May 01, 2005
Why it's more fun to knit socks for women
It's true. I'm sorry, but it's true.
I present to you exhibit A. Take a good look, as there will not be an exhibit B.
What you have before you are two socks, one from each of the pairs that I’m currently knitting.
(“What?!” you say. “You were supposed to be knitting that baby blanket and nothing but the baby blanket.” Yes, true. However, let me say that A) The baby-to-be seems to have agreed to wait for his previously scheduled birth date and B) I’m out of yarn and waiting for more to arrive. So then you may say, “And that Corset Pullover?” I am working on that as well, but it makes for lousy subway knitting. There. Satisfied? I’m totally justified in knitting socks right now. So there. Can we move on now? Great.)
Let me start out by saying that the big male socks I’m making are being knit with lots and lots of love, and that I would happily make many more pairs for the recipient, as he is one of my favorite humans. The big blue sock is the first of a pair I’m making my very dear friend Cree for his birthday. His birthday was in March, but he loves me so he’ll be fine with getting his birthday socks just in time for flipflop weather. The second sock is nearly done, and maybe he’ll even get to wear them once or twice before the heat hits. In my defense, I will point out that Cree has size thirteen feet. Which brings me to the first thing that makes women’s socks so much more pleasing to knit.
Size. Men’s feet tend to be larger than women’s feet. Some men’s feet are significantly larger than other’s, granted. (Bless their hearts.) Apparently there are also some women with exceptionally large feet, or so I’ve been told. (Often from Viking stock, I’ve heard. I don’t know any Vikings personally and so don’t tend to knit for them. Don’t tell Billy, though, because I have long told him that I, in fact, am a Viking. It’s a point of much debate in our house. “I’m a Viking,” one of us will say. And then the other will say, “You can’t be a Viking because I am a Viking” and so on...) And yes, there are men with small feet, and we don’t love them any less for it, do we? Perhaps we love them more, as their socks are quicker to knit... But we’re talking in broad terms here today, making gross, sweeping generalizations. Just for the hell of it, really.
Taste/Wardrobe Conventions. The reason why the larger size of most men’s socks can be a drag? Because it’s the larger size combined with the sheer boredom induced by what most men are willing to wear. It is the rare male indeed (in my experience) who will wear a nice lace sock, or one in a pleasing, colorfully variagated yarn. Yes, they’re out there. Yes, I have made socks for a couple of them. For the most part, though, we’re talking solid colors and many many many rounds of stockinette stockinette stockinette. I’ve heard a rumor that these socks are often gray or brown, but I haven’t traveled down that road, myself. They want grey socks? They can damn well buy those in a store.
Yawn.
Okay, I lied before. Here’s an exhibit B.
Please note, if you will, the lovely pattern in my dainty little pink sock. It’s Go with the Flow from the latest Interweave.
And then there’s this. Forgive me for stereotyping. It’s shameful, really... And yet... I would hesitate to make socks for a man out of a yarn that would require handwashing. See my pretty pink sock there? That’s Elann’s Baby Cashmere, baby. Handwash all the way. What a pleasure to knit, something I’d be happy to work with for all twelve mind-numbing inches of Cree’s sock... but it’s handwash. I love Cree. I think he’s a well-groomed, responsible adult. I just don’t see him washing his socks by hand. (Am I wrong, baby? Have I gotten it all wrong? Say it ain’t so, Cree.) So when making socks for men, no cashmere blends, no Koigu. I'd really hate to put in the time for ten to thirteen (or bigger? Oh my!) inches of foot, only to have it felted on the first washing. One can, though, use Lorna’s Laces—provided it’s one of the more austere colorways, like Blackwatch, or that I’m making socks for a man who isn’t afraid of color, like the socks I made for Michael Cunningham in the Tuscany colorway. (When I asked him what color socks he wanted, he said he wanted something “fun.” So there ya go. He loved them.)
Maybe Cree isn’t afraid of color. Maybe I’ve gotten it all wrong. Oh dear.
I was going somewhere with this. Really, I was. It wasn’t just me whining about how long it was taking to finish a pair of size 13 stockinette socks (And he's single, boys. Local, only, please. He isn't allowed to move.) in a perfectly nice and soft yarn in a good color but without any of the joy of pattern or variagation... It was really much broader and more important than me and my little boredoms... wasn’t it? Er...
Oh, right. A knitter’s subtle revolution, maybe. Yeah. Something like that. So what if we started knitting colorful socks for the non-knitting men and boys we love, or socks with interesting texture, or texture combined with color... What if we started knitting them fantastic lacey or cabled socks out of Lorna’s very brightest colorways...and then got together as a group to compliment these men on their fantastic anklewear when we saw them in public.
Imagine this: You’re riding on a bus in your town, and you see that the man sitting diagonally across from you has just a hint of Lorna’s Laces Motherlode in a diagonal rib pattern peeking from beneath the hem of his pants. He isn’t knitting, so it’s a safe bet he didn’t make them himself. Well, then, somewhere out there is a knitter who loves him, and who made him these purple and gold socks. And he’s bold enough to wear them. Put your knitting away so he doesn’t suspect your bias, and compliment him on his fantastic socks. Make a big enough deal that the other men on the bus are jealous.
