Questions for 22 - 24 November

[vilakins]

22. Do you still use a radio or just use your phone/computer for music?
Neither. I don't like radio: all those shouty ads and horrifying news I'm much happier without. It's CDs at home or Spotify in the car via the car's software.

23. What kind of socks do you prefer to wear?
My own hand-knitted ones! I enjoy making them and they're so much better than bought ones: perfectly fitting, no horrible seams digging into my toes, no tight cuffs, and so many great patterns and yarns to make my socks the compliment magnets they often are.

24. Do you have any family heirlooms?
Just the decorative tortoiseshell hair ornament my Spanish great-grandmother wore. I wish I had the painting of her.

Comments

[imhilien]

I still use a radio - I listen to 95bfm as it's an independent, quirky radio station, the other radio stations just seem to keep repeating the same playlists. On Sundays at midday they play decent jazz music; I used to hate jazz but I don't now.

I wear store-bought socks; I can knit but not socks. A friend of mine knits all her own socks.

[vilakins]

I love jazz! Our March jazz festival was on again this time (cancelled last year) and as good as always.

The seam pressing a line into my admittedly long toes still hurts when I wear sports socks, and cuffs are often too tight. A friend cuts the elasticated cuffs off her socks and lets them roll at the top. When I finally made my first pair of socks, I realised how easy it was - no harder than all the fingerless mitts I've made - and continued. I do use a technique that fits them to my feet specifically. I'd knit some for Greg but he treats his socks really badly, walking outside in the garden in them. [eyeroll]

[imhilien]

I'm glad your jazz festival was on again.

We all have different feet, so it's good you can make socks that fit you. A while back I did knit some bedsocks (easy pattern) with wool from the Chatham Islands, because it's hard wearing yet soft.

[jhall1]

I agree about the seams in socks. And why do most men's pyjamas have a seam in what's just about the worst possible place?

[vilakins]

If I can knit seamless socks, why can't the professionals? Or maybe put the seam higher where I won't get a painful trench across my toe knuckles. Recently I wore bought sports socks for a wetlands walk and my toes were so sore afterwards.

I can't speak to men's pyjamas, but I am ridiculously pleased with the new pyjama pants I got this week. They have pockets! Pockets are essential for day wear, yet too many women's clothes are rendered useless without them; I always check now before buying. Pyjamas though? This is a first for me. I may spend more of my weekend in these pyjamas...

[watervole]

Snap! Wearing socks I knitted right now.

[vilakins]

And I bet they're comfy and warm, too! I thought they'd be so hard till I joined a KAL for my first pair. They're as easy as all the mitts I made when I started, and I do enjoy making them.

[watervole]

I enjoy knitting socks. They don't take too long, because they're small.

There's lots of pretty yarns.

If I get the urge, I can try something like cables or lace without having to do an entire jumper's worth!

They're lovely and warm!

[vilakins]

Yes! I do have a couple of cardigans hibernating because I got so bored with them. Socks are fast, fun, and rather addictive. At the moment I'm looking for something interesting to do with self-patterned yarn that isn't vanilla.

[watervole]

Do you use Ravelry?

[vilakins]

I do! You commented on my DW socks. :-)

[watervole]

Zonk!

I've been looking a lacy shawls since I had a shopping accident with some alpaca/silk yarn in a charity shop....

They had it sensibly priced, but it did look lovely - though I think it may pill badly...

[vilakins]

LOL! I'm trying not to have those sorts of accidents while I use up some of my stash. Re shawls, a while back I bought a dark yarn shot through with deep colours, very subtle, to make an evening shawl or wrap with. I'll get to that one day...

[judo100]

OMG, you have hand-knitted socks??? I'm so jealous. They must be beautiful, and apparently they fit perfectly. And you make your own!! Please let me see some photos!

I agree with you about radios. I have CD's and Sirius-XM. No ads or talking at all.

My family tree is inverted -- getting smaller at every generation. (Lots of only children, and people who never had children at all.) So I ended up with everyone's treasures. I had to sell/donate so much of it when I moved, as I have much less space now. It was heart-breaking. I kept the pieces I love the best and rotate the items on display from time to time in my new house.

[vilakins]

If you were on Ravelry, I could give you a link to all my sock photos on one page. I'll have to think about combining thumbnails into a larger pic because loading lots of photos is such a pain. I'll be baaack.

I suppose it's good that I didn't inherit much as I wouldn't have the room either in this house.

[watervole]

She doesn't have to be on Ravelry to see them :)

[vilakins]

I copied a link to them into another browser and couldn't see them, just a request to log in or join. You can see patterns there without an account, but not, it appears, projects.

[watervole]

Here's Vilakins' sock photos https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Vilakins?search=socks&sort=created_&view=thumbnail&craft%5B%5D=2

She's done some fabulous ones. I think Forest Stream is my personal favourite.

[vilakins]

I can't see those unless logged in, sadly.

That yarn was just beautiful! I've had compliments on those socks.