A few things:

 1. The Trekking sock. Although I am not a strong supporter of the double circular needle sock, it
is the method that I use the most. Here
are my reasons:

• It is the most convenient method when traveling on public
  transportation or by car, small spaces.  There are no needles to lose in between the
  seats, and no needles sticking into the guy next to you.  This also is best for walking, no needles to work their way loose and fall through the rocks or cracks in a boardwalk, for those of you so lucky.
• It works the best for my theory that the sole should be
  knitted on a needle a size or two smaller than that of the upper part of the foot and the leg.  I use a #1 needle for the sole and a #2 needle for the rest of the sock. 
• No additional needles or tools are needed to knit the heel
  if you choose to use the heel flap, gusset method.
• (maybe it is my preferred method afterall)

2. The weather continues to rain, the flowering plants seem
to be very happy with all the moisture. This is not a hydrangea. It is my
elderberry. Unbelieveable! It scent is heavenly, sort of like a fresh
sweet bread sort of thing.

 
(yes, it’s raining)

 

3. THE Project: an envelope structure, very
interesting. Check out the lines of the
old building.

 

4. For everyone who wrote asking the name of the beautiful
yarn shop. It is Sakonnet Purls in Tiverton, RI.

ARGHHH!!  This was Wednesday’s post.  I can’t get Typepad to change the
date.  That is after they lost it and I reposted it, so now it is IN
FRONT of today’s post which is the next one.  Keep READING down the posts.  Ooops, this time it may work, I’m out of here, don’t want to get it more screwed up.

My apologies to those of you who are leaving comments.  If I haven’t
answered, it is because I am still, after two weeks, unable to receive
them via email (as I always have, I swear I changed absolutely
nothing).  What this means, I must read them as you do, no email
address included. 

The high days of summer are upon us.  Afternoon cloud bursts
continue to keep the Green Mountain State green.  It’s a lovely fat
time of year.

Knitting and spinning are basically solitary endeavors.  With maybe the exception of the gossip wheel, and how many of us have one of them, it is one to a wheel.  We spin alone.  That’s what makes SNBs, Guilds, Spin-ins, whatever kind of get together so valuable.  I always come away with a little more knowledge.  Sometimes it doesn’t sink in right away.  But, eventually something I’ve seen or heard comes niggling it’s way back into my thoughts.  Case in point, last summer I took an Alden Amos workshop.  Those of you who were there know what I mean when I say that I left feeling like it was interesting, maybe entertaining, but not terribly informative (unless you were anxious to learn how to make rope).  Later, (days or maybe even weeks later) as I started to use the long draw, the only technique that stuck with me from the workshop,  I realized that I had learned something useful and wonderful.  Before that, I thought I used the long draw.   Mine was medium, maybe, definitely not long.  My draw lengthened.  Aaha! 

This weekend I had another aaaha moment.  During the week I had read a little book on spinning, worsted vs woolen.  How to.  It mentioned long draw, said everyone should learn to use it when spinning from the fold.  I didn’t like to spin from the fold, UNTIL Saturday.  My friends on either side of me at the guild were using a short draw and from the fold.  Same as always, beautiful, uniform, fine yarn.  As I walked around, I saw a new member spinning very fine and from the fold. The difference was that she was holding the wool wrapped around her middle finger.  It looked so orderly, I knew I’d use it.  Since I’d only brought a spindle with me I had to wait ’til I got home.  I LOVE IT. Who’d have guessed.   Combined with the long draw, and now I mean as long as I can pull my arm back, it is my new favorite ‘way to spin’.   Fast.  Smooth.  Simple.   Something I just never noticed and never gave a thought to.  One more tool for the basket, so to speak.  It’s great when things fit together, huh?