Sock happiness.

Hello, it's me, your spotty sock loving lady, (try saying that without tripping).

I've been saving this spotty sock subject matter for just the right moment.

Actually, the truth is, I was going to take a load of photos of my feet modelling these socks, with various coloured trainers, but that hasn't been 'got round to', and I'm ever so keen to show you these socks. These socks my very generous husband bought me. I thank my lucky stars I have a husband who is prepared to spend lots of money on socks, how many husbands would understand, and actively welcome sock loving? And buy this boxed set of socks?

This box set of spotty socks from Boden. 

I must admit, I did drop a casual "how would you feel about buying me the most gorgeous socks ever?" And I warned him that they were very expensive, and would he like to take a look at these ever so lovely socks on the Boden site. The fact that I rarely, if ever, ask Hugo to buy me something, other than for Christmas and Birthdays, went very much in my favour, because he realised I REALLY REALLY wanted these socks. (I wonder how much time should elapse before I repeat this? Five years maybe? When I want to, and with important things like this, I have a razor sharp memory. Shame it doesn't stay razor sharp at other times).

I do like my socks, you may recall from a couple of posts I've done in the past. I like Mr. Sock-man's stall in the Wednesday market. He didn't seem phased by my request to photograph his socks, infact he seemed quite proud of his socks, and tried to give me a bit of directing in where I should take my photos from.

He was ever so keen that I photograph his stall as a whole, which I did dutifully.

Shall we get back to looking at my spot socks?

I love these colours, especially the brighter colours. When I wear the brown socks, it will have to be with my battered old turquoise trainers, because I think that brown and turquoise contrast nicely.

It's very difficult to choose a favourite amongst these pairs, too difficult. 

I do love the green and purple combinations.

The coral and turquoise pairs do it for me too.

And what better visual exercise can there be, than  finding yarn that mimics the colours in some of my socks? 

Did I actually say it?

I LOVE these socks.

LOVE 'em LOVE 'em LOVE 'em.

But there's just one thing, although I'm a knitter, and I have knitted myself one pair of socks, knitting socks just isn't my cup of tea. I always feel that, after all that knitting work, I would want my efforts to be visible, and socks are on the subtler side of subtle. My tastes lie on the louder side of loud. I don't want my knitting to be hidden away in my shoes.

There's a very nice lady at my knitting group, who only ever knitted socks. She was obsessed with knitting socks, and used to knit them every waking moment. She'd arrive at the knitting group, wearing a pair of her hand knitted socks and a bright green pair of shoes, and I thought they were wonderful.

Then she stopped turning up to our Wednesday night knitting group.

Many, many months later, she returned, and after returning a few more times, (and my noticing that she was now knitting jumpers and cardigans, on large needles, not socks), I tentatively asked why she'd not been coming to our knitting group. Well, one reason was that the group clashed with a fundraising event that she was doing every Wednesday. But the other reason was that she had to stop knitting. She couldn't hold the needles to knit. Knitting was painful. She had done so much sock knitting, (and that is mostly done on thin little double pointed needles), that she'd got a condition where it was too painful to knit. (At this point in her story, I GASPED with horror, I can tell you). When she recovered, the doctor advised her not to knit with tiny needles, or the pain might return. I think she was off work for two months with the pain, so if the pain was to return it would be disastrous.

So she's now knitting things on a much larger scale.

One evening, she said something which I thought was interesting. She said that people now comment on her knitting, they never used to when she knitted socks.

And that is precisely why I don't knit socks. I'm a sucker for praise, and I like people to comment (preferably nice comments), on my knitting, and to do that, they need to be able to see the knitting in question. That's not so easy when your socks are tucked into your shoes, and under a trouser leg.

Don't get me wrong, I think knitted socks are gorgeous, and was very happy to receive a pair, knitted just for me, from my Mother-in-Law, Susan. I just don't like knitting them myself. I wonder if people who love to knit socks are attracted to the speed of achieving a finished project? For them, it's not about people seeing their endeavors, they just get huge satisfaction from having completed a pair of socks in a fraction of the time it takes to finish a sweater.

