Kumihimo Braiding

How to De-Stash

Twisted Fringe and a whole lot of Indigo Yarn

Quote for the Day
From my mom's knitting calendar: "Many, many cultures around the world have ceremonies and rituals that center around the washing of the feet. It is humbling to care for the most functional, low, and work-bearing of a person's parts. To tend to someone's feet speaks of an understanding of the journey they are on. It's just one of the reasons I've always thought that knitting socks was really noble."

Tutorial: Ribbed Selvedge Edge on the Circular Sock Machine
I've been working with the ribber on my circular sock machine today, trying to get it working properly. I was having some issues with dropped stitches, and with stitches binding up on the needles and not dropping at all. There were two issues in play.First, on the inside of the main cylinder, the

Tutorial: Dyeing sock yarn
I was playing with the dyes today, coloring a batch of wool/acrylic sock yarn that I bought off of Ebay. I had some fiber reactive dye left over from last year this time, when I had made a series of warp painted cotton shawls, and I was hoping to use that. Of course, dyes for cellulose fibers don't always work on protein fibers. I spent the last couple of days pouring over my books and various web sites, and came up with a solution. It seems that you can use fiber reactive dyes on wool, if you substitute vinegar for the soda ash in the pre-soak phase, and heat set the dye. So, I decided to try it out. Here's what I did:Ingredients:wool/acrylic sock yarnDharma fiber r

A new stand for the sock machine
I do so love Craigslist, don't you? (For you all not in the USA, that is an online classifieds spot.) I managed to score a Black & Decker workmate for $20. That is a portable work bench, which is sturdy enough to clamp my sock machine too without fear of it tipping over. That means I can take this show on the road!

Progress with the sock machine
I'd love to show you what I've been up to...but my camera decided not to work any more. Pout. Gripe. Grumble. Luckily, it is still in theory under warranty, so tomorrow I'll go to the bank to get the statement that has the purchase on it, and we'll send it in. But that does put me dead in the water as far as listing items goes.So, in the mean while I'm playing with the sock machine. I've made 4 pairs of socks on it so far!! The first was a hair small. The second was a bit big, and fits my daughter. (She snapped them right up.) The third and fourth are just my size, and are extremely comfortable. I wore one pair today, and the other is fresh off the machine in time to wear tomorr