WIPs are taking over...

Here is a list of projects I am currently working on...
Socks for the 4 year-old
Scarf for the husband
Double knit scarf with Pi digits
Log Cabin afghan
Entralac scarf/wrap (we'll see how long it gets)
Hat from handspun
Satchel/messenger bag from handspun
Free form and excessively huge reading sweater
Random swatches and design attemps

It feels like so much, but it's less than double digits, so that has to count for something. And swatching doesn't really count does it?

The problem is, except for the sweater -which only has sleeves left- and the pi scarf -which is about half done- all of the other projects are still in pretty early stages.

And there are new projects I want to do. After a few issues trying to create and write patterns, as well as a class where I had the most questions -or was at least brave enough to ask- I realized I'm not as good of a knitter as I thought. I can knit scarves, and do cables pretty well, but I have only basic lace and color skills along with a very limited pattern vocabulary.

So here's the plan. For my class I had to buy this season's 4th Malabrigo pattern book. It has so many. Lovely patterns that I would actually wear, so I figure I'll just knit through it, skipping the things that aren't my style or use techniques I am confident of, like the cowl where you knit a bunch of cables and then drop the connecting stitches.

The problem is of course that all these patterns were designed to sell yarn, so they use a lot of it. Either there are a lot of colors, or the sweaters are tunics, or they are shawls and not scarves, etc. So this is gonna take a while...

On the bright side, I have spun two skeins on my wheel this week. Over three hundred yards of two-ply yarn in one week, so that's going well, and I will have updates on it soon, promise.

There is also a fiber festival in my area next weekend with fleece sales, demos, animals to pet, and sheep dog trials. That will probably take a couple posts to cover.

I have been busy knitting, I have finished a Fair Isle hat, a tail and ears for my daughter's Halloween costume, and a cowl using the mobius cast on from "Cast-on, Cast-off." Now I just need to stop starting new projects...

Prelude and other Goings on

My wheel arrived on Friday afternoon, and now I am in the process of finishing it. I am using tung oil to finish it. Last night I spent about 2 hours doing the first coat, but this morning it only about 45 minutes to do the second coat. Maybe tomorrow I can put it together.

I was a bit amused by the packing methods of Kromski. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how they packed it, but I was amused that sheets from a Polish grocery add were used as filler.

Paradise Fibers, the company I ordered the wheel from, has a great policy that buyers get $40 of free fiber when they purchase a wheel (other companies have similar policies that include How-To books or DVDs or assembly if you can get to the store and pick up the wheel). Anyway, I got 8 ounces of White Norwegian Top, Grey Jacob Top, and Light Grey Alpaca. Alpaca...wow. I had never felt unspun alpaca. The Norwegian and Jacob had an end available in the bag, but the alpaca end is hidden somewhere, and frankly, I'm a bit scared to try to find it. I have the feeling that if I try to apply any force to it, it will just fall apart. I'm a bit intimidated by the thought of spinning it, but if I can manage it, it should turn out great!

In other news, I was working on a shapeless mess of a sweater that was intended to be worn while I read, knit, work on the computer, or do some other sedentary task that keeps my arms mostly in front of my body. Frankly, other than the fact that the body it about 5 sizes too big, it worked out fine. Not something I would share with people, but it'll certainly keep my warm. Well, I am mostly done with it, all I have to do are the sleeves, and after all that time of watching me work on it, now my daughter wants a sweater out of the same yarn. I have plenty of it left, but I need to be more careful with my gauge and sizing, so there will be a children's sweater with buttons coming sometime before Christmas.

I've been doing quite a bit of knitting lately and will update you on the things I have finished/am working on sometime next week. Hopefully that will help me get back on schedule, though I imagine one my wheel is up and spinning, I'll have plenty to talk about. Until then...get crafty, and have some fun!

I assume it's Polish anyway...

Prelude on the Way!

 I ordered my Kromski Prelude today! My parents were wonderful people, and knowing my recent interest in spinning, and using the completion of graduate school as an excuse, they sent me a check large enough for a wheel!

