Last night I finished the first Tilty Sock.

It’s… wierd. For a start, I have long feet but only needed to knit four repeats. Though this looks slightly stunted compared to my foot, it fits. This is the first time I’ve felt newly knit socks needed a wash and block, too. The short rows make them a bit twisty and bumpy. But the weirdest thing?

One side you get creamy white areas…

… and on the other there’s almost none. Just the way the stripes fell. Which led me to conclude sock yarn with smaller stripes would be better for this pattern.

But I think the pattern’s best side is the front:

Even if it does look a bit like a jolly green slug.

I was intrigued and entertained by the pattern, but not so enchanted with the final sock. I like it enough to get through the second, but I do feel the itch to knit more socks now. Which is good, because I’m planning to take only sock projects with me to New Zealand. I want to pack light, so I have plenty of room for yarn purchases.

However, I haven’t managed to magically create more sock space in my wardrobe in the last five months either. I’m going to have to resort to drastic action.

I’m going to wear each of my hand knit socks in turn, accessing them for fit and comfort. If they’re too tight, or fit badly, they’re out.

But I can’t bring myself to throw them away, and I hesitate to give second hand socks to the op shop. Looking at the first of the culled socks the other day, I noted how they were slightly felted. If they were cut they probably wouldn’t unravel, though a line of stitching would certainly help as well.

Could I cut them into squares and sew them into a blanket?

Hmm.