The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: SallyintNorth on February 09, 2013, 07:10:15 pm

Title: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 09, 2013, 07:10:15 pm
First homespun sock  :excited:

Three yarns, all based on a 2Z1S 3-ply - that's 3 singles, one with an S-twist (wheel turning anticlockwise), the others Z as normal.  Supposedly makes the final yarn stronger, so recommended for socks.

Body of sock is 3-ply BFL, spun from tops.  Heel replaces one of the Z-BFL singles with a Z-Lincoln Longwool, also from tops.  Top of leg replaces one of the Z-BFL singles with a Z-Wensleydale, imperfectly combed from locks.  I had been going to do one heel in Lincoln/BFL and one in Wensleydale/BFL, to compare how they wear, but the Wensleydale is too coily and knobbly (due my imperfect prep) and would not last long as heels.  It's fine for the cuff, though.

All the yarns were dyed in the microwave in the skein.  I applied the colour in blocks, deliberately leaving a little bit undyed under where the skein was tied, to get the occasional flash of white.  The main 3BFL one I dyed in quarters - 1/4 violet, 1/4 navy and 1/2 blue.  Looked brilliant in the skein, gorgeous when balled, lovely when knitting and, I think, fantastic in the final sock  ;D   I used more dark blue and a little red for the Lincoln, and two blues for the Wensleydale.

Title: .
Post by: RUSTYME on February 09, 2013, 07:20:03 pm
Just the one is it  ? See you at the hop then !
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: bloomer on February 09, 2013, 07:23:05 pm
so be honest with all the spinning etc how long did that one sock take to produce?
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: in the hills on February 09, 2013, 07:26:22 pm
Very impressive. Love the colours.  :thumbsup:


I had a drop spindle for Christmas ..... my first venture into the world of spinning. It's still in the box  ::) . Can't even attempt it yet. Meg, the mad collie, would just love it. Even the knitting is on hold. She thinks she's a big help  ::)   ;D  but oh dear.



Title: Re: .
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 09, 2013, 07:28:03 pm
 
Just the one is it  ? See you at the hop then !

 :roflanim:  very good  :roflanim:  You've left me without a leg to stand on  :D
Title: .
Post by: RUSTYME on February 09, 2013, 07:32:03 pm
Foot loose and fancy free eh !
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 09, 2013, 07:32:16 pm
so be honest with all the spinning etc how long did that one sock take to produce?
Many many many minutes of sheer pleasure  ;D

Seriously, the yarn for the pair took maybe 3 evenings to spin, part of another to ply, wash, dye and ball.  The knitting for the one sock I did over 4 days, maybe would take 2 evenings if I was uninterrupted.  So around about a week of evenings for a pair of socks from fibre.

But I'm getting faster all the time...  :D

And, much more importantly, I love every single second of every part of the process  ;D

And I adore the socks!   :excited:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: jaykay on February 09, 2013, 07:35:31 pm
Very nice  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: happygolucky on February 09, 2013, 07:36:06 pm
 :thumbsup: Nice sock...very nice sock, well done....hop the other ones as nice  :eyelashes:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Mammyshaz on February 09, 2013, 09:44:15 pm
Love it. look forward to seeing the pair  :excited:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: happygolucky on February 09, 2013, 09:49:17 pm
I suppose there is no need for them to match....who actualy say's you have to match socks?
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 09, 2013, 11:06:11 pm
It was the fashiuon when my youngest was wee to have socks that didn't match.
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 10, 2013, 02:29:48 am
In the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook, it suggests that whenever you need to knit a swatch, you knit it in a sock-width tube.  Then, if you like it, you can keep going and make it a sock. 

The sheep, pigs & cattle don't care a bean if my socks match or even whether they are the same all the way up - so I did start knitting up oddments I'd spun into sock-width tubes, thinking that I would just make heels and toes as I had the right length, and not worry about the looks.

However, my spinning is only now really getting consistent, fine and good enough for what I spin to be likely to wear reasonably well, so I've reassigned those early tubes and they're about the place in slippers, gloves, etc.

I do like the idea of not knitting pairs, and choosing two individual socks to wear together... then when people laugh and point, and say, as they always do, "Ha ha, I bet you've got another pair like that at home!", I'll be able to smile sweetly and say, "Actually, no.  All my socks are unique."  :D
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Bionic on February 10, 2013, 09:21:06 am
Love the sock  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :knit: :knit: :knit: :knit: :knit:
You are at the stage that I want to get to. I have knitted several pairs of socks but not from my own spun yarn. I need to get it a bit more even before I try. I'm getting there though
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 10, 2013, 10:16:07 am
Thanks Sally  ;D

