Instant Spindle!

August 28th, 2008

I wouldn’t normally be posting tonight, but at 5 minutes until bed time I feel the need to share something I find exciting. I always love making things, especially useful things that I can make easily. This is the epitome of easy craft, although I didn’t really make anything. I just put them together.

I cannot claim credit for this idea, but this is a hair stick (chop sticks work too) with a stone donut bead dropped down it. It makes the perfect bottom whorl spindle. The stone is nicely even and balanced, and the hair stick I just happen to have has spiraling grooves going towards the tip. I love tapered spindle shafts, and who needs a hook when a half-hitch works wonderfully.

It weighs roughly 1oz, which I have decided is about the best weight for most spindles. Don’t ask me what type of stone it is, but it’s a very cool mix of greens. The best part about this spindle (okay maybe not the best, but it’s really cool) is that I can slip the bead off and use the hair stick and bead for something else if I choose.

4 Comments | Categories: Spinning |

Cabled Socks

August 24th, 2008

So I don’t have a lot to show for this week, because I’ve only been working one one project…

I’m on the home stretch now that I’m just finishing the cuff. I am a bit tired of this sock, but it’s very simple. I just need to keep plugging along so I can get it finished. Generally when making socks I only do an inch or two at the cuff because it’s not the most fun part, but since these aren’t for me I need to make it a bit longer. I’m not so sure how I feel about the toe, but I’ll graft it when I’m done and see if it looks all right. I can just undo it and reknit the toe down if I need to.

You can see it’s a bit awkward taking pictures like this. The sock looks a whole lot better on Corey’s foot since he is closer to my mom in size. I’m always so worried about how socks will fit when I’m making them for someone else. I usually measure by putting my socks on myself as I go, but when it’s a gift I can’t really do that.

3 Comments | Categories: Knitting |

Yarn Fun

August 19th, 2008

So I’ve got some handspun and commercially spun stuff to write about today. I’ll start with the handspun…

First up, the [ply-as-you-go](http://www.crafty.greenkri.com/ply-as-you-go) yarn. This is the navajo plied yarn I wrote about where I’m spinning up a length then plying it before winding on. It’s a really cool technique, and if you’re a spinner I urge you to play around with it.

I’m aiming for thin sock weight on this yarn, and hoping to get a really sturdy 3-ply. I know it’s merino which I haven’t been impressed with as a sock yarn in the past, but hopefully I can make this fairly strong and hard wearing. I’ve got a ton of this green merino, plus some dark red/purple that goes really well with it. I’m not sure I have the stamina to spin about 6oz of yarn all in the same way, but if so they’ll make some really awesome socks.

I wrote a little about this cashmere yarn I’ve been spinning up, so here’s a small update. I’ve finished both singles that will be plied together, and can’t wait to get that process started today. This has been an incredibly fun spin, and totally fitting my style. A high twist very fine yarn that I can just cruise along easily with. Sometimes it’s nice to have a challenge, but sometimes it’s nice to just do something you know and love. It doesn’t look quite so soft now, but once it’s plied and that active twist is softened up it will be ohhh so luscious.

Oh I wish you could see this yarn in person. The light is just slightly too bright, but this is an amazing hand-dyed job by the [Kangaroo Dyer](http://www.kangaroodyer.com/) Gail from Webs. She dyes some stuff for them, and said the bottom color reminded her of my hair (and her sister’s?). I’ve never worked with yarn like this (I think it’s mohair) but I’m just itching to cast some lacy something with these. I’ve just got too many projects right now, but they will sit quietly until I can really do them justice.

I wish I had taken a picture of this in the skein. It’s an amazing silk yarn by Artyarns that I bought to knit a wedding gift. I wish even more that I had taken a picture of the little silk purse that I made, because I chanced upon the *perfect* cable stitch for this yarn. This yarn is called Silk Pearl, and it’s a very shiny soft somehow chain plied yarn. I don’t think this would ever pill it’s so well made, and the colors are really interesting in semi-solids. I want to knit the rest of this into a little purse for myself, because I loved the first one so much. *Next* time I’ll be sure to take a picture.

2 Comments | Categories: Spinning |

Christmas

August 17th, 2008

It’s finally time to get started on the Christmas knitting. I bought this huge ball of Lily Sugar ‘n Cream cotton in a light mauve a while back, and decided it would be perfect for making a kitchen set of sorts. This will be my sister since she’s living on her own now, and I just whizzed right through these. There’s a dish towel, and a bunch of dish cloths in different sizes and shapes. They’re almost done except for a few finishing touches, so it’s good to get one out of the way.

Then the other day I bought some sock yarn, because this year I think it will be socks for my mom. I’m using Valley Yarns Huntington from Webs, and so far I’m really pleased with this yarn. It’s a fine weight sock yarn which is my preference, and seems like it will make some nice sturdy socks. I do prefer to stay away from nylon and superwash when I can, but that combination really does make hard wearing socks.

I’ve still got to get the yarn to make my grandmother’s shawl, and Corey’s sweater. I’m being a bit ambitious this year, but I think I can do it. If I don’t finish Corey’s sweater that’s OK, because..well we live together and he knows I’m making it for him. I’ll have time, right? I feel like Christmas is almost upon us even though it’s August. I’ve already seen leaves changing for the fall! Mornings have been cool, and I’ve brought my handspun shawl back out. Yeesh time does fly!

5 Comments | Categories: Knitting |

Cashmere: done!

August 6th, 2008

I finally plied this cashmere I’ve been spinning for all this time. It’s a bit underplied for my tastes, but I think it’s mostly balanced. I didn’t think it possible I could have put more twist in the singles!

I really wish my camera would do justice to the natural color in this yarn.

2 Comments | Categories: Spinning |

Knitting with Injuries

August 3rd, 2008

I thought I would be incapacitated from knitting for a week, but was only kept from it for a day or two. Since I can comfortably type now, I’ve got some stuff I want to show you. First, a little swatch…

I’m going to knit Corey the [Cobblestone Pullover](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cobblestone-pullover) by Jared Flood. It’s such a classic simple sweater, and the husband likes it so we picked out some Scottish Tweed DK so I could at least start the swatch. I’ve got until Christmas, and I think I’m being a bit ambitious this year with this plus a shawl plus whatever other stuff I do. As long as I keep up I think I can do it.

Ugh. That’s about a third of what I had done on my Sage Cardigan ripped right out. Apparently as thorough as these directions are, I still can’t follow the pattern. I mentioned how I’d created some abbreviated instructions so I didn’t have to worry about reading line by line, or following the chart. Well, apparently I should have been paying more attention to the chart.  I missed some shifts in the garter stitch, because in my overconfidence I didn’t pay any attention to the left hand side of the chart.

You may also notice in that picture a less than ideal hem. I screwed that up too. Another case of not thoroughly paying attention to the chart, and I didn’t even glance at the line by line instructions. That’ll be easy to rip out and knit down though. Ohh, maybe I can rip out to the mistake, knit it separate and graft.

Even with all the trouble, I’m loving this knit. The stitch pattern is simple and beautiful, the garter stitch looks amazing, and it’s just so soft. You may be able to tell, but the garter stitch panel is going to need to be stretched when I block it. As is normal, the garter stitch row gauge is shorter than the stockinette. It’s very unfortunate I’ll have to put this away soon in favor of Christmas knits.

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