Socks being cranked-out!

Just a short update to let you know that socks are being cranked-out!  We got a yarn order and MrB plans to be cranking as many day as he can to start the production of pairs of socks now for market.  We would like to have 50-70 pairs of socks ready for March or April so we will how the creations progress!  If we continue as you we have been the last couple days, all should be forging ahead without any problems.  From our new funky coloured yarn, MrB has already made 2 1/2 pairs since last night.  That is great .....I am hoping to cheer him on everyday and support him by doing my part in the business as well.  Tomorrow I will have to catch up and do some kitchenering for sure.  I plan to slack off taking some pictures for a bit as I would like to have a long line of socks to have for market and take a photo of them all ready and raring to go.  I might add a pic in now again but not every single pair that is made in sequence.  I can tell you that MrB and myself are loving the new Opal and Fortissma Yarn so far!  There will be some very colourful sock pairs to display for our first market and that will be a very exciting time for us and for Socks Made On 88 when it actually comes about in a couple of months or more!  But for now its crank crank crank, cranking out socks!  MrB is a Happy Cranker!  Ms Cranky Asst has lots to do to keep up with my side of the venture too.  There is never a dull moment around her lately, keeping busy with all the tasks for each of us.  Its goodnight for msb now and I will be back with more news when I have some to report on and blog about.  

msb from Socks Made On 88

Yarn, I love our new colours...

Let's have a Yarn about my new Yarn!     

   I never thought I could get so excited about picking out, ordering, and waiting for the yarns arrival  each time. And although this is not our first order it was our first order of these brands of new colour selections.  Canada Post delivered the box and you would think it was Christmastime as we both were so very anxious to see what we got in our order today!  We opened it and we were amazed at the colours we received!  So much so that we decided to order some more!  I am thinking that we are really going to like the finished products of the Opal, Regia, and Fortissma Yarns that are pictured here.  We have some brights, some funky, some earthy and some conservative so there should be a little of bit for everyones tastes.  For me I know I just love them all!  MrB was excited to start knitting so there is one ball missing!  We have more yarn on the way in other orders also and although I do not intend to post pictures of all our yarn I did want to include a sneak peak of some it! All I can say now is HAPPY CRANKING MrB!

Lawn Mowing Socks for Moi and I love them!

MrB made me my very own lawn mowing socks.  I like mowing the lawn and wanted a pair especially to do that as I always find other socks get stained green.  I just love these new ones!  Take a peak! Ihave them rolled down and one is not the same as the other one, and I love that too, about this new pair of socks.  I am so excited about them almost wish I could get out there and mow the lawn now!

So we are ending this week on a very good note!  MrB made these no probs, and I stitched them up no probs too!  I think we may have hit a spot on the learning curve for both of us and hope for a little bit more smooth sailing next week. Have a great weekend everyone! I will touch base again the first of next week.   

msb from Socks Made On 88  

Socks of Solid Colours

These are the latest socks that MrB has been working on yesterday and today.  They present him challenges in splicing yarn and changing colours.  I just love them!  Great pair selection for a man!  The hemmed tops can roll down a bit and you can see some blue and red, they would be awesome to wear with work boots or hiking boots.  These two colours really accent each other and are also good for unisex wear but this particular pair just happens to be a men's size 10 and MrB is keeping them for himself!  Practise, Practise Practise.......working towards perfected pairs.  It is not as easy as one thinks it may be, the art of sock making on a CSM, but just ask MrB if he isn't having fun despite the odd day here and there of frustrations with the constant learning curve.  MrB usually smiles at the end of his day!  :-)

msb from Socks Made On 88

From a pair of Socks to a scraf!

Socks that were that ended up being too large, and none of the guys I know would really be interested in wearing them...so fast thinking, I came up with the idea to sew them together for a scarf and that seems to work just fine.  I wore it out when we went to the grocery store and it is nice and super cozy warm, plus it looks so cool!  I feel like I am advertising but I'm really not.  In this picture you will see my new sock scarf that I have draped around the plant pot as I didn't want my mug shot on the blog as I am remaining anonymous for now!

