So, I've finally finished these socks, in lovely Sausalito, that I've been knitting for over a year. Finishing them off didn't actually take too long, despite the fact that I took a good thirteen months over the first half of the first sock; I think sometimes I build them up into being such a big job on such tiny needles with such fine wool that I end up over-faced. Anyway, I finally got a grip and, though every pair of socks I've ever knitted has been scrappy, scrappy, scrappy, they're no worse than my usual standard! I really enjoyed using the tiny circular needle in the end and can see me using that for all my sock knitting in future.

And just to make sure I don't get over-faced next time too, I immediately casted on new stitches for another pair, this time using lovely Debbie Bliss Rialto sock yarn, which I'm trying out on your behalf before I decide whether to stock it in the shop. One of those tough jobs that someone's got to do. Gorgeous colours, huh?

Teeny tininess

For those of you who would knit socks if it weren't for all those silly points getting in the way and the danger of losing your stitches off the ends of multiple double pointed needles...we present: the teeniest, tiniest circulars ever!

We've been selling the 12" circulars for a while for sock knitting and baby items, but these are an amazing 9" size. They take a bit of getting used to, but I'm going to feel much more confident knitting with these on the train this afternoon than I would with dpns, and I can put them away in a small project bag knowing there's a very much reduced chance of any stitches escaping. Yes, I think I'm sold on them.

(The wool in the photo is a lovely Crystal Palace sock yarn called Sausalito. I bought a single pack for research thinking I'd maybe stock it in the shop. Within a couple of weeks I'd tried out the first ball  and realised how fab it was, but in that short time they'd stopped distributing it in the UK. For crying out loud, there's a pattern emerging.)

Settle down now!

Okay, you're all too young to remember Ken Goodwin. Anyway, it's more accurately a matter of nearly settled down now...

Lately I've been trying to intersperse time spent sorting out stuff (piles of wool in the back room - would I work faster if I didn't now have the luxury of a 'back room'?) with some time spent ordering new lines and new colours in old lines. One yarn I'm testing out at present is Crystal Palace Sausalito, a gorgeous and soft multi-tonal 4 ply - a classic sock yarn mix, but not just for socks. Take a look at www.straw.com for all the gorgeous free patterns they offer. This ball looks a bit stunned under the glare of the camera's flash:

If you love sock yarn generally, don't forget we have Bergere's wonderful Goomy 50 in stock - just £3.75 for 50g. Which reminds me, I must finish those wristwarmers I started as a sample knit...another job to add to the list...