Maybe sock knitters are the sprinters of the knitting world, and sweater knitters are the long-distance runners? I'm a long distance runner myself.

Just before I leave you to go to my Wednesday night knitting group, I'd just like to share a lovely message with you. This relates to yesterday's post, and the subject of very nice messages I've received by people who have bought my paintings. Lorraine bought a painting from me recently.

When she e-mailed me on receiving her painting, she hadn't read my blog post from yesterday, so she wasn't in the least bit prompted to write the things she did. I asked her if I could include her message in a post, and she was happy for me to do that. I want to include it in todays post, because, well, it's just rather wonderful, I think you'll agree. Here it is.

Hi Vanessa,
  Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU!!  My little heart skipped a beat when my beautifully presented painting (these little touches mean so much) arrived today - how excited was I to receive this delightful work of art - I love, love LOVE IT!!!!
  I knew it would look perfect in my living room and it really does.  My day, which had been on the down side, was lifted beyond my dreams.  How delicate are the winter berries in that beautiful little oriental teacup...just perfect -
 So imagine my surprise when I looked on your blog just now -WOW!!!  My poor little heart nearly jumped out of my ribcage and cartwheeled around the room - How gorgeous to see my pretty parcel, so carefully wrapped with my lovely label - Thank you, thank you , thank you!Please keep inspiring and generously sharing your colourful life with us.
 Love and blessings,
 Lorraine xxx

I think that's a very heart warming message, don't you?

Well, dear readers, before I go, let me thank you for all your lovely comments on yesterday's post. I appreciate them enormously, but you already know that don't you? Still, I like to say it anyway.  Cheerio, I'm off to knitting. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Diane]

I love the socks and the fact that you matched your yarn to them!
Please take a minute to check out my Etsy Store:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftydiane
Thank you and Have a Blessed Day,
Diane

[lucy]

How much do I love that you have yarn to match your socks?!

[Sissel]

oh, i love those socks too. in fact i bought them early this fall. they make me happy! so glad to see that you like them too. the yarn looks so lovely. what to you plan to knit/chrochet?

[TheMadHouse]

I have been lusting over those socks since I got Jonny's catalogue. I am hoping they reduce them in the January sale and someone gives me some pennies from Father Christmas!!

[Steel]

Those Boden socks were worth every penny - I'm a sucker for the blue pair.

I feel the same about knitted socks - they end up tucked away and no-one sees them. There's one more thing about knitted socks I see blogged about now and then - eventually they get big holes in the heels and they're usually beyond repair by then.

[wonderwoman]

i do love socks but i hate knitting them - tried once, failed miserably!!!! i love your paintings , they are absolutely gorgeous!

xx

[Becks]

I love your spotty socks! I love knitted socks too but they take me ever such a long time that I don't make them often. I did do a pair in 2 days for a holiday deadline once but that put me off for a long time. I find it quicker to knit a big chunky sweater than a teensy pair of socks........or maybe thats just me?
I have to say too, your colourful pictures realy cheer me up on a low day.
xx

[Charlene]

I love the socks :) Australia is so boring when it comes to socks!!!

[annri]

I've been pondering those socks for weeks, and now upon seeing yours, I've decided that indeed they will be mine too! Seeing yours and reading how happy they make you feet remind me that even though I happily knit many socks, socks in general, all types, make me very happy. Winter is long and grey, happy socks will be necessary!