From a string of socks to 2 pairs

These are the two latest pairs of socks completed!  I just finished stitching them up this evening, as I was busy all day, networking, deciding on what yarn to order, and then finally wrapping up the details of the orders! More socks to come....not sure what plans MrB has for tomorrow but sock learning and sock cranking will be taking place for sure! Good night all.

msb from Socks Made On 88

Yesterday, January 23, 2012

I meant to come here yesterday and post a Congrats to MrB as it was our one month anniversary date with the arrival of Brigadier 88 .  The machine arrived December 23, 2011.....one month and Brigadier and MrB have shown immense progress together in the art of SOCK making!  Keep up the good work!  Goal is to get 50 pairs made and then off to market we will go!

String of socks

These photos shows a string of socks.  MrB was busy yesterday as you can see.  This string right now has two pairs of socks on it coming from the machine.  Brigadier 88 is getting worked-in and cooperating marvellously!  I wanted to show two different views so that you could see the string of socks and also parts of the machine at different angles.  This string of socks will grow as long as MrB intends to adds pairs of socks to it!  When he decides to end the string of socks then they will be separated at the orange waste yarn spots and then I will have some work to do by doing the kitcheners to close the toes of each sock.  Looks like I may be busy tomorrow!  In the first picture you can see the tube of socks coming through the cylinder.  The cylinder size that MrB is using this time around is 72.  In the second pic you get a better glimpse of the crank and the of course the yellow weights.   It is so much easier to show operation and progress by photos.  Notice also, no plug in, completely GREEN, crank, crank, crank and crank some more!  It also takes minimal space to actually do the job of cranking out socks.  One key is to be organized and have all your tools handy also.  Very good light is important also, it is a key factor for the operator to see clearly what is happening.  The needles move fast once you get moving and cranking away.  Yesterday MrB said all was going great guns and something happened and a needle popped out and flew across the room! Good thing we have extra needles as not to stall the process too far before getting going again!  MrB was able to get back cranking in no time flat!  Don't you just love the striping effects of the yarn.  These socks are being made of the superwash German yarn 75% wool and 25% nylon.  I have done the wash and dryer tests of this yarn and it comes out great, softer, and the shape is contained for good wearing use.  Remember....Our Socks are Hugs for you feet!


msb from Socks Made On 88

COZY

Cozy by the fire, are nice cozy socks!
The 3 latest pairs by MrB of Socks Made On 88!

Remember our Signature sock note on our sock wraps is: Our Socks are Hugs for your feet! ~BB

msb from Socks Made On 88

Stitch Bitch

Just call me stitich bitch today as I am cross-stitching a project and kitchener stitching sock toes.  That is going so much better, but practice, practice, practice will probably make perfect.  I do need some more time to show perfection. MrB was cranking out a sock last night, and another sock today ... crank, crank, crank!  I am still amazed at how the yarn makes very unique stripes.  This picture is of the latest two pairs of socks made the other day!  Have a good weekend everyone!

msb from Socks Made On 88

Hump Day Smiles

Tuesday all day, Tuesday night and Wednesday Morning all proved to be a very productive time!  Even better, it is +8 here today on the east coast so all in all lots of Hump Day Smiles with our Socks Made On 88!  I am so happy that my stitches were almost flawless this morning and I was able to wash and dry the two latest pairs of socks.  One for me, msb, and one pair of MrB, we can now sport socks from Sock Made On 88 and very proud doing so. They feel so good, softer and they do add hugs to your feet!  Maybe I should say that they add smiles and hugs to your feet!  Have to think on that one!  Sock production will only improve and get better and better and that will bring many more smiles.  I am also going to take the afternoon off from here on in today and go for a walk on this mild winter day in January.  MrB has chosen to take a break too today....and that is the joy of the flexibility we have now in retirement and this venture, more Hump Day Smiles and here's wishing all you folks, some Hump Day smiles too!  Till next check- in day.....take care.
Oh let's see how this looks:
"Our socks add smiles and hugs to your feet!"  No I have decided that I like my original idea of our sock signature note being just...."Our Socks are hugs to your feet!"  The smiles can continue to be on our faces, MrB's and mine, and in our hearts too!

msb from Socks Made On 88

Monday Morning Brrrrrr

MrB informs me this morning that he is no longer off to sock-school but off to sock production!  OK I think he was just pulling my leg....maybe trying to see my foot size?  Hahahaha Here's wishing him much luck as he spends his day producing a pair a socks for ME! Let us wish him much success for his sock school/production progress!  I will update you in the days to follow.  These are the socks that I got made for me today! Nice earthy tones that will be great for camping and hiking this summer.  Now I have to put in an order for a pair of lawn mowing socks, I want a GREEN pair that won't get stained while mowing the lawn!  I know it sounds like a weird request but when I can have any ones I want....I will keep adding to my wish list!

msb from Socks Made On 88

No Socks Made On 88 today!

