mama urchin

Life is still crazy, the little guy is still suffering with seasonal allergies, Mistress Katrina has a sinus infection which has knocked her flat, and Papa spent our wedding anniversary in Paris, without me. So yeah, still crazy. I’ve decided though that maybe it’s just going to be crazy for a little while so I’m just going to ignore all that for a few minutes while I tell you about some socks.

One day when we were recently visiting Stefan’s parents there were a pair of red socks hanging on the back of a kitchen chair. Stefan’s dad explained to me that they were possum socks that Stefan’s sister brought as a gift from New Zealand after visiting there. Stefan’s mom had fulled them slightly in the wash accidentally but they still fit and he was really happy because he loved them. I think he wears them while hiking.

About four hours later Stefan’s mom and I were visiting her local yarn store and I was checking out the clearance bin. And what did I find, Cherry Tree Hill possum yarn in blue and red. I laughed so hard and knew right away that I should buy some to make him a gift for his upcoming birthday. A little bit late but here they are — I think he’ll understand the delay.

Possum Socks
Pattern: Earl Grey Socks, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Possum Worsted, in color Bluestone
Yardage: less than three 109 yard skeins
Needles: US size 10.5
Gauge: forgot to check before I sent them but roughly 4.5 st/in
Modifications: These are the changes I made to the pattern given I was using worsted weight wool.

• Made for a man with a size 9 foot.
• CO 38 stitches.
• Knit ribbing for 8 rounds
• Worked the pattern through once and then through row 11 the second time.
• 20 stitches for the heel – repeat the two heel rows 9 times (18 rows total).
• For turning the heel work row 1 as follows : sl1, k12, ssk, k1, turn. Work the remaining rows as written.
• Pick up 14 for the gussets.
• After the pick up round knit 49 rows before decreasing for the toe.
• Decrease until 10 stitches remain.