Great Festival at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool!

Enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend. My daughter flew in from Seattle with my grandson Ethan and we spent the entire weekend in Rhinebeck. What a wonderful festival with so much going on. Bought a load of fleece, a new Bosworth spindle and yarns to knit those socks with. Many many vendors and competitions and demos. Worth the trip and had great weather to boot! thank you Leslie!

Custom Order Houndstooth!

Just got an order to knit a pair of socks for a woman in Illinois. Really interesting pattern and so excited to start there. In Black and white they will striking! See the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/talbot-sock-pattern

Cascade versus Knit Picks

So the question I had was the comparing of Cascade Sock Yarn versus Knit Pick Stroll Yarns. It took a little while for me to get to knitting a pair of socks using the Cascade Heritage Yarn. I had heard alot about it and there were many colors that were available, So I knitted a pair of socks using Cascade and had these thoughts about the yarn versus Knit Picks Stroll Sock yarns.

Both are machine washable superwash yarns, blends of 75% Merino and 25% Nylon. I loved that Cascade was one skein of 437 yds which was enough for a pair of socks (I like just having one continuous strand of yarn) and loved the colors available. Where as Knit Picks Stroll was 231 yds per skein so you had to purchase 2 skeins (462 yds) and the color selection of Knit Picks is not really as extensive as Cascades. Prices were wide apart as the Cacade was $11.95 for one skein (without shipping) and Knit picks was $3.49 a skein or $6.98 for 2 skeins (without shipping).

As far as the feel of the finished socks I was surprised to see that I thought the Knit Picks was pleasantly softer and smoother to the touch and had a nice bounce to the finish sock. The Cascade sock seem not as soft. That was a surprise but they both are easy to knit with. Again I really liked the array of colors that Cascade offers but if you catch Knit Pick as the seasons change they seem to offer different colors...just not as many. For the price...I guess I'll continue to use Knit Picks for Etsy socks but if I had a few extra bucks will go back to Lorna Laces (my absolute favorite when I can afford it).

Happy to say that the Lacy White Socks sold today. They were on the Etsy site for a long time but Dan photographed them using my new foot form and they sold in a weeks time. I guess maybe it was a good investment to purchase the foot form. Hurray!

Twisted Double Cable

Wanted to mimic a fisherman's sweater. So did a twisted double cable with seed stitches. Lorna Laces Solid sock yarn was used. Seems to be much more finer than other sock yarns I have used. More like lace or fingering. At any rate used #1 needles that always are nice to use as a change from the #2. You can knit with more detail with the #1 although it takes more stitches and the pace may be a little time consuming, the results are always satisfying. Fun to do and think I'll try to do something more involved. Love Cables.

Sampler Sox

For quite a while now I had wanted to do a more creative sock. Inspired by Kaffe Fassett and Kristin Nicholas style of knitting (which is more painting with yarns) I attempted a sock that I call Sampler. Basic theme was boxes or cubes.
Yarn used was Knit Picks Superwash (Merino and Nylon blend), and hoping that these might sell on etsy. Really a fun sock and was a great way to use up some of my extra left over yarns...my stash!

Heart Clog socks

Just amazing to me is that to start the New Year I have received an order for the Heart Clog Socks. It is amazing as I had increased the price of these. It is truly a best seller and hoping that this is a indicator of what is to come for 2010. Stay tuned...

Cross socks Pattern

Amazing how the pattern that I published for Ravelry has been requested and actually knitted by someone in Denmark! I am continually amazed how the wide web connects people and makes the world a very small place. It is really satisfying to see your pattern done by someone. Just amazing...

Basket Weave

I am at a point that I am feeling like I wish I had 4 hands to knit with. Two more pairs of socks were sold today and the basketweave went after I put them on sale to the same person who purchased my variegated yellow socks. He like them so much that he decided to buy two more pairs. Wonderful but that really makes my little shop look a little empty. I'll have to knit alot and fast! What fun.

Heart Clog socks

Absolutely wonderful...another order for the Heart Clog Socks makes my day! I really love these but think I will use different pattern on the sock. Maybe an all over pattern of hearts in relief. That would truly make it a heart sock! Probably a Valentines Day sock. I'll work on that!

Last month was loaded up on custom orders for Clog Socks and just finished a custom order of these mitts only in black. Really think this is a great idea and hope that I can do more of these. So just knitting away as fast as I can. Still hoping to do a pair of Clog Socks with Yankee logo on heel! Hope they win the World Series tonight! These late games are tough on sleep! Go Yanks.