YarnHunter

January

2012-01-30T13:37:00.001-08:00

OK, It's January ... the end, perhaps, but still January. So what's with the warm weather and the birds?

This morning I saw 3 Canada Geese that were definitely flying north and in formation. This afternoon? We have 4-6 robins happily hopping around our back yard.

Me? I'm finishing the second sleeve on "Mr. Greenjeans", and thinking about what kind of cotton cardi to work on next.

Getting Old

2012-01-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

So, I'm still recuperating, though at least I can walk around a bit now.

I started working on "Mr Greenjeans" with yarn I bought several years ago. I'm about half-way through the yoke.

I've also discovered that I really like the iPhone App: Knit-n-Count (Also available for iPad). Set it up with pattern repeat, add in any specific reminder rows (I find it works best to set alarm for the row before you need to do something, since it rings at the end of a row), set an overall row count (if needed), then get to work. It rings when you need to make changes, keeps track of the number of repeats you've done, etc. So much easier than a piece of paper ... and you can keep track of more than one pattern at the same time, which I think is a great feature.

Later! Time to get back to knitting.

2012

2012-01-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I am recuperating from my knee surgery. Have been working on a scarf as a pressie for a friend.

Wondering what 2012 will bring my way.

Finally!

2011-12-17T16:58:00.000-08:00

I finally have an answer to my knee issues. Turns out that when I fell 3 years ago, I managed to tear both menisci on my left knee. That explains a lot. It at least makes sense now that my knee would kill be after trying to use a floor loom, or spinning on my wheel, or even trying to work out at the gym.

Surgery is scheduled for 29 December, and hopefully I will be "good as new" in the new year.

I'm looking forward to being able to do things again.

OOOPS!

2011-11-18T21:03:00.000-08:00

Well, guess I should be writing more often!

I gave up on weaving, knitting, and spinning for a while. Physical issues made it difficult for me to do some things.

I was all set to sell my loom, even had a potential buyer. But she never showed up, then called and we never were able to connect. In the mean time, I had opened up the loom and played with it a bit. I am soooo grateful that we never connected. Sometimes things come to us as a special blessing and are meant to be kept and used.

I am part way through sleying my loom for dishtowels - using some natural colored cotton that I have. Not working at "production", but rather for fun and entertainment. I've also ordered a weaver's book about tartans and hope to make something using our family's tartan. What? I have no idea.

I need to finish knitting a couple of sweaters I started last year. Then maybe I can consider spinning again. Taking things slowly, but glad to be back at it.

Ugh

2011-07-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

No knitting, no crafting at all right now. Fourth of July and I'm stuck in hospital, tethered to an IV, hoping that they will let me eat something today.

I have pancreatitis - for the second time - and it seems that I now have diabetes, too. I had my first ever shot of insulin last night, and am getting more this morning. I will probably be on medication once I can eat again.

It's all a bit scary, but I will deal with it.

Been a While

2011-06-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Lack of posts is not to be construed as a lack of interest in things fibre. There have been a number of things going on in the background.

I've not managed much spinning or weaving of late. I need to try to remedy that. My current project has been on the loom for a couple of months, though circumstances have not allowed for much progress - I should be able to take care of that soon.

Spinning stopped when I got tendonitis in my left shoulder. It has taken months to get to the point where I can even knit again, so we'll see in a bit how spinning goes.

Out knitting guild is having a knit along. It's been a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to wearing the cotton/linen cardi that is currently in progress. The body is done, just need to finish sleeves and add button band. We're doing Amiga from Summer 2011 Knitty.com. Several of us are using the same yarn: Rowan Panama, and it's turning out nicely.

Hopefully I can post more as I get back into things.

New and Shiny

2010-12-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

I finished my spinning, though a couple of days after the Giants won the World Series. Pretty happy with the way things turned out. (pics at some point)

The newest addition to my studio is ... a 12-year-old, new to me Schacht Mighty Wolf loom. It's an 8 shaft, 10 treadle loom that was previously owned by a woman who won awards for her weaving, but for various reasons is no longer able to weave.

I have done a test weave, and am very very happy with my new purchase. It came with everything I would need to weave, except fibre (bench, raddle, shuttles, bobbins, warping board, electric bobbin winder, lease sticks, warping sticks, 4 reeds) and was about half the cost of a new loom. I am blessed!

The only picture I have is a bit wonky as it was taken with my phone.

World Series Spinning

2010-10-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

I love baseball; I'm a life-long Chicago Cubs fan. I do recognize a good team, so I am cheering on the local SF Giants right now. I can see being a fan in the future, as long as they aren't playing the Cubs!

I finally got my studio space set up, and have even had a chance to do a bit of spinning, working on some Fruit Salad falkland by Pigeonroof Studios that I picked up at Verb earlier this year.

I've already spun 4 oz of it, and love the way it is turning out.

I have 4 oz left to spin, so I decided to set a goal of spinning the remainder of it and plying, before the Giants win the 2010 World Series.(-:

Moving On

2010-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

We're leaving San Francisco in two days - heading back down to the South Bay.

I have about 3 more boxes to pack, before the movers get here Thursday. Also need to get a haircut and maybe make one more stop at our favorite salad place - Buckhorn Grill. They make a salad with tri-tip and onion rings that takes me 2 meals to eat!

San Francisco is not without merits, but it just doesn't work for us. It takes too long to get places to do things, so we weren't able to take advantage of the city.

On the plus side, since moving here I have: learned to spin, learned to weave, learned how to do natural dyeing, and stopped wearing a watch (I misplaced it and by the time I found it, I no longer cared if I wore one). We made sure that I would have a designated studio in our new house. (I am really excited about that part.)

We've already been welcomed by a number of our neighbors, the postman, and even the garbage man waved as he went by. There a great neighborhood association that does things about once a month. September's gathering is for new residents to host a dinner for those who have lived there 30 years or more!

This has been an interesting experiment. We like being in the city, but perhaps Boston and London are more our style.

Spin Class

2010-06-14T00:32:00.000-07:00

Went back to Verb today and learned how to do over the fold long draw...cool stuff!

We also learned a bit about spinning for gauge and what adjustments to make. Finally know what to do with my wheel's fast flyer head!

The day ended with a class on plying, but I skipped that - needed to get home before the Giants game let out and I had to deal with all the pedestrians. (Driving on game days can be a bit of a hassle sometimes.) Maybe I can catch the class next time.

I've learned quite a bit over the past few weekends. More to come, too (-:

Wash Day

2010-06-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I washed some CVM fleece from a sheep named "Laura". I only did a fraction (ounces) of what I have (about a pound), so it's going to take a while.

I started feeling guilty about the amount of water required, so I'm going to try to do more batches today, but only use clean water for the second and maybe third rinse. The water should stay hot enough for me to do several cycles in a row.

I am definitely looking forward to spinning this into yarn. Will have to take pictures so I can document the process.

Six Years

2010-06-01T15:45:00.001-07:00

Six years ago today my mom died, seven months after my dad did. She was the one who was sick. Sometimes it feels like forever ago, other times, not so much.

I'm doing ok, moving on with life, and in some ways my life is a bit better. A little inheritance can go a long way in changing a life - opening up opportunities to do things that might otherwise be out of reach. (knitting loom or spinning wheel anyone?)

