How to Avoid Second-Sock Syndrome

I don't, as a rule, knit socks. I find them tedious to knit, although I adore wearing hand-knit socks. On this pair of Embossed Leaves socks, though, I'm doing okay with the dreaded SSS.

My secrets so far include:

1. Choose a pattern that intrigues you. Some folks are all about the yarn -- squishy bouncy sock yarn, or self-patterning so that "just one more row" seems to pull them along. I'm not so much that way, although I'm open to the idea that I haven't met the right yarn yet. On the other hand, the 16-row repeat on this pattern is interesting enough and challenging enough for my lace-addled brain to keep me thinking, "One more leaf, one more leaf."

2. Choose a yarn you adore. Welcome, inconsistency! I know I said it wasn't the yarn, but I can't imagine knitting a sock in a yarn that wasn't great. The Knitpicks Gloss I'm using has enough color variation to make me hold it in the light, moving it gently back and forth to watch the play of light on the silk and wool. I've even made friends give their opinion: "See how there's subtle shading in how the different fibers dyed up? See how it shines?" They nod and back away slowly.

3. Make time. Seems like an obvious point, yes? Well, in my life, stating the obvious is something that makes a lot of sense. I've decided to devote my morning run time to the second sock, because, well, because this morning I was preparing to run intervals. I'm convinced that they are a great idea in kicking my running up to another level (despite still not being very interested in racing). So I jogged to the park, stretched, made my way to the baseball diamond where the plan was to run to first base and jog/walk the others five or so times. I lined up on home plate and started and wham! a muscle in my quads did something ominous.

After realizing that it wasn't going away, I limped home to ice and ibuprofin. No running for these legs for a few days, at least.

But hey, when they do run again? They'll have a pair of nice socks to wear afterwards.