Although we are both not concentrating on Socks Made On 88 today and there is no sock- school today either......I am posting a picture we took of the second pair of socks to have as a keepsake, to be hung over our Erl, Brigadier 88. When MrB is cranking out socks he will always be able to look up or across and see those special ones,despite their imperfections!  Here's starting another week of progressing sock- school for MrB and yet another week of Socks Made On 88! Today is only day 23 with our new Circular Sock Machine and even less for Socks Made On 88 from date of go.....we have no particular target dates but very happy with our successes so far with only many more to achieve in coming days, weeks and years!

msb from Socks Made On 88

Smilin' Saturday

I am calling today smilin' Saturday as we do have something to smile about.  Yesterday MrB cranked out some socks and at the end of his long day in sock-school he had a final pair for me sew up the toe!  I to was smiling yesterday as I think I did pretty well with proceeding along with the kitchener stitch.  I finally got the hang of it!  Yay for me!  The real test will be today when I attempt to do it again later.  I hope it really is a smilin' Saturday before we get into sampling our batches of wine that need to be bottled.  Hahaha  MrB tries to take time off from sock- school on Saturdays and Sundays.  I must mention too that last night we did a quick run to Atlantic Fabrics, as MrB wanted some notions and needles to see if he could rig up some accessory tools he needs for when cranking socks and needs to fix things.  He concocted a couple of tools, so we will see if they work for him.  On my side of things, this week I created my own sock wraps, changed the wording of our business cards, learned the kitchener, updated my blog, and also came up with a hand- written signature note and my initials to write on the back of the sock wraps, " Hugs for your feet! BB "  Happy Weekend Everyone and remember when you put socks on your feet,  that they are Hugs for your feet, as msb says so!  The second pair of socks are now done , and I framed them to put on the wall just above where MrB , and Brigadier are parked to crank!  The first was unravelled so this pair are keepers even though they do have some imperfections.  Back at 'er Monday, MrB the cranker is taking a short break this evening and tomorrow.  Cheers!


msb from Socks Made On 88

Whacky Wednesday

It has been a whacky Wednesday with no yippies, and I am not catching on to the kitchener stitching at all but at least MrB has a knack for it. I will get back to it sometime again......... another time. Not much time today in sock-school either for MrB.  But I do have some computer stuff to work on for Socks Made On 88 and that wasn't going so well either so that is why I am calling it Whacky Wednesday.  I am going to retackle that after supper though and plan for a little success there with a little bit more patience! Ok I finally did get one yippie today and mastered my computer work finally.  Who ever thought I would be designing sock wraps?

Get back on the saddle

Well since I ended the evening last night on a semi successful note I will have to get right back on the saddle sometime today or this evening to try my luck once again!  I am thinking if all goes well I will be returning here to say my yippies!

We have errands to run today so when they are all completed I am sure MrB plans to spend some time in sock-school later.

We'll be back!

Sock-school went overtime Tuesday

MrB spent many hours cranking yesterday!  He was determined to do a certain amount of tasks which he all accomplished. He made a pair of socks. Hurray!  They were a little wide but that is part of the learning curve and on the next attempt I am sure they will be more to his perfection.  After supper we took on a lesson together and worked at for another few hours.  Thanks to MrB, I did not throw my sock across the room, and by the end of his long day I think I did become successful in what I wanted to learn in the end,  as he mastered it and could show me what I was doing wrong.  You gotta love him, the patience he has for the machine and for me too after 10 hours of continuous studying.  Ending on a positive note, we wrapped up the evening by unwinding in front of the TV. The picture above is of MrB's first made pair of socks....they are not to perfection yet but are somewhat a glimpse of what's to come........I love the colours...good colour scheme to wear with jeans either for gals or guys!

