Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Doris Meets Otto.....

It was love at first sight! For both me AND Doris!



Yesterday I spent the most lovely day with my dear, dear friend Kathleen. She set up her "Otto" who is an autoknitter sock machine, right across the table top from "Doris." What a pair they make! "Otto" holds 60 needles where Doris holds 72.

I learned so much from Kathleen and it was oodles of fun having our very own "crank-in"! While we chatted away, Kathleen cranked out 4 socks! Yep, 4 socks (two pair). Now how fun is that! And they turned out beautifully and it let me see how different a 60 stitch sock is compared to a 72. I have to really tighten the tension on Doris because there are so many stitches - otherwise the sock would be far too wide. And that can be extremely tiring during the cranking process. Otto whipped those socks out in no time.



Isn't he a dream? So, I've decided that this is my goal for our little (ok, micro) sock business. I'm going to save up and find a friend for Doris. As these machines get more and more popular, that task becomes a bit more difficult.



And then, you won't believe what Kathleen did. She left Otto so that I could practice on him and use up some of my thicker sock yarns. Only a dear and true friend would do such a thing! He'll hang out with Doris until Kathleen and her husband return to their vacation home in Bear Valley. Doris and I are in heaven!

Other news.....

I promised that I'd have an announcement today, so here it is: Instead of the usual giveaway each month of a pair of socks, I thought it would be fun for one lucky person to win a pair of women's handknitted mittens. I'll start working on them this evening.

So, this is how it'll work: just leave a comment on this post and be sure to use the word "Mittens". On March 1st, 2011, I'll randomly draw one name and announce the winner. The mittens will be made of Cascade 220 which is a 100% wool, worsted weight yarn. They'll be quite yummy! So, good luck to all.


And tomorrow is "Ask Mac" and he'll have a few answers for the questions that came in for him. You might want to tune in then and leave him a question for next week because he told me that he'll be doing a little giveaway for one lucky person who leaves him a question each week. Tomorrow he has 3 viewers who wrote in and one of them will be winning a little something.

Have a great, great day!

22 comments:

Suzanne said...

Handknit "Mittens", well count me in !!!

Tracy said...

Count me in! "Mittens"

Tracy said...

Question for Mac.

Does he have many friends that he has around the house, or is he an only "child"?

Two Cables and a Frapp said...

Oh fun ! Otto, Doris and Mittens !!!

Heather J said...

Awesome pictures I love Otto! I love mittens I think they work up faster than socks.

Amy said...

Mittens...yay! I could use a pair.

Tracey ~ Clover said...

Oh Kathy, I would love to wear a pair of mittens that you made. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with Doris and Otto.

Emily said...

Mittens rhymes with kittens!

(ahappyaccident on rav)

InJuneau said...

Mittens?!? Ooo, please include me.

And, Otto and Doris look like a great match. What a wonderful friend to leave him for a visit! Good luck finding your own "Otto"!

TeddynBarbie said...

I love mittens. They are my favorite covering for my hands.Mittens are more fun than gloves!

Jessica said...

Mittens! ok, I really do like them, and I am fascinated by Doris!

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

Mittens, I think everyone can use mittens this winter with all the snow and cold we have had this winter. I am glad Doris will have a playmate Otto for a while.

Anke said...

Oh I wish I could have been there when Doris and Otto were "getting busy"... ;-)
I don't even know how many needles my sock knitting machine has - how sad is that... I did get the phone # of a lady that owns a sock knitting machine and she said we could get together so she could show me how to get started. I just need to find the time to do it...
Those mittens are going to be wonderful!
Have a great weekend,
Anke

Phil & Gale said...

Mittens! I love them. And all the more with the record-breaking cold and snow we have been having here in ARkansas.

Saucy said...

I didn't even realize things like "Otto" existed -- how cool!

The mittens sound great

Debbie said...

Mittens, mittens, mittens!
I love mittens!
Deb
("Waddleswort" on Ravelry)

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

How fun to see Doris and Otto together. Imagine. Two pairs of socks while talking!

I've learned to make mittens this winter. My kids come in from playing in the snow red and cold. Then they touch me with their warm hands. Amazing!

God knew what he was doing when he made wool!

Unknown said...

Wow, Otto and Doris look so cool! But all those needles! You are really doing a great job. Thanks for the give-a-way, and Mittens would be perfect this time of year! Have fun!

Vanessa said...

Mittens I so need some Mittens I have knited everone else mittens but none for me :(

Linda said...

I would love a pair of hand knit mittens! I am a knitter, but I am constantly making things for others, including mittens!!
Thank you for hosting this contest!

s0ncfreak said...

I really need some mittens! I keep buying yarn with the intention of knitting myself some mittens, but my kids keep asking me to knit other things for them with it.

Meranda =] said...

MITTENS!!! lol. I would love a pair, hand made makes everything more loveable.