House of Wool Repute

Fiber for Socks

Published by Sarah on July 22, 2008 in spinning. 3 Comments

As a somewhat obsessive spinner, I’ve spun sock yarn a few times, and knit socks with it. While I’ve loved the yarn I spun, it has always been something superwash, usually merino, and usually super soft. Soft, is normally great when you spin. But, for socks, I really think durable is better. I have two pairs of handspun, handknit socks, and one pair of Koigu socks in the darning pile right now.

Know what kind of socks have never made it to the darning pile? Those socks knit with yarns like Regia, Opal, and Trekking. Hard wearing, non-merino wool blended with nylon. But, have I ever seen a spinning fiber that was such a blend? Nope.

So, when I picked up two down wool fleeces at the Pagosa Fiber Festival, I started thinking about the idea of turning them into roving suitable for spinning sock yarn with. Down wools are naturally resilient, wear resistant, and, the best part, naturally superwash/felt resistant. I contacted Spinderella’s Fiber Mill in Utah and asked if they could blend the fleeces with 25% nylon in order to give me a roving that was more like the strong sock yarns I like to knit with, and they said they could!

So, I shipped off the fleeces, they (along with a ton of my other fibers) were returned to me yesterday. Behold! What I hope to be my favorite new handspinning roving for socks! 75% naturally superwash down (Suffolk-cross) wool blended with 25% nylon (yep, there are bits of veggie matter in it, but hey, these were local range sheep, luckily the VM falls out mostly when you spin it).

I quickly dyed a 150g-ish sized bump with 4 packets of grape KoolAid and 6 packets of lemonade KoolAid yesterday and began spinning a bobbin last night.

So far, I like it! The roving spins really quickly and easily. Spinderella’s fiber needs no pre-drafting or extra attenuation to spin, nice. It definitely is a medium wool, crisp feeling is how I’d describe the hand. I’m going to 2-ply this stuff and knit my next pair of socks with it.

Hopefully, this will turn out like I was thinking it would, and I’ll love it.

Sockage.

Published by Sarah on July 15, 2008 in knitting. 6 Comments

Me Socks.

Nate Socks.

Baby Socks.

Me Socks.

Top: Sunshine Yarns, “Colorful” colorway, knit in garter rib. I started these…oh, way back in the winter sometime, then lost my sock knitting mojo til April or May when I picked them back up again.

Nate socks: Plain stockinette socks in a Regia yarn, knit in the car and whenever I had spare time over the last month or so.

Baby socks: Knit with the leftover yarn from my Colorful socks, awww, now Twinkle and I can be all matchy-matchy.

Me socks: Regia 6-ply “crazy color” yarn I picked up on a great sale for $2.50 a ball. Man, this thicker 6-ply stuff knits up FAST! I started these last Thursday night. Knitting them on 3.0 mm needles, co 52 stitches to get a womens size 8, and yep, I’ll get a full pair of socks from two 136 yd balls.

Socks, a knitters staple.

Craft ADD Vs. Startitis

Published by Tamara on July 15, 2008 in WIPs and FOs and general blather. 6 Comments

When I only had one craft hobby, such as knitting or crochet, I often referred to the starting of new projects without having finished any others, as Startitis. Now that I also spin and sew, I also tend to suffer from Craft ADD. Not only do I have several projects going at once, but from pretty much ALL of my hobbies. It’s insane. My crafts storage area being a disaster zone didn’t exactly help matters, either. I won’t show you what it looked like ‘before’ but here’s an ‘after’ shot:

Click through to see the notes on the actual photo.

Now I’ve got everything all neat and cutesy(somewhat) I can see just where I’m at in terms of all my craft WIPs. I do need to do a bit of rearranging as far as keeping the sewing/knitting WIPS closer to eye level, but I’m hoping to get more non-adhesive shelf lining. I also really need to go through those bags hanging off the sides. There’s yarn hiding in them.

I’ve come to the realization that the warmer months are definitely going to be geared more toward small/lightweight knitting and sewing. Though, I’d probably find myself doing the Spring and Summer sewing earlier next year because I got into sewing late. I’m really enjoying it and I’m not sure if this preference for sewing/fabric is due to the weather or the novelty of a new craft. Probably a bit of both. I’m still struggling with the Pink Shawl. Pesky extra stitches. I should have worked a lifeline in more recently than the last one I put in because then at least I could just rip back a few rows. But tinking half a row isn’t very appealing right now when I have other projects that ARE going well. Like the Baby Surprise Jacket I’ve got on the needles:

I’d been wanting to knit this for quite some time and finally got the pattern for it. (I know, I could have just gotten the pattern alone but I wanted to complete my EZ book collection). I was aimlessly knitting the BSJ, not sure of who would receive it when my husband and I got word our friend is expecting a little one in the Fall. So, now I’ve got a recipient lined up! YAY!

It’s a fairly smooth knit so far. I’ve gotten a little further than what you see in that picture and am ready for a transition in the pattern, so I left it off until I have a good block of quiet(while fully awake!) to tackle it. The Magic Mirror socks mentioned in the last post have sort of taken a back seat to the sweater, more because of the Startitis/CADD than anything; it’s just a few more rounds until I’m ready for the heel.

On the spinning front, after getting the Peach Merino off the bobbins(after what? a year?), I’ve finally managed to spin, ply and set the twist on some Merino/Silk from Spunky Eclectic. Of course I haven’t measured the yardage/WPI but you knew that, didn’t you? I’ll need another block of quiet to get that done without stopping 5 times and losing my count. Pictures of both yarns will come soon.

As for the sewing, Biggest Beanlet has been stitching little pillows for the past several days, since I got a new machine and passed Trixie Singer on to her. She’s asked to work on some more complicated projects and I think it’s time for her to make her own sundress. I picked up some pre-smocked dress material at a huge sale at Joann’s a week or so ago with the intention of making some dresses for us. I’ve done mine–it’s a simple one side-seam-and-a-hem deal– so I know it won’t be too hard for her but she’ll enjoy the fact that she made it herself. Hopefully before the Summer’s out I can tackle some more dresses and work on some school uniform shirts. Ambitious, aren’t I?

Let’s talk about lace

Published by Valerie on July 14, 2008 in knitting. 5 Comments

Since I spent the weekend working on the Shetland Lace Shawl (Ravelry link), and lace in progress isn’t exactly exciting, I thought a sort of “open mic” topic about lace was in order. Lace knitting seems to be popular in the summer, so it’s timely.

1. What is your favorite lace knitting tool? I really like the KnitPicks Chart Keeper, because it’s easy to keep my place using the long magnets. Before that, I had an insane system using Post-it notes. This is much better; it got rid of the pile of no-longer-sticky notes on my end table.

2. What is your favorite/least favorite lace knitting advice? I’ll go with the negative–I don’t really like lifelines. It feels like a lot of work to me, although I can understand it on some projects. I’d rather just tink back to the last correct row, as a general rule. (Yes, I am aware that by saying this, I’m dooming myself to a huge mistake 30 rows down.)

3. What is your “someday” lace project? What’s holding you back? I own the pattern to Sharon Miller’s Princess Shawl, and I will knit it someday. I’m a little intimidated by the huge, unwieldy charts, but I think I can do this after I finish my current lace. I wanted to try something with patterning on both sides (i.e., no plain knit/purl rows), since that requires a little more concentration and has less room for error.

So, if you have any thoughts, let’s hear them! And, so you can see what I mean about lace in progress (and for those of you who need pictures, not words, here’s a photo.

I still exist… someplace

Published by mtwelovett on July 13, 2008 in general blather. 3 Comments

Greetings, I know it has been ages and ages since I posted here.. my life has been something of a soap opera these last almost 6 months, and I haven’t knit a stitch since January… *gasp* I know, how horrible.. I haven’t been in the state of mind to deal with much of anything but the soap. Artistically, aside from the play that I was in, and the set that I designed, this is about all I’ve accomplished….

It’s a pinch pot head of a dear friend..and it amuses me how like Buddha he seems… although one of my pottery buddies thinks he looks like Stan Laurel.. these are cell phone images, so you’re missing some of the details like the eyebrows, and the mustache/chin stubble..right now he is probably about 8″ from chin to top of his head, but he will shrink in the firing. My friends’ forehead is actually taller, but it still favors him. The clay will be white when fired, and I’ll paint or glaze some details, like his iris and pupils.. although maybe not, since I’m not sure yet if I want to give him skin tone.. I’m usually not a hand builder, so this looks really good for me. He is leaving town soon, and I will miss him… this was a way to deal with that on top of the other that has been going on.

I hope to be back on the knitting front soon, and feeling better about everything.. I’m doing worlds better each week, although there are still moments of setbacks.. but I’m here, and I’m healing.. and I mostly feel like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon.

327 pins and 2817 chain stitches later

Published by Susann on July 13, 2008 in WIPs and FOs and knitting. 10 Comments

the cropped Mediterranean Lace Shawl is finished. There are no words to express how happy I am.

It took me about 5 hours to crochet off all the stitches, blocking was almost a breeze compared to that.

Now the stats for those who just need to know…
Yarn: Hamburger Wollfabrik, Cashmere/Merino/Silk Mix 2-ply - 450 m/50 g
I used: about 150 g
Needle size: 3 mm
Dimensions: upper border 165 cm, sides 140 cm
Crochet hook: 1,0 mm
What I changed: I’ve knit chart A 5 times and started the border then. Since I had to pick up additional stitches to match the pattern repeats, I would recommend to knit chart A 6 times, as that matches the number of needed stitches better.
Conclousion: I’d not knit the exact shawl again, as the central pattern is so boring. On the other hand, I enjoyed knitting the border and am already thinking of where to use it again.

Now I just need to pack it up nicely and send it off to my lovely co-worker, who lives at the Mediterranean Sea.

For Valerie

Published by Sarah on July 9, 2008 in spinning. 4 Comments

Since she asked:

The Merino-silk with a penny for comparison with a Known Object.

And, the sock yarn ties with the penny.

Better?

Spinning Merino-Silk Laceweight

Published by Sarah on July 8, 2008 in spinning. 13 Comments

(takes forever…) But is, I think, worth it in the end.

Evidence:

This is 50% merino wool/50% silk top, dyed by Blue Moon Fiber Arts that I bought at Rhinebeck last year. Spun semi-worsted style (also why it took me longer than average) then 2-plied.

After plying, I had a tiny bit left on one bobbin, which I plied with some green laceweight silk I had lingering on another bobbin, hence the mini-skein of greenish stuff too. To give you an idea of how fine this yarn is, the little ties (you can see one on the mini skein, and one on the far right of this pic), they’re sock yarn.

So, when I say this yarn took me a long time to spin, I wasn’t kidding. I started this in, oh, May. Despite my spinning predilection of having about 4 projects going at once, I also only spun this yarn since I started it (probably because I knew I’d need three pretty empty bobbins to actually finish it…but still). I finished plying it on Sunday.

I ended up with 1,080 yds (986 m) of yarn weighing 5.3 oz (150g), making this yarn approximately 3,260 yards per pound. I forgot to measure the WPI, but hmmm, it has to be up there given how it looks next to that sock yarn.

I’m of two minds about what to do with this yarn. One tells me to save the skein for the next wool festival I attend, to enter into the skein competition (I think it might be one of the best yarns I’ve spun to date). The other tells me to cast on for a nice lace shawl, start now, before Twinkle is born. Of course, I’m sure I’ll knit exactly one row or less a week after she arrives, but hey.

Ok, ok, one more gratuitous photo. I can’t help it, it took me so long to make.

And this:

75% silk (since the 50/50 is plied with a 100% silk ply), 25% merino, 120 yds (110 m) 0.5 oz (15 g) of laceweight. If you want it, it can be yours. I have no idea what to do with it, so if you want it, leave a comment explaining what you’d do with it, and I’ll pop it in an envelope for you!

Two small things

Published by Valerie on July 7, 2008 in WIPs and FOs and knitting. 4 Comments

I spent the very welcome three-day weekend working on the Shetland Lace Shawl, spinning on my Cormo-cross project, brewing beer, and cooking. We also went to see Wanted, with Angelina Jolie, which was fairly enjoyable except for the woman who brought her 4- or 5-year-old son and let him run around and scream during the entire (R-rated, explicitly violent, foul-language-filled) movie. He even turned on the lights three times during the last ten minutes. It was great.

I took a break this week from the lace shawl, knitting a quick baby gift for my cousin. Some of you may recall the last baby gift for my cousin, from last month. My cousins Kimberly and Ginger (sisters) are both pregnant with girls and due about a month apart. I was a little tired of the baby socks pattern, so I opted for a quick and easy pair of booties.

Pattern: Stay-on Baby Booties, from Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Fingering weight in Plumicious, about half a skein
Needles: US 3

This is a great bootie pattern–no seaming, quick, and easily made with leftover sock yarn. Ribbon could be used in place of the i-cord, if you wanted to make it even more quickly. I knit these in about three evenings, maybe four hours total. I’ve made these before, and the recipient loved them.

I also finished a pair of socks for Dustin that had been languishing in my WIP pile for months. These are a basic garter rib pattern in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock potlucks. As you can see, I ran out of yarn on the second sock, and I finsihed with leftovers of another color of the same yarn. That will teach me to put 9″ cuffs on a man’s sock.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Happy July 4th

Published by Guro on July 4, 2008 in Holidaze, Weekly Dose of Odd, appyhay irthdaybay, cool stuff, general blather, hee and travel/events. 1 Comment

I have never celebrated July 4th, but to my understanding it involves cookies and fireworks and parades. Must be a good day then…
Have a great celebration all you americans!

I’m heading off for the mountains for the weekend. Fresh air an hopefully lots of knitting time.