I'm sure that you are aware of Ravelry's recent decision to ban overt support for Donald Trump. The response from some right wing knitters has been eye opening. I am cautious about knitting during my time in the US and having people feel they have the right to tell me how wrong and discriminating Ravelry's decision was. Yes, the risk is probably small, but, given how loudly certain people have been behaving on social media, I would be naive to think there was no risk.
The first part of the trip is at the 24th World Scout Jamboree. This is an event held every four years for teenagers aged between 14 and 17. The idea is that every young person will only ever be eligible for one World Scout jamboree, making it a once in a lifetime opportunity. When I was a Brownie (or possibly a Guide), I remember reading about the World Scout Jamboree and thought it was the only jamboree that existed in the world. I thought it sounded so fantastic that when I got older I wanted to go to a World Scout Jamboree. This will be my third!
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| Larry and I overlooking the New River Gorge WV, last year. |
My friend Larry, who will also be my boss, has agreed to be a yarn mule. There are several companies in North America, from whom I want buy stuff. However, sending stuff to the UK incurs a higher postage fee and a customs charge. I thought I could get round this by sending stuff to Larry. For some reason, his ZIP Code has not been recognised by any website. I've tried to buy from. It didn't bother me much, until I couldn't get my hands on the last skein of Dark Side of the Moon, by Must Stash yarns. Now, I'm taking it personally.
Instead, let's share some finished socks - actually quite a few this month.
The first pair were actually finished in May, for my husband's birthday last month. However, I wasn't going to share them here before giving them to him. Frustratingly, despite me putting ribs on both the front and the back, they still don't really fit. I think I may have to find a better heel.
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| Vanilla ribbed socks, with fish lips kiss heel. Main yarn is Regia Denim, with Regia Colour as a contrast. |
The next two pairs were both cast on and cast off in July, almost unheard of for me! They are being knit as part of the Summer of Socks KAL, run by Nikki from the Tea and Possibilities podcast.
The next pair was the first pair I knit last month, and were in progress at the beginning of last month:
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| Ribbed vanilla socks. Main colour West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 ply in colourway Pheasant. Contrast Colour is Nutmeg. |
The second pair was also completed last month:
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| Vanilla socks with fishlips kiss heel. Yarn is Christmas Grinch by The Yarn Jar. |
There was something rather subversive about using black yarn on a Christmas pair of socks. I think I need to find an excuse to do it again. Whilst knitting this pair, I made a new-to-me mistake, namely putting in a random YO when knitting the toes. I can sew it up when I weave in the ends, so it's not a massive issue. Fun fact, if you're weaving in the ends of black yarn, you need really good light!
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| Vanilla ribbed socks, with fishlips kiss heel. Main yarn is Vintage Christmas by The Yarn Jar. Contrast heels are JaWool. |
I'm going to be in the US for a month in total; this will include two trans-Atlantic flights, a four hour journey from the airport to the campsite (I may well be asleep on the return journey) and an internal flight between Charlotte SC and New York (plus shuttle buses to and from the hotel). I'm wondering if yarn for two projects is going to be enough. As well as the Summer of Socks KAL, I also want to try and complete the Box o' Socks KAL challenge and pick up with the Periodic Table KAL, being run by The UK Sock Knitters group on Ravelry. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll prep some yarn and ask my husband to bring it with him, when he flies over in in August.
This is the next yarn to be knit into socks:
One (or both of these) are for July (nitrogen). Whilst I love rainbow coloured socks, knitting two pairs in a row feels like a total indulgence.
One (or both of these) are for August (neon):
So, in two months time, I'll be able to share what I've managed to complete with all the yarn above. I'll attempt to blog next month, but it'll mostly be written before leaving the UK. Trying to blog on my phone on a campsite where several thousand people are trying to use the wi-fi has a higher frustration risk that I'm prepared to allow! (And it also makes the assumption that I'll have any battery left).
If you like knitting socks, there is a group of us who blog about socks on the first Thursday of each month. If you want to join us, head over to Paul's Blog where she hosts a link-up for everybody's blog. We would love you to join us and see what you're knitting!
