For my secret sock knitting friend…………………..

1. What are your foot measurements?
length - 10″ instep & ankle - 9″

2. Do you have a favorite sock yarn?
I haven’t made many socks for myself and have only recently got back into knitting socks, so not really. I’ll leave that up to you. I’m not averse to handwashing though and do love the softness of alpaca.

3. Is there a specific pattern you favor?…lace or ribbed?
I would love something lacy or have wanted to make these but haven’t made time!

4. What colors do you prefer? Do you like solids or stripes?
Reds, burgundy, grey, black. I am a big stripe fan but am not against solid socks either.

5. Do you have any allergies to a specific fiber?
Nope

6. Holiday that you usually celebrate?
Christmas

Hope that’s enough to go on! If not send me an email. Happy knitting!

I missed the knitalong for this one earlier in the year and have a reasonable stash of cream All Seasons Cotton, which used to be this but will grow into a beautiful circular blanket for a friend’s baby.

My best friend chose this one for her little boy’s first birthday, which is at the end of the month and seeing as I’ve got to get it to Australia, I need to get a wriggle on! More kntting and less blogging methinks.

I went for a walk in the glorious sunshine down our high street this morning. The trip was to get some brown dye for some wool crepe so I can cut out a skirt I want to make. Anyway, I got distracted by these few things. The Constance Spry Cookery Book 1956 2nd edition. It’s a wonderful compendium of classic recipes and I believe was used as reference for Cordon Bleu. I just love the gold embossed cover and it’s a shame the spine has bleached the candy pink colour out. It has wonderful sections like force-meats, farces & stuffings and devils, barbecues & marinades and explains the differences between your duxelles, mirepoix and brunoise and relays in detail ‘how to take care of your fat bath’! Wonderful stuff. It might even get Mapman interested…..

Mauve is not a favourite of mine, so this vintage Patons Lucelle may get dyed at some point. It’s so very soft - a wool/angora mix and complete with original cards. I’ve not used 2ply before but it’ll be destined for something baby related.

The Twilleys Crysette is a vintage cotton. I scored 11 of these 25g balls and look forward to getting my hand s on the Kool-Aid an American friend got me on a recent trip back home. I should be in receipt of that tomorrow.

Hello Yarn’s
Cable Twist Socks
Rowanspun 4ply Swarm 701
3.25mm vintage dpns

A cable without using a cable needle! So if you’re scared of those, then this one’s for you. This pattern is a no-brainer because you can correct yourself as you go along and the way the stitches sit tells you where you’re up to for the next round. Am not sure the band won’t sag after a bit of wear will have to wait and see. They’re for my FIL for Christmas and I’m knitting along with all of these bods!

Join up and knit along in Pixie Purls’ Solid Socks knitalong. I’m going to be making some cabled socks for my FIL for Christmas in some Rowanspun 4 ply from the stash. I must take some photos of the stash…one day.

I love this pencil. It’s Australian wattle and has a slight bend in it, which proved to be a perfect cable needle for the chunky Colinette shimmer 5 I’m knitting up on 12mm needles. Not far until I’m finished but I’m getting that sore elbow already…….. :-( This took about 8 hours to make ladies, so if you’re after a quick present or something for yourself then go for it. You can see more of Charlotte shimmering below.

Charlotte shrug
Rowan Mag 38 largest size
Colinette Shimmer 5 - 4 skeins
2-3 November

I haven’t been to the London Art & Design Show but will go this year. Entry is £4.50. The glass platters you can see on the flyer are made by Aline Johnson. She’s a fantastic glass designer and likes to fuse glass together to make vases, light fittings & glass panels. I bought a vase by her for a wedding present a few years ago. I love her wall lights, but you know I’m a huge sucker for stripes, so why wouldn’t I love them!

The Cockpit Arts open studios are days when you can meet the designers and artists and your admission helps to fundraise and support designer-makers in London.

London Art and Design Show 2005
Mary Ward House
5/7 Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury WC1H 9SN
18 Nov 12-8pm
19 Nov 10am-6pm
20 Nov 10am-6pm