Fearless Mongrels!

I was sent this photo from a customer travelling through Pakistan, on the Karakoram Highway which stretches 700 kilometers from Islamabad, through the Karakoram mountains and into China. The photo was taken in the Gilgit region, although it's a bit hard to tell. It must take a large degree of fearlessness to head in to Northern Pakistan given today's unstable climate. High in the Karakorum Mountian range temperatures drop to well below zero, and I'm told our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks stood us proud.

Sweating in the workshop

Yay, summer is here! We've been enjoying some beautiful weather, all the better for drying our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks. The warmer weather has not only lifted our spirits, it has brought it has got all the wildlife, who call our place home, out and on the move. Nothing is quite so nice as mosying down to the workshop and nodding a good morning to Mr Echidna who's also out for a stroll, and probably looking for a feed. The reptiles are on the move too. We haven't come across any Mr Snakey's but they're definately around too. My personal favorites, Mr and Mrs Blue Tongue Lizard, are certainly making the most of the warmer weather. Yep, it's mating season, and they're making hay while the sun shines. They have no shame, there's nothing private about their private lives. Here's today's love-lizards, getting it all going on just out side the workshop today. Even Ardie, our little mongrel shed dog, couldn't disturb these two.

Head Warmer weather

Just loving the all the new colours in our Mongrel Tasmanis pure wool Head Warmer range, in the Arm/Leg Warmers as well. They've been getting a good reception at Salamanca Market, where we do all our market research, our customers down there have never lead us astray. You can always count on Tasmanians to be honest with their face to face feedback. Good or bad they're happy to let us know exactly what they think. Even via email our customers don't hold back. Often liberal with praise, ( I Like) but today we opened an email with lashings of unhappiness. Oh dear! A customer unhappy her pure wool socks wore out, we hear her pain. Sadly, the one reality in the life of Pure Wool socks is for all that is good, better than the rest, nothing is surer your Pure Wool Mongrel Socks will, without doubt, wear out, at some stage. Every wearer is differant, I regularly sell socks to folks who tell me they are replacing 4 year old socks that are still going strong, right next to someone who's socks have worn out in a few heavy wearing months. Why? goodness knows. But one thing we do know, if longevity is more important to comfort, best customers pick our Tuff Mongrel Socks over the Pure Wool. They won't be disappointed.

New Colours

Finally we have just taken delivery of some new wool supplies. Lucky for us with this delivery we were able to secure (long story) some 18 micron superwash pure wool merino. We usually go with 20.5 micron superwash as any smaller micron counts are hard to find and outrageously expensive. So as a result of the global financial crises, some else's loss is our gain. The colours are great, just what we wanted and as of today we're off and knitting, and it looks like this lot will take us right through to the New Year, so now is an even bettert time to buy our Pure Wool Mongrels, Mongrel Tasmanis Arm/leg Warmers and Head Warmers.

It's raining socks

Well.....very busy times in the sweatshop. Lots of our pure wool mongrel socks being made and lots going out. All good. Apart from the fact that it is positively freezing in the shed, makes it hard to walk in to in the mornings. Once you've motivated your self in, no problem, but the psycological barrier is hard to get over. Like now.......the shed is calling and I am coming up with every excuse I can to to stay upstairs in the warmth. Sure there's some work to be done up here, blogging is not one of them. I've made all the calls, replied to emails, written up the mail orders, paid some bills and now I'm procrastinating, racking my brain to find some other really important, it can't wait thing to do that will keep me warm and cosy........thinking, thinking......no nothing. It's down to the shed I go. See ya!

Another day, another sock

After taking delivery of nearly a tonne of gorgeous pure merino wool on friday and today, we been busy experimenting with new colour mixes. Not as easy as it sounds. With a whole lot of new colours to choose from, and many of our long time staples missing, we have definately been scratching our heads. It really is a matter of trial and error, it still amazes me that one slight colour change in amongst 7 other threads can make such a differance to the overall look. Well keep on playing with the mongrel mixes, and see what develops. Then our customers can let us know if they like what they see.

Winter is here!

Waking up to snow on Mt Wellington is a sure sign that winter is here, and along with winter comes our busiest time. We've had a flurry of orders coming through online, very encouraging in these precarious economic times. Our sock machines have been working over time, and we have been madly trying to get a lot more of our Mongrel Tasmanis Arm/leg warmers made. They're one of my personal favourites, at our house they are always at a premium, first thing on and last thing off though winter. They're soft and warm. We are so glad we have not bowed down to the pressures of reducing our business costs and gone for a cheaper quality wool like most other sock manufacturers- the wool we have always used is the best quality that money can buy. The 20 micron superwash merino we go for, Aussie grown, is processed in Germany to cutting edge environmental and sustainable standards. A far better "bang for our buck" than the cheaper alternatives. Sure, it make's our products more expensive than some others but you can always rely on on the quality. "To get what you pay for" is something we have always done and will continue to strive for, and is a key to our business success. From 2010 all our wool will be free from "mulesing", and we thank PETA for putting pressure on the industry and forcing chance.

Snail Mail

2 weeks before Christmas was a busy time for us getting those last minute online orders out. One of those Pure Wool Mongrel Sock orders was to Italy to an Aussie expat. Auspost quotes 7 - 10 days transit time, so week thought it would probably arrive by Christmas or shortly after. But no. I received an email from the customer in late January to let me know they hadn't arrived. She wasn't worried - and thought they would turn up and was happy to wait a bit longer as the Italian Postal Service is renowned to be slow. Over the next 2 months we communicated, waiting, waiting. Good thing I was sitting down yesterday when her email arrived to tell me they had arrived! Intact! Unbelievable! The Italian Airport Customs date stamp was Jan 31 2009, it then took over 6 weeks to get from there across town to be delivered. They certainly went the long way. I'm thinking the Postman's vespa must have broken down. As consequence we now have to change how we send those Italian orders, opt for the much dearer Express Post option, hopefully they'll arrive a bit quicker.

I'm back!

I just can't believe how long it's been since I last updated this blog. Nothing as exciting as a holiday has kept me busy, just lots on. On the sock front we've been busy in the sweatshop. actually really sweating because the weather has been great, just plugging away. Our pure wool Mongrel production has been steady, but the Tuff Mongrels have ground to a halt because the yarn(which we import from Germany) prices have gone through the roof. Our low aussie dollar has been a disaster. Making the product costs increase to a point where it is marginal. We'll just have keep an eye out for a good time to buy the yarn, until then it will be "go slow". We do have a new product nearly ready to hit the street. Its a pure mercerised cotton sock, aussie cotton and aussie made. Mercerised cotton is great wear, it is stronger and more absorbent than usual cottons. But the very best thing about our new range is the fact that our colours and very "Mongrel", much like our pure wool mixes but much lighter weight. Again, like our Mongrels no two socks is the same-sure makes pairing a challenge. The colours of course match but the the way the colours show is random. So every pair is a surprise. Just in the process of having the labels sorted then it will be all go-we can't wait. I must get back to work, but I have made a promise to myself that it won't be as long between posts.

It's only the begining!

I can't believe its a new year already. It seems all of sudden we're back in to it again. After a couple of go-slow weeks in our sock making-just doing the minimum, this week we've been swamped. So as I write, late on this Friday afternoon, I feel like I'm just catching up with myself. In these uncertain economic/financial times I feel very lucky that our sock business seems to be weathering the storm. We've got a big year coming up, spending a bit of time and money, getting our web site re-done. It is a slow process, but worth it, I hope. I'm guessing it will be another 6 months before it's all done and online line. If we can come up with an easy to use, attractive looking web site I'll be happy. That's the royal "we" as I'm so IT retarded, I am reliant on experts to do the sock web site building and seo.
This year we'll continue to not only make our beautiful pure wool Mongrel Socks, Tuff Mongrels, Possum/merino socks and all the other products we produce, but we will trial some other unusual blended yarns, like bamboo/cotton, camel/wool, organic spacedyed cottons etc. I'm excitedly looking forward to see what these are like.
We're just about to head in to our yearly production of Arm/Leg Warmers. We manufacture them only for a month each year, as the machinery is such a cow to change over, we like to get them all done at once. Our stocks are way down at the moment-lucky it is summer and the demand for those has dropped off a bit. It's always a bit of fun in the work day coming up with new colour mixes, that perhaps we haven't tried before, or haven't done in a while.
Anyway, all looks good for the future for us, especially my very near future as a put my feet up and knock the top off a wee drop of fine Tasmanian Meadowbank FGR Reisling (my personal favorite). Cheers!

