SPOTTED

...in a friend's entry hall in Nokia, Finland.

What goes better with winter boots than hand knit socks?

Everyone in Finland KNOWS it's proper etiquette to remove your shoes when you go into someone's house or apartment. Usually the socks stay on, but I'm thinking that this little guy may have gotten some snow down his boots when outside playing. So off they came (with his boots) and they're getting a chance to dry off a bit!

Have you spotted anything cool lately?

SPOTTED

...while on a walk this fall in Tampere, Finland in a beautiful park on Pispalanharju.

An art installment completed with help from the public!

It reminded me of the "lost mitten fence" I'd seen over a year earlier in town on Kuninkaankatu... remember this?

Back when I posted about those mittens, I thought it was just lost mittens that were picked up and placed - by passersby - on the fence. I found out later, that it was this intentional thing... called ART! I'm thinking it could be connected with this sock display.

There was a sign (in Finnish of course!) hanging with the socks. It roughly translates to:

Old Socks Assembly

Did the washing machine eat its partner?

Do you have lonely socks?

Bring solo stockings to follow the fate of their comrades!

What a beautiful idea! It was as if someone had just done several wash-loads of unmatched socks and hung them out to dry in the fresh air.

What cool things have YOU spotted recently?

Lace Ribbon Scarf in Pediwick

Sometimes an oldie is a goodie! And that's why we went all the way back to Knitty's Spring 2008 issue and chose to knit the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronique Avery. Just because the pattern is over 4 years old, doesn't mean it's not still very in style!

Knit One Crochet Too's Pediwick Yarn is a springy blend of bamboo and nylon. I use the word "springy" because it is spun with a natural stretch that helps keep things in place. This quality is perfect for socks and tanks. And even though a "springy-ness" is not really necessary for scarves, there's something about a knitted piece that you can grab, pull and tug on and it goes right back to it's original shape! I love things with this stretchy-but-won't-stretch-out quality.

I knit the Monhegan Tee back in March and fell in love with Pediwick. 

After that we knit a sock sample for the shop and it's been super popular with our customers.

This scarf is too! And a bonus - it's easy to make with a pattern stitch that's easily memorized. Perfect for throwing in your bag and pulling out at doctor's appointments, hockey games, lunch breaks, etc!

Socks that Rock! (Upcoming Class Preview)

Handknit socks rock! Customers always mention to us how intimidated they are to try knitting socks for the first time because they're afraid of the shaping needed for a good fit.  Here's your chance to learn how to wield your double pointed needles in the fine art of turning a heel without coming to grief!  

The socks we knit in class will be a small size. That gives us the opportunity to teach you the seamless toe join, aka Kitchener stitch.  We're using our favorite sock pattern, Yankee Knitter Classic Socks for the Family, a tried and true favorite.   

When we finish the class, you'll be ready to knit some "gift" socks... after all, the holidays are just around the corner!

This TWO SESSION class meets Fridays, September 14 AND September 28, 11 am - 12:30 pm.

Kitchener Stitch

contributed by Shawn

Recently I was putting orders together and realized that I was packing a parcel headed to Kitchener, Ontario in Canada. Yes, Kitchener, as in the Kitchener stitch! Do you think everyone there is an expert at using the Kitchener stitch for their knitting projects? Do they teach this technique to all knitters there?

For those of you who haven't yet taken the plunge to work on a project that involves this technique, the Kitchener stitch is a joining method of grafting two pieces of knitted fabric together using live stitches so that there is no noticeable seam when you are finished.  It can be a bit of a love-hate experience at first, but it is a wonderful bit of knowledge for finishing and is often used in socks so that there is no 'toe seam' to irritate the wearer. 

I will admit, I still look this up to be sure that I am forming the graft correctly every time I have to do it. Once I get started I'm usually fine but I still find it is best done with no interruptions!   

We carry a favorite book that gives great Kitchener instructions: The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques. There is also a good tutorial available through Knitty.com.

In any case, I was curious enough about Kitchener, Ontario to take a look into why there is a place named after the Kitchener stitch. 

It turns out that Kitchener started out named Berlin and in 1916 the name of the city was changed to Kitchener; named after the late British Field Marshal The 1st Earl Kitchener (wikipedia) not the Kitchener Stitch. Oh well, it was fun thinking it, even if only for a short while. :(

But the Kitchener Stitch is named after the Earl of Kitchener! (Also from wikipedia:) Apparently Kitchener "encouraged British and American women to knit for the war efforts, and contributed a sock pattern featuring a new technique for a seamless join of the toe, still known as the Kitchener stitch."

