blogtober2022

A different way to knit socks

You’ve tried cuff down and toe-up socks, so what’s next.

How about knitting a sock snake?

A couple of years ago now I published a tutorial on how I knit a sock snake - a long tube with a toe at each end, that I snipped in half to add cuffs and afterthought heel and it generated a surprising amount of interest.

You can read the original post along with step by step instructions HERE

But why would you choose to do such a thing?

First of all it’s important to start by saying that necessity is the mother of invention. I was knitting a sock on a train journey. A pretty long journey. I had podcasts, I had coffee and snacks and I had a fun stripy sock to knit. It’s fair to say that I was in my happy place. Partway through my journey I realised that I had zipped way past the point at which I would normally start the heel and has essentially created a very long foot.

I was determined not to rip back all the pretty stripes I had had such fun knitting and so I spent the rest of the journey working out how I could create a pair of functional socks from a long tube - and this was the result.

Would I choose to do this as a default method? Probably not, but it was a cunning plan that served me well and I share it with you in the hope that one day, it might help you too.

Side note: if knitting socks where the stripes are in a particular sequence, the socks will not match but will instead be opposites with the stripes going in one direction on one sock and in the other direction on the other. I just mention it in case it’s the kind of thing that would bother you.

PIN FOR LATER


Why are we here?

A slightly more existential question than you usually find on a knitting blog, so please bear with.

The thoughts behind this blog post arose from a chance conversation on Instagram with @ofsimplicity, who was asking a simple question of her Instagram followers - “Why are you here?” And some of the responses were just so moving it prompted me to think a little bit more deeply about Instagram and how perhaps our use of the platform has changed over the years.

I joined Instagram years ago, back in the day when it was all about the filters, vignettes and fancy borders. Your feed was chronological and you could happily scroll through in a morning looking at what everyone else in your time zone was up to.

A far cry from the heavily curated feed we see today. Filters are still very much there (although much more subtle) but still images have been crowded out by video/Reels and a lot more content competing for attention. It feels like a much noisier place than it did, ‘back in the day’.

However, I’m still there.

For me (and I suspect, many others) Instagram isn't just a platform and I have way more invested in it, emotionally than I do with maybe Twitter or Facebook. Twitter is a fun place to hang out for a bit but, to be honest I often go there to have a moan about something - and being around lots of other people also venting in a similar manner can deplete my energy reserves pretty quickly.

In contrast, Instagram is home to some wonderful supportive friendships. People that I have connected with there and remain good ‘insta pals’ to this day. Human connection is ultimately why we use the app, and why, Reels notwithstanding, I don’t think that Instagram is going anywhere although the way we use it might change a little.

Without Instagram for example, I probably wouldn’t be taking part in Blogtober - and writing this post in the first place. I wouldn’t have set myself a challenge to read 50 books this year without being inspired by the various Bookstagram accounts that I follow. And I don’t think I would be as inspired to create some fabulous new autumn designs if it weren’t for the daily dose of gorgeous hand dyed yarn content that I see served to me alongside my morning coffee.

For all of my dislike of the present format, starting my day without at least a little scroll through Instagram is unthinkable. It's part of my routine along with coffee and cat cuddles.

How about you - are you still there and how do you see your use of the platform changing? Drop me a line in the comments or come and say hi over on Instagram - @LouiseTilbrookDesigns


Excited for October

Wearing the BOB Socks

Happy 1st October. And I'll say 'white rabbits' for luck too.

Blimey - the weather has certainly taken a turn hasn't it? The rain was absolutely lashing it down outside yesterday as I curled up to do all of my writing jobs. Hot coffee and cosy socks were definitely the order of the day.

I find I work best when I batch jobs these days and for some reason Friday has become my writing day - when I sit down to do my newsletter, my draft blog posts for the coming week and any other bits and pieces, along with usual daily journaling.

I'm taking part in #Blogtober this year - and while I might not manage a daily blog post my aim is to spruce up my blog a little and more importantly to connect with others in the blogging community.

If you are taking part please do let me know - or tag someone you know that is so that I can follow them and cheer them on too.

It's also #Socktober of course so expect lots of sock related content this coming month.

If you have any burning sock related questions that I might be able to help with please do let know.

Oh, and of course there's my self-imposed reading challenge for 2022.

I'm currently stalled on book 43 of my 50 goal so I do need to make a little progress. I'm enjoying my current read - a historical fiction novel "The Girl in the Glass Tower" by Elizabeth Freemantle but it's a bit heavy going, especially when I'm tired.

So I'll be looking for a lighter, quicker read to power through this weekend and give me a bit of a boost.


And there we are: blogging, sock knitting, reading goals (oh, and a couple of new designs)... I think we can safely say that October is going to be a busy one ☕☕☕