No Monday Mundane here

Well folks we got a very late start to our day today!  Oh my gosh we slept in, but that is one advantage of being retired and working at home too!  A biggie that we so enjoy, and also being able to do what we need to accomplish an agenda and stay in lounging jammies all day too if we care too.  Once we did get rolling....MrB worked on some notes that he is keeping for record purposes as he takes his learning curves to new levels.  He worked very busily in sock-school today.  Although I do not recall all he worked on today I do know that he cranked off another cast- on bonnet to be a permanent tool not to unravel but to use in his sock making tasks to come. He is just telling me now that he also worked using the ribber to make a start of a sock with 60 rows of ribbing stitches which were flawless.  He then tried to turn a heel with the ribber on the machine and that all went haywire. But that proves to be a very successful day of learning.  Me, msb, did some networking, some more research and answered some emails pertaining to Socks Made On 88, as well as checked into all the sock machine groups I have joined. All and all another productive day and there was No Monday Mundane here!

6 Pictures added this morning

They say pictures say a thousand words!  So here are my 6 thousand words for this morning! LOL  
I have posted a picture of our actual CSM, Brigadier 88.  I have also added a photo of our ball winder and of the swift that Blake made.  And lower down the blog page you will see 3 other pictures also.  I have add a photo of our ribber, the fork weights which assist in making heels, and soft weights which are used and put in a cast on bonnet.  A picture of a cast on bonnet will come later.  Blake will capture a pic when he is back at sock-school and starting yet another practise sock.  As he cranks out the practise socks we inspect them and use them for tasks and then they become unravelled and the progress goes over and over until Blake wants to move forward to produce a pair of socks.  That project is just on the horizon........

MrB cranking out practice socks

MrB is cranking out socks for me to practice the kitchener stitch on the toes.  OK I did three, still need way more practice as I am not getting the hang of it!  But I have had enough of that for today.....MrB is still hard at it at sock-school , he has definitely made a full day of his learning today!  Kudos to him!

No sock-school held today!

There was no sock-school in the household today!  But tomorrow there will be, with new challenges for each of us to tackle.
MrB plans a day working with the ribber.  And msb plans to learn her Kitchener stitching to close the end of sock  toes!  I will come back tomorrow evening and let you know how both tasks turned out. Hope to post a :-)


msb from Socks Made On 88

Exciting accomplishment for MrB today

MrB spent all day in sock -school and had an exciting accomplishment of producing one sock!  Hurray for him!  He did not unravel this one as soon I will have to take my turn on it as I have to practise the kitchener toe closing on it.  If that works out well, then we will be on a roll.  MrB hopes the next challenge for him will be completing his very first pair of socks soon.  We both look forward to this even bigger accomplishment in the days to come.

msb from Socks Made On 88

Other preps

Before 88 arrived, (whether I refer to the machine as our Erl 88 or Brigadier 88) you should know what I am talking about now. mrb did have to make some other preps other than researching and watching you-tube videos.  He made a swift from wood, and also made some soft weights.  It was a challenge finding some lead shot for the soft weights but eventually we tracked some down at a local dive shop.  A dive shop that was familiar to me as I had been there a few times with my son.  mrb made 3 soft weights, a 4 pounder, a 2 pounder and a 1 pounder.  The soft weights are used in the cast on bonnet and in the beginning tubes of the socks.  Weights are a very important factor in the art of sock making that much I have learnt from mrb and fork weights are used for heels.  The swift takes the yarn from its present state and winds the yarn into a form it can then be taken to cone on a ball winder.  mrb was fortunate that msb bought him a ball winder for Christmas.  I was so proud of myself that I found it on ebay and was able to complete the transaction.  The yarn that is winded on a cone now goes over to the CSM used to start the sock process.  mrb also winds waste yarn which is used in the sock project as well.  I think mrb is trying to locate a couple flat bed needles, if any of you know where he can get some?  He needs them to make some special latch tools.  I guess that is a question many of you may be able to answer once this blog becomes activated for public viewing.  Ok that is my goal today to see if we are online yet!  mrb will no doubt be attending his sock-school in the basement today and put a full day at it as we wally-wagged the day away yesterday doing errands and going to a movie and going out for supper.  i will probably check- in again soon but for the next couple of days I have some other issues to attend to.  Next time I am here to post.....I should be able to release the url so that you can check us out here at  my Socks Made on 88 blog.  

