November 2004 Archives
I may be the world's slowest scarf knitter, at least with US7 needles. I've just finished the 4th ball of yarn with 2 more to go on this reversible cable scarf. One pattern repeat every day until December 17th (when we ship off gifts to Germany) is all I can handle, as the repetitiveness is a little... boring!
Pattern: Garter stitch
Yarn: Adrienne Vittadini Natalie in Jewel
Needles: US15 (10mm)
Finished Size: Pre-blocking, 8" x 72"
I figured out why big needles are so useful... Because they knit up things quickly, duh! My swatch with the red Natalie yarn kept on gettting longer and longer, and 3 hours later I had a scarf. Elizabeth, I hope you don't mind! This yarn was to be used for a Latifa scarf, but it would've been hellish to work for ruffles...
Natalie is a ladder yarn that's been folded over to create a loopy (and snaggy) texture. It was fun to knit with, and the resulting scarf is light, airy, and full of texture. This will go to BF's mom.
Jennifer asked a question about the yarn used for Moonstone Lace Scarf. My reply bounced back from your address Jennifer, so here's my answer: The yarn is thick and thin, and overall I would call it an aran-to-worsted weight. It was my first time using hand-dyed, hand-spun yarn and it was amazingly soft and knitted up quickly. Luckily I have 2 more skeins in my stash! And how's this for enabling:
Chasing Rainbows Dye Works (Nancy Finn)
{a} a1700 Hilltop Drive, Willits CA 95490
{p} 707.459.8558
{e} nancyscrd AT saber DOT net
More info here.
Did you honestly think I'd pass along that Ugg booties pattern and not knit it? I have the perfect reason too: the stripey Kittyville hat turned out to be fugly (fuchsia + salmon pink = :-P) , and I needed to start on a quick baby gift. I used leftover yarn from Grace for the sole because I didn't know how much yarn I'd actually need. You can see from the picture, however, that I could've knit the entire thing in the cotton; I've got about a third of the ball left over. This yarn makes an interesting texture that I'll take a closeup of next time; it makes it kind of hard to see the stitches, actually.
I'm having the same problem as Missa with the pattern. It calls for US 5 and 6 for the larger size, US 4 and 5 for the smaller. I got gauge with US 3 and 4, knit the smaller size, and still these things are big enough for a 1-year old. I'll probably knit another pair and play around with the measurements and stitch and row count, just because things like this bug me. (Of course, you'll say "You're not using the yarn called for in the pattern!" and I'll say "Fair enough, but someone else did and got a sizing issue." Moot point, yah?)
Now if I can only find that leftover bouclé from Laurie Lambkin...
Yes, the spinning bug's arrived at Yummy Yarn. I bought an inexpensive kit off eBay some weeks ago, a sort of trial to see if I would like this spinning thing. It's *fun*. I got some advice from Anne on spindles and fiber, and from Nancy (whom I met briefly at [not so] Fab Fiber Fest), who told me to "draft, draft, draft". I read how-tos and watched videos online, then went to the library and borrowed everything I could find on spinning. Amid the fiber-breaking, over- and undertwisting, spindle-dropping, not to mention heaps of frustration, I managed to spin some single ply that was for the most part even. And then I managed to spin some 2-ply. And then I made a skein. All 18.3 yards of it, baby!
I still have an ounce left over that I'll be spinning with during the Thanksgiving break. I want to try a top-whorl spindle; Anne's given me some names, and I want to experiment with different fibers. Some friends are planning a day trip on motorcycle up to Santa Barbara in 3 weeks. I'll make sure we drop by here. Jen or La, any special fiber requests?
From one of my all-around favorite blogs: Artist Chris Cobb organizes San Francisco's Adobe Bookstore's shelves by color. More info here and here.
Crazy Daisy Kirsten has created Home Grown Daisy as a forum for issues political and otherwise.
I think I may exceed my quotas of bangs (exclamations!!!) in this entry. (hee hee!!!) Missa posted about the cutest little baby boots! They look like Uggs, which aren't my style, but these would be perfect for any little girl!!! So, so adorable!!! Follow the link above for the pattern!
Okay. Just had to get that out of my system.
First, some stash enhancement courtesy of Elizabeth, who was a great Secret Pal. She is *the* enabler for my sampling all the yummy yarns out there. I got some more of the Varaluguai 100% virgin wool, 2 balls of Mission Falls' 1824 Cotton, a skein of oh-so-pettable Classic Elite Lush, and a big fat skein of Noro Iro! I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat on acid when I opened the package. The Mission Falls cotton will be made into a striped Kittyville or Devil hat for our friends' little one, due to arrive in December. The Varaluguai and Lush will marinate in The Stash for a while. BF liked the Noro so I will reserve that for him. Not a hat (I've knit enough of those for him), possibly a scarf? Any ideas? Big thanks and hugs to Elizabeth, you are *truly* awesome.
My kingdom for a photo studio. In an alternate life I would've been a photographer, but let's not go into career choices. The scarf is about 48" long at this point and I think I'll stop at 72". It's warm; those ribs and cables do a good job of trapping in air. I have to block this, as you can see the garter stitch is shorter than the ribs and is pulling everything in.
Don't ask me how many stitches I've dropped (grrr). I have renewed respect for all the knitters (take Anita and Kate, for example) who willingly take KSH and make beautiful wispy things out of it. See my yarn donut? I compared it to the other donut with its tag still on. Same exact size. Heaven help me, Gran should have this by next Christmas.
And how are YOUR winter knits coming along? :-)
From Busy Needles' October 11, 2004 entry: Kim Hargreaves has a website debuting in November. I can't wait to see her new designs! Op-en, op-en, op-en!
Jack and Lily has the most adorable clothes and shoes! I love the little green shoes with duck patches. Quack quack!
Thank you for all your comments on Grace. As my first sweater/jacket, it was a great knit and a great learning experience. To have more experienced knitters commenting on my knitting is a BIG compliment. Thank you! (And special thanks to Kerstin for the blog shoutout!)
Secret Pals 2 ended of course last week. My Secret Pal was Mia in Maryland, who doesn't have a knitting blog up, yet, but I'm trying to persuade her. She's been knitting for a while and I'm curious to see what she's finished and if she's been using the yarn or book I gave her! I was Elizabeth's Secret Pal, and you've seen all the yummy things she's sent. I'll be swatching with a few of those yarns pretty soon!
Pattern: Feather and fan
Yarn: Chasing Rainbows Dye Works Kid/Merino (300yds) in Moonstone
Needles: US8 (5mm)
Finished Size: 7.5" x 52" (19cm x 132cm)
This was such a pleasure to knit! I frogged it early last week because I didn't like the edges, so then I slipped the first and last stitch on the wrong side. It must have been the combination of kid mohair and merino, or perhaps the stunning colors, or even the sensation of thick and thin yarn passing through my fingers, because I couldn't put it down. It practically knit itself up.
The back "pattern" is just as beautiful as the front. I had a scant 12" for casting off and weaving in ends, I wanted to use as much of it as possible. Nancy Finn or Willits, CA is the woman behind Chasing Rainbows Dye Works; she doesn't have a web presence (but if you Google for her you're likely to get a phone number). It's probably better to see her colorways in person, because no photos would do justice. My Moonstone colorway is incredibly luminous but understated. Just. Lovely. I know my mom will love this, I certainly do!
1 scarf down, 2 to go... (can we make it New Year's gifts instead?)
