My mom recently gave me her swift since she is not doing as much knitting as she once was. She bought this swift 37 years ago when she was living in Japan and according to the markings on the box, she paid 650 Yen. (If I did my calculations correctly, at today's exchange rate, that is a little over $5!)
I love this swift. If folds up so nicely making it easy to store. It also makes winding balls much easier. No more hoping that someone will have the patience to sit and hold yarn for me. I remember doing that for my Nana. I would always try to read while holding her yarn but every time I needed to turn a page (the book sitting on the table) it would throw off her rhythm.
Now to get a ball winder. I currently use a very basic nostepinde (which is often an empty toilet paper tube!) which can be a bit tiresome when winding balls with a lot of yardage.
It's all socks all the time right now at Our Home on the Hill! I think that 2006 is shaping up to be year of the sock - not just for me but all over the blogs! There are so many sock-alongs going right now that I can't even keep up!
I did join Alison's sock swap. It's all so very exciting - 606 sock knitters from all over the world (21 countries!) making socks for one another! I got my sockpal's info last night and I can't wait to find just the right yarn and pattern for her socks.
I recently finished a pair of socks for Topher. It is so satisfying to make things for him! He gets so excited and wants to wear his "home made clothes" everyday. (Note to self - make him some more pants!) These little socks were knit with Plymouth Sockotta cotton/wool sock yarn. Little socks are such fun - and so fast!
This is a pair I knit for myself last year. They were my first pair of socks! I really enjoyed knitting them and seeing the stripes develop. (I don't remember the yarn and the ball band is gone) They have a fun little picot hem which I just love. They are ankle length which I thought I would really enjoy but after wearing them a few times, I really would prefer them to be longer. 
There is a reason that one foot is hiding behind the other. Apparently I didn't finish the toe on one of my socks very well. After wearing them a few times, my toes are now playing peek-a-boo. I need to figure out how to fix that. It makes me sad. (Please ignore the feet that are in desperate need of a pedicure!)
I'm really excited about this pair of socks. They are the "Cable and Rib" socks from Interweave Fall 2005. I'm using Koigu KPPPM in color P435L. What a pretty color! I can't wait to be finished with these so I can wear them. I'm just past the heel gusset on the first sock.
I started this sock last night. I needed a little project that doesn't require counting rows for some TV knitting. These socks will be for Charles. He picked out this skein of Special Blauband by Froehlich Wolle last year while visiting my mom. They only had the one and the yardage will be cutting it awfully close. So to be safe, I am making the cuff, heel and toe in red Koigu.
Edmund and I are still discussing his sock - stripes or no stripes? Solid or variegated? etc. He's not sure yet. Chris also needs hand knit socks. I've got something planned for him but I'm keeping it under wraps for now.
That's my current line up! I'm going to check out some of the sock-alongs that are out there...
