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It seemed only appropriate to devote this week’s announcements to knitting the humble sock (you can even make `em red, too)…

Socks 101
Never made a pair of socks before? Here’s a nicely illustrated demonstration to guide you through your first pair.

From the toe
You’ve made socks from the top down, but there are definite benefits to knitting them from the toe up (you can try them on as you go being the big one). This article appeared in the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty and illustrates several different “toes” to choose from.

Fuzzy Feet
What could be better than a pair of warm, snuggly slipper socks on a chilly fall evening? Well, several things probably, but warm, snuggly slipper socks are still pretty wonderful. Here’s a free pattern for ya.

Operation Toasty Toes
OK, now that you’ve got a pair or two under your belt, now you’re ready to make some for others. Our soldiers overseas would be delighted by a gift of hand made socks, and Operation Toasty Toes makes it easy to participate. If some of you want to knit a pair for the cause, I’d be happy to collect them and send them on!

When we moved into our home, the previous owners kindly left us several old cans of old paints and some nasty looking bottles of an unknown substance in our garage. I’d always intended to bring them to one of those “Hazardous Waste Roundups” you hear about on occasion, but for one reason or another, we never took care of it.

Well, just yesterday a knitting pal told me of the LA County SAFE Collection Center in El Segundo, which is open Saturdays and Sundays, 9am-3pm. Yes, that’s every weekend. They don’t take biological waste, ammunition, or tires, but they will accept pesticides and solvents, paint and computer equipment, batteries and medicines. Excellent!

So it goes like this: you drive up to the entrance, tell them your zip code and describe the inds of stuff you’re bringing in. They point you to the collection area (there’s lots of clear signage) and you drive up your car into the fenced off collection space. Turn off your engine, hand over the goodies (or have them remove it–the signs instruct you to remain in your car), and you’re done.

This is a great service, so do tell all your friends in the Los Angeles area about it. The more people get into the habit of disposing of hazardous waste properly, the less of it will end up in our oceans. It’s free, it’s convenient–what are you waiting for?

I know, I know–it’s all about the knitting. Knitting’s hot, celebrities knit, blah blah blah… Well, it looks like now crocheting is emerging from the realm of toilet paper cosies and craft bazaar into cell phone cosies and craftster.org. Right.

Well, anyway, the knitting circle isn’t just about knitting. Yes, it’s about lunching and about chatting, but it’s also about crocheting. Here’s a link to a brand new on-line crocheting magazine, Crochet Me: “The magazine that’s bringing crochet into the modern era.” So there ya go.

We learned last month that Ted’s mom (who is a wonderfully talented quilter, dontcha know) planned to attend a quilting conference in Tacoma. Since it’s not often the folks are on the west coast, we decided it would be a good opportunity to visit with them during their trip.

Still working on a trip report for this, but here are a few of the things we saw during our visit…