Mini Archie's January Furtle Around The Blogosphere

Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something

Welcome to the first Furtle of 2023! Happy New Year! And yes you’re in the right place although it does look a little different. I saw Jennie’s blog’s new look and decided mine needed an update - it was the same as when I created it in 2011 and looking a little tired. Don’t worry, though, Archie is still here *points left* Please will you let me know if you spot anything odd in the layout/design so I can fix it? And if anyone knows how I can get a ‘newer post/older post’ footer, please speak up! Fixed it! Turns out it was there but the text was the same colour as the background so I couldn’t see it. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve started the year with a few (small) finishes in the hope that I’m starting as I mean to go on. It’ll come as no surprise that of the three things I’ve finished this month, two of them are socks. I began by finishing the pair I started just before Christmas:

Yarn is WYS ‘Winter Icicle’ (878)

I sorted the Fettle Those Finishes 2023 link up post and wrote my list (it’s quite long. Again.) - the link is open until 11pm GMT on 28th February so lots of time to ponder what you want to tackle this year.

When I finished the pair of scrappy socks for a friend last month, I realised I had just about enough yarn to make another pair for her. Turns out I didn’t, I was about 250 stitches short of enough, but a grey I had in The Cupboard Of Possibilities was perfect for the very tip of the toes. (They were almost neon pink at one point until I saw sense. It was a close run thing, mind.)

And then I set to on an item from the waiting list which was only going to get bigger the longer I left it: knitting cards. I knit for a few different feet and my existing system of notes in a notebook which are then torn out and ‘filed’ was getting a little messy:

The ‘system’

So, after quite a lot of thinking about how best to record all the information I needed, I decided that index cards would be the best option: they’re robust so won’t get as worn as paper and they can be rearranged/removed/added to without impacting the other cards (unlike, say, a notebook/journal). I bought these and I didn’t know I had strong feelings about index cards until I met them, but I really do: they are lovely to write on. Or, you know, admire.

Then I had to gather and sort all the notes and all the photos of all the socks because as useful as a yarn name/number is, seeing the actual sock is handy, particularly as I’m using all the leftovers to knit scrappy socks. I have an album for socks I’ve knitted for other people:

And album of socks I’ve knitted for me:

And an album of socks I’ve knitted for Mam:

Then I set to writing out the cards. On the front are all the details I need to knit a pair of socks for those feet:

And on the back is a list of all the socks I’ve knitted for those feet, with yarn and needle details (where I had them) and which needles I used. (Might as well record all the information I had on the pages!)

And before I put them in the recycling bin, I took a side by side photo for posterity:

I think we can agree that the new system is a lot better

I’ve ordered a tin but while it travels to me, the knitting cards are living in an envelope. They need a tin because I’m going to keep them in my knitting bag and an envelope wouldn’t protect them quite as much. And you can’t beat a good tin!

I’ve just started a new sock:

And Mini Archie is keeping me on task:

I does like this Pointy Stick. Lightweight but strong. And verrrrrry pointy.

Linking up to the January Furtle 

If you're linking up, please add a link (one per person, please) to your blog post, which could contain: a mosaic of all you've made in the month, something you've made/started/worked on, a goal which you'd like to achieve in the next month (and then in next month's post you can reflect on that goal and set yourself another one - I find this particularly handy if I'm in the midst of a big project and finding the making of hundreds of blocks to be interminable), anything crafty you'd like to share. This isn't just for sewing or quilting, but is for all crafts so if you knit, make lace, make clothes, do anything which could come under the heading of 'craft', then please link up. Please visit the link immediately before and after you and leave an encouraging comment, and more if you can manage it - we all know that comments create joy, so let's spread some around. Also, please treat all the linked posts and their authors with respect - I want this to be an inclusive space for all crafters and crafts and all are welcome. If you're not sure if you're welcome or you belong, you do - this is by no means a closed space and if you want to join, then you are most welcome. If you need help linking up, please leave a comment and I will do my best to help. Please add the Furtling button to your blog post: copy the code below and paste it into your blog post - it should then magically appear when you publish your blog post (I'll do my best to help if you have any problems) and it will help people find the Furtling page with all the details of the link up.

<p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://archiethewonderdog.blogspot.com/p/furtling.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXDD7-BYr5nXJtGn7HIFUcDUZfLGBTpazWKP8TCUWdkA6zd2285lbJX4aoMug6QyKDdxtxA-njWnhvf0GugU-An4z5lTFcqmYnae0Gb68FR0ZmydWYETGSa2oF1NeQDMVNwZBnUHTpsD7/s200/textgram_1548790799.png" alt="Archie The Wonder Dog" /></a></p>

To link up, go to the link at the bottom of this page and click on 'link up' (it's a blue button) and then add your link (website URL), a title (this could be your blog name but could also be something interesting to draw people to it (keep it clean!) if you prefer), and your email. This last one doesn't appear on the link (I will have access to it - I won't use it unless there's a problem and I need to contact you) so don't worry that you're about to share your email address with the world (or the handful of people who find this link), you're not! The link will remain open until 10th February; if you're seeing this post after this date, I'm afraid you can't link up to the January Furtle, but you can link next month if you like.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter