Ottawa Socks. You want 'em?

This really wasn't the colorway that I had in mind to knit up next but how could I not when, once again, all the colors were reflected in what I was seeing around me, this time blooming along the roadsides in the mountains?  When we go for a drive on the backroads in the summertime I try to remember to bring a big jar of water and clippers to bring back a bouquet of whichever wildflowers are blooming at the time.  These are goldenrod, asters, paintbrush, fireweed, daisies, pearly everlasting, ferns, and grasses.

In case you were one of the people wondering, this yarn is Regia Canadian Fashion Collection, Ottawa #4733.  I was quite skeptical of this one, both while still in the ball and after knitting the first toe and even a ways up the foot.  Fortunately, the brown and bright yellow saves it from being too Easter-eggish.  The whole collection of yarn is available from Fun Knits.

Next up (maybe): Toronto #4732.  The colors remind me of fall mums, which I'm hoping to find while I'm running errands on the way to get my brother at the airport.  People seem to have strong feelings, either way, or both, about this collection of sock yarn.  I quote from YarnHog's post here: "If you have not seen this colorway, you may want to protect your virginal eyes if you ever run across it, for it is an ugly beast.  But ugly in a way that is so nasty that you just can't look away, until finally your brain decides that it must either love these colors, or severe its optic nerves. So I love the yarn. And I can't wait to knit some fugly footies with it."  Jessica at Show Me Your Knits writes here, "boldy striped, in colors no one in their right mind would put together," but then also, of the Quebec colorway here:  "The colors really are beautiful and serene."  Here's an absolutely perfecty matched pair of Toronto socks knit by Alison (Sockapalooza Host Extraordinaire) of the blue blog.

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So, here's the deal:  Do you love them?  Do you hate them?  Do you want them?  They'll fit a Women's US Size 8.5, give or take a half size or so (a European 39, I believe).  Leave a comment here, letting me know what you think of them, before...let's say, a week from today, and I'll draw a name the following day, Saturday, September 9th, O.K?

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Comments

[Pippy]

You just have such a great eye for colour and design. I love reading your blog and only wish you could get some of the pictures and anecdotes published in book form.

[jean]

Do I want them? Hell yeah. I want them because I like them, because you made them and I still haven't tried making socks yet, and because I have a quirky interest in where things have been. So if you made them out there in the beautiful mountains, then they came to live here by the sea, that would be quite groovy to me.

[laurie]

of-course i want them!!! to bad you can't send those beautiful "found" wildflowers. i'd take them too!!!! :)
you make the most beautiful socks, really you do. i'm making a pair now with Vesper Twist Sock Yarn in Sunflower. it's fun yarn and hard to get a hold of. but i'm slow with socks.

[Jodi]

I love them! They would be super cute with brown Danskos in the fall -- with a brown or blue sweater.

You have a great eye for color, and I always enjoy looking at the photos on your blog.

[Sarah R]

I love the socks! Though, alas, my giant feet are too big for them...

But I really wanted to take a moment to thank you for your blog. It's always so pretty. Your photography is gorgeous, though undoubtedly aided by the area of the world in which you live.

And I love reading about your life, which is so different from mine. You are a wonderful writer.

Now, if you'd care to make up the Toronto yarn in socks for a size 10 foot....

[Susan]

They're wonderful and so is your blog and all of your beautiful photos. (you can send the beautiful wildflowers too!! ha ha)

[melody]

i love the socks and "yarnhog's" comment which is so true... you think that the colors won't work...until they're done and then they're perfect...

[julia fc]

I'm with Sarah, love them, but my feets too big. They do play nicely with your bouquet.

[Erin B]

Love them.... I the intermediate stripping. It looks like a pattern delved up from some mathmatical formula. Pleasing to the eye but you don't know why!

[lla]

I just wanted to chime in and say that I really like them - the colors are very appealing to me.
(However, do not include me in the drawing - I've got some big old feet, and these lovelies deserve to go to some smaller-footed girl who could actually wear them!)

[Kim]

I love them! I absolutely love the manner in which you correlate the colors around you with your knitting. Your knitting projects inspire me. I am hooked on making socks now and will always have a pair on the needles. My goal is to make a pair for each of my family members and that is A LOT of socks - about 44 pair. Guess I should have started knitting at a much younger age!

[Kirsten]

I love them! (And I have a size 8.5 foot.) Pick me! Pick me!

[Pauline]

I absolutely love looking at your blog and I'm totally amazed that you are able to knit up socks at such a super human speed! I would love to wear those socks!

[Vickery]

I love the socks! I think hand knit socks should almost always be quirky and I'd love to wear them!

[Lucette]

Wow, Ottawa socks and I live in Ottawa. Mind you it is not so colourful here, except now in the fall. I like them and the quirky colours, and although they are a bit loud, it would be fun to stroll around Ottawa wearing Ottawa socks. So please add my name to the draw.

I really enjoy your photos and the stories. Those trees you featured in the berry camping post are stunning. It took me back to when I lived in BC. Really enjoy your adventures.

all the best
Lucette

[Kerry]

Please add my name to the draw, I too think they are lovely socks. I will be in the Alberta foothills in one week, coming from Toronto, and cannot wait to see the blue of the sky, the gold of the wheat, the pinks and purples of the sun sets and the greens of the trees, and the greys of the wild grasses. Your "Ottawa" socks could easily be "Early Autum in the Foothills" socks too! Reading your blog always makes me homesick for Alberta, and I've only been away for a year. Thank you.

[domesticat]

I love I love! I can't find these socks in any of my local shops. Love the way these stripes and their color. Add my name please!

[Elizabeth]

I admit I would never think to put those colours together but they work. They should be called September socks because they are late summer, early fall colours. You can add my name, please.

[Charity]

I love 'em! I want 'em! :0)

[larissa]

I love them, and I thought so right when I saw the photo before reading all about these infamous colorways. I think they're great!

[Toby]

You've successfully tempted me out of lurkdom. I love your photos and stories. I think they especially resonate with me because I'm a country girl who can't wait to escape the hustle and bustle commute for life in a much smaller town.

I love the socks and have been drooling over most of the Canadian color yarns.

[Sarahslab]

They are wonderful! The striping came out perfectly!

[Jaynee]

The colors are awesome. The socks are great. I would love to have them.

[Heather]

Love them, as soon as I saw the toe you had worked up I knew I wanted some. Have already sent the fun knits website round to the moms in our homelearning support group wondering if anyone wants to do a group order. Must have some of that yarn! Very much enjoy reading about your adventures in life, you've inspired me to begin learning to knit socks (almost done my first one, just have to finish the toe) and also to try kool-aid dying sock yarn with my boys. Congrats on the fair winnings - sounds like fun.

[Kat]

I love them, but alas my feets are too small for them. I'm sure you will find them a good home.