Sock one of the Autumnal Equinox socks is complete. And there just may be a new contender for my favorite sock yarn. Lang JaWoll feels and knits up a lot like Trekking, one of my other favorite yarns. It is not silky soft like some yarns, but not really rough either. It creates a sturdy fabric, especially on size US 1s.
My socks do get some wear, so I am always impressed when I can get a nice strong fabric. Sock two will be on the needles very soon. These socks will be frequently worn… probably with my cute new shoes… and those will just have to wait until the finished pair shot 
Thanks to Jennifer at Blue Lace Fiesta, we now have some pretty Socktoberfest buttons too – you can download them on this Flickr page.
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I had a very nice weekend hanging out in DC. I went to the Crafty Bastards festival (third year in a row!) with Bec and Karen, who was up from Durham, North Carolina. Before going to the festival, we stopped by Hoopla, a small eco-boutique store in Adams Morgan. Funny story: remember the Adams Morgan Day Festival a few weeks ago? well, I entered a little contest while I was there, and I actually won! I got a call from the people at the shop telling me to come in and redeem my $100 gift card. I was thrilled, and jumped at the chance. Karen and Bec helped me choose some things:
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The top is a woven cotton from a cooperative in Nepal. The top fits so well and will look great under (and over) several pieces. And the BEADS! they are made from magazines and newspapers, spiraled into small rolls and dipped into adhesive. They are beautiful crafted by a cooperative in Uganda, and sold under the name of Paper to Pearls. Both of the items are fair-trade, and are beautifully made.
…and the festival itself was great fun too!
Lolly and Karen with Woolarina purchases (no yarn for me!)
Bec lusts after the purses from Rebound Designs
congrats on the first official finished sock of socktoberfest. those colours make me wish there was a fall season here in florida.
Still loving your haircut, and congrats on the gift card win!
I go away for a bit and come back to lots of amazing changes. I *love* your new haircut! It is so pretty. I’m also digging the new blog design. I must keep reading and get caught up.
Love the beads!! I want some!
I love the new layout! Very you for how you’ve grown since I started reading.
Also, yay for prizes!
Love the new sock and the new blog look. I have some black JaWoll but I just can’t seem to make myself knit a black sock when there are so many wonderful colors in my sock stash.
Love the new look! I’m probably not participating in Socktoberfest this year, I just don’t have the time to commit to it. But I’m super excited to read about what everyone else is doing for this month.
wow – great new look!
have fun in your new home.
It sounds like a great weekend with friends. Yay for winning contests!
Your sock is pure autumn!!
cute tank top – and those beads are so neat!!!!
It looks great. Definitely the perfect sock for fall!
What a nice day, and your winnings! How fun is that? Looks like you had a wonderful time. I like the top and the beads are perfect for your wardrobe. I see your New Zealand gift, as well. XXOO
The beads and the socks look great!!!
I used to make paper beads when I was a kid! I’m inspired to make some now.
Those book purses were really nifty, but I knew I’d never use one if I had it.
The only time I made socks– well, one sock– it was around this time of year and I was using a similar color scheme. Fall colors are just gorgeous! It drives me nuts that it takes so long for the leaves to change colors in DC.
I’ve seen some of those Rebound designs at Artscape in Baltimore and another craft fair – aren’t they so cool?!
It looks like a great time and love, love the new design! The page loaded and I said “Wow!”.
congrats on the gift card win, i love winning things! your choices were lovely as well, i especially love the necklace (what an amazingly cool idea!)
i am glad to hear that the lang jawoll is so nice, as i recently bought some in white to make some pretty lacey socks. maybe they can be my socktober socks?
Those socks are so cute! And they couldn’t be more perfect for Autumn! (hey, they kind of remind me of my current stripey, tweedy socks!)
Nice looking sock! Good way to kick off your month of sock celebration.
Looks like a fun weekend too.
I love the socks. What gorgeous colors! I really like your new blog design – very, very nice!!
I love the socks. What basic sock pattern did you use?
Nice socks – love the autumn colors!
I love those colors, how very autumn-y! And what a beautiful toe — it is so clean and shiny looking!
Nice sock! I’ve never knitted with Lang Jawoll, but I do have some in my stash, so I’m glad to hear that you liked working with it and that it makes a good fabric.
I love those beads! At first I thought they must be glass, since they look so smooth and shiny!
Looks like it was a great time. All that craftiness!
Aw, Crafty Bastards. I remember the first year when it was held in Co’ Heights. That space is now a condo building in some state of construction. Looks like a fun day, although I’m pleasantly surprised to see you didn’t get yarn. Go Lolly!!
Lovely top and beads, I’ll have to check out that shop when I go back.
Thanks for the good review of the Jawool. I think a lot of people are unnecessarily down on commercial sock yarns these days because of the handdyed competition, but they are high quality products that make a sturdy sock. These yarns really fit a certain bill. Glad you think so, too
xoxo
Oh the sock is so warm and sturdy looking.
I love to be a winner and love to hear when others are as well. Great win. Great pick for your winnings too
Wow.. those socks definitely scream “AUTUMN!” They are gorgeous. The festival looks like it would be filled with such great goodies – it looks like you had an amazing time.
Mmmm…those socks make me want some PIE. God I love the fall.
Hey Lolly!
I love the new blog look!!
The beads are awesome! Congratulations.
[...] I finish up the second sock of the Autumnal Equinox pair, my mind wanders to the next potential sock project… I have so many patterns to [...]