Introducing the Prairie Corn Sock

At last, I’ve got permission to reveal the lace I’ve been working on.

Allow me to introduce the Illinois Prairie Corn Sock!

Shameless plug:
This sock, along with its mate, will be representing Illinois in an upcoming book called  “50 Socks – 50 States,” which will be published by Sirius Knitting Publications.  Sirius Knitting’s fearless leader (Dr. Laura Andersson) is collaborating  with Susan Druding and Crystal Palace Yarns to bring lots of designers together for this collection.  Crystal Palace has provided all the yarn and will be distributing the CD when it’s ready for prime time.  And, since this is Volume 3 of the “Friendly Socks” series of books, we know they’ve worked out the kinks in the process.   For more pictures and details about the book (and other socks in it) check out Socks and More with CPY and SiriusKnitting’s blog as well as www.Straw.com.  If you stay tuned here, of course, I’ll continue to toot my horn about my designs for the book, which I understand will run $19.95.  (Okay, I’m likely to advertise it a bit when it’s ready for you to buy – it is after all being distributed by one of our sponsors).

When I started this sock, I was a bit doubtful about the yarn.  I chose the yarn, untouched, because I figured that any sock representing Illinois ought to be knit out of soy or corn if it had the chance, since corn and soybeans are Illinois’ top two products.  Once you’re south of the Chicagoland urban sprawl, Illinois is all about the corn fields.  So… since Crystal Palace makes this yarn called Maizy – which is 82% corn fiber — I figured it would be a great tie-in for the Illinois sock.    So anyway, the yarn arrived and felt… weird.  But, I had a job to do, and I whipped out Judy’s Magic Cast On, and started my toe.  It still felt weird to my hands, but once I put my foot in the sock, I got over any doubts.  This baby feels just yummy!  I’m even kind of sad that I’ll have to send the socks to Susan and Laura.  I’m almost sad enough to ask for more Maizy for my own pair…. but I’m not allowed to add any more sock yarn to my stash until I burn through some of it.  Knitting socks for the book is not helping that process  :-0

Today, I’ll be finishing up the foot on the second sock, and fussing with the charts for the second sock I’m designing for the book (yep… more chances for you to hear about it, aren’t you lucky).

The only problem I see with this plan is that it’s delaying progress on Laminaria and other projects.  Such is life in the designer lane.