Schaefer Anne, how I love thee!

Some time ago, I'd speculate 2 or 3 years, I dragged BFF to Uncommon Threads in Palm Harbor. I had *just* started working on socks, and BFF fell in love with a hank of Schaefer Anne, as did I, and so 2 hanks were purchased. This photo was taken around that time, (uploaded 06/2007 so maybe that gives me a better idea of purchase date.) The hank on top was for me, and bottom for BFF, just to clarify. :P

I promised BFF I'd make her a pair of socks out of it *right away!* (teehee) Needless to say, she received her very plain anklets (her request) September 2010. :P Here's a crappy photo:


Now, one of the reasons it took me so terribly long to complete her socks was because I disliked the yarn (or so I thought.) It was SO FINE and I felt like it required a #000 needle to work properly. While I wouldn't describe it as "splitty" really, there can be some splitting too. Along with that, sadly, my sock zeal waned for quite a long time. I started TONS of socks, but actually finishing any, not so much.

Several months ago, I believe around the time of the very first cold evening in Seminole, I all of a sudden has this urge to make socks, and make socks I did. As of writing this post, I've completed somewhere around 6 pairs, and a few of those pairs were cast on and bound off in a matter of days. Here's another pair I made, sharing only because I have a nice picture of them. :-P (I don't know why it's so tiny, it's actually a HUGE picture, maybe clicky will make biggy.)

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: Rune by Barking Dog Yarns in colorway Ain't No Prom Dress

I made these for Beff just because, the yarn was a joy to work with and she says they're delicious.

I digress. So, I was bound and determined to complete BFF's socks prior to moving, which I did, and based upon the recommendations of the lovely folks at the Sock Knitters Anonymous Group on Ravelry, I used a larger needle than I had suspected to allow the yarn to bloom, which they assured me would occur with washing. Not having access to laundry facilities in time to give BFF her socks, I just did a typical soak in, well, Soak, and presented them to her. (I typically hand-wash even washable knit socks anyway.) They were nice enough and BFF is happy enough with them, no fireworks or anything to my knowledge.

Fast forward to now-ish, I came upon my hank of Anne and decided it was gorgeous and I MUST do something with it IMMEDIATELY. Originally, it became a Haruni thanks to the Barking Dog Yarn folks on Rav, but I decided the yarn colorway was just too busy and cast on for yet another pair of Teosinte Socks by Anne Hanson of KnitSpot. Chris turned me onto this pattern FOREVER ago. Coincidentally, this was another one in her aforementioned "man lace" series. I had completed one pair back in June during a train ride, which I wound up giving to my mom. I don't recall when I started this current version, several weeks ago, though, and I put them down and decided to frog them for reasons unknown to me. Yesterday, though, I happened upon the Yarn Harlot and noticed her 01/28 post about her recent diagnosis of "finishitupitis." I can't say whether or not it was her intention, but I suddenly had the urge to finish SOMETHING ANYTHING OMG PLEASE NOW. I picked up Earnshaw that has mere inches left of the sleeve I had to redo (/sadface) and messed up because I forgot it was in garter and not stockinette since I left it so long ago, and had a temper tantrum and stuffed it back in the bag. I started a very small coaster, got bored. I cast on for Stonewall (yes, you talked me into it, thank you very much :-)) but too daunting (and awaiting needle tips from KP, my aged and icky Inox aren't doing it for me,) and so off I went into the basket for UFOs and came across my Schaefer Anne Teosinte Sock, entire foot and heel done, just patiently waiting for me to finish the cuff and me perplexed as to why I abandoned it in the first place.

With the end in sight, I knit frantically until I had completed (alas, just one) the Teosinte Sock, which brings me to the whole point of this post. I had laundry to do anyway and decided the completed sock was reason enough to start a load. I had a brief debate with myself as to whether or not I REALLY wanted to wash and dry this washable yarn, and I was able to convince myself. When I was transferring the wash to the dryer, already, I was astounded at the difference in the yarn and I simply could not wait for the dryer to finish, but I managed. The moment I retrieved it from the dryer, I would swear I heard angels singing. The transformation that takes place in this yarn from a single laundering was overwhelming, to say the least. I definitely wouldn't call this a soft and smooshy yarn pre-laundering, but afterwards, total nummy deliciousness. The halo from the mohair is simply delightful, and the stitches, which may or may not have been subjected to some foul language in the knitting process due to their inconsistency and separating, were now perfect, tiny, cohesive little friends playing together in harmony. The sheen (source, I am unsure of, maybe the mohair) was not adversely affected by the washing in the least, and the colors look even more rich and beautiful than before, which I didn't think possible. As if this weren't enough, after folding the laundry as quickly as I possibly could, I plopped down to slip it onto my foot, and I realized, instantly, that I had a new (or not so new) #1 favorite sock yarn EVER. It feels just glorious on my foot, the only thing I can compare it to is a terribly overpriced men's dress sock with some silk content. Naturally, I cast on for sock #2 expeditiously, but I haven't been able to resist petting and fondling sock #1 long enough to make much progress. As such, I decided to write about it, since I had been meaning to come on to thank you for your opinions on Stonewall. :)

I'm already plotting the next pair and I'm thinking colorway Julia Child, what do you think?