Thursday, April 23, 2015

Along Moves April


Hi, Knitters,
April 2015 has been one of the busiest work months on record for me. Travel, deadlines, new project designs, teaching, lots of administrative emails and contracts, etc. I don't remember how it got scheduled this way but I am 100% sure that I am to blame since I run the show around here.

The winner of Kristin Nicholas' new book, Crafting a Colorful Home, is..... PurledUp on Ravelry!

Congratulations to Judy. I have contacted Judy on Ravelry with instructions and also Kristin to let her know about the winner. Thanks for entering and coming up next week I will be hosting a giveaway for the one and only Luxe Big Woods Kit from Little Skein. This is a huge package worth $135 so be sure to stay tuned for that.

I am off tomorrow for my final trip in April. I'm going to Minneapolis to teach at Yarnover and StevenBe's Fiberfest! I hope to see you there. Please come sit with me at dinner on Friday night for the kickoff for Yarnover. I would love that.

Today is just a quick share of a couple of things I have going on. I selected the yarn in the photo above for a book project I am working on. It is a collaboration book so I am in charge of one project for the collection. Whenever I am asked to select a yarn I always try to get Quince & Co. It is a big favorite of mine. I am lucky it worked out this time with Quince & Co. Owl which is a 50% wool/50% alpaca. It is soft, rustic looking and it has a great halo. I want 10 sweaters out of this yarn or maybe even an entire wardrobe..... Yes to that.

I am looking forward to working up this new design and that's all I can divulge about it right now. More to come!

Click here for Quince & Co. Owl.


I finished this lovely pair of tweed socks a week or two ago. It is the Regia Tweed Trend & Classic. I have a bunch of this in my stash, and I mean a lot of different colors. They had it at the Wisconsin Craft Market awhile back and I grabbed as many as possible when I saw it. 

When ordering or purchasing any Regia yarn be sure to check if you are getting a 50 gram ball or a 100 gram ball. Regia has both put-ups for the same yarns and I have heard from many that they order one ball thinking it is 100 grams only to find out it is 50 grams. A pair of socks for most all adults will need a 100 gram skein of fingering weight yarn or 2 balls of 50 grams each. You may not use all 100 grams but you definitely need more than 50 grams.


The Regia Tweed Trend & Classic can be difficult to find. I recently found a source here from Sara of lovesockwool on Etsy (also watch her new podcast mainly about sock knitting! She's really cute.). 

This same shop also has the Arne & Carlos Regia in 50 gram balls available at this time and in every colorway! Go quick.

Yarn: Regia Trend & Classic Tweed in Hellgrau #00090.
Needles: Knitters Pride Karbonz US size 1, 2.25mm DPNS (I only use 6-inch dpns.)
Pattern: How I Make My Socks (my free pattern)
Sock blockers: From theloopyewe.com


I love looking at the heel flap, turn and gusset on my socks. It is the best part and seems somewhat miraculous every time. Thank you to the inventor of such a genius chain of techniques. Does anyone know who originated the flap, turn and gusset heel? I'd love to know. I need to look into that.

I'll be back with the Little Skein Kit giveaway! See you next week right here. Have a good weekend.
xo ~ susan 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope you have another great weekend teaching! It definitely has been a busy month for you -- you deserve some down time when you get back. :) Your socks are, as always, awesome. I still remember the first time I did a traditional heel flap and gusset. It was like magic. It still is, every time. --KnittingDaddy Greg

Amaris said...

The heel turn is my favourite part too. I love to knit socks. I especially like knitting them toe-up, and usually only one (rather than a pair) from 50g yarn skeins.
:) Those are pretty socks that you have knit
-Amaris

Dorothy B. said...

I feel exactly the same about sock heels,! I actually had an almost teary moment the first time I turned the heel on a sock. I know the rest of the population would find that bizarre, but it seemed almost miraculous to me! LOL I really wish I could make the events here this weekend and meet you but maybe next time.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your sock pattern with us. I've often wondered the same thing--whoever first knit and turned the heel of a sock. It is like magic! :-)

Tanknit (Jules) said...

Have a great weekend Susan!

Tamarack sewing said...

I love Quince and Co. yarns!. I spent a small fortune on ALL the colors for the Mary, Millie and Morgan dolls I'm knitting for a couple of grand daughters. I debated on that for a while because I could have just gone with another manufacturer from my LOYS but when the Chickadee arrived and I compared it to the other sport weight I already had ...wow. I was so impressed I had to show my non-knitting daughters but I'm not sure they quite 'got it' lol. Looking forward to seeing your new project with the Owl yarn:)

Denise said...

Thank you!!! I have been looking for a rustic look and didn't know about Quince & Co. Looks like they might be my next obsession :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan,
I'm not quite sure where the sock heel turn came from, but I will say that Lara Neel's Sock Architecture has some history on several of the traditional heels...I read it back when I got it for Christmas, but I don't remember the specifics :) -Jenna

Nancy DeWitt said...

This is just gorgeous and I would love to win it.. love the color too.. thank you so much... Nancy DeWitt

♥ Camilla ♥ said...

oh wow what an amazing giveaway! I loved the little house on the prairie when I was little 💚