The season for socks

Anne Podlesak's knitted designs regularly appear in Spin-Off _and _Jane Austen Knits. She is an indie dyer, designer, knitter, spinner and all-around fiber fanatic. She owns Wooly Wonka Fibers on the web and you can also find her on Ravelry as "bunnyspinner." We've invited her to share details of our latest eBook with you.

Ann Budd shares what she learned in a workshop about spinning sock yarn. She spun and designed the sock on the left after the workshop and the one on the right before.

__Anne: It's starting to feel like fall here in the Northern hemisphere and that's the perfect time to knit yourself a pair of handspun socks!  The new Spin-Off Presents: Spin Your Socks 2 eBook gives you the perfect excuse to knit a pair for yourself, a pair for your holiday gift-giving box, and maybe an extra pair or two just for fun.

This seven-pattern collection has a great variety to pick from, and there's something for everyone.  Need some basic comfy every day socks? Check out Ann Budd's Handspun Socks.  Maybe lace is more up your alley?  Carol Huebscher Rhoades_ Eyelet Socks_ are a pretty pair with floral eyelet patterning on them. If you'd like to challenge yourself with some colorwork, Kristi Schueler's Annukka Socks would be a fun project to try.

	Margaret Heathman uses the subtle color variation of natural dyes to beautiful effect in her Flower Power Socks.

There is a lot of great information covering how to spin the yarn to make your perfect pair of socks from this collection. Ann Budd's article, in addition to including her great everyday sock pattern, shares what she, as a very prolific sock knitter, learned in a workshop specifically about spinning yarn for socks. You can clearly see how her new knowledge changed her spinning from her first to second pair of handspun socks. Also included is useful general information on making a cabled yarn or suggestions on how to prep and spin batts, there are also detailed instructions helpful to any sock knitter about cast-on techniques and working a replaceable heel found in these patterns, too.

So grab your spindles, get your wheel set up, and find your favorite needles—the hardest part will be deciding which of these great projects to cast on first!

—Anne