The Journey of a Sock Design

The secret is out. I was one of the designers for the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Sock Club in March!

I can almost certainly say, this would never have happened without this here blog and you, my dear blog friends! Especially those of you Knittyheads who have been around to remember things like this, and this, and this (this one is still my favorite)! Well, and my dear best friend Christy, who schlepped me to those fiber events where I made some very dear friends.

And so, I had to try to document every fabulous moment of this experience.

First, the phone call from Tina where she just asked if she could read me something. It was this. Happiest phone call ever (and then the dead panic started in as soon as I hung up the phone).

She said something about maybe March and with Christmas knitting, then another design I was already committed to, well, I just went into denial.

Then another phone call where my two questions were: a) Variegated or shaded solid (she said variegated...phew! Just what I was hoping for); and b) lightweight or mediumweight (she said mediumweight...again, just what I was hoping for). Oh, and she said greens and she was thinking of naming the yarn My Wild Irishgirlie (dude. second happiest moment). And then this arrived.




Oh, and beware, this post is filled with not-so-spectacular photography skills. Deadline knitting, plus winter, means late night, flash-exposed, yarn pics. I did my best. If you really want some beauty, check this out.



Back to the yarn. Greens with, oh my goodness, my two favorite colors, blue and pink. I was so so so excited. I wound that baby up and packed it with me and brought it to New Orleans.



That business trip involved lots of hotel room knitting, king cake, and the Saints winning their Playoff Championship! Wait, the obligatory king cake shot. Because now I want some.




But I didn't knit that gorgeous skein right away. I wanted to try my pattern out, work out the kinks, etc., with a different skein of Socks that Rock.



I chose Dutch Canyon. I figured if the pattern popped in this highly variegated yarn, I was on the right path. Plus, the pattern required three different sizes, so this was the medium size.



I am a bit smitten with that heel.

I sent those pictures off to Tina, both for my reassurance and hers. I was good to go! I knit knit knit knit. And finished my sock and pattern.





A couple of quick photos for proof one sock existed. And then the wait began.

I am not good at keeping secrets. This one killed me. And then the teasers began. Torture again.

Finally, my pattern and yarn arrived, and I did my own little dance!!!





I now present to you, Slip Jig.

From the introduction of the pattern notes....

I'm an Irish girl at heart. Envision a young girl, who grew up listening to tales from her grandparents about the old country, leprechauns and banshees. And took Irish dancing lessons for 10 years. It is no wonder that this colorway, paired with these slip stitches, inspired me to name this pattern Slip Jig.

Pattern: Slip Jig

Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock, mediumweight, colorway My Wild Irishgirlie

Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)

Size: medium size

Notes: I designed these socks, and yes, there are probably 2 noticeable errors when I knit them up for myself (not pattern errors, knitter errors). Both occurred at knit night :)

Pattern and color will be available to the general public in March 2011 at Blue Moon Fiber Arts.

Big thank you to Tina. And to all of you for your support on this journey!

Happy Dancing!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits