Last day...

of September today, (just in case you need the reminder).

It seems I am still focussing on keeping toes warm (mostly mine) and using up the yarn stash, even the bits that keep sneaking in.

Lithuanian colour work socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the World', (a present that has proved to be a wonderful resource). The navy yarn was an oppy find, a lovely soft wool crepe with no label and the aqua is from a knitting friends machine knit scraps, Bendigo Woollen mills classic 5 ply.

Purple wall socks are in The Great wall II pattern from Qianer of HiyaHiya, the yarn is a delicious 1950's vintage  Patons Beehive 4 ply fingering.

The Neutral summer hat was made using the Drops design pattern 127-47 and while I really like it there is no way this one will fit on my head, so I think I just start on made a start on Christmas gifts.

Sure I finished my summer slippers last night just so I could count them today, not really but they were quick and a little addictive a perfect weekend project. They are super comfy and just the right weight I think for when the weather changes.

The Paws socks are that mystery which was seen here about a week ago, a plain pattern with some coloured embellishments, great for using leftovers of which there always seems to be some. Currently they are flying to their new home, all will be revealed shortly.

Hope your September was productive too.

Enjoy October.

A year of socks

Nothing new here, just realised this week that it is a year since I cast on the first sock and decided to collect them together to see what they looked like.

Nice!

Starting at the top left by row(ish) -Czarina's Lace from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Blue stripes using designs from 'Socks a La Carte', His socks from 'Knitted Gifts', San Juan free soles by Anna Zilboorg, Estonian Kapotad Socks from 'Knitting Socks from Around the world', Sanquhar Socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the world', Hugs and Kisses by General Hogbuffer, Red socks using designs from 'Socks A La Carte', pink Owlie socks by Julie Suchomel, Red Katya's from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Purple Diagonals by Ann Budd, Mauve Triumph crochet socks by Victoria Selnes, Red Two Horse Hitch socks by Anne Podlesak, Blue Davidson Road socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs',
Brown Maid Marian socks from 'Knitting Knee Highs', Albanian Anklets from 'Knitting socks from Around the world', Purple candle socks using designs from 'Socks a La carte' and Cable cuffs from 'Fab feet and Cosy toes'.

Now you know why there has been a lot of posts about knitting socks - an average of 3 socks a month for a whole year! There will be more socks in the future, I still have some family requests to fill which is probably just as well, as I was gifted two more skeins of yarn for sock knitting this week.

May there be many stitches in your weekend.

Swans and casting on..

Just  a clue as to how many swans are calling our little piece of the bay home this summer.

(for Maria)

I have had a little cast on fest happening here this week - making a start on the Stash Busting challenge.

Trying the Owlie sock pattern with big beady eyes!

This pattern is a feebie over on Ravelry, the designer suggests much smaller beads for the eyes, but I have these one handy and I'm happy with how they look.

These leftovers from past socks really wanted a part of the action too -

so more casting on... One is still in the cuff stage and the other has the leg part completed.

Oh, sure I added more colours because three just wasn't enough for the pattern I chose.

The cuff design is Stand Tall from 'Socks a La Carte' and the leg pattern is Estonian Kapotad Socks from 'Knitting Socks from around the world'

So far all's good but as I have no accurate way of measuring the quantity of each yarn these will be completed to accommodate any shortfalls (read the stripes on the foot may not match the original design).

For this weeks reading I have chosen a biography as the two novels that I read this week ended very unsatisfactorily - it felt like they finished in the middle of  a thought, may as well have been halfway through a sentence!

'An Angel in the Court' by Anne Henderson about Major Joyce Harmer and her life as a Court Chaplain.

I've made a start on this book and while it begins at the end of her career, it quickly reverts to her background and family upbringing. There is quite a bit of detail but it is quite readable and in places  entertaining.

Joining all the clever yarn crafters yarning along this week.