If we each do our part, one pair of ankles at a time, making interesting socks not just acceptable but fashionable for menswear, we could be free of boring sock knitting forever. Forever!
A sock yarn revolution!!!
Um.....
Or perhaps not. Perhaps it’s just that it’s a lovely Sunday afternoon and I’m inside at my desk working when I’d much rather be outside playing.
And so I make up all kinds of awful and untrue stereotypes about men and what they’ll put on their feet just because I’d much rather be knitting a sock on my deck than sitting in here and proofreading. Yeah...that could be it.
Never mind.
I’d better get back to work.
Posted by cari at May 1, 2005 05:47 PMWell, you didn't hit ALL the stereotypes. Big feet, big....
Losing your touch?
;-)
Posted by: claudiaoh wow you're doing the corset pullover - i love that pattern. can't wait to see.
Posted by: annaI have yet to finish my first sock, but I have to thank you for the warning. My husband has size 13 feet. He, almost definitely, will never receive a pair of handmade socks from me. Hope the rest of your Sunday is lots of fun. Have a great week!
Posted by: CaraI looooooooove bright socks. For me, for guys, for everyone. I don't give a damn if they don't match my outfit. Hell, they don't even have to match each other. Don't you think we could gradually sneak fun into men's socks? Like first some thin, colorful, stripes, then thicker and thicker? Or first a couple eyelets, then more and more? Think about how boring men's ties used to be. They're much more fun now. Even my conservative Republican cousin is walking around in pink and purple ties rather than the navy and maroon he used to sport. I think the sock thing is doable.
Posted by: kateoh gosh, i can't even finish socks for myself. size 13, now that a lot of...sock.
Posted by: froggyI love that Go With the Flow sock, and I happen to be knitting with elann's Baby Cashmere (Lucky Clover Wrap Cardi) right now. I can imagine how lux those socks are!
I think you're super cool for knowing Michael Cunningham and knowing him well enough to knit socks for him. :)
Posted by: KarmaMichael Cunningham? As in, the novelist? The Pulitzer-prize winning novelist? Oh, my...
Posted by: AmyHmm. Why no interesting ribbing or cables?
But I agree, it's up to us. Let's do it! Hubby's next sock is olive wiht ribbing and cable on the side. From IK.
Well, unfortuantely my bf, who I am lovingly knitting socks for right now, fits every one of those stereotypes. I'm almost finished with the second size 13 stockinette grey sock. Arrgh! No pretty colors, no pattern, nothing that make it go any faster. I've been cursing his big feet for weeks!
Posted by: VickiOOOH, A sock revolution! Vikings! and a pretty pretty Go With The Flow sock (I know what's next on my sock knitting needles). Count me in for the world wide sock knitting revolution.
Posted by: AlisonI've been having several bad sock moments lately. I think I've seen the light - cashmere may be the answer to all of my problems.
Jon only gets worsted weight boot socks. For that giant size foot reason. Small gauge at that size ... no way.
Posted by: CassieHere, over here! Ms Melanie chiming in to say that the socks I'm making my mister right now will be The Start of the Socks for Men Revolution. Bright purple and lime green - with alternating emphasis on what's the body color and what's the toe/heel color. The best part? The colors and alternating nature were HIS request!
Posted by: melanieDe-lurking to say that my DH has size 16-17 feet, they are so big he can't get his foot in the measuring thing shoe shops use, let alone actually buy shoes thus the vagueness about his true size. US sizes are different, it is possible he is a 15 in your sizing, but you get the picture. They are HUGE. The fact that I am yet to make socks for more reasonably sized feet aside I keep thinking socks will be the most manageable thing for me to attempt to knit him (the rest of him is in proportion to those feet so I could modestly wear one of his sweaters as a dress) and yet the idea is still so daunting, those are BIG feet. But still, I think that it is the colour thing more than the size that puts me off. He might go for texture but he will want a solid colour of the blue/brown/black persuasion. Ugh. And I may do the washing in this house but I am NOT handwashing anyone's socks buy my own :-). Your pink socks are divine.
Posted by: JoRead this in an irate town-meeting-goer kind of voice: YEAH! We may take twice as long to go to the bathroom, but our feet are only half the size!!!! ....or something like that. hee
I guess I'm lucky - I think the biggest feet in my life are about a size 9 - of course he doesn't have socks yet, but eventually I'll give in to his pleas. But only if I get to pick the yarn. The first pair of socks I knit for a man were for my dad - I knit them out of Koigu and told him I'd kill him if he felted them. I trust my mom not to let it happen.
Viva la revolucion!
Posted by: AnneHere's why I rarely knit socks for men:
"These socks are so itchy; these socks make my feet so hot." Whine, whine.
