Of socks and spinning....

Since my last post I've since completed these.... I couldn't stop knitting them, it's such a long time since I found a pattern I couldn't stop knitting :o) a word to the wise Opal Rendez-Vous has a long pattern repeat... it goes from the top of the rib through the heel and the oatmeal stripe just after the heel is the start of the pattern repeat!!!!

It is perhaps just as well I enjoyed knitting these (they are a Christmas present) as I have a further two balls in my stash one for me and one for DH (mum as a further ball of this for DH)... I suppose because we both see a lot of sock wool in the shop it really has to grab us both in pattern and in colour so when we see a pattern we like, well ;o)

I have more or less decided to keep the green fair isle ones for me you'll all be pleased to know but that does mean I now have 3 possibly 4 (the list grows) size 4 pairs to do for Christmas but at least they'll grow quick.... I'm on the 2nd sock of a size 10 in Hundertwasser 2 for DH and nearly finished the first sock of a size 9 in KF Landscape - Earth.... so sock knitting is progressing....

I've had a few people say to me recently they don't know how I can still knit so many socks and not be sick of them.... but then again sock knitting is my stand-by knitting to bring out for journeys, visits to MIL's and such likes or for knitting at SnB or when customers come, it's not my main knitting unless I feel tired but want to knit or I can't think what I want to knit which usually happens after Christmas....

How many of you out there are still 'regular' sock knitters?

On the spinning front am producing better yarn than I was a few weeks ago but not as good as I was back in May.... but practise, practise, practise.... Here are two from The Yarn Yard 'Turmeric' in BFL Superwash and 'Jewels' in Wensleydale both are 3-ply the s/wash is navajo plied and the Wensleydale is a more traditional 3-ply.


It was my first attempt at spinning Wensleydale and I spun it from the fold which I enjoyed but can't get the gist of long draw.... I opted for a traditional 3 ply as I wanted to 'break up' the original sections of bright colours so I split the roving down into blues, purple/pinks & pinks.... Here's how it started out...

and this is what I completed yesterday 'Monkey Farts' from Spunky Eclectic (purchased back when the £ was strong against the $ and it made the shipping costs worth while)

I'm not normally a yellow fan but I loved the colour combo and the name :o) DH says it looks like rotten bananas, but I ask you what else is a 'Monkey Fart' meant to be?

I've ended up with 280m of Navajo plied yarn so hopefully just enough to make ME a pair of socks at some point!!!!

I'm just about to start spinning some 'sock stuff' batts from Freyalyn's Fibres a blend of 80% s/wash merino and 20% nylon in 'Sandstone'...

I've been relatively good recently and not bought any fibre although Natalie of The Yarn Yard had a 20% off sale so I couldn't resist and I bought some merino/tencel and s/wash bfl most of which are not my normal run of colours ;o) I've also asked her for 2 more lots of 100g of this months Fibre club as it's beautiful and very aptly named 'Bramble Crumble'.... and I can see it being a shawl... it's Shetland btw....

I've also done a couple of trades recently too, one with Belaybunny for some spunky Eclectic merino/silk blend in 'Mandy'. Then yesterday with Jammam for 3 lots of Shetland that Natalie did in last months fibre club in those beautiful autumnal colours (see my previous blog post). I was so disappointed when I 'ruined' my Shetland fibre that when Jammam said on the Yarn Yard forum on Ravelry she could be persuaded to part with it I jumped at the chance.... again this fibre is shouting Evelyn Clarks 'Old Shale' shawl that was in Summer 2008 Spin Off

Well for someone who didn't think she had much to say I've certainly had my say... for those lace knitters of you out there there will be some on the Horizon but I must sort out my Christmas knits first....