You know what I like about socks? They travel anywhere.
These ones remind me of vibrant hibiscus flowers and thus seem very tropical to me. I feel like I should have my knitting in one hand and a large layered fruity cocktail in the other.
Don’t forget to enter the Raffle for the Monsters!
It’s a new year, it’s a fresh start, and as I do most years about this time, I’m culling all the clutter in the house (Himself and I may, or may not have hoarding tendencies). With the pulling down and storing of the xmas tree for the next 11 months, I have played some furniture tetris, and rearranged the living room to give us more space. The Studio is next! (Vinnies usually do quite well out of this process)
I hope everyone’s New Year celebrations were wonderful and you’ve begun the new year with a sense of purpose and determination! *grins* Our celebrations included Raspberry and Vodka martinis!
So far this year I find myself on a health kick, and I’ve lost 6 kilos since the beginning of December! Who loses weight over the holidays?!? Who though that having an iphone would help me lose weight?
I have put myself back in school and am studying for the first time in years! This could be interesting, as being a student was never my strong point; much as I love learning. First assignment is due, and I have to keep on track!
There is a new day job which is wonderful in it’s ability to pay me. Not to mention filling my afternoons, leaving my mornings free for study.
But I won’t be abandoning you little blog and my three faithful readers! I’ll still be able to regale you with all the crafty things I’m up to, and hopefully a little more information about what’s in store for the shop in the coming year!
And so this post isn’t completely dry, here’s a local hibiscus I spotted while getting fit
And these are the socks I’m working on.
Eye bleeding! Aren’t they?! *grins*
I finally got the beautiful yarn I ordered from NeedleFood just before it closed. It had been a touch delayed owing to the recent earthquakes in Christchurch, but it finally made it over the ditch, and I was glad to hear the owner and her family were safe and well.
I had gone a little nuts and ordered six yarns. I figured, when would I have this opportunity again? They were closing after all! But the one I was most looking forward to was called Pukeko. (second from the right – not visible on the blog *headdesk* I’m working on it!)
Named after a small blue swamp hen, and having the same colours as it’s namesake, I had met one of these birds only last xmas when visiting New Zealand.
As is the way with hand dyes yarns, the colours are given to pooling in often unflattering ways when knitted into a garment. There are several ways you can combat this when it’s not the effect you’re after. Knitting from both ends of the same ball each alternate row springs to mind. But that wasn’t what I wanted to do.
Having seen a few other peoples projects in this yarn on Ravelry, I knew it would be a LOUD knit, and I wasn’t let down!
But I found a pattern where you carry the yarn and then pick it up again in later rows, thus creating a visual break in the pooling. It’s called Leyburn Socks and it’s by Minty Fresh.
On the left you see the bottom of one sock and the pooling effect of the colours in the yarn. On the right, the top of the foot with the carried yarn.
I think it works well!
ghoti industries 