I hope you didn't frog these socks (I'm just now catching up on blogs I've been behind on for ages!) - I *love* them exactly as they are, so so so much! The colors are just perfect!

This book looks fantastic - I've added it to my Amazon wishlist just in case I don't snag this one. ;) I've got a sock darning stack to deal with, which I swore I was going to finish over the Christmas holidays. Sigh. It just takes too long and isn't very exciting - I'm very intrigued by this crochet darning technique! I do have a vintage darning mushroom, which I keep meaning to blog about, and that's just about the only good thing about sock darning.

Despite my darning despair, I am with you on the mending / re-using - things just aren't made to last anymore, and we've been trained to just toss something out over something as minor as a tiny hem tear. I volunteer at a charity shop warehouse, sorting donations, and sometimes I just can't imagine why those nearly-new things were discarded. Sigh. I always think, what would Ma Ingalls say about that waste?! :)

And on a completely different note - you're such a beautiful writer! I love reading your posts. I just wanted to mention that. :)

I love your historical posts, Eirlys - there's nothing like learning about the details of daily life to really get a better understanding of a time period. Thanks for this one especially, it was fascinating and does really give a different perspective on wartime trials and sacrifices. But not in only in a sad way - it's also inspiring, and impressive, to see what people could make from so little!

How exciting - congratulations!!! I love the effect the stripes gave you, very clever of you to put aside stripes specifically. It would never occur to me to use a particular print, but what a great idea!

I also love making braided (I'm also Pennsylvanian, by coincidence!) rag rugs - I actually have a huge bag full of old shirts and the like, intended for a bathroom rug to be made over the Christmas break. I'm really looking forward to the calm hands-on-ness of it, and I plan to drag the whole family into it. :)

Wow - there are no words for what an amazing find this is! I should be a little jealous, but it's SO cool that I am instead just excited to see what you'll do with them!!