Friday 27 April 2012

Guest Post By My Mum: A Sock-Knitting Maniac

When Kay originally suggested I ask my Mum to write a guest post on my blog, I was secretly hoping she would not only say yes, but also like writing for my blog enough to come back for more - and she did! This is her 3rd guest post; if you have not read her 2nd one, you can do so now.

And this one is extra special, because it comes with a giveaway!
But read my Mum's post first, and then I'll tell you about the giveaway:


I am a Sock-knitting Maniac!
 
Whenever I pass a wool-shop with its pretty baskets outside full of beautiful coloured sockwool, 
I can never resist to buy some!
Then: I do love knitting socks: 
At home while watching TV (because only watching is mostly a waste of time, 
though I very much like some crime & mystery series and comedies), at the doctor's when I 
have to wait (because the magazines there about celebrities do not interest me), 
or in my garden chair, when I have done the gardening. Either reading or knitting then.
All my friends and family get hand-knitted socks from me, whether they want it or not. 
(I suppose, most of them want... ;-) 
 
It is so easy to post them in a padded envelope, even to people far away, nothing can break or crack.
Here is some of my work, so you know, what I am talking about:
Birthday socks for Meike, 22.3.2009

More birthday socks for Meike (in yellow, her favourite colour), in 2010 or 2011

Some examples of socks that are also fit for a male friend or relative.

Socks made on Meike's request for the newborn baby girl, daughter of her friend Chris, the landlord of Ludwigsburg's Irish Pub where she frequently goes to the pub quiz.

Assorted socks, and back to Meike:

Now, isn't it wonderful to have  a Mum who is not only great company for walks in the park (and drinks of lovely bubbly stuff), a great cook and baker, but also a sock-knitting maniac?
I usually wear her socks as slippers when I am at home (I don't really have a pair of slippers), and the creamy birthday socks in the first picture are ones I wear in my sturdy walking shoes when I go on a hike (all the others are too large to be worn inside shoes).
And wouldn't it be an idea for my Mum to have her own Etsy shop for her socks? Do you think they would sell?

My Mum has kindly agreed to donate a pair of her hand-knitted socks for a giveaway, and here is how it works:

Next week, I'll be in England, only returning on the 6th of May, and I won't be online at all for the whole week. This gives you plenty of time (until the 7th) to leave a comment here, stating whether you wish to participate in the giveaway or not. Several of my blogging friends have added a rule I am nicking from them: If you mention this giveaway on your blog and link to it, I shall add an extra entry for you. If you are a follower of my blog, you get yet another extra entry - giving you a total chance of THREE entries!
On the 7th or 8th, I am going to write all your names down and have my mum draw the winner.
I will then contact the winner for their mail address (please do not post your address in your comment).

Now, let's get started - I wonder how many entries we'll have!

73 comments:

  1. I love hand knitted socks. Sadly I'm not very good at knitting myself. And yes I'm a follower. And I'll link on my blog too: adulcia.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Claudia,
      in school, (long, long ago....) I was not good at sewing and knitting and needlework as well. But the reason was our teacher, she was an old skinny spinster and we had to make oldfashioned dull things we did not use.
      Later, when I was a young girl, here it was very fashionable to knit sweaters, pullovers, even dresses. So I did, then my children were born and I did a lot of knitting for them.

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    2. You also crocheted skirts for us, didn't you, Mum!

      Hello Claudia, and welcome as my newest follower :-) You'll have your three entries in the giveaway.

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  2. Hello Meike and Meike's Mother:
    First, regardless of everything, may we say how much we love your hand knitted socks?!! They look so warm, are in jolly colours, are clearly beautifully made and, we are certain, very well received by those fortunate enough to be in receipt of a pair.

    We have a friend, Nigel, who also knits, rather as you do, Meike's Mother, when watching television, listening to music or, simply, as relaxation. We have some of his and can vouch that they are so superior, as we are certain yours are, to anything to be bought in the shops. And, as Meike, we often use them instead of slippers.

    Meike, what a wonderful idea for a giveaway. We should love to be entered in the draw and will be keeping our fingers crossed. Meanwhile, have a lovely week in England, although we think that the weather is not very promising.

    Kellemes hétvégét!

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    1. Hello Jane and Lance,
      thank you for your kind comment, I am happy, you like my socks.

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    2. Hello Jane and Lance,
      they are as warm and jolly as they look, and they last for years - my collection is in almost constant use, in and out of the washing machine, on and off my feet, and they do not lose their shape or colour.

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  3. Hello Meike's Mother

    I too am a sock knitting maniac and my friends at craft group call me the mad sock lady. I nearly always have a pair on the go and they go everywhere. To uni to fill in the hour lunch thats not quite long enough to do much else, watching telly and when I visit friends to chat I usually have a pair with me then. I often knit them for friends and love doing baby socks with left over wool which goes to the church for young Mums. Knitting socks is addictive and I too can't go pass a wool shop with colourful sock wool in it. Especially the lovely soft marino I get from Touch Yarns.I bought a lovely marino, silk, bamboo mix last time I was in their shop in Clyde and can't wait to knit it up. Keep knitting from one sock lady to another. Cheers

    Louise

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    1. Hello Louise,
      hehe, I could call myself a "mad sock lady", too! I also like bamboo-silk-cotton-mixes wool, and I use bamboo-needles, no steel.

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    2. Hello Louise, thank you for stopping by at my blog and commenting on my Mum's guest post.
      Do I get that right that you do not wish to be included in the drawing for the giveaway (since you can obviously make as many socks for yourself as you like) ?

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  4. Hi Meike's Mum

    I don't knit. Well I did knit a huge scarf when I was at school but that was a long time ago. I do, however, do my tasks like ironing when watching the television because otherwise I usually feel guilty watching and doing nothing. I love the 2009 birthday socks and, like Meike, my favourite colour for many things is yellow.

    My brother's wife has lots of bright and interesting socks. I hope that CJ enters!

    In NZ I tend to go bare foot most of the time in the house as is quite common here and I've started doing it in Scotland too although that sometimes brings odd looks from visitors who don't know me well. Perhaps I should start wearing socks instead.

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    1. Hi GB,
      when I was younger, I always used to go bare foot, from april to october at least. But now I prefere to wear the socks, whenever I feel a bit cold at my feet.

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    2. Graham, I have never learnt to knit... I know how to crochet, but that's about it; even sewing a button back on to a blouse is a major feat for me.

      Do you wawnt to be entered into the drawing for the giveaway socks? (For the sake of your visitors in Scotland, of course!)

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    3. Yes please Meike although I'd choose socks for Sister-in-Law-Who-Loves-Tea because when I wear socks it's either with work shoes/wellington boots, formal shoes or sports shoes and beautiful colourful socks would be wasted on me. I shall contrive a way to mention this post on my blog. That should be a challenge for me this evening.

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    4. Right, Graham, I'll include your name - three times if you put the link in. Just do it like Jenny; she simply added a paragraph to her latest post.

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  5. Hello Mamma of Meike!
    YES I think they would sell on Etsy, nothing to lose as joining is free. I will surely put you on my favorites and circle. The stripey/fair isle looking ones are so pretty.
    All the best
    xx
    julie

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    Replies
    1. Hello Julie,
      thank you for your kind comment. I don't know anything about that Etsy, I must ask my daughter first.

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    2. Julie, I don't know which ones you call fair isle ones? And I shall definitely tell my mum more about Etsy.

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    3. Oh, and Julie, do you want me to enter your name into the drawing?

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  6. Hello Meike's Mum, what a lovely idea for a give-away. Looking at your socks brings a smile and I would be thrilled with a pair.
    Meike, by all means investigate Etsy as an outlet for her creative talent.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Jill,
      I do like it, when people come to smile about looking at my socks! Thanks for leaving your kind comment.

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    2. Thanks, Jill! You are sure to be included in the drawing.

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  7. I am so envious of having some who knits socks, they are among my absolutely favourite things. So I definitely want to enter the giveaway and as I am a follower, and have linked from my latest post hopefully I will have three entries. Even if I don't win, I enjoy your talented mum's posts! and her socks are fabulous. Yes, she could have an etsy page, I am sure they would sell, but then your family would all lose out !

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    1. Hello Jenny Woolf,
      all my friends an family-members who received a pair of my selfknitted socks have been very happy about, at least they told me so. ;-) Good luck!!

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    2. Jenny, you are definitely going to have three entries! Thanks for linking to this post from your blog. They surely are worth participating in this giveaway :-)

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  8. Hello Meike and Meike's Mum!

    If my name were to be drawn out of the hat I'd have them made for Partner-who-loves-tea, please. She is very much a sock person - the crazier the design the better!

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    1. John, you shall have two entries, and I am sure Mum-who-knits-socks will find just the perfect pair of crazy socks for Partner-who-loves-tea!

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    2. Hello Scriptor Senex,
      yes, I am sure, I will! Good luck!

