Cast-on Monday: World Traveler Socks

Here we go a-stashbusting among the leaves so red. Fall is here in all its glorious splendor. I am working my stash again – this time to eke out a new pair of socks for Bill. He is down to one pair of LauraKate knit socks, the poor man.

This time I have three (3!) skeins from the stash. I am working from a Kate Davies pattern called Mary Delany.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mary-delany

This project’s yarns originate from three different continents.

My North American selection is a multi-hued beauty purchased at the farmer’s market in North Madison three years ago. Two skeins were acquired from a British native who was rearing sheep in Wisconsin, spinning and dyeing the wool. In 2020 I worked one skein into a hat called Rose Window.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rose-window-2

I honestly do not know anything else about this yarn, except that it is a two-ply sport weight. I know that the maker eventually returned to her native land.

My South American yarn is an alpaca blend from Peru.

I was given several skeins by friend Kathy who is allergic to wool. Its composition is alpaca, wool and acrylic. This may be my third project using this yarn. I do hope to high heaven that I can finally use it up.

And from Europe comes the remains of a skein by West Yorkshire Spinners.

I purchased this in Madison also and made Bill a pair of socks last year. He absolutely loves them. There is enough left of the skein to form the toes and ribs of this pair.

This sock is constructed from the toe up. I am using the 2-needle system, superior to working with four straight needles in avoiding dropped stitches.

I found that the stranded pattern used in the Delaney socks was too feminine looking for Bill’s taste. Instead, I chose to use Diamond Link and Dot from the 750 stitches ultimate knit bible – my well-thumbed reference book for stitch patterns.

I marked out the chart onto big graph paper to make it easier to use. This will become important when I’m travel knitting, something I see in my near future.