Wonderful, can't wait to ship more parcels to Kitchener, Ontario!

Hot summer socks

contributed by Shawn

Yep, that's right - socks in the summer - these are HOT, HOT, HOT! Customers are loving our new tangerine sock sample. The lovely bright color is an eye catcher and when they feel the fabric they are hooked!   

 

We knit this basic top-down sock using the Figheadh Yarnworks Fundamental Top-Down Socks (#F01) pattern.  It's a great option for basic socks because it offers such a wide range of possibilities for both size (baby through adult men) and gauge (superfine through worsted weight yarn). 

This sock pattern actually uses a "Bamboo Rib". Funny that we chose a bamboo yarn for it!

What really makes this particular sock so wonderful is the yarn we chose: Knit One Crochet Too Pediwick sock yarn. This fingering weight yarn is machine washable and offers great advantages because it is made from bamboo!  It is soft but very durable, and helps your feet thermal regulate because bamboo is an excellent moisture-wicking, breathable fiber. This means it will help keep you warm, but in warmer weather, it will act as a cooling fabric.

For those of you who don't like wearing wool against your skin, bamboo is not likely to irritate the skin or bother those who have animal allergies. It's a naturally smooth fiber, and it's soft and strong, so it is perfect for socks.

But wait, there is more! Pediwick is spun with a natural stretch that gives the socks an elastic advantage to help keep them in place.  Make socks with Pediwick and you'll have no more slouchy socks! 

We've been using Pediwick in striped socks this summer since the colors are so nice. Try Plum with Sage:

or Chalk Blue with Tangerine:

or Dusky Aqua with Wheat for the summer:

But neutral stripes also look great (like Slate with Natural):

and I'll definitely be making some of those for gifts this holiday season.

Free Sock Pattern!

We've taken delivery of a delicious new sock yarn from Plymouth! It's called Sakkie and it's a blend of super fine merino wool, kid mohair and nylon. It is gorgeous, and while we certainly see a lot of folks using it for shawls, scarves and super lightweight sweaters, let's not forget that it's a beautiful sock yarn!

Any purchase of this yarn (just one skein) will get you a free sock pattern, sized for medium men and women. Online orders will automatically get the electronic download link with their order confirmations, and anyone who purchases the yarn in the shop just needs to ask, and we'll give them a copy of the pattern.

Free ribbed sock pattern with purchase of Plymouth Sakkie yarn

 Enjoy!

'Tis the Season!

contributed by Shawn

We couldn't resist sharing our customer Deb's latest project with you. These tiny little socks are knit using Brown Sheep Nature Spun Fingering Weight Yarn.

Each one is a tiny modification of a true sock pattern - just much smaller and soooooo cute! Deb is planning to use them in her holiday decorating schemes. 

We think they would also make lovely little gift toppers... and don't forget about tree ornaments! There's still plenty of time to whip up a few of these!

Spa in a Skein

contributed by Emily

It’s getting to be that time of year again, when the air is crisp and cool. And if you’re anything like me, you’re beginning to feel a little overwhelmed with the holiday knitting schedule you’ve set for yourself! Handmade gifts are the best, I think we can all agree. But it is important to pamper yourself a little bit, too!

For that, let me recommend what I like to call a “spa in a skein.” Tilli Tomas Artisan Sock Yarn is a super luxurious sock yarn that is so enjoyable and calming to knit with. Pair it with the easy (and free!) Polly Jean sock pattern, and you’ll have a little side project that you can turn to when the holiday knitting becomes overwhelming. 

And at the end of it all, you’ll have a beautiful pair of socks to wear while you watch your friends and family open up all of the lovely little gifties that you made for them!

Laceweight projects abound!

Last week we received another book dedicated to projects for lace weight yarn. We'd recently gotten in Silky Little Knits, which was so well received by our lace addicts, that we thought we'd try Lacy Knits.

We know it's hard to justify buying a book unless there are a number of great projects in it. Both of these books have a lot of neat patterns for lace, so we think they are worth it. I used to have a rule when buying music albums. I had to really like at least 3 songs on the album or I wouldn't buy it. I think that rule also works for books. And if so, I've just bought these two for sure.

In Silky Little Knits, my clear favorites are the Linda Beaded Boa: the Colorwash Mittens: and the Frilled Bedsocks: Although there are a number of other projects I just love, too.

And in Lacy Knits we have a few faves as well. Barb has already grabbed 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Angel and started the Wonder scarf.She's made some good progress on hers, and look how beautiful it is! It's basically a 4 row pattern... but 2 rows are just knitted and the other 2 are the same, just offset.

I've picked out the Glow scarf and we're going to make that up as a shop sample. It calls for 2 different kinds of yarn, one a kid lace/mohair blend, and another one slightly heavier. I'm pondering our options on that one...

And I love the Beth cowl. Who wouldn't want to have this wrapped around them on a cool winter day?

Thing One and Thing Two

Well the rainy weather over the past few weeks has been good for one thing - knitting! Even if it didn't feel much like summer weather (until this week!) I've been knitting quite a bit and it doesn't seem inappropriate to be working on my fall and winter projects due to the cooler temperatures. So the wedding gift I'm making is growing and I just finished a really fun set of socks for a couple of my friends.

I often knit when I'm at other people's houses while I'm sitting and visiting with them. One of my friends has a daughter who is very interested in watching me knit. She's not quite ready to try it herself, but she is enthralled by the motions and the fact that something like a hat can grow out of the process. She also loves to wear socks to bed and I thought it might be fun to knit up a pair of slightly crazy socks for her so she could see what was happening along the way. Since I've been having such a good time knitting with Berocco Vintage Wool on my other project I decided to try it out on these worsted weight socks - especially since it is machine wash and dry.

I picked out her favorite color, red, and matched it with something fun, robin's egg blue, for stripes and contrast. The socks were quick (I used the Yankee Knitter #29 Classic Socks pattern as a guide) to knit and everyone who has seen them is tickled by the colors and stripes.

I finished up the red pair for my friend's daughter and realized I had plenty of yarn left to make another complimentary pair of socks. Wouldn't it be neat for these two to have a 'matching' pair of slipper socks?! I love them and the colors remind me of Dr. Seuss' Thing One and Thing Two who appear in the Cat in the Hat aptly during a rainy day when no one can go out to play.

Hope you are tickled by Thing One and Thing Two Socks just like my friends and I are! :)

Minding my own (sock) business

You know the feeling. You are standing somewhere or sitting waiting for something and suddenly realize that you could be accomplishing something and passing the time in a much more enjoyable state of being. You realize you should be knitting.

The other day, I was in a HUGE line waiting to check out. Now, you might think, yeah right, this is Vermont and traffic and lines like that don't happen very often. Well let me tell you - this line was long. The people in front of me were quoting waiting times of 45 minutes to an hour. I wasn't sure it was worth waiting that long, but then I am suddenly struck by the inspiration that I could knit my way to the checkout counter. Waiting in line wouldn't be a waste of my time if I were knitting. And so ready, set, I cast on.

Apparently knitting socks in public in a long line also makes quite an impression on everyone else in the line. I got so many comments on my little sock that I wish I had a quarter for everyone that asked me a question about what I was doing!

I'm not usually inspired to pick up tiny needles and work on sock projects, but this one is going really well. Of course it helped that just standing in line for about an hour and a half means that I made significant progress. See: Now I'm excited about these socks and can't wait to finish them. I took a break from the first one to start the second one because I want the calf striping to match and I'm almost done with the calves on both socks! Hooray for knitting in public and don't forget your project next time you head out the door!

And MORE sock yarn from Berroco

We just love Berroco Sox sock yarn. It comes in a great color range, and it's an amazingly soft sock yarn with fun patterns. Not to mention, it's from a company with some of the BEST service (well, THE best service) out there.

Last week we received 8 super colors of the brand new Berroco Sox Metallic sock yarn. We ordered a lot to start out with, and we've already had to order more. People definitely like that little bit of sparkle in the yarn!

Today, 4 brand new colors of Berroco Sox arrived. When I looked at the balls, I immediately loved the colors, but wasn't able to picture what they'd look like when knit up. Thanks to Berroco, I have a little swatch, which gives me (and all of you!) an exact picture of what an adult sock would look like knit in these yarns.

So I give you 4 (of 6) brand new Berroco Sox colors... and what they look like knit up! They're hard to resist.And here are the two that aren't in yet!

