tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60170366626403558242024-02-19T00:07:29.426-05:00Knitting For DummiesA blog about knitting, spinning, fiber preparation and related topics.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-13973374091994788652016-03-05T09:35:00.000-05:002016-03-05T09:36:39.969-05:00Husband Hat, a.k.a Gauge HellI have been slowly driving myself insane trying to knit a hat in "sport-weight" yarn for my husband. He has hinted that he wants something like a watch cap. I am using Brown Sheep Nature-Spun Sport, and started out with a pattern that I had in my Ravelry Queue which looked like a good, basic hat for a man. Problem: no gauge is given for the pattern, so even though I dutifully knitted a gauge swatch, it didn't do any good, because I had nothing to compare it to. Even though the yarn is labeled "sport-weight", it is very thin, and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/help/yarn/weights">wraps per inch are well within the fingering-weight range</a>. I was using US#1 (2.5mm) needles, as recommended. All should have been well. I was so confident, I cast on 160 stitches, and knit about 3 rows. I know that rib will shrink it up a bit, but right now, it looks like it will be way too big, and I am tired of making hats that turn out too big. My knitter's spidey-sense is telling me this is TOO MANY STITCHES!!!
So, I did a search on Ravelry to see if anyone else commented on this pattern in this regard (or mentioned their gauge) and did not find any. I am just not looking forward to knitting row after row of gray 2X2 rib for hours, only to find that it is the wrong damn size! So, I found this other pattern today, <a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2008/02/part-1-of-8-trick-pocket-hat-putting.html">The 8-Trick Pocket Hat</a>, which has a gauge of 12 sts. per 2", which is my gauge. And it has stripes, so I could use another color to break up the monotony. Of course, the recommended yarn is DK, but at least that is closer to sport weight than fingering. And I want to learn the 8 tricks!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-69876962692601546372014-09-21T10:16:00.000-04:002014-09-21T10:16:28.423-04:00<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31242.Bleak_House" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Bleak House" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1280113147m/31242.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31242.Bleak_House">Bleak House</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/239579.Charles_Dickens">Charles Dickens</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1011636803">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to this on <a href="http://crafting-a-life.com/craftlit/?cat=311" rel="nofollow" title="CraftLit: a podcast for crafters who love books"></a><img alt="free classic literature audiobook podcast" class="escapedImg" src="https://p.gr-assets.com/540x540/fit/hostedimages/1411308298/11214923.png" width="100%" /> It was <em>extremely</em> good, and I had been so reluctant to read or listen to this book for <em>years</em>. The title is so depressing, and also the PBS Series years ago starring Diana Rigg as Lady Dedlock, where she is all in black, just gave me the creeps. I love Diana Rigg, but something about the combination of Victorian law courts and people being cheated out of their inheritances just sounded so horrible, I didn't want to go there.<br /><br />But there is so much more to this book. It is <em>not</em> all doom and gloom. It is a complex novel, rich with story lines and amusing, lovable and horrible characters. As always, Heather Ordover (the podcaster) does a great job of giving an intro to each chapter, and the narrator is almost unbelievably good in the multiple voices she had to perform for this novel. I highly recommend listening to it on Craftlit. Even if you don't do any crafts, you can skip that part because she gives a "book talk starts at" time so you can fast forward over the craft segment. This book was part of the "premium content" of the podcast, not the free content, but you can also buy it separately at the <a href="http://crafting-a-life.com/shop/?wpsc-product=bleak-house-part-1" rel="nofollow">Crafting-a-Life shop</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5014536-rebecca">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-21505079376657790392012-02-20T10:21:00.002-05:002012-02-20T10:21:21.365-05:00Wavy Feathers Wimple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOa2y4raRXUZf0ooI5Ay25oaINi-uaNk0P5o_P_cQZMjKT7mVVGTud57Y3iMrzNV2qdCGgW2U-ypKjoZ_WYnlk19BiCoKoZTyX3YewislV4QCRcANuisUrG4d647IkwAh7wO6yQCuKgSh/s1600/P1070151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOa2y4raRXUZf0ooI5Ay25oaINi-uaNk0P5o_P_cQZMjKT7mVVGTud57Y3iMrzNV2qdCGgW2U-ypKjoZ_WYnlk19BiCoKoZTyX3YewislV4QCRcANuisUrG4d647IkwAh7wO6yQCuKgSh/s320/P1070151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This was on the needles for a long time, almost 2 years. I put too many beads in it, which made it slow knitting, and I think it would have been much more fun and quicker without the beads. But it was for a friend who really likes beads and shiny things. She's like a crow. It's the <a href="http://www.carylldesigns.com/free_patterns.htm">Wavy Feathers Qiviut Wimple</a> pattern from Caryll Designs. I didn't make it with Qiviut, though. I used Louet Kid-Lin, which is a strand of Kid Mohair and a strand of Linen plied loosely together. Similar to Rowan Kidsilk Haze, only not as fluffy. It's a very nice yarn, though. The two fibers together create a lovely texture, and the linen is shiny enough alone to give it a kind of pearlescent look. I would definitely use it again. The lace pattern was fairly easy, and pretty in this yarn. I would definitely knit this again, only without the beads. It's good for people who don't like to wear hats, because it doesn't smoosh your bangs or give you "hat hair" but still provides some warmth. I used 2 skeins, had about 1/3 skein left over.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-48729218905953264202011-09-05T12:27:00.000-04:002011-09-05T12:27:20.614-04:00<div class="separator" style="float: left; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEmiQuLnaS4HRTfPrC1hSDcgotY2sXzBpZPIgDc_clVCYQNmjd44Du-vVLbNTHFCjeiqaGEi5hPRv5Sk3sCRdRbzeu4D9DT3ky6hadTDCXpyo2D-h9swUiQDRqMRm8tPH3EJqHtTmMqHe/s1600/terrainTwistySocks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEmiQuLnaS4HRTfPrC1hSDcgotY2sXzBpZPIgDc_clVCYQNmjd44Du-vVLbNTHFCjeiqaGEi5hPRv5Sk3sCRdRbzeu4D9DT3ky6hadTDCXpyo2D-h9swUiQDRqMRm8tPH3EJqHtTmMqHe/s320/terrainTwistySocks4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just finished another pair of socks. The pattern is "Sugar Maple" from Melissa Morgan-Oates' book <u>2-At-A-Time Socks</u>. I was a bit worried that the mini-cables would not be stretchy enough, but they actually fit very well. I accidentally started off with a regular 2-by-2 rib for the first inch of the cuff, then when I realized my mistake, I just kept going, because it goes with the pattern stitch, which is a 2-by-2 cable.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-36767976373459987292011-05-01T18:08:00.000-04:002011-05-01T18:08:15.287-04:00Back to Spinning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U_bwUDS4s4HJtQIDLyG5Kw9u3_Bdf0KbXTJlB9YN2m3ccrMXnEH-aT-J5cmh0WkSGcVwoQnF1pNVx54kEp4NEqCQcpIgxPXkrHKUrTrJMYBHnw9qAZ8wk3bjE0KgjgSwXfbkjCIotOuf/s1600/cotswald_first_skein_plied+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U_bwUDS4s4HJtQIDLyG5Kw9u3_Bdf0KbXTJlB9YN2m3ccrMXnEH-aT-J5cmh0WkSGcVwoQnF1pNVx54kEp4NEqCQcpIgxPXkrHKUrTrJMYBHnw9qAZ8wk3bjE0KgjgSwXfbkjCIotOuf/s200/cotswald_first_skein_plied+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First skein of plied Cotswald</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>I had some time off this week, and I decided to do some spinning. Picking up where I left off at the Tour De Fleece last summer, I did some combing of the dyed Cotswald. It was nice combing the pretty colors together to make a nice purple blend. My favorite color. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PSH1aoaDgDx5RsfypKvlFJkNG86KtI4cqoz7_yAoYPGpxMIYfiyK04GguuK0EELXagjVe0YYtFAWFLcRcOkCsJTSU7JJKVm7PuPryuqzWpR3zCKzhAS4EwWA7JrBpT6aB2XuMTEcbycZ/s1600/merino_first_skein+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PSH1aoaDgDx5RsfypKvlFJkNG86KtI4cqoz7_yAoYPGpxMIYfiyK04GguuK0EELXagjVe0YYtFAWFLcRcOkCsJTSU7JJKVm7PuPryuqzWpR3zCKzhAS4EwWA7JrBpT6aB2XuMTEcbycZ/s200/merino_first_skein+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First skein of Merino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Then, I had to get some of the problematic Merino off the bobbins to make room for more Cotswald, since it has to be plied and I have various different yarns on all 4 bobbins. I had Merino on 2 bobbins, but not in equal amounts, and it definitely needs to be plied, so I decided to spin a bit more of the Merino so that I could ply those 2 together to free up bobbins. I still had some Merino left that was already combed, so away I went. I am trying not to be too much of a perfectionist this time. The Merino has some nepps in it, because I processed it myself, which I have mentioned in previous posts. But when spun up, it really isn't too bad and it is fun to spin. It spins very fine, and is super-soft. I would stop from time to time to let it ply back on itself, and it looks pretty good plied, so I was hoping it would encourage me to ply it and see the results.<br />
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When I had roughly equivalent amounts on 2 bobbins, I began plying. I found that some of the plied sections looked very good, and others did not. Being still new at Merino spinning, which is kind of an "advanced" wool, some sections were thinner than others. Some sections did not have enough twist to really ply together well. I also think that this is one yarn that really would be better as a 4 ply, since it is so thin, and in 4 plies the inconsistencies might even themselves out a bit more. But it might not be so bad. It has been resting on the bobbin for a couple of days, and I will probably wind it off with the niddy-noddy today and see how it looks relaxed, plus how many yards I have so far.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUTG2r4fRNw_2oY2K6N2_8Cm60Umm4Ue9w_APRASEjqeAs-4E8MIKYAzk5Ywp0VZhEnYW-bNlQstEz3hGq9-_utV-vql7_iAh9c9gWsXd3xFcxHqHHUm1AJgzag1FJeFkATe2hII4pvOM/s1600/cotswald_first_skein_plied+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUTG2r4fRNw_2oY2K6N2_8Cm60Umm4Ue9w_APRASEjqeAs-4E8MIKYAzk5Ywp0VZhEnYW-bNlQstEz3hGq9-_utV-vql7_iAh9c9gWsXd3xFcxHqHHUm1AJgzag1FJeFkATe2hII4pvOM/s1600/cotswald_first_skein_plied+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUTG2r4fRNw_2oY2K6N2_8Cm60Umm4Ue9w_APRASEjqeAs-4E8MIKYAzk5Ywp0VZhEnYW-bNlQstEz3hGq9-_utV-vql7_iAh9c9gWsXd3xFcxHqHHUm1AJgzag1FJeFkATe2hII4pvOM/s320/cotswald_first_skein_plied+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I weighed the combed Cotswald before spinning, which I plan to do from now on, to increase the chances of having equal lengths on 2 bobbins for plying. I normally just eyeball it, and they are never equal. I was surprised to see that one combed "nest" is about .25 oz. I spun 4 of them, and it didn't even half fill the bobbin, so my plan is to do 2 oz. per bobbin, then ply. I am trying to be consistent, as I have a <i>lot </i>of the Cotswald left to spin. I still have no idea what I will make with it. I will have to see how much I have in the end. It's very glossy. Right now I am just enjoying the process, and glad I <i>finally </i>got back to spinning again.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-24223771091167657102011-05-01T17:50:00.002-04:002011-05-05T00:01:38.275-04:00Dyeing Cotswald Fleece Sun Yellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII-F0lhX7-NyCL3kYi6Bu92COwVev-rPNoiVQyk_XzhiX8QIhZZ9xwL1zHs83K3CNu8iCTWU4NClaPxd6BN-839t9chd6lX5jk0EmxuRnq6jJLsAyGsUya_q60MFi40yjg6tn7JZaReFk/s1600/sun_yellow_fleece_dyed+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII-F0lhX7-NyCL3kYi6Bu92COwVev-rPNoiVQyk_XzhiX8QIhZZ9xwL1zHs83K3CNu8iCTWU4NClaPxd6BN-839t9chd6lX5jk0EmxuRnq6jJLsAyGsUya_q60MFi40yjg6tn7JZaReFk/s320/sun_yellow_fleece_dyed+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Years ago, I took a fantastic weekend spinning class at Halcyon Yarn in Bath, Maine. Among other things, we learned to blend colors on a drum carder. We took fleece that had been dyed primary colors: garish-looking red, blue and yellow, but when blended on the drum-carder, they made lovely heathered blends. I left with a copy of the book <u>Color In Spinning</u> by Deb Menz. Years later, I was traveling up to that neck of the woods, so I stopped by. I bought 3 colors of their Wash Fast Acid Dyes, some Glauber's Salt, Ammonium Sulfate and Synthrapol. A good basic beginner's dye kit, or so I thought. I was planning to blend colors, having bought a red, blue and yellow that looked closest to primary colors of all the jars. They were: Magenta, Bright Blue and Sun Yellow.<br />
