Design process: Sun and Moon

Sun and Moon hand knit socks by andrea rangel and Gauge Dye works
These socks, the first project in our summer club with Andrea Rangel, were inspired by the theme of our club: SKY. 
Looking back, a moody, sky-like gradient combined with sun and moon themed colour work seems kinda obvious, but it took me a while to get there. We knew we wanted socks with a bit of colour work at the toe, but all my ideas for colours involved too much cowbell at the cuff and on the leg. I didn't want the toe and the cuff competing for who should get the most attention. 
sock swatches knit on a circular sock machine
Here are a few ideas that I worked though. I got a circular sock machine at the beginning of the year so I can quickly knit up swatches and test out ideas. I had a couple ideas that looked great in my head but that I just couldn't translate onto yarn. 
Once we settled on the colours and I (finally) had some yarn for Andrea to work with, the design came together fairly quickly.  First, this text. 
text chain discussing adding texture to the sock cuff and planning the gradient to accommodate the heel.
Then, before I knew it, a sock! 
text chain with a photo of a completed sock and me responding with "oooooooooo"
And of course we did decide to go for a moon option as well. (Club members random received either the sun or moon colours and the pattern includes charts for both.) It came together beautifully in the end! 
Sun and Moon socks, moon toe option Andrea Rangel Gauge Dye Works
Finally, a great part of the design process for this whole collection was that one time we met at Andrea's place and she made a very tasty apple crumble. Highly recommend this recipe. 
Pattern by Andrea Rangel. Professional photography by Zee Photo. Unprofessional photography by me and Andrea. Model Jessica Duncan.
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