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  9. Your mum rocks--embrace her! I would love to win these and will now follow your blog :)

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    1. Yes, she does, doesn't she, Meredith! Thank you for stopping by, and welcome as my latest follower :-)

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    2. Hello Meredith,
      thanks for your kind comment, I wish you good luck!

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  10. WOW I so admire your Mum and her talent in making such BEAUTIFUL socks! YOU are the luckiest blessed girl to still have a Mum to do so for you. I LOVE the yellow socks as well. Knitting has been so hard for me, I have tried and tried and tried and my stitches just are so uneven. My Mum would just laugh and put the needles under her armpits and just knit away. It is an art that so many do not appreciate BUT I DO! Tell your mother for me that she is AMAZING and it makes me miss my beautiful mother soooo much!
    hugs Libby!

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    Replies
    1. Linda, we can indeed count ourselves incredibly lucky to have (or, in your case, have had) wonderful mums... because not everybody does.

      So, do you want me to include you in the drawing?

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    2. Hi Linda Higgins,
      I am very lucky to have those lovely daughters. We are very close together, and I know other families, where it is quite different...

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  11. I would really love to win some of those beautiful pink ones for a baby who is a few months old now.(or maybe green for St Patricks Day next year as her dad is Irish) They would look great on her.

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    Replies
    1. Hello NZ Helen, I will include you in the drawing. Thank you for stopping by :-) You don't seem to have your own blog, so how do I get in touch with you in case you win?

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  12. Dear Meike's Mum,
    I do so think that you should have your own space on Etsy (I think that is what it is called). Your knitted socks are perfect! I also started crocheting years ago when I was very much into watching football (American football) on TV and realized how much time I was doing this. I crocheted blankets for all my relatives!!
    I would love to be in this giveaway! I will try to do a link on my blog, if I can remember how to do it. You might just have to have me down for the one chance.

    Dear Meike,
    Thanks for mentioning me and having a link to my blog! I hope you have a wonderful time in England, eat some fish and chips for me!

    Love,
    KAY

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    1. Kay, I will!
      And you'll have two entries anyway - one for posting this comment and one for being a follower. You've linked to my blog before, so you know you can do it :-)

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    2. Hello Kay,
      how funny: you started crocheting while watching football, and I started knitting socks while watching the Tour de France (bycicle race)some years ago!

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    3. Dear Meike,
      Okay, I have been trying and I have added the link and wrote a bit about it at the end of my post, let me know if it is okay.
      I wrote down the notes of how to link from another blog, but I can't find it. You just have my name KAY and if I click on that, it takes me right to my blog! I can only do simple things, you know! :-)

      Dear Meike's Mum,
      We would be just alike if I was incredibly beautiful!!! (And intelligent!) :-) Your socks are so perfectly well-made. Own your talents and use them!

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  13. Dear Meike's Mother, your socks are utterly beautiful and I would love to be in this giveaway.....I will be done until the 16th of May and am not sure how often I will have internet access, but I hope it will be ok, just in case I would win...But even if I don't, I certainly enjoy looking at all the lovely socks you have made (of course, I know these are not ALL the socks you have made!)

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    1. No problem, Kristi; in case you win, I know that you are travelling and won't be there until or after the 16th, it is not as if the socks go bad when they'll wait a few more days before being posted :-)

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    2. Hello Kristi,
      thank you for your compliment, I feel rather flattered! Good luck!

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  14. Bagman thinks you look so comfy in those socks and PJ's.

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    1. Tell Bagman I am most comfy in those socks, Mark. Do you want to be included in the drawing? Or does Bagman want to? :-)

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  15. Major shout out for Meike's mum!!!
    I used to love knitting too - but that fell by the wayside once I had a baby to look after full time.

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    1. Hello Macy,
      thank you for leaving your kind comment. Maybe you will find once time to restart knitting.

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    2. Hey Macy, do you want to be included in the drawing?

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  16. What lovely socks... and so many! I tried making socks once, but got stuck on 'turning the heel' (I think that's what it's called).
    However my Russian grandmother (who we always called Baboushka) was a wizz and always wore her own hand knitted woolen stockings all winter.

    I am stuck on a desert island at the moment, but am hoping to mend a dugout canoe I found and sail to the next island soon, from where I hope to be rescued. So I'd love a pair of hand-knitted socks and would treasure them! I'll also make a Mr Linky on my blog :-)
    Oh, and Bon Voyage! England in the spring! (I'll be there next year)

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    1. Hello Katherine,
      they have got more since I took those pictures, some weeks ago. (Nearly 1 pair a week,it's really true: I am a sock-knitting-maniac. ;-)

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    2. Thank you for stopping by, Katherine, and for your kind comment!
      All the best for your canoe-mending and sailing to the next island soon :-)

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  17. I would love to be entered in your drawing, Meike. I think your mom sounds great, and I look forward to more posts from her in the future.

