Yea, Yarn Monkey!!

Yarn Monkey has heard our concerns!! She posted her New Resolution for Sock Wars on her blog. The goal is to make sure everyone (except the winner) gets a pair of handknit socks. Yea! Thank you, YM! So now... WHERE is my SiP???!!

And, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

SOD In My Dreams

Deep Ocean on its way to Arizona.

My dreams have been infiltrated by the Socks of Doom! I don't mean out of fear of being hit and knocked out. I mean that I've knitted this pattern so many times , that I am ribbing in my sleep!

I tend to knit like I cook. I rarely follow a recipe exactly. I add a bit of this or substitute some of that. The end result is always a surprise... sometimes it's even a good surprise! I am normally a person who makes a pattern only once. If I make it more than that, I'm bored. So knitting sock after sock of the same pattern is showing up in my dreams.

At the onset of Sock Wars, I thought I would only be called to create one pair of socks, then finish up others' work. But Sock Wars has changed its face, and has become a challenge on many levels.

• A challenge to stay motivated...waiting sometimes for weeks for SiP to arrive. It's been tempting to go AWOL, myself.

• A challenge to stay connected. With hurricanes, power outages, vacations, work, family, and LIFE (not to mention deserters who do not respond to anyone), communications have been exasperating at times.
• A challenge to stay creative. Without the SiP of deserters, I have had the mixed blessing of initiating four different pair of Socks of Doom. Each has been the same, but very different.

So, what keeps me in the game? Curiosity. I am in deep enough now, that I am just "dying" to find out what will happen; how this war will end...

And I love a challenge. Sweet dreams!

On to Arizona!

Next target...Arizona! I have Lisa Z. in my sites and I'm taking aim. The only problem...no ammo. I 'm waiting for another victim to send me her unfinished socks (aka SiP -- Socks in Progress).

Deserters and the slow international mail systems (not to mention hurricanes) have drastically altered the pace of the game. But "all's fair..." It's already been a fun experiment.

And who would have thought that my socks would be worn all over the world (Korea, Canada, US)?! I still find it amazing. I hope someday I can visit all the places my socks have already gone!

Houston, do we have a problem?

I can't believe I'm not dead, yet. Today, I fired yet another weapon. This time, purple wool Socks of Doom are making their way to Knitting Reader of Houston, Texas. I don't know how cold it gets in the winter in Houston, but I am hopeful that my target will get to wear them a few times, at least.

Shot Fired at Canadian!

I love Canada. I would never wish any harm to any of our neighbors to the north. That being said, I launched my high-caliber weapon toward Ontario today! I finished the red wool Socks of Doom just after midnight, and rushed them to the post office right after work. Whew!! They are on their way. And may they bless the feet of their recipient during the cold winter months ahead. Love ya, Knitrovert!

With Sock Wars overlapping Socktoberfest , socks are about all I can think about lately! My goal of two pair during Socktoberfest has been met, and I'm on to more for Christmas gifts! Go, Socks!!

The War Wages On

My first Sockwars victim, ROKJen, finally received the socks I made. Due to international shipping and a Korean national holiday, my SOD (Socks of Doom) were delayed (mailed 9/25; arrived on or about 10/11), adding more tension to the game.

I should have received SiP (Socks in Progress) from someone further downstream shortly after my kill, but alas, no. Nearly four weeks have passed. My nerves are on edge. I'm afraid to check my mail every day for fear that my assassin will get me first.

After numerous emails and forum postings, it has finally been determined that one of the warriors is AWOL. This caused a back-up in my stream (ouch!). After finally identifying my next target, it's back to knitting more SOD. (Watch your backside, Knitrovert!!)

So, off to the yarn store for more ammo. I chose a soft red wool...
I'm thinking holidays coming soon...
Okay, here I go... Ready, Set, Knit!!

Asparagus and Rhubarb

Sock Wars got off to a rough start due to a Hurricane over Northern Ireland! Yep. Yarn Monkey lives in Belfast, and just before the war was to start, the technology was interrupted. This meant that dossiers were delayed, some not received until much later than others. But Yarn Monkey hung in there and found a way to wage war!

Hurricane Gordon

My arsenal included the prescribed 50 grams of DK weight yarn. I chose Knit-Picks' Merino Style in Rhubarb. However, halfway through the first sock, it was obvious that one skein was not going to be nearly enough to finish my Socks of Doom. There went my plan.

Rhubarb

Plan B: How about two socks of completely different colors? I started a second sock in Asparagus.

Asparagus

Hmmm...Even though I want my socks to be killers, I also want them to be wearable. Maybe Plan C: Stripes!!

Here's the finished weapons! Ta-daahhh!

What a difference lighting makes. This photo is truer to the real color of the yarn. I took this one outside in the sunshine (see the shadows?). And notice how little of each skein is left! Hmmmmm.