There has to be an upside to spending hours and hours in cramped transportation going halfway around the globe, right? (Well, apart from the obvious one of ending up in some glorious exotic destination, such as Japan, natch!)
Now the airlines have seen common sense and allowed knitting needles back into the plane (only some types, mind you) one can be supremely productive whilst travelling. During our recent travel time I completed one whole pair of socks, and one and a bit socks of a second pair also. Yowza!!
I’m sure some of my fellow travellers looked on in amusement at the whacky lady knitting with thin thin yarn on weird skinny little needles… but hey, at least I wasn’t wasting my time watching inane movies, or heaven forbid sleeping, or some other such unproductive activity, yeah… I got something done!
Every time I put up my latest pair of socks here I’m sure to get comments expressing thinly veiled incredulity that I can be bothered knitting socks, which are so cheap and readily available commercially, and so (relatively) expensive and time-consuming to produce oneself… Well I can’t explain my passion either. I just love knitting socks, it is really my preferred knitting project above all others…
If you had met me five years ago, and told me I would be knitting socks, five-year-ago me would have firmly denied I would ever get mired in such silliness… well fast-track forward said five years and here I am. When I first saw my mother knitting socks (truly thank you, Mum, for passing on that particular virus) I was a little incredulous and disbelieving myself. Feeling a bit of an idiot, I decided to give it a go and visited the yarn shop. The lady in the shop told me I would get addicted, and I half didn’t believe her… But now I too am thoroughly hooked… All I can say is that you have to try it to get it. It is such a very satisfying pastime. A very easy project, mindless even… which is the kind of knitting I actually like to do. I can very easily carry on conversations and watch (not very complex) movies at the same time as producing a pair of yummy handknit merino socks of a quality you never see in the shops. Socks are loads quicker than a jumper or cardigan, and feel a more worthwhile project than a scarf… And since I have big feet, I can make the socks to fit me… not a couple of inches too short, which is usually the case with store-bought.
So, in my book, it is well worth it.
Re knitting on planes: I checked with the airlines first, as I didn’t want my needles confiscated. The short skinny double-ended ones used in sock-knitting are OK on the airlines we used. To further ensure they would be OK, I went out and bought some new bamboo ones, just in case some overly sensitive official got funny about my metal ones… and no one was concerned. The guidlelines I was given were; nothing bigger or thicker than a ballpoint pen. One of my new bamboo needles snapped (my bad!) but luckily the packet I bought had included an extra, so I didn’t have to cease knitting!
I took this photo above in our apartment in Hirafu, Hokkaido. Now, in looking at this photo I’m sure you’re all wondering what is the view out of the window casting that light from stage right, right? Yes, I’m sure! I’ll satisfy your curiosity; here it is below, Mt Yotei: (sigh, missing that view already…)
Details:
Socks; made using Morris Superwash Merino 4 ply in Rainstorm (col 420) and Beluga (col 430), using a pattern adapted from the Ladies Sockettes from Patons Knitting book C11, a circa 1960’s publication
AWESOME, I'll have to have a proper flick through your Japan photos, I think I've GOT to go in wintertime now!
It's OK – I understand sock knitting! And it is addictive – I am one of those that would have wondered why you would ever knit socks, but that was 2 years ago – now I have knitted 6 pairs!
Yours look lovely – and you will probably think of your holiday every time you slip them on!
Knitting socks is something I really want to learn. Cheap socks get holes in quickly and quality socks can be quite expensive and boring so I don't think it is a waste of time at all. Vanessa
You won't get any flack from me about sock knitting, either. I've got a couple dozen under my belt over the past few years.
BTW, I'm coming to your blog from Yoshimi's. I've enjoyed your sewing & writing so much that I spent Saturday afternoon reading back through your archives.
Knitting in general flummoxes me, but who knows… I might be you in another five years, too 🙂
One of my professors knits all her own socks. She swears they last three times as long as equivalent store-bought socks and since she knits during times that would otherwise be wasted—like on planes, or while watching tv—the time issue isn't a problem either.
The women in my knitting group are truly sock addicted. Me? Not at all. I've studied sock knitting every which way – on DPN's, magic loop, two circular needles, two socks on two circular needles, toe up, top down and… I hate knitting socks. They all think I'm rather strange – LOL.
You do not only sew and knit well. You're such a good storyteller !
I think socks are a great hobby! My Mom has knit a couple, but I'm ashamed to say I've only knit one and a third. 🙂 Not even a whole pair.
wow what a view! Yes, I can't fathom knitting socks. But I really like knitting hats, likewise the sort of thing you can do while occupying your mind mostly with something else; they get done quickly, etc…. I think I shall not knit socks for fear of the addiction – and I have too many other things I want to do. 🙂
It's great you can knit on planes now! I get so bored watching the terrible movies 🙂 I'm seriously considering knitting a pair of socks, because my last few bought pairs only lasted a few weeks!
What a beautiful view! It must have been an amazing trip!
I'd love to knit socks and one day will :))
Awesome view…and as I read about the ease of knitting one's own socks I keep thinking about the socks I wear that creep down into my boots.
I love seeing you post up your socks. I'd like to give it a try myself one day, who knows, maybe I'll get hooked 🙂
I've enjoyed reading about your trip. Knitting on the plane is a good idea. I just took a trip with my mom and I tried to read a book, but she wanted to talk.
Who did you fly with? I called QANTAS last weekend to ask about whether or not they'd let me on the plane with knitting needles & they told me that they are allowed on domestic flights but not international flights. So now I'm a bit confused…
I almost missed a flight to Broome late last year because the baggage screeners couldn't decide on my sock needles. I thought it was because they were skinny, and that chunky ones might've been better. Although they were metal, so perhaps that was an issue. Also my 7-year-old daughter had left safety scissors in her pencilcase, so we were obviously potential terrorists.
I LOVE productivity – good for you! I think sock knitting is incredibly clever – I am a super basic knitter – I've got a fair journey ahead of me before I attempt them – but I thank you for the inspiration. MAN!! That view!
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