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Posts Tagged ‘Fiber Arts’

Hand Spun Yarn Becomes Hitchhiker Shawlette

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, Spinning, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 5, 2013 | 14 Comments »

Someday I’ll look back at the uneven yarns I plied when I first started spinning with such fondness. Fondness and despair.

I’ll never spin yarn with such character again!

My yarns are smooth and even.

When washed and dried, the hanks hang in perfect parabolas.

I try to over- or under-ply my singles, but my hands will not obey me.

Oh woe is me.

Yeah. Boo hoo.

There’s definitely room for improvement in the yarns I’m spinning right now. But I’m proud to report that I’m finding good uses for them anyway.

Here we have about 1200 yards of 2-ply. Spun from 2 4-oz braids of hand-dyed BFL from Frabjous Fibers in the Cathedral and Potash colorways.

Here we have about 1200 yards of 2-ply. Spun from 2 4-oz braids of hand-dyed BFL from Frabjous Fibers in the Cathedral and Potash colorways.

This BFL is a good example. I got a lot of yardage out of two 4-oz braids, but now I realize I should have plied them a bit tighter.

This yarn is a little bit uneven and not suited to just any project. It needs a pattern that will forgive and even celebrate its slight irregularities.  And it needs to be used for a garment that benefits from a bit of droopiness.

Hitchhiker to the rescue!

hitchhiker

I’m knitting this cute little shawlette as a gift for the friend who will be  photographing my wedding. She won’t accept money in payment, so I am making her something special instead. The rustic texture of my yarn seems to work well with this simple pattern.

I’m only going to use up a few hanks of this batch of hand spun in the making of this hitchhiker. But I’m enjoying the process so much and liking the results so well that I may knit up one or two more. It seems like the ideal gift to keep on hand. Plus, it’s a wonderful travel project.

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The Haunted Fleece

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, Spinning, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 9, 2012 | 8 Comments »

My past experience tells me that my cats love wool. They chew on it when I’m spinning it. They bat it around the room whenever they have a chance. And they fight over the opportunity to sleep on the woven wool couch pad my mother made for them. So, logically, if they love all of those things, then they’ll go ga-ga over a sheepskin sleeping pad.

Boy was I wrong. 

I got home with my new bit of sheepskin, flung it over cats’ favorite napping chair, and waiting for the magic to happen.

If there be magic in this fleece, it be BLACK MAGIC. 

Orion was far from thrilled. He was spooked. He spent at least an hour carefully sniffing the fleece, muscles tense and whiskers extended. His pupils were so dilated they almost occluded the irises.

Cuddle up on this soft little treasure? If by cuddle up you mean keep you distance and watch fearfully from across the room.

Cat with fleece

What did he think he was smelling? It must have smelled of sheep. One frigging scary sheep.

A diabolical sheep with jagged teeth, cruel crooked horns, and a maniacal BAHHHHHHH!

A wooly demon straight from the fiery pastures of hell.

I have to admit , I never anticipated such a reaction to this gift. I’m going to leave it on the chair and give it another week, but if there’s no change then I think I’m going to get rid of it. Christmas is coming and the only scary spirits in my house should be confined to the Muppet ghosts in my annual viewing of A Muppet Christmas Carol.

Scrooge with the Muppet ghosts of Marley & Marley. Image from eatsleeplivefilm.com

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More Free Knitted Stuff: Pay It Forward Returns

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, tagged , , , , , , on October 14, 2012 | 6 Comments »

I’ve very pleased to announce that my second promised Pay-It-Forward item has been completed and is in the mail.

Collegeknitting will soon be the proud owner of a Greta Headband.

Greta Headband by Nikki Wagner, as seen on Ravelry.

Collegeknitting mentioned this pattern in a review of the Summer 2012 issue of Interweave Knits. She said:

I like the detailing on this one, and if I ever have a reason to make a knitted headband, this will probably be it. The stitch pattern and gathered (twisted?) detail will probably keep it pretty interesting. It’s certainly a step up from a simple garter stitch band, which is what I’ve had to do in the past.

As you’ll see when you receive the headband, the twisty look is created using a small plastic loop as part of the construction.

I realized that I didn’t have a proper head to model this on. My apologies. All of my stuffed animals have heads that are too large or too small. The cats wouldn’t cooperate.

This headband is knitted in Rowan Creative Linen (50/50 cotton/linen). It starts out pretty soft and should get even softer over time. I knitted Gemini with this yarn and can report that it  loooves a good agitating in the washer.

Next up is the third prize winner: Anastasia Wright from For the Knit of It.  I’ll be reading your blog carefully to find just the right Pay It Forward gift for you.

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Good things come to those who wait. Knitted things.

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, tagged , , , , , , , on October 3, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Ta dah!

It’s time to make good on the promise I made in my Pay It Forward post. I pledged to created a hand knitted gift for the first three commenters on that blog post.

Gift number 1 is now ready and will soon be winging its way to California where I hope it will be joyfully received by Q of Curls and Q.

A careful survey of the Curls and Q blog revealed something very important about Q. She has a thing for tea.

  • Unplanned Tea: Q visits the Aubrey Tea Room, drinks cream tea, wears a fancy hat, and picks up a single serve tea-pot/cup combo.
  • Birthtea Party: Q celebrates her birthday with tea and scones, plus home-made lemon curd.
  • Tea Spout Do-Dad: Q presented a free pattern for a knitted tea spout wrap to prevent that annoying dripping problem. What a fabulous use of random yarn scraps

I’d just found a very pretty Ribbed and Ruffled Tea Cozy pattern from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. Perfect! The cozy below was knitted from 1 skein of Noro Kureyon.

My cats were really interested in the cozy. Must smell a little like sheep.

Orion was determined not to be left out of the tea cozy intrigue.

No sooner had I decided to knit Q a cozy than she published the following blog post: Cozy up with a Cozy. Total tea cozy porn. I messaged her immediately to tell her about the scary coincidence. Been stalking my favorites list, Q?

I hope Q enjoys the cozy.

Also, thank you to Q for nominating me for a Reader Appreciation Award. I’ll be following up on it soon.

Next up in the trio of winners: Either anastasiawraight or collegeknitting. Time to blog stalk them and wait for inspiration to strike.

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A Tale of Three Lace Weight Shawls

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2012 | 25 Comments »

 

Who really loves being in their own blog photos? No one.

I’m trying to show off my latest knitted projects, but I end up being more worried about how I  look in the photos. Well, no more.

Meet Drusilla. Her services have been engaged to model for my blog. She’s very excited by this opportunity to break into knit wear modeling. Most of her family is involved in modeling sewn clothing, but she’s a bit of a rebel.

Drusilla Singer, professional knitwear model.

 Now that Dru is on board, it’s time to present three special shawls, knitted over the last few months, which I’ve been saving for just such an occasion.

Color Affection

This Veera Välimäki design has been on the “Hot Right Now” list on Ravelry ever since it was published in December 2011. For much of that time, it’s been in the top three. Seriously.

Mom and I knitted our own versions of this shawl almost simultaneously this winter. And completely independently. We didn’t consult with each other; there were no household spies reporting our activities.

Since then, I’ve met at least a dozen other knitters who are knitting this shawl. Color Affection is a fiber-borne contagion. People have taken to calling it “Color Affliction,” “Color Infection,” ….etc.  All kindly meant, of course. We knitters can be a competitive bunch; we all wish that we had been the ones come up with this design.

I knitted the lace weight variation of this shawl and have been wearing it constantly for the last six months. I used three colors of Madelinetosh lace weight merino in Calligraphy, Charcoal, and Nebula.

I’ve knitted more complex things before. I’ve knitted more time-consuming things before. But I’ve never received so many compliments on any project as I have on this shawl.

Citron

I knitted this design just after my trip to Yarnover in April. And thus began my love affair with Juniper Moon Findeley Dappled. This 50/50 merino and silk  yarn is the most luscious thing I have ever worked with. Citron was not a complicated shawl–just row after row of stockinette. This is a pattern that could make you weep with boredom (sorry Hilary Smith Callis), but this yarn made me crave the opportunity to work on it. I knitted feverishly on this shawl–and only this shawl–for two weeks. And when I was done, I was sad…and suffering from just a touch of withdrawal.

Dancing Cranes

Do I sound like I might have a problem with Juniper Moon Findley Dappled? Well I don’t! I can stop any time I want to. And to prove it, I decided to knit one more shawl in a different colorway. Because if I can knit two shawls with this yarn, and then stop cold turkey, then that would really prove that I’m not addicted to it.

I’m very proud to report that I’ve since transitioned to three new projects since finishing this shawl and the yarn I’m using is nothing like Findley. It’s fingering weight, for goodness sake. Mostly merino. Hardly any silk in it at all.

I decided to knit Dancing Cranes in honor of my So You Think You Can Dance Yarn Along. It reminds me of the long white scarf that Cyd Charisse twirled about with in Singing in the Rain. Or at least the original (very bridal) version in the pattern did.

I enjoyed knitting this shawl. The pattern wasn’t too complex, so was suitable for watching TV, but had just enough detail to keep me interested.

The day after I blocked it I wore it on a trip to the Great River Folk Festival. On the way, I stopped at Yarnology  in Winona, MN, to pick up some roving for spinning practice. The ladies in the shop oohed and aahed over it and I had an “aw shucks” moment.

Color way: Fruits de Foret

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In Which I Take Up Spinning

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Spinning, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 23, 2012 | 23 Comments »

Last week I took my first spinning class. Since then I’ve spun the fiber we received in class, the one bag of  fiber I’d set aside “just in case I took to spinning,” and now I’m all out and looking for more.

My mother warned me: Once you start spinning, you won’t want to stop.

File this experience under “Things Mother Warned Me About,” along with boys, drugs and wearing thrift store clothes before you’ve washed them.

In class, the teacher gave us each a homemade spindle made of a wooden toy wheel, a dowel rod, and a hook. A nice cheap way to start. She also gave us our choice of a variety of bags of colorful wool. I chose a bag of blue-green fluff.

Initially, it was not the wool that defeated me. Nor was it the spindle itself. It was my clothing. Word to the wise: don’t try to do a rolling start off your thigh while wearing a loose cotton skirt. I was more successful in winding my skirt around the dowel rod than I was in spinning my yarn. My apologies to anyone I inadvertently flashed during the early parts of class. Eventually I gave up and spun the spindle with my fingers.

The teacher started us out with a technique called Park and Draft, which seems very beginner friendly. You pinch the yarn above the spindle hook, then set the spindle to spinning and wind up a bunch of tension in the fiber between your fingers and the hook. Then you “draft” it out by drawing the twist up into the fiber above.

The yarn I produced during class was very sorry stuff. Full of thick and thin sections and alternately over and under spun. I’m told to call this “novelty” yarn. During the next few days, I spun a little more every day. By the end of the bag of fiber, my technique had improved a bit.

My first proud, lumpy attempt.

Almost as soon as I was done spinning that first batch I started on the next batch. This time, I pre-drafted my yarn carefully, which helped the yarn come out more evenly.

When I was done I wound the yarn around the top of a chair.

A much better, although still quite bulky attempt.

Then I tried taking it off the chair and winding it into a hank. It ended up looking like this:

Sigh.

Apparently, I have an over-twisting issue. So much to learn.

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In Which I Realize That I Can Knit Anything I Put My Mind To: SYTYCD Yarn Along

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Competition, Dance, Knitting, Life, TV, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 22, 2012 | 6 Comments »

Without a doubt, Leroy Martinez was the highlight of the So You Think You Can Dance Salt Lake City Auditions. He may not have been the most talented dancer we saw that night, but I enjoyed watching his audition more than any other I’ve seen so far. This is a guy who works for a doggy day care center by day, and moonlights as a mentor for the Peacemakers, a dance organization for disadvantaged youth.  He comes from a self-professed rough background and he believes in the power of dance to change lives. He is living proof. Kids see a light like that and they’ll follow it anywhere.

A true inspiration. And more charm than a basket full of breakdancing puppies.

I feel as though I witnessed something miraculous in watching Mr. Martinez. He makes you believe that you can really do anything if you try.

During the last year, my knitting has really taken off. It’s as if the fear of challenging myself has melted away. I no longer avoid cables and lace. I no longer shy away from three-dimensional objects larger than a hat. I’m really learning how to read and understand patterns. Really understand them. That’s an amazing thing for me. I feel as though I can pick up any pattern. I can learn any technique. I can diagnose my own mistakes and even mistakes in other people’s patterns.

I can do anything. Just like Leroy. And just like YOU!

Imagine that last thing declared in a loud, ringing Oprah-esque voice.

Ok, I’m done now.  *sheepish*

Here’s one of my recent finished objects: Gemini by Richmond. I finished this a few weeks ago and I’ve already worn it to work three times. When I wear my finished projects to work I feel so accomplished. It’s a big confidence boost. Everybody needs that at work, now and then.

I should have bound off the sleeves a little more tightly. Other than that, i think this turned out pretty well.

There were a few other big highlights from the SLC auditions.

I’ve been disappointed with the quantity and quality of the ballroom contestants in the auditions this year. Ask anyone who knows me. I talk about it a LOT. I’m delighted that Witney Carson made it through to Vegas. I don’t think she measures up to Anya from season 3, but that’s a pretty tall order. Plus, Anya had several more years of dance experience and had been a national finalist before she ever made it to SYTYCD. I remember seeing her on America’s Ballroom Challenge in the early 2000s. Rooting for Witney. Definitely. Image from MTV.com

I’m really looking forward to seeing what Gene Lonardo (a.k.a. the preying mantis) can do. He’s really got the inhuman movement thing down. And he has a really entertaining androgynous quality that reminds me of Billy from season 7. As Mary Murphy quipped, “the ladies will eat him up.” Totally. Save me some. Image from PbMom’s Blog.

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USOC Apologises to Ravelers

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Knitting, social media, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2012 | 3 Comments »

I am very glad to see that the United States Olympic Committee responded quickly to the Ravelympics debacle.  So often, large organizations like this dither over their response or send no response at all, not understanding how important it is to respond quickly to crises, particularly when so much of it is playing out over social media channels.

This said, their first try was a bit wanting. I was particularly amused that, as a peacemaking gesture, they suggested that we send them handmade gifts. Ok, that’s not fair. They suggested we make handmade gifts for the athletes, not for the members of the USOC.  Still, there’s a reason they call it “offering the olive branch” instead of “asking for the olive branch.”  Silly monkeys.

The USOC posted an update to their apology later in the day that I think more successfully apologizes for the “denigration” insult that had us all up in arms.

“As a follow-up to our previous statement on this subject, we would again like to apologize to the members of the Ravelry community. While we stand by our obligation to protect the marks and terms associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in the United States, we sincerely regret the use of insensitive terms in relation to the actions of a group that was clearly not intending to denigrate or disrespect the Olympic Movement. We hope you’ll accept this apology and continue to support the Olympic Games.”

Thank you, USOC. That’s what we were looking for.

It’s too bad that Ravelry will still be required to change the name of the Ravelympics, but I think we knew that would happen. Like it or not, the USOC does have a trademark on usage of “Olympic” and has the right to enforce it.

To tell you the truth, I’m relieved that this mess has come to a swift conclusion. I want to go back to talking and thinking about knitting in positive and joyful ways again. I enjoy the occasional sparring match, but I’m not a political junkie by nature.

Now it’s back to my Rocky Coast Cardigan. Back to writing my FO Friday post, sadly neglected for two weeks. Back to projects and the thing that inspire me.

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SYTYCD Yarn Along? Any Takers?

Posted in Clothing and Accessories, Dance, Knitting, TV, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »

During my lunch break today I was scanning one of my favorite Web sites: Pure So You Think You Can Dance, which is devoted to documenting the music on the show. What I love is that they make a special effort to document the songs that are played during the tryouts, which are many, often awesome, and sadly fleeting.

iTunes makes so much money off of me during So You Think You Can Dance, it’s embarrassing.

Heidi and Benjii from Season 2. Watching this number still gives me goosebumps. I can’t knit and watch this at the same time. I’ll drop stitches.

So anyway, this got me thinking. Are there any other SYTYCD fans out there among my knitting buddies? Is anybody interested in doing a Yarn Along inspired by the show?

I’m thinking it could be similar to the Yarn Along many of us do where we share a project we’ve been working on along with a book we’ve been reading. For this Yarn Along we could share a project we’ve been working on (hopefully while watching the show) along with a recounting of our favorite dance moments from each episode.

Dance = Art

Fiber Art = Art (duh)

Put them together and that’s Art squared. Maybe an inconceivable, as-yet-undiscovered new dimension of awesome. 

Who’s with me?

 

Update: Dance Tog suggested we create a little logo for our group. How’s this?

 

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Yarn Along/WIP Wednesday – Knitting Gemini and Learning More Than I Ever Wanted to Know About Raising Sheep

Posted in Books, Clothing and Accessories, Humor, Knitting, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 16, 2012 | 15 Comments »

The only thing I’ve ever knitted with cotton is dish cloths. And I’ve knitted lots. Dozens and dozens; maybe even hundreds and hundreds. I’ve lost track. I think of cotton yarn, perhaps unfairly, as tough, stiff and slightly harsh. Ever try practicing your cable patterns by knitting them into dish cloths? Challenging, isn’t it?  The yarn just doesn’t have enough stretch for some of those cables. I almost broke a needle trying a particularly tight Aran cable.

This week, I’m branching out with my cotton knitting. I picked up some decent yarn (a cotton/linen blend by Rowan) and I’m going to be knitting Gemini, a summer top I’ve been salivating over for months.

Gemini by Jane RIchmond, as seen on Ravelry

To accompany my knitting, I’ve picked up Hit By A Farm, a memoir by Catherine Friend, a local author. It recounts the trials experienced by two city girls who, at middle age, decided to take up sheep farming. I expected this book to be a feel-good romp, like a 21st century version of All Creatures Great and Small. Hoo boy, was I wrong.

The book has its gentle, funny moments. I particularly enjoyed the author’s recounting of her first lambing season and  the story of how she accidentally planted hundreds of grape vines upside down.

What strikes me most about the book, however, is its dark and troubled moments. She writes unflinchingly about the uncertainty and anxiety that were a constant part of her life; the sorrow and impotence she felt over loss of animals;  and the devastating effect of this major life change on her relationship with her partner.

I didn’t expect this book to go there.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it, but be prepared. Rose-colored glasses come separately.

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