Testing the theory

The instructions I read for an 'afterthought' heel said to do 3 or 4 rows after picking up the stitches either side of the waste thread, and then decrease as for the toe. I did that and tried the sock on. I thought the heel looked much too skimpy. So I undid it and knitted 16 rows before decreasing. I wonder if that was the right way to go? Certainly the revamped sock looks rather odd off the foot. The point is, it is easy to experiment with an 'afterthought' heel.

Where the heel will go

See that line of pink stitches with pink wool dangling from it? When I have finished knitting the toes of the sock, I will come back to those pink stitches and remove them. That will leave loops on either side of the row, which I will pick up with double pointed needles. Then I will knit an 'afterthought' heel.

The stitch I have used here is called Little Arrows, from a pattern by Susan Brugger, though I have adapted it to my own sock pattern. I like the way the  textured pattern muddles up the colours of the wool. On the plain part at the bottom of the foot, the colours appear as much more obvious stripes

Ready

The wool has been spun, plyed, wound into skeins, washed, dyed, dried and wound into balls. Now it's all set to be knitted into a pair of socks.

Plying wool for socks

I spun two half-bobbins of wool with the wheel moving clockwise, and then plyed the two together with the wheel moving anticlockwise, to give a smoother, stronger yarn. This is my second attempt at spinning for the socks I have in mind. The first lot wasn't thin enough. I suspect I was in too much of a hurry to put my idea into practice!  I plan to dye the wool today. The sun is shining so it will dry quickly and then I can start knitting.

Of Rules and Regulations

Yesterday I spent the day listening to experts talking about various crafts, from watercolour painting to sewing a leather waistcoat. It was very interesting hearing people who are passionate about their subjects. They gave tips about techniques, where to find supplies, new developments, etc. I now know what Irish crochet is and I learnt a new way of knitting a neat and flexible ribbing.

I gradually realised that the purpose of the day was to clarify the rules and regulations for an upcoming competition. The margin around your pewter picture must be between 5mm and 10mm wide; your woven curtain tiebacks must be identical; the yarn you knit your sweater with must be 100% wool, and so on. When they said that the string you tie your labels together with must be 20cm long, they lost me. I see how these rules come about and I admire those who can follow them. But as someone who doesn't do front-side, back-side tatting, it's just not me.

Tatting by day, spinning at night

Yesterday I made progress on my edging. Today we went to town.  I did quite a bit of  'handbag tatting' when Jack was in the Farmers' Co-op and various other places. I think 'sanity tatting' might be a better name.

Last evening I started spinning for some socks. I've been reading about 'afterthought heels' and I want to try it out. I can't really see myself replacing the heel on a sock, but I like to try out new techniques. You knit a tube, putting a waste thread at the point where the heel will be, then later pick up the stitched both sides of the waste thread and knit a heel. The idea is that if the heel wears out, you can just remove it and replace it. I have to spin a fair bit more before I get to that stage!

Another Rainbow

At the meeting where I gave Ans her hat, one of the other ladies asked if I'd do her some rainbow wool to make a tea cosy. My husbands says it's sacrilege to use such beautiful wool for such a mundane purpose. But wool is a good insulator, so it will be 'fit for purpose' - it will just be a superior sort of tea cosy! Carien wants to adapt the hat pattern to knit the tea cosy herself, so I'll give her the pattern I printed out from Ravelry and leave her to it.