Yes, my love affair with knitting socks is all but abated. I must say the last two pairs have been a bit of hard work. Instead of concentrating on my knitting, my mind was wishing I was sewing, and my fingers were itchin’ to be stitchin’, so the upside is, my sewing mojo has returned!
Pair 15 followed my favourite pattern, and was knitted with more sock yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills; such a joy to knit with, it has a nice feel in the hand and knits up so beautifully.
Pair 16 was faced with much trepidation. Could I knit this final pair? I did have visions of me sitting in 40+ degree heat at 5 minutes to midnight on New Years Eve trying to do the last rows of the toe with sweaty hands! AAAAArgh – that couldn’t happen, so pair 16 was started.
I decided to add a bit of interest to the knitting (in the hope that it would spur me on to a finish) so I used the winwickmum pattern again, but added in some moss stitch up each side of the sock. This is BWM yarn again, in a darker blue/grey which actually made distinguishing the knit/purl stitches a little difficult unless I was under my sewing lamp, and slowed me down a little. But! At 4.00pm last Tuesday, Pair 16 was completed.
The challenge has been met! 16 pairs of sock in 2016! I’m delighted and so pleased with all I have learnt and accomplished. The wearing of hand knitted socks is one of the most sensuous, satisfying feelings. I plan to never have to wear shop bought socks again!
Here’s the, now filled!, sock drawer. Not as full as Kim’s, but I’m getting there. 
Not bad for someone who only started knitting socks in May of this year! So thank you to Alida for suggesting the challenge and to her and Anne for keeping me company on the journey, and to all of you, Dear Peeps, for encouraging me and cheering me on. Mwah!
I will put a rundown of the socks on my finishes page, so you can see them all with their pattern/yarn details.
So now it’s on to our 2017 Challenge. How are your plans/selections going for your 17 UFO’s?
Off to try and narrow down my list!
Meredithe x
pomegranate and chintz 
I ‘think’ I will take up the challenge of the 17 UFO completions – may only achieve 1, but the interest and motivation should take hold once Christmas/New Year and all it entails occurs. Congratulations on the sock job – I am yet to accomplish any sock knitting. I have the BWM yarn, needles and pattern, and there it stops………….. Will be back in touch soon.
Your socks are lovely!
You are nuts – just been telling Jules at work about your “16” pairs of socks – now I can show her the draw full!!!!!
Well done! I have started a pair but had no success :(. May I could make it part of my challenge for 2017? With a little bit of your help …..
You are most definitely an amazing gal. I am so impressed and just love your sock drawer!
Well done Meredithe!!! They all look so warm and comfy xxx
Well done!! 16 pairs is quite a lot, I don’t think you’ll have to knit any more for a while.
It was fun while it lasted! Thank you for inspiring me too.
Well done you! I couldn’t have done it. How lovely to have all those pairs.
Well done indeed – what a lovely drawer full of the promise of cosy toes!
Well done!! I am almost there, should make it before the end of the year. I still haven’t decided on my 17th UFO – I must get organised!
Wow! All those socks since May. You meet your challenge! Now it’s time for you to do some sewing.
Congratulations Meredithe, what an achievement ! they all look wonderful.
They are beautiful socks. As to the 17 in 2017, which is a wonderful idea, I’ve reached an age where I’m supposed to know better than to promise things I know I won’t be able to deliver on. So, no, I’ll keep pottering. But I will also cheer from the sidelines and ooh and aah at everyone else’s wondrous makes.
Cheers for Christmas 🙂
Congratulations ! 16 pairs of socks ! You’re the Queen of socks !! :)))