Today Lolly posted a few questions for Socktoberfest participants:

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started making socks when #1 Son was learning to drive. I needed a small, portable project that would keep my hands busy. I had recently returned to knitting (from the dark side - crochet), and socks seemed like just the thing. I’ve been knitting off and on for 40 years, but it’s been about 30 since I knit a sock. I picked a free pattern off the web and went for it.

What was your first pair? How have they “held up” over time?

In January, 2005, I finished these bed socks. I still wear them around the house.

What would you have done differently?

I would have made socks that fit! These are ginormous. And I would have chosen different yarn. My thinking was that acrylic would be washable — this was before I had heard of superwash wool. Actually, my whole sock-making technique has changed since then.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

Socks That Rock and Koigu.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

Knit two-at-a-time on two circs. Toe up. Magic cast-on. You probably could have guessed that, eh?

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

Flap and gusset. They just fit my feet better. I have high arches, and short-row heels are too shallow. My favorite flap stitch pattern is Eye Of Partridge, but I try to make the flap fit in with the rest of the sock.

How many pairs have you made?

Sixteen pairs. Eighteen if you count the two sock scarves. 31 if you count all of the teeny tiny sock bookmarks.

And speaking of socks… You’ll note that I’ve added a countdown for the planned Socktober sock timeline over on the right-hand sidebar.

According to the countdown, I have 12 days to finish the first man-sized pair. 12 days. 12. And I’m barely into the toes.

I’m barely into the toes because I’ve frogged the #$@* things out at least three times. For some reason I’m just not happy with how these are turning out. Three times now — three times — I’ve gotten half way up the toe only to look down and see this humongous hole. There is no explanation for this. It’s not like I don’t knit sock toes all the time! But this yarn is a very dark gray, and it’s blasted hard to see what I’m doing. AARRRGGGGHHHHH

I think I finally have a good start going, though. At least I hope so.

12 days.