8 sleeps 'til Xmas

I can't believe it's been a month since I last wrote. Here at the home of Mongrel Socks it' been a big month. Lots of orders coming in and going out. It's that time of year. I mentioned inthe last pot that I had been having a stab at making beanies, I did try to post some pictures but I couldn't get them up online. Anyway, I sold the lot! Which I'm taking as a very positive sign for the future of Mongrel Tasmanis Headwear. I'm still fiddling with the designs, and have come up with a one that I'm hoping will be a stayer. It's very unusual, loose and comfortable, and suitable for people who have lot's of hair or dreadlocks and even no hair. It can also double as a neck warmer-yes, a very versatile thingy. The beanies will go on the back burner, while we get ready for Xmas and the New Year-but I'm am happy to say they are evolving, and even happier with the fact we are able to make use of what would be waste knit otherwise.
We've got a new lot of Possum/merino socks due to be finished around the end of January, which will replenish our depleted stocks, they have gone off in the last few months. Yay!
Busy working towards our new website, will take a while but will happen.
Our pure wool Mongrel Socks will still be our focus for the next month at least, then we'll start on this years Mongrel Tasmanis Arm/leg warmers. Looking forward to playing with the colour mixes again to see what we come up can come up with. Oh well, best get back to work.

Blown away!

I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I just can't help being blown away by the reach the internet has. Anyone who knows us or even has read a few entries on this blog, knows we use some wonderful antique Bentley Komet sock machines to knit our pure wool Mongrel Socks and from time to time experience problems with them. As they are so old and the technical knowledge we need is hard find, even small issues can be a production stopping event. Well.....it is kind of comforting to know there's some one halfway around world dealing with the same thing. Even I have resorted to trawling the internet looking for more information on these mongrel machines, without any success I should add. This morning an email greeted me, a plea from a man in the UK, having problems with his own old Komet. Here's how our our email volley went
(complete with our shocking spelling)..............

I see from your blog your a bit of a hand with a Bentley Komet. I have a Komet BR model and due to well a few issues I had it part stripped due to a break down but got dstracted for a while father was taken ill and the machine got left.I've got back to it now but it keeps locking up when the recip.clutch disengages, I've timed it to the marks but does the cylinder have to be in a certain position also when timing. Ive varied the quadrant mark on the recip pinion a tooth either way but then it either locks going in or coming out of the toe / heel. Any help would be apreciated my UK contact has been taken ill with cancer and I don't want to bother him with my problems.

Richard

My reply...
Hi Richard,
Argh! I sorry we can't be much help to you. We still have to get our guy in when problems with the clutch arise. Thankfully that only happens very occasionally. These BR's are great old machines, but we have found over the years, the less fiddling with them the better. The only thing I can think of tht might be the problem-hard to explain because I don't know what the parts are supposed to be called-it the 2 cogs that lock together @ the top of the machine in the top right under the insection plate as you stand in front can be 180 degree's out which will cause jamming as you've decribed.
Don't know if that'll help but worth a try.
Goodluck.
Helen.

His reply....
Well many thanks for the reply; its late now so just a quick thank you, for your prod in the right direction it was indeed half a turn out due to me misreading what in my defense is a poor quality drawing. It looks like a fine tune and all will be well again now it’s timed correctly. Do you have any set up information on your machines, I have a little and it may be of use to you also, perhaps we could pool what we have, information is hard to come across. The cogs are called the clutch the one on the left which reciprocates is the reciprocating pinion. I know the names but couldn’t get them to work.

Thanks again
Richard

Yay! what a nice result. I'll definitely be getting back to him in the future and organising an exchange in information, I think this may be the beginning of a mutually beneficial e-friendship.
PS I was also delighted to see he hails from a place called North Kelsey Moor in the UK, our daughters name is Kelsey too. She's gorgeous inside and out, and I bet so is North Kelsey Moor.

Good Socks!

We know we make good socks, we use nothing but the best quality wool, knitted in to a tried and true style of sock. We do what we can to have as little impact on the environment as possible, tree planting, recycling waste, natural lighting and drying processes and so on, but......up 'til now we really have been in the dark as to the eco impact the processing of our yarn has and no idea as to the animal and farm practices used in the wool production. Well that's about to change! We are now in the process of sourcing our wool from the farm gate, a farm right here in Tasmania. We're excited!
Like all good things it will take time and probably a lot longer that we think, but the results will be worth it. We are undertaking to make sure we do all we can to make a pure wool socks; good for the earth, good for the conscience, good with a halo.
I'm guessing it will be many months away before we are actually knitting up this yarn. First supply has to be secured, then processor chosen (probably oversea's), then testing and trials, and lots more incidental stuff. One step at a time we'll take this journey. I'll keep it posted here, and you can take it with us.

Socks, socks and more socks!

Another few busy weeks have spun by here in sock heaven. With lots of new wool arriving, the excitement of playing with the new colours, scratching our heads and rolling up our sleeves looking for somewhere to put it all. We found homes for all our new wool, all 1.5 tons of it, but of course to find room we had to do a pretty full on clean out, which is all good, just a big job. No stopping us now. We have needed to replenish a few of our stock colour's in the pure wool mongrel socks, before getting on the experimentation of new colour mixes. We have now got some new colours in the Tuff Mongrel wool/polyproplyene wool Climawool*, and can't wait to get these colours on the go. It will give a better range for our sock customer's to choose from too. Something they have been asking for in the Tuff Mongrel socks for quite a while.

check 123

I'm still busy taking sock photo's-it's driving me loopy! Our pure wool Mongrel Socks come in a lot of different colour's, and getting shots that show clearly the variation is proving difficult-even with my home made light box. I'm so glad I didn't go and buy one retail as I really haven't been happy with the "true" colour I'm getting. On a pure white back ground the colours look so washed out-not at all like the vibrant colour mixes they are. I know I'm probably doing something technically wrong but I've gone back to natural sunlight and taken a few shot's with a garden greenery background, I don't know why, but they just look better to me, so I'm going to post a couple here to have a look how'll they'll appear on screen. I know the back ground is not how other product's are presented online-and all the experts recommend plain white backgrounds for product shots, but I am leaning toward this greenery background for our soon to be renewed web site.

Cool Customers

Plying our wares at Salamanca Market, every Saturday, gives us a great opportunity to talk to our customers, and get first hand feedback on what they really think of our products. It's all very well to make the sale, but what we are really interested in is what they think of their purchase down the track. Are our sock's as good as we said? Are they loving them? Usually the comment's we get back are all good, the only one negative we ever get is dissappointment when they wear out. Sadly the only way to own our socks and not have them eventually wear out....... is not to wear them at all. Most hosiery company's plate their product's with nylon or other synthetic's to give them a longer life and make them cheaper to produce and are nowhere near as soft and warm as Mongrels. Our Pure Wool Mongrel socks are a one of life's little luxury's. We won't compromise on the quality of the wool we use, we want our customer's to get and enjoy what they pay for. Last week-end as happens every week-end, we had customer's rocking up wearing their Mongrels, which gives us a warm feeling, knowing they are their socks of choice. One lovely lady, was telling me she was up and around before dawn that day, heading out she realised it was colder that she thought, so ducked back home to put on her pure wool Mongrel's, knowing she wouldn't feel the cold in them. Yep, that's why they're great!

Bring it on!

After the last few weeks of winter weather, this week we have had some beautiful days, which is all good as far as our sock drying goes. It is only in the midst of winter that we struggle to get our socks to dry. Endeavouring to be kind to the planet, we have made a conscious decision to not artifical drying processes, we get lots of sun here in Tasmania, and it is only for a few weeks in winter that it's not possible to get our pure wool socks to dry. So although we have still been busy knitting, we do have a bit of a back log to steam and dry before they can be labeled and ready to go out. It is alway's a good feeling to be ahead in production, we really hate playing catch-up. Just not having to stress about our stock levels, when the order's come in, knowing we can fill them is a good feeling. We have had a few hiccups with the old machines this last couple of weeks, which left us scratching our heads, unable to get them going properly. Lucky for us, a friend, whose a wizz with machinery took a look, and as embarrassing as it is for us, he had the problem worked out in under an hour. We'd been picking over the glitch for many hour's, and we know the old Bentley Komet's well, he's waltzed in and had it sussed in record time. Bless his heart. Never a dull moment around here in the Mongrel Sock business.

Recycled Mongrels

Just look what a lovely customer gave me! She's fashioned this little beast out of an old pair of pure wool Mongrel socks. The customer's name is Kate, and along with this little Mongrel, she made a couple more which flew with her to Paris, and were given as part of a wedding present. I just love my little guy, not only because he's cute, but he's proof that with a bit of imagination any thing is possible. 

Mongrels on the move!

I've just received this photo along with a number of others taken by Mongrel wearer's while holidaying around a wintery Tasmania. This one's taken at Freycinet National Park on Tasmania's East Coast. Not far from the pristine beach of Wine Glass Bay. Don't be deceived by the clear blue skyed, sunny day. Typically of Tassie in winter, the day was clear but only 10 degC max temperature on the day. She was fine, preventing brain freeze with her pure wool "Mongrel Tasmanis" Head Warmer, and kitted out with her pure wool Mongrel Socks and Leg Warmers, she kept the cold at bay, and was able to enjoy the glorious day.

