Darn

 Today I tackled the collection of handknit socks that were in need of repair.  Darn.  Darning isn't hard.  It isn't exciting either, but it takes less time to darn my socks than to spin and knit a new pair.  So, here's to darning.

This sock got two repairs:  a knit-like stitch up near the toes and a replacement flap knit to cover a gaping hole at the heel.  I didn't have any more of the original yarn, so I used  a chain-ply (3-ply) sample in bright yellow and orange. The flap was knit on 6 stitches that I picked up from the heel, increased to cover the hole and then sewn to the sock. We'll see how well this works.

The knit-like stitch is basically a duplicate stitch where I used a needle and the yarn to re-create the knit stitches.  The 3-ply patch yarn is bigger than the original yarn and it looks a bit odd.

 Here is the same type of repair on a different sock.  (Did I mention that I had a stack of these to do?)  This repair was done with the same yarn as the original and hides nicely.  The photo to the left shows how the original knitting was hanging together by a thread.  It's easiest to do the duplicate stitch repair on holes like this.

 There was a big hole in the heel of these socks too, but I wasn't willing to do another knit flap so these socks got the "weave across the hole" type of patch.  Yarn was sewn across the hole and then woven the other direction to cover the hole. --These are my acrylic house slippers. I don't really care about them as long as they keep my feet warm.  If they were handspun, I might have knit another flap.

 And here is the trio of non-holey socks (well, except for the hole for my foot!) Ready to be returned to use!  Whew!

More Bits and Pieces

I've chosen the weft for my multi-colored warp. It's a fine, pale green, 2-ply on an unknown fiber. It is most likely a polyester or rayon or some blend, but it's care should be similar to the rayon warp.

The variegated single in the warp has caused a few problems. There are spaces where the single is thicker and less tightly spun than the rest of the yarn. The tension of the warp and the abrasion of the reed has lead to multiple repairs.

So far, I'm pleased with the weight of the fabric. My goal is to end up with something light and drapeable. If it works (and the fabric gets used for it's intended purpose), I'll let you know. Until then, mum's the word 'cause the final product may be a gift!




















Here is a second pair of worsted weight bed socks. The dark purple (and late evening light) makes it hard to capture the ripple stitch that I used, but they are done. Two pairs down and two to go. Unfortunately the last pair may take a while. My son saw a roving in my stash that he liked and so I need to do some spinning before I can knit that pair!

To Darn or Not To Darn

This is my sock. It is a holey sock. It needs to be repaired...or recycled...or???

I made these socks on my knitting machine about 5 years ago. They were knit flat, with short row shaping for the toe and heel, and seamed up the sides. They have short cuffs and loose feet--they are the first pair of socks I ever made on the knitting machine, and maybe my first pair of socks ever (I was terribly intimidated by double point needles for a while!). They have been darned multiple times this last year. Can you see the light blue patch in the upper right corner of the photo? That's a patch job. The heels have patch jobs. But it looks like the yarn is just wearing out all over. Sigh. Is it worth darning these socks anymore? At some point I'm going to have to bite the bullet and just knit myself some new bed socks.

Hmm. Maybe this is a good thing. Bed socks use cheap acrylic yarns from the stash. Cheap acrylic Worsted Weight yarn. Hmm. Worsted Weight. Worsted weight knits up fast. Fast knitting...hmm. Maybe I could try a new sock pattern with my fast knitting worsted weight yarn. Hmmm. I'm beginning to like this idea! :)

Cable Socks

Hooray! My socks are finished! This pair was supposed to be a simple, mindless knitting project. Ha! Cables aren't mindless--not hard, mind you, just not mindless! And, of course, I modified the pattern to accommodate my handspun yarn. Modifications often aren't mindless!

Well, the good news is that these socks are soft and comfy and pleasantly stretchy. I think they will wear well for years to come!

The pattern: 3x3 cable with moss stitch, pg. 68 of "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. The yarn: hand-dyed, handspun cotswold wool. 2-ply. (~lace weight)
The modifications: increase two of the moss stitch sections from 5 to 7 stitches. (In retrospect I'm not sure this was necessary. It seemed important at the time--especially since my last pair of handspun socks are tight on me.)

A Little Knitting

I've started two new knitting projects: a 3x3 cable sock from "Sensational Knitted Socks" and the "Oak Leaf & Acorn" scarf from Fiber Trends.

But, check out the weaving text behind my cabled sock. It's new to my weaving guild's library...and it's a wonderful book!

There are photos of both front and back of the pieces, photos with various color combinations of weft, photos with various warp color threadings!

I think I may need to get my own copy of this book...but until then, I love my guild library!





This is 1.5 repeats of the oak leaf section of the scarf. This one may take me a while to complete. Lace takes patience and clear thinking for me...two things I don't always have when it comes time to work on projects!

A little Batty

With temperatures above 40F I have been able to get the drum carder out in the mud room/porch and prepare a new blend of spinning fibers!

This is commercially processed roving (I think it was a Romney fleece) blended with hand washed and carded mohair locks. The roving was a brownish-grey and the mohair was a black and silver-grey mixture. I used about 75% wool and 25% mohair.

It spins up pretty nicely. This is about 1 ounce. I have 5 more batts to spin and then it will be time to debate about dyeing. I could leave them brown/grey and do a simple cable sock....or I could do 20 yard skeins and paint the yarn for self-striping socks. Hmm. Natural colors may win for this batch!

Wool Socks & Summer

These socks lasted on my feet for about two seconds after I put the camera down! It's hot here and these are 100% wool.

This is the "Tipsy Knitter Socks" pattern from "Socks, Socks, Socks". My gauge is a little off--these are hard to get over my ankle--but perhaps in winter that will be less of an issue. The yarn is hand-dyed, hand-spun Cotswold wool from my parents flock.

Notice how the two socks don't really match colorwise? I should have split the roving lengthwise and spun each half into yarn for one sock. That would have kept the color more consistent between the two.

Finished Object (really!)

I know this looks like a ball of yarn, but it's really the sign of a finished object. The rest of the ball of yarn went to make a pair of socks for my preschooler who turns 4 this month. The socks are a toe-up pattern from Schurch's Sensational Socks book. Kids socks are a great way of trying new patterns because they are small!

Bits and Pieces

These are my finished object for the week. They are my first pair of toe-up socks! I cast-on with the "easy toe" in Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks, worked a 5-stitch pattern, did a short-row heel, and chose to make them anklets before I ran out of yarn! (That's what I get for using up leftovers!) I was pleased with the easy toe start--it was, well, easy. I'm not sure about the short-row heel...I may need to experiment with other types of heels.








This odd looking invention is my newest bobbin winder. I usually use my charka to wind my boat shuttle bobbins--a rubber band on the spindle holds the plastic 4" bobbin reasonably well. But this is better.

On the left is my Grandmother's cone winder. On the right is a cone (that fits the cone winder very well) with a screwdriver taped in it. The cone and screwdriver go on the cone winder. The bobbin goes on the screwdriver. One hand turns the cone winder crank, the other helps the yarn wind on smoothly.

Someday I will probably invest in a "real" bobbin winder. For now, this makes bobbing winding almost easy.