Chains and Tough Love

How are you all doing out there? Are you staying safe and healthy? Are you coping well — or well enough?

We’re all healthy and safe, but it’s still a struggle. My focus isn’t the same, and neither is my sleep quality. I have just enough mental sharpness to get through my work days, and then I’m done.

I cast on to knit a top in July. It’s a pretty pattern from a new-to-me designer whose patterns I’ve admired for quite a while. I was making decent progress — I made it through the initial lace pattern and the rest is simple stockinette stitch. It should be smooth sailing at this point, but I need to adjust the fit. It’s not a difficult adjustment, but I’ll need to pay close attention to changes I make so they’re the same on the front and the back. And it’s a fine gauge yarn in a dark color. I don’t have it in me to continue right now.

I looked through my seemingly endless supply of kits, trying to find something quick that might jump start my will to make something new. Nothing appealed.

I kept looking at a new skein of sock yarn. As I’ve mentioned before, knitting socks is a comfort for me. I was in high production during our lockdown this spring. Even that wasn’t appealing this time.

I decided to force the issue. I pulled out the yarn, SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in the colorway Shadow. I pulled out my go-to pattern book, Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch, and chose Chain Rib.

And then I laughed at my subconscious self. Could I have chosen anything else that sums up my current feelings so well?

The yarn is called Tough Love. The dark colorway is called Shadow. The stitch, chain rib, gets its name because it looks like a series of linked chains running up the length of the sock.

But I'm halfway through the first sock and still making progress. Maybe this is what I needed. I’ll try not to let so much time pass before I post again.

I hope you’re able to find what you need to get through these days in the best way possible. Feel free to comment here or on Instagram — I may not be posting, but I’m here.