Socknitters Museum of Odd Socks

*Odd - described by Webster as:
1. differing in nature from what is ordinary, usual or expected.
2. being part of a pair, set or series of which the rest is lacking.

My Dog By: Kathie Fredette	Ugly Midget By: Marie Green	Big Purple By: Nancy Weiler
I Love You But... By: Marylou Polisher	One Size Fits All By: Sande Francis	Jolly Green By: Sande Francis
Solitary Sock By: Linda Edwards	The Toeless Wonder By: Linda Nelson	Unspun Hero By: Rita Williams
The Tragedy By: Kim Salazar	Felt By Holly	Tale of Woe By Margaret
	Your sock could be here!

This lovely example of the classic spiral tube sock, done in purple, comes to us from Kathie Fredette. Ms. Fredette offers no explanation for the title of her work, so we are left with only speculation as to what was in her mind as she gazed at the finished product...perhaps she meant it as a tribute to a favorite childhood pet.

This interesting piece of footwear is the work of Marie Green who explains in her own words the motivation behind the creation: "This sock was being invented as I went along, but I realized I wouldn't have enough yarn and kept shrinking the pattern. Voila! The most pathetic sock I've ever seen!" Well said, Marie.

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Big Purple is the creation of Nancy Weiler of Wisconsin. This artist prefers not to explain her work but rather let it speak for itself, as "Big Purple" certainly does.

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This piece is one of Ms. Polisher's earliest works, but even here you can see the "out of the box" thinking that has become the trademark of this artist. She breaks all the rules with "I Love You But..." and is far too modest in her explanation, "...done on the wrong size needles when I was a beginner and didn't know that you can't just knit any yarn with any size needle." Where is it written that ribbing must be stretchy?

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At first glance these delightful little baby socks appear to be just that...a pair of socks for a baby. It isn't until we examine them closely that we grasp the true satirical nature of Ms. Francis' work. These socks, one much larger than the other, are a laugh in the face of clothing manufacturers who have insisted for generations that "one size fits all."

In these days of downsizing, it is a definite treat to cast your eyes on this marvelously oversized creation. "Jolly Green" measures more than 15 inches from top to toe and close to 6 inches across the picot hemmed cuff. And to think this is one of Ms. Francis' first works.

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The pathos in this work will be evident to even the most hardened among us. The pink sock is near perfect...but where is its mate? Is it fated to go through life alone? Will it ever find fulfillment or will it end up in the bottom of a drawer, lonely, unloved and utterly defeeted?

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"The Toeless Wonder" was created for all of us who detest lists, reminders, memos and notes of any kind. The toe of this sock was altered to make it less pointed and in the words of Ms. Nelson herself, "I didn't write down what I changed and had totally forgotten before I started the second sock." What defiance!

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When Missouri artist Rita Williams ran out of her own handspun yarn before making the mate to this beautiful gray sock, did she give in to temptation and buy commercial yarn? No! She refused to compromise and offers us "Unspun Hero" as a reminder to remain true to yourself...even if it means having one cold foot.

The Tragedy By: Kim Salazar

This sock, as wonderful as it is, is only part of the original work. The tragedy that befell this piece, and gave it its name, is better explained in the artist's own words. "I wear my socks, wash 'em by hand, hang them up to dry in the laundry room, carry them back upstairs to my sock drawer and wear 'em again. SOMEWHERE during that cycle, sock #2 disappeared. It's not anywhere in my house - including behind all the furniture or underneath the washing machine. I have no pets that might have dragged it off to oblivion. There is no way it could have been thrown out by accident. At that point, I had only one daughter and she was old enough to detest laundry and avoid the whole process (and room) like the plague. And The Large One would rather soak his feet in lye than have anything to do with hand-knit socks. The whereabouts of sock #2 of this pair remain a Great Mystery even now, three years after The Disappearance. The only answer I have left: theft by a colorblind poltergeist."

You simply must admire the flair with which this artist creates. Holly, who prefers to be known only by her first name, has achieved a level of artistic creation rarely seen before with her work, "Felt" The simple title belies the underlying complexity, the drama, the turmoil if you will. The jarring difference between heel and toe leaves the observer shaken, wondering...how? why? The artist, modest to a fault, sums it up this way, "Things just don't felt evenly - the heel on this one would now fit an elephant. Provided the elephant could get a toe in the sock."

I was ill the entire month of January with Shingles pain. Since knitting socks is my comfort zone, I got some JaWoll Jacquard out of my stash, grabbed a couple of Addi circs and proceeded to knit a pair. It took me all month instead of the usual 3 days. After I turned the heel, I realized I’d forgotten to use the coordinating reinforcing thread that comes with the yarn. No big deal, I kept onward, although I kept thinking that the fabric was firmer than I usually got. Obviously my brain was not functioning on all cylinders ...I next noticed that I’d only done 4 rows of ribbing! Thinking I was smarter than the average bear, after I’d kitchenered the toes, I picked up the cast on stitches and did some more ribbing. NOW I was ready to try them on....imagine my shock and horror when they were too small to fit me or any adult or child I knew! I’d knit them on #0’s instead of #2’s! Off to the frog pond they go, to return another day on my web page of triumphs (I hope!) Margaret