    I knit -- the occasional sweater, and scarves. Plus I knitted over 800 (yes, 800!) ski hats from donated yarn over a ten year period for a church charity group. Until a couple of years ago, when I decided I never wanted to see another ski hat!

    But I've never knitted socks. I used to watch my grandmother knit them, and they looked difficult to me. So a pair of lovely hand made socks would be a real luxury.

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    1. Hi Canadian Chickadee,
      wow, 800 ski hats, that is really a great work! But if I think over, the last 10 years, I suppose I knitted about 200 pairs of socks.

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    2. See, it's amazing what we can do if we try! :o) Like your mum, I can't just watch TV, I have to do something else at the same time. So I cringe to think how many hours the TV must have been on, while I was making all those hats!

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    3. You'll definitely be entered in the drawing.
      800 ski hats?! Wow...!!

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  18. I'd love a pair of your Mama's socks; as I never win anything, I'll buy some from her etsy shop when she has one.

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    1. Hello Friko,
      maybe this time it would be the first time! Let's hope, that you don't have to buy them! Good luck!

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    2. Hello Friko, yes, you never know - this might be your first win ever!

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  19. What a wonderful idea Meike. I am also a knitter and when I retired I knitted lots of scarves - everyone had one. Then I thought about selling them, but didn't do very well. I still knit, but not with such a passion. I think your mum's socks are brilliant - quick to make and suitable for anyone. Maybe a stall somewhere would go down really well. Don't add me to the entries - just wanted to let you know what a brilliant idea it is.

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    1. Thank you, Maggie! My sister has knitted me two scarves, and I had plenty of occasion to use them in the winter :-)

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  20. Hello Maggie May,
    thank you for your kind comment. I also knitted a lot of scarves and hats, but as you say, socks are more easy to take with me to several places.

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  21. Hello Meike and Meike's Mum,
    I'm a passionate sock-knitter as well, so I could really identify with this post, the second I have really enjoyed from Meike's Mum. I too always have a pair on the go and am at present knitting some (more!) for DH who can't get enough of them. I love them because they're so easy to take everywhere and I can never watch TV without my knitting in my hands. Also just about everyone wears socks, so they make an ideal present. I won't enter myself in the draw to give the non-sock-knitters a better chance. :-)

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    1. Hello Perpetua,
      thank you for your kind comment. I can see, that you really know very well, what I am talking about!

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    2. Hello Perpetua, you and my Mum would have a nice TV evening together, watching and knitting and chatting at the same time :-)

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  22. I've always wanted to try knitting, but I would only end up picking a pen and start doodling. Oh well...

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    1. Hello denisewy,
      it is never too late...When I knitted my first pair of socks, it took a long, long time, and I always had to look into the instructions, but now I can make them nearly blind.

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    2. Denise, I've never learnt it. Just am not the handcrafting type, I guess. Do you want to be entered in the drawing?

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    3. Hi Meike! Sure! It would be great to have a knitted sock for my cold feet. :)

      PS I also wanna say "hi" to your mom. I was surprised she replied to my comment. ;)

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    4. Thanks, Denise, your name will be entered twice :-)

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  23. Oh, these are wonderful!! Wunderschoene Socken, Maikes Mama!! Und sehr gerne wuerde ich ein Paar gewinnen! Ich stricke ab und zu Socken, aber eher selten - die Nadeln sind so klein und das Garn so duenn. :) Letzen Winter habe ich aus dicker Wolle Socken gestrickt und dann fuer Hausschuhe gefilzt! Das ging schnell und war so schoen warm...

    Liebe Gruesse aus Savannah! Silke

    P.S. I am a follower! :)

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    1. Hallo Silke in Savannah!
      Danke für Dein Kompliment! Meike ist gerade in England, die Verlosung findet nächste Woche statt, wenn sie wieder hier ist. Viel Glück!

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    2. Liebe Silke, danke für deinen Kommentar. Natürlich bekommst du zwei Lose :-)

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  24. 65 comments!!!! You are a star, Meike's mum! Of course I would love to be entered! What a nice, nice offer.
    Hope you are having a great time in England, and looking forward to lots of pictures.

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    1. Dear Nan, the pictures are loading to photobucket as we speak :-)
      I still have a back log of posts to write - book reviews and some more - but there will definitely be quite a lot about my week in England over the next weeks. And you are going to be entered in the drawing, of course!

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