Once Upon a (Southwark) sock - November

I think this is the first time that Once Upon a Sock and the first of the month have coincided for quite a while.  (Having checked, it was back in March).  Today is also the first day of Wovember - a celebration of all things wool.

A drainpipe outside the main cathedral

On Thursday of last week, Mr Knitty and I spent an evening at Southwark Cathedral, to see a talk on the book that goes alongside the All The Stations project, by Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe.  For those who don't know the project - Geoff and Vicki did a trip last summer, where they visited every single train station in the mainland UK.  (The full documentary is here )

The cathedral is gorgeous.  There was a monument to Shakespeare (given that he worked in the parish when he was at The Globe Theatre.

Of course, I had a pair of socks on the needles, which I worked on during the talk.  I'd decided that if anybody complained, I'd be prepared to stop.  Luckily, I was sitting at the back and nobody was paying attention to me, as they were listening to the talk and taking part in the Q&As. 

The socks at the beginning of the Q&A

When it came to the book signing afterwards, it made perfect sense to knit in the queue.  I think we were waiting about 90 minutes, so it was a good distraction and more work towards this year's box o' socks.  (Please can we ignore the dropped stitch somewhere round the toe which I found a couple of days ago).  Geoff could not get over the fact that I was knitting whilst waiting, to the extent that he asked if he could write it in the book.

The Candy socks are finally finished.  After messing up the heel at least three times, I told the socks that I didn't want them languishing in the project bag; I didn't think that it wanted to be languishing in the project bag - so could we please work together to get the heel turn sorted.  

Yarn - Regia Pairfect, in the colourway Candy.
Pattern is Sockmatician's toe-ups. 

These are knit in Regia Pairfect - designed to be knit from the cuff down.  I chose to knit it toe up, so the pink on the toe should be the cuff, and the thick stripes on the feet should be on the legs.  If I were to knit them again, I'd either try cuff down (gulp) or knit the toes and heels in orange and re-jig the yarn so that the pink cuff and thick stripes are in the right place. 

Last month, I also cast on an orange pair.  This was meant to be my socks for last June, then this June and then whenever-I-could-get-round-to-knit it. 

I've recently started using this progress keeper, because it's gorgeous.  I think it came with a yarn purchase...

Yarn: Opal 20 Years, colourway 9285 - Candle

The final pair, which still need a heel are my third time lucky socks.  This was the yarn I used in my first attempt at socks over four years ago.  The next attempt was over three years ago where I got halfway through the heel and no further.  (My friend Jane was telling me how to turn the heel with wraps and turns.  The lesson finished before the heel did).  They're now nearly finished - pending an afterthought heel.  

Yarn is Sirdar Heart and Sole.  I cannot remember the colourway.

There are a group of us who blog about socks on the first Thursday of the month.  If you knit socks and want to join us, you would be most welcome.  Each month we have a live link-up, hosted by Paula at Spin a Yarn.  If you want to join us, all you need to do is post your blog entry, add your link to the link up and link back to Paula's blog.  It doesn't matter if you crank out a pair of socks a week, or just manage a couple of rows a month - if you knit socks, you're part of our gang and it would be lovely to share your projects!   

USA: The Stash

Believe it or not, I was pretty restrained.  There was one yarn shop in Washington DC, which I didn't visit, as I knew there was more to explore in New York.

On my first night, I found Knitty City

Now, because that photo was taken after the shop closed, it doesn't show the baskets outside with the yarn on sale, or the boxes of books, or even the lady sitting outside knitting and telling me that all the books were free.

Oh dear.

Clockwise, from top left: 

• Intermix - Stacy Charles
• Kristin Knits - Kristin Nicholas
• Hat Couture - Theresa Silver
• Backyard Silk Blend Collection - Manos del Uruguay
• Vogue Knitting: Teen Knits on the Go
• Gotham - Stacy Charles
• Curvy Knits x 2 - Jillian Moreno
• Funky Knits - Carol Meldrum & Julie Marchington

I wasn't completely sure if I had enough weight allowance to bring back all of these books (let alone the space), so I had to go shopping for a new suitcase to carry the extra books back.  What started off at RRP of $170, was in the sale at $85.  The cashier who ran the transaction asked if he could try a mystery coupon to see if it made a difference.  Final cost, $46.40, including taxes! 

I will admit that the constant declarations that things were made the US, or the proliferation of flags got a bit irritating.  I get it, you're proud of your country/ isolationism!  However, when it came to yarn 'made in the US' is exactly what I was looking for! 

The first skein of yarn I found:

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Grand Canyon

Then I saw this one:

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Everglades

Then I saw a third one.  I wasn't sure if I could really justify a third skein.  However, I'd been sitting in Central Park listening to a guy playing his guitar and singing, including songs by REM, so I had to get it, given their song of the same name.  

Knitted Wit Victory Sock
Colourway - Cuyahoga Valley

I had a few hours to kill on the Saturday morning, and wanted to go to Lion Brand Studios (mostly because I knew they had a sale on, and the thought of getting some of the nicer yarns for a reduced cost was a tempting one).  In the end, the shop wasn't open at the same time I was free to visit it.  I also had Purl Soho on my list.  I've seen a video of it, and it looks like nothing on earth!  I'd planned to visit on the way back from Liberty and Ellis Islands.  However, I took more time than expected, by which point the shop had closed. 

Returning from Ellis Island

I have a very bad picture of me sitting inside Knitty City, in front of the bookshelf.  I hadn't even given it a glance!  I did have a plan to go back on the penultimate day I was in New York, but I decided that I'd done enough walking on the day in question, so didn't return after all.  

After walking to find the Alice statue, I didn't have the energy to return to Knitty City

Whilst I never went back to Knitty City, a couple of people had recommended Strand Books to me - and oh boy, was it a good recommendation!  The shelves for knitting and crochet were floor to ceiling; I had to borrow a ladder to peruse the top two shelves.  There was another lady looking for crochet books; every time I found one on the knitting shelves, I'd pass it down to her, just in case. 

Clockwise, from top left: 

• Knitting in America by Susan M. Strawn 
• The Best of Vogue Knitting: 25 Years of Articles, Techniques and Expert Advice
• The Knit Generation, ed. Sarah Hatton
• Knitting from the Centre Out by Daniel Yuhas

Knitting in America is one I saw at Knitty City; after looking it up online, it seemed right up my street - so I was very pleased to see it on the shelves at Strand Books.  (Ravelry page here).  Knitting from the Centre Out looked like an interesting way of approaching patterns and The Knit Generation featured designers I liked. 

They were also selling the famous Vogue Knitting Book - both the old and new editions.  I really wanted to get one of them, but didn't know if it was cheaper than in the UK, nor whether I'd have enough space in my luggage.  Despite the extra suitcase, books are heavy!  There was one by Amy Herzog which also had to go on the 'maybe later' pile.  

The last book from Strand Books, was one that is mostly intended for my very good friend and knitting mentor who had a baby, whilst I was in West Virginia.  If she likes the book, it's hers.  If she doesn't, I'll keep it.  Either way it works out, and some of the dresses are adorable. 

Also, in the knitting related purchases:

I first read about Kool Aid as a dye in Stitch and Bitch.  I couldn't quite get my head around the idea of using a drink powder to create a permanent colour to yarn.  I'm still not sure I've got my head around it, but with some packets of dye, space in the kitchen and an internet tutorial or two, I'm sure I can work something out.  

The final thing were a couple of bracelet charms which were on reduction at Girl Scout Central - the Manhattan shop for the Girl Scouts.  I thought they'd do quite nicely as stitch markers.  The one on the left is to celebrate 100 years of selling cookies; the one on the right is a Brownie elf.  

I'm due to go back to the US next year for a Scout camp, with Mr Knitty joining me afterwards for a holiday.  I'll either be going back to places I visited this year, or go somewhere new, with new yarn shops to explore.  It's a win-win.

What have you been up to this summer?

2018 in books (part two)

I've already mentioned my bookshelf here before.  When I first started knitting, I had a few books - which then grew to a few more.  This became a shelf, which then outgrew itself.

Last year I moved everything on to a bookshelf in the spare room.  However, because there was space on the shelf, I felt the need to fill it.  I made a list of all the books I bought in 2017 - and there were around 26; certainly more than one a month.  That doesn't include supplements sent with magazines.

So, this year - I set myself a challenge to curb my book buying habits, which I've totally fallen apart at, before realising how ridiculous I was being.  I've already mentioned the book Icelandic Handknits, bought when I went to Unravel.  It may be years before I knit any of the patterns in the book, but I've had great joy in reading about the history of handknitting in Iceland, and I know it's there when I want to go back to it.  The same is true of Victorian Lace Today  It may well be some time before I knit any of the projects in it, but I'm looking forward to reading about the history of Victorian lace knitting, and expanding my knitting knowledge. 

This morning, I piled up all the books I've bought so far this year - and they nearly reached my knee.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of patterns, and history and techniques and gorgeous photos.  That's nearly-a-knee's worth of other people's ideas and solutions, which could easily give me inspiration for mine.  

Yes, I have knitting books on my Kindle too - but I'm old fashioned enough to want the paper and glue version to hold on to, and flick through.  At least three of these books have been signed, so not only am I collecting a knitting library, I've got a personal record of creative people that I admire.  Oh, and if you've ever tried reading a cable chart from a Kindle, you may also understand the love of paper! 

Cable Chart from The Knitters Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman

When I was a teenage, my mother forbade me having a clothing allowance, as I'd spend it all on books.  I think this is highly influential in my avoidance of clothes shopping as an adult, and possibly why these four arrived at the end of March....

