ALBANIAN SOCKS.

A new project this year was a pair of Albanian socks, I do like sock knitting so when I saw these fabulous socks I wanted to see if I could re-create them, I asked if I could borrow the pair to make a pattern and knit some, the design goes back at least 300  years unchanged, every family has several pairs, the main pattern is lace and can be any length you wish, ankle, mid calf or knee length, they are shaped at the back and the style is timeless.
How did they create these heirlooms, where did they find the tools? did they make them from materials around them. spinning has been around since before medieval times but the lace design is so up to date it could have been made yesterday.   1 metre cords are added at the top of each sock to wind around the legs to keep them from slipping.

Sence Valley Forest Park is situated on the outskirts of Ibstock, North West Leicestershire.   each year we visit in summer for the Open Day, we have watched it grow from small saplings and see the changes year on year,  lots of working crafts,  we all sit and spin,  it used to be just 2 or 3 of us, this year 7 spinners and wheels,  

Shearing Day, June 2010

Lovely day out and what a treat to see and choose the fleece,  we are made most welcome,  hope we don't get in the way but the day is such good fun,  I could hardly get my car-boot closed with all the lovely wool inside,   not all mine,  I was bringing some for friends who had to be at work on the day.