Category Archives: 1908 Gearhart sock machine

1908 Gearhart sock machine, CSM socks, Northwoods Art Tour 2014, Spinzilla

October & November

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2014 is nearly over, it was a very busy fall, and unfortunately, blog posts fell by the wayside.  It is time for a two-part update, starting with October & November.

October was a busy month with Spinzilla, Oct. 6-12.  This was the first time I participated and wouldn’t you know, it was the same week as the fall art tour!  Still, I managed to get some spinning done.

Beginning my spinning for Spinzilla.
Beginning my spinning for Spinzilla.

While preparing for art tour visitors, I managed to spin 965 yards, two full bobbins plied together, and the remainder as a smaller singles skein, for a total of 0.548 mile.  I ended most days with some late night quiet spinning or plying.

Photo and yardage submitted Oct. 15th.
Photo and yardage submitted Oct. 15th.

In the middle of Spinzilla week came the Northwoods Art Tour – Fall, Oct. 10-12, with approximately 125 visitors over 3 days.  Most stayed quite awhile, visiting, asking questions, ordering, and being fascinated by this unique studio and home.

Looms and spinning wheel ready for demonstrations.
Looms and spinning wheel ready for demonstrations.
Sock machine also ready for demo as was woven shibori on loom at right.
Sock machine also ready for demo and woven shibori being set up on loom at right..

By the end of the art tour I had a lot of sock orders, and more came in via phone calls and emails,  In the end around 50 pairs!

Sock colors pulled for an order of 8 pairs.
Sock colors pulled for an order of 8 pairs.

I began work on the socks and things went fairly well, but then the sock machine developed a problem and I had no idea what it was or how to fix it.  I was throwing away more half-to-nearly completed socks than I was  keeping to fill orders.  Disaster!

Taking he CSM apart, needles and spring out for cleaning.
Taking he CSM apart, needles and spring out for cleaning.
Needles being cleaned and latches oiled at the little hinges.
Needles being cleaned and latches oiled at the little hinges.

The needles and spring were removed, cylinder slots cleaned out, and reassembled, and the problem persisted.  Then we took it all apart, removed the crank and cylinder, cleaned it thoroughly, greased and oiled parts and reassembled again, and still the problem persisted.  Then Char said if you have another 72 slot cylinder, let’s put that in and see what happens.  So again, remove needles and spring, substitute a different cylinder and reassemble.

Let me tell you, changing to a cylinder that had not been used in perhaps 30 years or so, it was STIFF CRANKING!!! After a couple days, it was better, and SUCCESS!!!  I was making socks again.  I was also a month behind, so now cranked by day, closed toes and washed by night, and managed to get all but two pairs to my customers before Christmas.  And she was fine with waiting for those two pair.  I still have seven pairs to make this week.

Red Embers, socks made on a 1908 Gearthart sock machine.
Red Embers, socks made on a 1908 Gearthart sock machine.
Detail of Red Embers socks.
Detail of Red Embers socks.

December continues in the next post!

 

 

 

1908 Gearhart sock machine, CSM socks

Holiday Sock Season

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It has been a busy two weeks here, settling in with each other, everyone helping to get the work done, often timed to the weather forecast.  As I write this it is 4:43 AM, it is -24 F. (actual temp) on the lakeside porch, and I’ve been listening to logs, boards and the woodrange “pop” from the bitter cold.

I’ve been busy working on Christmas orders for wool socks with what seemed like a very temperamental sock machine.  Getting a pair of socks made was a challenge, getting five pairs done for an order was beginning to seem impossible.  The sock machine kept dropping one of the three strands of yarn, always in the same area, always in the solid area (bottom of the foot where every slot has a needle).  I changed out needles, I oiled the CSM and still, it would lose one of the three strands of yarn.  I was beginning to make noises about selling them!

Giving my 1908 Gearhart Circular Sock Knitting Machine a "dental."
Giving my 1908 Gearhart Circular Sock Knitting Machine a “dental.”

Then I remembered another time this happened, and the only thing to do was remove all the needles, the spring, get out the pointy tool (it reminds me of a dentist’s pick), and give the machine a “dental.”  Oily fiber dust was removed, everything reassembled, and it has been working like a charm.  

I’ve finished one order for five pairs of socks, and have three other smaller orders to do today, I hope, so I can get them in the mail and delivered.

Wool sock nearly completed.
Wool sock nearly completed.

Below are close-ups of two more socks.  In  person the colors are brighter.

Detail of CSM wool sock, wonderful colors.
Detail of CSM wool sock, wonderful colors.
Detail of CSM wool sock, colors are a bit softer.
Detail of CSM wool sock, colors are a bit softer.

We did manage to do a little rearranging of looms in my studio, moving the Standard back to the lakeside window, and turning the drawloom 90 degrees.  Two Harrisville jack looms were moved to the basement for now.  The Toika Laila is still in the studio along with two spinning wheels and other equipment.  The sock machine was moved to the upstairs living room where it is warmer.

Photos of my little dye area haven’t been taken as yet, it’s too cold in the garage with these subzero temps, even with the garage getting a bit of heat from the furnace.

I am really looking forward to getting back to my looms, woven shibori, and indigo dyeing, but I don’t expect that will happen until after visiting my father over Christmas.

It has been an interesting couple weeks.  Char is often working in her new woodworking studio, and Sarah has begun making jewelry, bringing her original sketches to life.

The sounds of creative work fill the days.  We are busy making plans and have so much to look forward to in 2014!

1908 Gearhart sock machine, CSM socks

Sock Season!

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1908 Gearhart Circular Sock Knitting Machine.

If it’s autumn, is must be sock-cranking season!

I walked into our area guild meeting Monday evening, and the first words from Laurel were, “Will you be making socks again?”  She orders several pairs each year to give as Christmas gifts to family members.  Yes, I am making socks again.

Yesterday these two pairs were cranked, toes closed, washed/rinsed/spun, and hung to dry overnight on a wood rack.  This morning they were steamed and then placed on the rack again to finish drying.  This evening they are in a bag, tomorrow I will meet up with the woman who placed the order.  The gentleman they are for already has a couple pairs and was very interested in having more.  I hope he likes the color combinations!

Red/Blue/Hunter yarns.

Red, blue, and hunter green work up into a cozy, wintry pair of socks, popular with my customers.

Detail of heel/foot area.

Detail of mock-rib on leg.


In reality, the colors are brighter than in these photos.  It was a very gray afternoon here, and though I took the photos out on the lakeside porch, we were losing light.  Right after I went back inside I heard thunder, and a few minutes later it was pouring rain.

Bordeaux/Grape/Teal yarns.

I had been told I could choose whatever colors I wanted, so the first pair (above) have a cheerful holiday feel to them.  For the second pair I went a bit darker, and used a color combination I hadn’t tried before, Bordeaux, Grape, and Teal.  I was prepared to cut it off if I didn’t like it.  Happily, I was quite pleased with how the colors worked together.

Detail of heel/foot area.

Detail of mock-rib on leg.

Leaves are starting to turn color in the WI Northwoods, temperatures are dropping, we’ve already had a couple nights with frost warnings.  Crows “caw” all day long, chickadees and blue jays are heard, squirrels are busy collecting acorns, changes are happening daily.  I’m looking forward to a fall and winter full of weaving, sock-making, spinning, and other fiber activities.

1908 Gearhart sock machine, Artists Interactive, Jane O'Brien, Toni Bergeon

Artists Interactive Demo Day

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Today, in connection with Artists Interactive, members of The Studio Gallery were again giving demonstrations of their various arts in Boulder Junction, WI. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day, with a nice breeze which helped us stay comfortable, and sitting in the shade in Wendy’s tent was a definite plus.

Today was Watercolors with Jane O’Brien of Eagle River, WI,…

Fabric Landscapes with Toni Bergeon, of Minocqua, WI,…

and I was demonstrating making socks on a 1908 Gearhart Sock Machine (I’m behind the camera).

Wendy Powalisz (Watercolors), Toni Burgeon (Fabric Landscapes, Kathleen Kimball (Collage), and I (Sock Machine) will be there again tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

1908 Gearhart sock machine, socks

Sock Orders to Fill

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I feel as if I’ve spent a good part of my summer cranking socks, having made over 100 pairs, and selling 80 pairs so far. I had so been looking forward to getting back to my loom, after Art In The Yard. There is a warp to finish weaving, and many more to be made and woven. However, there has been a slight delay,…

Yesterday and today, I am cranking socks to fill the orders from Art In The Yard. Two more pairs to do today, close the toes, wash and hang to air dry, then finish and tag. This photo is a sock in progress on the 1908 Gearhart.