FO: Holly Jo’s Socks

A while back, I extended an offer to bloggers everywhere (okay, in reality, it was just the five or so that read this blog) the opportunity to do a different sort of sock exchange with me. I had knit a monkey sock, and was offering to knit someone else’s second sock in exchange for them knitting mine.

Shockingly (!), only one person accepted my invitation. Holly Jo is indeed a daring person. Not only did she have to risk putting her Socks that Rock yarn in my hands, but she did so during one of the most stressful times in my entire life. Much to my embarrassment, I have to admit that I held Holly Jo’s socks hostage the ENTIRE summer, and well into the fall. Holly Jo is a very kind person, and I’m sure she will comment here that she didn’t mind, and it was fine, etc, etc. But, still, the shame lives on.

And the worst part? Gosh, this is embarrassing. I actually finished her sock about two months before I sent them back. But, all the stress of the summer created a bizarre mindset in which I was convinced that the sock I had knit was not good enough. Part of it was me obsessing over knitting a sock for Holly Jo. I feel like she is a superior knitter, an intelligent person, and she would instantly be able to tell, upon seeing the finished product, how I am fooling all (five) of you here in blogland into thinking that I have any skill as a knitter.

Did I mention the bizarre mindset that I had this past summer?

Amazingly, once we had bought this house and were started to be a bit settled, I was able to see the sock I had knit in a different light. Was it perfect (like Holly Jo’s)? No. Was it exactly the same as Holly Jo’s? I dare say it was not. But was it close? Um. No. I am certain my gauge was off. But was it good enough? I certainly hope so. It is entirely possible that she threw the sock across the room in a fit of fury (while cursing obscenities and damning me to hell) when it was finally returned to her, and proceeded to rip out my stitches and reknit it herself. It is possible, but I don’t think that she did. :)

Without further babble on my part, I present to you the abbreviated details (further detail can be found here on Ravelry):

Pattern: Roza’s Socks
Yarn: Socks that Rock, lightweight
Needles: size 2 dpn
Gauge: ? umm… off
Started/Finished: Aug 2007

Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the finished socks before mailing them back. Pictures can be seen here and here on Holly Jo’s blog, or here on Ravelry.

Thank you, Holly Jo, for doing this exchange with me. I had fun exchanging packages with you!