Change of Pace

I was getting a little bored with socks, having made 22 pairs as Christmas presents (a few years ago). I longed to productively and purposefully channel creativity brewing deep inside.


First, I made smaller socks from leftover sock yarn. I intended these mini socks to hang on the Christmas tree.




My friends insisted these charmers would make wonderful baby socks if I made two of each instead of just one.


So a bundle of twins were born. Once again, even mini socks get boring after 10 pairs, so I decided baby socks need something else to keep them interesting. What else besides soft, cuddly lizards?!? Named after the places they were born! (Because I often crochet in the car while The Lizard takes me to awesome, eye-popping, jaw-dropping Colorado venues.)


One sock yarn I liked so much, I decided to try designing a baby sweater to go with the baby socks. A neighbor was having her very first baby, and I'd bought some Onesies and blue baby stuff for her first son. I used the Onesies to size the sweater. I remember thinking at the time maybe I wouldn't have to buy baby gifts from now on. I can make my own!


Most socks don't leave enough yarn for a baby sweater, so I decided to try designing a baby hat to match a pair of baby socks.


Then, of course, I had to do a matching adult hat. Because I had to. That meant a couple pairs of Christmas socks included a bonus to keep some very special people warm head to toe! (One even got gloves, too!)


I then decided adult socks should have matching hand warmers. My next craze was fingerless gloves. I personally think they are silly because MY fingers need warmth in the depths of winter, not exposure to cold air! One of my friends explained the love of fingerless mittens: people can't operate their hand-held devices with their fingers, particularly their thumbs, bundled up!


Monster socks, a.k.a Frankenstein socks, made of leftovers from a variety of projects, were the rage at the time, so I had to try my hand at the fad.


Of course, no winter set is complete without a scarf or cowl, so I designed a monster cowl, too, made entirely with leftovers...


...and then after that, a monster vest!




Oh, and somewhere in all that sock madness, I decided to see how small I could go. I made thread sock key chains. I knitted the cuffs with toothpicks. Yes, really. On the bumpy train!


I have a ton more ideas up my sleeve, but my sleeves typically are attached to the collar of working stiff. Hmmm... maybe I need to make a working stiff sleeve. Could always use it as an arm warmer on the bicycle!


the unmade warm silk sleeves (and sweater) await

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