So I read my sock pal's preferences and I immediately thought of a perfect yarn I already had in my stash, which is in just the colors she said she liked. After a few days of ruminating what keeps coming to mind is a mosaic sock in two colors, with this beautiful blue-green combo set off against black. (The greens don't really come out in this picture.)
Here's my dilemma, though: my sock pal is a real sock-yarn connoisseur, and this isn't a particularly marquee yarn. It's an Italian wool (70%) and polyamide blend, but it isn't Koigu or Schaefer or silk or mohair or handpainted or any of the other special yarns we all know and love.
So that's my question: if I really want to spoil my sock pal, should I get some new and finer yarn? I would love to try Lorna's Laces or some of the boutique hand-painted yarns. I'm not being stingy, and I don't care about the cost - I just want to make something she will like. But I think a mosaic sock in this yarn could be gorgeous.
What do you all think?
15 comments:
I would go with the yarn you chose. Did she say she will ONLY wear one of those fancy-schmancy yarn socks? Go for it and make an AWESOME mosaic sock.
If you were knitting for me I'd be happy nomatter what yarn you used... :) Nobody (but myself ofcourse) knits socks for me after my grandmother passed away!
This whole thing is so exciting!
I think the colours of your yarn are beautiful, and it isn't as though it's 100% acrylic! Your idea for a sock pattern are great, too. I can't imagine anyone being displeased with them. And you can always get some black fancy-schmancy yarn, right?
I think that yarn is beautiful, and I consider myself something of a fancy-schmancy yarn junkie. However, I'm certainly not above any brand or fiber that feels nice and looks lovely. Go for it - I think it will make for stunning mosaic socks!
I would be thrilled to receive a pair of socks from that yarn, the colors are gorgeous!
simply knitting a pair of socks for a knitter is spoiling them...go for it..
This could be a good chance to try something you haven't used before, but the yarn from your stash looks really nice. The polymide will make it more durable, and colors are really pretty. The spoiling comes from the knitting, not from the yarn!
I agree with the others, go for the beautiful yarn you already have there. There are at least two good reasons for it: a) it is a gorgeous colourway and as you said, meets your pal's preferences, b) even a yarn snob will appreciate carefully knitted socks in a non-fancy-brand yarn (the mosaic pattern sounds like a very good idea!). Otherwise they should state so. I wouldn't worry if I were you. Your concerns alone show that you do care about doing it right. Yarn in a beautiful colour with a nice feel and knitted up to a great pattern sounds just right, doesn't it?
The blue/green colorway is gorgeous. I'd use that in a heartbeat. At one time or another I've used most of the yarns being discussed on the different blogs. About every manufacturer has good points. Just the fact that someone is make something just for me makes me feel special and I'm sure your buddy feels exactly the same.
Having socks hand knit by a secret pal is fancy enough! The Knitting is what makes this swap so special, whether plain or fancy yarn or pattern. It doesn't matter if the yarn is not one of the well known fancy-schmancy brands.
I agree with the previous posters. The best thing about a sock exchange is to receive socks someone else knit for you. It doesn't matter if the yarn is high end or not. I love squooshy yarn, but I also like something that doesn't need to babied along. I think you'll be just fine. And, really, could the colorway you've selected be any better? It is gorgeous! I say just go for it.
I'm betting she will LOVE it! Go for it, I'd rather receive a great sock, than a sock in great yarn.
I was reading your blog and though I am not a member of sockapalooza (don't knit socks fast enough and don't feel quite that confident yet) I think that your choice of yarn is gorgeous and the fact that you have read her choices of color and are putting the thought into what she would like is great. I don't think that anyone is so much of a yarn snob that the yarn you choose wouldn't be appropriate. You chose it for her and you made the socks for her and that is awesome. Go for it with the yarn you chose.
I love the yarn you've chosen as well. I'm a sock yarn snob too - but for me that just means not acrylic-y (even acrylic is ok if it feels nice!) If the yarn feels nice in addition to being gorgeous, I say use it!
I'd use that yarn. Last year I made my socks out of Matchmaker Merino 4ply. I think it cost me under $12 for the yarn. It isn't about the poshness of the yarn, though a lot of people are using it as an excuse to buy newer, "hipper?" yarns in funky colorways.
Besides, if you can snag some Regia silk in Black, then you will have some poshness (subtle but there) to add to the beauty of those socks (and I can definitely see the green).
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