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July 28, 2006
On Socks
As I prepare to move into my cutie patootie apartment I am looking over my stash. Now I will be the first to admit my stash is large. Because of this I have been contemplating parting with some of the stashiola. And reading several books on decluttering and feng shui or whatever its called which also deal with clearing spaces. If you do not know this already cutie patootie often translates into small. Personally I am offended by the if you haven't worn this article of clothing in a year or two at most ditch it. This isn't a non-knitting post BTW. Take shawls. I love knitting them. I love the way they look. I like taking them out and just admiring them. I don't actually wear shawls. I am not giving up my shawls, my shawl patterns, my lace yarns. No freaking way.
Socks, well socks, are a different matter. I don't particularly enjoy knitting them. I do greatly appreciate warm tootsies. I grudgingly knit socks because I wear them from early fall to late spring. All those clutter type books would have me keeping my socks and sock yarn stash. But really how many socks does one person need? 8? I vote 8 if you are the sort to wash them once a week. By hand of course.
Being a knitter is not very feng shui. Sure there are the tools of the trade aka needles and a tape measure for the bare bones kit. And one could be Claudia and have zip stash. Still any wardrobe planner esp those into core wardrobes would have one with a turtleneck, an aran, a pullover and cardigan. Wheres the fun in that? So back to the 8 socks. I have finally figured out the real reason people who knit socks constantly continue knitting socks despite churning out well over the necessary 8 per year. Its not:
They love knitting socks~ I refuse to believe the second sock syndrom and going round and round and round in rib or st st is lovable.
They love washing stuff by hand. A sweater can usually get by with a end of season washing[per dame Alice and I agree in general] but socks need to be washed after each wearing or at least within a week of wearing.
Its not even that they, and this may be a sexist women perception, appreciate having to wear a full shoe size larger than if wearing flimsy machine knit socks easily purchasable for half the price at any upscale shop.
Nope the real reason we knit socks is cause of pills. Witness last nights freshly laundered socks they got dusty on my closet shelf:
OK toodles ~ happy knitting
Posted by Elka at July 28, 2006 08:54 AM
Comments
Okay, you've just reminded me why I don't knit socks. I hate the way they feel on my feet! Although I will say that sock yarn looks yummy. But socks aren't the problem; it's downsizing all my belongings so that I too can move into a smaller, hopefully more efficient place. Thirty-five years in a big old falling-apart 1920 house is enough already--it's a money pit, and with just me (and occasional help from The Daughter) it's too much. So I feel your pain at moving!
Posted by: Marie at July 29, 2006 05:05 PM
Hey Elka- Those clutter-busting-downsizing books know bupkiss about knitters. They don't understand that the joy is on the owning. No one can tell me it's okay to give up your shawls- that's just wrong on so many levels.
Good luck in your cutie-patootie apartment- I almost envy you- no grass to cut!
Posted by: Lorraine at July 29, 2006 08:05 PM
Socks are the perfect commuter knitting project--that's why I make so many of them! I find it very satisfying to look in my sock drawer and think about all the potentially wasted time that I put to good use instead. :-)
Plus, I am completely defenseless against the self-patterning sock yarn. Can't resist the stuff. And it's not like sweater yarn, where you can't be sure you'll have enough, or find the right dyelot if you run short. One or two skeins of sock yarn will always do the trick.
Posted by: Beth S. at July 31, 2006 12:12 PM
I'm downsizing too Elka so I feel for you. No real yarn stash, but boy do I have other crafty type stash - yikes! and it's not the stuff that you can apply de-clutter rules to either - I USE this stuff to DO stuff. Those books only apply to people that don't MAKE anything, you know, boring people ;-)
I love my handknit socks, but yeah, getting rid of your shawls would be nuts!
Posted by: DeeAnn at August 6, 2006 11:41 AM