In this episode: I talk at great length about my knitting. Because sometimes it just needs to be about the knitting. The Dwarven Battle Bonnet is a huge hit with the punters. The Fibonacci Hat revealed. Apps for knitters include your basic Memo and Voice Recorders, as well as Ann Budd’s Knit Handy. (Clearly not a comprehensive list. Please add your own favorites below.)I also talked at length about the Log Cabin Socks without once mentioning the designer, Anne Woodbury. These are the needles I’ve been using all week. I like them.
Talk to me! I want to know what you do with your old hand knit socks. Or, more specifically, what you think I should do with mine. (Be nice.)
I also want to come and meet you in person. Get in touch and let’s talk about how to make that happen.
I do the Facebooks. Also the g+ and, of course, I’m still doing the twitter. Come find me!
Music by Chris Daniels & the Kings, Cool Yule, from the cd Stealin’ the Covers.
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For worn out socks – I think if the leg could be steeked or knit with a back seam they would make great squares for a throw or blanket!
A blanket must be a good idea because there are at least 3 suggestions for them, including mine. Now I’m wondering how each of you proposes to make them. My thought was to simply cut the cuff flat, and the main part of the foot if possible, lay the “squares” out in a row, machine stitch them with all the raw edges facing up, flip and machine stitch the other side so that there are two rows of stitching. Then I would stitch the long panels together in the same configuration.
I’ve been thinking about the method for blanket making myself, Mary Alice. I probably wouldn’t use a sewing machine. I’ve never liked the way sewing machines distort knit fabric. Instead I think I’d steek the fabric using crochet chains placed a few knit columns away from each other. Once the sock leg has been cut open you could pick up the crocheted chains and either crochet or use a three needle bind off to join the blocks together.
Of course, there is still the issue of how to deal with the top and bottom edges of the sock, and I’m afraid I didn’t get that far in my thought process. But if someone wants to have a go at it, and blog the process, I’d love to see the results.
Hi Brenda. A friend of mine uses worn-out socks brilliantly (in my humble opinion). I’ve yet to wear out a sock, so I can’t take credit for actually doing this myself…yet. Anyway, she cuts them up and stuffs her hand-knit toys and her hand-knit yoga bolster with them. I’ve seen the toys and bolster and it gives them a fantastic weight that fiberfill just can’t provide!
-Lisa
Hi Brenda! My Grandmother was very frugal, she cut of the feet of worn out socks and knit new feet. But her socks were actually long stockings, so I guess she saved a lot of yarn and time doing that.
-Malin
My SIL passed this idea to me. she cuts off the holey foot part (will use this part to stuff toys). The cuff portion she uses as her tea/coffee mug ‘cozy’. No need to bind off anything, stitches aren’t going anywhere. One for her and another for…me!
It’s funny you ask about socks because I’ve been facing the same dilemma. I have a thought that if I cut a straight line up the cuff to make rectangles and then back them somehow on jersey fabric so they don’t unravel – wouldn’t those make nice quilt squares? I haven’t tried this yet, or even really thought the whole backing/sewing thing all the way through. But that’s my idea!
Yay! I’d be delighted to see you in Portland, OR.
I LOVE Friday Harbor, you’ll love it it’s very wonderful. Of course you must go to the Hungry Clam restaurant and buy a tee for Tanya!!
I don’t have a lot of spare sock legs, but I think they would be very wonderful some sort of tubular yarn bombing. There’s no need to worry about the edges and they can live a perfectly good second life as public art.
Glad to hear the intro again. Love it.
As for old socks, here are a few ideas which may or may not work depending on how funky the tops of the socks are:
Mug cozy
sachet
catnip sachet
seat belt cover
wrist sweatbands
cuffs for short gloves
sew several tubes together for a “snake” stuffed animal
sew several tubes together & stuff for a window sill or door draft blocker
sew bells inside for a baby rattle
**uncontrollable giggles** seriously Brenda, eat chocolate before every podcast, you were cracking me up.
Did you say you want to visit!?… I am located in the Caribbean all winter! http://Www.friendscharters.com =) or if it’s spring-summer your thinking please visit us in NH, we live in vacation land – near lake winnipesaukee, in the white mountains… We have a separate bedroom with it’s own bath in the carriage barn! You’ll love it.
I cut of the foot and knit a new one.
As I’m listening and catching up, one of the things that caught me was that you though that Movember is silly, and without knowing what it’s about, I can understand why you’d think that. It’s an awareness thing, similar to February being Women’s Health Month, mostly aimed toward cancers (and specifically breast cancer) that affect women. Movember has men around the world shaving their faces bald at the beginning and growing facial hair (mainly mustaches) to raise awareness for men’s health, mainly prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. There are a lot of good things about it, though, I’ll admit, it also has a “silly” factor.
was looking on Ravelry for pics of the Battle Bonnet and failing. Husband wants to see your version, he’s not allowed to wear a beard in the food-service industry.
WORN OUT SOCKS!?! I weave potholders from them…”recycled sock potholders”! Send them to me in Seattle, WA!
Could the legs of worn out socks be adapted to become fingerless mits? I’m in the process of making some leg warmers for a baby and can’t help but wonder if the sock legs could be adapted to this purpose. The socks could also be turned into little bags that you then put soap odds and ends in so nothing goes to waste – it’s like a loofa .
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