msb from Socks Made On 88

January 3, 2012 Blog has started and all is well till next time

Tuesday evening January 3, 2012.  My blog has been started and I caught up my story to date.
It seemed fitting that I start the blog tonight after completing the business transaction.
MrB is still studying and not yet ready to crank out socks but once he is I will surely let the world know here on my blog.
He goes to sock-school every day now studying and taking in what he can with the learning curve of the art of making hand-cranked knitted socks.  Our venture has only begun!  Today is the official day of announcing it to you!  I will tune back soon. Good night and Take Care,



msb from Socks Made On 88

Our CSM machine ...a little about it and its brand and given name

Our CSM is a reproduction of a 1924 model Gearhart CSM. The machine we have is made by the Erlbacher Gearhart Knitting Machine Company in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.   PeeWee Erlbacher started producing these new machines in 2011.  In fact our machine is numbered 2011-88.  The machines often get the nickname Erl....and our Erl has now been given a special name by us.  But before I go any further, I must tell you the name of our little hobby/industry/mini business....the name that I told you got approved on Dec 20, 2011.  The same name that we got registered today!  It is: Socks Made on 88  Now you can see where the 88 comes from, as it is the number of the machine.  We were told the name should be simple and tell what it is we are doing and how so that's pretty much as simple as we could get.  The name we have given our Erl is Brigadier 88.  Some of you may think , how did they arrive at that name?  We picked the name from MrB's family history.  It was after MrB's 7th generation grandfather, Brigadier General Timothy Ruggles who trekked from the USA to make his new home in NS.  Our Erl also made his way through the USA to make his new home in NS also.  We wanted a name that started with "b" since we are msb and MrB.  We wanted to keep B all in the family.  Also since this is a type of machine that can be passed on from generation to generation in our blended family we wanted a name that meant something, had some significance.  The Brigadier of high standard, and the company we got the Erl (CSM) is known for high standard quality work and service.  We had a very pleasant experience with our whole ordering and receiving of product, and continue to have constant contact with family members on a CSM online groups for support and frienship of liked interests.

Continuation the beginnings of our CSM story

OK backtracking a little here......or to contnue on with our story.
We did place the order for our brand new Circular Sock Machine ( CSM) on November 14, 2011.  We decided we wanted to enter a venture of MrB learning the art of hand-cranking out knitted socks, and maybe even other items when he has mastered the machine totally.  Again, we both researched, researched and researched.  We had many days even weeks until the machine was going to arrive and we knew we had to be prepared in every way.  MrB was studying his you-tube videos over and over again, and me setting up all the steps to make this little venture flow by talking to people on the phone with muncipal laws, provincial laws, federal laws, NS Joint stock, thinking of a name, doing up paperwork, going to search a name and the one we wanted was rejected flat on the spot, coming up with a spur of moment name, and finally submitting it on December 15, 2011.  on Dec. 20, 2011 we got a letter in the mail....YES our name was approved.  Now we had 90 days to register it.  Ok we are good with that, actually we were both so happy that things seem to be going along very smoothly.  It was December 23, 2011 that our machine arrived.  Oh Happy day, it was so exciting that I think both MrB and I did do a little happy dance if not phyically our heart and soul sure was doing some dancing inside.  Now who would think two grown 50 plusers would be so excited about receiving a boxed, and crated machine?  Well we were.  Oh yes I forgot to mention the table came the day before so that gave MrB time to set it up varnish and check out all the ins and outs of it beforehand.  It was like the calm before the storm. 

What does CSM stand for, what the heck is it, and why do we want one?

CSM stands for Circular Sock Machine.  A few short months ago, that was something that I myself was not familiar with, and I have learnt so much since November 9th, 2011.  That was the day that MrB approached me with an ad that  he saw and was very interested in purchasing one.  So like a crazy mad woman I spend hours and hours researching and networking trying to find out as much as I could about CSM's.  Why?  Because we were perhaps going to be newcomers to owning one.  We were not only going to be newbies to a CSM but we were going to be newbies to a brand new machine.  Oh my, this was so exciting indeed!  So for the next 6 days we spent most days reading as much information as we could, and I was networking my little heart out talking to people in groups, joining groups, reading blogs, checking websites, book marking websites, and more and more research.  Meanwhile MrB was printing out information, searching patterns and studying you tube videos.  On the 6th day it was actually November 14th, 2011, we decided to take the plunge and just order the machine!  It was a dream of MrB's to be able to knit wool socks.  He had tried to do it the manual way, hands, knitting needles and yarn but he just could not wrap his arthritic fingers around what and where they needed to be to even start the process.  Thereafter, he found quite by accident, the add that led us to this little retirement venture.  And here I am ....and so commences this blog!