Sneaky Santa knitting

I've decided to make some socks for Helen and Sophie for Christmas. It's hard to sneak in the knitting, though, since they are pretty much always around me. Sure, I can knit when they're in bed, but I take advantage of every spare moment to knit just a few stitches. If we're going anywhere in the car as a family, Marc drives, and I knit - so they see what I'm doing. If I finish eating my dinner before they do I will pull out my knitting and knit a row or two while they finish.

Because THEY knit, they are always taking note of what I'm making. Marc could care less. I could knit him an entire sweater in front of him, wrap it up, give it to him as a gift and he would be completely surprised, because he never really takes note of it. Not so with Helen and Sophie.

So I decided to make the girls some socks out of the Regia Softy sock yarn. One night after they had been in bed awhile, I pulled out the new Figheadh Yarnworks Fundamentals Top-Down Socks pattern, and cast on. I worked about 3 inches of the cuff, and before I went to bed I pulled one of their socks out of the clean laundry basket and compared it. The cuff of my sock seemed a bit snug. I had followed the directions for a fine yarn (6-7 sts to the inch) and I am using Regia Softy on a size 3 US needle. When checking my gauge, I realized that I should be following the directions for the super fine yarn (7-8 sts to the inch.) Drat!

The next day, before I ripped it out, Helen walked into the room just as I was about to start knitting. She saw my project before I could hide it, and she said, "OH MOM! What IS that? Is it a mitten or a sock! Oh it's SO soft, I just LOVE it. Could you make one for me!?!?!" So I said, "Oh honey, I'm SO sorry, but this is a sample for the shop. It's a child's sock and it's REALLY hard to make. I am SO busy between now and Christmas that there's no way I'll have time to make you a pair. Maybe after the holidays?" She frowned and said "Okay" in this poor little dissapointed voice. So then I said, "Can you help me out by trying this on? I think it's smaller than what I am trying to make." She was thrilled to help, and stuck her foot in the cuff of the sock. I was right. It was too small.

So I ripped it out, and added stitches and now it's on track. I succeeded in tricking her... for now anyway. What's going to happen when she sees me knitting the same thing, in a different color? Hopefully she doesn't put it together.

Anyway, I love the new Figheadh sock pattern. It is so versatile - it gives you 4 weights of yarn (superfine/7-8sts; fine/6-7; dk/5-6; worsted/4-5) and TEN foot sizes (baby; child 1-2; child 3-4; child 6-8; child 10-12; adult xs; adult sm; adult md; adult lg; adult xl). Because the Regia Softy is fuzzy, I am not working the stitch pattern that they call for. Instead, I am using the stitch counts and measurements, but am working a 1x1 rib on the cuff and on the top of the foot. Remember folks, a pattern is just a guideline. Feel free to add a little bit of your own know-how to it.

Check out all the other great new Figheadh Fundamentals patterns: the Baby Pullover; the Child's Pullover; the Men's Pullover; the Women's Pullover; and the Toe-Up Socks.

Both socks done!

They're finished, and I love them. I know my mom will too. I tried them on, and then gave them a nice bath in Eucalan Woolwash, and they're drying now. Hopefully they'll fit my mom when she's home and the swelling is down a bit. (But she's doing great! Up and walking around well on two new knees.)

This pattern is fun and worth a try if you're into different sock consruction.

Now on to Christmas presents. I have always loved Regia Softy sock yarn. People don't even realize that it's sock yarn, because it's so fuzzy. But it is! And it's exactly what Helen and Sophie would go for. They would NOT wear regular handknit socks, but this fuzzy, cozy stuff!? Right up their alley.

So I'm trying a new sock pattern (that is SO great - and will be online tomorrow) and I'm starting some holiday gift knitting. Will I finish these? They're small, so hopefully!

At least I have a knitting companion...

The flakes they are a-flying

It's definitely a wintery day in northern Vermont today! We woke up to highway closings both north and south of us - black ice was the enemy of the morning it seems. I got up early to meet my mom before her surgery - poor thing had to deal with a scary commute in on the highway - nothing like windy white outs on the Bolton Flats to get that heart racing.

Sophie woke up with a fever, so Marc is working from home with her so I can go back and forth to the hospital. He sent me this picture of her this morning:Maisy sure looks excited to have a pal for the day! (Note the kitties playing with yarn balls on her pjs!)

