Monday, April 23, 2012

Washing socks.

In the past five years or so, knitting has become a part of my daily routine. Whether I'm working on a knitted sample at the shop or spending my evening playing with short rows, stripes, and garter stitch, knitted stitches find their way into my day. My obsession with knitting has brought other routines along with it, like reading knitting blogs and haunting Ravelry. Since I started knitting socks, the biweekly routine of hand-washing my hand-knit socks has become a comforting weekend ritual. 


As I ready my socks for washing, I admire my motley collection of brightly-colored, differently-textured knits, some pairs more successful than others. Into a warm water bath they go, along with a drizzle of Eucalan soap, and there they sit for twenty or thirty minutes, while I sip coffee, wash dishes, sweep the kitchen--whatever little tasks need my attention. Once they've been bathed, I roll my socks up in a dry towel, give it a squeeze, then lay them out on another dry towel. It's a bit mundane, this routine, but it pleases me to care for the things I've made, and to see all my socks lined up, worn but clean, waiting to be put to use.


That's what I've been up to this weekend, along with casting on for a new sweater and admiring a newly-obtained skein of sock yarn. Hope your weekend was similarly peppered with knitterly delights.

2 comments:

  1. This is why I love this blog so much! Knitting is part of life for many of us -- hours spent working on projects & thinking about our next projects, acquiring new skeins, learning new techniques (often with mixed success). It's so easy to get wrapped up in what we're GOING to do that what we've DONE tends to be overshadowed. How sweet that a "mundane" task gives way to a moment of appreciation -- a chance to take stock of what you've accomplished. You have a lot to be proud of! Thanks so much for sharing.

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