Random Questions

Having just darned a sock, I was curious - For those of you who make socks, do you bother with darning them when they get holes? I know there are some who will just throw them out, but I'm one of those thrifty types. If I spend so many hours making the socks in the first place, what's another half hour mending them every so often? The best way to mend socks is to look at the bottoms every time you put them on (or at least occasionally). When they start to get a little thin, do duplicate stitches in the thin area before the socks actually get holes in them. A great tutorial for what to do if holes actually develop can be found right here. Darning socks, to me, is just a part of wearing handknit socks. I know the ancestors that had to make socks didn't throw them out because of a hole; they darned them until they just couldn't be darned any more. (And you can actually get some pretty good mileage out of darning.) It can actually be as meditative as knitting or spinning, too. If you've never tried darning your socks, give it a try.

My next random question: Am I the only one not particularly impressed with the latest issue of Vogue Knits? The lacy tops were sort of cute, but not really anything that inspired me. Of course, it could just be my ennui talking.

Has anyone gotten their 2007 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Catalog yet? Just curious as it's getting to be pretty close, just over a month away now, and I can't remember when I got mine last year in relation to the actual festival. And while we're talking about the festival, anyone else going?

I guess that's about it. I actually started something new last night, but it's only the cast-on right now; I'll show you some progress later this week. And it wasn't with the red silk. I just didn't it right now, so it's back in the basket for now. I just picked out something rather simple and relatively quick, but still lace.