I had my knitting this morning at the hospital, but I wasn't going to work on it while I was waiting with my mom in pre-op. After all, the socks are a gift for her birthday on Thursday and I didn't want to ruin the surprise. But after my dad and I were joking with her about how she wouldn't even be ABLE to put on her own socks after today, and how her feet might be a bit swollen, I whipped out the one finished sock and told her it was an early (and unfinished) gift. My reasoning - I wanted to make sure it was the right size, and since her feet will possible be larger after today, I wanted to get an accurate measurement! The result? The sock fit perfectly, and she loves it. So I was able to knit for a couple of hours while we waited for her surgery time. (Photo is on my foot - she wouldn't allow a camera near her this morning.) I'm so glad I used fewer stitches than the pattern called for.

The Piece of Vermont Bamboo Blend sock yarn really has a gorgeous sheen to it. It has been so nice to work with, I will be sad when this project is over. But how can you mourn any yarn for too long when there are ALWAYS new ones arriving? Last Friday we received Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn. And wow. I mean WOW! We sold a bunch of it before it was properly unpacked! My favorite color is the November Muse, followed by Dusky Aurora and Midnight Derby. It is just gorgeous. I'm going to have a hard time keeping my hands off this yarn.

Speaking of last Friday, we had a really nice time with author, Alison Hyde. What a genuinely wonderful person - so interesting, caring, and thoughtful (she made me a scarf! thanks Alison! I love it!) She had a really nice time relaxing with knitters and friends, and we hope to see her again in the near future.

We still have a few of her signed copies of Wrapped in Comfort: Knitted Lace Shawls left, but we have received several emails from customers who pre-ordered a signed copy of Alison's book. We mailed them out on Saturday morning, and these customers are just thrilled with how wonderful the book is. Beth from MA wrote, "I just received my signed copy of Wrapped in Comfort. That name just does not do justice to the exquisite collection of shawls between the covers! Wow—they are gorgeous. I can’t wait to sit and soak up the pages." Thanks, Beth for the feedback, and thanks to the others who commented, as well.

Unfortunately, I didn't even think to grab my camera until the very end - I did have to leave in the midst of her visit to pick up my girls and take them to a Girl Scout function. But here's a picture of Alison, with Kristine and Lucy. Kristine and Lucy were here for more than 4 hours, and Lucy was her lovely little self the entire time. What a pleasant little knitter-to-be!

It's all about the feet

I have to say, I'm not a big sock knitter. It's not that I mind them, I just don't wear handknit socks. (I hear the GASP!) I've made several pair of socks for myself, but I have found them just too hot. And, even though fingering weight yarn is pretty thin, the finished socks are a little thicker than I like to wear on my feet.

In my knitting career I've knit many socks, and I've certainly enjoyed making them. But they've always been for me, and never for someone else. And when you know you're making them for yourself, and you're PROBABLY not going to wear them because they'll be too hot, like all the rest you've made... well, it takes the fun out of it.

So why, then, am I'm experiencing a real joy knitting my current socks? It could be that the yarn (A Piece of Vermont Bamboo Blend Sock Yarn) is just gorgeous - is it the color? The shimmer? The super soft bamboo and merino blend? Or is it the pattern I am doing? Heartstrings Fiber Arts Down and Up Lace Socks? A very different - and fun! - kind of sock pattern, which is yielding gorgeous results.

It could be both of those things. But I think the REAL reason I am enjoying knitting these socks is that I am making them for my mom, and I know she is going to love them. It's just a little giftie for her - her birthday is next Thursday, two days after her double knee replacement surgery. I'm sure she's not going to be feeling her best, and she'll definitely be resting a little to recover from the operation. So I thought that a nice pair of cozy handknit socks would be just the ticket. I'm pretty certain that she'll get a warm & fuzzy feeling each time she slips her feet into these socks. She'll know that all of my love went into every little (yes! LITTLE!) stitch while I was knitting these. So it's a real sense of satisfaction that I am getting by knitting them. It's cool! Way better than making socks for someone who doesn't appreciate it (like myself!)

And speaking of socks, today we received a box from Conjoined Creations... with our latest order of Flat Feet sock flats: This time we received the Kaleidoscope colorway, too, since many of you had requested it. I have to say, checking in this order is tough. They don't mark any of the flats, so you are kind of left guessing when it comes to figuring out which flat is "cool brights" - "cool subdued" etc. I put on my thinking cap and sorted it out, and then took an armful down to the shop, where I was met with excited customers!

