The Sock Issue! Cuff-Down or Toe-Up? By Anna For many sock knitters, this question is “fightin’ words.” Folks feel passionately about their sock construction methods – top down, toe up, two circulars, Magic Loop, DPNs, and even one or two at a time. Ask a room full of knitters which is the best choice, and you’re liable to start a lively discussion (if not ruffle a few feathers). You’ll find people who’ve tried all of the methods available, and you’ll find folks who have learned, and stuck with, one method. I learned to knit socks from the methods detailed in the Yarn Harlot’s Knitting Rules, so I feel loyal to the one-at-a-time, cuff-down method. It’s pretty psychological for me: I like feeling of accomplishment of doing each part of the sock at a time: the cuff, the leg, the heel flap, the thrill of turning the heel, and eventually decreasing and speeding toward the toe. I even like the Kitchener stitch. But the adage “Ask six knitters and get seven answers” applies here. I asked the rest of the staff how he or she felt. Here are their answers: Annette: I am very much in the Toe-Up fan base. I will pretty much only do toe-up socks, and will skew patterns as necessary to do so. I’ve done socks both ways, and really just like the toe-up method much better. First, Judy’s Magic Cast-On is a brilliant way to start the socks that is super easy and looks perfect. Second, I tend to like taller socks and by starting at the toes I can just knit until I run out of yarn. I never have to worry about ripping out if I don't have enough yarn or accidentally ending up with “pedicure socks. I also don’t end up with a lot of leftover yarn if I was too conservative about leg height (and I hate having too much leftover yarn). For me, toe-up is the only way to go! Teri: Although I eschew socks at this point in my life - cuff down! I adore the elegance and flow of Kitchener... not enough to knit socks as an excuse to kitch, but you get the idea. Yvonne: I’ve knit socks both ways – top down, toe up, and now am using the Personal Footprints, which is a toe up construction of a different breed. I love them both equally, I think; the top down is great for toting along -- basic sock recipe, cast on the stitches I need, divide them over my DPN’s, and magically work away my cares. Toe up is awesome for using every last bit of yarn and making sure that the fit is perfect – cast them on to my Magic Loop, and I’m off and running! Although the Personal Footprint is portable, I do feel a little odd when I occasionally whip out the cardboard footprint to “try on” my sock, especially in the middle of a restaurant. I’m hoping to tackle the two-at-a-time method in the future, and that will really throw me for a loop.

What’s New; What’s Going On Our Third Annual Summer of Socks and Lace is in full swing! See here for details on what we’re doing and how to enter. Everyone who enters will be getting a small prize. We’re still working on our Stora Dimun KAL from Folk Shawls. Read about our progress here. It’s finally here! We received many, many new colors of Madelinetosh sock. Keep reading for a review of this terrific fingering weight yarn, perfect for both socks and lace. From Abstract Fiber, we now carry their worsted weight handpainted Miro. This superwash yarn comes in the same great colors as the sock and the spinning fibers. We have new colors of the fabulous Road to China Light and Canopy Fingering from Kelbourne Woolens. Stay tuned for exciting news about events with Kelbourne Woolens, a Pennsylvania-based company, later this year. Just in time for the Summer of Socks and Lace, Himalaya Yarn sent us their Pearl, a yak and bamboo blend shot through with gold or silver strands. We think this would be perfect for shawls for the wedding season. Cascade sent us new colors of Eco Wool, the wonderfully economical wool in natural colors, and Eco Duo, the heavenly merino and alpaca blend. From Universal Yarns, we now carry Cobblestone, a DK weight superwash designed to look like handspun; Patchwork, a variegated acrylic worsted weight; and, when you want to get your fuzzy on, Swiss Mohair, a fingering mohair blend.

