I think I’ve started a trend at work.

Now there are about four of us who can be regularly found knitting in the staff room during out tea breaks and lunch breaks, not to mention those who bring in the odd WiP and two who are new to yarncrafting (one of the regular knitters is teaching one of them to knit and the other to crochet). Hats, jumpers and scarves have all been created in our humble staff room but the trend now seems to have turned to socks. I think it started when I was knitting my Express Lane socks and everyone loved the colours, the pattern and the stitchmarkers I was using (the latter courtesy of the lovely Ali).

A week later, I walked into the staff room to see AG rocketing through a pair of socks on DPNs (I am in awe of how quickly she knits) and only a couple of weeks later AR was also knitting socks. I felt a little left out once I’d finished my Express Lane socks and turned to my Flower Basket Lace (you know, the one that’s turning me into a basket case) while I trawled websites to find yarn for my dad’s Christmas socks. The upside of the lace knitting has been that I’ve definitely made progress with it:

Flower Basket Shawl at the end of the 4th repeat of Chart Two

However, knitting lace at work invariably ends in disaster and unpicking because I have to concentrate when doing this stuff. Socks, on the other hand, are much better for work so I finally found and purchased the yarn for my dad’s socks. He’s getting a pair of socks using Diane’s Having Hope pattern. I hope he likes them (and remembers not to do anything stupid like tumble dry them).

I have also purchased the yarn for my brother’s girlfriend’s socks (to be created using another of Diane’s Patterns – Latte Lace socks; what can I say, Diane comes up with such lovely patterns I just want to make socks following those patterns) from the lovely Juliet. I was so impressed with the way the yarn worked with my Express Lanes that I’m really looking forward to working with the Sweet Feet yarn again.

All in all, Christmas knitting is progressing well. I have a few gifts that have to be done and some that can be done if I have the time. Here’s the list (italics are in progress, those crossed out are done) which I’ll keep updating as I get through things:

Must Do:
Dad – Having Hope socks
Adam – Shur-tagal socks
Elle – Latte Lace socks
Sandy – Swallowtail shawl
Aije – Flower Basket Lace shawl

Could Do:
Auntie Ann – undecided scarf or gloves
Uncle Henry – undecided hat
Uncle Pete – undecided hat
Amanda – undecided scarf