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I dyed some Cotswald with the magenta, and it turned out more like fuschia or neon pink. One of my favorite colors, so though it was not what it looked like in the jar, I was still happy. The blue, however, came out like an electric blue, which I guess matches the neon pink, but I was not sure what I was going to do with these crazy colors! I tried blending them on the drum carder, and didn't really like the results. I tried blending them in various amounts, but was not happy with the results. I set it aside for awhile. I had nobody to consult on what to do. The internet community for fiber arts we have now did not exist, and I was not near any Fiber Studio or Guild, so I was basically on my own for problem-solving at that time. Plus, I work full-time, and life intervenes frequently in my pursuit of various crafts.<br />
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In Summer 2010, for the Tour De Fleece, I wanted to de-stash some of my fiber. I finally got the bright idea of blending on fiber combs. I own some Viking Combs, but I have not used them much, so I had kind of forgotten about them. Sometimes, I can be really dense. Well, that turned out to be the key to it all. You need to use the right tools for the job. Cotswald fleece has very long and silky locks, which should be combed, not carded. The results of some of that can be seen in my post from Tour De Fleece 2010.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjK1HmTUKAjGl_6jUguaZV-0aS-8ZjLfsnDtrj4VwLBwaBZ_PWWkG_-prePheDT_LuoGKuKL7HX496OamXx30GnXQSYsrGcyrYjkwz9y01R_u58saSFk7dmLbmhtF6-hS7dBrjBdWaWmJ/s1600/sun_yellow_fleece_dyed+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjK1HmTUKAjGl_6jUguaZV-0aS-8ZjLfsnDtrj4VwLBwaBZ_PWWkG_-prePheDT_LuoGKuKL7HX496OamXx30GnXQSYsrGcyrYjkwz9y01R_u58saSFk7dmLbmhtF6-hS7dBrjBdWaWmJ/s320/sun_yellow_fleece_dyed+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>However, I had yet to try the Sun Yellow. I had often thought of that while working with the pink and blue fiber, wondering if blending the yellow with electric blue would make a nice green. So this week, I hunted out all my dyeing equipment (the dyepot was finally found after much searching, under a rolled-up Kilim carpet which needs hanging). Luckily, I had made notes from before on what I did, so it was fairly easy to repeat the process. Since I will be blending this yellow with existing, highly-saturated shades, I decided to use the same strength of dye I used last time: 2 tsp. dye powder per 1 lb. of wool. <br />
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Yellow is not my favorite color, which is probably why I did it last. I don't wear yellow, for one thing. But it is good for blending. Also, as I was mixing the dye solution and preparing the wool for the dye bath, I thought that yellow is really a good color for Spring. The daffodils are out right now. The dye solution even looked like Easter Egg dye.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-41754040404894265952011-04-27T09:43:00.000-04:002011-04-27T09:43:51.020-04:00February Lady Sweater<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbYnfZWDmTjCbReAEZbA88HqYe6j6nUmCLxe5Dg2Qe7_6W6H5_G6vTwYtbZojJnQQncnoByztyMuvYQBSaN7ovKxdfHu2-lQL-IvdGdqks1YOrS2HS6WNU8FDzFZA3-t9FQrkIzUZGCR2/s1600/P3180045.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbYnfZWDmTjCbReAEZbA88HqYe6j6nUmCLxe5Dg2Qe7_6W6H5_G6vTwYtbZojJnQQncnoByztyMuvYQBSaN7ovKxdfHu2-lQL-IvdGdqks1YOrS2HS6WNU8FDzFZA3-t9FQrkIzUZGCR2/s320/P3180045.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>I finished this in December 2010, but did not have a photo of myself wearing it until recently. I have worn it a few times, and am very happy with it, especially the color and warmth. Photos don't really do this yarn justice. It is so beautiful. It's the February 2010 yarn share from Romney Ridge Farm. It's a garter-stitch yoke, knit from the top down, and if I make one of these again, I will definitely tweak the fit of the yoke, as that is the one thing that is a bit off, but not enough to stop me from wearing it. I just knit the pattern as written, when a lot of people have published tweaks for it. My only change was to add a 4th button, which I don't think it really needed, but I'm glad I did, because these buttons were in packs of 2, and I really, really like them. Here is the <a href="http://ravel.me/RebeccaH/fls">Ravelry Link</a>, which has more details if you are interested. <br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-64633293443282839542011-03-12T09:39:00.000-05:002011-03-12T09:39:17.002-05:00Hundertwasser Socks<div style="float: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUCx8snDONRbs9P3icwxs6UGU8BpaJj5eyroHHeYa_r66SANaUy-s3_fwxtP0EEcaYl78n7puY6O7lgPieSWMoqZu-H2S2lo-bBqIoUNQu_w6gMJzQyMTP-xfa68LI4BxY5dDXB3PEZnV/s1600/hundertwasser_sunshine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUCx8snDONRbs9P3icwxs6UGU8BpaJj5eyroHHeYa_r66SANaUy-s3_fwxtP0EEcaYl78n7puY6O7lgPieSWMoqZu-H2S2lo-bBqIoUNQu_w6gMJzQyMTP-xfa68LI4BxY5dDXB3PEZnV/s320/hundertwasser_sunshine1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They're done, and they're fabulous. I have already worn them to work, and I'm wearing them right now. The yarn is from Opal's collection of colors inspired by paintings, and this one is from the painting by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedensreich_Hundertwasser">Hundertwasser</a>, titled "Tender Dinghi." A very interesting artist, whom I had previously never heard of. He designed apartment buildings with trees growing out of them, and had some very original ideas. Check this out: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasserhaus">Hundertwasserhaus </a>in Vienna. The things one learns while knitting! <br />
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I didn't really follow a pattern. I used a simple 3 x 1 rib for the leg and instep (knit 3, purl one). I knit them toe-up with the trifecta of: <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html">Judy Becker's Magic Cast-On</a>, the <a href="http://fleeglesblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/leegles-toe-up-no-flap-no-hassle-sock.html">Fleegle Heel</a>, and <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/FEATjssbo.php">Jen's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off</a>. The heel does not fit as well as some other heels I have done, sadly, because it was much easier than the short-row, wrap & turn heels used by most toe-up patterns. So, I have yet to perfect my heel technique. But, I love the colors and I'm sure I will wear these a lot. Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-22134980625916248242010-11-13T13:18:00.001-05:002010-11-13T19:23:03.953-05:00Soldier Socks and cap ready to mail<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RBJglsDEXchRcpywRBaFPHUIlf2EEtb_IPi5vpEa_vA?feat=directlink"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMiczH-epMvXrKGsKBj9NvEiDiLVTb5R_NYAn2t-fEB8SFIu0UHIyhayyjRNHbuhCtuBgixQyWEmeylgQv5RwPBVoyIUC_V21CPlGqi14tqut0R__h3vsm2_UsIIw61M6CXC3kx6RPdd-/s400/PB120004.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
I finally finished another pair of Soldier Socks and a matching cap. Should be in the mail tomorrow to <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCKFORSOLDIERS/">SFS</a>. In the box, I also packed 9 bars of beautiful "American Pie" goat's milk soaps from <a href="http://www.jennessfarm.com/">Jenness Farm</a>, and some soap savers. So pretty, I don't want to mail it, but I will. That's what pictures are for.<br />
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tmLpXzVD4i_UpQiM2WCBtXUIlf2EEtb_IPi5vpEa_vA?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6VRUA404TrdsXYN3K0yYf32Wm5kkrjQ5Fi10Py3ddLa7LAd6hXHzgu6go9H66wEs42gsWPZIQonq2A3LFLwuSS-eJKs5ck_KZ5bYCvM2czlAeqhnYKNE_sX86LkY1icU9sfyIoAfBNfj/s400/PB120010.JPG" width="400" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-54321637690367073582010-07-10T11:14:00.000-04:002010-07-10T11:14:14.760-04:00Tour De Fleece 2010, Week One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxAb8JA3Wx5clbbDYRBAfxB6t4N8nqjC9MlhKBfjTbbON5iZi99a1zN7_uPWLD4MdgTHm7byxEgMs3b657lB7U6_gFiuGzseTwNTMA2X0gZcxDnyap6adIR3Uj-Ed-4nBonqCAfDLaIgV/s1600/TourDeFleece_20101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxAb8JA3Wx5clbbDYRBAfxB6t4N8nqjC9MlhKBfjTbbON5iZi99a1zN7_uPWLD4MdgTHm7byxEgMs3b657lB7U6_gFiuGzseTwNTMA2X0gZcxDnyap6adIR3Uj-Ed-4nBonqCAfDLaIgV/s320/TourDeFleece_20101.jpg" /></a></div>I am doing the Tour De Fleece again this year, and the first week went pretty well, although I did not get as much done as I had hoped. We were painting ceilings last weekend, but I still combed and spun about 2 ounces of some Cotswald I had dyed magenta and blue a couple of years ago. I was experimenting with color-blending on Viking Combs. I am very happy with the results! I hope to get more done this weekend. It was so hot and humid this week, I did not feel much like spinning after work. I am on Team Raw Power this year, and my goal is to comb and spin at least one pound by the end of the Tour, July 25.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-25360431971151344222010-06-13T13:28:00.000-04:002010-06-13T13:28:46.283-04:00Lopi sweaters washed to put away for summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuZBvsGBt7HDccRDHew2YaN-3R9XB0n1X2k2zgtmdIMoNHjHaZYYmo1gp0Aub9FbiOXbeYqTkgP6tTjUBRPXS-CrtpLnKesqHq8GoU3kbdPmrYptIzJIgeU4wVl6MjapmOkRbfwvGEJYE/s1600/lopi_sweaters_washed_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuZBvsGBt7HDccRDHew2YaN-3R9XB0n1X2k2zgtmdIMoNHjHaZYYmo1gp0Aub9FbiOXbeYqTkgP6tTjUBRPXS-CrtpLnKesqHq8GoU3kbdPmrYptIzJIgeU4wVl6MjapmOkRbfwvGEJYE/s320/lopi_sweaters_washed_3.JPG" /></a></div>A few weeks ago, I washed the 3 Lopi sweaters I have knit over the years, to put them away for summer. Here they are, drying on a rack. The green one is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/RebeccaH/astrid-pullover-best-of-lopi">Astrid Pullover</a> from <i>The Best of Lopi</i> book, and it's mine. The 2 brown ones I knit for my husband, before knitting had much of a web presence, so they are not in my projects page on <a href="http://ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>. I suppose I could put them in retroactively, but I don't remember the exact dates I knit them. I remember what I was doing and what my life was like when I knit them. <a href="http://www.cast-on.com/?p=39">"Knitted Memories"</a> as Brenda Dayne says. I started knitting the big one on the top during one fall/winter a few years ago, when I was working up in Augusta, Maine on a project, and away from home during the week. It was comforting to have something from home with me to work on. The one on the bottom was knit in the early 90's, from my first hand-spun yarn, which I spun on drop spindles, from fleece I painstakingly washed and hand-carded. This was when we lived in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, a very pretty, quiet suburb of Philadelphia. I listened to folk music on the radio (WHYY). It really kept me in the present moment, and I remember that feeling vividly. My husband loves these sweaters, and even though the oldest one is getting a bit ratty, he still wears it quite frequently, just around the house, or to shovel snow. These sweaters are super-warm and comfortable, kind of like sweatshirts. A winter staple in our house!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-31613265649930061912010-01-18T22:31:00.002-05:002010-01-19T19:28:04.414-05:00Knitting Flat: The Professor Vest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hUgGfVLd-MG5zPEoop7HZCZKXPVviQHqQSgU2oFVH_YirypOrNsEsg_geFX7aJ622cS7z8XK5UEJgcnFA6F5bnABtYVKsEks2rD8rn_2uW4NPixL42jvKoAzMxY6pPvvpL7L9HfEWp-n/s1600/copied_from_olympus%20012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hUgGfVLd-MG5zPEoop7HZCZKXPVviQHqQSgU2oFVH_YirypOrNsEsg_geFX7aJ622cS7z8XK5UEJgcnFA6F5bnABtYVKsEks2rD8rn_2uW4NPixL42jvKoAzMxY6pPvvpL7L9HfEWp-n/s320/copied_from_olympus%20012.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I hate seaming, so I haven't knit flat in a long time. But for some reason, <a href="http://beyondlifeexpectancy1.blogspot.com/2008/04/professor-vest.html">The Professor Vest</a> by Elizabeth Morrison took my fancy. Maybe it's the cute model. Also, my husband recently did a career change, and is teaching at Community College. Well anyway, I started knitting it with some very New-England-Yankee type stash yarn. Very sturdy and warm. It required some knitting math, as it is not the same gauge as the original. But, I'm fairly happy with it. The pattern stitch makes kind of a chain-mail on the wrong side, which I reckon will be perfect for staff meetings. I have finished the back, and one side of the front. This yarn is multicolored and heathery (doesn't really show in the photo), and has bits of straw in it still, I love it!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-1458918243853897932009-07-11T09:32:00.003-04:002009-07-11T10:01:34.391-04:00Tour de Fleece, Days 1-7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwstQKBtTR50KsgMgSkEJ_WcS6-hbI3s93BUloJbyOC_EUSXcZnGkJujZFrGh_ExiLzehTGGBkSzot9NU-9IwfRR5X628cMC8s5JSMYUFm2IbCOTK8op4mDvnTL64YEE3eQILFl4r2S9li/s1600-h/merino_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwstQKBtTR50KsgMgSkEJ_WcS6-hbI3s93BUloJbyOC_EUSXcZnGkJujZFrGh_ExiLzehTGGBkSzot9NU-9IwfRR5X628cMC8s5JSMYUFm2IbCOTK8op4mDvnTL64YEE3eQILFl4r2S9li/s320/merino_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357198431584912034" border="0" /></a><br />I am spinning for the Tour De Fleece this year, the goal of which is to spin every day of the Tour de France. Then, everyone posts their progress on their blogs, or on <a href="http://ravelry.com">Ravelry</a>. I have also been watching the TDF almost every day, for inspiration. My goal is to put a dent in my stash of fiber, which has been accumulating over the last few years. I have a habit of buying fleece at fiber fairs, then bringing them home to wash, and never get around to carding and spinning them. I also have a few pounds of unwashed Merino, Corriedale, and Alpaca. I have been washing a pound or so every couple of weeks this summer, and am currently spinning the Merino. It was difficult to process, but now that I am spinning it, I see why people go to all the trouble. It's a super-soft, crimpy and beautiful fiber, and spins into a finer thread than I am used to. Normally, I spin worsted-weight. This will be a nice sport-weight yarn for a lace shawl or scarf. I plan to kettle-dye it, not sure what color yet.<br /><br />My progress to date: Finished spinning 100 grams of sock yarn roving I dyed at a workshop. Drum-carded and spun 2 batts of Merino. One bobbin about 2/3 full as of last night. <br /><br />I might wash the Alpaca today. We are supposed to spin something challenging on the 23rd. I have never spun Alpaca before.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-10009448045408418582009-06-21T17:05:00.009-04:002009-06-21T18:54:52.031-04:00Fleece Washing 101<table style="width: 400px; height: 192px;"><br /><tbody><tr><td><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRdvC16Og_fpzpw7oE9_Q8fScHR3qiKg3tiGQ3SthxNbSSgkEuW3fC-xl3GYk51fotUOmM9Op6BFctDBXaR5QvjheHrTB14_mktQ32Vfzf_7qoRe7tDfcFp_dKJbNUrhvVCu5cQWkK_5a/s1600-h/merino_dirty_tips.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRdvC16Og_fpzpw7oE9_Q8fScHR3qiKg3tiGQ3SthxNbSSgkEuW3fC-xl3GYk51fotUOmM9Op6BFctDBXaR5QvjheHrTB14_mktQ32Vfzf_7qoRe7tDfcFp_dKJbNUrhvVCu5cQWkK_5a/s320/merino_dirty_tips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349910057814163682" border="0" /></a><br /></td><td><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LDZPrZ1chtclLQeEZ99K5fO2oJQ3axJWNBezZvUZYwouQPsRsBRMIgfAJYCvX5jldX4A5JC9X1bxY5pQAcF1G0yAozbzXujwuHG5XyPdptZtW5ePYCObGVVpBP2XFPz7kbXPeulf686d/s1600-h/merino_after_cutting.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LDZPrZ1chtclLQeEZ99K5fO2oJQ3axJWNBezZvUZYwouQPsRsBRMIgfAJYCvX5jldX4A5JC9X1bxY5pQAcF1G0yAozbzXujwuHG5XyPdptZtW5ePYCObGVVpBP2XFPz7kbXPeulf686d/s320/merino_after_cutting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349910373426168738" border="0" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I first learned to spin, back in the early 90's, I read Lee Raven's book <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/store/p/1466-Hands-On-Spinning.aspx">Hands On Spinning</a>, and followed her advice on how to wash fleece. The first fleece I bought was from Reading Terminal Market in Philadephia, a brown fleece from a sheep named Edna. It was only $4 a pound, and extremely dirty, but otherwise a good fleece, probably Romney. I scoured it lock by lock, using Dawn dishwashing soap, 140 degree water, following all the book's instructions. Grab a lock by the cut end, immerse it in the water, scrub the tip end with your other hand, then drop it into a soak bucket. Soak 20 minutes, then drain in a colander and rinse with a bit of vinegar in the rinse water. It was time-consuming to scrub all those tips, but rewarding to transform something once so dirty and smelly into beautiful, clean fiber. It made it very easy to card and fun to spin. Overall, a nice experience.<br /><br />I then bought a beautiful gray Romney fleece on a trip to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival which was not horribly dirty, so I tried washing a couple of pounds of it using a mesh garment bag by <a href="http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/washing.html">soaking and spinning in a top-loading washing machine</a> (still using Dawn, NO AGITATING). Lots of people use this method, and swear by it. I never felt like it got the fleece clean enough, though. The really dirty part of the fleece (the tips) never got clean, and it is no fun carding and spinning it in this condition. It takes much longer to card. You either have to tease the ends of each lock open with a flicker brush, or if it is really bad, just cut the tips off.<br /><br />It works OK if the fleece is of a type that is not very greasy, like the Norwegian Spelsau. However, I was so disappointed with the results of washing a Cotswald fleece via this method, that it is still sitting in the mesh bag it was washed in about 5 years ago. It was really greasy and dirty, and it just didn't seem appealing to card or spin without re-washing, and I kind of gave up on it.<br /><br />The <a href="http://ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> website has a Fiber Preparation forum, with a fleece-washing thread that has been going on for about a year. I started at the beginning of this thread, and read through the whole thing looking for help. It seems that the soaking method is what most people use, but maybe my water was not hot enough, or I wasn't using the right soap, or something. Some people recommend using tulle netting to keep the fleece distributed in a "burrito" formation, so that the water can flow through evenly while soaking. Some people use plastic trays and layer them. Lots of people still use Dawn, but others prefer Kookaburra, Unicorn Power Scour, or Soak.<br /><br />So, I tried again with a soft, crimpy Merino fleece I had bought at the Maine Fiber Frolic (see photos above). It had looked fairly clean from the outside. But when I got it home, I saw that all the tips were on the inside (as they all are, packaged for judging in the fleece competition) and they were really awful-looking. The label written by the sheep farmer had said "consider professional processing," and I should have. I thought I could handle it. I didn't know that Merino is one of the hardest fleece to process, as it is THE GREASIEST and also felts very easily. So, you have to use very hot water, but be extra-careful not to agitate. I tried using a new soap, Kookaburra Wool Scour, and heating water on the stove to get the temperature up to 160 degrees. I did not have any tulle or plastic trays, so I did not use them. Once again, the fleece got nice & clean, but the tips are still really caked and icky (photo on left is AFTER washing). I finally decided to just cut the tips off (photo on right is after cutting). Once they are cut off, it should be fine. Merino 1, Rebecca zero. But, this isn't over.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-56423264227426752922009-03-07T11:45:00.007-05:002011-03-13T11:34:22.803-04:00First Pair of Soldier Socks Completed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9JawCgpTAqETqC3dWavQEPk7A58IABIsQgEGv81RsT88uS4ci3ilbhIczv7RAi7y33wf9hGez3VHo2ThG4dcjUrKc_eTDxk_g8KGGCSp6F95WfjmML97ShJjuPUkZRM-QyQYyKr4fbGY/s1600-h/P2200108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310489280015905202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9JawCgpTAqETqC3dWavQEPk7A58IABIsQgEGv81RsT88uS4ci3ilbhIczv7RAi7y33wf9hGez3VHo2ThG4dcjUrKc_eTDxk_g8KGGCSp6F95WfjmML97ShJjuPUkZRM-QyQYyKr4fbGY/s400/P2200108.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 250px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 333px;" /></a><br />
I finished these 2/19/2009, and have already started on another pair, and a beanie with the leftover sock yarn. The photo is after machine-washing and drying. They are men's size 9-10, the most needed size. The legs have to be 12" long, to go up over their Army boots. I think they turned out quite nicely.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-79323228943464509132009-01-25T11:13:00.009-05:002009-01-25T16:07:54.818-05:00Tal's hat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLsX4ojpngchNLlHQvGrU-AzHk3ZsK6RoB6nZuxrOaaHnUSid6Sed5-K7H2gbRSkUV5tw6jWC4bFuTcbX-rIBMTwKSEsZPa4Ic-9v6erpAuCnIHudob58jXbgpMH2er9iLx8Zu9Y7dDgT/s1600-h/Tals_hat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLsX4ojpngchNLlHQvGrU-AzHk3ZsK6RoB6nZuxrOaaHnUSid6Sed5-K7H2gbRSkUV5tw6jWC4bFuTcbX-rIBMTwKSEsZPa4Ic-9v6erpAuCnIHudob58jXbgpMH2er9iLx8Zu9Y7dDgT/s320/Tals_hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295265817788463378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWZpFcXiLtL3HGEl_e6KffZw02ishdcfZxGYyv9Yatv89nxXJfX5La7HwL2n6RkguICQ_Bmemsmbln5Za4636O0RM-q1DkgLoef68JsuWPRwsQSTj9rSHEs5_a4R0-awy8mkd6TI2TiY6/s1600-h/brangelinaHat_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWZpFcXiLtL3HGEl_e6KffZw02ishdcfZxGYyv9Yatv89nxXJfX5La7HwL2n6RkguICQ_Bmemsmbln5Za4636O0RM-q1DkgLoef68JsuWPRwsQSTj9rSHEs5_a4R0-awy8mkd6TI2TiY6/s320/brangelinaHat_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295265678085892658" border="0" /></a>I still have a lot of the Rowan Big Wool left, so I made <a href="http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2006/04/brangelina_1.php">"The Brangelina Hat"</a> (photo top right is before felting, photo left is Tal modeling the felted hat). Since the pattern is designed for bulky yarn, even though I downsized it a bit, it still turned out to be an XL-size hat. So, I took it to work and gave it to a co-worker, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=1590998621&ref=nf&pub=2309869772">Tal</a>, who I thought it might fit, but it was too big for him. He had the bright idea of washing it in the washing machine to shrink it. I knew this would really felt it, but this yarn is good for felting, so maybe it would work. And it did! Of course, the brim shrank to almost nothing, but he likes it anyway, and I have seen him wearing it, so cool. So far I am 2-for-2 on these hats. I may make another hat from a pattern that is meant to be felted. The felting came out so well.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-28040210725159201332009-01-25T10:42:00.015-05:002011-03-13T11:34:22.805-04:00Russian Princess In Exile Hat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5opY-hr9hbDm_l9GGTYV7aJ6RvrULbNAvw3NDlrk-sAQd7h_zilgw4KCLLIW5QB8zO1IcOm9hgqeEkjg3JqCCGLRbVdLh8hnEMcquHls01fWmnl0mcWfRZqNzPbLnzmC_t0sRN7d6gYy/s1600-h/russianPrincessHat_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295262858489579026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5opY-hr9hbDm_l9GGTYV7aJ6RvrULbNAvw3NDlrk-sAQd7h_zilgw4KCLLIW5QB8zO1IcOm9hgqeEkjg3JqCCGLRbVdLh8hnEMcquHls01fWmnl0mcWfRZqNzPbLnzmC_t0sRN7d6gYy/s320/russianPrincessHat_1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
I needed a break from knitting with the fingering-weight SFS sock yarn.<br />
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It has been such a cold winter here in Maine. So, over Xmas vaction, I thought it would be good to knit some hats for friends. I made the <a href="http://parallaxknitting.com/russian-princess-in-exile/">"Russian Princess in Exile"</a> hat for my friend Jone, who likes it and wears it on her walks. It was made with Rowan Big Wool which I bought on sale from Webs.<br />
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I have yet to knit a new hat for myself, which I sorely need. I am going around in my old <a href="http://www.peacefleece.com/adult3.htm"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Peace Fleece Tribal Mountain Hat</span></a>, which I knit years ago. I still like it, but really. A knitter should have more than one knit hat to show off. Like most knitters and crafters, though, I always give away most of the stuff I make.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-13038270704392895532008-12-30T22:05:00.000-05:002008-12-30T22:13:27.777-05:00Socks For Soldiers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnw_kjXI-9HsYlOvonBisZoi6eX2K2vncQyctgQNOSIwYnPHlplfNRfZlwo4qOqF0MBFCvTIA6AQ3t9X0cBOovwm5hCGMTFU8TTSkiLI69gDqkgJ4Tv9WQqGdzVWm5RH-nbqmvYB7tFBN/s1600-h/coke_bottle_test.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnw_kjXI-9HsYlOvonBisZoi6eX2K2vncQyctgQNOSIwYnPHlplfNRfZlwo4qOqF0MBFCvTIA6AQ3t9X0cBOovwm5hCGMTFU8TTSkiLI69gDqkgJ4Tv9WQqGdzVWm5RH-nbqmvYB7tFBN/s320/coke_bottle_test.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285786380768266082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTftm7_Y1p0BtVZowWymMDNLsAfKaOgSu8w4QxBDvMoNANnSkpq9Cg_FBPkG1_j3SRa0-34FWqAV7uEEtoF_pq3P5QhGO1HqgsHlRPBt-1soIcA0lEOrIf6UO6HWbnNU6uZx_KEVVuHqO/s1600-h/first_soldier_socks.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTftm7_Y1p0BtVZowWymMDNLsAfKaOgSu8w4QxBDvMoNANnSkpq9Cg_FBPkG1_j3SRa0-34FWqAV7uEEtoF_pq3P5QhGO1HqgsHlRPBt-1soIcA0lEOrIf6UO6HWbnNU6uZx_KEVVuHqO/s320/first_soldier_socks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285786373715369586" /></a><br />I joined <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCKFORSOLDIERS/">Socks For Soldiers</a> a couple of months ago, but have still not finished my first pair of Olive Drab socks. I am trying to finish them this week, since I am on vacation. The legs must be 12" long, and they seem to be taking forever, plus I am using the Magic Loop "Two at a Time" (TAAT) technique for the first time, so it has slowed me down a bit. Both socks must be knit concurrently from an official pattern. Only certain yarns may be used, which have been selected because they have regulation colors (hence the Olive Drab) to wear with their uniforms. Also, they must meet strict standards for wear and tear, and comfort. At this point, I have about 9" done with the legs, and they have passed the 2-liter "Coke Bottle Test".<br /><br />I strongly encourage anyone who likes knitting socks to join this group. More knitters are always needed. Troops being withdrawn from Iraq are being sent to Afghanistan, and they will probably be there for awhile, since things are such a mess. They are doing a tough job, and I feel good about sending a bit of moral support. It is also a nice connection to the past, when knitters made socks for soldiers in earlier wars. I have made a New Year's Resolution to spend at least 20 minutes a day knitting for SFS in 2009.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-83311174717772549192008-08-30T11:34:00.007-04:002011-03-13T11:34:22.807-04:00"Knitters Thumb" is no joke!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWtGVlxJJpTtFmz8fphNyKOUvVsq2idgsHrMOFW2nBsVhkwnY4hsD9yJcEYO8j3X8sNkx9GXVsantYikQ-VisCQdDHTXrEWaWXO2AMgEa29IPJwbYOeyrh0qxKWHd0vZgWAzwwln__9GG/s1600-h/slipper_socks_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240343943905602674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWtGVlxJJpTtFmz8fphNyKOUvVsq2idgsHrMOFW2nBsVhkwnY4hsD9yJcEYO8j3X8sNkx9GXVsantYikQ-VisCQdDHTXrEWaWXO2AMgEa29IPJwbYOeyrh0qxKWHd0vZgWAzwwln__9GG/s320/slipper_socks_2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
I have not been knitting much for the past few months, and I really miss it. I had to stop for awhile due to what turned out to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenosynovitis">tenosynovitis</a> in my thumb and wrist (a.k.a "knitter's thumb"), which I am about 99.99% sure was caused by too much knitting over the 2007 Xmas holidays and/or shortly thereafter, when I tried to knit a worsted-weight yarn into a pattern designed for sport-weight yarn. WARNING TO ALL KNITTING DUMMIES: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!! <br />
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I tried to force the yarn into the correct gauge by using needles WAY too small for worsted (size 2 US), and the resulting strain on my already-overworked left thumb was too much for it. When it started hurting, I ignored it and kept going. I had to finish the project. This was so stupid. If something starts hurting like that, you should never ignore it. But, I did, and the pain then spread to my wrist, and has only recently started to get better. I had to go to the doctor, took Naproxen for 2 months, and wear a wrist brace at night, which I am still wearing. I only recently dared to start knitting again, about an hour at a time only. And when it starts hurting, I stop & put ice on it. <br />
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In my defense, I LOVE Scandinavian patterns, and this one DID call for worsted-weight yarn, but it was a 1950's classic pattern, "Scandinavian Snow Sets", and I think the term "worsted weight" must have meant something different then. Or, maybe their yarn was softer and would compress more easily. I was using Lamb's Pride (not bulky, I am not a total idiot), and there is no way you could get the gauge they were calling for with worsted weight, and enjoy knitting it. So, learn from my mistakes. IF THE YARN DOESN'T WANT TO FIT IN YOUR PATTERN, DON'T INJURE YOURSELF TRYING TO FORCE IT! No matter what the pattern says. Alter the pattern to fit your materials. Or, find another pattern. Your health is not worth it!!! I ended up having to change the pattern anyway, because the knitted fabric was too dense. All I had to do was remove the borders along the sides, and be a bit creative. The resulting slipper socks came out very nicely, but not worth all the pain I have had over the last few months when I forget and pick up an object at the wrong angle with my left hand! A true knitting dummy, this blog is aptly named.<br />
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The Orthopedic M.D., who finally cured my condition with a shot of cortisone, said he doubted it could have been caused solely by knitting, but I'm still pretty sure that's how it started.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-16904860148148498542007-09-09T10:38:00.000-04:002007-09-09T11:05:14.508-04:00Knitting honor bages<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_0Drf6OvPjn4ZI8VIt4Lgw7hqcZHK9kXDK_x2Qbjar2bESQz7xQ8TFHaRef7cPgQPPT1qUn-YkWkldezW6dCydYIJNHief4j9KYTCKXyZj-wkN3hcGM3nmpfbK3tUhb2vQDhacCRq0Bb/s1600-h/macgyver1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_0Drf6OvPjn4ZI8VIt4Lgw7hqcZHK9kXDK_x2Qbjar2bESQz7xQ8TFHaRef7cPgQPPT1qUn-YkWkldezW6dCydYIJNHief4j9KYTCKXyZj-wkN3hcGM3nmpfbK3tUhb2vQDhacCRq0Bb/s320/macgyver1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108215799851753762" border="0" /></a><br />I am an avid listener of the knitting podcast <a href="http://www.cast-on.com/">"Cast On"</a>, and this summer's theme has been "Camping for Adults." You can earn beads for various accomplishments, or<br /><a href="http://www.cast-on.com/?page_id=123">honor badges</a>. I definitely qualify for the "MacGyver Level 1" badge. I once made a set of sock needles from a dowel, and I still use them. I'm pretty sure that I have used paper clips for stitch holders, too.<br /><br />I encourage others to check the list of badges, it is a fun read, plus you will probably qualify for something to display proudly on your own blog or web page. Also, if you have not yet discovered the wonderful world of knitting podcasts, I pity you. Cast-on is only one of them, but it's a good start. Check it out, you don't need an iPod to listen, just an Internet connection and speakers, and it's free.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017036662640355824.post-16409690389890917432007-07-15T11:52:00.000-04:002013-12-29T18:40:47.897-05:00Elizabeth Zimmerman Pie Are Square Shawl: Sawtooth BorderI am finishing up the "Pie Are Square" Shawl, from the fabulous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Zimmerman">Elizabeth Zimmerman</a> book, <u>Knitting Around</u>. When I got to the border, I had trouble with the instructions, and could not find any help on the Internet, so I thought I would post my solution. I wanted to write it all down while I still remember How I Did It. <br />
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I did the "sawtooth" border, which since my shawl is green, looks kind of like dragon scales. It is a nice border, if you are using worsted-weight yarn. I tried the lace border also, but it didn't look good in this weight. Might do that one next time, in a lace-weight or sport-weight.<br />
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I was confused by the book's instructions, when it came time to do the "down side" of the sawtooth. I guess I am an "intermediate" knitter, as I have knit 3 or 4 sweaters, a few pairs of socks, a couple baby blankets, but no lace yet. I think the instructions were written for a more experienced knitter, but if you follow my "dummy" instructions, even a beginner should be able to do it. You will need 2 point-protectors, and two double-pointed needles in the same size as the ones you are using for knitting your shawl. I knitted my shawl on a large circular needle, then when I was ready to knit the border, put point-protectors on the ends, to stop the existing stitches from slipping off while I was knitting the border. I used the circular as a stitch-holder only from that point on, knitting the border on the 2 double-pointed (DP) needles. If you don't have any DP needles in the size you normally knit with, I recommend getting them anyway. DP needles are useful to have, for circular knitting. I like circular knitting (Lopi sweaters, and socks) because I hate sewing seams, and for multicolor knitting it is MUCH easier than flat knitting. You can also knit flat with circular and DP needles, as I have used them here, so they are quite versatile.<br />
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The sawtooth has an "up" side and a "down" side. I started with right side facing, and kept some little stitch markers (you could use safety pins) in the front of the work, just to avoid getting confused which side was which, since I knit in garter stitch and both sides look very similar. <br />
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Slipped stitches are slipped Knitwise unless otherwise stated. K=knit, SL=slip stitch from one needle to the other without knitting/purling, PSSO=pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knit.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">TO START: </span><br />
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1. Using DP needle as right needle and circular needle as left needle, K2, SL1, K1, PSSO, K8. <br />
2. Put point protector on end of circular needle. You will now knit the "Up" side of the sawtooth, using the 2 DP needles only. Just ignore what is on the circular needle for now.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">KNITTING THE "UP" SIDE OF THE SAWTOOTH:</span><br />
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1. turn<br />
2. SL2 purlwise, bring yarn to back, Knit until you only have 3 sts on the left-hand needle, bring yarn to front, SL3 purlwise.<br />
3. turn<br />
4. K2, SL1, K1, PSSO, knit to the end of the row.<br />
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Repeat steps 1-4 until you only have 5 stitches left. DO NOT TURN*. <br />
Repeat step 4 two more times. You will now have only 3 stitches remaining.<br />
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*This is an I-cord border, and in I-cord you just keep knitting and do not turn. It makes a sort of tube. You might want to try knitting some I-cord just to get the concept, before you attempt this. It is more complicated than I-cord alone, because of the shaping for the "up" and "down" sides of the sawtooth. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">KNITTING THE "DOWN" SIDE OF THE SAWTOOTH:</span><br />
Looking at what you have done, you now can see that you have formed a triangular shape, with your 3 stitches on the needle at the tip of the triangle. The UP side is done, but the DOWN side still needs to have the I-Cord edging added. <br />
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Use the free DP needle to pick up (BUT DO NOT KNIT YET) 8 stitches along the down side of the triangle.** This needle is now your LEFT needle. Slip the 3 stitches off the RIGHT needle onto the LEFT needle. Note, there is no turning, as this is I-Cord.<br />
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1. K2, SL1, K1, PSSO. Do NOT turn. You now have 3 stitches on the right-hand needle.<br />
2. Transfer the 3 stitches from the right-hand needle to the left.<br />
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Repeat steps 1-2 until you only have 3 stitches left.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">You have now completed one sawtooth. </span> Take the point-protector off the circular needle, knit 8 stitches from it, then put the point protector back on. Go back to instructions for "UP" side of sawtooth.<br />
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**You might want to do a practice swatch to help decide which 8 stitches to pick up. It isn't obvious. I don't think it really matters if you choose stitches at the very outer edge or the next stitch in, as long as you are consistent which ones you pick up each time. I did not pick up the very outermost edge, I did the next stitch in.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02242983183577010542noreply@blogger.com1