[Kelly]

I don't think there is anything better than these fun socks! Yeah you! ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Pipany]

Hi Vanessa. My sock knitting could hardly be called a sprint, more of a slow crawl! Ah well, I tried. There is something lovely about knitting socks, but I need a mix of projects (though have finally stopped having several knitting projects on the go at once and enjoy seeing one through to completion before starting the next). having said that, I do have sewing, knitting and other craft things underway so that there is something for any mood. I do love your sock collection and the way they are packaged makes them even more lovely x

[Penny]

I've been lusting after those socks in the catalogue too!I love the way you've shown them here; the close up shows just how warm and snuggly they must be. I like knitting socks. I like being able to tuck everything in my bag or pocket to get out on the bus, and that the little needles become an extension of your fingers. But I DO struggle with having to make two the same, so I have to intersperse the sock knitting with other things to keep me going!Px(Planet Penny)

[gill]

hi vanessa
well i do loooove your spotty socks but as for knitting a pair - no way!! i'm a novice crocheter and have no inclination to knit.
i'd rather just admire someone else's work
hope you enjoyed your knitting group!
take care
gill xx

[paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com]

Those socks are enviable - Boden know their colour's don't they? You could start walking in a Monty Python high kick style to get more people noticing your lovely new socks!

[Catherine]

Ooooh I've clicked straight on the link to Boden to find some similar socks for myself!! Lovely colours!

[Sarah - Jane down the lane]

You really socked it to me Vanessa! Tee hee!

I am right with you on the socks, I have a box too which I like to think was free as I purchased it as part of one their offers! I havent however got the most beautiful and matching yarn collection, it looks fantastic the way you have put it together,

Sarah x

[serenknitity]

Great spotty socks!

I knit socks obsessively. I start off thinking I'll gift them, then when I've finished (it usually takes two weeks of telly knitting) I can't give them away, I want to keep them. My family won't wear them very often (too hot, too itchy) so I've got a lovely drawer full. I'm the first one with my boots off when I visit friends!

It's a worrying addiction, however, so now I'm making fingerless 'Knucks' gloves and all sorts of hats (which I don't wear) for gifts. Love your site!

[Jacqueline]

Almost without exception, I have a drawerful of black socks. Some of them have patterned soles, but the body of them is black. A lot of my clothes are black as well. I probably should take a leaf out of your book, and be a bit more colourful. I loved the first picture, with your socks matched to your wool.

[Helen Lambert]

hi V first - I am going to order those socks for me NOW...I missed them on the website....Pete always wears their shirts not socks...he wears boring socks...and secondly i always have a pair of socks on the go and Ihave knit tons...i was inspired by dumbledore from harry Potter...my desire is to have a pair for each day of the wek for each member of the family apart from alfie...I love sock so simple and yet give so much pleasure and socks with spots...bliss

[Sarah]

Those socks are to die for. I love socks too and thought I was the only one in the world who went mad for them. Mine at this time of year don't get the recognition they deserve as I'm usually wearing boots till Spring!

[Mildawg]

I can tell why you love those socks -- they look great. And matching yarn: brilliant!

[Erica K]

How incredibly sweet of Hugo to buy you those wonderful socks! I love them...they look so soft!

I rather enjoy knitting socks...more than anything else. It's not the speed, but the ever-changing stitches. I do the magic loop method so I'm always changing needles, then you get to the heel, then the toe...I get very bored knitting the same stitches back and forth, back and forth...

Also, I wear clogs, and you can see my socks! :)

[Karima]

I love your socks. I try to buy socks in all types of color if I can find them. Girl I have a lot of socks. I think I'll check out that boden site. About knitting socks: I just started to knit them. I've made one pair in a bright red. I love them. I will be knitting more. For me its more being able to create a sock. I also like to knit gloves(fingers and all). Also for me sock and gloves are quick. The thought if knitting a sweater is just to much for me.

[Jordan Hydro]

Your post are so good, I suggest that you can add some videos or something like that!

[Jordan Hydro]

Your post are so good, I suggest that you can add some videos or something like that!

[Jordan Retro 4]

Hi, lady say.To remove duplicate content a say, just sign in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the possibility to view or rub out them.

[Jambaroo]

:) This is a page full of things that make me smiles... pictures full of colour texture and pattern! Makes me want to knit!