Books bought from Brityarn - before it all closes down

So, what's in your knitting library ? 

Unravel 2018

On Friday, Jane and I went to Unravel knitting festival and it was awesome!  Alright, so it started with me not getting the job I interviewed for on Monday, but it majorly improved after that!  As I was knitting my socks on the train, a lady walked past me, wearing the most amazing beaded shawl.  As she came back, she leaned over to ask which yarn I was using - at which point we both said in unison: "Are you going to Unravel?" You couldn't have written it!

The ticket machine in the carpark was not working properly.  We tried putting in £3; it didn't give us a ticket and refunded us £2.  We tried putting in £4; it didn't give us a ticket and refunded us £2.  We tried putting in £3; it didn't give us a ticket so we thumped it, and it refunded us back £6.  Apparently thumping it after putting in each coin was the way to go - but ouch, we ended up bruised!

We had decided to have a look round all the stalls first, before coming back to buy anything.  This was a good idea, although it did mean going back to nearly the first stall I saw!  I was also aiming to buy just one ball of sock yarn.  The crucial word in that sentence is aiming.

Part of the catalogue, showing the vendors

We went to a talk in the Long Kiln Gallery - which was decorated with artwork created by Kate Talbot.  There were too many to comment on, plus not all of them were good for photographing, due to the lighting.

Lemmy Kilmister - complete with bottle of Jack Daniels

Losing The Thread - a picture of Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley
The thread has been left loose and unravelling to depict the effect of Alzheimer's disease on the academic mind. 

Jane had left her knitting at home, and clearly had itchy fingers.  The socks I was knitting had suffered a major yarn barf, so she was helping to untangle that.  She even offered to weave in my ends!  I did feel a bit mean about knitting in front of her (a bit like eating in front of a starving child), but it's not often you're encouraged to knit whilst listening to somebody gives a talk!

The talk was given by Anna Maltz about the colourwork technique she has developed, called marlisle.  She comes from an art background, and wanted to be able to break the rules - but to do that, she needed to know what the rules are in the first place.  Whilst her peers were working with paper and paint, she decided to work with knitting, as she knew its rules.  From there, she developed marlisle, a way of creating colourwork using two strands of yarn held together.

Mittens made with the technique. 

One of the comments she made, was about knitters wanting to be breed specific, which isn't necessarily a good thing with people.  She said that Brexit was leading people to become more isolated from each other and instances of racism have increased.  Given that we were in Surrey, I thought that was pretty brave!  I was incredibly impressed at the thought that she has given to the yarns that she uses for her projects.  Most seem to be inspired by people she knows, or places connected to her or her family.

I've also found a new 'thing' for yarn shows - collecting business cards and making a note on them of any clothes, patterns or notions that you like the look of.  So, when I want to know who had the 'Industrial Kingfisher' colurway, or that pattern for the ball of yarn I'm trying to get rid of - I have all the contact details.

Of course, there was always the one that got away - for which I'm now cross with myself.  There was a stall who had a reduced ball of sparkly light brown sock yarn, which would have been brilliant for a shawl, and so different to anything in the stash at the moment.  Annoyingly, the guy running the stall was too busy chatting to somebody to serve me - despite somebody else pointing out that I was waiting.  So, I put it back and came back later - only to find that it had been bought by somebody else.

The big octopus. Not suitable for babies

Jane wanted to go and see the octopuses - so that was next on the list.  Octopus for a Preemie came from Denmark.  I can't remember exactly how the first octopus came to be in a baby's incubator, but it was noticed that the baby was playing with the tentacles instead of the wires (it's thought to remind them of the umbilical cord) and their heartbeat went down.  From there, more octopuses have been made and given to babies and the project has spread internationally.  The rules for knitting or crocheting an octopus are incredibly strict.  If the octopus isn't deemed suitable for a premature baby, it's given to an 'angel baby'.  We both got kits to knit our first octopus.

A tank full of smaller octopuses. 

Then it was time to hit the marketplace!  I thought the bags had sold out.  They hadn't.

The Unravel 2018 bag

I got a couple of books.  The one on Icelandic knitting is gorgeous.  As well as patterns, it's got a lot about the history of knitting in Iceland. 

Marisle, by Anna Maltz

Iclandic Hand Knits by Helene Magnusson
What can I say - it was reduced! 

And then there was the yarn - in this case, two skeins from Easyknits which was almost the first place I looked.

Two skeins of Deeply Wicked + sock yarn
L = Flicker and Flame, R = Cockatoo

All in all, it was a lovely chilled out, yarney kind of day.  It was the pick-er up-er that I needed and would definitely go back again next year, if I had the opportunity. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Twelfth Night

Now that Christmas is officially over, I'm feeling a lot more Christmassy than I was before it started.  (Of course I am).  After listening to Arne and Carlos' podcast about Christmas and how they prepare for it, I decided to buy their book of baubles.  Apparently it's the first book they published, which explains why they look quite so young. 

