The Wedge!

I'm going through this phase with pattern buying.  I see a pattern either a single pattern or collection of patterns in a book and/or magazine and despite wanting it (or them), I don't buy them.  Then I get home and I can't get the pattern/book/magazine out of my head!  This drives me crazy until the next time I'm at my LYS and am able to buy the pattern/book/magazine.  Where am I going with all of this?

Cast-on photo - June 1st

Well, one of my most recent purchases was Knit.Sock.Love. by Cookie A.  I've loved this book since I first laid eyes on it.  The photography in this book is absolutely amazing.  If you haven't seen this book before, then definitely get your hands on a copy to drool over all the photos.  Don't forget to also spend some time drooling over all the sock patterns as well.  There are 19 socks patterns in the book, which are divided into three sections: Chapter 1 Columns, Chapter 2 Tessellations & Chapter 3 Diagonals.  Of those 19 patterns, some were and still are published as free patterns while the others are brand new sock patterns.  Most of the patterns include multiple sizes and the directions are left "open" in the sense that you can knit them anyway you like i.e. with DPNs, magic loop, or with 2 circular needles. 

This sock is Arthur approved

I also had an ulterior motive with buying this book - finding the perfect sock pattern for some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn that I inherited from my mom in the colorway Argyle.  I'm not sure how old my version of Argyle is because mine was bought as two hanks of 215 yards each.  My version also seems to have more grey than the picture on Jimmy Beans Wool yarn page. 

Short row heel completed!

The pattern that spoke to me was Wedge as it looked like the perfect pattern to use for multicolored yarn.  I earmarked the page and figured I'd get around to casting on for these after I finished my current pair of socks.  Then I started looking up the socks on Ravelry because we all know I love researching patterns to death before casting on.  Anyway, this search then lead me to looking up the book Knit.Sock.Love on Ravelry and ultimately to finding a Ravelry group dedicated to the book.  This group is amazing.  They have a KAL going every month for a different pattern in the book.  

Back of short row heel

What do you think that June's KAL pattern was going to be?  Wedge!!!  It was like the stars aligning.  How could I not participate in this KAL??  Of course I had to participate.  The KAL runs from June 1st to July 31st.  I'm already through the cuff, leg, & heel of sock #1.  I elected to knit my socks using DPNs, since the sock has a short row heel.  I've never done a short row heel before and wasn't super confident I could navigate it on magic loop the first time through.  I'm really happy with how the yarn is knitting up and generally enjoying the pattern.