liquorice allsorts socks

Everyone thought this yarn was dull, dull, dull. Until I finished the socks and put them with stripey liquorice allsorts; suddenly I had plenty of offers from potential models.

I love Regia sock yarns for their very definite colours and stripes. They look properly dyed, not just painted. This yarn is Regia Canyon colour 2804 (I don't remember where I bought it) and it comes out looking like a man's pinstripe suit with a novel, colourful stripe or two.

Or like the pink and blue sweets in a bag of liquorice allsorts. Except when I opened my bag, I found it sadly lacking in the blue sorts of allsorts.

I also like the way the stripes become thicker and bolder on the heels with their shorter rows. Heels get such short shrift when it comes to sock-knitting - I think they are seen as the bugbear of the process - but I always hope fervently that my self-striping yarns will time themselves well and come up with some interesting effect on the heels. This yarn did.

Phoebe (yes, it's Phoebe and her amazing modelling pheet again) can't eat any of these sweets now that she has (turquoise) braces so she was quite happy to play with them. This was taken yesterday when socks were needed to keep feet warm, but that didn't stop her having bright pink toes.

                             ***

Thanks for your interest in book no.3. I can't say anything about it at the moment, but I can say I'm very happy with the subject. And as it's not the only thing that I need to be getting on with, I'm going to take a little break from the blog. I'll be back soon. Ish.

Comments

[Suzanne (in London)]

Modeling feet: lovely.

Sock yarn: gorgeous.

Sweet candy: delicious.

...When is the next book coming out?

Hug*

[Zelia]

they are beautiful... i just wish i knew how to knit socks!

[WiscJennyAnn]

I'm always so impressed with the composition of your finished object photos! Love these with the liquorice! Can't decide if I should first go out hunting for this yarn or for the candy... :D
Cheers!

[tona]

I hope one of these days you'll give us (or point us toward) a good tutorial on how to get your stripes to line up so perfectly on both socks. Beautiful!!!!

[muffin]

Love the socks. Used to eat allsorts but became a veggie so don't now. Will miss you on your break but have a peaceful, relaxing time. Look forward to your return. xxx

[Sue H]

Those socks are stunning! I love black. Do you do commissions??

[elise]

i wouldn't have guessed the socks would be as nice-looking as they did, from looking at a picture of a skein online. not dull at all. they turned out great!

[Claudia Michel]

I bought your book from Amazon UK for my sister's birthday - without really knowing the exchange rate for pounds - don't care! It's a beautiful book and I can't wait until it comes - I like the UK cover too. Your blog just makes my day - I get so hopeful with all of the color and beauty and peek into your life. Thanks
In Oregon

[Ali]

Liquorice always makes me think of my Dad - he loves the salty stuff.

My sock production seems to have stalled with the warmer weather. Glad yours continues through deadlines, books and sunshine because no one else phototgraphs them with such humour.

[Rachel]

Oooo, those ARE really nice! Great job!

[kelly]

Bwa ha ha - I love the liquorice toes. It was your silly sense of humor that got me in to reading your blog - your sense of play - small funny things that somehow made my whole day brighter, more playful. Thanks again...

[mindfulbeader]

Laughed out loud when I got to the photo of Phoebe's allsort "toes". Brilliant! You've cheered a gray Birmingham day!

[Danette]

That last pic is so cute, little peek-a-boo eyes. Of course, the socks are wonderful too.

Thanks for sharing.

[Neuroknitter]

Lovely socks! The liquorice allsorts are perfect...especially the toes! :)

[laura]

adoooooorable socks!

[Sophia]

But... heels are the best part! My sock-legs are always too short because I rush to work on the heel. I adore how the yarn changes into the honeycomb of the eye of the partridge heel (my favorite), the little vertical stripes of the normal slipped-stitch heel flap, or chunky stripes on a short-row heel. I admit that picking up and decreasing for the gusset fills me with so much horror that I'll put down a sock for months once the heel's been turned, but that is Entirely Different. (Plus the worst pooling always happens then.)

In short, heels yay! And those pretty socks, double-yay.

[Gina]

Stunning combination of stripes in those socks - the little flashes ofcolour are just perfect.

[rosie]

That final picture is inspired! Hope you'll have a productive break.

[Sarah]

Love the socks! Where did you buy that yarn?

[Angie]

Gorgeous! I never would have imagined, seeing that yarn in a skein, how beautifully it would make up. You have a great eye!

[Lisa W]

Great pictures!