Spotlight on New Classes: Understanding Cat Bordhi’s Personal Footprints By Yvonne Does Cat Bordhi's Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters intrigue yet frighten you? Do you want hand knit socks that are so custom-fitting, they feel like a second skin? Do you want to learn a great, stretchy bind off? Then join us as we explore the world of Personal Footprints! We'll lead you from drawing your footprint to the cast on, practice picking up and snipping that oh-so-important leg stitch, and learn a great bind off method that you'll want to use for more than your toe-up socks. Prerequisites: Having knit a sock previously is highly recommended. Must know either 2 circular or Magic Loop method for small circumference knitting. Must be able to increase (KFB) and decrease (K2TOG). This class will start in late July. Check our Class Calendars for details. Click on picture for a bigger view

Spotlight on New Skills: Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off By Carla and Yvonne Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off is the cast off recommended by Cat Bordhi in her Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters. Watch Cat Bordhi explain it here on YouTube. We think you will be surprised by how stretchy – and easy and clever -- this technique really is. Carla: When Anna showed me the surprisingly stretchy bind-off, I was amazed. I didn't think any bind-off could stretch that far. I have only played with it a little bit, but here are my thoughts: This is the very best bind off for toe up socks I have ever seen. Go watch the video. I've never seen a bind off that could stretch that far. The down side is you have to be careful where you use it. Because it is so stretchy, it tends to flare a bit. On socks, that's great, as they always stretch out when you put them on. On a sweater, not so good. A very plain sweater would look a bit frou-frou with a flared out bind off. Might be good on a scarf, though. Hmmm; I'll have to work on a cast on to match it. Another day, another knitting adventure. Yvonne: Surprisingly stretchy bind-off? Yes. It is surprisingly stretchy. I have used it on my store swatches (have you seen our color wheel table taking shape?), and even on the neckline of the back of a pieced sweater. It works on ribbing, it works on no ribbing. I didn’t notice any flaring out on the sweater’s neckline, but I haven’t blocked it yet (the sweater actually is still in progress). Once you “get” the technique, it is surprisingly easy, also. I agree with Carla – watch the video and give it a try!

Yarn Review: Madeline Tosh Sock By Steven Our stitching lives, much like our real lives, can be measured by a series of firsts, signposts in our evolution as fiber artists. The joy the first time you cast off, or felt the slickness of an Addi Turbos in your hands, or experienced the magic of turning a heel on a sock. Perhaps you recall how great it felt when you figured out which bloody stitch your crochet hook was supposed to go into, or when you realized spinners were just that much weirder than we knitters and hookers. . . in a good way, of course. The latest mile marker in my own knitting life was my first encounter with Madeleine Tosh sock yarn. I was back in the city where I first learned to knit, Chicago, browsing in my former LYS, when I felt it. You know what I mean. That pull we feel to some special yarn we have yet to meet. My hand stretched out to the sock section and made first contact with the Tosh Sock. I immediately fell in love with its squish, the smell of the dye, the tightness of the spin (perfect for socks), and more than anything, the color itself (the thunderstorm colorway). I immediately took their last two skeins and headed back home to Natural Stitches to report. When I passed it around, everyone fawning over my new lovely skeins, I suggested to Martha that we may want to consider bringing it into the shop. My suggestion was met immediately by Anna’s shouting out “YES!” Martha listened and placed the order. We all have some yarn that, once in our lives, changes things. Personally, it made me like knitting socks. And when I went to Detroit to see the Yarn Harlot speak, there was no contest when it came to the yarn I would use: Tosh Sock. It knitted up beautifully, never splitting, flying off my needles creating the most beautiful fabric I had ever knit up. And it doesn’t sacrifice the sturdiness one wants in a sock yarn. Perhaps the worst/best thing it has done? Tosh Sock has turned me into a stasher. Click on picture for a bigger view I look at those beautiful skeins with no project in mind and buy them anyway. I am unashamed. (and that’s not even all the Tosh Sock I have in my stash). But the most important thing I can tell you about Tosh Sock? IT’S HERE!

From the entire staff of Natural Stitches, we wish you happy knits, creative crochets and splendid spinnings. And, as always, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know!

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