Journey-along | Are you signed up?

I've been busy planning what seems like an overwhelming amount of awesome all at once and today it dawned on me... it's last day of April - where did the month go?! I assume I'm not alone here as spring seems to be flying by for everyone. The response to the Journey-along has been humbling - thank you everyone that is participating online and in the shop and for keeping the group motivated as we knit our way through Journey! Some knitters have completed several projects already and some have ALL six  projects on their needles - yes, it might sound like a lot, but all of the projects are fabulous and we are leisurely knitting through November so there's plenty of time to finish. I must say that I'm impressed with the number of sweaters that are being cast on AND finished - the two sweaters in the book are both simple in construction and beautifully executed, making them so very hard to resist!

I currently have 3 Journey projects on the needles - Climb (shop sample), Onward (shop sample) and Inland (for ME!). We have a 5-1/2 hour drive each way to TNNA this weekend and I plan to do my best to wrap up the 2 Firefly Fibers samples so I can get them out on display. Here' s a peek at the new Climb shop sample:

I'm using SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock in Lakeshore Drive for this pair and I love how the colorway is working up! Last night, I had my teaching had on for a two-at-a-time sock class featuring Climb - the knitters did a great job, their socks look great and it was fun to see how some of the other colorways knit up!

Just a reminder.... I'll be doing little giveaways from time-to-time throughout our Journey-along (one is coming up very soon) and we'll wrap up in November with something special. So...Are you asking what you need to do to enter? If you already joined the Journey-along by filling out the 'official' form and cast on a project, you're set - just keep knitting! If you cast on, but haven't filled out this form, you can still sign up to 'officially' join and be eligible for the giveaways (don't worry... your information is kept private).   

I guess I better get back to working on the ever-growing list of things to do: TNNA prep (it's this coming weekend), CustomFit launch, summer class schedule, putting away new arrivals, ordering more awesome, and then there's the bookkeeping. I think I'll be a rebel today and do the fun stuff first!

Cheers!

Journey-along | Coming Soon!

A few weeks ago, I posted my review of Journey with ideas for yarns we carry at Firefly Fibers for each of the 6 designs in the book. Since the November launch, I've been clicking away on shop samples - just as I did with Island the year before - and what I quickly realized is, the designs in Journey are just as addictive! This means samples for the shop and second projects for me, too!

I've been in planning mode - or scheming, whichever you prefer - over the last few weeks while waiting for new yarns to arrive for a few of the projects. Do you recall a recent mention that I had a little something up my sleeve with this book? Well, the new arrivals are now all present and accounted for and I would like to share the fun of knitting projects from the book with you, so let's have a Journey-along!  

|| What's a Journey-along? ||

An inspiring, fun and casual Knitalong featuring the 6 beautiful designs from Journey

|| Dates ||

February 12th - November 19th

|| Sign Up & Details ||

Sign up instructions and full details will be posted on the start date of February 12th

In the meantime, join the Firefly Fibers Ravelry Group (if you're not already a member) as this is where the online Knitalong will be hosted. Feel free to chat away about your favorite Journey design, decide on your first pattern, gather supplies and swatch - yes, I said swatch... really, it's a good thing.

 I can't say that I'll be waiting until the start date to cast on another project from the book - duty calls and I have shop samples to knit with the new arrivals, such as...

Last fall Rowan was kind enough to provide me with a sample skein of their upcoming Pure Wool Worsted. As soon as I tested the yarn, I knew exactly which Journey project I wanted to use it for:

Onward by Shannon Cook

Pure Wool Worsted is one of the yarns that I recommended for this shawl when I posted my review and I'm happy to report that the yarn just arrived at the shop in all 50 colors this last week! I'll post progress photos along the way on Facebook and Instagram so you can see what color I selected and how the yarn knits up. I'm really excited!

Rowan's new yarn would also be wonderful for Spate by Jane Richmond.