[Michaela]

Tho I will miss your photos and blogs while you take a well-deserved break, it will give me a chance to catch up on all your previouis entries (I'm rather new to your blog), so everything, for me, works out to the good!

Take good care, and happy off-time!

[Teish]

Enjoy your break! I hope you have great weather to enjoy as well! I rushed out and bought that colorway of Regia because I LOVE how it knit up. Now I just have to find time enough to knit them, LOL!

[katie]

lovely socks. have a nice break.

[Jennie]

I don't think there's anything dull about these socks. The dark color makes them look comfy imo.

[Gail]

Hi! I just wanted you to know how much I like your pictures! I have you saved into my favorites and check often to see if there are any new ones. Thank you!

[Kathy Merrick]

Mmmm allsorts.... sort of sickening and yet wonderful at the same time.
I bow to your ability to make such beautiful similes in your photos and your projects!

[Oksana]

Hey, that really is a neat stripe pattern! Great-looking socks, and good to hear that you like the yarn. It's a great feeling, finding something that you'd always been wanting.

[Fran]

Ooh I love allsorts! The socks are gorgeous.
You are being very mysterious at the minute, I am intrigued by all the exciting projects that seem to be going on! Looking forward to hearing more, I love this blog! xx

[Lin]

I love the socks and the photo with the allsorts! Have a good break. x

[Françoise]

While doing housework, I listen to past BBC4 programs on my computer. Today I heard Gwyneth Lewis read 2 of her "Knitting Poems" and I think that those of you who haven't read/heard them would enjoy them at :
http://uk.poetryinternationalweb.org/piw_cms/cms/cms_module/index.php?obj_id=10455

Jane, happy days on your new project!

[texasblu]

I'm new to your blog - I found a orange flower I'm trying to identify, and was wondering if you could take a look (my link goes directly to that entry) - my mother thinks it might be a peony, but others thought a poppy. Since you grow peonies, I thought maybe you would know. Thanks! I loved reading about your tulips - they're one of my favorite flowers. :)

[Rachel]

The socks look great - I love Regia sock yarn, too!

[alison bowell]

hello. I'm new to your blog. Your socks are brilliant! The photos too! In fact the whole experience- colours, layout, words, topics,-is very inspiring. I would love to do something similar. Perhaps I will! Thank you.

[gillie]

They are quite the most lovely pink toes!

[sammyjo]

oh i love the socks their very cool, i dont have a pair like that which is a crime because i own about 400 pairs lol. I know what i'll be looking for on my next shopping trip :)

[RI]

My maiden name was "Bassett"
so you have my seal of
approval...
For the very "allsorts"
socks...{:>)))

[Gramily]

The socks are heavy on black and grey, light on hot pink, while the liquorice is just the opposite. Leave it to you to make the connection!

[Milly]

Just love them.

[Ruth Ferguson]

Please send me an email offline with the information for your American publisher - I would like to request a review copy. The book is released in September is that correct?
Ruth Ferguson

[Maryam in Marrakech]

I could have been a snake charmer....

(Okay not really, but I thought you might take notice if I said so:))

I came to your blog via another blog, which said that yours was similar in spirit to my own.

I so love your photos and I, too, am obsessed with feet and shoes on my blog.

[Angel Jem]

Love the socks! I love the idea of them being like business men in sober suits with just a stripe of something daring... how do you know my husband?

[Diana]

Great socks! Nothing you do is dull. Your work is beautiful! the pictures were fun matched up with the candy.

[Kate]

These socks are beautiful....with and without the candy :)
Very classy!

[Ellen]

Great socks, and I especially like it with the licorice. I've missed your candy posts! Just wanted to thank you for introducing me to Persephone books (I know this has nothing to do with this post). My mother and I thank you.

[leisa]

Loved this colourway so much,( and of course the great photos and modeling) was thrilled to find it for $3.00ish on JimmyBeans Wool.

Thanks again so much for sharing!

[sarah]

It always look like you have fun when you take sock photos ...

[Ida]

I think that last photo is funny and very cute! I like it.

You're pictures have awesome colours.

[Sara]

I love these socks! I'm having a hard time finding a good simple sock pattern, where did you find the pattern for these?

[Katy]

I love you book. I bought it in a bit of a rush because i was drawn to the photos in the book. I really fell in love with the Pineapple Tea Cozy, and would love to make my own, but I was sadly disappointed that there was no pattern in the book or even referenced on your site. I am in the process of opening a tea house and would love to display your pineapple design on the shelves. Where can I get the pattern?