Socks and an aquarium

MOFO: Jubilee weekend socks

I've finished my Jubilee socks. They took just over a week but that did include many hours of knitting in front of the Jubilee coverage.

If the calves look a little wide and the feet a little stumpy that's intentional as they feet reasonably well, but the calves are a little loose and the feet a smidgen short.  I'll adjust for that on the next pair. 

When I calculated my swatch, I declared I only really wanted 64 sts for the calf but still trusted the calculations and went for 72 sts.  Never blindly follow science, people!

I bought the Faires and Elves Opal sock yarn in Berlin, with Emily, who is now an expert on where to buy yarn in Berlin.  We went to many places and saw many things.

 I posed here, particularly for the crocheted lime green and acid yellow waist coat in the background.

 There was an expansive selection of sturdy German sock yarn in this department store and I quickly gave up on the plan of only buy enough for one pair.  I was surprised to see that even if I didn't have time to knit my own socks, but was desperate for that particularly strong wool blend and faux fair isle patterning, I could buy them ready made.

I think they must have been machine knit as I didn't faint at the price.  I didn't look too closely so I didn't see if there were size option but there were plenty of colours.  I suppose you could even buy them and pass them off as your own work if you took the label off. 

Jubilee knitting and partying

 I've had a lovely if slightly single weekend (attending a 50's style dance as a third wheel required a bit of determination to hit the dance floor solo) but at least being in charge of the remote meant I could fast forward out of tune singers (Cheryl, I'm looking at you) and pause on the royal box. I like spotting minor royals but how did Heston get an invite? Part of me does wish I'd made it up to London to join the crowds but then I remember I don't really like crowds. Really, I just want to be a princess, as I think I'd be excellent at it. I like smiling, watching boats, wearing gloves, travelling and working for charities.

Stash enhancement

Work on Percy #3 continues and I'm still enjoying it. I'm thinking of adding an extra repeat of Chart B if I have enough yarn, which I'm fairly sure I do. I've also started a sock in yarn I bought when I was in Berlin. It's going to be very simple and hopefully won't end up totally the wrong size.

Not content with buying enough german sock yarn for three pairs of socks, when in Berlin, I have also been adding UK yarn to my stash. Well, it is the Jubilee, so supporting local companies is my excuse for spending money that I probably shouldn't. The first is from the Natural Dye Studio, and I also signed up to their Great British Wool Club from July.

Then, I signed up to the Yarnyard steeplechase lace club, as I'm loving the laceweight percy, and then I noticed Nimu were having a sale so, fell off the non-shopping wagon with quite a bump.

It's all rather glorious and I'm glad I tell you, Glad, Glad , Glad, GLad, GLAD.