Odds and ends.

Some thoughts, a review, some links... much like any other blog post, now that I think on it. Anyway.

First, the sock yarn problems. The first yarn I got was 100% untreated (not superwash) Peruvian mystery wool. I'm knitting a sock with it now (The Ugly Sock) and it doesn't seem too bad, but it's rather rough and tough and scratchy. The new yarn is 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon and is nice and springy and soft and doesn't take up dye worth shit (and costs twice as much as the plain wool sock yarn). My real problem, I think, is that I've not worked with enough sock yarn to really judge if it's good or not. The only other 'sock' yarn I've ever had my hands on was Koigu and that's not really sock yarn. So if anyone who has ordered the Peruvian sock yarn from me (the other isn't dyed or available yet) would like to give me your thoughts when you get it, I'd really appreciate it. Don't be afraid to tell me it sucks. I kind of think it myself, so you'd only be confirming my suspicions. I want to know - I don't want to sell something people think is crap.

The Peruvian stuff currently on sale is priced the way it is partly because I don't like it (the yarn, not the dye jobs), and partly to give you guys a chance at some discount yarn before mention of my etsy shop goes up on Knitty in March.

So, anyway. If ANYONE has thoughts on sock yarn and what makes it good or bad, leave a comment. I'd appreciate it.


Meanwhile, I'm reading a book. (Gee. That never happens.)

"A History of the World in Six Glasses" by Tom Standage. The 'six glasses' in question are beer, wine, spirits/booze, tea, coffee, and Coke. The eras are Ancient, Classical, Enlightenment, Colonial, Late Colonial, and Modern. It's a different slant on world history and quite interesting. Right now I'm in the spirits chapter learning how rum fueled the slave trade. It's a fun book if you like your history with a different viewpoint. Not much humor - it's a straightforward style. But good anyway.


Let's see, I was gonna drop some links... Oh.

I Can Has Cheeseburger? Is a blog that is nothing but cat photos with captions. Sometimes they're hilarious. Sometimes they're stupid. But if you like cats, it's still cute, so it's all good. Here's a taste:

Much of the writing, such as it is, is in what I think of as "Blackberryese" - 'Dood, wut R U doin?' But as I said. Cute cat photos.


And Vintage Textile has updated and has new loot, for those of you who can afford $2000 shawls and collector clothing you'll never wear. For the rest of us it serves as fantastic inspiration for knitting ideas. Try not to drool into your keyboard.