Challenging Myself

Earlier in the year I set myself a challenge by working on several pairs of socks at the same time hoping I would have them all finished by the end of the year and picturing a full sock drawer holding half a dozen more new pairs socks.

I began by digging out some WIP (Works In Progress) that had become UFO’s (UnFinished Objects). One pair I had started with Malabrigo yarn last year or the year before, not sure, only needed a few more inches on the cuffs to be finished. A couple more pairs had the toe increases finished and were ready for me to knit the foot and one pair only needed the cuffs knitted.

I had two challenges going on. 1. Finish what I had started and put aside for too long and 2. Master knitting 2-at-a-time on the same needle. I’ve been knitting 2-at-a-time for years using separate needles for each sock and really wanted to tackle it again. Guess what? I won! It worked. Challenge completed.

So, I had four pairs of socks to work on and two pairs of them were already on the same needle. I don’t remember doing that. I put each of the other two pairs on one needle and dove in to finish the Malabrigo socks.

Now the Malabrigo socks are finished and I started working on the pair of blue/brown socks in Stroll yarn.

I got these finished and blocked along with the Malabrigo socks.

And somewhere in there amidst all the swapping off to work on socks already on the needle I got a wild hair and decided to cast on for another pair of socks.

Now all I need is a couple of more repeats on the cuffs and I’ll be finished with these socks.

So, like an idiot, I cast on for another pair of socks…

I still have two pairs that need the cuffs finished…that’s them in the middle of the next photo.

I believe I can easily complete my six-pairs-of-socks challenge before the end of the year and I’m thinking about another challenge of some sort. I’ve got a lot of yarn in my stash and the possibilities are endless. Socks are easy. Hats are easy. I can knit stacks of both. Throws are a walk in the park.

I haven’t knitted a sweater for myself in years, mostly due to my rather pear-shaped body, and I really want to give it a try. I’d like a loose, comfy pullover to wear around the house when the weather is cooler. Got to put my thinking cap on…