There are many different kinds of spinning wheels these days (here is a good article explaining wheels and their parts), but after consulting with my husband, we both agreed that a Saxony style wheel was best for us. We both really like the traditional style, and with the Prelude only having an 18 inch wheel diameter, it won't take up too much space. While castle wheels have a much smaller footprint, they just don't have the right feel for me.

I was also surprised how few companies make a Saxony wheel these days. Schacht has one, but it's over $1,000, so that wasn't happening. Ashford carries four, but they start just below $600. And then Kromski has four. The Prelude is a "traveling" wheel making it a bit smaller, and lighter at 9 pounds, and a bit less expensive, which allows me to spend the balance of my gift at a fiber festival at the beginning of October (squee!). Many of the reviews I have seen also boast that the Prelude could be "the only wheel you'll need." As Kromski has both Jumbo and Fast flier attachments. Though if I find that I need a different wheel at some point, all Kromski bobins are interchangeable between wheels.

The lovely folks over at Paradise Fibers even shipped my order today. I submitted my order before 1:30, along with the $40 in free fiber they throw in when you get a wheel- I have Jacob, Alpaca, and Norwegian wool coming, and I got an e-mail at 6:30 giving me tracking information and UPS says I should get my order the 20th!

This does mean I will have to learn to spin again, but I should have plenty of wool to learn, as well as a bit of Bella Wool left that needs to get spun still. But I think it'll be worth it when I don't have to spend four days spinning to get through four ounces of wool.

The real question is if I will be able to use it this month... or next month. My husband's "temporary" assignment is coming to an end and we will be moving 600 miles at the end of October, and we're starting to get into that packing mindset, but I have to make sure the wheel works right? :)

Pattern Issues

Lately, I've been trying to design various patterns. I have many ideas in my head, but getting them on paper seems a bit difficult.

I guess the problem comes from not having knit many things from patterns. I've been knitting for 8 years, but until about 18 months ago I only knit variations of rectangles. Since then I have made a kid's cardigan, a pair of gloves, and some socks.

While these have given me a bit more experience with patterns and garment construction, I don't think I'm ready for sleeve or neckline shaping.

Anyway, I was able to knit a friend a pair of socks of my own design. I took a chance on pattern writing. They aren't complicated socks, just knee-length cable socks, but it's a start.

Feel free to try the pattern and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!

Materials:

Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice 2 Balls

Size 5 Double Pointed Needles

Stitch Markers

Toe Shaping

• Use a Figure 8 cast-on to CO 10 stitches.
• Knit once around all stitches dividing evenly between four needles, leaving 5 stitches on each. Place markers after the first stitch on your first  and third needles and before the last stitch on your second and fourth needles.
• *Knit 1, kfb, knit rest of needle. Knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, knit 1. Knit 1, kfb, knit rest of needle. Knit to 1 stitch before marker, kfb, knit 1.
• Knit 1 round.*
• Repeat * to * until there are ten stitches on each needle.

Foot Pattern

• #Purl 2, cable 3 left, p 4, cable 3 left, p2, k 20
• P2, K 6, P 4, K 6, P 2, K 20-- seven rounds#
• Repeat # to # until foot measures 1 inch smaller than length of your longest toe to heel

Heel Shaping

• Begin on your sole (or the K 20 stitches) and K 19, W&T
• P 18, W&T
• K 17, W&T
• P 16, W&T
• K 15, W&T
• P 14, W&T
• K 13, W&T
• P 12, W&T
• K 11, W&T
• P 10, W&T

Here you will begin to make increases in the heel again. You will be creating double wraps, and have two strands of yarn to knit when you pick up your short rows. Just make sure you get both of them and it will work as a normal short row pick up.

• K 11, W&T
• P 12, W&T
• K 13, W&T
• P 14, W&T
• P 15, W&T
• K 16, W&T
• P 17, W&T
• K 18, W&T
• P 19, W&T

Begin the leg pattern. You will still have one W&T to deal with on your next round, but just knit or purl it into the next stitch and it will end up fine.

Leg Shaping and Pattern

The leg pattern is basically the same as the foot pattern, but around the entire leg. I also chose to make the increases on the same row as the cables so I would have one row to really focus on, also it helps to counter the suction of the cabling. I have only one increase per cable so the increases will be a bit asymmetrical, but this is not noticeable.

It also helped me to keep each cable on one needle, though I got fewer ladders if I had two cables on a needle leaving me with three dpns total (or this would also be the effect of a magic loop). If you prefer to use dpns, I colored the directions to correspond to each needle, it does involve splitting some of the purling.

• Purl 1, make 1, p 1, cable 3 left, P4, C3L, P1, M1, P3, cable 3 left, P4, C3L, P2
• P3, K6, P4, K6, P5, K6, P4, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P3, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P3, C3L, P4, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P3, C3L, P2
• P3, K6, P5, K6, P5, K6, P5, K6, P2- seven rounds

This is the basic pattern, increasing on each cable row. Repeat until there are 10 stitches between cables, then repeat without increases until you’ve reached desired length, about 13 inches.

• Purl 1, make 1, P2, cable 3 left, P5, C3L, P1, M1, P4, cable 3 left, P5, C3L, P2
• P4, K6, P5, K6, P6, K6, P5, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P4, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P4, C3L, P6, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P4, C3L, P2
• P4, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P3, cable 3 left, P6, C3L, P1, M1, P5, cable 3 left, P6, C3L, P2
• P5, K6, P6, K6, P7, K6, P6, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P5, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P5, C3L, P7, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P5, C3L, P2
• P5, K6, P7, K6, P7, K6, P7, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P4, cable 3 left, P7, C3L, P1, M1, P6, cable 3 left, P7, C3L, P2
• P6, K6, P7, K6, P8, K6, P7, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P6, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P6, C3L, P8, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P6, C3L, P2
• P6, K6, P8, K6, P8, K6, P8, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P5, cable 3 left, P8, C3L, P1, M1, P7, cable 3 left, P8, C3L, P2
• P7, K6, P8, K6, P9, K6, P8, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P7, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P7, C3L, P9, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P7, C3L, P2
• P7, K6, P9, K6, P9, K6, P9, K6, P2- seven rounds
• Purl 1, make 1, P6, cable 3 left, P9, C3L, P1, M1, P8, cable 3 left, P9, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P9, K6, P10, K6, P9, K6, P2- seven rounds
• P8, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P8, C3L, P10, cable 3 left, P1, M1, P8, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P2- seven rounds

This is the end of the increases.

• P8, C3L, P10, C3L, P10, C3L, P10, C3L, P2
• P8, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P10, K6, P2- seven rounds

Repeat these eight rounds until you have reached about 13 inches, or two inches short of your desired length ending after the seven rounds or ribbing.

Cuff

• K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, C3L, P2
• K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2- seven rounds

Repeat these eight rounds for about two inches ending after the first round of the repeat. Bind off with any stretchy bind-off; I used the knit 2 together through the back.

First Attempts at Something Novel

Last week, I spent some time making sure I have enough yarn for a Christmas hat. I didn't plan my plying, at all really and ended up with some extra burgundy singles. Since I didn't know how to work it into the hat, I decided to do something completely different.

A while ago I read Sarah Anderson's The Spinner's Book of Yarn Design, and I had been wanting to try some of the things she wrote about, so I jumped in. 

Using some old gold thread I had, that doesn't play well with my sewing machine, I decided to take a stab at some spiral yarn. While I do like the color combination of the burgundy and gold, I really picked the thread because I needed something thinner than the singles I had.

The process was fairly easy and straight forward. I held the thread tightly, using it to support the weight of the spindle, and held the single off at about a 45-60 degree angle. The wraps are not all even, and the single isn't all even, but overall I am happy with the effect, though the addition of the metallic adds some scratchiness to the softness of the wool once it untwists a bit in plying.

I found it easiest to unravel a length of the thread and then just slowly let it out of my hand while wrapping the single from a bobbin. When I tried to unravel both at the same time, I sometimes ended up dropping the thread, which would tangle up everywhere as the spindle and single kept spinning, adding a few frustrating minutes to an otherwise pleasant experience.

I also really enjoyed the addition of the sturdiness of the commercial thread. It was very comforting to know that the integrity of the finished yarn would remain intact almost despite the integrity of the single (though clearly if the single would break, you would be left with just thread and not yarn, not to mention loosing the look of the yarn).

It is certainly something I am going to try again, and hope to become pretty good at. I would like to figure out how to keep the spirals in place, as well as just making more (since I was using left over singles, I only made about 30 yards).

I'm certainly not there yet, but this was a fun and I feel successful journey into novelty plying...an niche that seems to be a bit less filled...

Another Day Plying

My daughter took this picture while I plied.

 I have been working on the Bella Wool to get enough for the hats. I've made a bit of a dent and I think I have enough for one of the hats...I hope. I need to start swatching to see what the gauge is going to end up being.

While I was spinning the natural Wool, I noticed that either this sheep was dirtier than I thought, or I am not very good at cleaning wool. I am fully prepared to take the blame on this one, as I just kind of did it without any real instruction, but I am keeping a spot open for overly dirty sheep (there is a great deal of vegetable matter in the wool).

All the Barber Poled Bella Wool skeined together.

Anyway, the result is that all of this wool is going to need to be dyed. Since one of the girls is pretty bold, I felt comfortable going a bit crazy with the dying for the yarn to accompany the Raspberry Lemonaide.
I had some of the yellow left, decided that I should try dying with the blue I had and combined that with the yellow. It was nice as it was a light Sky Blue, but then I had blue left.
Since I had yellow and red, and yellow and blue, the reasonable thing to do seemed to be blue and red, so I dumped the new yarn I had spun into a pot of the Black Cherry. Wow, I guess I had a lot less fiber this time, or just alot more color, but it came of much much darker.
In the end, the results aren't so bad. I like the effect I got from skeining the three color ways together and I think that is how I will knit it, with the yellow/pink, yellow/blue, blue/red, yellow/blue, yellow/pink. After all who doesn't love palindromes, even those made from colors?

Red and Yellow make...Raspberry Lemonaide

I love Bella the Sheep. She has such nice wool. I need to get a picture of her...

Bella Wool in Raspberry Lemonaide

Now that I have no other fiber to play with, and I realized I only have about two months until I move back to Bella's neck of the woods and four until Christmas, I decided I really need to get going on my gifts to Bella's owners.

Bella was saved from the butcher by a former student of mine. She pleaded with her parents to keep Bella as she was a favorite sheep. I'm not sure how much time the now 11 year old girl spends with Bella, but it worked out well for me.

Drying in the shower. I guess it does read a bit orange.

As I said in a previous post, I was given Bella's fleece, and the mom was just happy to give it to someone who could use it, but I figure that if I didn't pay for it, I should at least make something for the girl who kept this sheep with the lovely wool from becoming lamb chops...and something for her older sister who was also a student of mine.

It all started with some previous experimenting with Kool-Aide dying that you can read here. Then as I started combing out the dyed locks, I realized they weren't as red as I had hoped they would be, there were red sections, but also all shades of pink. Since it wasn't what I had planned, I thought I would try something completely different.

I wanted to know how the yarn would read if I plied the red/pink singles with another color, in our case yellow. Would it come out orange as the colors wrapped around each other so much and so tightly that they blended from afar? Would they keep their individualism and produce a tweed kind of look? It was an interesting question, so I went for it. I used the same method to dye some locks yellow, spun everything up and started plying.

Close up of the lovely Barber Poles

The result was a bit mixed. At first I thought it was just a tweed look, albeit a nice one as the pinks and yellows made a nice summery combination, but as I moved farther away and looked at it, it does have a bit of an orange haze. Go figure.

I'm calling this yarn Raspberry Lemonade and plan to use it for stripes and maybe some flower accents for a couple of hats for the girls. It's only about 120 yards in a fingering/sock weight, so there is no way that it will be enough to make much of anything on its own, though I could check Ravelry...well lots of baby items, or I could make one glove or something, but I think I will stick with the hat plan.

Raspberry Lemonaide skeined