These socks took five years to knit. Well, not really five total years, but five years in the making from the original thought/offer to fruition. The first time I met my stylist, the one who has worked on all the books with me, Mark, somehow the topic of socks came up and then next thing I knew I was falling all over myself offering to knit him some socks.
What was I thinking? This guy is over six feet tall and must have size 12 feet. After I noticed these things, I turned coy and asked him all about his family. Does he have a (tiny) mom? a (tiny) sister?
Yes! A tiny mom, he reported. I decided that I will make her socks and he'll totally forget about the ones he wanted in the first place! Yes, tiny socks! Quick socks! Yes. Quick socks!
And so I did.
These were a breeze. I sent them off, all wrapped up in tissue paper thinking that I was all done. That I didn't need to knit any more socks for anyone unless I absolutely had to. I mean, I had a book to write and stuff to knit for the book, right? I sent them off and she loved them. I even got a nice card, thanking me. Mark commented a couple times that she would tuck them into the drawer, nicely folded, and didn't want to wear them because they were too nice to wear. Oy. And then another book came and he asked me again if I would knit a pair for him.
Glutton for punishment, I said "Hell yes." (I didn't even shrug. I just spurted: "Yes!")
Aw crap. So, I took another look at his feet: Really big. I then decided these would take some time and they should accompany me everywhere. Through the years, they have been with me to Phoenix, Denver and Mount Washington. They have been with me to Calabassas, even in the same parking lot our guy Justin Beiber valiantly fought off a paparazzo. They have been with me on a south bound train. They have been with me on my patio (hence the dog hair). They have been with me during Girlfriend's violin lessons. They have been with me for the longest time. In fact, while we were driving on the 101 to Sherman Oaks for lunch with my sister and her family and while I was finally seaming the toe today, I got sorta sad.
What will I knit next?
There's nothing on the needles!
Someday, I'll wear pajamas in the daytime.
(Oh wait: I already do.)
I love my friend, Mark. These were totally worth it. And if he never wears them I will show up on his doorstep at 4:00 a.m. for no reason at all and demand mashed potatoes with extra butter.
(Shibui Sock Yarn. Color unknown. It looks brown to me and it is fabulous)
They look great! (Pretty sure that color is #7533 "Bark" and is discontinued.)
Posted by: Chelsea the Yarngeek | May 28, 2012 at 09:41 PM
Can I have a pair?
Posted by: Chloe | May 28, 2012 at 10:27 PM
My husband is 6' 7", and has UK size 13 feet...I sort of wish I never made him the first pair, as he's now addicted to knitted socks (and won't learn to knit either!)
Posted by: Fi | May 29, 2012 at 04:33 AM
my husband is the same way...he has us 13 wides...yes I said wides...and I have to special mathy figure things out to accomidate the shaping....*sigh* every christmas....at least he's knitworthy right?
Posted by: amy | May 29, 2012 at 05:20 AM
just finished a pair of socks for my husbands size 11. He wears his socks until they are filled with holes. Last year I thought I would make a pair for a friend who was helping me with photography. I found a wonderful hand dyed wool from a local vendor at my farmer's market... after making pair after pair of socks, I just couldn't do it. For months I tried, today the yarn is a hat I throw on in the morning for walks. best.laid.plans....
Posted by: robinvk | May 29, 2012 at 07:09 AM
I have a husband, a son, and a father-in-law with size 12 feet...and they all want socks. Let's just say that their socks from Christmas 2011 are still on the needles, lol. And in the interest of full disclosure, I plan to direct them to this post if the complain about how late their socks are ;)
Posted by: Cambria Washington | May 29, 2012 at 07:54 AM
Fabulous and thank God my size 11 husband has no interest!
Posted by: Patty | May 29, 2012 at 08:05 AM
When you're wearing those pajamas in the daytime will you listen to t.s. Elliott?? Crash text dummies ....fav. great socks.
I have a coat on my needles that will take at least that long!
Posted by: pam | May 29, 2012 at 08:06 AM
You are a good, good friend. I think every handknit gift should come with a tag that tells how many hours it took to create. I hope Mark knows how much you much like him to be willing to do this!
Posted by: Bonnie | May 29, 2012 at 09:22 AM
handsome!
Posted by: Dawna | May 29, 2012 at 08:44 PM
Shibui Sock, lovely stuff! I made some hats for a coworker's grandbaby, from some pastel Shibui Sock -- and I've saved every scrap that was left! I also used it to demonstrate to DH the difference between "cheap" fingering yarn & the Good Stuff. He was amazed there was such a difference. And Shibui isn't even that much more expensive--c'mon, it ain't cashmere!
Posted by: CeltChick | May 31, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Great thing. Hand made stuff always more valuable than machine made. Thanks for sharing your nice experience.
Posted by: Rendon | May 31, 2012 at 08:26 PM
Hoosier's a SO cool! Some of the nicer ones are like a little baking station with specific bins for spices, sugar and flower. They definitely evoke a time gone by with their detail to workmanship. There's no wonder that some of the more pristine sell for thousands of dollars. You just have to have a really BIG kitchen to house one.
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Posted by: Oakley frogskins | June 04, 2012 at 07:42 AM
These sound like my son's Kilt socks. Need to have the second one done by the time he leaves for Denmark on June 16!!! First one took over a year, Yikes
Posted by: elise | June 04, 2012 at 01:02 PM