Fairy Tale Flowers Socks MKAL

This was my first time participating in an MKAL. I tend to shy away from MKALs because I fear that I wouldn’t like the pattern and regret starting it. Well, this ended up becoming a not-so-mystery knit along because I was behind the whole time and finished the socks about 10 days after the MKAL ended, but nonetheless, I am glad I signed up for it. The pattern is lovely, and I especially enjoyed knitting the droplet pattern on the foot.

Tamar 4-ply form Blacker Yarns is a beautiful yarn made with the fleeces of British rare breeds, including Teeswater, Wensleydale and Leicester Longwool, as well as Cornish Mule. It is fuzzy and silky at the same time. It is not the first yarn I would recommend to someone who is used to knitting with superwash yarns and trying their hand at knitting with all-natural yarns; the combination of hairy and slippery texture (which is exactly what makes this yarn so lovely and special) can make knitting with it a bit challenging, especially if you are knitting small objects like socks. But if you have some experience working with non-superwash, woolly yarns, by all means! I would like to try the DK version of this yarn for my husband, who enjoys wearing thicker socks during the colder months.

I wasn’t completely sure about the colors in the beginning, but it came out better than I expected. As many things in life, knitting needs time—the time to unfold and finish the story each yarn and each color has to tell. And thankfully, the ending often exceeds my expectations. I believe that is how it will be at the end of this life here on earth, too—a much bigger surprise and awe is waiting for us!

Pattern:

Fairy Tale Flowers Socks by Home of Cords

Yarns used:

ᐧ Tamar 4-ply from Blacker Yarns in Shales Brook, Tiddy Brook and Red River

Needle used:

ᐧ ChiaoGoo Red Lace 2 mm

The modifications I made from the pattern:

ᐧ As always, my small heel needs a shorter heel flap than what the pattern says. I picked up 11 stitches on each side.