I've  already knit a shop sample of these mitts out of Spud & Chloe Sweater, but I can see a second pair in the future. Maybe this is what I'll cast on to kick off the Journey-along? And those socks... I just *might* be working on an upcoming class for Climb...

If you don't have a copy of Journey yet, we just restocked at the shop - the print copy includes a digital download - and I have plenty of yarn ideas for you, too.

Are you inspired? Do you want to go on a Journey-along with me?

Sock Weather

It's cold here in the Midwest. Currently it's 19 degrees below zero. Yes, -19. It. Is. Cold. Logan is hanging with me today as I work from home. Something outside is apparently stare-worthy - I saw nothing beyond the frost covered window, but I didn't ask questions.

Each summer I hope and dream of heading into winter with stacks of hand knit socks for myself and hubby. Over the last year, Susan B. Anderson began posting tantilizing photos of her overflowing sock drawer and it's impossible to not be sucked into the world of socks after seeing all that beauty.

I was inspired, motivated, and I had dreams... I also have a job and it takes time to knit a full drawer of socks. Winter is obviously here (remember, -19) and I'm down to only a couple pairs of hand knit socks, so I'm frantically clicking away between other projects. I cast on a new pair of socks while we were in the car heading to hubby's Grandma's for Christmas, completed the cuff on the way back, and I turned the heel that night when we got home.

Nice long cuff on the finished sock, right? Yeah, about that... I was knitting on a 9" mini-circ in the dark on the way home and had no idea of how much progress I was making. Upon our arrival home, I was pretty excited to see it was nearly 10" long, then... I cast on the second sock and realized I would have to do it again. LOL! It's okay, I'll get there. Eventually.

A couple questions have come up since my last post with the darning poll (results are coming, just keep reading...). The questions were:

• How did I knit that much so fast? Well, it's a sport weight yarn knit on a US 3 (3.25mm), so they knit up really fast. This particular yarn is Regia's 6-ply that comes in 150gr balls and they've really expanded their 6-ply line over the last couple years - with our shop inventory expanding proportionately. *eek*
• What pattern do you use? My "go-to" sock pattern is Churchmouse's Basic Sock. Not only is it my personal "go-to" for socks, it's also the pattern used in the Top-Down Sock Workshop that I'm teaching again in just a few weeks and the pattern I recommend at the shop to new and seasoned sock knitters because it's just simply a good basic sock pattern. Churchmouse dubbs it, “The sock we return to again and again.” This is SO true!

This pattern is the closest to a "perfect" top-down sock pattern that I've found in my 12+ years of knitting socks. I knit and teach these socks exactly as the pattern is written, with ONE exception:

• I pick up ONE extra stitch at the top of the gusset. I've always done this on top-down gusseted socks and it really helps to close up that pesky little hole that can appear. Picking up one extra stitch really makes a HUGE difference for me and it really helps the students in class, too.

I've taught a variety of sock classes at Firefly Fibers from the beginning and as luck would have it, a little over a year ago, the timing worked out that I would solely lead the sock classes (sock/sole, get it?). I decided then that I wanted to offer a sock class of some variety on every class schedule and each of those classes have been a huge success! I just really love hand knit socks of all varieties and I love teaching sock knitting - check out the Top-Down Sock Workshop details and contact the shop to register if you're in the area and interested in joining me in the upcoming class! It's a good time with plenty of tips and side-by-side assistance along the way.

So, before I get back to work on my cuff or get distracted by something else:

The results of the darning poll (which I'm leaving open in case anyone else wants to add their input): 

Sock Knitters, what do you do when hand knit socks are in need of repair?

• 57% Knit a new pair
• 38% Darn them
• 5% Other

I'm a wee bit surprised that so many of us do the same thing and just knit a new pair - I'm also a wee bit comforted that I'm not alone. Granted, there are variables with darning: quality of the remaining sock, repairs needed, etc... I have some socks that I have darned and some that really just aren't worth it. But still, my first inclination is to just knit a new pair.

I'll be back soon with a couple more sock tidbits as I get ready to cast on another pair!

Cheers! Alisa