There’s something delightful when I find myself reaching for wool socks in early August. Ok, I’ll be honest, I wear wool socks most days. Yesterday, as temperatures plummeted from another heat wave following massive thunderstorms, I found myself pulling on my newly finished Golden Light Socks, thankful for the timing. I’d been looking forward to this pair for months.
These socks have been quite the journey. I cast on in late December 2024, as Chanukah was approaching, drawn to Theatre Kid Yarns‘ “Light a Candle” colorway from their special Chanukah collection. Since October 7th, 2023, I’d found myself reaching for golden yellow socks as a way to keep the hostages in my mind. I didn’t want a second pair in rotation—because that would mean the hostages weren’t home, that this part of the nightmare continued.
The rich golden yellow promised brightness for dark days. What I didn’t anticipate was how this project would stretch across seasons, becoming my coffee knit, my train knit, my “just two more rounds” companion through spring and summer. Or that I’d still be writing a number on tape each morning before minyan, sticking it to my tallis bag1.
Eight months later, I bound off the final ribbing on July 25th. Too hot even for my wool sock habit, I tucked them away to await cooler temps.
But nature has its own plans. Yesterday’s temperature drop reminded me why layering is an art form in the Northeast. Putting them on felt like a small celebration, seven months in the making.
The yarn had proven tricky while knitting, the 4-plies were splitty at times, but this alpaca blend delivered everything I’d hoped: soft without being delicate, warm without being stifling, and that gorgeous golden color that catches light like late afternoon sun. It reminds me that today, day 665, we need the hostages home. Gazans need food, safety, security. After months of knitting in public, turning heels on Metro North and working gusset increases during coffee, these socks finally had their moment. I’m curious how they’ll wear, alpaca wants to felt, but the blend gives me hope.
There’s something particularly satisfying about wearing new handknit socks when you least expect to. Weather and craft conspiring together, offering a gentle reminder that making’s rhythms don’t always align predictably with seasons. Sometimes the perfect moment arrives unexpectedly.
Today the cool weather continues. I’m wearing other handknit socks, grateful to have the Golden Light pair in rotation. I’m working on finishing a pair started over a year ago—ankle socks in cotton-wool blend. At this rate, I’ll finish them in time for a blizzard.
You can find more details about the knitting of these socks (as well as photos) at my notebook.
- These images are posted to my instagram stories, Sunday-Friday just before 7a if I remember. @pennyshima ↩︎
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