episode 111 | no other socks on the needles

EPISODE 111 SHOW NOTES

In this episode I’m wearing my freshly machine washed Whitehorse sweater and it looks okay; bit big and baggy but looks great with black jeans so I won’t complain too much especially because I feel like it’s taken up way too much of this old gal’s headspace already, we are done Mr Whitehorse, done.

*matching my socks and my stitch marker - so twee!*

HALF FINISHED OBJECTS

One of Darren’s Christmas socks is now finished so it’s looking like he might actually get socks on the big day now rather than at Easter.

I’m using the rather fabulous Storm sock set from Studiomeez and knitting a plain stockinette sock over 72 stitches on 2.25mm needles using the magic loop method.

They’ve come up a bit big, not sure if it’s the woolly Blue Faced Leicester wool or my knitting tension (again) but I might try to go down to a 2mm needle for his next socks and see if they work up any snugger.

These socks are living in my la cerise sur le gateau project bag which I bought from Beautiful Knitters.

The pretty matchy sock stitch marker is from Emma at Blue Ammonite Designs on Etsy.

NEW WIP

This week I unexpectedly started a new project, a ribbed hat using Jewelspun yarn from Sirdar in the Sandstone Sunset colourway. This aran weight, acrylic yarn comes in a giant 200g ball and it is just so pretty.

I couldn’t resist and there was a spare needle just lying around waiting to be used, practically begging to be used, so I cast on some stitches and just started knitting with no plans.

I want the crown decreases to be even and not angled like the Classic Ribbed Hat from Purl Soho, which is a fabulous free pattern that I’ve made a number of times, I know I don’t make much sense when I’m describing this so I hope you understand (but probably not so hopefully all will make sense in the next episode).

*Sirdar Jewelspun ribbed hat in progress*

*best collaboration in town! on the left is Zandra’s Rainbow and the right is Forest Stripes*

NEW

There is a new and very fabulous collaboration in town and it is West Yorkshire Spinners and Zandra Rhodes who have come together to design some rather fabulous sock yarns.

The Zandra Rhodes range which you can find here is worked on the WYS Signature 4ply base - so their basic sock yarn - and it comes in either stripes or speckles with a number of different colourways.

I have gone for two striping yarns, Zandra’s Rainbow and Forest Stripes.

SOCKS

I was horrified to discover that I don’t have any other socks on the needles! How has this happened? I will remedy at once and fancy making a pair of October socks using the lovely orange yarn from Lisas Attik. I want to combine her yarn with something Autumnal, perhaps a green or a brown even.

OTHER MENTIONS

I have the new book from Mark Roseboom @theguywiththehook and it is lovely, I am particularly in love with the front cover project which I think will work brilliantly for a scrappy yarn project. I bought his book directly from his website which you can find here.

I also got the first edition of Moorit magazine which has some fabulous crochet patterns in it, so impressed with Alyson and her team for a job well done. I got my copy from Beautiful Knitters.

At the same time as buying Moorit, I got some of the Aloe Sock Wool from HjertGarn in white. I was inspired by Kiko from Kiko’s Knitting Podcast who has been using something similar from Opal but I think her yarn was infused with Edelweiss instead of Aloe Vera. Interesting to see how this yarn knits up.

And finally, I got the first clue for the Stephen West MKAL2021 and prepared my colours as per his advice. I am using five colours picked from yarn dyers in the UK and they are:

Raven Red from Beehive Yarns

Carmen from Zakami

Like Gold Mustard from Dusty Dimples

Peach Melba from Birdstreet UK

Blossom Honey from Black Elephant

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Enjoy the podcast folks and remember that we are all in this together.