Sockyarn for Christmas?

Well, it's been a rocky few years for knitting and me. I think with any hobby that you turn into a job, you are always in danger of over-examining and dissecting it, until only the ugly components remain. Just zaps thew enjoyment out of it, really. I have gone through phases for months and months where I've knitted nothing, which those of you who know me, will know is completely irregular. This Autumn-Winter season has not been that bad, with my choices of project being the issue. Take for example, what I'm making for a 'uniform' piece, Tabatha, a reworked design from Martin Storey using the new Kidsilk Haze Eclipse, from Rowan. 

        You'll notice that it's entirely made in stocking stitch; herein lies the problem. Boredom. I think I can live with plain knitting for socks because the double-pointed needle action keeps me sane. But this one is a nightmare. It's been going since September.
        It's nice, too; done in the deep blue and black for me (my two favourite colours) so there's no reason for this not to get finished!! It followed a scarf knitted in the new Rowan Thick and Thin yarn in the fab colourway, Greenstone. It's not necessarily a colour I'd choose to wear, but when I had my 'colours done' it did turn up on my recommended palette, and it's a shade which has sneaked into several of Rowan's winter yarn palettes this season (which is great as I've managed a matching hat).
       Now, the nature of the Thick and Thin is in the title, really. It is a super-slubby, pure wool yarn. Utterly lovely. But also, utterly lumpy. Which has it's place, and makes for particularly lovely garter stitch fabrics. Ah. Garter stitch. Yeah, so another very dull, uninspiring knit where you just kida treat your hands and arms as machines, and let them work. Mind-numbing. The scarf took two months as a result, but is stunning. I'll have to get you guys a picture.


I was in Holmfirth a couple of weeks ago, having had the honour of being invited to teach Rowan's Christmas weekend workshop  for the third time in a row. It was fab. I regret that I also had NO chance to take any pictures so you will have to use your imagination on this one! I took my Mum with me for a music-and-mince-pie-filled knitted texture and basic crochet weekend, where we made snowflakes, experimented with double-stranding techniques, and how to work short-row shaping into an all-over cable pattern (for a stocking 'heel'). I had a great time and am thankful to everyone who came and put up with my Christmas elf-ness for two days running (including you, Mum).
      There is only one problem with these workshops; the attendants. No, it's not a misprint. The attendants are a nightmare. They are all enablers who arrive with exotic yarns and irresistible projects to show me, and as a result I end up with a humungous shopping list, which usually costs about the same as what I earn teaching the weekend! Worth it though, Check out this eye candy!!!

 

This is a selection of Opal self-striping sock yarn from the great manufacturers of Germany, Zwergeryarn. Unfortunately we rarely stock the full range in the UK so I've had to source quite a few from abroad. I must admit, it is improving my skills of reading German quite rapidly. Don't look at me funny, yes; I love the Coats Crafts yarns available, particularly their range of Regia sock yarn. But Regia has the same problem. It's made out in Germany, appreciated more by German sock fiends, and  only a very small selection are regularly stocked in the UK. Scandal.

One of the highlights of my trips to teach in Holmfirth is a good rummage around their stored selection of Regia yarn, and there was none to play with. Disheartened, I went into town to the local shop, Up Country. Their selection was teeny, but I forced myself to buy a ball anyway (I don't like it much, though). On my return to London, I made a beeline for Liberty's, who for the best oart of the last decade, have been my go-to for Regia. I was gutted to find nothing new, and another teeny selection. That was where I gave up, and thought I'd try the lush stuff above.

Now, the next image may shock and disturb you. I must urge you to look away now if you suffer with any form of yarn snobbery. I think having bought this stuff, I can no longer claim to suffer with such a disposition. Introducing, King Cole Tinsel. Now I can hear you forming crucifixes with your fingers, I know what you're thinking. But this turned up at the Rowan Mill with a very specific project having been made, and I fell in love. Meet The Tinsel Hedgehog!

...isn't he awesome? He comes courtesy of The Wool Baa in Sheffield, as a kit. Unfortunately for me, you can't order this kit via their webpage, and they don't answer their e-mails. I don't think I'd be breaking any copyright to design my own, for personal use? (Any input appreciated there). So after my trip to the land of luxury yarn, I've returned with the complete opposite. I blame the enablers, myself. To remedy this, I've decided to whisk my Mum and I off to this knitting party being run by the good people at Pom Pom Magazine. It's dirt cheap at £4 to get in, and it sounds like all the Indie Dyers and interesting spinners that were missing from the Alexandra Palace Knitting Exhibition this year (or so I am told) will be coming to exhibit at Pom Pom. I'll have to set myself a limit but I'm really looking forward to it. Details on their webpage and stuff. In the meantime, I have my wear-forever socks to be keeping me busy. Nothing wrong with a little sprinkle of Nylon in these things, if you ask me, it's totally worth using.

Now what you will notice wherever you look at any of the official Zwerger Opal 'shade cards' (that is, poster-style images with a ball of the yarn and a sock knitted up in the colour) you will find the sock to be the same: 1x1 rib, stockinette sole, short-row heel. Can I find a pattern like this anywhere? Absolutely not. So I am working on a free download pattern for it. Probably just for my size though (5-7). If you look very closely at this image, you will see a ball of sparkling yarn, with a sparkling sock. This is my new garish love; metallic sock yarn. This is a new range of yarns from Opal, The Hudertwasser mit Silbereffekt, which is now available from Pip at The Sock Yarn Shop in the UK. Me? I was so impatient, I ordered mine from Germany last week, so will have to wait forever to see any!!!! Happy Christmas Knitting, everyone!