I do miss my parents sometimes, but I have a wonderful husband and a great father-in-law who both love me very much. That makes it a lot easier.

Fleece

2010-05-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to A Verb For Keeping Warm and learned about fleece. Specifically, how to choose it, how to wash it, and what to do when it's dry.

I am really excited about this, as a friend gave me some bits (quite a few, actually) of fleece before she went back to Australia and I've not been entirely sure how to handle it all. (Fortunately, not all of it needs to be rewashed.)

Now I know, and am confident that I can produce something I will actually be able to spin with (-:

First up, though, is a trip to IKEA for cheap pots to boil water, and a kitchen store for a thermometer to measure the temperature of water throughout the process. The last thing I want is for it all to felt because of too great a temperature variation! Oh, and I mustn't forget gloves that will allow me to plunge my hands in near boiling water without burning them.

This is going to be fun!

She's Baaack!

2010-05-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

My new Victoria arrived today, along with 1/2 lb of medium Coopworth roving from New Zealand. I've only had time to open up the wheel and do a bit of testing, but so far, so good!

Holiday

2010-04-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

We're on holiday in Texas. beautiful weather - hot, sunny, dry, and lots to do. San Antonio is beautiful! Our hotel room looks out on Riverwalk. We've been to several different churches and a couple of the missions today. The architecture is incredible. San Antonio has managed to keep some of the really cool old stuff and re-purpose it for today's use.

We also spent some time in Austin where I managed to stop at Hill Country Weavers (knitting store). We were going to go to Knitting Nest, but they didn't open early enough. We'll hit them on the drive back up to Austin and the airport.

I got word that my replacement Victoria will arrive on May 3rd (-:

Time for dinner and a bit of a rest...my feet are very tired!!

Sadness

2010-04-21T16:40:00.001-07:00

I got my wheel back today. Somewhere between Canada and home this happened to it:

Obviously, I won't be spinning for a while.

UPDATE: Louet is sending me a brand new wheel as replacement (-: (Wheel was still under warranty.) We have no idea what happened to it on the way here.

Home again home again

2010-04-14T21:23:00.001-07:00

Just got word that my Victoria is on it's way home. They replaced all the bobbins, flyer, bearings, and drive band!!

I only have the tracking number (too soon to find out where it is), but it should be here next week. I already have some fluff set aside for the first project (-:

Wheeeeeeeee

Travelling Victoria

2010-04-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

I got word this morning that my Victoria will be crossing the border today and entering Canada. It (she?) will then be given a thorough going over and anything that might be amiss will be fixed/corrected. The prospect of her (ok - it is Victoria, after all) return in a spruced-up, fully-functional state is exciting.

To celebrate her eventual return, I bought a Woolee Winder and two extra bobbins this weekend at CNCH in Santa Clara.

Also in my haul were several reeds for my Flip rigid heddle, a Glimakra bobbin winder, and, of course, many samples of fluff to spin. At some point in the near future, I will try my hand at spinning silk, though I may wait a while to do it.

I will post pictures of my fluff stash at some point, but I need to sort out my camera situation first. I don't think my iPhone will do it all justice.

Score!

2010-04-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

I was out at Jo-Ann Fabrics today picking up some inexpensive yarn for test weaving. While I was there, I managed to get an Ottlite Craft Plus floor lamp for 40% off, using one of their coupons.

Ottlite lamps are full spectrum and the Craft Plus model really does cover a large area with light. It will be great for weaving and spinning. I've been using a floor lamp from IKEA, but this is far superior... I'm stoked!

I haven't done much spinning and weaving over the past few weeks. I rearranged my bedroom and have been busy reorganizing and de-cluttering it.

Spinning Wheel Hospital

2010-04-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

My Victoria wheel started its journey back to Louet today. They are going to look it over and do any fixing up that it needs. I already miss it, but I was having trouble with all the mismatched bobbins, so off it goes.

Crash

2010-02-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Oh well, no way am I going to finish my socks in time for the closing ceremony of the Olympics. I haven't even made it to the heel of sock number one!

On a happier note, I did do some spinning last night while we were catching up on some recorded TV shows.

Going to Stitches West on Friday. I hope to find some really interesting fluff to spin. Also on my list are a few books and another spindle.

I'm taking a friend who's wanted to learn to knit for years. I've offered, but I think the idea of learning in a single class appeals to her. Besides, it gives us some time to hang out together.

Progress

2010-02-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

Changed my mind on the yarn for knitting olympics. I'm using yellow yarn a friend brought me back from Rhinebeck two years ago. Label for said yarn is currently MIA...somewhere in the living room.

I'm on the second repeat of the leg pattern. It's easy enough, but the heel and arch construction are scaring me already.

Knitting Olympics

2010-02-12T01:12:00.001-08:00

In the grand spirit of things, I have joined the 2010 Knitting Olympics.

My project is going to be Pyroclastic by Marlowe, who happens to be a local area knitter & spinner. (And very sweet, I might add.)

I have some beautiful green Fyberspates yarn that I got in Edinburgh that might do the trick, otherwise I will look for something else suitable in my stash.

Lendrum it is

2010-01-21T22:00:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for a new wheel. I have a Victoria, but I'm not happy with it and it really isn't a wheel for beginners.

I checked out both the Lendrum and Schacht Matchless. There are lots of differences between the two wheels and lots of good reasons to get one or the other.

In the end, it was compatibility with some of my limitations that made the choice for me. The treadle action on the Matchless began to wear me out after a bit, but I had no such problem with the Lendrum.

If things change, I can still get a Matchless someday, but for now, this is my new toy:

Oops!

2010-01-13T00:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a while; my apologies.

Since the last post, I have been spinning and weaving and knitting. I hope to be back up and running, with pics and all, very soon.

Knit Night Ho ...

2009-09-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in San Francisco on a Monday night, stop by Panera at 4th & King around 6:30 or so. Several of us are trying to start up a knit night there.

On the knitting front, I've managed to make a pair of Sunday Swing Socks out of some absolutely lovely Colinette Jitterbug in Venezia colorway. I liked the yarn so much I bought more to use for a hat.

I had a private yarn crawl in Northern Washington State last weekend. Managed to find some great patterns, Wildfoote sock yarn, and a odds & ends for my supplies kit (needles and such). Unfortunately, the shops didn't have enough of the yarns I was interested in )-: (We missed out on one shop in Port Townsend because we were looking around a bead store for too long.)

Now I'm digging through my stash trying to match up patterns with suitable yarns.

Fluff

2009-08-12T18:15:00.001-07:00

I've been knitting a bit recently - found the pattern of a sock I had nearly completed, so I was finally able to finish the pair.

The biggest news is that I got a Louet Victoria spinning wheel in late May. I haven't had a lot of time to spin, but it is relaxing and productive when I do.

After I bought it, I found out Louet was having a promo for people who bought Victoria or Julia wheels, and managed to get in on the deal. The package arrived yesterday.

I am the proud owner of 9 lbs of assorted fluff - tops and roving to use on my new wheel. Some of it is soft, some of it colorful (dyed), all of it will be a learning experience.

Health

2009-05-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

I'm dealing with a few health issues right now. Hopefully I can post again (with pics) in the near future.

