Real Men Love Handknit Socks Too

How irresistable is he?  My brother, Mikey, was admiring these socks again while I was finishing them during his recent visit from Pennsylvania.  Mike & I saw each other in Florida in September where we met up with our other brothers for a wake...  our dad passed away on September 2nd.  I miss him every day.  These socks were the project I took with me on that trip.  I needed something portable and mindless for the plane and while I was there.  So Mike saw these socks on my needles in Florida when they were just a few inches big.  I didn't get very far with them on the trip because I just couldn't stay focused.   When he admired them again as I completed them I had him try them on and they fit perfectly and he was so nice with his compliments and seemed to REALLY like them.  So of course I had to give them to him. Doesn't he look adorable?

I knit my standard plain sock on size 2 turbo addis with Paca-Peds alpaca blend superwash in color #604, fireside.  This beautiful yarn was a gift from my knitting buddy, Claudia.  You can find her at A New Yarn in Seattle.  If you haven't been there and you're in the area go check it out....  you never know what treasures and fab deals you might find there.  

Birgitta

Birgitta is the loved teacher of many knitters, myself included.  Years ago after knitting 30+ scarves I wanted to knit something else and learn more.  I was lucky enough to find Birgitta at my local knitting store.  I started taking classes and she gave me the help and confidence I needed to venture on.  Whenever I asked Birgitta if she thought I could do something she said yes and I believed her...  so I did it. Another bonus of being in Birgitta's Tuesday morning group was that I met my knitting buddy, Claudia.  So here we are on Thursday lucky enough to be knitting together and eating pastries from Hoffman's Bakery at the wonderful store, A New Yarn, that Claudia is now managing.  Birgitta's life has led her back to her native country, Sweden, and I can tell you she is missed by many.  We are so happy she comes back to visit :)

P.S.  Yes indeedy I am holding up a spindle with yarn I spun myself!  More on that later.

A Knitting Adventure

When I went to Baltimore with my husband a few years ago I found a charming little yarn store named A New Yarn in the Fell's Point neighborhood.   I had called the store before I went for directions so I wouldn't get lost trying to find it.  Getting there was fun...  I walked to the waterfront from our hotel and caught a water taxi to Fell's Point and then walked a few blocks in the beautiful historic neighborhood.  For us west coast natives the history and charm of east coast cities is a revelation.  We think 50 years is old for a building ;)

 

I found the store and in the window was the cutest baby sweater.  I wanted to buy the pattern, but sweater had been knit by the store's owner, Lorraine, and she hadn't written up a pattern. She was kind enough to let me photograph the sweater and then she let me take notes while she explained what she had done.  She is a talented knitter and her store is a gem.  If you're in Baltimore you will enjoy looking her up.

 

The top picture is my take on her pattern.  The bottom picture is hers and the one that was hanging in her window (look closely at the picture of her shop and you will see it hanging there).  You can see from the picture of the outside of her shop what a charming neighborhood Fell's Point is.

  

Both sweaters are knit with Cascade Luna and because of the crimp the yarn has a great bouncy feel for cotton.  I really enjoyed knitting with it and will use it again.  I knitted the sweater for a patient of mine, also named Lorraine, for her granddaugher.

Sample Socks for Claudia

My knitting buddy, Claudia, is the manager of a delightful yarn store in north Seattle called A New Yarn.  To find out more about the store and the special work they are doing please click on the link and go visit their website.  I am knitting these socks as a sample for the store so knitters can see the Pagewood Farm sock yarn knit up.  I am using their Yukon blend that is 20% bamboo, 70% washable merino and 10% nylon.  I love knitting with this yarn; it feels really good and the picture really doesn't do the colorway justice.  I like this yarn so much that I am going to knit myself a couple of pairs with it...  I love to wear colorful handknit socks with my Dansko clogs :)