Yes, you will get there.  I am not quite one year in on spinning now, so I am pleased to have achieved this level in that time - I don't acquire physical skills very easily, so I am happy with how far I have come in 12 months  :)
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Blinkers on February 10, 2013, 11:05:56 am
Brilliant  :thumbsup:  and I was particularly interested in this bit "Three yarns, all based on a 2Z1S 3-ply - that's 3 singles, one with an S-twist (wheel turning anticlockwise), the others Z as normal.  Supposedly makes the final yarn stronger, so recommended for socks"    I've not heard of this before, so might have a play.....but what happen when you ply it.....does that one strand not 'undo'?? :thinking:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 10, 2013, 12:37:22 pm
No, it doesn't undo when you ply, as you are twisting all three singles around one another.  It leaves the plied yarn a little bit coily and twisty, but I didn't find it difficult to knit at all, and it didn't seem to make it want to tangle - although I wouldn't leave any amount of it free to do so  ;)
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: sabrina on February 10, 2013, 12:55:25 pm
Looks good and will be warm,
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Fleecewife on February 10, 2013, 06:58:35 pm
No, it doesn't undo when you ply, as you are twisting all three singles around one another.  It leaves the plied yarn a little bit coily and twisty, but I didn't find it difficult to knit at all, and it didn't seem to make it want to tangle - although I wouldn't leave any amount of it free to do so  ;)

This is also how you ply using the Navajo method - which is weirdly satisfying and uses just the one thread looped, so tends to keep any shading etc in order.
 
Love the sock Sally - you are such a clever girl  :thumbsup:   Is that heel one which can be replaced when it wears out?   I will be interested to hear how it wears.  Glad you are using the Twisted Sisters Sock Book - so many lovely ideas in there  :knit:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: happygolucky on February 10, 2013, 09:44:04 pm
[quote do like the idea of not knitting pairs, and choosing two individual socks to wear together... then when people laugh and point, and say, as they always do, "Ha ha, I bet you've got another pair like that at home!", I'll be able to smile sweetly and say, "Actually, no.  All my socks are unique."  (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)]
I agree.....most of my socks do not match either.......it should catch on, my husband thinks I am the only person who looses socks in the wash!!
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Bionic on February 11, 2013, 09:44:14 am

I agree.....most of my socks do not match either.......it should catch on, my husband thinks I am the only person who looses socks in the wash!!
Sandy, you are definitely not the only person who looses socks in the wash. I am sure some of mine go away on holiday because they eventually turn up again  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 11, 2013, 10:01:13 am
Is that heel one which can be replaced when it wears out?   

Yes, it's an hourglass heel, so in theory I can drop it out and knit/graft another one in.  I do all my socks that way, but so far haven't needed to replace any heels.   


This is also how you ply using the Navajo method - which is weirdly satisfying and uses just the one thread looped, so tends to keep any shading etc in order.
 

Oh, I love Navaho-plying, it's a really soothing thing to do.  They do talk about there being a weakness, in that if one of the singles wears through then the whole yarn can unravel - but there's no better way to keep colour blocky and it's a super effect.   :love:  I shall make a Navaho-plied pair somewhen - but would probably still do the heels in a plainer, stronger yarn, since that's the point that gets the most wear in my socks. 

As to the twist being 2S-1Z in a Navaho ply.... ???

I've maybe got this all wrong (not unusual!  ::)) - but my understanding is that a Z twist looks like a Z whichever way up you look at it, and an S like an S whichever way up you look at it, so even though one of the plies in a 3-ply Navaho ply is upside-down to the other two, the twist is still in the same direction?
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Bionic on February 11, 2013, 11:03:13 am
You two have got me totally confused :thinking:
Think I had better look at Navaho plying on utube to see what its all about
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Fleecewife on February 11, 2013, 11:14:14 am
   
   << As to the twist being 2S-1Z in a Navaho ply.... (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/Smileys/default/huh.gif) >>
 
Of course you're right  ;D .  I read it when I was learning to Navajo ply and just accepted it  :dunce:
 
There is a wonderful Utube clip on Navajo plying which just makes it look so smooth, relaxed and easy.   :knit:

Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 11, 2013, 01:30:01 pm
There is a wonderful Utube clip on Navajo plying which just makes it look so smooth, relaxed and easy.   :knit:

It's the Sarah Anderson one - I posted a link to it here (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=26349.msg257966#msg257966)
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Bionic on February 11, 2013, 02:35:47 pm
Thanks Sally, that was very interesting. I am sure I will knot my fingers together when I give it a try though  ;D
Title: Latest sock and its pair - oh ye of little faith ;)
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 14, 2013, 04:06:44 pm
Just because some of you seemed to think I wouldn't be able to make a second to pair the first...

(and yes, my feet really are that flat  :o)
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Bionic on February 14, 2013, 04:15:07 pm
You knitted the second one quickly  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 14, 2013, 04:30:42 pm
I love this yarn, it knits up really quickly  :) and is warm and soft to wear.  I've spun all my BFL tops now, though, so am going to have a go with my new English combs (birthday prezzie) on the BFL fleecewool I've got to see if I can get anywhere close to the quality of the commercial tops.  (Otherwise I'll just buy more of the commercial stuff - it's too quick and easy and lovely to spin, dye and knit not to ;))
Title: Re: Latest sock
Post by: Mammyshaz on February 14, 2013, 05:43:36 pm
A fab pair of socks Sally    :thumbsup:   It puts me to shame that I haven't even started my hat yet   :innocent: