Friday, June 7, 2013

Socks

Just showing of how well the fpdc and bpdc is coming along.  Slowly but well.

Summery Updates

I ended up giving up on spinning for the hat, a few days in the 90s and I wanted to have a hat to wear, so.. I picked up some cotton/alpaca worsted weight.  I'm still going to spin some flax to make myself another hat in the same style, but.. this means that I have a summer hat in the meantime.  Upside? It turned out *adorable* if I say so myself. :D



The knitting experiment is going well, I ripped out the first stretch of it because it was wrong, but the second batch is going really well. Counting my rows is *definitely* helping.  (yeah, yeah, funny that!) :D

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Trying to Knit

I am apparently insane.

Like I don't have enough on my plate right now, I've decided I'm going to try knitting again.  So my travel not-spinning project is Wisp.  Though I'm only doing it as a shawl, not putting the buttons or button holes on it.  I've already had to rip it out once though, so I'm a tiny bit nervous, but I think it will be okay.

I'm using the last of the silk/merino lace-weight I bought for Christmas projects last year from BlackSheep DyeWorks in the lovely Chestnut Multi.  I like working with lace-weight for crochet, so I'm hoping that lace-weight will be more successful with knitting too...

I feel like an 8 year old holding one of those fat pencils with no clue what the hell you're doing.  My fingers just don't have that muscle memory yet and it's not coming quickly... I am hoping with time, that will change.  But, for someone who is usually pretty proficient with string, it's horrible feeling so graceless!

Someday I desperately want to own a shetland ring shawl, and that requires knitting, so I need to learn. *nods*

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

FPDC/BPDC

The last time I tried to do front and back post double crochet, it just went weird, the stitches themselves were very very easy, but the next row didn't line up right and I couldn't get the stitches to work right after the first row, so I frogged the project.  This time, the front and back post stitches are going much easier, and they look really awesome, this makes me incredibly happy, since it means that things with cables are no longer past my ability..  

I need to post a pic of the status of the socks, but they're looking really good.. Course, I'm still just working on the calves, the scary part will be when I reach the heel. (meep!!!)




Thursday, May 23, 2013

Summer Planning

Sat down over the last few days and narrowed down my projects for the summer.. Need to focus on a few things that I would like to get done before the fall.. Also, I've realized that learning to crochet has taken over my brain and I have put nowhere near as much time or energy into my spinning, so I want to shift that.  Spinning is amazing for my mental state, and although crochet is fun, it's not as good at keeping me sane (yeah, yeah, such as it is). :D

- the CALs (definitely need to finish May, we'll see what is on the dock for June, July & August)
- spin linen for summer hat, crochet it
- spin wool for Wēland's garters
- spin wool for Wēland's sweater
- finish Wēland's socks

Current status of all this..

May CAL - Blooming Flower Cushion from Attic 24 in Carons Simply Soft- Sticks and Stones (none of the pics on the web actually do the yarn justice, so I'm not linking)..  The complicated part is almost done, I just need to finish the last petal round, then start the back, which is just a bunch of dc in circles.  It will drive me insane, but shouldn't have any problems finishing it by the end of the month. :)

Summer Cloche - Shell Brimmed Cloche in handspun linen.  I need a summer cloche and have been lusting after this one, and cannot find one to purchase that I like as much, so.. clearly that means I make one of my own. :D

Garters - Wēland and I are involved in re-enacting, and it was traditional for a woman to present her love with garters, they were a small present that were regularly given (garters in this case being a narrow band used to hold up wool or linen stockings).  The wool is 100% Shetland (Kentswold Shetlands for the win), dyed with onion skin.  It's a lovely yellow.  My made-of-awesome EvilTwinSister is lending me her box loom until mine is done for this project. :D

Sweater - This one is also for Wēland (seeing a trend this summer?)   I'm spinning up yarn for his Mom to knit him a sweater out of our lovely gray ewe, Sen (more Kentswold Shetlands for the win!).  Not dyed, just lovely luscious heathery wool.  She's got a sort of light weight double coat, and I left the heavier black in to create some texture.  Thankfully this is not intended to be worn next to the skin, or I would absolutely have to separate out the less soft fibers! :D

Socks - Annnd another one for Wēland.  I'm working on a pair of socks for him, which I've already posted about. :D


OH!  And I haven't talked about the stinky project.. Have been collecting first morning urine from Wēland for the last few days, I'm dying with indigo this summer!  :)  Obviously I will be posting pics of that as it happens. :D


Last update, I swear.. I was totally weak today (payday)..  Bought some goodies from Sirensong Fiber, because she's evil and posted two things that I had to have...  One is a cloud of merino silk mohair and alapaca (there are still 3 ounces of Stella Luna left for those so inclined) and the other was an "impulse" buy of cochineal and saffron died silk in the most amazing orange.  Sadly there was only .8 ounce (why it was an impulse, have no idea what I'm doing with it.. lol), but the color was irresistible!

So much for "No, I really don't need any more roving... WEAK IN THE FACE OF FIBER!!!!!



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

First Socks!

So I'm working on my first pair of socks, which are intended to be worn as "under socks" under wool when my husband is out hunting, 100% silk to wick the sweat away from his feet while still helping him stay warm in our upstate NY winters.

This has been interesting because the "top" size in the pattern is 66 rows around, which didn't get past his ankle.  So this is my first ever sock, and I'm having to mess with the size.  Wēland is not a small man, but he has hobbits feet. :D  I'm a little nervous about how it will go once I get down to the ankle, but I'll be here to share. :D




Also? I found some old hooks at a local antique store recently, a set of size 1, 2, 3 and 4 steel hooks, wtih a beautiful patina.  I think some are size repeats, but.. they were $1, and needed someone who would love them. :)

New Project: 





Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Finished Neptune's Tears!

Put the last row of stitches in last night, then set it out to block.  Ended up getting too worried about the amount of yarn left, so only used about 3 1/2-3 3/4 of the 4 total ounces of homespun, but.. I'd rather finish it a tiny bit early than run out, so... I'm calling it good. 

I was debating selling it, but that is so not going to happen.. Love it! :)

Picture 1 is wet, pre-blocking, picture 2 is blocked (and a better shot of the colors).