Please don't judge my inner-geekness

Back when I was an art student, some of my favorite assignments were the masters' study in my painting classes.  Basically, you'd take a painting, say by Picasso or Georgia O'Keefe, or my personal favorite, Alice Neel, and you'd replicate the painting.  The point of this was to learn how they combined the design elements, as well as light, shadow and color.  It was always a learning experience and you'd end up with a tiny little masterpiece you could hang on your wall. 

I've decided to take the same approach to knitting.  I've enjoyed knitting socks, especially the experimentation of trying new ways to knit them.  But I think I have a lot to learn, and if I stick with the same method, I'm not pushing myself to become a better knitter.  So I've decided to do a sock master's study.

And who is the master of socks?  Why Nancy Bush, of course.  Now this is a project that will probably go on for several years.  I made a list of all the socks I'd like to knit from all her books, and let's just say it's a lot of socks.  And let's also just say that I asked my boyfriend if he'd ever wear a pair of kilt stockings.

(answer:  sure, why not.  I'm Scottish.)

The requirements for the project is that I follow her pattern to the word.  I can change the yarn and the needle size, as long as the gauge is correct.  Other than that, no messing around.  Cause really, would you use red where Picasso used yellow? 

So first up, the first of her simple ribbed socks, the Madder Ribbed sock from Vintage Knits.  The real reason I chose this is that it will finally give me a chance to succesfully use the blasted Bearfoot yarn that has given me so much trouble.

It's delightfully simple, but I choose to make it a bit more difficult by knitting two socks on two circulars.

I'm not sure if I like this method, but I've been meaning to try it to avoid second sock syndrome (SSS).  But I'll do a complete review on the trials and tribulations of two socks on two circs later.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S.  Enjoy the pie.

Comments

[yahaira]

holy crap. This is going to be an interesting undertaking. How many socks is this really? And are you choosing socks that are different enough that you'll learn a new technique each time or is the point in seeing how Nancy Bush makes a sock different in each time? am I making any sense here, and how many questions can I exactly ask?

[Angela]

That's been my sock knitting plan, to learn something new with each pair of socks... Haven't been too successful at it though. The only heel I do is the wrap and turn short row. At least I know how to do the figure 8 cast on now. Your curriculum seems much more feesible! I definitely want to see how this goes. I might actually try this myself, too!

[Stephanie]

Genius. Simply genius. Nancy Bush has so many great patterns that my list would be very long. I'm trying to do the mini version of this - I figure you have to try new things to grow as a knitter. I like the Madder Ribbed pattern and as always, the Bearfoot is fabulous. My husband is part Scottish and I don't think I could get him to wear kilt stockings. He's a chicken.

[grumperina]

Oooo! There needs to be stuff. This project needs stuff. Like a little photo gallery of all the socks you plan to knit and the yarn you plan to use for each. And then some way to mark which have been done. So we can all keep track of the progress of your study!

[eunny]

Ahhh, great project. Knitting as academic exercise - I love it.

KILT STOCKINGS! Words can't express how much I covet a pair of kilt stockings with bobbles and cables and a good thick moss stitch double cuff. And also, a Scottish boyfriend to wear them...who am I kidding, I'd just make him read the phone book to me.

[marichan]

I'd love to see the list of socks you plan to knit! I think it's a great idea - and of course socks will work out great! I also like your attitude about becoming a better knitter. I need to think more about expanding my knowledge base and less about output. Good luck!!

[Carolyn]

Great idea, love it. I will be following your studies. Can't wait to see what you think of the two socks, two circs. I haven't tried that yet.

[Lee Ann]

God, I love geeks.

Lucky you, you get a boyfriend who will wear kilt hose...which means he might also wear a kilt...which means...

well...

you know what they say about what's to be worn under that kilt...

Nuffin' :-) See, socks really are sexy.

[Diana]

What an awesome idea! I agree with grumperina that this project need a photo gallery with the intended socks.. and maybe some branding, charts, graphics, and oh, a sock rating system! like which socks were the most educational..

[blossom]

what a brilliant idea. i may join you on this one. and i too love knitting new patterns to learn new skills.

[joy]

Several years? wow Either you're mad or very dedicated! ;) I'll happily watch on the sidelines.

[Julie H.]

I'm starting my first pair of socks ever after the craziness of Christmas knitting is over, and I'm already dreading SSS. Maybe I need to learn the two circular needle method from the get-go.

[Julie H.]

I'm starting my first pair of socks ever after the craziness of Christmas knitting is over, and I'm already dreading SSS. Maybe I need to learn the two circular needle method from the get-go.

[Julie H.]

First it tells me the comment timed out, now there are two of them. I can't win.

[Shawna]

Thanks for the photo of two socks on two circulars -- now I can finally visualize this and maybe do it myself. Can you point me toward a tutorial on the internet? I'm just not sure how to set it up. I can do the set up for one sock on two circs, but two is hanging me up.

[carrie m]

this sounds like a tremendous undertaking. geeky? no way! i appreciate that you are methodical about your knitting, as opposed to some of us who have too many wips and the attention span of gnats.

[Marsha]

I also have SSS but want to try the toe-up version of 2 on 2 but the only pattern I have is a very simple stockinette "un"pattern and I want to cables or some pattern. Anyone ever convert a traditional pattern to the toe-up 2 on 2 with success and would like to enlighten us?

[Dani]

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Lovely socks! And thanks for all that info! Socks on two circs always sort of confused me, but the photo helps lots :)

[Beth S.]

This is brilliant! I'm really going to enjoy watching your progress. I could knit nothing but Nancy Bush designs for the rest of my life, and still not run out of projects to make.

[nona]

Purly, you've got such great ideas! I'm planning to knit a pair of socks for my boss for Christmas and will now make her a pair of Nancy Bush socks.

[Julia]

Okay, great minds do think alike. I was thinking of doing a knitalong along these lines, but scaled down. We'd choose four Nancy Bush patterns that employed different methods to complete in a year. I couldn't decide if people would knit along, or drop out, so I haven't pulled the trigger. Thoughts? (Ya wanna co-host?)

You, my dear, are even wackier, however. My inner geek salutes you. I can't wait to see your progress!

[Karla (ThreadBndr)]

Here via Nona's blog.

What a GREAT idea. I have both "Folk Socks" and the "road" book, and I've been eyeing "Vintage Socks" every time I hit the LYS. I like the idea of trying to learn something new with every sock.

Good luck and keep us posted!