Michigan Interlude

Last week I was in Michigan with my mother, and had the added benefit of seeing my niece and nephew, and getting to take care  of them for a bit.  While there, my mother was complaining of cold hands.  Personal experience with Dan and Sofia told me exactly what to do—make fingerless mitts! Not possessing a GPS or smart phone, I still rely on printing out old-fashioned maps.  Grand Rapids is not a city that I am familiar with, but it is not that big. Googling yarn stores turned up  A Grand Skein, and I drove there during a break to purchase yarn for those fingerless mitts.  I loved this yarn store, and the owner could not have been more helpful and nice.  So, I purchased yarn to make 2 pair of mitts, and noticed something on the way out.  The mitts were very simple, and the yarn was so soft, Mendocino by Crystal Palace, not a yarn that I had tried before, but I really loved it. What does not show up well on the photos is the color range of the yarn, a rainbow effect, plyed with a pink color, they were very pretty.

My mother loved them, and within a short period of time, her hands felt warmer.

What kept coming back to me was the thing I saw while at the yarn shop.  A big skein winder, with amazing ball-bearing gears, it spun so smoothly.  You know where this is going… I went back the next day and mulled it over for a bit and decided to purchase it.  The skein winder is made in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I could not locate it online, I did find this demo video, and this one however.  Over the years I have learned when I find something I really like, especially if it is unique and not readily available, just purchase it.  This would have been too hard to ship, so I splurged and brought it home with me.  The winder came with either a table mount or a stand with the option of a table mount, I went full hog for the entire set.  If I want to become a custom yarn dyer, I might need the dyers 5′ winder!!  The workmanship on this is wonderful, and has been improved from the video to include pegs to wind a 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2 and 3 yard skein.  The walnut detailing is just a plus!

And I purchased this yarn also for fingerless mitts, Ella Rae Lace Merino worsted, but did not get them knit up prior to leaving…

YarnCon’d

Yesterday was the second day of YarnCon 2013.  It was moved from the Fall to the Spring, and to a new location at the Plumber’s Union Hall.  There were many more vendors at the event than last year, and quite a different selection.  Last year I had a fun time perusing the event, but did not purchase anything, this year was different.  Lorraine was my companion for the day, she had a 2 hour class on weaving at the beginning of the day, and I had a 1 hour class on acid dying mid afternoon.  We were lucky enough to be the last of the first 50, which meant that we got a bag of goodies, which was quite a treat.

A couple of these items require elaboration.  First, the yarn is from Juniper Moon, and was donated by the owner Susan Gibbs.  This is such a soft combination of Llama, Merino and Cotton, should make a gorgeous winter hat.  Susan also gave a very interesting one hour lecture on her journey from Producer to Sheep farmer to Yarn company, both informative and entertaining.

The magazine By Hand was one of Ms. Gibbs latest ventures.  This issue is from last Fall, and so of course I had to purchase the current one.  The magazine celebrates everything done by hand and is broken down into chapters titled:  Cook, Grow, Build, Stitch and Craft .  There are some amazing recipes that I am anxious to try, including Turnip Bacon Soup, and Rhubarb Chutney.

My shopping was limited.  I have learned to make at least one round at fiber fairs to see what catches my eye.  Later I allow myself to purchase, and this has greatly reduced my spending. There was so much yarn from Indy Dyers, and I was really only interested in the sock yarn.  I had gone to the event thinking that I would purchase from one particular vendor, but this beautiful yarn from  Happy Fuzzy Yarn caught my eye.  And she is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan to boot (my alma mater)! This is 50% Superwash Merino and 50% Tencel.

And how can one pass by at least some fiber for spinning.  I was not drawn to any of the hand dyed fibers at the event, and this may not look like much, but I wish that you could reach through the computer and touch it, Shetland and Angora (from rabbits), it is so incredibly soft.  Will make a great pair of mittens.

And one bump of dyed fiber to add contrast to this luscious soft fiber.

My last purchase was something that was not even on my radar, a new project bag from poise.cc.  The structure of this bag, having a square bottom that always sits upright, intrigued me.  When the designer mentioned that the top fabric is Vintage Japanese, I was hooked. I already love this bag, and it will become my go-to project bag from now on, attending knitting with me tonight.

The afternoon ended with a class on acid dying yarn.  Given that this was the first and only time that I have attempted to dye fiber, I am very happy with my end result!

And, if you do not have enough craft supplies, check out this sale, coming up in 2 weeks in Chicago.  Love the mantra: Do it Your Own D*mn Self!

Danube

These socks are from the Janel Laidman Knitterati sock club, July shipment.  The yarn is Lillian from Dirty Water DyeWorks, and I just love it.  The sock pattern has a twisted rib foot bottom which much to my surprise is very soft and squishy with the added benefit of really snuggling up nicely to my foot. I love these socks!

 

Pattern: Dunabe
Pattern Source: Janel Laidman’s Knitterati Sock Club 2012, July pattern & yarn
Yarn: Dirty Water DyeWorks, Lillian
Needles: US 1
Date Started: 9/?/12
Date Finished: 10/19/12
Finished Dimensions: Women’s size medium

Provence

I finally finished these mystery socks from the Knitterati Sock club.  The given name was Provence, which I love, having lived a year in Aix-en-Provence during college.  Very pretty and soft, it was a fun knit.

This was a mystery knit where the clues were doled out one week at a time.  The sock was knit from the toe-up and called for the EZ sewn bind-off at the end, my only change was to do my favorite tubular bind-off instead, I think that it is stretchier and has a better finished look.  The yarn was enjoyable to knit with and I would definitely add this to my approved yarn list.  I know that we had a pair of socks from the CookieA sock club last year, also from this vendor.

Pattern: Provence
Pattern Source: Janel Laidman’s Knitterati Scok Club 2012, May pattern & yarn
Yarn: Little Red Bicycle Boneshaker BFL Sock
Needles: US 1
Date Started: 5/31/12
Date Finished: 7/15/12
Finished Dimensions: Women’s size medium

 

 

 

 

Barely Enough

 

I finished these socks from the CookieA sock club.  After getting to the toe on the first pair, I was concerned about having enough yarn to finish both socks, so put that one on holders and knit the second sock from the other end of the skein.  Up until the end, I was not sure that I would have enough yarn to finish the socks, let alone the toes.  Turns out I did knit the toes, with only 2 yards left.  The yarn, Plucky Knitter’s Primo! has only 385 yards, that alone would make me question purchasing this yarn in the future.  It was very nice to knit with though, and the color is beautiful.

Pattern: Solfar
Pattern Source: CookieA 2012 Sock Club, June pattern & yarn
Yarn: Plucky Knitter’s Primo!, Color: Vintage Icebox
Needles: US 1
Date Started: 7/15/12
Date Finished: 8/1/12
Finished Dimensions: Women’s size medium

 

 

 

 

Socks and Spinning

It seems that all I have been working on lately is spinning and socks. Having a new sock yarn and patterns come every month does not help the issue any.  And now I want to add basketry to the mix…

First off, spinning.  I finally finished plying this yarn.  The fiber is from Into the Whirled, and was part of the February/March SAL.  I am a bit behind on this spin-along thing as you can see.  Those 2 months were a blur to me, and I just could not get much done.  This is a 3-ply with 2 plys of the color Delectably Delicate, polwarth/silk and one of the coordinating blue.  I have a bit of the variegated color left, and a braid of the pink coordinate to spin up.  I will ply the remainder of the main color with 2 plys of the pink, and then have a 3 ply pink coordinate also.  There are 880 yards of 3-ply here, and with the other coordinates, I do think that I have enough to make a simple sweater!!!!

And on the sock front I am still working on the February socks, Hibernia, from Knitterati sock club, yarn from.  There are a massive amount of cables and many directions happening in these socks, so it is taking FOREVER.  Kelly green is not my color, but with the amount of work that has gone into them thus far, I will not be gifting these.  It is Mad Color by Fiber Arts, the color is Emerald Green (80% Superwash Merino, 20% nylon), 420 yards, 4 oz.

Clue #2 on the May Mystery socks is finished, and I hope to complete the rest within the next day or two.  I love this pattern, just not sure that it is my color.  These will probably be added to the gift pile, and I will reknit a brighter pair for myself.  This yarn is from  Little Red Bicycle (80% BFL, 20% nylon), color: Heliotropium, and is proving to be yet another great sock yarn.

As if I did not have enough sock knitting to do, the June installment from the CookieA club came today.   I love this month’s patterns, both of them.  I will make one out of this colorway for myself, and the second pattern will be perfect for socks for Dan using some brown handspun that I made specifically for him.  Yet another yarn base that I have not tried from Plucky Knitter, it is Primo which is merino/cashmere/nylon; colorway is Vintage Icebox.

After a hard days work…

The Nanaimo Socks are finished and gifted to Dan even though he will not be wearing wool socks in this heat.  These were the April installment for the CookieA sock club.   The color was perfect for Dan, so I chose the simpler pattern this time, as I knew he would not like tons of cables and traveling stitches and yarn overs.  It was a very quick knit, and I love this yarn, it is a 100% superwash Merino, and with a nice tight spin.  Not too thick either, so makes perfect socks for him to wear to work.

The pattern is extremely generous, I made the Medium size for Dan, and would make the small size for myself.  Also, making the medium with a longer foot meant that I had very little yarn left over.  I did not weave in the ends of the first sock’s toe until the second was finished just in case I needed to knit the toes with a different yarn.

Project Specs

Pattern: Nanaimo Socks, size Medium
Pattern Source: CookieA Sock Club April 2012
Yarn: Soctopus Sokkusu Original; 100% merino wool
Needles: US 1
Date Started: 5/6/12
Date Finished: 5/56/12
Finished Dimensions: Mens large

Finally finished socks

It seems like I have been working on these socks for so very long.  They were a fun knit, but unfortunately interrupted by a new spinning wheel and a Haapsalu shawl kit.  Fun and funky is a good way to describe them.

I love these colors, they are so ME (although I think that they are being saved to be gifted).  And the yarn is wonderful, too bad this company split up.  Look at how the pattern continues along the front of the foot, and the gusset decreases are accomplished by blending the pattern portions of the sock together.  Cookie genius as usual!

Project Specs

Pattern: Dragon Crystal
Pattern Source: CookieA Sock Club 2011
Yarn: The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga!
Needles: US 1
Date Started: 3/22/12
Date Finished: 5/4/12
Finished Dimensions: Women’s large

She thinks this is stash?

A design blog that I follow recently had this article about knitting stash.  It was comical to me that she thought a couple of bags were stash to be reckoned with (I won’t even discuss how lame the knitting cupboard was for this blog to post).  On the other hand, I remember the days when I knit basically project to project and had very little stash, something that I always wanted to keep under control.  What happened?

• I became a sock knitter (we all know you need a vast array of possibilities for any project that comes to mind)
• I joined sock clubs
• I discovered knitting conventions and fiber fairs
• For awhile I got sucked into the store close-out sales
• Nobody carried my precious Dale of Norway Baby Ull any longer so I needed reserves on hand to make those beautiful Fair Isles
• I started spinning
• My kids moved out so space was not at a premium
• Ravelry

I am still in the process of making up my knitting room.  I thought it was close, and a new section is being designed.  I hope to have it finished this summer and then I can show photos.  But until then, here is a photo from last year of my Baby Ull all organized.  Right now it is patiently waiting in a bin for a new home.

I have been really good about not purchasing new yarn (sock clubs excluded), but the spinning fiber is a whole new story.  I am hoping when everything is together and organized, I will not only be creatively inspired, but will be inspired to keep it under control.  Stay tuned for the big unveiling this summer.

Almost, but not Quite

I had originally decided that this Christmas was to be hand-knitted gift-free.  No undue stress on me to finish a project just to have it under the tree.  My family would be the recipients of my knitting anyways, Holiday or not.  Then I started putting together the gifts, and as usual my husband’s list was extremely short.  So, I pulled out this sweater, the knitting had been finished for at least a year, maybe two.  Just goes to show how much I hate the sewing up process.  So, while he was picking Ethan up from school, and Sofia was here helping bake, I seamed the sweater together:

Then all I had to do was the collar, which as usual took longer than planned.  This is the Chess sweater, a kit by Hanne Falkenberg, and a ton of knitting with size 2 needles.  This is as far as I got, it was put in a box with the needles still attached.  Hopefully this will get finished today.

Since his stocking was also on the light side, I decided that I needed to put in a pair of socks.  I had been working on these from the CookieA sock club, the pattern is Hex Socks.  The first one I started 4 times, Medium, then Large, then Small, then back to Medium.  The yarn is from Fleece Artist and it is Sea Wool (70% Merino, and 30% Seacell), a bit thicker knitted up than I usually like for my socks.

I was wondering what exactly Seacell was, so I looked it up, and here is the description of the fiber actually made with seaweed:

The idea behind SeaCell^® is really rather simple: a cellulose-based fiber is manufactured using the so-called Lyocell process. This Lyocell fiber then serves as the “functioning substrate” for the seaweed.  Seaweed is added as the active substance for a very good reason. The fact that this marine plant is rich in trace elements has been well known since the times of Chinese medicine, and seaweed has also been proved to protect the skin and have anti-inflammatory properties. It is seaweed which forms the basis of the SeaCell^® fiber.

So, I put one sock in the stocking, and kept working on the second.  Then, I burned my hand twice in the oven while cooking yesterday, so I had to soak my fingers on ice, knit a partial round on the sock, soak my fingers, knit a bit, etc.  Not the most productive.  Today I am better, and hope to get these done.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!  We did!