Socks, socks, and more socks

I'm enamored with the designs put out by Laine Publishing. This week I picked up a couple of their books from the local library, volumes 1 and 2 of 52 Weeks of Socks. (Not sure if they think most folk can knit a pair of socks a week or if it was just a handy way to promote two groups of 52 patterns.)


Both books are full of gorgeous, intricate sock patterns... that leave me feeling a bit tired. Socks are my portable project, so something too complicated is not welcome. Also, I wonder how well these designs would hold up. However, there are some helpful concepts for mixing things up a bit with sock knitting without messing things up too much: colorwork, from a little to a lot.

'Cindy's Choice' from Vol 1

'Nyrkys' from Vol 2

'Anni' from Vol 2

'Pinwheel' from Vol 2

Knitting: In tune with the theme of this post, I've been knitting on the quirky socks. I decided the handspun I've been playing with for a bulky sweater is more like rope than yarn, so it is probably going to become a basket.

Whenever I see a reference to "tablescaping" I have to laugh. My current tablescapes:

Not exactly House and Garden, but it works for me.

Your guild wants YOU!

It's that time of the year when we start eliciting volunteers to lead the spinning guild for the following year. It's like pulling teeth. I've already decided that I am NOT going to be president in 2027, but I'm willing to fill another role. A few people have spoken up, but we need more. Always more.

If YOU belong to a guild, please, please volunteer, to keep the guild alive and well.

The rigid heddle weaving study group is going well. There were five of us at the last meeting, and each of us worked on something different, all projects that are stretching our skills. Goal achieved.

Knitting: I swatched some super-bulky handspun to see if it is close to gauge for a super-bulky scrappy sweater - spot on! I also swatched a combo yarn - two strands held together - and again achieved something close to gauge. So I knit up a bit of the sweater, starting with the cuff... and decided the two colors of the combo yarn should be lightly plied together.

Weaving: My back is killing me from repeated attempts to start something (anything!) in doubleweave (a.k.a. double-width weave). Still not there. Too many opportunities to mess up.

As most fiber enthusiasts, I have a LOT of yarn. Most of my handspun is not in quantities that is useful for anything larger than a scarf, a hat, mittens, a cowl, etc. And then there are all those leftovers from knitting socks. What to do?

This book has many projects for all those bits and bobs. I checked it out of the local library, but I plan to purchase my own copy. Just the sock patterns make it worthwhile for me.

Big fail

I have been on a bit of a decluttering spree lately. It occurred to me that maybe I could reduce my stash of handspun by selling it at an upcoming harvest festival. I selected about a dozen samples, plus a few handwoven items, labeled and priced them... and sold nary a one. The harvest festival was really geared for children, not fiber enthusiasts.

Demonstrating at the harvest festival all day Saturday wore me out, so I considered not attending the fiber arts club meeting on Sunday. But I did, and I'm glad I did. Besides finding a new home for a bunch of acrylic yarn and some silk dyes (the club has a "swap table" but most of it is freebies), I was inspired by one member's "scrappy" sweater - a bulky knit sweater made from multiple bits and bobs of leftover yarn. I even have some patterns for super bulky projects, including a cardigan, I purchased from Modern Daily Knitting several years ago. (Sometimes it pays to *not* declutter.)

Knitting: I am almost finished with the first mitten from the handpainted yarn - only the thumb remains. The quirky socks are coming along.
Spinning: I finished spinning the pretty turquoise roving at the festival.
Weaving: The panels for the buffalo plaid blanket are all sewn together; now the edging, the fringe twisting, the weaving in of ends, etc.

Despite the decluttering spree, a yarn bowl followed me home from the festival. Now I have six. I plan to crochet more baskets like this one, and having multiple bowls helps with the yarn wrangling. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

Last week's weaving guild meeting was about spinning for weaving. I had heard the presenter's spiel before, but this time I picked up that two-ply is best for weaving. I have been making a lot of three-ply. So now I will have to rethink my strategy and plan ahead.

It didn't follow me home

There is an art festival this weekend, which my SO and I attended last night. It's on Broadway, part of the so-called "art district". One store we stopped in is called Delaney's and offers up oh-so-much in the way of antiques - three stories of estate sales, it looks like. There was a spinning wheel that looks like it has all the parts (although some of them are underneath in a box), but I did NOT bring it home. I already have an unassembled loom in the garage - I don't need yet another stray fiber tool. I did post it on FB, though, so maybe someone will give it a good home.

Knitting: Started a pair of Arched Gusset mittens with one of the painted yarns from the dyeing workshop. Despite cataract surgery, I'm having a hard time seeing this dark yarn.

Spinning: Last month I purchased some turquoise roving at the monthly spin-in, so I started spinning that at today's spin-in. I have a plan for using it with the murky handspun.

Weaving: I decided against continuing double-width weaving with string heddles - that's just madness. Instead, I purchased a second 10-dent heddle. I think I can just cut off what I have woven so far and re-heddle the existing warp, just for demo purposes. And while it does not feel like weaving, I am still stitching together the panels of a blanket I wove on the SampleIt.

Lately, I have had the urge to knit a sweater but haven't found the "right" pattern yet. I checked this book out of the local library, to see if anything grabbed my attention.

Nothing appealed to me, plus I was put off that almost every pattern was designated as being for the "experienced knitter," even the baby blanket. I'll keep looking.