lots of sock news...

 Everyone knows how much I'm loving sock yarn these days. A lot. It's a good thing too, because I've been busy doing lots of sock things (and dreaming of more still!)

I'm pretty excited that I can finally tell you about a couple of them too...

These are one of my favourite pairs of socks. I knit them years ago, with Viola Sock, in a simple rib that has become my go-to sock style. I wear these all the time, and they certainly have stood the test of time. These socks have survived traipsing across Exmoor in my Blundstones. That's some sturdy sock yarn! Since this groundbreaking pair of socks, I've repeated this pattern countless times (socks being a favourite gift of mine) and I got to thinking that it was time I shared the pattern. So that's what I'm doing...

My favourite sock pattern will make it's debut as a reward in my Kickstarter Campaign (launching mid November). It will be available as a PDF as well as in a kit featuring 1 main colour and 2 carefully chosen contrast colours. The best thing about knitting these socks is mixing and matching toe and heel colours...and I'm pretty excited about the colour combos I've dreamed up! 

In addition to some fun sock kits, you will be able to order skeins of sock yarn in a selection of favourite Viola colourways, ready to be knit into anything your heart desires! You can't loose!

There will be a sock reward option for everyone, and I'm looking forward to sharing one of my favourite Viola yarns, and favourite projects. Stay tuned for more Kickstarter previews and news, there's lots more great stuff to come!

Of course, if you're in Toronto, you won't have to wait very long to get another taste of my favourite yarn. Many of you may already know that the Purple Purl is celebrating their 8th anniversary Sunday November the 15th. There will be a LOT of Viola Sock there too (wahoo!)

I had lots of fun dyeing all these goodies for the Purl. If you're in the Toronto area, be sure to visit the Purple Purl Sunday November the 15th to see these babies in person (along with a whole wack of Merino Singles 4 ply too!)

All this sock chatter has got me thinking (along with the encouraging suggestion from Ravellers) that it's high time for a sock KAL. And so, following the fun and success of out Breaking into the Pretty KAL, I'm saying let's have a sock KAL! The Super Slouch Socks are a great idea, and were the prize giveaway for everyone who finished the last KAL, but any sock would do! 

Phew, I don't think even I could handle any more sock news in one post. So I shall leave you with that!

the time I was utterly lost in the forest

 Seriously. Last week I set out for a hike with my little sister's little dog. The plan was to walk from Owen Sound to nearby Inglis Falls along the well worn Bruce Trail. Well, I don't know whether it was me or the trail, but something went awry. I have already visited the falls, so I knew they were seriously beautiful and not too far away from Owen Sound. It was supposed to be about 10 kilometers there and back. I'm sure it would have been for a person who had thought to bring a map or a compass. I did not consider any of these things in my excitement to get going...

 All the trails are marked with these little paint splodges on trees. Different colours indicate which trail you're on.

Violet (she's pretty cute, isn't she?!) and I made it to the falls safely. They were even more beautiful than I remembered and we stayed there for a long while exploring and climbing rocks in the sunshine.

 

 

It was the journey home that got us turned around. Actually, I'm sure that Violet the dog knew exactly where she was going the entire time. It was likely only me that went the wrong way. Even though I reached a point where markings on trees seemed to want me to go either all directions at once or they would simply disappear altogether, I managed to enjoy the beautiful walk and amazing life in the forest that day.

These tiny little guys were no bigger than a pomegranate seed!

 

 

 

Even though I was cursing the Bruce trail at the time for sending me on a wild hunt for the next white rectangle painted on a tree, the walk was still utterly fabulous! Violet and I took 2 hours longer than we should have to find our way back (and were spit out on the motorway with a long walk home) but I put that all down to my complete lack of navigational skills. We spent the last hour or so of the walk scaling steep craggy rock up and down endless slopes - serious adventure time! Even the energetic little pup was knackered by the time we emerged from the forest, covered in bug bites and mud, twigs in my hair. Can't wait to get lost in there again very soon, although, I think I will bring along a map next time!