Blogtober 2022 : Day 17

And just like that, it was Monday again 🙂

I’ve been to the Post Office this morning to send some copies of Super Socks to Anita who owns Knitworking in Nottingham as she’s going to be stocking them.  She’s already got copies of More Super Socks and I am thrilled that she has both books in her shop!

A small pile of orange Super Socks books on cardboard packaging next to a Winwick Mum postcard, a purple pen and an orange mug of tea

Super Socksin case you didn’t know, is the paperback version of the online Sockalong tutorials and just helps you to knit a single pair of socks.  No extra techniques, heels or toes, just a pair of Basic 4ply Socks as I think that sometimes the most important thing is to finish what you started and then you can start to look around for something else.

That’s what I did – when I got back into sock knitting when not so small daughter was a baby, it was with a free Regia pattern that came with a ball of yarn (my first foray into sock knitting was for my lovely Uncle Harry when I was about 16 and let’s just say that it was not the easiest project I had ever tackled.  I might even have said “Never again!” to both 4ply yarn and sock knitting which is very funny now.  I bet the Universe had a good laugh at that one! 🙂 ) and I was absolutely delighted to have made a pair of socks that my husband could wear.  I immediately went back to the shop for more yarn to make him another pair and then, having learnt how to do a short row heel with that pair, started to look around for more patterns to try and discovered more heels, more techniques and more sock patterns and sock yarn than I could shake a stick at once I slithered down the internet rabbit hole of the Google search.

So this book is all about helping someone to get started knitting socks and then pinging them off the sock knitting springboard into the wider world of patterns and yarn – some people choose to stick with the Basic 4ply Socks pattern (and I’ll be honest, it’s the one that I used most) and others go off to knit other patterns and even become designers themselves.  I am happy to have helped them get started.

And all of this was just to tell you that I’ve been to the Post Office, Anita will have the books in stock when they arrive and if you live around Nottingham and didn’t know that Knitworking was there, you do now 🙂

 

I also walked the dog, and look what we saw!

An apple tree with red apples on it is against a blue sky

Apples!

I know apples grow on trees but it always surprises me to see them in a wildflower meadow when I’m out walking with the dog.  I feel like they should be in an orchard or someone’s back garden, not next to a footpath!

A close up of red apples in a tree

And the moon too … I know I’m old enough to know better but whenever I see it out in the day (and owls out in the day are the same thing), I always immediately wonder what it’s doing as it should be in bed!

A blue sky with a single cloud and a day moon. An apple tree is in the foreground.

 

Enough of my nonsense, let me show you what I was knitting last night.

A partly-knitted mitten in off-white yarn with coloured flecks

It’s my Split Mitten, much happier on magic loop than on the short circular, and I got plenty done!  It looks almost too long and thin at the moment but it actually fits very well.  The ribbed bit in the middle is the split flap where I can get my hand out and I’ll sew the edges of that when I’ve finished.  If you’ve not heard me rabbiting on about my Split Mittens before, you can find the original (free) pattern page here 🙂

I’ve only got a few more rounds to go before I can start the decreases at the top and then I’ll just have the thumb to do – I should still be well on track to get the pair finished before the end of the month, hooray!

 

I hope you’ve had a lovely Monday … I’ll see you tomorrow! xx

 

 

PS  You can also buy copies of Super Socks from Amazon, Black Sheep Wools, Wool Warehouse, Waterstones, independent book stores (you may have to order it) and other yarn shops (do check with your local store).  Also available for Kindle, Kobo and Nook.

 

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17 Responses

  1. Bärbel says:

    I love those split mittens. I find my hands are still cold in gloves, but I always shied away from mittens, because me being me I would probably lose them when I have to take them off to do stuff. I will definitely make a pair of those for the winter.
    I love your blog. I always look forward to the end of the week when I can sit with my feet up and a cup of something hot to read it. Having one to read every day throughout October is a real treat.
    Enjoy your day tomorrow. All the best Bärbel

    • winwickmum says:

      Having the split in the mittens has totally transformed them for me as I never have to take them off so I don’t lose them. Also, they stay warmer because they are still in contact with your hands – apart from my socks, I think they’re my favourite knitted thing! 🙂 xx

  2. Helen says:

    I have the Regia pattern and DPNs to boot. They came in stoppers -red socks.

  3. Julie says:

    I cast on a split mitten yesterday afternoon, finished it this evening and immediately frogged it – the pattern was fine, I just didn’t like my yarn choice (a very scratchy acrylic/wool blend). Ah well, at least I had the enjoyment of trying out a new pattern.
    I don’t always join in with the Winter Haven KAL but I like to read your blogs about it, even so.

    • winwickmum says:

      They are a quick knit, aren’t they? I think that finding a yarn that you’ll enjoy wearing on your hands is important as hopefully you’ll be getting a lot of wear out of your mittens when they’re finished! 🙂 xx

  4. Betsy Grizzard says:

    I received both Super Socks and More Super Socks last year. Had each one spiral bound by Office Depot so they are easy to use. Love them both!

  5. Simon says:

    Don’t you get apple trees growing along roadsides up near you? There’s plenty of them down here round and about, I guess from people throwing cores out of their cars as they’re driving by and the pips germinating. Unfortunately they’re hardly ever safe to get to to pick’em!

  6. Barbara says:

    Your books and tutorials must have helped so many people over the years. I would never have dared to knit my first pair of socks without them. What I need now is someone who can do something similar for knitting a jumper in the round. Any suggestions? It’s got to be simple 😹B x

  7. Susan Rayner says:

    I made a pair of the split mittens when you first brought the pattern out – lovely Donegal Wool very much like your current ones and I love them! I keep meaning to knit more in different colours!
    Lovely photos – and that blue sky!! Gorgeous.

  8. Rachel says:

    I’m looking forward to seeing your mittens finished! You’ve got me thinking about making a pair ready for next winter (even though spring has barely made its presence known here in Australia – I’ve even got the fire on today!)

    • winwickmum says:

      They would be really useful for you if you’re going to be in the middle of your house build by the winter – you won’t risk losing them anywhere! 🙂 xx

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