FO Friday: Daylong Socks

My latest project gave me an opportunity to take my first adventure in test knitting, all while creating a new favorite pair of socks:

Pattern:  Daylong Socks by Susan Luni  (Susan's blog is here, her Ravelry design page is here.)
Source:  The pattern will be available on Ravelry soon.
Materials:  1 skein of A Verb for Keeping Warm Creating Superwash Sock yarn in "Persimmon" (I used almost every last yard of a 385 yd. skein to knit the largest size.) and US 1 and US 2 circular needles
Modifications:  I got pattern gauge on US 1s, but started the cuff on US 2s for a bit of calf shaping.

I've been enjoying the 3 Sleeves to the Wind blog for some time, so I knew that Susan had been working on a new design for socks with princess soles.  "Princess soles" are soles made by purling across the bottom of the foot so that the smooth stockinette side of the knitting will be worn on the inside for extra comfort.  This idea of creating hand knit socks with princess soles is not necessarily new, but Susan's ingenious idea was to create a pattern that resulted in princess soles without doing all of the purling normally required!  Knowing all of this made me look forward to buying a copy of Susan's new pattern.
Then, just as I was trying to decide which knitting projects to take along on vacation, I read in this post that she was almost done with the pattern and was looking for someone to test knit.  It seemed like kismet!  I contacted Susan and she was able to get the pattern to me in time for me to work on the socks during my recent family vacation in Hawaii.

This weekend I will share some more about the wonderful time we had relaxing, snorkeling, fishing (and knitting!) in Hawaii, but for now I wanted to share my love for this new pattern . . .

I love how the ribbing continues on down through the toe decreases:

The socks would work well in a solid color too, but I especially love the interplay of variegated color and texture:

Best of all, I loved knitting these socks to learn a new technique.  Now that I have knit a pair of "Daylong Socks" I know how to adapt this technique for creating princess soles, without the purling, to other sock patterns.  So of course I'll be casting on for another pair soon.

To ogle more finished objects, be sure to visit FO Friday #41!