Other Knitting Related Gifts and the First FO of 2008

In addition to the lovely yarn, I received three knitting books: More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch ( the goddess of socks), The Knitter's Book of Yarn ( which also includes many patterns - who knew?) and The Best of Interweave Knits: Our Favorite Designs from the First Ten Years. I also received two cases for double point needles

from DD#2 who thinks yesterday's post makes her sound mean. I'm very proud of her analytical abilities and wanted to let the world know how well she can do math (Mom was very aware of how much sock yarn she owned).

Although I've owned Sensational Knitted Socks for some time I had not used it until I began my last project. If I were to own only one sock book this would be it as all the basics are there including "recipes" for making many socks in different sizes and gauges. Charlene even has the solution to those pesky gusset holes which had appeared on earlier socks in spite of my best efforts to avoid them. The only flaw I can find with this book is it's binding which does not allow one to easily keep the book open while working. This problem was solved with a visit to my local Kinkos where for $3.99 plus tax I was able to have a spiral binding attached. More Sensational Knitted Socks got the same treatment and I look forward to knitting from its pages as well.

The first finished object of 2008 was begun on Christmas Eve afternoon and I had much time to work on it during the holiday allowing me to finish a pair of socks in a record eight days. The final stitches occured in Washington Dulles airport the evening of January 1 but I was not able to kitchener the toe until I arrived home because my scissors and Chibi were in the checked luggage.

Yarn: Trekking XXL 108

Pattern: Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks

Needles: Size 1

Another pair of socks is on the needles and they are also from Sensational Knitted Socks.