As promised, I’d like to introduce the two socks for our February knit along.  The eastward sock for February is Khotan.  I love them.  I know it’s probably tacky to say that about your own design, but, well, it’s true.  They’re just so crisp and orderly.  They appeal to the part of me that uses a ruler to make sure the books on my shelves are lined up just right.  Everything flows perfectly into the next bit and it just works.  I know, I’m not being modest.  But they really are a (not so) secret favorite.

They are made in Scahefer Yarn’s Nichole in the color Chamomile.  Now you know that I’m absolutely taken with Schaefer Yarns.  One of my very first patterns (Nugaroty) was made with Nichole.  Those socks have been in my sock basket for almost two years now and have seen heavy wear and they still look fabulous.  It’s a wonderfully sturdy yarn, but still an absolute treat to knit with.  It’s also a bit on the thick side for sock yarn, which I absolutely adore.  I loved it so much I used it again for Embonpoint.  Then I went fell for another of their yarns, Heather, and used it for Bines.  Obviously, I’m taken with them!  If your local yarn store doesn’t happen to carry Schaefer Yarns (yet), you can often find a good selection of it at The Loopy Ewe.

The westward sock for February is Gördes.  These were actually the very first sock I did for the book.  They were sketched and charted and swatched long before I confessed to anyone else that I had such delusions of grandeur.  These are unapologetically complex.  They’re not hard, but they are intricate.  There are several different cable patterns and a handful of charts and they may pose a tiny bit of a challenge to some knitters.  But really, they are so worth it.

They are made in Sweet Georgia Silk Crush in the color Cypress.  Sweet Georgia was new to me, but I’m completely thrilled to have found out about them.  The yarn was flawless and the color amazing.  I will absolutely be using them again.  Sweet Georgia can be a little hard to find in your local yarn store (though you should totally ask them to consider carrying it), but you can get whatever you want on their website.

Tomorrow, more non-sock, non-book knitting.  Hint, it’s not even a hat!