Same socks, different day.

After finishing up in the Mongrel Sock workshop today, the last job is always the sweep through to clean up ready for next week. Even the sweeping's are a delight.....

The colours in this sock run are beautiful.

We are truely blessed to be surrounded by things of such beauty. The colours we are able to use in our pure wool Mongrel Socks and Mongrel Tasmanis head, arm and leg warmers are gorgeous. The wool's feel is naturally soft and luxurious. But just look at the beautiful spectical Mother Nature threw my my way this after noon.

A double rainbow no less, in colours like the socks we've been knitting today! 

 

 

Then, and I can't believe I actually caught this image. The New Holland Honey Eaters - that are just some of the amazing bird life we have living with us, came for a visit.

In flight!!!

 

Viewed from the sweatshop.

 

Who ever said making socks was a boring business, has absolutely no idea of our reality.

Live feed

I received this email yesterday.

I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love the head warmer that I bought on Saturday. It's keeping my head warm as I write this....my most favourite buy in a long time! I can't wait to get some leg warmers to add to the collection! I just have one question - where do you source the wool from? Cheers! Lisa. Boat Harbour, Tasmania.

My reply for- any one else who's interested.

Hey Lisa,
Thanks so much for taking the time to email-I love wearing mine too, but it's so nice to know other people enjoy them too. I've got my arm warmers on as I write.
We source our wool, where ever we can. It's always Aussie grown, but it is hard to find reliable sources. We deal with the last (only) Aussie company who processes the high quality superwash wool we need (want to use), but also source, still Aussie grown, wool out of Germany and China. It is a sad state of affairs in a country with more sheep than people, that we can freely buy poor quality wool, ie wool that shrinks, prickles the skin and you need to hand wash, but can't buy the the very best. I suppose it's a bit like "the fish John West reject's". Most of the best wool ie low micron, is shipped out cheap and brought back in at top dollar.
I could moan about this issue for hours but get no where.
Any way,
Thanks again,
Helen.

Times ticking!

I can't beleive it's already February. We've had a flat out month, it feels like we've been on fast forward. Hoping it's going to start slowing down soon, but I doubt it. Making our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks, has been keeping us most busy, keeping up supplies of our dozen'ish colour mixes in the four sizes, is a challenge alone, but when our other products like our Head Warmers and Arm/leg Warmers need replenishing.....we're running! We've had a bit of a wait on the production of our Tuff Mongrel heavy duty socks, but the new yarn supplies arrived yesterday so the Tuff Mongrel drought is over. We had sold out of a number of sizes and colours. We are knitting now!After waitng nearly 4 months for this order to arrive( it should have taken 6 weeks), we were beginning to think maybe it wasn't going to come at all. The Yarn is a very expensive hi-tec mix of 60% superwash wool ( the best kind) and 40% Polypropylene, we can't find one better, any where in the world. We have this one imported for us from Germany, Aussie grown wool, processed in Germany, and brought back in to Australia. We wouldn't bother if it wasn't for the fact that this stuff-Climawool*-is so bloody good. The people wearing this expensive fibre blend, love it, live and work in it, with these high performance socks, our customers get what they pay for. No consumer can ask for more than that, and we wouldn't offer less.

Mosh Pit Parenting

Making great socks is one of the many hats I wear. Being (or trying to be) a good parent is another. Preparing my teenager for what life is going to throw her way, the good the bad and the ugly of life, pretty much tops the list at the moment. The parenting roll constantly changes, when your kid’s little it’s pretty straight forward, but gosh, it gets murky with a teenager. It seems every other parent in the world is far more cool, liberal and easy going than me (or so I’m told by my little darling!).
With small children, as parents, we look forward to our offspring achieving expected milestones, first- tooth, word, day of school etc. In the teenage years we hold our breath and hope the “firsts” are a long time coming, every parent knows what exactly what I’m talking about!
Well, we have just had a first!
A few weeks ago my youngster met the mosh pit! I have to say I was ‘freaking out’ at the thought of my child disappearing in to the pulsating crowd at a huge day/night rock concert. The little petal had to listen to me run thru every scenario and solution known to man. Parents, you all know the drill. Blah, blah, blah. In one ear out the other. Lucky for us (and my nerves) my husband and I we’re both going to the same concert-not for the entirety but for the headline acts (vip passes, no less.) My teenager was horrified to learn that we would be there too. That is ‘so not cool’. Tough! Teenagers have got to learn that their parents have a life. Well, her plan was to ditch us asap and hook up again for a ride home. As we headed out the door I’m looking over my darling. “You can’t wear thongs to a concert; put real shoes and socks on! Get some more clothes on, it’ll get cold later!” I managed to get her in some runners and our woolly socks but NO WAY to taking something warm to put on later. Argh! She didn’t want to have to carry anything; I suppose that was fair enough. I didn’t want to carry anything superfluous either. I took with me, a couple of pairs of arm/leg warmers we make and wool head warmer in my bag, just in case I got cold later. So off we went, we were duly ditched when she’d found some friends, and not to be seen ‘til the concert finished. We had a great time in the vip area, by the time I’d had my allowable 2 drinks for the evening (I was going to driving home) it was just getting dark and the night was still young, so I pulled an executive decision-leave the car, taxi home and have a couple more drinks (not to excess but perhaps more than allowed). My husband and I had a ball, caught up with friends, and enjoyed some great music. Most of the bands we had never heard of, it didn’t matter (I’ve heard of then now), by late in the evening we were rocking with 6000 others in the midst of the mosh pit. Of course it was hot and sweaty in the seething sea of bodies, but it was a freezing cold night, pretty typical of Tasmania in the autumn. Thank god for my arm/leg warmers, they were on and off all night. And Yay! I wasn’t the only one wearing our arm/leg warmers, time and time again I saw people wearing them. They’re pretty easy to spot. It’s a great feeling to see other people enjoying some thing you take pride in making. At the end of the night when we met up with the little petal, the look on her face was priceless; when she found out we’d had a wonderful time and were grabbing a taxi home. Mortified! She took the high ground. Why did I have to have a few extra drinks? What about the car? What if any of her friends saw us, you’re too old to be in the mosh pit! How embarrassing! She was stunned that we’d had a ball. I think she had expected us to be bored and outraged at some the crowd/and performers antics. NOT! I did explain how responsible I was being, making the decision to enjoy the night and not just waiting it out until she was ready to go. I think it’s great to shock your kids. Keep them guessing, I say. Be unpredictable!
On the way home chatting about the night, she was moaning because her feet (the shoes now filthy), were stood on a million times in the pit. She didn’t actually say thanks for making me wear shoes and socks, but I know she appreciated having them on. Sometimes mum does know best. That’s one “first” down, I’m happy to patiently wait for the next.