Monday, February 28, 2011

The Sock Parade

See the above house socks? They are going to be mailed to Blaine's mother, Mary. And why, you ask, would I be doing this? It is because I finally gave up. She wore me down and I finally caved. (The above socks are my "Mardi Gras Socks" and my Opal tiger socks--and you can enlarge all the pictures by clicking on them.)

Anyhoo, it all has to do with my stupidity of knitting Mary a pair of house socks about a year and a half ago. I try to make one family member a knitted present every year. But giving Mary a pair of my socks created a monster. She began bugging me to knit her some more socks. But whenever she would bug me to knit her some more, I told her that I have a lot more family members (on both sides of the family) that I haven't knitted anything for and they were my priority for awhile. And furthermore, I told her I am currently working on my uncle's sweater right now and that it could be a long time till I finish it.

But none of this stopped her. She kept asking for more socks. Day in and day out. Every Christmas she asked---and every Thanksgiving, every Fourth of July, her birthday, St. Patrick's Day, President's Day, Cinco de Mayo and every family occasion at one of Blaine's family members' house. What was really maddening was that she also asked every time she called on the phone with myself or Blaine every weekend....

I was starting to go nutsy cuckoo.....

And then I had an epiphany.

Remember all those house socks I knitted last year? I only knitted them to see if I could play with color and stitch types. But I never wore them because they can get snagged on a nail on the metal joins between the dining room and the kitchen, and also the join between the hall and the downstairs bathroom. (This house is eons old.) So I just let the socks sit, fallow, in the knitting room.

And my epiphany was that I could give THOSE socks to Mary (she wants house socks instead of street socks.) The socks were knit for my size---and Mary has my size. So I told her on the phone that I would give them to her if she didn't mind that I never knit matching socks or sleeves. I told her that none of the socks were exactly like their mate. She said she didn't care. So Blaine told me he'll pick up a box to mail them when he's on his way home from work.

Below is a pair of "circus socks" and some camouflage socks I'm going to give her.

Then above is some "Leopardies" socks and some aran socks, each aran sock made with a different pattern. And then, of course, the Mardi Gras socks and some Opal tiger socks at the top of this post.

And ya know what I'm going to do? The box I mail the socks in will contain a nice note with a P.S. And the P.S. shall read:

"That's 6 pairs of socks, Mary. Now you're good for six years...."
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13 comments:

Cheri Short said...

Bo..you have brought so much enjoyment with the tales of your life. We all have ups and downs and I admire your perseverence in getting thru yours. Today I had a great belly laugh over the note to Blaine's mom. You go girl!!!

Mary said...

What a sweetie you are! As a mother-in-law myself, I find it really great that you found a solution to someone who loves your work so much.

Bo... said...

Thank you, both Cheri and Mary! You have brightened my day!

danielle said...

What a great solution! But I fear that you only caused an addiction...and you know what happens...the person want more more MORE MORE!! So am not sure this will appease her for 6 years!! LOL

Bo... said...

Hi Danielle! I bet you're entirely correct!!!

Susan said...

not the lepordies!!! I loved those socks so much, I hate to see them go! Bo, you are a good DIL...and I hope the 6 year "freeze" goes really slow!

kg said...

I LOVE your socks! Especially the lepordy ones. I can see why your mo-in-law would want more!
My daughter is learning to knit socks.....hope she gets good at it!:)

Anonymous said...

This isn't the same MIL that treats you like a dog is it? If so... you're more forgiving than you let on. :)


Lora

Bo... said...

Hi Susan, kg and Lora! It WAS awful hard putting the Leopardies in that box. But I promised her, and so she gets my socks since I can't wear them down here. Oh well...maybe I'll knit some more!

Chloe said...

Bo, you are a hoot and a half. And even if I am deeply,deeply into symmetry, I love the sense of fun and adventure your bring to sock knitting...which is sort of boring if you are caught up in the dread Pirate Robert sense of symmetry.

Bo... said...

Hi Chloe! And I love both the Dread Pirate Robert and also Inigo Montoya!

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die....

HEH!

Chloe said...

I'm even thinking that if you love knitting these shackadoodle socks, you might see if you can consignment sell them in yarn shops.All uou need is a great back story (I'll help) and stor which will set them and BAM! there's a business you love, you make the rules and you make what you love. That might even work on your self esteem and out-of-control-feelings...which all roll up to be your own adorable, kind and thoughtful self.

Bo... said...

Hi Chloe! Thank you! You know, my sister-in-law has suggested that I do that also. When I was in Texas I did sell some of my things in a consignment shop. Maby I'll take your suggestion when I get my uncle's sweater!