Let me just say that pancreatitis stinks and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Fortunately, I'm out of hospital and at least able to eat again (-:

Been Busy

2009-04-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Life's been crazy recently, hence the lack of posts.

I have, however, managed to weave two scarves, spin on a drop spindle, spin on a wheel (for the first time - and I got to keep the yarn), and continue to affirm that I love working with fiber.

As soon as I find my camera, pics will follow of the complete works.

Weaving

2009-03-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

When I came back from Stitches with my drop spindle, Steve predicted I would have a wheel within a year. My quick response was no ... a loom.

Two days ago I got an Ashford Knitter's Loom (20"), and I love it.

Years ago I did a bit of simple weaving for a woman I babysat for, but I was a bit slow weaving, so that ended rather quickly. However, I still remember a few bits about it - mostly how to keep the edges from drawing in.

So now I am weaving. Steve thinks it's cool; I think it will help me get rid of some of my stash!

Progress

2009-03-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't put my entire list up on Ravelry yet, but I've already had four sales! Three are completed, one is pending payment. I'm feeling pretty good about that.

The big reason for the whole destash is that I just have too much, and I bought yarn for projects that I later decided not to make, or decided that perhaps I didn't like the color, or bought too much.

I hope things will pick up once I finish putting things up online.

Now, if I could just find a buyer for my old DSLR!

Stitches

2009-03-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

So, Stitches West is over for this year. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad I went. One of the best parts was running into all the people I used to hang out with at knitting meet-ups and the guild. It's really great when people are genuinely glad to see you.

I managed to escape from Stitches with only a modest amount of loot. I bough 2 skeins from Brooks Farm (wool/silk/viscose) in pale grey/yellow/green; 3 skeins (540 grams) of Kauni in a denim/green colorway; 10 skeins of Noro Silk Garden. The last two were from Webs, so I got a discount.

I'm also venturing into the world of spinning. I bought a drop spindle and some roving at Urban Fauna. Definitely not very good, yet, but getting some of the results I wanted.

Steve predicts that I will have a spinning wheel by the end of the year. I predict I will have some sort of loom (-:

In post-Stitches news, I made my first destash sale on Ravelry today. Had to set up a PayPal account to do it...welcome to technology!

Too Much?

2009-02-19T22:17:00.001-08:00

There is a 26" suitcase under all that! Fortunately wool is fluffy and compresses, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to close it.

Anyone want to buy some yarn (at a discount)?

Finished

2009-02-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I've sorted all my yarn, and decided which should definitely go. What I haven't figured out yet is how. I started to take pictures of everything, but the colors didn't come out right indoors. It's been raining recently, so outdoors is not an option.

If I can't figure out what to do, I might stuff it all in a suitcase (my 26"), haul it down to Stitches West with me, and set up a shop in the carpark. Anyone interested, let me know.

Seriously, though, I have yarn for sweaters, socks (lots), some cashmere, alpaca, and even a bit of seasilk to pass on, at reasonable rates, to anyone interested. Everything from Lisa Souza to Socks that Rock, Cascade 220, and even a bit of Rowan (actually, quite a bit). At some point I plan to post pics on Ravelry and see what happens.

The result of all my efforts is that my stash now fits very comfortably into 2 very large boxes, with an overflow box of yarns for homework and learning new skills (Oh... and 1/2 box of non-wool stuff). Once upon a time, it had been 3 very large boxes plus at least 4 other smaller boxes and a few small bags. Definite progress has been made.

My goal for Stitches West is to buy yarn for one specific project only (7-8 skeins of grey), and a few gadgets. I've already marked out the booths to visit. No job = no more yarn for a while.

Destash

2009-02-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

I have too much stuff. I also have too much yarn. I doubt that I would ever be able to knit all the yarn that I have, even if I sat down and knit all day every day. Also, the things I want to knit have changed over the past couple of years.

What am I to do? Destash. So, I am embarking on an adventure. I plan to go through my yarn and try to downsize by 50%.

Since I have so much yarn, and much of it is high quality, I will have to decide what to do with it once I have finished the sorting. Some of it has been wound already, so that might have to be donated. The rest, I suppose, can be sold on to someone who needs a bit more yarn.

Arrrrgggghhhh

2009-02-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

We got a loverly program at MacWorld that allows you to scan the ISBN of your books. It then goes to Amazon.com and finds all the details on the book and puts them on a bookshelf (or list) for you. A very nice and convenient way of keeping track and avoiding duplicates.

One tiny problem I ran into: I used to frequent an LYS that has a habit of putting lovely foil stickers with the store name on their books... right over the ISBN. I spent a good part of 10 minutes (or at least it seemed like that) trying to get the damn stickers off so I could scan. I love the store, but this is ridiculous.

New Stuff

2009-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

Changed my blog design...might do more later, if I'm feeling more creative.

I'm still working on my Lady Eleanor. Had to frog an entire skein as I discovered my tension changed. Am being extra careful now, and hoping to have it finished and blocked in time for Stitches West.

Remiss

2009-01-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

OK, so I've been bit lax in posting recently. I've been busy coming up with excuses for not knitting. Things like spousal unit being home for two weeks over the holidays (mandatory), then MacWorld 2009 (which was down the street, so how could I not go?). Just as I was about to resume normal posting, I got sick.

I'm better now, and have been shamed into completing at least one unfinished project that has been languishing at the 80% complete stage for about a year. Hopefully it will be blocked and ready before Stitches West. A wholly attainable goal, I believe.

Fulling

2008-12-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

I have a sweater I made years ago in Colinette Point Five, colorway dusk. It went so fast that I was able to frog most of the sweater and reknit it one day.

There were several problems with the sweater. 1) it was too big...I've lost weight since I knit it; 2) because the yarn was slubby, there was a lot of fuzz; 3) because of the needle size, there was a lot of air space around the actual stitches, which meant that wind went through it pretty easily. (It was, however, great for an unheated apartment in winter.)

After several trips to the "for donation" pile, followed by rescues (remembering how much the yarn cost and how useful it was), I decided to wash it last night and see what happened. If it was totally ruined, it didn't really matter. I actually used warm water and washed it in the machine on delicate. Nothing. On a whim (and while on the phone with a friend who agreed) I stuck the thing in the dryer on low heat for 20 minutes.

What can I say... When I turned it right side out and put it on the drying rack, it looked better than when it went in the dryer! It was still damp enough to give a little tug and make sure the sleeves were long enough. The fabric has pulled together enough that you can now see the nubbiness...and it looks great. All the piles of pills are gone, or less apparent, too.

I feel like I have a new sweater - and just in time for winter.

My Favorite Hat

2008-11-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

What's this??? A picture???

I love this hat. It's made of Malabrigo test yarn in fern green. The pattern is Le Slouch and I used size 8 and 10 needles.

Whoops!

2008-11-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Once again, I've been distracted by life and failed to post about knitting, which I have been doing.

Relocating has it's pluses and minuses. On the minus side: you leave your knitting buddies and LYSes behind. (Unless you are only moving a few blocks/miles away.)

On the plus side: you meet new knitters and have a chance to explore and find a new LYS. I've started doing both. Several times in the past few weeks, I've managed to get to a local knitting meet-up. Good company and good conversation.

