Vivid Memories

Have you ever had the experience of busily doing something mundane, like housework or dishes, and SUDDENLY a memory, over 35 years old, just WASHES over you like a big wave? A delightful memory of the sight of your 9-year-old foot encased in a beige hand-knit sock (over beige tights) as your father tightens the laces of your figure skate?

No? Well, lemme tell ya, it's beautiful. Add to that the knowledge that Dad tightened 3 pairs of skates at least 5 times a week, for about 10 years, and Mom knit all the beige skating socks (plus mitts, hats, and scarves) that those rink-rats needed over that time, and...well, I just had to sit down. At the computer. Searching for a sock pattern. Sucked into the socks vortex.

The one that caught my eye was "Dad's Function Over Form Socks" by Jessica Minier Mabe at about.com. That sounded so practical and comfortable. I wanted to make a pair of socks for Dear Hubby Trucker, not to wear under boots (even though the pattern author's intention is boot socks, but I anticipated my first socks would be a bit, er, lumpy for that) but to wear in the bunk of the Kenworth if it got a bit chilly at night.

So (Bad blogger! No in-progress pictures!) I knit one. (Next sock I will definitely take pictures, 'cause the way I do it is comical. Instead of four double-pointed needles, I use three different circular needles.)
Tried in vain to get a good shot of the sock without revealing my winter-legs...












But it seems the best way to photograph this sock is empty:



Pattern details: Done exactly as pattern, except used smaller needles for a firmer sock (plus hubby's a men's size 7) and made the cuff 1-1/2 inches instead of 8-1/2. Gives it a cozy slipper-like quality. I love it.