Socks on Zoks

 

There it is, ladies and gentlemen. A sock. My first, after 3 or 4 years of knitting. I was very intimidated by socks when I started. The first thing I made that I was very impressed with was a pair of gloves for Z. He was working then in an office at the Evil Empire in a server room. In order to keep the machines cool, there was an air conditioner attempting to keep the room around 60 F... right over Z's head. The dude "next" to him (4 feet away) wore short sleeves and shorts because he was practically getting a sunburn from the machines beside him, but Z wore a fleece and a hat everyday. When he told me that he sometimes went to the bathroom just to run his hands under the hot water to warm them up, I decided I had to make him some gloves.

Those of you who know Z, know that he can be rather particular. I was concerned that I might make gloves only to have them discarded if they weren't efficient enough, so the design of these "hobo gloves" (half-fingers) was a collaborative effort, but the knitting and engineering were all me. I am proud to report that Z wears the gloves to this day. (Literally today.... it's wicked cold here right now.)

Always, though, Z asked for socks, and always, I told him I wasn't ready, like a martial artist deferring her fight against the master for years despite the montage displaying her hours of devoted practice. (Have I mentioned that I watch Kung Fu movies at the Sunset Tavern once a month? Does it show?)

Then Z quit smoking. I quit smoking too, but I've had way more practice, having quit an average of once a year over the last 12 years. Z didn't practice much, he just up and did it... and I couldn't possibly protest about making socks anymore. The day that he'd been quit for a month, I picked out a pattern and some yarn. Admittedly, I was slowed down by the s mittens (did I mention that, too?) but here I am, half way through sock #2, and I've still got a week till Z officially has 60 days smober. I think I can do it, don't you?