Running Socks #1

I have been dabbling in running for the past 2 years or so, and recently signed up for my first 5K (eep!).

For everyday wear, I like crew length socks.  However, for running I am finding that I prefer shorter ankle socks.  My small collection of cotton shorties are starting to lose their elasticity, and I have heard good things about merino running socks.  Being one who prefers to make things myself rather than buying them, I decided there is no reason I can't knit my own running socks.

I cast on last week, 80 stitches per sock, with my recent new favorite Tillybuddy's Very Stretchy Cast On.  Knitting 2 at a time on my Chiaogoo Red Lace 40" circs (size 2.0 mm needles at 10 stitches/13 rows per square inch).  Worked 1.5" or so of 1x1 ribbing followed by a little stockinette, then waded through umpteen pages of instructions to finally try out the Fish Lips Kiss Heel.  I see where it gets its name!

Perhaps the arch will also include some foot-hugging ribbing, but I haven't decided yet.

Using my not-so-precious, somewhat scratchy generic wool (i.e., not merino) Lion Brand Sock Ease in the oddly-named Snow Cone colorway.  Although I find it rather disturbing that someone at Lion Brand thinks snow cones come in an earthy dark, heathery teal color with a minor amount of vegetable matter included, I think the yarn itself will do just fine for a trial run (ha!).

K'nex & my dark living room aside, I am working from both ends of one ball of yarn at once.  You can see here how one sock comes from the inside, one from the outside.

I love how compact it is to work magic loop 2 at a time socks from a single skein.  Just untwist the working yarns every now and then.  No yarn cakes rolling away and getting lost in the underchair realm, no need to keep track of multiple sets of needles, no dropping the working DPN...just fabulous.

More to come!

---