It was cold here over the weekend and my husband stunned me by doing something he has never done before: he asked me for a pair of handknit socks!
My husband prefers classic, simple clothing and he does not really go in for the “wabi-sabi” aesthetic that handknits can have. He’ll take his sweaters machine knit at a fine gauge, thank you very much. Also, he is one of those people who always feels hot. I’m sure you all know someone like that. I’m sort of the opposite—always feeling cold (which is a good way to be for a handknitter who lives in the South!). So as I was putting on my own handmade socks on our cold Saturday morning, I guess he got jealous. After getting over my surprise and flattery at being asked to make these socks, I set about finding some yarn that would work.
These socks are going to have to be soft! But they are also going to be big, dare I say, boring men’s socks, probably in black or dark gray. Therefore, I want them to LAST. The durability factor counted out some of my favorite sock yarns, such as Malabrigo and to some extent Tosh Sock. These just don’t seem to have enough nylon and twist to hold up for years the way my Regias and Sockas do. I know those workhorse yarns are too rough for this project though.
After much time spent online reading yarn reviews on Ravelry (did you know that every single sock yarn is “too splitty”? Sheesh) and even more time spent ogling the goods at various online shops, I decided on the perfect yarn: Knitpicks Stroll.
In my experience, Knitpicks yarns and products are a mixed bag. Sometimes the quality is extremely high and other times, it’s kind of meh. Many times, I’m interested in a yarn and can’t find a color I like. But for this, the yarn is perfect. It is super soft, but it has enough twist and nylon that it should wear well enough as long as I knit at a tight gauge and build in some extra room for shrinking (which I have heard can be an issue). Also, it comes in the perfect heathery gray, saving my poor overworked grad school eyes from the curse of knitting men’s socks in black.
Excited to have a plan coming together, I headed to Knitpicks . . .
And then I found this:
Doh!
If I don’t get this yarn until early March, my husband won’t be wearing these socks until next winter for sure! I’m trying to see if anyone who has two skeins of this in their Ravelry stash will sell/swap with me, but thus far none has shaken loose.
What do all of you wise readers do in this situation? Wait it out? Find a different yarn?
Oh! Aren’t I feeling your pain! I had wanted to knit http://www.knitpicks.com/kits/Lacy_Cocoon_Kit-Grey__D40947.html
and it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
But, because of your post, I checked again and it was back.
I think they said that they were having trouble with the yarn. Maybe keep checking…or call. Sometimes the yarn is available before they say it is.
Sorry, I know that is frustrating!
I love the color. Wish I could help.
And I wish *my* husband would request hand knits.