The boy has kind of colorful taste in socks. Actually, he has a stripey pair in shades of yellow/orange/olive that makes me double take every time I see them. And he's obsessed with orange. So he has bright orange koigu socks (1x1 rib with heathered blue heel/toe). And strict instructions to hand them over to me when they need washing. Although rumor has it that koigu is superwash...
Ladies, feel free to compliment his socks...
Posted by: CassieFeel free to knit me some socks with Lorna's Laces. I would wear them with pride. I hate knitting socks, even though I'm a size 9.5. I would rather have a root canal. Ugh.
Posted by: Jonwhat an inspiring post! i have yet to pick up the two pair of circulars (and my copy of "socks soar on two circular needles"), but I will. really. those pink socks are gorgeous! i used to have a serious issue with socks & sandals, but if i were turning out creations like those, i'd rethink my position. simply lovely.
I once made a pair of koigu socks that came out too big for me, so I gave them to my then husband. Amazingly he wore these pink and purple things all the time! Not to work mind you, but for weekends he was cool with it, after all, they were comfortable.
BTW, I through all my koigu socks in the washer with the rest of my gentle cycle stuff. They've held up great with this treatment. I do line dry them though.
Posted by: anmiryamI have two brothers with feet sizes 12 and 13 and I have size 10 myself. But the really grim part is how humongous our sweaters have to be!
I end up knitting a lot of hats...
Posted by: LaurieOh, to have a boy to knit socks for! Or whose socks I could complain about! The thing about men and socks is that no matter what color they are you know for sure they will end up randomly strewn after they are worn. At least this has been my experience!
Drab colors I can accept but there is no excuse for white athletic socks unless you are at the gym.
I can't believe nobody ran the lines!! Bloody Vikings!!!!! Spam, spam, spam, spam
Posted by: SueI think this entry justifies my belief that sock knitters are nuts.
Of course, most revolutions are lead by people who are a little unbalanced, so - tu vas, chica!
"Apparently there are also some women with exceptionally large feet, or so I’ve been told. "
Um...that would be me: size 12 shoes.
And if you ever saw me, the term "Viking stock" would definitely NOT jump into your mind.
; )
Cari - I saw your link from Cara's (januaryone) page. I just wanted to say hello given the whole "I don't know anyone else who spells Cari this way" thing. :) Hope you are having a great day. Happy knitting.
Posted by: CariOh, but more importantly: Koigu is mashinewashable. I swear.
Posted by: valentinaNice rant; now lets get back to a pattern for the lizard socks. C'mon now, I'm not messing around here!
Posted by: BonneyWell, every stereotype has its basis in some reality, eh? You weren't exactly making those up out of the blue...And Kate's point about the tie revolution is a good one. Maybe we really are ready for a sock revolution too. I'll do my part. Seeing as my man has size 7.5 feet (41 Eur.), this shouldn't be too hard.
And Claudia...I was wondering when someone was going to mention that other stereotype ;-) (it's not true ;-)))
Posted by: Lee AnnThose of us with boys just have to train them up right! My 13-year old son wears quite loud socks -- I'm making hims some red-teal-yellow-purple stripey ones right now. He will even raid MY sock drawer if he's out of socks. Actually, he says the kids in gym think they are pretty cool. So see, our revolution is already underway!
Posted by: JudyWell, I'm of mostly Nordic and German descent with big feet here :-) My socks are only ~1/2" less in width than DH and only 1.5" shorter in length. But, the color is an issue. I can't seem to complete even one sock for DH yet . . .
Posted by: KristiI 100% agree with you regarding the socks.
I thought you might like the write-up of the new Hold Steady album that came from Sonic Boom Records, a local record store: "Hold Steady, "Separation Sunday" - Sonic Boom favorites Hold Steady reemerge with their second album, "Separation Sunday". And thank the Indie Rock Gods because it is every bit as amazing as its predecessor! The Hold Steady is the world's best bar band with the world's smartest/funniest/most distinct lead singer. Highly recommended if you used to like AC/DC but now you just read a lot. BUY THIS NOW!"
Posted by: KimOh, I'm so lucky! My boyfriend has size 9 1/2 feet. We went to the yarn store and I told him he could pick any sock yarn he wanted, and he chose a self-striping yarn in various shades of gray and tan. Not the most exciting colors, but stripes! Stripes! And then I used a pattern that gave the leg and top of the foot a ribbed texture. They were completely NOT boring to knit! He is SO getting more socks.
Posted by: Ang.Aha, you're the one who mentioned knowing Michael Cunningham of "The Hours" fame and majesty--right?--just read that book based on having remembered something about somebody saying something about him, so tell him from me that his book is great and masterful. Still reeling.
Hi, how are you? I'm a writer and a sock knitter too...
Posted by: bettinaThis is why I won't knit my husband socks. Although how the man who wears a Hawaiian style shirt featuring the infamous "Dogs Playing Poker" can refuse to wear any socks other than black dress or white sweatsocks boggles the mind.
Posted by: Liz