And they're off

It would seem that Spring has finally arrived.  Not only did we have a beautiful warm sunny day on Saturday, today I woke up with streaming eyes and attractive red blotches all over my face.  Ahh, hayfever.  I love the smell of pollen in the morning.

This weekend was also the weekend of the London Marathon.  I indulged in my own knitting marathon while watching the athletes, celebs and charity runners do their stuff.  Did anyone else see Jade Goody being interviewed with Gordon Ramsey?  The look on Gordon's face when Jade blithley admitted to only having done 4 training sessions, the longest of which involved running for ½ hour, was priceless.  Gordon came in at just over 3½ hours - I wonder how long it took Jade? (Ooops - just seen she collapsed and had to be taken to hospital.  I'm not surprised.)

The results of my own marathon?  My feet were a lot more comfortable at the end of it than those of many the runners yesterday, I'm sure.

Yep, Sockapaloooza socks are done.  I had a quick trying on session before washing and blocking them.

Want the lowdown?

Pattern:  Badcaul - available as part of a trio from Anna.  The pattern is wonderful - clearly written and with a stitch pattern that is easy to remember while still providing variety.  I chose to cable without a cable needle, which is my preferred method for socks.  The only change I would make if I was to do these again would be to make the heel slightly deeper, but that is just a matter of personal preference I think. 

Yarn:   Fleece Artist merino in Jester colourway.  Although both socks were knitted from the same skein, sock number two has significantly more yellow in it than sock one.  I think Jill experienced something similar with her Fleece Artist.  Am I right Jill?

Needles:  2.25mm Surina wooden needles.  These needles look and feel lovely but I found the points a little fragile.  In fact I managed to snap the tip off one while putting the sock into my bag to take to Somerset.  I was able to perform some emergency surgery with an emery board and normal knitting service was soon resumed.

Started:  11th March 2005

Finished:  23rd April 2005 - I blame the mitred squares for the long delay.

Another Sockapaloooza over.  Thanks to Alison for all the hard work in organising and running it.  One more question - When's the next one?

Comments

[Chris]

I like the sound of your marathon MUCH better. Congrats on finishing those lovely socks!

[holly]

Oh dear, i am currently training for a marathon. I hope i do not suffer a similar fate to Jade.

Love the socks. Perhaps i shall knit a pair of "after marathon" socks. I am sure my feet will need it.

[kris]

they are beautiful - yum, fleece artist! hurrah for finished socks!

i have some 2.25mm surina wood dpns as well and have had the same experience with the tips. only i couldn't be bothered to try and fix them - instead i opted for the lots-of-swearing-every-time-the-yarn-snagged solution.

[Dani]

The socks are lovely and even with the extra yellow in one (which to be honest I didnt even see) the color is just gorgeous!! Lucky pal!!

And so funny you mentioned the next Sockapaloooza! I finished my pair the other day and had the very same thought! *S*

[Tracy]

Argh I agree, there's nothing so annoying as the snagging of gorgeous, soft yarn on sock needles. Mine were surina too, funny that. Maybe we had a dodgy batch?
Jade didn't look too good did she? I saw her at 11 miles and she was walking then. Apparently she looked like she was turning blue and steaming from overheating, maybe one too many take aways and not enough training going on there me thinks.

[Jill]

Me too, pass the tissues.....Saturday was the first day for me, big horse chestnut tree in next doors garden came into flower, that's what always starts me off! I am going to undo my Fleece Artist socks, they were made from two skeins in the same colourway, but they look completely different. And they are too big, so shall try Wendy Johnson's toe-up pattern - do you remember, I said my New Year's Resolution was to knit a pair of toe-up socks I was happy with......

[Hazel]

Those socks are lovely. Oh, the possibilities - all those wonderful sock patterns and gorgeous sock yarns!

[dawn]

Lovely socks, wonder if I'll have the same colour effect? I found the surina dps splintered! Having said that I received a pair of short 4.5mm needles which are great, maybe it's the size of the needles?

I see the yardage looks fine as well.

[Emma]

Great socks. I love the colors! Your sock pal should be pleased.

[patti]

Those socks are GORGEOUS!! I love the pattern, the yarn....it is going to hurt to give them away, isn't it :)
Here the pollen is so thick that you can see a yellow film over all of the cars if you don't wash them EVERY day. UGH.

[Laura]

Those are really beautiful. That's the next pattern on my socks-to-knit list. :) Someone is going to be very happy with their socks!

[Jeanne]

My Surina 2mm set had a wonky one too, which both split on one end and bent like crazy. I wonderered if it was me, but most of the others in the set are still nice and straight. (I did notice that they are NOT all 2mm, either, by the way. Caveat emptor.)

But congratulations on your marathon win!

[libraryliz]

Mary,
Those socks are really beautiful!

[bfmomma]

oooh... pretty! I love the pattern!

[Carina]

OHHH!!! They are gorgeous! Just LOVE them!
Hm.... I heard something about socks going over the Atlantic.... That means they could be for me, right? :)

[Beth S.]

Those are gorgeous. Fleece Artist--of course! What else could be that pretty? (Though Anna's great pattern certainly helps. ;-)

[HPNY knits]

lovely socks!! the yellow/blue differences only makes them more of a pair, like twins, but not identical... Not clones...

[Dee]

Ooh, they are yummy!

[pixie]

oye oye oye! I'm trying to finish my socks up but having drama, I'm GOING TO DO IT!! I'll be trying all week :(

[Philippa]

Thanks for the link to Jade Goody on Wikipedia; gave me a chuckle. Lovely socks, too.

[Mandy]

Really. Cool Yarn. Really. Cool Pattern. Really. Lucky Sockpal. Congrats and very nice job.