Friday catch-up
Socks, stripes and hats...oh my!
The stripy sock obsession continues this week with the cast on of one of the new Birds colourways from the West Yorkshire Spinners sock yarn range. This is the Jay colourway - promptly claimed by my youngest son before I’d even got it on the needles.
I’m absolutely loving how it’s knitting up, especially since my initial impression of the skein was that the colours were a little drab. I’m thrilled that’s not the case - and it’s a good job, as with size 11 feet to knit for I’m going to working on them for some time.
Luckily there is a special kind of magic associated with self striping yarn that means socks knit up much faster than socks knit in plain yarn*
*genuine non-scientific fact
This week I also wrote a post about Knitting and Ageism which you may have seen. I was genuinely thrilled and astonished that so many people commented on it, and in true Substack fashion it was delightful to see it sparking conversations between people in the comments. Thanks so much to everyone who commented and for helping to make this such a great place to hang out and connect.
Knitting and ageism
The image of old ladies and knitting is a stereotype that is centuries old, and modern media has done nothing to dispel that. The “knitting nana’s” from the Shreddies advert have a lot to answer for. Or rather the marketing men do who came up with the concept.
Making me smile this week:
This week I have come across so much knitting content that I don’t really know where to start.
If you like scrap yarn blankets or you have a set of advent mini skeins looking for a home, this fabulous blanket from Jacqui might be just what you are looking for. It comes with a wealth of information to help you plan your own scrappy blanket and all the proceeds go to the amazing Flower Power Fund - a charity that works with Marie Curie UK. Flower Power Fund Blanket
This post by Anne Valley of Little Skein really spoke to me on so many levels. I loved the idea of creating a more intentional wardrobe and choosing colours and textures that worked as a harmonious whole. Throwing out the traditional colour-wheel rule books and instead creating a palette that works for you and with you.
For something completely different (and with added crochet) this BBC documentary on yarn bombing definitely made me smile. I do have slightly mixed feelings about the use of yarn art in this way, especially if it involves a lot of acrylic yarn that isn’t removed afterwards (causing damage to trees and wildlife). But as part of a carefully managed community project like this it has huge potential to bring people together and to showcase just how beneficial textile art can be on an individual and a collective level. Link here.
I’m not really a hat person. I don’t wear them often and as such I don’t tend to knit many of them but this new reversible hat pattern from Stephen West really caught my eye.
of the Knit365 Substack ( and podcast) made a really fabulous little video of him modelling it in all it’s configurations and I have to say that it really did make me smile. I defy you to watch this and not want to cast on immediately. Martyn’s video. The hat is available individually or as part of the Woolly Waffle ebook.
On that woolly note I’m going to love you and leave you. I have a yarn stash to dive into for my own Woolly Waffle hat - it might at least give me a break from those size 11 socks.
I totally agree that colourful socks are much more fun to knit! Especially with self changing yarn😍
Thanks for the point to Nourishing Things.. I've just subscribed. It made me smile as I am currently contemplating pink for a winter cardigan! Normally I'm a very neutral knitter! And I love that double West hat.