I’m brand new to the “Once upon a sock” posts, but as an avid sock knitter, I’m thrilled to join in the fun.

This year for Christmas my mother requested knee socks. Actually, I had to coerce her into it. You’d never meet someone less enthusiastic about receiving hand-knit socks than my mother. She’s an extremely thrifty, practical person, and the fact that she doesn’t technically *need* any socks means that she’s reluctant to have me knit them for her. I’ve tried to explain that need doesn’t...