We've been very busy this week and last week, and we had two nice women from Canada in today who were thrilled with the Flat Feet - one of them snapped up my favorite flat. They were really excited at the yardage. She looked at my sample sock and then I showed her how much yarn I had leftover and she was glad she'd be able to get a nice length sock out of a flat. We were also talking about the toe up socks, and I described my Down and Up Socks to her. Luckily I had brought in my sock, so I grabbed it from my bag upstairs, and she thought it was great. We're going to have to reorder that pattern!

An un-traditional sock

So what happened when I went to start my sock yesterday? Needle issues. Don't I always have these? I do socks by using 2 circular needles and this pattern called for size 1 US. I went through my needle binder, and all I could find was an empty Addi Turbo sleeve that should have held a 1/24". The actual needle? MIA. I haven't used size 1 needles in AGES, so I thought I'd do some digging to see if I could find it. I cleaned out about 10 knitting bags and look how many needles I found?
Could I be any more disorganized? I have a wonderful needle binder, but I just can't seem to put things away when I am finished with them. Not only do I not put the needles back in the binder, apparently I can't even manage to put the needles back in the proper sleeves... as you can see from the picture. Must. Try. Harder.

So on the way to the girls' art class after school I had to swing by (well, detour by) the yarn shop. I picked up 2 pair of Addi Turbo needles in size 1/20". I love the 20" length for socks.

I ran some errands in Burlington, and I started the socks while I was waiting for the girls to finish their class. This pattern is really great, but different. You do a provisional cast on, work the heel flap and heel first, then the foot, and then you go back and work up from the provisional cast on. I'm a person who likes the details. I like to have a visual image of what I'm doing. I admit, I like to be in control. This kind of sock is really pushing me out of my comfort zone, and with great results, because I am having fun so far!
And the Piece of Vermont Bamboo Blend sock yarn is luscious! I love the sheen of it... it's just heaven to knit with. I didn't get very far last night, because I was still a bit tired from the late night on Tuesday, but I am looking forward to tonight's knitting!

Suzie, come on in and check out this pattern! I think it would be a really fun class to teach!

Do nerves make you knit faster?

Sometimes tighter, but for me, last night as I was watching the election returns, I can honestly say I was knitting faster. I cruised through my Inside Outside scarf and even managed to block it, just minutes before the 11pm excitement. I just love it!

(And look! It's BLUE, just like Vermont!) The Nashua Handknits Vignette is a gorgeous yarn. I had never knit with it before, and I wasn't sure I'd like it. But I really did! It combined beautifully with the Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky, and the result is a cushy scarf, that is beautiful on both sides. As I was knitting it the garter edge really didn't want to lay flat, but I'm happy to say that after blocking, it's working much better!

We had a lot of people in the shop in the past few days who were all hopeful the election was going to go their way, whichever way that was. We asked them, and they all had knitting projects planned for last night. Seems that the "reducing stress" benefit that we get from knitting was a common thing yesterday! When I got home from work, I fixed everyone a quick dinner, and sat down in front of the TV. My girls don't really watch TV, but last night was an exception! As I was watching, I started a new project: the Jade Sapphire Plum Lotus Scarf.

It's not a scarf that would normally appeal to me, but I've sold SO many copies of it in the past few weeks. And when we're restocking patterns each morning, "Plum Lotus Scarf" seems to be on the list every day. After a few days, I couldn't resist any longer! Anyway, I started last night, but after 8 rows, and coming up short on my stitch count, I realized that a lace project, on small needles, requiring concentration on a graph was just not the project for election night knitting. That's why I decided to finish my Inside Outside Scarf. Much better choice!

I also finished the twisted cord fringe on my Jojoland Rhythm scarf and am pleased with the results. There's something so wonderful about this type of fringe... it definitely takes longer to do, but I think it's so worth it.

And this morning, though I would like to start my Plum Lotus Scarf, I decided I would make something for my mom. She's having double knee replacement surgery next week and I think a nice pair of socks will be a special recuperation gift. I chose a beautiful color of A Piece of Vermont Bamboo Blend sock yarn and I'm going to make the Heartstrings Fiber Arts Down and Up Lace Socks. I think they'll be just the ticket as she's recovering.