Mid day sun streams through the canopy, and I am feeling the presence of vernal influences…
The blissful places I have been missing for a while beckon to me…
All winter we have had pelting rain storms one after another, and Northern California is officially declared over the drought while reservoir spillways gush furiously!
Something about the approach of the equinox softens nature to a sweetness indescribable…
So I will leave off and show you the latest I’ve made,
a pair of trail socks!
…with my recent discovery of the snugger heel stitch foot, these socks are now ready for adventure!
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn, in Merlot Heather and Navy
Pattern: Wild Wool Trail Socks , with recent update option of colossally snug heel stitch foot section, my pattern is now completely ‘dialed in’.
Project Details: on Ravelry HERE.
Jenjoyce Design 
These are so neat, I’d never guess that they weren’t shop bought socks!
Oh wow, thanks! 🙂
You make the most tidy things. You are the definition of meticulous. Lovely work, and as always, the best colors. I was worried about you, so quiet up there in your log cabin mansion. Not a peep til the sun peeped out first. All is well, then? Have you needed your Wellies for your Walkies?
Terry, I am not sure why I’ve been so quiet, I have certainly been busy; knitting a lot (and most un-meticulously as possible!) , doing a bit of house work (downsizing material stuff, hauling off to charity shops, and tossing out, etc), knit-trekking too! (thats my new word, knit-trekking!) Like, on the road up here on the mountain! Emma seems to not want to walk so far these days and I am saving the nature sniff-along walks with her, whereas I’m trying to go for a long stretch on the smooth asphalt, and I tell you , this knit-trekking on the road gets a lot of knitting done !
How are you? Feeling the vernal influences too? 🙂
You have been quiet precisely because you have been busy. It sounds like you are operating in three modes: Winter knitting, Spring cleaning and vacation exercising. Very admirable.
Spring…sigh. We haven’t had a proper Winter yet, during which creation rests, and from which we can all burst forth renewed and exuberant. After weeks in the 70s, I’m glad of tonight’s freeze. Then we shall see if we return to a temperate zone with nice seasonal differences.
I am in awe of your knit-trekking! (Excellent coinage.) You really must host a clinic and share your tandem skills with others. If you can, that is; I still suspect you are a savant with a very singular talent. But I’m willing to try. I can always stop and wait and keep Emma company while I sit and knit…I can always try. It will give me the chance to use my favorite ExpoTition query: Will there be Foxes?
You sound happy. I’m glad. :» )
Over…
Gators? In Jawja? Gracious me, no. Atlanta’s in the forest-y foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. I have prayers to banish tornadoes, and we’re mostly too far inland for hurricanes. But I still don’t understand the knit-trekking concept. Do you look at your work or your path? Do you feel your stitches? I guess if I would try it, I would figure it out. But mostly I just don’t know why not stay on my tuffet whilst knitting. :» ) Maybe I’m lazy.
So embarrassed about the alligators comment. Anyway, it sounds lovely there where you live, you probably live at the base of the Appalachian mountains!!! There couldn’t be a better place to begin knit-trekking lassie! Oh, and ‘cabin mansion’ thing… not! I am coming to face the fact that any Knitting @ Altitude gatherings up here will be rare and far-between, as ‘our road’ is a creek bed, real backwoods. Can you believe the AAA truck would NOT come up here to my rescue ???? That says it all.
Awesome socks Jen. 😊
🙂 xx
These look like a cozy pair of socks. Hopefully this weekend’s rain won’t be crazy as we’re heading up to the city tomorrow for brunch with my godsons.
Have a lovely time with the boys. 🙂
gorgeous, some lucky feet have comfort in store for them. you rock
Right, I have yet to sneak by your house on one of my knit-treks! 🙂
Look at that! Stash knitting can be so satisfying & beautiful!
You know I love this pattern, and I will try the heel stitch for the foot section next time.
Does it feel comfortable? Doesn’t it get limp while hiking? I have to try that and test walk them ❤
Petra, I think that the heel stitch is the answer to keeping the arch snug, and I am happy with the socks as they are now. 🙂 I think they are really super comfortable and warm, and if made small enough so they have to stretch a lot and become firmly snug, or after washing a couple times when new, they are indeed lovely to hike in!
Also, it is my opinion that superwash sock yarn being so slippery may be to blame for lack of elasticity of socks in general. I believe the original prototypes of this sock which were knit in pure wool (not superwash /nylon blend) would be the most rugged and elastic.
Having read your comments about which actual fiber to use to knit hiking socks, I would think would matter most, even more than ‘style’ or cushion. I am thinking the old fashioned moth-eaten socks of my parents in their cedar chest were the best ones for lasting. I would like to know more about which ‘pure wool’ yarns you think might be good. Oh, and the socks are beautiful and handsome!
I knit the prototypes with Cascade 220 fingering, 100% wool –no nylon, no silk, or bamboo, or alpaca any other slippery fiber, and not merino ~~ just regular Peruvian grown & spun wool:
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Fingering.htm , and
which in my estimation is the best possible sock yarn available that is not expensive, a timeless quality, and there are a lot of colors to pick from. There are other brands too, but I haven’t tried any.
I would like to add that it is 2ply which is good for strength vs a less desirable single ply. I think it is woolen spun, which is more elastic than worsted spun.
Additionally, although Knit Picks Palette is similar, the Cascade 220 fingering is finer (more yardage per gram) and denser knit than Palette.
And also I have a ball of Isager Highland, which although it is nearly identical to Cascade Fingering 220, it does not seem as springy nor as soft when squishing the ball, and also not as inexpensive. Although I would certainly like to try Isager Highland Fingering wool as I have some of it.
Shall you and I try knitting ourselves a pair of trail socks then , in 100% wool yarn? 🙂