Year of Projects 2: Ringwood and Shell Socks

Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

Knitting Vintage Socks: Gentleman's Shooting Stockings with Fluted Pattern (1887) • Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch (1889) • Gentleman's Socks with Lozenge Pattern (1895) • Bed Sock in Lemon Pattern Fancy Knit Stripe (1896) • Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern (1897) • Heelless Sleeping Socks (1897) • Child's French Sock in Citron Pattern and Diaper Knitting (1898) • Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern (1899) • Gentleman's Sock for Evening Wear (1900) • Evening Stockings for a Young Lady (1900) • Fancy Silk Sock for a Child of 5 or 6 Years (1900) • Gentleman's Fancy Sock (1901) • Gentleman's Plain Winter Sock with Dutch Heel (1901) • Child's Sock in Miranda Pattern (1904) • Baby's Bootikin (1905)  •  Little Child's Sock (1907)  •  Ladies Useful Stockings (1913)  •  Ladies Silk Stockings with Clocks (1914)

After finishing my Heelless Sleeping Socks last week I turned my attention to finishing the first of my Ringwood patterned socks. Two things were pushing me to finish that first sock. Firstly, worry about whether I would run out of yarn. And, two, a need for those needles to complete some knits with looming deadlines. I'm happy to report that sock one weighs 48 grams, leaving me with 53 grams for sock two. Phew, that was close.

Rather than cast on the second sock, I thought I'd better get a move on with these red socks. The plan is to deliver them on January 2nd in time for a coworker's birthday and ahead of Chinese New Year. That's not a lot of time to start and finish a pair of socks, but with time off work and hours of holiday travel time (aka knitting time) ahead, I'm confident I can do it. The pattern is Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern and it's knitting up very quickly. The pattern strikes me as very similar to other shell pattern socks like Tidal Wave Socks and Pomatomous Socks. And after a couple of times through the pattern repeat, it's easily memorized and quite intuitive.

Can you believe it's Christmas already? Hardly seems possible that November and December went by so quickly! Whatever you celebrate I hope it's all happy and merry! I'll be back with my next Year of Projects update just ahead of the New Year.