Imagiknit, in San Francisco, has become my new LYS. I've been there several times recently. It's easy enough to get there on MUNI and recently they've had special test yarns available that are soft and squishy Malabrigo. (Yes, I bought some!)

Current projects include an alpaca shawl/wrap made with the birthday haul, a couple of pressies, and finishing at least one WIP (from last year!).

I've also been working on several mixed-media art pieces - a lot of fun.

Green Planet Yarns Birthday Draw

2008-10-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

I WON!!!

I went in to visit Beth and crew today (birthday was actually yesterday) and took part in their Birthday Draw. (Rules are that you go the day before, day of, or day after your birthday, make your selection, draw a chip, and get 20%, 40%, or 100% off your purchase.)

Just as I was saying "I won't get the blue one", I pulled my hand out and chip was BLUE!!

I ended up with 2 skeins of yellow Cash Vera, 1 of blue O-Wool, and 2 of Prime Alpaca. I also picked up an additional skein of Frog Tree Alpaca to go with 2 I already had, and a scarf pattern.

I like going to Green Planet anyway, so getting the yarn free was a great birthday bonus.

Thanks Beth!

Stitches West

2008-09-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I finally managed to sign up for Stitches West 2009. This is no small feat as we didn't have internet access until this weekend and are still in the process of unpacking.

There was one class I wanted that was full, but it doesn't matter as it conflicted with another I was interested in taking. All told, I'm signed up for 4 classes, but I might drop one of them. I don't want to be so busy that I can't make it to the marketplace.

I also snagged a hotel room. Last year I drove the 15 minutes back and forth. This year it's a bit further. (It also means I can visit with friends in the area during the evenings.)

Apologies

2008-09-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posts. We are in the process of moving to San Francisco.

Not much knitting going on for now - just a sock in Blue Moon Sock That Rock Silkie. Next pair will be knit on larger needles as this one just barely fits over my instep. (At this point, I am way to lazy to frog and start over.)

WIPs & FOs

2008-08-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

I've been knitting up a storm recently - well, perhaps only a downpour. I finished a pair of Sockotta socks today. I'm nearly finished with a purple cotton cardi, and have only the fronts and finishing to do on a Malabrigo cardi.

There are a few mental blocks to the completion of the purple cardi - basically fitting the sleeves in is a daunting task for me. I'm used to doing things a certain way, but now that I know the "right" way, I've stalled.

I have a couple of tank tops that are now on hold - since we are coming up to the end of summer. I will pick them up again in spring, so I can wear them next year.

I am terrible about taking pics of things. Will have to do something about that soon.

Ravelry Boredom

2008-07-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

OK... got your attention didn't I(-:

I actually have become rather bored with Ravelry recently. There doesn't seem to be much going on in the forums that interests me. Perhaps it's the groups I'm in (or not in), but not much seems to get posted. Some threads are so long that even if I am interested, the thought of reading through 367 posts (or was that 3674?) is daunting.

On the other hand, I have recently updated most of my needles and books - so I will be less prone to purchasing duplicates in the future. I've done that with magazines...books are more expensive!

So, I'm on Ravelry and I check in, but mostly scroll through forums and then go on to something else - like reading knitting blogs.

Sorting

2008-07-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've been hit with the sorting bug.

I managed to sort and re-store my stash. It fits, almost completely, into 3 25-gallon plastic bins. Since I put the yarn in bags first, there's probably a bit less than that. As I put stuff back, I also included sheets of muslin with lavender oil on them (in open snack bags so there's no direct contact). The whole downstairs smells of lavender now.

Task two involved making a list of all my knitting books. Most of them were then entered in my Ravelry library.

I've also tried to account for all my needles, but that is a bit difficult. Too many WIPs complete with needles. I need to sit down and try to tame my double point collection - which has grown and mutated, taking over several pencil boxes.

Next project is to sort through my books and mark patterns that I really want to make, then photocopy them and put them in my queue binder.

Sorting is a lot of work, but it has its rewards. I feel far more in control of my knitting than I did. I know what I have, what I would gladly get rid of, and what I need to finish (that list is long!).

OOPS

2008-07-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

I knew I hadn't posted in a while, but I didn't think it was a whole month!!

Knitting stalled for a couple of weeks. I started several projects, knit a bit, then frogged when I realized they were going to be too big, despite my best efforts to follow the patterns. I also actually knit two small swatches (what are those??) and discovered that yarn I plan to use on projects has a tendency to grow when washed.

The result? Well, I have two tops on the needles. One is blue organic cotton and one is very brightly colored soy silk. I'm about half way done with the cotton top, and have about 4 inches of the soy silk.

Got my camera out recently - so there will be picts in the future.

Sorry for the silence...hope you were able to amuse yourselves (-:

My, My

2008-06-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'll bet you didn't know how clever you were.

I think it's a bit skewed by the last post, or perhaps not! (-;

Interesting

2008-06-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

you are plum
#DDA0DD

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be.

Your saturation level is low - You stay out of stressful situations and advise others to do the same. You may not be the go-to person when something really needs done, but you know never to blow things out of proportion.

Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

My favorite color is yellow, but I wear a lot of plum/red/blue...cause yellow is a hard color to get right. Besides, these colors look good on me!

New Ideas

2008-06-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Ravelry is a blessing (and sometimes a curse...time-wise). Reading through the forums you often hear about things you never would have considered before. Case in point: sculptural knitting.

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles is holding a workshop on sculptural knitting in a couple of weeks. I read about it on a Ravelry forum and I'm now enrolled.

Preparing for the class is/has been fun. I've been gathering up different kinds of materials that can be knitting in one way or another - hence the Habu fique a few days ago. I also have raffia, brass wire, leftover Kuryeon sock yarn, shoe laces, ribbon (both silk and the stuff you wrap packages with), and an assortment of other items.

My artistic sensibilities have been rekindled and I'm in the midst of a couple of mixed-media adventures that include knitting and/or yarn as part of the composition. This is exciting!

On the knitting front, I'm currently working on a pair of Sockotta socks and a garter stitch cotton bag. (Note to self: be sure to remove all traces of acrylic paint from hands/arms before attempting to knit... otherwise results can be unpleasant.)

Patterns!

2008-06-03T23:42:00.000-07:00

The strep crud that hit me is all gone, obviously, and I am up and about.

I went to Knitting Arts today for a second go at their going out of business sale. (It took over 1 hour to check out the first time.) This week single patterns are only 50 cents! I came away with 28, I think... normally would have been $5 plus per pattern. Do I feel good about it? You betcha!

I also got some silk ribbon and Alchemy Pagoda at half off. And a couple of non-wool balls of Habu made it into my stash as well. It's "fique" made from pineapple plant - very coarse/rustic stuff. I have plans for it, but definitely not for wearing. I may go back for more, if I have time before Friday.

There are some interesting and exciting things on the horizon, but more about them later. (I tease because I can!)

Been Sick

2008-06-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

I finished the Kuryeon socks and was taking pics to post when I was felled by some streppy stuff that I must have picked up last weekend. Needless to say, I've been out of commission for a bit. Hopefully, I will be able to post the pics later this week, but, there are other more pressing things to attend to. (Like work, cleaning, etc.)

Kureyon Sock Yarn

2008-05-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I got some Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn. I love the way the colors flow from one to another. I chose colorway 92 and as I knit it I wait expectantly to see when the next color shift will show up. I'm personally waiting for the yellow, my favorite color.

So far, there are several things I have learned from my simple sock project. This is single-ply and rather twisty, so I either have to ignore the twists and kinks, or stop from time to time and allow the sock to hang so the yarn can untwist itself. It's also rather rough wool and sticks to my bamboo needles, making knitting a bit slower. Next time I will try using metal ones instead.

I also used 2.75mm rather than my usual 2.50mm needles, but probably could have gone up to 3.00 and still been happy with the results. (Recommended 2.7 - 3.3mm) There are enough loosely twisted slubs in the yarn to make using a larger needle work, although the bulk of the yarn is pretty even. (The slubs seem to occur where colors change, even slightly.)

Now that I've had a chance to work with it, I might actually try a pattern with a bit of texture. There's plenty of yarn for something a bit complicated - 420 meters. I'd also like to try a couple of other colorways.

I got to handle a sample sock that had been washed once, so I'm not worried about how scratchy it feels now. It should soften up with washing. Besides, I love the colors so much I might put up with "itchy" socks anyway.

(Pics will follow once I've gotten more than a few inches done on the first sock.)

Time Off

2008-03-24T10:49:00.001-07:00

I'm having trouble with my knitting right now. Seems to be slower than it used to be, and a bit more frustrating - too much frogging and all that.

I was going to blog about that at some point, but have decided, instead, to suspend my blog for a bit. Don't think it will really make much difference as I don't think that many people read it anyway.

So, don't expect to hear from me for a bit...

Tapestry Craft

2008-03-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

I found a really great yarn shop in Sydney called Tapestry Craft. They have an SnB Thursdays and I was able to join in both weeks I was there. Kris, a transplanted Hoosier, works at the store and told me about it. She wasn't able to be there the second week I was, so she's not in the picture. Almost everyone there is on Ravelry (-:

I visited the shop several more times during my stay and came away with enough yarn for 4 pairs of socks, 2 of them the now discontinued Patonyle. Having seen and felt this wonderful sock yarn, I can understand all the fuss over the fact that it has been discontinued. I hope cooler heads prevail and they start making it again!

As for knitting books, they cost twice what they are in the US. That really hits you when you realize knitters pay $60 for a book we can get for under $30. I'm told they do a lot of sharing.

From Australia

2008-03-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

We are in Sydney for a couple of weeks. Steve had business last week and this week is tourist time. I found a wonderful yarn shop, Tapestry and Craft, on York Street. Thursday evening I went to their SnB. I've picked up a few skeins of discontinued Aussie sock yarn by Patons, and several patterns. Since they are heading into fall, not much in the way of linen, cotton, or other fibers to choose from right now. Still, I did get something.

Stitches was great, and I learned a lot. Will have to review some of the stuff when I get home, though, just to be sure I remember how to do all the cast-ons I learned!

Stitches

2008-02-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm ready... are you?

I finished and blocked the swatches I need for my class on seaming, and have all the supplies I need for my other classes. Yesterday I made it to the bank and withdrew "Stitches Money" so I won't be tempted to overspend. Will Thursday morning come soon enough?

The only thing left to do now is plan a bit of my shopping. There are some patterns I want to get yarn for, so I need to get yardages and gauges into my notebook.

This will be my second Stitches, I know what to expect, and I'm really looking forward to it all.

See you there.

Pictures!

2008-01-31T15:19:00.000-08:00

Finally, some pictures of my recently finished projects! Thanks for your patience.

Lady Eleanor - in progress. It's about double the length now and several different colors have been added. Most notably, electric blue and a skein of green, yellow, and purple. Next color to add is red.

My soft and fuzzy scarf that was fraught with what seemed like a terminal case of frogging. Fortunately it survived, with help from a friend (thanks PKee), and I love it. Made from Alchemy mohair & silk and Koigu.

"Scarf" for Lisa. Both a birthday and Christmas present. It contains no wool as her hubby is allergic. It ended up far longer than intended, but she loves it. Color choice was her favorites - red and black.

Monkey socks - finished just before New Year's. Used Claudia's Handpainted in passionfruit colorway. Pretty socks, but I got sick of the patter half way through sock #2

Fetching - for me out of Rowan Cashsoft DK. When I make this pattern again, I will definitely make a few changes.

Fetching - for Steve out of Rowan Cashsoft Aran. He wears them at work as the heat is off overnight and he is one of the first people in in the morning.

WIPS - Lady Eleanor and a scarf based on a pattern from Stahman's shawls and scarves.

Update & Stitches

2008-01-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

OK, I managed to re-knit the frogged part and start on the new colorway...yippee! (someday photos, I promise)

I've also started my homework swatches for Stitches West 2008. Using store rebates and sales, I was able to get all the yarn I needed for about $16. I will use leftovers for projects, so it's not too bad.

I'm already thinking about the kinds of fiber I want to purchase at Stitches. I think I'd like to try to get minimal wool blends. Perhaps cotton/rayon, linen combos, bamboo, etc - stuff that would be good for summer wear in CA. I have a couple of patterns in mind and just need to figure out the yardages.

I have a short-sleeved top-down sweater that I started last year - it would be nice to finish that and make a couple more tops. I'd also like to make some summer-weight socks.

I can dream, but I need to mind my budget at the same time.

Arrrrrrrgh

2008-01-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

OK, so I am knitting merrily away on my Lady Eleanor. I notice one of the edge triangles is puckering and not flat, as it should be. No biggie... that can be fixed in blocking, yes? No! Turns out I had not knit it correctly and to undo the mistake I had to frog nearly an entire skein's worth of knitting. It wouldn't have been too bad, except that I was nearing the end of the skein and looking forward to the next colorway! (That and the fact that the mohair kept sticking together as I undid things.)

Fortunately, working with these little blocks of eight goes quickly and I should recover in a day or two.

Obsession

2008-01-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

At the moment, I have an obsession with 8 stitches... these 8 little stitches keep repeating themselves over and over as part of my latest project: Lady Eleanor using Noro Silk Garden.

Each little rectangle is 8 stitches and there are 7 across a row (or 6 and 2 edge triangles). All these little 8's vying for my attention. How fast can I knit them? When will my skein end? Will it transition properly with the next skein? Which row is faster? The one with triangles and P2tog? Or the one with all rectangles and SSK?

One nice thing is that all these 8's make it easy to find mistakes immediately. You only have to frog a single rectangle, not an entire row (-:

So I am obsessed with this project. I've put aside the fog-prone scarf and other projects. This one is fun... all those little 8's go by quickly. I'm already on my third skein and I only started it Friday. (Of course I have quite a few skeins to go, but I'm OK with that.)

Steve thinks it's going to look really cool when I get finished, me too.

Crisis Averted

2008-01-10T15:01:00.000-08:00

OK...so the number one thing I've got to do is stop looking at how fast other people knit. I knit because I enjoy it - not to see how fast I can knit, or how many projects I can complete in a year. When I start comparing myself to others, I get discouraged.

I have put aside a number of projects and am focusing on the ones I truly am interested in and want to see through to the end (even if it takes me the rest of the year). I packed up my skeins of sock yarn, but kept the already wound stuff accessible. I've also chosen a few projects for my queue and put them together with their patterns.

Today I also discovered that Clarks is having a sale - 40% off - so I bought a couple of pairs of sock shoes that I really like. Nothing that looks industrial, frumpy, or out of date.

So, crisis averted...I am a happy camper again. Now, if I can just figure out how to save the scarf I'm knitting from a case of terminal frogging.

Socks

2008-01-09T08:24:00.001-08:00

Some how the idea of Koigu and kitten heels just doesn't seem right (-:

My problem is a desire to be "stylish" vs the joy I get from knitting. Project choice may have a bit to do with it, but I also think that I have been focusing more on the product lately, rather than the process. Trying to get socks (or whatever) done so I have something to wear, rather than taking my time and enjoying a new experience.

This all came to a head when dealing with sock #2 of Cookie A's "Monkey" pattern. While they are beautiful, I was just plain sick of knitting them by the time I finished. I had tried to knit them as part of a monthly KAL, but had added small projects in between. In the end I was knitting feverishly to finish them - and I never did post them to the KAL group!

I tried to start two different pairs of socks after that, before I finally gave in to the desire to work on a Lady Eleanor shawl. Perhaps this is just a minor case of sock knitting burn-out, or it may be a symptom of a much larger issue.

Priorities

2008-01-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

I've been rethinking priorities today and wondering if I've suddenly become too obsessed with knitting. (Is such a thing possible?) I try to finish projects so that I can start new ones...but do I really need what I am knitting? Will I wear it? Do I really want to spend all my free time with needles in hand, or would an occasional book be a good thing? (Answer there - yes - especially if it relates to...knitting!)

I like socks...they are the sort of thing that I can buy anywhere and know they will fit. But, do I need a wardrobe's worth of hand-knitted socks that don't fit any shoes I own? I think the time has come to be brutal with my stash and pack up the sock yarn. (exception...socks that I can wear to bed...central heating - what's that?)

I think the same goes for some of the other projects I have in my extended queue. Decide what gets done and in what order...pack up the rest or dispose of it.

There are only a couple of items I want to get at Stitches West - other than that, I need to declare shopping over for now. Perhaps I can use some of my stash for charity knitting, or a really big project done in small bits. (patchwork throw?)

Lest you think I'm giving up knitting too, don't worry about that - I love it too much to just walk away from it. I just think I need to balance my life a bit more.

DH would love to be able to play Wii games with me ... but I always seem to have needles in my hands. Time for a change, me thinks.

OOPS!

2008-01-05T21:06:00.000-08:00

Several times in the past few weeks I have gone to an LYS looking for yarn for a specific project, only to return home and discover I already had it in my stash! Fortunately it was sock yarn that was duplicated for a different purpose (scarf, gauntlets, etc).

About the only thing I can say about this is at least I am consistent in the colorways I choose (-:

I will definitely have to make a list of wants and needs before I head to Stitches West. Don't want to waste precious resources on duplication when there will be so much temptation around.

Knitting Weather

2008-01-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

It's raining today - raining heavily... and windy. This is the second of several storms that are supposed to be heading through here over the next 5 days... great weather for staying indoors and knitting.

Apologies for not keeping up with the blog. I've been busy knitting and haven't been fiddling with pictures of FOs, so nothing. I hope to get my act together and actually list the completed projects from 2007 and post pics of them (or those I have pictures of) later.

For now, I have a sweater to seam and socks to knit.

FOs

2007-12-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I managed to make a pair of Dashing fingerless gloves for dh. They turn the heat off overnight at dh's office, so it's a bit nippy when he gets in there in the morning.

I also finished sock one of Monkey socks and am pleased with the way the socks are turning out. This is only the third time I have tried to follow someone else's pattern, although I did change the heel slightly. I have been lax in putting up photos of things, will have to rectify the situation before the end of the year.

For now, back to knitting!

Speeding Along?

2007-12-08T22:48:00.001-08:00

Why does it always seem that socks go faster when you are knitting a pattern with repeats?

I started a pair of Cookie A's Monkey socks Wednesday evening and I am already part way through the gusset - despite redoing the heel flap. The real test lies ahead as I have size 9 feet, so even at the gusset I am still only reaching the half-way point. (I had other things to do Thursday and Friday, so I've not put in long long hours knitting.)

I like the way sock #1 is coming out. I'm using Claudia's Handpainted in Passionfruit - a red, brown, tan, colorway with just a touch of purple. Steve thinks they look cool. (Nice to have a supportive hubby.)

Neat Project from the UK

2007-12-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

Last year my SIL in Wales sent me a link to Innocent Drinks and their Big Knit project. It really is quite cool. I wish there was something like it here in the US, but I don't think it's practical given the size of the country. Perhaps something could be done on a regional level with a store like Whole Foods.

Anyway, I think the hats are neat and it's interesting that they give directions on how to make them. You can also check out the entire Innocent Drinks website. (Love their vehicles!)

Venturing into the Unkown

2007-11-29T22:36:00.000-08:00

I love to knit. I love the process of finding yarn, connecting it with the proper pattern, and then seeing the result. I have stash for at least 5 sweaters, 20 pairs of socks, 3 shawls, and countless other projects.

Now I also have a problem. I don't know how long I will have the fine motor skills to keep knitting. I don't have some sort of terminal illness or life shortening medical issue. What I do have is Benign Essential Tremor - mostly in my left hand. It is a progressive tremor that my mother had in her 60's, but I started to exhibit in my late 40's. It is now noticeable to other people when I go to grab something, which is why I finally went to the doctor.

It's a bit scary not knowing how many years of knitting I have left. There are medications I can take, but they tend to make people sleepy - not something I really need. (Of course the doc did say that a drink now and then would help...) No one knows how slowly or quickly things will progress, or how severe the tremors will be. It's all part of the unknown.

So I keep knitting, although, for now, major stash enhancement is on hold. Once I've made more of a dent, I'll get back into buying. Besides...Stitches West is only a couple of months away - there's no way to go there and not buy something.

FO!

2007-11-21T00:24:00.000-08:00

I finished a scarf for a friend tonight. She's an avid San Jose Sharks fan and I was able to get some Claudia's in Sharks colorway at Purlescence. Two skeins of worsted weight made a perfect scarf, using the super easy Yarn Harlot pattern.

I should have picts as soon as the scarf dries. (And I get my act together and get the camera out, download, crop, and post them.)

Aha!

2007-11-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

I had an Aha! moment yesterday and figured out what the problem was with my hand.

I have a super small Sony that I keep next to my bed and use to read e-mail and instant message with spousal unit at work. Sometimes he and I get into lengthy discussions, too. The problem is that the keyboard is smaller than normal, and my hands are larger than normal (well... on the large side of normal). Trying to type on an itty bitty keyboard is what was messing up my fingers.

My new Mac, however, has a normal sized keyboard and is the one I plan to use for knitting and blogging stuff. When I type on this, the problems with my hand don't seem to worsen at all. Answer - no more tiny keyboards for me.

I spent most of yesterday avoiding the Sony computer completely and the result was that when I tried to knit last night, I was able to do so with minimal issues!!

I'm taking things slowly, but rejoicing that I can once again knit!!! Wheeeeeeeeee!!!

Can you tell I'm a happy camper?

Crochet?

2007-11-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

I'm still recovering and trying not to knit or type too much.

So far I've managed continental knit stitch, but purl eludes me, so that won't work. The other night I had a brilliant idea - why not try Tunisian crochet? A couple of weeks ago I went to an open house at an LYS and they gave a mini demonstration/hands-on on how to do it.

Yesterday I picked up a crochet needle (Jenkins "O"), grabbed some leftover sock yarn, and tried to see how much I could remember. Fortunately the results were pretty good. I still need a few pointers and have to figure out how long of a chain to make for a pending project, but things are looking hopeful.

I also got a new computer (MacBook). For some reason it doesn't hurt for me to type on it, but I'm not going to push things.

Frustration

2007-11-12T00:10:00.000-08:00

Turns out I have tendinitis in my right hand, so I'm not even supposed to be using the computer to type this.

I am trying to find new ways to hold the yarn, and even venturing into new knitting techniques, in an effort to be able to knit again. I've been going by the principle of "if it hurts, don't do it that way", with mixed results. It's a long slow process and I may not be able to knit for a sustained period for a few more weeks...yikes!

I miss my yarn... I miss my needles... I want to knit!!!!!!!

Sidelined

2007-10-29T16:45:00.001-07:00

I have been advised by a doctor to keep my injured finger in a splint for the next couple of weeks. Needless to say this means no knitting for a while, unless I can adopt a new knitting style.

Instead, I will make a brave attempt to photograph my stash and completed projects (the ones I still have) and post them to Ravelry.

Shop Hop and LYS

2007-10-23T02:26:00.001-07:00

Knitting is on temporary hiatus as I seem to have hurt one of my fingers and holding needles doesn't help.

I did participate in part of the local Shop Hop last week. We only made it to 2 of the 16 stores. We tried to get to a third, but there was a huge back-up on the highway, so we made a quick exit and went elsewhere. I plan to hit a couple more of the stores in the next few weeks. It's nice to see what stores other than my LYSs carry.

How far is an LYS anyway? Is it 20 minutes? 30? 45? Half of the stores in the Shop Hop were within 30-45 minutes from where I live. If you go strictly by mileage, then I suppose two would be LYSs as they are within 5 miles, but there is another shop that wasn't part of the SH that's just as close.

In the UK it's often hard to find an actual yarn shop. I'm beginning to think I might be spoiled with so many shops nearby. Strange, too, that this is California and not Boston or Chicago.

Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about whether my stash is too big or not (it's not, really) and just enjoy the opportunity I have to experience so much yarn.

Thanks Yarn Harlot

2007-10-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, AKA The Yarn Harlot, came to Northern California. In all honesty, I had no idea who she was... none whatsoever.

I had been looking for a way to socialize more, a hobby that would get me out of the house. My choices were Scottish Country Dancing, or knitting.

SCD went away as an option pretty quickly. I went to their open house and discovered I was not quite as healed from labrynthitis as I thought I was. After a few twirls, I was downing the Dramamine and heading home.

That left knitting. I am a self-taught knitter and had been knitting sweaters for nearly 10 years at this point. I wasn't interested in scarves (too easy) or socks (what's the point?). The most creative thing I'd done was a hot water bottle cover for my mom and a couple of fuzzy mats for her cats.

So, at the last minute, I decided to head off to hear this Yarn Harlot person speak at an LYS. It was to start around 4, I think, and I showed up around 2:30-ish. What a crowd! I had never had a chance to speak with other knitters ... or to see what they were knitting. A totally new subculture for me.

I didn't win any of the prizes that were given out that afternoon, but I got to hear the funniest woman talk about knitting. By the time she started doing her imitation of a sports announcer I was roaring along with everyone else. (Did I mention that I was frogging 61 rows of a double stranded baby blanket while she spoke?)

My life truly changed that day. I clearly was in my element. Amongst other things, I decided to give socks a try. How can you fight logic that says they are small, portable, and if used correctly need to be replaced regularly?

I signed up for a sock knitting class - my first class ever - and the rest is history.

In the past year I have completed:

9 complete (and wearable) pairs of socks (I frogged or abandoned at least 4 other pairs)
2 Clapotis
2 shawls
5 hats
3 scarves
1 pair of mittens
3 mobius scarves (one in cotton for display in hubby's office)
1 child's cardi (top down)
1 baby blanket, hat, and booties

Current WIPs include:

sweater in Cascade 220
shawl in Icelandic laceweight wool
2 pairs of socks (one pair I am on sock #2)
scarf for a friend

I have stash for at least 7 more sweaters, 15-20 pairs of socks, 3 shawls, a double-sided wrap, 2 tops, and assorted "unassigned" projects.

I've been hanging out at knit night at my LYS and even attended Stitches West 2007.

So, thanks, Yarn Harlot for being the catalyst that changed my life. (Hubby thanks you, too!)

Home Again

2007-10-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

We're back...

While was away, I finished my latest Clapotis and nearly knit an entire sock. Pics to follow...eventually.

I also got a neat birthday present - I got my Ravelry invite the day before! (-: I haven't had time to do anything more than join, but I understand the group can be quite a time stealer as you look at what everyone else is doing and what yarn is in their stash.

While in Florida I managed to snag a pair of Cons (Converse) with sheep on them. I'd read about them somewhere, and knew that they existed...it was just a matter of finding them.

As soon as I get more settled, I promise pics and more info.

Going AWOL - sort of

2007-09-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am taking dh on his first ever real, honest-to-goodness camping trip! As a result, no blog posts this weekend.

Upon our return, we are heading off to Florida to see hubby's dad and visit the folks at DisneyWorld. Don't know if I can post from FL as I may not have a computer, but I will have knitting and a camera.

If I get a chance, I will post picts of the socks I finished, the clapotis that is nearly finished, and the sweater I just started...and the other socks I have started too. Hmmm is 4 projects at once too many?

Smooshy

2007-09-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

Ah ,what a wonderful name for a wonderful yarn!

I bought a skein of Dream in Color "Smooshy" in Ruby River the other day, and I love it. The yarn is so resilient that K2tog and SSK are a breeze. I am currently in the midst of a pair of lace socks and can't wait to see the final product (and wear them).

I'm going to have to stop by my LYS and see if they still have the bright green I liked too.

Oh, and regarding the Colinette that I wasn't able to get, they ordered more and are holding some for me (-:

Bummed

2007-08-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

My LYS got in the most beautiful shade of red/burgundy Colinette Jitterbug the other day. Yesterday I asked them to hold a skein of it for me, along with a couple of others, while I checked to see if the colors went with some stuff I already had. I took snips of the tie yarn so I could check (with permission of one of the owners).

I went back to buy it today and they had sold it to someone else. They are ordering more, but it will come in while we are out of town. Looks like I am out of luck on that color - it was gorgeous. Needless to say, I am a bit bummed.

Ten Things

2007-08-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ten Things to do instead of watching TV

1) knit

2) listen to classical music while knitting

3) read a book (about knitting)

4) vacuum the living room (so you don't feel guilty about knitting)

5) take a nap (dream about knitting projects being completed)

6) hang out at your LYS socializing until they close

7) plan a trip to Alaska ... on a sock knitting cruise

8) figure out what your next knitting project will be

9) watch Pride & Prejudice (instead of organizing your stash)

10) read knitting blogs on the internet

UpDate

2007-08-19T21:08:00.001-07:00

OK... so it's been a week of frustration for me. I was working on some Colinette that didn't want to become a pullover, tried to wind some Manos Cotton Stria, and a few other assorted projects with rather disastrous results.

The Colinette has been frogged, rewound, and sitting waiting for a new project. The Stria is still sitting on the swift waiting for me to find the ends.

I have knit some on my socks, and have started a Faroese shawl using the Icelandic lace wool that I picked up back in May. I have 14 rows done... 10 more and I hit the lace pattern. This yarn is unwashed, so it's a bit scratchy to work with, but it does hold it's shape. I test washed a piece of it (dare I say a pseudo swatch?) and it blooms and softens nicely. We'll have to see how the finished project turns out.

There is a rather longish post running around in my head. Perhaps it will appear later this week.

Roll Call

2007-08-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Recently finished projects (since May) include:

Cardi for my niece (not a great picture, but she looks cute in it). It's Encore with Beatrix Potter kitten buttons.

Wool Peddler's Shawl, from Folk Shawls, in Cherry Tree Hill Champlain Sunset. This was my very first attempt at a lace shawl and I love the results.

I started this one several times - the final one was in my hotel in London just after I arrived in May. I worked on it off and on for the three weeks I was there, and finished it within a few days of returning home.

It was also my first foray into the world of blocking ... which prompted me to go buy a double-sized beach towel for future blocking adventures.

Close up of the lace...and a better idea of the colors., although the red is really as dark as the first picture, not pink. I will have to work on my photography.

I also finished a Koigu sock - #2 in a pair that had been languishing for several months. Plus the Fleece Artist socks for TdF.

This past week saw the completion of Mr Sock, who also accompanied me to the UK (photos to follow, I promise). His partner was cast on last night and travelled to the laundromat at 7am this morning. (No way am I knitting Jaywalkers and multi-tasking on reduced sleep.)

School's Out!

2007-08-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last day of classes and thus the last day of tutoring for Summer Quarter. I'm off until the first week of October (-:

Lots of free time for knitting now... and a number of WIPs to finish off.

1) V-neck in Rowan Country (one sleeve plus to go)

2) Jaywalker socks in STR Scottish Highlands (at gusset of sock 1)

3) Colinette cotton/rayon sweater (not happy with pooling...but will finish anyway)

and I might even be able to make a small dent in my stash! Someday pics will be posted.

I have it on good authority (Nathania) that sock yarn should be considered as proto-garments and not stash enhancements. Good thing, as I have enough to knit for the next few years. I long ago lost count of future sock projects and they keep getting more wonderful stuff in at Purlescence... not helpful!

I can't remember a Thursday Knit Night where I haven't walked out with something new. Last night it was Cat Bordhi's latest book. Maybe I should leave my wallet at home next week (-:

The Shawl

2007-08-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

1) it's finished!Feather & fan shawl made with Blue Moon Posh in Lunasea. It seems like this took forever to knit - mostly because it was over 300 stitches wide (90"; nearly 2.5 + meters) and had to be started three times (my limit) and several rows ripped back a few times. You count and count, and find out that you are one stitch off on the pattern...but not till the last few stitches... arrrrrrgggggghhhhh.

2) it has been delivered to its recipient!

Linda teaches English in Thailand and absolutely loves the color and feel of the cotton/rayon yarn.

Funny thing about this shawl, I bought the yarn because I thought it was lovely, started to knit it, then became less thrilled with the colors as they are muted and I am more of a clear color person. I was sitting behind Linda in church one Sunday, merrily(?) knitting away on it, when it suddenly occurred to me that it was the perfect shawl for her.

Linda leaves for Thailand again next month and I know she will get years of happy use from it.

Moving Forward

2007-08-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

OK... I finally have my life back in order. I've been sick for the past few weeks and unable to knit. I am now back in the swing of things.

I was able to participate in the last two weeks of the Tour de France KAL and managed to complete a languishing pair of Koigu socks as well as these:

These lovely socks are Fleece Artist and a 5-stitch cable pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. Lots of fun to knit these, and easy to keep track on sock #2.

I showed them off tonight at Purlescence's Thursday knit night. Ooh's and ah's all around.

The feather and fan shawl that has been in progress for the past couple of months is nearing completion - not because it's necessarily the size I wanted, but I am sooooo tired of knitting it. Fortunately it's the right size for the recipient!

Back!

2007-07-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for the past few weeks - the result of an abscessed tooth and root canal from hell. I'm back now, and hope to start posting regularly.

It's tough when you've been too sick to go outside, and horrid when you are too sick to knit!

I've joined the Tour de France KAL and hope to finally cast on this evening. My project is "Soleil" from Knitty.com. I bought some wonderful Classic Yarns luxury cotton DK today and am set to go.

Stay tuned.

Stash

2007-06-18T21:24:00.001-07:00

Finally back from my travels.

I went to Velona Needlecrafts in Anaheim Hills in May. Great place! I got a bunch of wool there including:

Manos del Uruguay for a jacket (wool),
Manos del Uruguay for a sweater (Stria - cotton)
Icelandic lace weight for a shawl

My trip to the UK was less impressive. There is a dearth of knitting shops and it is really quite difficult to find places.

My first stop was Wales. I was honestly hoping that there would be several stores I could visit.

I did get to go to a shop in Penarth, where I picked up some Colinette. I also picked up two skeins of honest-to-goodness Welsh wool. It is made from the wool of sheep from Wales, is quite scratchy (that may be because it has not been washed), and was available at St Fagan's.

We were thinking about a trip to the Gower Peninsula and making a stop at a shop in Mumbles, but it was too cold, windy, and raining on the day we had planned. Something for next time?

The only "yarn store" in Cambridge is section of a sewing machine shop. I did pick up a sock kit there...because it was cheap and included needles, stitch markers, 2 patterns, and a darning needle.

In London there are really only 3 places to go: Loop in Islington, John Lewis on Oxford Street, and Liberty. I missed out on Liberty, but made it to the other two. I got some Louisa Harding Kashmir at John Lewis for a large shawl.

While I came back from my UK trip with yarn, I was really disappointed.

Welcome

2007-05-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

I've had another blog going for a couple of years, but decided it was time to start one devoted to knitting...

I am about to set off on a trip to the UK and have just returned from a week in LA. I bought some "manos del Uruguay" kettle dyed wool and kettle dyed Peruvian cotton, along with patterns for both. I also got some Jitterbug in "Mardi Gras" and some really cool looking lace weight Icelandic wool. (I won't admit how much I spent, but it was a significant amount!)

I've nearly finished a cardi for my new niece in Wales. Will post a pict when it is finished, which needs to be soon ... as I will see her in less than a week!

Travel projects include finishing sock #2 of Koigu set I started, Socks That Rock "Seal Rock" pair, and possibly the simple silk shawl I have been working on.

Next post London... or Cardiff.