fun!  I used this tutorial from Denise of Earthtones Girl.  At the time, I had only seen the version where you stayed with one color, but I went ahead and figured out what I wanted to do for the contrasting color to make it work.  Since then, she has come out with a video for the Shadow Wrap Heel using contrasting color, but I haven't watched it, since my version worked.  I'll probably check it out sometime, though.

The Shadow Wrap Heel was actually much easier than I was expecting it to be.  Needless to say, mine are a bit sloppy, though the second sock has a better version than the first sock, of course.  But it was the first time I tried it, and I'm pleased with how well I did.  And since the socks are for me, perfection is not an absolute.  😊

I liked working it, and it fits nicely.  I can't say I'll always use this heel instead of the gusset and heel flap that is more or less my go-to, but this was a nice variation for me, since I've never enjoyed working afterthought heels, but have sometimes wished I could get the look with contrasting yarn.

Anyway, this yarn was a pleasure to knit with, and these socks went pretty quickly.  Another thing I like about striped socks, since I at least am always thinking, "Well, I'll do one more color before I finish for today."

This was my first time using yarn from the Cozy Knitter, and I'm glad I liked it, because I managed to order one of her 24-stripe Christmas skeins back in July.  If I would have been annoyed at the yarn, I would have been more annoyed at myself for ordering the holiday one!

As you can see, they don't completely match.  I had no desire to have them match, frankly, so whatever happened with the stripes was fine with me.  They are just such happy colors, I know that just putting them on will make me smile!