If you're a sucker for a freebie, there are twenty four baubles designed by Arne and Carlos that can be found on this website.  Both the instructions and the charts can be downloaded - but they're downloaded separately.  (It took me a while to work this out).  From what I can work out, about four of the freeebie baubles are in the book, and there are about five book baubles which are similar to the freebie baubles.  One of these baubles may become part of a project that I'm planning for around summertime-ish.

The Christmas cards are down

Card decorated by my two year old nephew

The decorations are down.

Baubles of the non-knitted variety

Let's do it all again in another 49 weeks.

I Totally Knit a Hat!

Yesterday wasn't the greatest.  This is the end of my time being signed off sick with work related stress.  Given how the NHS is supposedly so stretched, it's odd that they choose not to avoid sickness levels in their staff - but there you go.

I don't have the inclination to go into all the reasons why I'm not happy with the situation - but suffice it to say, I don't think I've been treated fairly and my work clearly has not been valued in the way it should have been.  It's one of these workplaces where people who are lazy or cut corners are rewarded, and those who work hard and do a good job are treated badly or let go.  It's totally the wrong way round, and I don't understand how it's allowed to happen.

Yesterday I spoke to my line manager about coming back to work.  I'm not going back to the department which caused me the problems (hurrah!).  However, the thought of going back has made me feel teary and anxious, which isn't a good thing.

However, I do have some things to cheer me up:

Wednesday's haul from the charity shop

Whilst talking to one of my neighbours last year, she commented that I only read non fiction, which I entirely refuted - before realising the truth in the comment.  This year, I've decided to alternate a fiction with a non-fiction book.  Buying from the charity shop makes more sense; it's cheaper than first hand, and when I've finished with them, I can return them to the charity shop. 

Thursday's package.  Yes, we do have an underground bedspread.  All the best people do. 

Whilst on the phone, these arrived. Not all were for me; some were for Mr Knitty.  This package included books from Oxfam; radios and trains for Mr Knitty, knitting for me.   All my books were from the 50s, back when measurements were in imperial, and illustrations looked like this: 

Illustrations from Odhams Knitting Encyclopaedia 

and schematics looked like this: 

Schematic from The Complete Knitting Book, by Marjorie Tillotson

The bottom package was my (slightly drunken) Amazon purchase from New Year's Eve.  During the Design Your Own Lace class last year, Karie Westerman made mention of the stitch dictionaries by Barbara G. Walker - so they were on the wish list, and they are glorious.  

Today I finished knitting a hat for Mr Knitty.  It's slightly loose on him, but he says that's OK.  I had to let it swing, to try and untwist the yarn - and it was slightly hypnotic to watch. 

Pattern - Invisicrown by Sockmatician
Yarn - Regia, double knit. 

Right 2018, I've actually managed to achieve something.  I feel far more prepared for whatever Monday brings.  Bring it on! 

Bonjour 2018

I've been looking for my knitting resolutions for 2017 and can't find them, which either means I didn't write any, or I'm looking in the wrong place.

This was the year I conquered socks. I didn't manage to complete my Box O Socks challenge, but I do have seven more pairs of socks than I did in January.

This is also the year that I (sort of) conquered my bookshelf.  What started off as this: 

Now looks like this: 

It might not look that different - but it is.  There are more books for a start.  As I had more room for books, I had the desire to keep buying books to fill the space on the bookshelf.  The idea was to have all my knitting stuff together.  What you can't see is the stuff on the floor that I had to move out of the way to take the photo - so that clearly worked! 

Some of my favourite books from this year:

Books from March, when I was getting in to sock knitting

Bought in Iceland in August

Bought in October. Recommended retail price, £16.99  I got it for £3.00.  Bargain! 

There are so many more, but I got bored in trying to work out which ones to include (or not).  

I survived Mr Knitty being in hospital at the beginning of the year.  I didn't make it to Sweden, but we did go to Belgium.  I spent an amazing time in Iceland and have a list of things to show Mr Knitty when I take him back.  I want to run another half marathon this year, which will mean starting regular running again.  We're talking about finally buying a house. 

As for 2018, I don't really make resolutions.  I'd much rather make a list of things that I want to achieve by the end of the year, which are:

• Knit a sweater/cardigan
• Design a pair of socks
• Knit at least one thing using the Iceland stash
• Learn to knit continental style
• Knit advent calendar for nephew
• Finish the red shrug
• This Thing of Paper KAL
• Attempt to 'Marie Kondo' my yarn stash
• Complete my Craftsy class on colour. 

This time next year, I'll have a look to see which ones I've managed to achieve.  

What are your hopes for 2018, knitting or otherwise?