Monday 7 November 2016

Drops Fabel Socks

Hello, thank you for calling in, you are very welcome here.  I hope you are keeping warm and cosy - the temperature has dropped sharply here and vests, socks and hot water bottles are the order of the day.  Last time I promised a post about knitting so I thought I'd share my first adventure with Drops Fabel with you.  I had seen this yarn written about online in all sorts of places and wanted to knit with it but what finally spurred me into biting the bullet was when the champion sock knitter at my knit and natter group recommended it.  I went home, went online and went shopping.  This is what I bought -

 
 
This one is called "Heather" and I chose it because it shouted my sister's name (which isn't Heather, but she wears these colours) and I wanted to knit some socks for her.  The problem with it was that much as I love these self-striping yarns, you don't really know what the pattern is going to look like when it's knitted up.  There was a tiny photo but it didn't show enough rows to give a realistic picture, so it was a bit of a gamble. 
 
I have to tell you that knitting with this yarn was an absolute joy.  As the pattern emerged the colours transported me to the moorland at the top of the Long Mynd: the pink heather, the yellow gorse, the brown bracken, the green grasses, the white sheep.  I have heard some knitters say that the yarn they buy tells them what it wants to be used for and I have never understood that, but this yarn wove its own spell as it became a pair of socks which would nurture and cosset a pair of feet as they walked through the British countryside.  I found it SO difficult to give them away, but fortunately, my sister's feet are not the same size as mine so they didn't fit me, which made it easier.


These colours are not true - blame the indoor lighting.

The yarn itself is 75% wool (warmth) and 25% nylon (durability), it's very soft and ever-so-slightly fluffy, there were no knots and it's smooth and easy to knit with.  So, when a friend saw them and asked me to knit a pair for her, I was happy to oblige. 

Outside in the sunshine, these colours are true.

This time, however, I was not so pleased: when I knitted up the second sock, the stripes did not match up with the first!  All was well until I got to the heel and even though I used the same batch of wool, the same number of stitches, the same needles and the same number of rows, they are slightly misaligned, which bothers me Very Much.  Fortunately, it doesn't bother my friend.



However, I have succumbed and bought some more of this wool, in a different colourway - these socks are for me and they tell a different story, which I'll share with you next time.  I just need some sunshine so that I can photograph them.
 
See you soon.
 
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x
 
 
 
 
 

20 comments:

  1. What beautiful socks! And color! I've never attempted to knit socks. It looks incredibly difficult, but I admire anyone who can do it. :-)

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    1. Thank you! I was in awe of sock knitters for years but I found a brilliant online tutorial and now I can't stop knitting socks. It's addictive. x

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  2. I love self striping sock wool. And knitted socks. I have only just discovered the joys of sock knitting and I am totally addicted. I love that heather colour way. How strange that the second pair didn't match. Haven't had that problem. I look forward to seeing your next pair. Happy knitting and stay warm :) B xx

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    1. I only learned three years ago, Barbara, and I'm addicted, too. I think I've done a dozen pairs now. Hope it's warmer in Jersey than it is in Shropshire at the moment. x

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  3. They look wonderful, a great choice of yarn and stunning colours. The temperatures have dropped here too and we also have a lot of wind which makes it feel colder.

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    1. Thank you! I just love these colours. Hope you are keeping warm. x

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  4. Aren't they fantastic, such beautiful colours, it's just like magic the way the stripes are formed. I can see how addictive making them must be. x

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    1. It really is addictive, Karen, and "magic" is exactly what I think when those lovely stripes appear (said she, sighing contently). x

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  5. They are lovely. I really must try knitting some socks.

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  6. Love the colour. I'm still knitting my first pair of socks in a plain colourway. It will be a while before I start a variegated pair. x

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    1. Do it, Jo: a self-striping yarn will do the work for you and as the stripes appear they sort of spur you on to the next colour. It's motivating. I knitted a plain grey pair for a man with large feet and almost lost the will to live! x

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    1. Oh Janet, they really are! I am wearing hand-knitted socks in bed every night at the moment because it's so cold and they are a godsend, keeping my feet toasty warm. x

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  8. Good Evening to you, How fabulous. I love your knitted socks. I remember years ago attempting to knit socks, but they fell by the wayside and I never attempted them again.
    However, you have inspired me. My daughter has just moved to Chicago, where the winters can reach -20, so a nice pair of warm cosy socks will be much appreciated.
    Could you recommend a sock pattern for me... and I will source the wool you recommended.
    I can't wait to give it ago.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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    1. Hello Daphne, it's lovely to see you here. Your daughter certainly needs some hand-knitted socks! I learned to knit them three years ago using this tutorial http://www.knittersreview.com/how-to-knit-socks/ and still use it but since then Christine has published her tutorial, which is full of photos, on her blog here http://winwickmum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/basic-sock-pattern-and-tutorial.html and lots of people are using it. Have a look at both and see which you prefer - and please let me know how you get on. x

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  9. Well I will keep that in mind next time I go sock yarn shopping ;) You have done a lovely job and the colours are gorgeous xxx

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  10. Your socks are beautifully knit in those colourful yarns. I hold immense admiration for sock knitters!

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    1. Thanks Lorrie. I was in awe of sock knitters until I found a brilliant tutorial online which laid it out very simply, and I haven't looked back. x

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