I was shopping at Wal-Mart the other day, and I always go through the craft department. Stuck in a bin was 7 balls of Aunt Lydia’s Shimmer Fashion Yarn 124 yards 64% Cotton, 36% Rayon. 6 balls of Lilac and one of cream, on clearance at $2.50 ea. The ball band stated a size US6 needle 4mm. It was shiny and I am drawn to shiny things so I bought all 7 with no clue as to what I would make with it.
I played around with the yarn, and worked up several swatches in knit. I kept working the swatches on smaller and smaller needles. Surprise…on size 2.75mm needles I got a fabric that I approved of…and thought why not slipper socks. You know, something to wear around the house.
Who knew!
I used 1 1/2 balls of yarn for this pair of socks, worked on 5 DPN’s.
Now what to do with the other 3 1/2 balls?
The yarn was a bit stiff when new and needed coaxing…but, once washed it softens to the most comfy supple fiber. I hand washed, although the ball band says that they can be washed in a machine, and towel blocked to dry. I don’t know how well they will wear in the long run. My cotton blend socks seem to get holes before the wool blends, but the wool blends get thin spots.
Sadly all socks wear out, whether store bought or handmade. For the short time they are in your life, they are pure love. You don't make socks for people you don't like...well I don't. :)
Happy Holidays!
I have been playing around for some time with spinning cotton. I use a small wheeled spindle in a candle dish to do this. 
I read in ( http://cottoncrop.blogspot.com/) that fibergal grew cotton and spun from the seed. I found a supply of cotton bolls on ebay from 1brentwood (69 ) I got good communication from the supplier and purchased a box of 25 bolls. She even included two pods that were not open, but did open before I got around to taking a picture. (my missed opportunity, but was wonderful for the grandkids to see.) 
I popped two of the cotton balls (if that is what they are called) filled with seeds off of the boll. One advantage that I found from spinning from the ball and not roving was that I didn’t have any noils, something that I have had a hard time keeping out of the prepared roving.
The fibers just pulled smoothly away from the seeds (there are many seeds inside each ball), and I was in control of how thick the fiber was fed into the spindle…I could make the fiber as thin as sewing thread, that was a bit too thin, but it was nice to know that it could be done.
I Andean plied the small amount of yarn that 1 ball produced, and was surprised to find that I had 3 yards of a two ply 22wpi’s just from one ball, and this particular boll had 5 balls. The next attempt will be to use a wheel, and see if I get the same results. 
Now it's back to the sock-a-month 4KAL http://samkal4.blogspot.com/ . I have these Gansey socks that I have been working on (they were planned for my November socks)…or un-knitting on, it seems for every row completed I seem to un-knit it. I am hoping it is because I have had a very cluttered mind for the past few weeks. I have done more intricate patterns in the past, with less frogging(if any). Oh well, that is how life goes sometimes…but the Gansey socks might have to spend a little while in a “time out”. Maybe I'll get them finished in January...maybe. :) 
Knitting, spinning, cooking, sewing, traveling, camping, and holiday fun…wow where did the month of October go? 
I finished up my October Socks for the Sam4
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