1,2,3, argh!

It's come around again, the end of the financial year. Not many socks being made, while we're busy counting stock. I just hate the mindless, seemingly endless, sock counting. Then there's the need to count the raw materials, pure wool, wool blends, packing materials, and so it goes on. I don't think the count is even the worst of it, it's the need to clean that becomes glaringly obvious, once the count begins. It will take a good week to get the shed back in to shape, after I've ripped the guts out of it, shuffled boxes, consolidated boxes, before we can get back in to normal production.
The EoFY could not come at a worse time for us, smack bang in the middle of the busy winter season. Getting our wholesale and mail orders out, can't wait 'til I've finished stocktake. It's got to be done as they come in. So I find myself jumping to and fro from one thing and another, never seeming to get anything actually finished. I know by the end of next week I'll be able to forget about it for another year, it's just going to be a long week.
Best I stop putting it off and get in to it!

Real Wool Mongrel Socks

In recent times we've had a lot of feedback from customers regarding widely available "wool or woollen" socks. Many of these customers have been disappointed with the quality. This is solely due to the misleading labeling that many larger hosiery business's are now using, which means the consumer is not getting what they are expecting and paying for.
In Australia our labeling laws state that only products 92% Wool and over can be labeled as pure wool, only products with over 50% Wool can be labeled as wool blend or woollen, then they also must specify the other fibre content. This has not been happening. Our labeling laws are not actively policed. Customers have to rely on the ethics of the maker. Sadly, not all companies treat their customers with the respect they deserve. There is always the greed factor which will entice companies to stretch the truth on their content labeling-given the choice most customer's will choose say 80% Wool/nylon sock over a similar 50% wool sock-there is money to be made by lying.
What happens to consumer confidence when a product is misrepresented and performs badly is that in future they will turn away from all products with similar (but truthful) labels.
We have had competitors copy our product using not only recycled( low quality) wool but huge amount's of synthetics that are not listed on the label. One was labeled as 75% wool, when tested had only 3% recycled wool the rest of the sock was made up of miscellaneous synthetics. This is not a labeling error, it is a criminal act in my opinion. Designed to part customers from their money by misleading them. These unethical companies, treat their customer's with contempt, and erode consumer confidence in good quality wool products.
I like to take this opportunity to assure all our customers we use real wool. Real good wool. In our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks we source top quality 20.5 micron super wash merino wool-it is not recycled. Recycling is good, as for as wool goes, recycled for carpets, yes and for other uses that are not next to the skin, but recycled wool is a mixture of microns and cut short in the processing, making it potentially prickly on the skin. Not something we'd choose to wear. Good quality pure wool feels fantastic on the skin, it doesn't irritate, or felt when washed nd is so thermally effective that you can be warm when it's cold, and feel cool in the heat.
Our customers are assured that they are getting what they are paying for, when they buy any of ur Mongrel Socks. What is written on the label is all true.
We believe that karma with kick in for our fraudulent competitors and their stinky socks.

Snow in February-Tassie full of surprises!

Unbelievable and unpredictable!
Here we are in February, ( usually the best days of summer here in Tassie) enjoying long, warm days and cool nights. On Wednesday we had a scorching 34.5 degrees Celsius and only a few days later we've got snow. It must be global warming stuffing up the weather patterns. This summer our Tasmanian weather has been superb. Tassie always cops a bad rap about our weather-the general consensus( from people that don't live here) is that we are a cold place with frigid winters and no summers. Tasmanians are mostly happy to let people think the worst of our climate, if it means we get less tourists, that's OK. They won't know what they're missing, and locals can continue to enjoy our island just the way we like like it. Tassie has quite a low population and temperate climate, makes for easy living, hardly any "peak hour traffic", we've never had to learn how to que, every day Tasmanians wake up and have to look out the window to see what the day will bring, because every day is different. This year Australia's Northern states have had flooding rain and wild weather for weeks, we haven't. They are still on water restrictions, 4 minute showers, we're not and haven't been. A what is the difference between the sunny Gold Coast beaches on a good day and Tasmania's beaches? In Tassie, the water and beaches are clean and you don't have to share it with a zillion people. It really is a pleasure.
Living and working in Tasmania, as we do, and having lived and worked in some of Australia's bigger cities, gives us the appreciation for what we do have here. Lucky us. Making our pure wool, tuff and possum Mongrel Socks, in our home work shop, we experience the most amazing "office" views, fresh air-no smog, and family friendly work hours and best of all our Mongrel Socks are a unique product, by name, nature and origin.
It's good to be different.

