I finished the Comwy socks last week:

Click the picture for a bigger view, because honestly, I think these are the best socks I've ever knit. Here's the specs:

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn in Tuscany colorway
Pattern: Comwy by Nancy Bush from Knitting on the Road
Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo, US 2
Time: Uhh...I don't know! February, 2007

These socks are for Seth's Aunt Bambi, who we will see this weekend in Boston. She is a librarian in Concord, Mass, and treats me like I was sunshine. I don't see or talk with her much, so I wanted to do something extra sweet for her, and what better than handmade socks? I agree, nothing.

I've had a complication with the fair isle cardigan, and she is in time out till I figure out what to do, so, last night, I wound yarn for another pair of socks. The color is Farmhouse, and it's from Socks That Rock.

I love the color. Love it. But this yarn isn't the best feeling. I have the medium-weight, and the band says 8sts to an inch, but on my US2s I'm getting 6sts. I've knit with thicker yarns (re: Mountain Colors Bearfoot, Schaffer Laura) but this stuff feels like denim. I am not impressed. And I have at least 5 more skeins of STR yarn in this same weight.

Oh, and I had an idea for a farmhouse sock design, but...yeah...that sucked too, so I have a pretty long gauge swatch that I'll measure, reconfigure, and rip. Maybe I'll try some US3s. But the color is beautiful. That will have to keep my interest, because the feel of the yarn sucks. What a pity. Is it just me? Anyone else experience this with STR?

Comments

[Guinifer]

I wasn't wild about the STR medium weight either - it's pretty stiff to knit with. However, once it was finished and soaked, the socks themselves were wonderful - although a little thick. Since then I've stuck to the lightweight. You should e-mail her and see if she'll switch you out for the lighter weight yarn.

[Emma]

I haven't used the medium-weight. I do have skein of Farmhouse in the lightweight, and I am glad to hear you are enjoying it. My husband picked it out for socks for himself!

And your finished socks do indeed look great.

[Jennifer]

I've heard that that after the STR is washed, it gets softer and becomes a very nice fabric. The color is gorgeous!

[Valerie in San Diego]

Love the Conwys! Everyone's seem to look better than they do in the book. I guess I'm going to have to try them.

[Darlisha]

I am surprised that you are not enjoying the STR better. I have only knit with the lightweight and it was super soft. The resulting socks were a little too big, but that was my own fault.

The yarn that I don't get is Opal. That stuff is very stiff and I did not like it at all

[Tipper]

We have some sort of weird sock synchronicity going on. I just pulled out a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Watercolor (which is very close in color to Tuscany) to finish my pair of Conwy socks.

[Stacie]

Very cute socks! She is going to love them.

[Kay]

I am working with STR's Little Bunny Foo Foo in the lightweight. I like the lightweight better than the medium weight, which I used on the STR Club socks called Inside Outs. They are a bit thick for most of my shoes.

And I need to make the Conwy socks...yours look great!

[Theresa]

I agree - Conwy is the best sock pattern ever.

[Jess]

Hey, we were just talking about you at knitting group at Borealis last night. I hope you're doing okay and still knitting. I especially hope you guys weren't affected by the bridge collapse today.