Exactly what is a "Recycled Sock Potholder"?

These sturdy kitchen wonders are woven on a large 9" or vintage 7.5" loom.  The loops are cut from used socks or left-overs from sock production.  Our used socks are purchased by the pound from the Seattle Goodwill Outlet!  We go there periodically for several hours and "mine" the bins for socks.  Sometimes, we find some great stuff.....vintage sweaters, antiques, antique linens, vintage lace, yarn, clothes, knitting needles, books,  a spare pressure cooker top for my very expensive Swiss pressure cooker.  Being a "bottom feeder" at the Goodwill Outlet is big fun!  Not many people are looking for socks, so there is little competition.

Fiber composition is a big unknown!  I do not use socks that are obviously 100% nylon or acrylic.  I prefer to work with cotton and wool blends. 

Caring for your "Recycled Sock Potholder" is very easy.  Machine wash as needed with your regular laundry.  Wash vibrant reds alone, just in case of color bleed.  They usually was up very nicely.  After laundering 100's of them, I have only had a few strange things happen in the wash.  Hang to let dry and stretch it a bit to make sure it stays a nice square shape. 

To tell the truth, I hardly ever wash mine!  When they get really dirty, I make new ones!   My favorites are RED, WHITE, and BLACK to match my 1930's kitchen! 

Potholder of the Week!

This pair of potholders was made with a pair of GROOVY tied dyed anklet socks and basic black socks.  They were really fun to make and made a great gift for my brother-in-law!  I would LOVE to find more tied dyed socks.  The black really makes the bright tie dye colors pop!  

A Big Success and Thank You!

The response to our potholder sale benefitting the PNA Capital Campaign was HUGE!  We sold about 500 potholders and made a large donation to the PNA Elevator Challenge!  Perhaps next year for Winter Fest  there will be an elevator!  

2012 Winter Fest was a great event!  I enjoyed chatting with new and repeat customers.  The new and larger size of potholder on the new loom was well received, but the smaller potholder on the vintage looms is preferred by some.  Perhaps next year, we will have potholders of both sizes.   Amelia brought out left over stock from 2011 of the smaller potholders on Sunday because sales were so brisk on Saturday.   Sales were strong in all colorways with a preference for matched pairs.  

My favorite potholder pair, the "Black Watch", which looked like the Black Watch Scottish tarten featuring dark navy & hunter green argyle socks, is destined to be a Christmas gift for a man in a traditional Scottish music group.  I want to find some more argyle socks for a "Scottish Tarten" line of potholders!

Link to the PNA web site about the news and see my picture:   http://www.phinneycenter.org/CC/challenge.shtml

Thank you so much for your support and purchases to benefit the Capital Campaign!   Happy Holidays and see you in 2012!   I am planning a "Potholder of the Week" feature with my new explorations into potholder design and weaving.....

See you at PNA Winter Fest !

First blog post...this is very exciting! 

My cottage industry, "Recycled Sock Potholders", is getting off to a BIG start at the Phinney Neighborhood Association Winter Fest.  I will be selling at this LARGE local craft fair and all the proceeds go to the PNA Capital Campaign!   The donation will be for the 2011 elevator fund challange grant.  Look for us in the center of ROOM 5, which is upstairs in the Blue Building. 

I will have about 500 potholders for sale for $5 each.  There is a large selection of colors, textures, fiber, designs in pairs and singles.  I am using a NEW LARGER loom for a HUGE potholder with a lot of heft!  Check out my experimentation with WOOL fiber. As a knitter and spinner, I love wool and I know you will, too. 

My advice is to come early for the best selection!

Recycled sock potholders make great holiday gifts, especially when paired with something special from your kitchen or as part of a kitchen gift.  Curl a pair up in a nice coffee mug and bow for a quick gift.  Buy "green", buy local, and support the PNA Capital Campaign.  Keep these socks out of landfills! 

Here is the link to more information about the PNA Winter Fest!  The other craft vendors, entertainment and sense of community is wonderful!  Don't miss Zaphara's Belly Dance group or the Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band on Sunday, Dec. 4th.  I  highly recommend the bake sale, too!  YUM! 

See you  there! 

http://phinneycenter.org/winterfestival/

PhinneyWood Blog article about RSP and community sock donation:

http://www.phinneywood.com/2011/10/28/fiber-artist-seeks-old-socks-to-make-potholders-in-time-for-pna-winter-festival/