Christmas here and there

Tasmania has experienced its hottest November in many years, not very good conditions for the sales of wool socks. Luckily, there is a northern hemisphere that is cooling down as I write. We have had plenty order’s coming through from Canada and the US where winter is just beginning. Yay! One of our long time customer’s in the Yukon, told me about his 2 daylight hours of Christmas day, and below zero temperatures, where every thing happens indoors. Now I know why socks are hung by the chimney with care, it’s not for filling with gifts (they always seemed far too small for anything on my wish list) but putting in frozen toes to thaw before they break off.
Here we must have around 14 hrs of daylight, lots of time for the obligatory Aussie games of back yard cricket, the riding of new bikes, visiting the family, afternoon snoozes, BBQ’s teas, and evening strolls. It’s a completely different experience. Just once I’d like to see a white Christmas, and probably one will be plenty for me.
It’s nice to think that people halfway around the world will be pulling on their new Mongrel Socks on Christmas morning and discovering the luxury of pure wool right when they’ll appreciate it. Makes me smile!

Thanks

Here's a little note that came thru with an order today. It put a smile on my face and spring in my step.

Am so glad to find you on the net. Bought some socks from Salamanca Markets 5 years ago, and sent my sister to get more for me when she was down last year. I LOVE YOUR SOCKS.
Axxxxxxx
Katoomba. NSW.

We love our Pure Wool Mongrel Socks too, and not just because we make them.
It's because we wear them!
It's so nice to know we're doing something right.

For a good cause

I received the this letter to day, it's nice to know the when we are able to support funraising for a good cause it is appreciated.
My husband, his 4 siblings, and now many of their children have attended Mullumbimby High School, with a few more still to go through. So when we received the request for a donation, we felt it was just the right thing to do. We supplied a selection of our pure wool pure woolMongrel Socks, and our Mongrel Tasmanis Possum Socks, which were given as prizes at their functions.

Dear Friend

Fundraising for shade
Thank you for your kind donation.

As you are aware Mullumbimby High School P&C Association has identified that providing more Shade around the school will be a priority for fundraising this financial year

To date we have raised over $2900 from Bingo and our Trivia night.

Mullumbimby High School P&C Association and the students of Mullumbmiby High thank you for your kind donation towards our fundraising efforts.

Your assistance was instrumental in raising this amount of money and we are continuing our fundraising efforts as well as looking for grants that might assist us in achieving our goal.

Again thank you for your support and your kind donation.

Yours sincerely



Deborah Gower
Secretary
Mullumbimby High School P & C Association
PO Box 123
Mullumbimby 2482
22 October 2007

Mongrels-the matchmakers!

It warmed my heart to hear this little story from a customer this week, who was stocking up on Mongrel Socks. As I served this women, she told me about being on a sent on a mission, specifically to get our gorgeous pure wool Mongrel Socks for her soon to be sister-in-law who lives interstate. She then went on to tell me that her brother met his future wife while attending a Buddhist Retreat, and that Mongrel socks brought them together. The retreat involved much meditation and silence, and during one of the meditation sessions the "universe" seated these two adjacent to each other. She noticed his far from ordinary socks, and later struck up a conversation, in passing, about them. There began a beautiful thing.

Argh! One of those days!

Some days things just don't run smoothly. For no rhyme or reason, things just go pear shape. We're having one today. Wish I could go back to bed and start all over again. Good thing every day is not like this one. Generally, when we hit the sock shop, things are pretty predicable, chores that need doing, get done. Today we made the necessary changes to one of our old Bentley Komets to go in to the Pure Wool Arm/Leg Warmer mode. Nothing too complicated, but changes never the less. Every thing we did was standard but a little fault appeared. Nothing that affects the end product, but it does make it more time consuming in the finishing off process. Not something we want to continue, when time is money. With these old machines the smallest of adjustments can make a huge difference. Hard to believe that a quarter turn of a screw, will result in dramatic changes to the end result. The rigmarole involved in identifying the cause of our problem is particularly time consuming. With every stab at a solution we have to knit more test runs. This is all very slow, and eventually tiresome. Especially when we are running out of things to try.
Anyway, these things are sent to try us.
Best I get my backside down to the shed and get back in to it.
Typically, I did try to upload some photo's of the machine, but my blogger won't let me post any photo's. Why? Who knows. Although it does seem par for the course today. I'll try to get some photo's up soon, well, whenever the cyber gods will allow it.