I am still just as in love with Weichien’s designs as I was in 2021 and I test knit for her for the first time, so I try and apply to test knit for her every chance I get. This time, she created a perfect cat design, and I was so happy that I got to give it a try.

This was a really fun test-knit for me as Katie invited me to knit one sock toe-up and the other sock cuff- down. It really goes to show how talented Katie is as a designer as she was able to provide two great options for interested knitters. On top of that, the sock has the perfect retro vibes that instantly make me think of staying cozy on cold winter nights.

In my mind, socks are the perfect travel project. They’re easy to pack into a purse, they work up quick, and they’re a functional project once you’re done! Besides, trips always have a surprising amount of downtime, such as when you’re sitting in the airport or bus station, or waiting in line to get where you want, and having a little knitting project makes time fly by. For my most recent trip, I decided to finally tackle this project that has been in my Ravelry queue for a while.

It might seem counterintuitive to use a lace design when your goal is cozy socks, but somehow this pattern makes it work! I was surprised at how warm these socks kept my feet, and they’re my new go-to for wearing around the house. I thoroughly enjoyed the design of these socks, and would recommend them to anyone looking for a quick project!

Fun fact: Weichien named these socks “koffie” after a fellow test knitter joked that this pattern whipped up so quickly, just like the dalgona coffee trend. In my head, I think of them as speed socks since they work up quickly, and the little chevrons remind me of arrows on a race track turn.

You would think that after fifteen pairs of socks, I would be able to handle almost anything, but I found this pattern test surprisingly tricky! I found it difficult to keep my tension consistent with the colourwork floats, but by the second sock, I was already feeling more confident. It just goes to show that practice makes everything easier.

Spring has been a tease the last few weeks, with some golden sunshine days, and rain/snow mixtures the next. Because of that, my outdoor adventure goals have been put on hold, but I’ve been able to tackle some projects that have been on my waitlist!

You’ve heard me wax rhapsodic about sock knitting before, but I’m here to tell you about a new aspect that makes it even better – DK weight yarn. DK socks work up so much faster than fingering, and they feel even warmer due to the heavier gauge yarn. If you’re looking to try it, I have the perfect first pattern for you to try.

I’ve called these my experimental socks because I didn’t follow a specific pattern for them. This felt like a really bold step for me, given that I haven’t been making socks for so long, and socks can be a bit finicky in terms having so many different sections. For an experiment, I quite like how they turned out!

I’m not even sorry for all of the sock content on this blog these days because it brings me so much joy. This latest pair was part of a test knit for another local Alberta maker! As always, I learned so much, and am so excited to share with you.