I won't be entering these in the Royal Melbourne Show

I finished the Nutkin socks. Like many people I modified them, in my case by reversing every second cable, so that they run down the front of the leg... well, that was the intention. I somehow managed to make one sock have the cables running up the leg, and one running down. I also struggled with the short row heel, eventually working out that wrapping the purl wraps backward would stop the holes appearing. I worked that out on the first toe. The first heel looks sort of messy. Did I rip and reknit? No, I didn't. I tried the first sock on after 7 repeats and realised that it was TIGHT. So I stopped there. The whole second sock is slightly bigger, even though it had the exact same number of repeats. I think it was because while I was knitting the first sock I was miserable. I was back at work, and I felt like a complete waste of space. By the time I knit the second sock I actually felt competent. Still, I was doubtful about these socks. As well as everything else, when I tried them on to take photos they were difficult to get on.

I wore them to work today, and they are possibly the most comfortable pair of hand knit socks I have worn, and they make me smile. Weird, but very cheering.