Sock Success and an Opportunity

My first pair of toe-up socks is done. My plan is to try a slightly different technique for my next pair. There was just enough yarn left over to make a little flower brooch.

Meanwhile a friend has asked me to dye some yarn for her to use. That's just the little push I needed to get back to my idea of selling hand-dyed yarns again. So it will be dye pots here soon. 

More of the Same

The toe-up socks are progressing. This morning I knitted the second heel.

Now that I've got the basic process pretty much sorted, I need to work on the little refinements, such as those gaps that appear at the end of the short-row shaping. Meanwhile I will soon have replaced the unfortunate hot-heels socks. Just to be absolutely contrary, I put the accidentally-felted pair through the washing machine cycle one more time--this time on purpose. I want the felting to be so thorough that I can cut the knitted fabric without the stitches unravelling. Then I will have learnt something useful about felting in my front-loader. In my mind that pretty much redeems the loss of my lovely warm socks.

Another New Spindle

The Bendigo finds continue:

I didn't have a turkish drop spindle in my collection. That gap has now been filled. The timber is osage orange which is also used as a natural dye source.

I'm interested in thinking through the folk-engineering of my textile tools. The turkish spindle design is potentially easier to make at home than those that require a turned whorl--though I am yet to test that theory. Meanwhile it's going to take a little bit of getting used to as it handles a bit differently from the others I'm used to. 

Another Scarf

I finished this scarf yesterday.

I decided the yarn was just the thing for another go at the ruffles design I made here. The yarn is a mohair blend which turned out to be too soft for its original purpose. There's no such thing as too soft for one of these scarves and the crochet structure adds strength. Now it's in a box on its way to my friend D along with her blanket and other bits and pieces which have been waiting to make the trip north. Whether she's out in the elements or curled up on the couch my friend can have a bit of woolly goodness to keep her warm. 

Up and Up

I came across this book while browsing at the Wool Show.

I was actually looking for another sock book by Ann Budd, which I haven't found yet, but this one seems to have all the basics I was looking for. And you can see I've knited another toe. I've included the first completed sock in the picture so you can be sure that I'm not just showing you the same toe over again. I'm also happy to report that the short-row toe process is getting easier. Now I have an easy bit of knitting for my handbag while I knit the foot. When I get up to the heel I'll have to pay attention again. 

Ethan Jakob

Another Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show has come and gone and another delightful drop spindle has come to live at my house. Meet Ethan Jakob.

The timber is wild olive and red oak. I've tracked it down as coming from Greensleeves Spindles--delightfully named after the maker's grandson. This little spindle weighs only 12 grams. It's become my new handbag companion. I can't believe how light and sweetly balanced it is. 

Bold and Bright

I didn't get to finish my quilt top at the Charity Sewing Day on Saturday because I somehow managed to mix up the pieces I'd brought along. Now it's done.



Oops, that photo's out of focus--better make that "bold, bright and blurry". I've already put it in the car ready to drop off at GJ's when I'm driving past, so there won't be a better shot.

They were looking to make quilts about a meter square--just enough for a comforting cuddle rather than a bed size--so that's how big it is. Otherwise I might have added a couple of rows of the blue and orange to make it a bit more symmetrical.