Best Blues

Best blue yarn 1: I had a request for colourful bedsocks for Christmas so cracked open my sole skein of the legendary Wollmeise yarn. Knitting with something that has grabbed the attention of knitters worldwide is always an experience to be anticipated. In truth, however, I get even more excited about lesser known dyers and always wish them eventual global success, but only after I've managed to buy some skeins from them first. Much as I applaud universal popularity such as that achieved by Wollmeise and Sundara, I am left a little sad that the yarns often then rise beyond my price range, especially with the extortionate Customs charges we are forced to pay on parcels from outside the EU.

For a truly wonderful exposition of a Wollmeise experience, look here. I admit to great envy at being faced with such a difficult choice.


Simple Skyp Socks
by Adrienne Ku (ravelry link)

Yarn: Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash; 316.3 yards (289.2m), approximately 0.55 of the skein
Colourway: Am Kalten Polar
Needles: 3.00 mm


Best blue yarns 2 & 3: Two dyers whose blues have caught my eye and imagination are both talented, gaining in well-deserved popularity and, I'm sure, about to go global. Just let me acquire as much as I can from them first...

Skein Queen:



DK Desire in 'Indigo Dream', 100% wool.


Sparkleduck:



'Midnight Purple', a laceweight in ultrafine merino with silk

Another Competition and Best Snow-ness

Another Competition and Best Snow-ness

Best snow: Lapland snow pictures by SusiVilla. Scroll down to the last photograph in particular. We thought we'd had good snow here but this is the real thing.

Best snow outfit: Also by SusiVilla. As she says, a skirt in -30 degrees Celsius? Still, one can see why. What a skirt, and it only took 3 skeins of Noro Sock.

The White Ribbon Competition


Seeing as how my first ever competition proved a bit obscure I'll see if a variation on a theme is any easier. The first competition is still open, by the way. No one has correctly claimed a prize so far.

So, Competition Part 2:

Where is the knitting in White Ribbon (AKA 'Das Weisse Band')?
The film has just won the Palme d'Or and is fairly extraordinary. It is not a touchy-feely, cuddly film but it does have knitting in it.

Clue: only one person is actually knitting.

All correct answers will receive a prize.

Remember to EMAIL ME YOUR ANSWERS rather than post them here (otherwise it will be first past the post which may be short lived). Not all prizes will be knitting related, just in case there are non-knitting people out there.

How Not to Make a Pompom

This is how not to make a pompom. It was supposed to be the finishing touch for my new snow hat, based on the Sockhead Hat by bohoknits who very generously publishes the pattern for free. Ravelry link here.

One advantage of having snow and ice coat London for longer than usual was the opportunity to examine surreptitiously the enormous array of hats, mittens and scarves that appeared on people struggling to and from work, or even merely trying to stay upright on the sheets of ice that once used to be pavements. The more I looked at other people's heads, the more I wanted a new hat for the snow, and the more I couldn't see one that I thought would suit me. This new one may well not suit me at all but I think I may wear it frequently. It's very warm, versatile, and I like it, which of course helps no end.

I used three-quarters of a skein of sock yarn, held with a ball of Kidsilk Spray to add some extra softness and bloom. I omitted the Kidsilk at various random points to allow the colours of the merino sock yarn to shine through.

A few random rows with the Kidsilk Spray omitted to allow the brightness of the sock yarn to shine through.

More photos will appear when I've finished the pompom, or perhaps when I've decided against the pompom. Until then, here is the back of my head.

Sockhead Hat

Yarn 1: Sunshine Yarns Twist Sock Yarn in Costa Rica (I used about 297 yards/271 metres)
Yarn 2: Rowan Kidsilk Spray (shade 569 Clay), 1 ball
Needles: 3mm (I used magic loop method)

Modifications:
a) adding in the Kidsilk Spray
b) I worked 6 inches of stocking stitch for the body rather than the 9 inches suggested
c) there may be a pompom if I can remember how to make one properly

Friday's Bests

Best thing I listened to today: Jenny Agutter's choice of Lise Meitner for "Great Lives", Radio 4. Listen again here, if you so wish. Late-night BBC reminiscing about a great physicist who later eschewed public recognition for her work in nuclear science, having first been disregarded herself because of being a woman. Picture borrowed from a site entirely dedicated to pictures of famous physicists. Who'd have thought it?

Best mittens of the day: these Antler Mittens by Alexa Ludeman.

Bests

Best colours of the day: these ones, put together. Drawback: now I need to replicate them throughout and that's easier said than done with Noro.

Best sound of the day: the laughter of an orangutan being tickled. Seriously. Radio 4, midnight, last night/this morning.

Best sensation of the day: a single, melting Italian 'gianduiotto' on the tongue

Best smell of the day: fresh laundry

Best decision of the day: to leave work on time and go home