Knitting Classes - Math of Socks

I've been remiss setting up my knitting class schedule for the next couple of months.

I know I'm teaching Math of Socks (description below) twice in the next month, once at Meadowfarm Yarn Studio on Jan. 30th 11-1 and again at Courthouse Coffee in Auburn, date to be determined, although it will be on a Wednesday or Thursday evening. I still need to coordinate with the owner.

For Meadowfarm reservations call 530.470.8862.
For inquiries about the Auburn class, email me or post to the comments.

This class is designed for people who have made socks and want to understand how to make them fit and make their own socks patterns based on their measurements and gauge.

Math of Socks - 2 hours, $20
Aha! Don’t let the title scare you. If you can balance your check book (and even if you can’t), you’ll be a master of numbers and your knitting at the finale of this class. We'll discuss where to measure the foot, how to adjust for narrow ankles or wide arches, and how to calculate the number of stitches you'll need to make your sock fit. Bring a tape measure, a basic calculator, pencil, and a 2”x2” swatch of sock yarn (sport or fingering). This class is designed with previous sock knitting experience in mind. This is not a learn to knit socks class.

Rural Change for America

So the White House is an exciting place these days. A new president who's agreed to tear out five acres of lawn and put in a farm. If I didn't like him already, this would have won me over.

And have you seen his plan for rural change?
Rural communities face numerous challenges but also economic opportunities unlike anything we have witnessed in modern history. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that together we can ensure a bright future for rural America. They will help family famers and rural small businesses find profitability in the marketplace and success in the global economy.

Here's the highlights:
°Strong safety net for family farmers
°Prevent anticompetetive behavior against family farms
°Regulate CAFOs (confined animal feed lots) - this is going to stick in the USDA's craw. They've been sooo negligent about enforcing these regulations...
°Establish country of origin labeling
°Encourage organic and local agriculture
°Encourage young people to become farmers
°Partner with landowners to conserve private lands

I really like this one! Connect rural America by modernizing phone lines to provide affordable broadband coverage.

For all the details check out http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/rural/

It's a boy! Again!

No, it's not twins, and I'm not pregnant. But once again one my young henlings has crowed. Can you pick out which one is not like the others?

Yep, about a week ago I heard an additional crow in the yard, and when I looked closer, I realized one of my "girls" was sporting pretty tail feathers! The latest batch of chicks is now 5 months old and are coming into their sexual maturity, and once again I have one more rooster than I bargained for.

So far Kazoo and the "new" rooster seem to be getting along well, without any fighting in the coop at night. Unfotunately, if it becomes a problem, one of them will have to go into the stew pot, as it's pretty hard to find homes for unwanted roosters. By the way, chicks are sexed at birth, but I've had a one in six rate of boys twice now, which is well below the stated oops rate.

Short row heel - no wraps!

This tidy little video showed up in my inbox this morning, and it looks to be such a great (and simple) technique that I wanted to share with all of my sock knitting friends. I'm going to try this on my current socks in progress, so I'll be able to let you know just how practical it is soon.