Category: Uncategorized

Hello dear readers! I hope this finds you well and, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoying a peaceful late summer! Today I’m excited to share my latest (and last, for awhile!) design, the Knapweed Socks! These toe-up, mid-calf socks feature textured buds and blooms reminiscent of Common Knapweed, a hearty, thistle-like wildflower that you’ll find blooming all summer long in the UK. So you can have a bit of summer meadow peeping out of your shoes or boots all year long!

The Knapweed Socks are knit from the toe up and feature 1×4 twisted rib, a short row heel, and, the stars, the textured buds and blooms! These are created using bobble and dip stitches, and the pattern has detailed written instructions and tips for working these. They are a lot of fun!

And if you are (like I often am) put off by the idea of all that reverse stocking stitch, good news! The socks are knit inside out from the toe up until right before you begin the bobbles, minimizing the need to purl. This resulted in one of my favorite unexpected features of the sock … I love the way the German short row heel looks once you turn the socks inside out … there’s something so pleasing about that little chain! (Side note: one of my fabulous testers reported that she successfully knit the whole sock inside out without any issues, so that’s a possibility as well, you’ll just need to do a little mental gymnastics!)

I’m really pleased to have these socks out in the world … especially because they really are my sock knitting happy place … pretty simple (I like simple socks as they tend to be my out and about project), but with a few details to keep things interesting! And while I knit these consecutively for portability, if you like knitting socks two at a time or have been wanting to try that technique, these are really well suited for it. I find toe-up socks are much easier to get set up for two-at-a-time knitting, and the simple pattern makes them a great option for this method.

For the pattern sample, I used one of my favorite no-nylon sock yarns, Mondim by Rosa Pomar (which also features in my Shorty Shorty Shorties [Rav link]!). I loved seeing my testers’ different versions of this sock — and let me take this chance to say a massive thank you to the fab group I had testing this pattern out! The pattern works well in a solid or semi-solid yarn, which lets the texture shine, but it also holds up really well in yarns with a bit of variation in them … it can really make the dip stitches pop! I also think these could be really fun in a very slow changing gradient yarn.

There were a few moments when I thought this pattern wasn’t going to make it out before the summer ended and a new wee babe joined our family, so I’m very pleased to be sitting at my desk this Monday morning, letting you know the socks are ready (and that baby is stilly happily ensconced in my belly!). As a thank you to you lovely blog readers for being here with me still, the code 38WEEKS will get you 10% off the Knapweed Socks from now through end of day Wednesday! You can purchase the socks over on Ravelry or in my Payhip shop (where, I’m afraid, I haven’t figured out discount codes yet … so if you’d like to purchase with the discount but can’t use Ravelry, just send me a note at fiberandsustenance@gmail.com and I’ll sort things!)

Ahoy! I’m hoping to sweep out the cobwebs here (more on that in a later post) and get back to writing at least semi-regularly — and what better way to reenter than with a Yarnalong post!

Knitting: The Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers. My mom and I cast these on when she was visiting us and our new arrival a few weeks ago. Progress hasn’t been the fastest (see: new arrival + still working on other projects) but I divided for the sleeves last night and am looking forward to the shorter rows that will bring. I’m not used to using such big needles (knitting on a US 10/ 6 mm) and they’ve been a bit hard on my hands. But, left hand willing, I’m hoping to make enough progress to give this a quick try on today and make sure the fit in the shoulders is good!

I’m knitting this in the called for yarn, Green Mountain Spinnery’s Mountain Mohair, in shade Raven. I really like the deep charcoal and know it’ll be a great wardrobe staple. The single ply 75% wool 25% mohair blend makes a fabric that seems lofty but sturdy. I think it will make for a cardigan that’s warm but not as heavy as you might expect from a garment knit in worsted weight yarn.

Reading: I’ve got two books on the go at the moment. The first is This Golden Fleece, a really interesting combination of personal knitting memoir and Britain’s knitting and woolly history. I’m nearly halfway through, but with it being a hardback, I’m finding it easiest to read when I’m not holding or feeding a little babe — so progress is a bit slow. When I can catch time for a quick soak in the tub, reading a few more pages of this is a real treat!

The second book is The Familiars, historical fiction set in 17th-century Lancaster during the Pendle witch trials. Commemorations of the Pendle witches are everywhere around Lancaster, and I’m really enjoying reading something set where I live! I’m enjoying spending time with the first person narrator, even though the world she inhabits is a bit lonely and sad. Once I start reading it, it’s hard to put down … luckily, Mr N got me a Kindle for my birthday which makes it ever so much easier to read while breastfeeding!

Head on over the original Yarnalong to see what other knitters are working on and reading this week!

I’m in the midst of the last few days of our Australian holiday, so this will be short and sweet, but I wanted to pop in quickly for the first Yarnalong of 2019. 

Knitting: My knitting’s been coming along with me everywhere this trip. I finished my Doocot sweater the first week, so have been working on Waiting for Rain and some vanilla socks out of Mondim sock yarn ever since. It’s been a long time since I’ve not had a sweater actively on the go, and while I’m looking forward to getting back to garment knitting when we return to the UK, I’ve got to say, it’s been fun watching smaller projects grow quickly! I’m well into the second skein of my shawl, and my socks’ feet are nearly done. I’ve had a new idea for a little sock design, and I’m wondering if I should try it out on the leg or  keep them simple. 

Reading: I had high hopes for holiday reading, but most evenings I’ve nodded off before I can make much progress. But I’ve made a small start with James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small which I’m really enjoying. It’s funny and gentle and a perfect light read to see in the new year. 

Head over to the original Yarnalong post  to see what others are knitting and reading — what are you up to this week?

Today, I’m so happy to share an interview with my dear friend, Kate Jordan, who’s just published her very first book, Onward Knits.  Kate and Mr. N went to university together in New Zealand, and I met her for the first time over three years ago  during our trip to NZ after years of online chatting about our mutual love of wool and knitting. Since then our friendship has been sustained by Facebook chats, Skype knitting sessions, and, earlier this year, an epic trip to Edinburgh Yarn Festival!  I actually find it a little hard to believe that we’ve only spent a few weeks in each other’s company over our years of friendship–the internet is a wonderful thing!

Continue reading “Onward Knits — Interview and Giveaway!”

Just a quick note to say happy Thanksgiving if you’re celebrating today! I’ve got so much to be thankful for, not least knitting and the community that surrounds it. So thanks to all of you who chose to spend a little of your day here. Sometimes I wonder if the knitting blog is a dying breed (there are so many other places to get knitting chat theee days) but I really value this space and all of you! If you’re in the United States (or anywhere else for that matter), I hope your day is full of good food, good company, and maybe a spot of knitting.