Won't You Be My Sock Pal?

Although I don't knit socks as frequently as I used to, there's something about fall that makes me want to start a pair of socks. Of course, after you finish that first sock, some of the thrill is gone. I usually get sock #1 off the needles and then think "oh man, I have to do all of that AGAIN???"

In my early sock knitting days, I never suffered from Second Sock Syndrome. I was always ready and willing to knit that second sock right away, no delay. But as the years wore on and I started exploring other projects, I would get distracted by a sweater or a hat or a shawl and that second sock would not be so enticing. For a while, knitting socks two-at-a-time was a good solution to the problem...that is, until I realized that managing two socks on tiny needles using magic loop was majorly aggravating my golfer's (knitter's?) elbow. My last pair of two-at-a-time socks on magic loop took 3 years to finish for that very reason!

One of my Chicago friends who happens to co-own a yarn shop Knit 1 has a brilliant solution to both of my sock knitting problems: Knit 1 Sock Pals! It's part knit-along, part sock swap - everyone gets matched up with a mystery sock pal who will knit your second sock for you. They're using one of my patterns (the Scalloped Rib Socks) and the Little Boxes Socks by Noma Ndlovu; each participant will knit one sock in each pattern, and then they get to keep the one in their preferred color and mail in the other sock for their mystery pal. In January, there will be a Zoom party to reveal the identity of everyone's sock pal. Doesn't that sound fun?

There's more info here, and signups are open between now and Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see everyone's socks!

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