Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spinning Color!
It's from roving in a Sheep to Shoe kit in the Sherbet colorway. I assure you that this colorway will brighten even the darkest day.
The fiber is 100% superwash merino - which I hadn't spun before - but I really enjoy spinning it. It's very easy to spin.
I was most worried about splitting the roving evenly into 3 vertical strips, but all my worry was for nothing, and everything split easily and evenly on the first try.
I am 2/3rds of the way through the 1st strip of roving, and I'll probably get this portion finished tonight.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Toe Up...
I'm using my basic toe up sock recipe, but with the type of short row toe that Cat Bordhi demonstrates on youtube.com. There is not one visible wrap or one tiny hole in this toe. The only different thing I do is when I slip the stitch to wrap it, I slip purlwise, even though Cat says to do it knitwise. I've tried both ways, and for me slipping knitwise leaves a bit of a hole.
Cat's short rows have made me a total toe up / short row convert.
I'm using 2.25mm needles for this sock and the yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Cotton Maya in color number 7026. The blend of this yarn is 45% cotton, 45% wool, and 10% polyamide. It's a nice blend and it feels very soft and smooth.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Start As You Mean To Go On...
Then I decided to spin a bobbin of thick and thin yarn out of some 100% BFL roving that I picked up from Yummy Yarn a few weeks ago.
After all that spinning I went for a nice early morning walk up to Starbucks and started my 25th year off with a Caramel Machiato.
Just as I was about to start getting ready to go over to my parents' house for my B-Day brunch, I got a phone call ---- It was my bestest friend in the whole world, Martin, calling from Amsterdam!
I also started a sock using my new Knitpicks dpns (I bought the whole sock set). So far I'm really liking them (more on these in a day or two).
While we were with my parents, I delivered my mom's slightly late b-day present (which she loves).
Stu and I went on a brief yarn crawl after brunch at Urban Yarns (total bust. no service. meh yarn). Three Bags Full (where we ran into my knitting group, and I developed a love of All Hemp Lux yarn). All I ended up buying was some Seacell and Merino roving from Birkeland Bros. Stu got to see the giant carder in the back (I hadn't realized that he had never been in there before. Bad knitting husband! hehe.
All-in-all it was a good birthday, but as usual I am glad it won't happen again for another year.
I have a fair bit of B-day money --- Does anyone have any knitting / fiber suggestions?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Finished: April Socks
The Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy in Nightwatch. Purchased from Three Bags Full on Main Street.
The Pattern: Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. Everything else in this sock was improvised.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Knitting At The Speed of Light...
As I wrote yesterday, I was using this sock to try out a new way of working my wrapped stitches, and the new technique worked!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Those Darn Short Rows!
- The heel area never seemed to cup my heel.
- I could always see those darn wraps!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Tools of the Trade...
I have now finished Chart B. It's coming along nicely, and will be very luxurious to wear. I can tell already.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Slow Progress...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tell Me --- What Does Shipped Mean to Knitpicks?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
10 Days In...
I found the first two basket weave pattern repeats frustrating. I almost gave up. The only thing that kept me going was telling myself that it would get better. It had to get better.
Guess what? It did get better.
One of the things that this stole has taught me is not to give up on a lace pattern until several repeats have been knit.
I'm not really a lifeline kind of gal, nor am I a "rip it back" kind of gal. I'm more of a "oh look, I'm left with two extra stitches at the end of this repeat, I think I'll K2tog and that'll fix it" or "oh look, two stitches short, I'll go back two stitches and knit into the front and back of both, and that'll fix it".
With that, I'll tell you that the first two repeats are not a pretty as they should be, but my mom always told me that if a blind man on a fast horse wouldn't notice then it was good enough. Wait, maybe that wasn't my mom. That doesn't sound like my mom. She's more of an "anything worth doing is worth doing right (i.e. perfectly)". Maybe it was my dad that gave me this gem? Stu? Probably. I really can't remember. All I know is that it is advice to live by (for me anyway).
I have now knit 5.5 of the 7 repeats. I'm debating whether or not I should add another repeat or two to the basket weave, but I think I'll reserve final judgment for once all 7 repeats are finished.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Swallowtail Shawl?
I've been thinking about the Swallowtail Shawl from the Winter 2006 Interweave Knits for a few months now. On Saturday after a nice get together with an old co-worker of mine, I headed over to Three Bags Full to pick up some lace weight for the Swallowtail Shawl. Thankfully, this shawl is fairly small, and really doesn't take that much yarn, so I only needed one ball of Fiddlesticks Lace Weight. This yarn is 50% merino and 50% silk.
The colorway that spoke to me this time was Basil.
I also had to pick up another Addi lace needle, since my only other lace needle is currently hanging out with Hanami.
I cast on for this one on Sunday (yesterday) late in the afternoon. I have to admit, I was bad and skipped my knitting group so I could work on lace. Lace knitting + Knitting group = Disaster.
It's coming along very well and is quite an easy pattern.
I even managed a few rows this morning before work!
I'm going to be working on this at the same time as I work on the Hanami Stole. It is my goal to have both the Swallowtail Shawl and Hanami Stole done by my birthday as a give for myself. I have until April 27th, so there is going to be a lot of knitting going on at my house in the next two weeks.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Fun With Polymer Clay...
I think they turned out pretty well and I think I'll likely do some more experimenting with this craft, but I will definitely be sticking with the fiber crafts (they're a lot easier on the hands).
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Found: Best Knitting Reference Book Ever!
Friday, April 11, 2008
On Making Sock Yarn...
Here is some more of the roving I picked up from Yummy Yarn a few weeks ago at our Sunday get together. It's 130 grams of BFL.
So far I'm just about done the first bobbin of singles of this sock yarn, but I have high hopes that the rest should go fairly quickly.
I think it is turning out really well, and my singles are definitely getting more even and a lot thinner! Soon I'm going to have to do 3-ply yarn to make it heavy enough to do anything with! Hey - - Maybe that's the point of 3-ply!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Never-Ending Sock Project...
I know some people think I work on them, but as you can see from my progress that is not a correct assumption.
They are the Diagonal Cross Rib socks from Favorite Socks.
I foolishly made them much taller than I normally do, and then I got distracted by spinning and knitting a sweater, so as you can imagine, these socks have been slow going.
I have decided that I am ready for them to be off my needles, so I am going to make an effort to actually work on them when I take them with me. I will remember that they are not a companion, but a pair of socks that should be worked on.
It is my goal to make these socks my April Sock-a-Month KAL socks, which means I will be finished them by the end of April.
I think I can do it!
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
L-A-C-Y It Ain't Got No Alibi, It's Lacy...It's Lacy...
This was my first time ordering a pdf pattern of the interwebs, and I love how instant it is. I entered my credit card info then downloaded the pattern. No waiting or anything. The first thing I did after downloading was to email both patterns to my gmail address so I would have a back up just in case. As you likely know, I haven't knit a lot of lace. I find it requires too much attention and generally causes a whole lot of frustration.
The last lace I knit was the huge Shetland Triangle (Wrap Style) I knit for myself last year (out of fingering weight Koigu). Actually, it was last April.
That's it -- I proclaim that April is for lace! Apparently there is something about this time of year that makes me want to knit lace.
Back to the lace at hand ---
I did a few rows on Saturday night, and learned the valuable lesson that you should not work on lace when you are tired. It is not a myth people!
A chunk of Sunday was also spent with Hanami, and I am now 3 rows into the second basket weave repeat. It is looking great, and I am even enjoying the lace knitting process.
My goal is to have this stole finished before all of the cherry blossoms are gone.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Delayed...
I know I promised to reveal the project I've been working on today, but things have been delayed slightly.
The truth is that I didn't get a chance to take pictures last night, and I don't want to reveal a project without pictures.
I'll bet you're wondering what has delayed me, aren't you?
Yesterday I made an attempt to retrieve my last two packages from the Point Roberts post office, but I got stuck in nasty traffic on my way there, and didn't make it in time.
I'm hoping my parents will pick my stuff up for me sometime this week, but if not, I will be picking it up on Saturday.
When I got home I got sidetracked with a Blue Moon order (which took care of the last of my tax return).
Seriously, I will take pictures tonight. In fact, tonight will be devoted to taking pictures and knitting.
PS. Stu got a promotion!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Pink...
I wanted to share some pictures of my first attempt at 3-ply sock yarn after setting the twist and everything.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't been brave enough to cast on for a pair of socks out of this yet. I will do it when the time is right.
I did start spinning some more Yummy Yarn roving for some 2-ply sock yarn. I'm going to ply it tightly for some added strength. I'm about half way through spinning the singles so far, and will share some pictures of it with you as soon as I can.
Once I finish spinning the sock fiber I've already started, I think I'm going to take a little break from spinning for a couple of weeks (we'll see if that works. It's like saying your going to take a break from air!).
You see, I have good reason to take a break. My birthday is coming up at the end of April (the big 2-5! Ha!), and I already know what Stu is getting me. He's already ordered it.
I'll give you a hint --- It takes several weeks to make, starts with "W", and attaches to my spinning wheel. Most spinners will know what it is, but if you don't, I will tell you when I get it.
Tomorrow I'll show you what I am doing in lieu of spinning. I really want to take a few pictures of the project before I start talking about it, but I will tell you that it's good.
In fact, I'm debating whether I should head home right after work to work on it or if I should go to Point Roberts to pick up my new Elizabeth Zimmermann Knitting Workshop DVD (I finally got arrival confirmation on Saturday evening after the post office closed, and they are closed on Sundays too, so this is my first chance to pick it up).
Have a good Monday --- I hope it's not as rainy where you are as it is in Vancouver. I just keep muttering something about April showers and May flowers.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Orange...
I was instantly drawn to this roving ---
Orange, brown, and blue are not normally my colors, but I had a really good feeling about it this time. The roving is more from Yummy Yarns (her shop can be found on etsy). The fiber is 100 grams of 100% Corridale.
This was my first time spinning with Corridale and I really enjoyed it. It was easy to spin and I am pleased with the results.
Speaking of results, I had intended to make a two ply super bulky yarn, but what I ended up with is more like a dk weight. Oddly enough, I think this means my spinning is improving.
My singles are becoming noticeably thinner and more even. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I actually started out fairly even, so with my improvement I'm producing some very workable yarn. Well balanced too.
Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to make with it. When I had planned to make it bulky, I was going to knit a hat. Now I have no idea!
I have also discovered one more thing --- I prefer the process, look, and feel of 2 ply more than 3 ply.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Mail Call! And Spinning...
So far, the new additions to my library are:
- Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka the Yarn Harlot.
- Harmony Guide: Basic Crochet Stitches
- Start Spinning by Maggie Casey
- In Sheep's Clothing: A Handspinner's Guide to Wool by Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier
- The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning
I can't wait to crack these babies open!
Which turned into this---
It's 3 ply dk-ish weight sock yarn. I'm not sure exactly what the yardage is like yet, but I'm pretty sure 130 grams should get me a pair of socks.