Mason-Dixon Knitting has posted an online idea to celebrate the lives of Kathreen Ricketson and her partner. I enjoyed visiting her online world, Whip Up over the years. I found much inspiration there and a very happy place.
Check it out.
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
A Wonderful Surprise, Small FOs
Yarn: Twisters Handspun, "terrestrial". Naomi is a fine spinner of incredible art yarn. Every Tour de Fleece, I try something arty (you know, lumpy yarn spun on purpose!) I aspire to spinning something this fluffy and worsted weight too.
A couple of small projects....Nanipolu
The author generously provided this pattern for free!
Yarn: Queensland Prima Fresca. This is such a nice soft yarn. There two skeins had some issues matching, though. I still love it. I used most the two skeins.
Needle: size 10 for C0 and BO, and size 8 for knitting.
Comments: A fast knit, easy to follow instructions. A small shawl.
Mini Strawberry Purse
Yarn: Cascade 220 and maybe that green is Red Heart
Needles: size 7
Mods: I did not hold the yarn double. I wanted a small bag. This one is about the size of my hand. I also wanted a draw string, so modified the leaves so I could knit them in one piece, knit them on , then added some eyelets for the drawstring. The twisted drawstring, I made with my new Bosworth Maxi:) I wanted a short handle, as I'm always worried small people will somehow strangle on a longer one. I have observed this intended recipient chew a rubber ring like gum instead of leaving it on her finger as intended. The horror! The horror!
Black Hat
Yarn: Vanna's Choice
Needle: Size 8
The recipient tried the hat on for size. Instead of waiting for me to sew in the ends, he cut them off some unraveled. Yikes! At least the CO edge did not and I was able to tie on some tails and finish them up. Lucky yarn choice for me.
A cute mushroom, I believe a yellow houseplant mushroom, sprouted in my papyrus plant. It lasted 3 days and I missed the morning of the first day when the olive shape had a little bulbous top. I love the way the brown top cracked, like bread in the oven.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Lenina FO
Yarn: Plymouth Linen Isle
Needles: size 7
I found out after the fact the the book has an error for this pattern. However I cannot blame the book for my first attempt. I was totally distracted and couldn't for the life of me count the w&ts. I missed some vital instructions when piecing and finally gave up.
On my second try I decided to go with a seamless modification. Instead of knitting each wedge from a provisional CO, I CO with a loop method, knit the first wedge, and bound off the stitches until I had one stitch on the needle. Along the way I picked up the wraps, knit, then passed the previous stitch over. I then turned and counted the stitch left as the first stitch of the next row. There were purl bumps made by the CO row, and I just picked these up and either knit or purled them according to the pattern. The very last bump was small and the first few were double bumps from the wrapped stitches. When the last wedge was done, I did a 3 needle bind-off, wrong sides facing each other and picking up the loop from the CO row. I think it came out similar to the original:). The yarn does not have a lot of stretch but the a single row of single crochet, a swim, and a tumble in the dry helped some.
I spent a couple hours on the azalea revitalization project. I read that lichens mean the plant is not happy and I'm not surprised after years of neglect on my part. First step was weeding. Ugh. I hate weeding. I spread some dirt/compost around today, and gave them a spinkle. I spoke to them nicely, trying hard not to show them the worry part. I'm hoping it will rain some tonight. Keep your fingers crossed!
There were enough lichen to try out another experiment. My friend commented today, "Why bother?" She is so practical.
It's definitely summer here. The jacaranda trees are nearly done leaving a lavender dust along the roads. The popcorn orchids popped. The litchi are turning red. The PV system is producing enough electricity to pay my electric bill. I have no sock mojo. I'm still contemplating whether to keep working or tender my resignation. Not sure why I keep hanging on!
Happy creating!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Who ain't busy living is dyeing
Well I guess that's not really what Bob Dylan was singing about, but at little ear worm popped into my head. Then of course there was the banana song.
These minion are the creation of Illumination Entertainment and stole the show in Despicable Me. My weld-dyed yarn screamed Minion to me.
Pattern: Minion
Needles: size 8
Yarn: yellow, hand spun merino/seacell. Weld natural dye. Overalls, hand spun Romney and hand dyed and grown by Sheep and Threads on Etsy. Many bits and bobs-mystery black wool, baby alpaca eyes. Number two son said google eyes.
Comments: The goggles are the challenge. I may still put wire in them and add some eyelids to help hold them in place. I crochet the rims, just winging them as I went along. He still needs a pocket and emblem. I'm still trying to imagine how I will make them.
My other dyeing project involved a braid of Rambouillet from Certified Cute on Etsy. A friend who dyes scarves with acid dyes gave me some her premixed dyes to use. I had no idea what I was doing. My thought was that the oxblood and alpine blue would mix to form purple and I threw in some purple in the middle just in case. I soaked and spun dry the braid which puffed up quite a bit in the process. The dye was quite thick and didn't flow, but I was afraid to felt if by massaging too much. I steamed it for 45 minutes, but the water never ran clear. After rinsing it was quite dark. So here it is, Purple Majesty.
I will try to spin this up to blend the colors perhaps a 3-ply for socks.
Have a Happy Mother's Day weekend all!
These minion are the creation of Illumination Entertainment and stole the show in Despicable Me. My weld-dyed yarn screamed Minion to me.
Needles: size 8
Yarn: yellow, hand spun merino/seacell. Weld natural dye. Overalls, hand spun Romney and hand dyed and grown by Sheep and Threads on Etsy. Many bits and bobs-mystery black wool, baby alpaca eyes. Number two son said google eyes.
Comments: The goggles are the challenge. I may still put wire in them and add some eyelids to help hold them in place. I crochet the rims, just winging them as I went along. He still needs a pocket and emblem. I'm still trying to imagine how I will make them.
My other dyeing project involved a braid of Rambouillet from Certified Cute on Etsy. A friend who dyes scarves with acid dyes gave me some her premixed dyes to use. I had no idea what I was doing. My thought was that the oxblood and alpine blue would mix to form purple and I threw in some purple in the middle just in case. I soaked and spun dry the braid which puffed up quite a bit in the process. The dye was quite thick and didn't flow, but I was afraid to felt if by massaging too much. I steamed it for 45 minutes, but the water never ran clear. After rinsing it was quite dark. So here it is, Purple Majesty.
Have a Happy Mother's Day weekend all!
Friday, May 03, 2013
A Little Stashbusting, A Lot of Shop Therapy
Number 2 son frequently comments on the additions to my various stashes and reminds me to get rid of something for every new purchase. I just realized that he is also stashing things, and I've just had a lot longer to collect things! So there!
Bead stash damage from the trade show. Pink coral (suspect dyed), green moonstone, and some other green stone I've already forgotten the name of. I have a thing going on with round beads.
After Green Dreams came along, I acquired a couple more spindles, a diz and a puller.
1. Green Dreams by Rooster Rick
2. Bosworth Maxi, Cherry and Maple
3. Gregory V Pencheff, Maple and Shedua
4. Gregory V Pencheff, Maple Diz and puller
I'm spinning some wool from Karen's churro named Pippi on the Navajo spindle and having much more luck with this supported spindle then the others I've tried. The Bosworth is lovely and spins wonderfully! The Pencheff is very pretty, quite heavy and large. When I get enough cotton spun I'll try it for plying.
I finished two shawls using the Summer Flies pattern (for sale on Ravelry), by Donna Griffin, Summer Chocolate and Summer Ice.
Needles: Size 10.5. Yarn: Brown Queensland Collection Pima Fresca, Blue STASH Plymouth Linen Isle. The Linen Isle was gifted to me and had a hard time deciding what it wanted to be. The pattern is well written and a fast knit up to the mercifully short ruffle. I used a crochet hook to make the picot bind off. The Pima Fresca did not need any blocking, but I may block the Linen Isle one since the yarn had been frogged a number of times and was sitting around in the elements for a while. The label says "machine washable"!
Another stash buster is Stash Market bag.
Pattern: Shifting Shells Shopping Bagby Claudia Schwan. A free pattern on Ravelry.
Yarn: Mystery stuff, looks like cotton linen for the bottom and handles and Reynolds Garden Tween.
Hook size: I
Mods: the mystery yarn was a smaller gauge, so I added a couple rows on top before starting the handles. It is also machine washable. After washing the tweed portion had a funny smell, so I washed it again. It is less, but still there. As my crochet skills are just so so, one handle is little longer. Oh well.
So far the work a the other clinic has been going okay. The drive home sucks big time and I know now why Honolulu ranks #2 in the country as worst commute home. The people I'm working with are all very nice and that counts for a lot! And, there is a lovely head of red hair I'm trying not to stalk. Wonder why sheep don't come in that color?
I have one more dye class to go.
The T-shirt is weld with indigo, the yarn (hand spun SW merino with seacell from Pat at Dyeing for Color on Etsy. The green is weld on crepe de chine, with a quick indigo dip. The lac behind the green scarf a little disappointing. Turns out cotton and vegetable fibers are more challenging to dye. I don't like to sew silk, so I'm going to dye mostly cotton anyway. I wish I had more SW wool to dye. I have some Romney locks, but since I'm sharing dye pots and I don't have any good way to contain the wool or prevent felting I'll save that for another time.
Blogless Megan is going to knit with Ysolda Teague in Iceland. Jealous!!!
After Green Dreams came along, I acquired a couple more spindles, a diz and a puller.
2. Bosworth Maxi, Cherry and Maple
3. Gregory V Pencheff, Maple and Shedua
4. Gregory V Pencheff, Maple Diz and puller
I'm spinning some wool from Karen's churro named Pippi on the Navajo spindle and having much more luck with this supported spindle then the others I've tried. The Bosworth is lovely and spins wonderfully! The Pencheff is very pretty, quite heavy and large. When I get enough cotton spun I'll try it for plying.
I finished two shawls using the Summer Flies pattern (for sale on Ravelry), by Donna Griffin, Summer Chocolate and Summer Ice.
Another stash buster is Stash Market bag.
Yarn: Mystery stuff, looks like cotton linen for the bottom and handles and Reynolds Garden Tween.
Hook size: I
Mods: the mystery yarn was a smaller gauge, so I added a couple rows on top before starting the handles. It is also machine washable. After washing the tweed portion had a funny smell, so I washed it again. It is less, but still there. As my crochet skills are just so so, one handle is little longer. Oh well.
So far the work a the other clinic has been going okay. The drive home sucks big time and I know now why Honolulu ranks #2 in the country as worst commute home. The people I'm working with are all very nice and that counts for a lot! And, there is a lovely head of red hair I'm trying not to stalk. Wonder why sheep don't come in that color?
I have one more dye class to go.
Blogless Megan is going to knit with Ysolda Teague in Iceland. Jealous!!!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Stuff is Happening!
I found this fun, fast way to use up beads and can't stop making these. At one time I avoided memory wire like the plague, but now...
I used chalcedony, ruby zosite, Swarovski crystals, labadorite and red coral. These fit all sizes, are relatively inexpensive to make and fast fast fast! Thank you Bella Beads for the idea!
I watched Sarah Anderson's video over and over to learn Navajo Plying. She looks so relaxed doing it! The final result after a bit of practice wasn't too bad. I found out that the singles need to rest for over a week so I don't get little curly "art" yarn sections.
The final project was a pair of socks.
Verdant Socks
Fiber: Rambouillet fiber. Split in half the long way, from Widdershin Wookworks
Pattern: Amy Swenson's toe-Up sock generator
Needles: size 2 DPN Mods: I knit to 1.5 inches of my foot length before doing the heel turn. Comments: My fabric was pretty tight so it was a strenuous knit. I must have reversed one the balls when I wound them, thus the "fraternal twins".
I've tried a few other ideas found on the web.
Hemming a tablecloth
I found this fabric that is 60 inches wide for $3.99/yd but really dreaded the hemming part (actually the ironing of the hem).Here's a link to the idead, but basically you sew a 1/2 inch from the edge all around, then fold on the sewn line and over one more time. Then from the right side, sew 3/8 inch from the folded edge all around. No measuring, very little pinning and no ironing! I like it!
Spindle storage
or spindle noodle Not sure of the link for this one, so will come back later and post it.
Blogless Sandy seems to have an endless supply of this cookie cans. Wood and tin, don't sound safe together, so the foam noodle was the perfect solution. I made a little hat for the spindle so the top is also buffered.
Now this idea, the Ohitsu Yarn Bowl, I thought of. Okay well, I was inspired by many of the beautiful wood yarn bowls out there. My Ohitsu is not an old wooden one, but one of the newer plastic ones. Since I have a rice cooker that also has a warmer, I rarely use it for serving rice. It a nice yarn bowl. (update, Knitting Paradise had a discussion about using the ohitsu for a yarn bowl)
The Lauhala class went out to gather Lauhala, to experience the beginning step. It involves gathering, cleaning, thorn removal, rolling and flattening, and storage. This part was hard work! I bought a kit, lol.
My second hat is on hold while I take the Natural Vat Dyeing Class.
My first attempt at reds with cochineal and madder were a bust. I just got shades of pink. They are pleasant enough. I did a little indigo shibori on top for fun. Next week will be yellows.
On the work scene, in a moment of weakness in which I forgot to say "let me think about it. I'll get back to you", I agreed to work at a different location for 6 weeks. My same two day a week schedule. Last time I worked there it was horrible. I'm happy to say things have improved greatly so I survived the first week, no problem except for the usual computer glitch. In this case my auto correct macros went berserk and started making up words. I had to turn that sucker off and now I have to type long phrases that I used to be able to type short cuts for. I hope by Monday the darn thing fixes itself.
Get ready for eye candy:) Green Dreams. Navajo Spindle by Rooster" Rick Jackofsky on Etsy. I have some churro batts in the mail to try and teach myself this.
And here's Edward, my Bosworth Midi, spinning cotton grown in Ewa Beach, Hawaii!
I used chalcedony, ruby zosite, Swarovski crystals, labadorite and red coral. These fit all sizes, are relatively inexpensive to make and fast fast fast! Thank you Bella Beads for the idea!
I watched Sarah Anderson's video over and over to learn Navajo Plying. She looks so relaxed doing it! The final result after a bit of practice wasn't too bad. I found out that the singles need to rest for over a week so I don't get little curly "art" yarn sections.
The final project was a pair of socks.
Verdant Socks
Fiber: Rambouillet fiber. Split in half the long way, from Widdershin Wookworks
Pattern: Amy Swenson's toe-Up sock generator
Needles: size 2 DPN Mods: I knit to 1.5 inches of my foot length before doing the heel turn. Comments: My fabric was pretty tight so it was a strenuous knit. I must have reversed one the balls when I wound them, thus the "fraternal twins".
I've tried a few other ideas found on the web.
Hemming a tablecloth
I found this fabric that is 60 inches wide for $3.99/yd but really dreaded the hemming part (actually the ironing of the hem).Here's a link to the idead, but basically you sew a 1/2 inch from the edge all around, then fold on the sewn line and over one more time. Then from the right side, sew 3/8 inch from the folded edge all around. No measuring, very little pinning and no ironing! I like it!
Spindle storage
or spindle noodle Not sure of the link for this one, so will come back later and post it.
Blogless Sandy seems to have an endless supply of this cookie cans. Wood and tin, don't sound safe together, so the foam noodle was the perfect solution. I made a little hat for the spindle so the top is also buffered.
Now this idea, the Ohitsu Yarn Bowl, I thought of. Okay well, I was inspired by many of the beautiful wood yarn bowls out there. My Ohitsu is not an old wooden one, but one of the newer plastic ones. Since I have a rice cooker that also has a warmer, I rarely use it for serving rice. It a nice yarn bowl. (update, Knitting Paradise had a discussion about using the ohitsu for a yarn bowl)
The Lauhala class went out to gather Lauhala, to experience the beginning step. It involves gathering, cleaning, thorn removal, rolling and flattening, and storage. This part was hard work! I bought a kit, lol.
My second hat is on hold while I take the Natural Vat Dyeing Class.
My first attempt at reds with cochineal and madder were a bust. I just got shades of pink. They are pleasant enough. I did a little indigo shibori on top for fun. Next week will be yellows.
On the work scene, in a moment of weakness in which I forgot to say "let me think about it. I'll get back to you", I agreed to work at a different location for 6 weeks. My same two day a week schedule. Last time I worked there it was horrible. I'm happy to say things have improved greatly so I survived the first week, no problem except for the usual computer glitch. In this case my auto correct macros went berserk and started making up words. I had to turn that sucker off and now I have to type long phrases that I used to be able to type short cuts for. I hope by Monday the darn thing fixes itself.
Get ready for eye candy:) Green Dreams. Navajo Spindle by Rooster" Rick Jackofsky on Etsy. I have some churro batts in the mail to try and teach myself this.
And here's Edward, my Bosworth Midi, spinning cotton grown in Ewa Beach, Hawaii!
Monday, April 01, 2013
And the Winner is....
kbrow! Thanks to everyone who left a comment and stopping by the ole blog
I started blogging 4/01/2005. It was movies, rants and whines. After I retired and got divorced I had much less to rant and whine about, so now it crafts, musings and food. I find myself spending more time on Ravelry, Facebook and Flickr these days, and many of the blogs I followed in the past have gone quiet. I post most of my fibery stuff to Ravelry, my food to FB and travels to Flickr.
It's sure a phenomenal place, this World Wide Web!
Here's my first post ever:
"I admire the knitting blogs I have visited and decided to try my hand at it. I also feel the need to see my thoughts on the Internet just to see how it feels.
I just realized it's April Fool's Day."
Chatty as every, lol. As a tool for self-therapy, the blog has be great for me. It is cheaper then seeing a therapist. The answers lie within, it seems...master of my fate and captain of my soul.
I started blogging 4/01/2005. It was movies, rants and whines. After I retired and got divorced I had much less to rant and whine about, so now it crafts, musings and food. I find myself spending more time on Ravelry, Facebook and Flickr these days, and many of the blogs I followed in the past have gone quiet. I post most of my fibery stuff to Ravelry, my food to FB and travels to Flickr.
It's sure a phenomenal place, this World Wide Web!
Here's my first post ever:
"I admire the knitting blogs I have visited and decided to try my hand at it. I also feel the need to see my thoughts on the Internet just to see how it feels.
I just realized it's April Fool's Day."
Chatty as every, lol. As a tool for self-therapy, the blog has be great for me. It is cheaper then seeing a therapist. The answers lie within, it seems...master of my fate and captain of my soul.
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