We interupt the SS09 Report Segment...

(since it is so slow in coming anyway...) to present the latest musings...

Actually, it's kind of a report, because it is very SS09-related (for me, at least!)

First, that ONE sock that I've completed! Actually, this is SS09-related because it is my SS09-Inspired sock! I took Lucy Neatby's "Cool Socks A" and saw her "Almost Saintly" sock and learned of her getting hooked on eyelets for a while. She referred to it as her 'eyelet phase'.


I saw the pattern at SS09 and decided I needed to get it! I had actually admired it at SW, but ignored the urge to get it.

When I got home and dumped out my huge stash from SS09, I purchased a Zauberball after seeing how cool a sock (also knit by Lucy and seen at her class) looked with the colorful, long repeats. I went against my usual 'dull', blendy instinct and went with a Zauberball that was more fun and colorful. I realized that this could be cool as Almost Saintly socks and that I could just use some black sock yarn for the heels and toes.

After hunting for that black sock yarn I *knew* I had *somewhere* and in my excitement to start this sock, I looked at the beautiful single skein of Tartrazine I had gotten from Van der Rocks and realized it actually might work instead of the plain black! (Yeah, boring me who dislikes yellow and was going to go for the conservative, safe black...)

Do you see what I mean about this being such an absolutely perfect yellow? So lemony, so pretty...I acutally had purchased it to accent some purple socks, but what a lovely surprise to find that I was making my own special SS09 socks: a pattern by Lucy Neatby (who's class I attended...) and all yarn used was purchased at SS09! And even the smaller set of needles I switched to for the heels and toe?-purchased at SS09!

Speaking of needles, the needles I used are made by Laurel Hill from Forest Palm. So far, I like the needles, they are very flexible and I must admit that they freak me out a bit in that I fear breaking them. So far, so good, and a size that I love-5"! But I have to take this moment to seriously plug their crochet hooks! If you crochet, you have to try these out! I have to say that Laurel Hill crochet hooks are my favorite hooks!

I purchased my first hook back when I crocheted a hat for my friend. No, as usual, I didn't NEED another crochet hook, but the feel and look were so nice! And the price was reasonable for such a nicely finished crochet hook. I fell in love...

So when I saw them at SS09, of course I got a couple more! Somehow, I refrained from getting a whole set (which was maybe a bit over $100 for a set that came in a silk case...). Really because I already own just about every standard size crochet hook!

The finish is smooth where if feels nice in the hand and glides well, yet has just enough 'grab'. The tip has a point to help get the hook right into the proper holes! And the 'notch' (whatever that part is called...) has a nice, sharp angle to really grap the yarn. It is so comfortable in the hand and from what I understand, they had consulted with the Crochet Guild of America when developing the design. Hey, fellow Bay Area stitchers-Purlescence Yarns says they stock them!!!

At any rate, a surprise arrived yesterday in the mail!

My special Sock Summit (2nd) edition mug!!!
Jennie the Potter sold out on this design but took special orders for her 2nd edition!TOO CUTE! She is talented! And her sheepy/spindle mugs were pretty cute, too...

During Sock Summit, I was keeping KnittingGolfer up to date on purchases and even grabbed a spindle for her. She and I have been discussing her love affair with the Jenkins I picked up for her and I've heard and seen all her spinning adventures of late.

This, of course, gave me urge to work on my G-Rocks again! Spinning it with my Bosworth!

And I also realized that perhaps KnittingGolfer would like to see the bits of spinning here and there that I may have posted at one time or another but haven't shown the multiple faces of..like more of this Pigeon Roof Studios merino (spun on ANOTHER Bosworth spindle-yes, you want one, KnittingGolfer!)...

And some Yarn Wench merino (spun on a basic Schact spindle I purchsed at Article Pract)...
Then I dug out the merino/silk/rayon batt I had been working on in Wild Mountain Thyme that I had purchased from Sanguine Gryphon some time ago (shown on my Avi Wasserman spindle I had purchased from One Planet a while back)...
And I even did the 'coin thing' cuz KnittingGolfer said everyone else does it...so what the heck!

And Nartian must've felt the spinning vibes cuz look at the lovely roving she got me for my birthday from A Verb for Keeping Warm! (BTW, that's my Sanguine Gryphon spindle again!)


I swear, spinning colorways is soooo cool! I love to see the intermixing of the colors!

PDXKnitterati had "Dizzy" running through her head when she posted on her blog. Admittedly, I remember that song, too! But this is the song that runs through my head when I spin! Must be all those college days of my best friend dragging me to go dancing with him!