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Tuesday, August 31, 2004
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Attack of the killer mittens!
Have you ever seen mittens so big?
Of course, I didn't leave them that way. After a quick trip through the washer, they shrunk significantly, and came out looking a bit like Muppets. Alpaca, it seems, becomes very, very hairy when felted. They need a good shaving, and I wish I knew where my sweater defuzzer was. Unfortunately for you, I don't want to take a picture at the moment so you'll have to wait for post-felting pictures.
I used two balls of Blue Sky Alpacas sportweight and used a pattern by Nancy Lindberg. I bought the pattern and yarn before I realized that I could just make a really big mitten and shrink it and before I realized how much I hate felting.
Madli's coming along; I'm on the 9th repeat. Yes, I know, I'm not breaking any speed records, but I've gotten distracted by pretty pink alpaca.
Tipper @ 4:32 PM * link
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Tuesday, August 24, 2004
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For today's photograph, we are going to utilize our imaginations. Picture the Madli's Shawl below a little bit longer: this is what I have to show for the past few days.
No, this isn't entirely true, but a significant chunk of time has been spent on a secret project. That means you can't see it. Yet.
I have an almost-bobbin-full of some more of that rainbowy merino. I have my fingers very aggressively crossed in hopes that I will not have to re-spin this bobbin of singles before Navajo plying. It seems to be more tightly spun than my previous attempts.
Proof that my boyfriend is incredible and you should all be jealous: I mentioned that there's a sheep and wool festival in Wisconsin. He didn't even hesitate before saying we could go. Sure, it's four-plus hours away, but we're gonna make a nice weekend of it, stopping at a few touristy places that we want to visit (the Circus World Museum, House on the Rock, Taliesin) before buying lots and lots of pretty fiber.
Of course, this means that I'm not allowed to buy any yarn or fiber until then. And, surprisingly, I'm okay with that. I'm all pumped about whittling down my stash lately. It's wonderful!
Tipper @ 11:30 AM * link
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Friday, August 20, 2004
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Mad for Madli
Ok, maybe not *mad*, but I am enjoying it. I'm on my fourth repeat of the innards. This pattern makes for pretty easy lace knitting, I think. It's just difficult enough to be interesting, but not so difficult it requires every ounce of my attention. I got through a whole repeat last night while reading knitting blogs.
Joining the Madli Knit-Along has already paid off: Beth @ YarnEnvy suggested an alternate way of doing the nupps (slipping the stitches over one another instead of purling them all together) that not only makes things easier, but looks better.
The dye experiment continues
I spun up some of the stuff I dyed the other day. It turned out well, although I had a slight problem getting the thicker bits to get any twist to them. While plying, it looked horrible, but on the whole it's not so bad.
Click for a larger picture.
SPIII
I've been reading many blogs lately. Most of them mention Secret Pals 2, but I had no idea how to sign up. Emma mentioned Secret Pals 3 (registration is still open!) so of course I had to sign up. I want in on the goodies! I want to spoil someone! I hope whoever my secret pal is will enjoy whatever I end up picking out.
Tipper @ 2:41 PM * link
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Tuesday, August 17, 2004
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I'm dyein' here!
Yesterday I celebrated my birthday by, amongst other things, making a mess! I experimented with dyeing fiber, using two different kinds of dyes and stuff I had around my house, such as the vegetable steamer (each plastic-wrapped bit was steamed for 20 minutes).
Here's batch #1, made using dyes for pysanky. I've no idea what kind of dyes they are; I just know that although you shouldn't eat them, they're nontoxic, and they stain like a mofo.
 Before
 After
And batch #2, using the old favorite, Kool-aid. I used cherry, grape, and blue raspberry lemonade.
 Before
 After
I also started Madli's Shawl. Twice. The first time, using Skacel Merino Lace, didn't turn out; the yarn's simply too thin. After ripping that out, I started it again using Domy Heather yarn. Not only is it easier to knit with, but the stitches are much more defined and appropriate. I'm on line 13 of the border, which means it's not much to look at.
Tipper @ 7:36 AM * link
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Sunday, August 15, 2004
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Moorish Patterned Pullover: Unveiled!
The yoke colorwork wasn't nearly as daunting as I expected, and I finished knitting and seaming and weaving in ends Saturday afternoon. This is the pre-blocking picture:
The neckband was HUGE compared to the body, the body too short, the sleeves just about right.
I waited as long as I possibly could before trying it on post-blocking. It's still not completely dry, but I could not stand it any longer!
This is me, looking pleased.
...and me looking horrified at the length of the sleeves.
If I would have had any imagination, I would've realized that with a heavy yarn like Cascade Pastaza, I might get a little more length to the sleeves than I bargained for. Since it was still a little damp when I put it on, I'm optimistic that the extra length won't make the sleeves quite as unwieldy when everything's dry.
Update: Optimism pays off. I tried it on again today, and the sleeves are just about spot-on how I wanted them, a little on the long side. Even drying it just a little more made a HUGE difference.
It took me 7 skeins of teal heather and 2 skeins of granny smith; that means two skeins get to go back to the yarn store and I get to buy more stuff to play with.
Next I should probably finish the Curry Cable Cardigan, but my magazine is on loan at the moment. If not that, maybe a cardigan out of Uxbridge Tweed. But Madli's Shawl is definitely on my list, as well; all I need is a size 5 needle and away I'll go. I'm going to use some Skacel Merino Lace in teal I have in my stash.
Tipper @ 10:18 PM * link
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Thursday, August 12, 2004
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Chugging along
Yes, I know it looks a bit... strange. Believe me when I say it's due to the scrunched-up nature of the garment on the needle and not my ineptitude.
It does look like an ape-man sweater, though, with long arms and a short body. I should've made the body longer, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it'll all work out in the end. I'm very glad that I chose to ignore the designer, that's for sure.
I started the yoke today and it's going quickly. Maybe I'll have an FO for my birthday (Monday)!
"You look old-timey!"
Ah! From the mouth of babes! (That is, my boyfriend.)
Yes, I look old-timey when I spin. Last night I finished Navajo plying this 90 yard skein:
Click for a larger picture.
It's some of that multicolored merino top that made this. The initial singles were very, very loose, so I re-spun them with a ton of twist and didn't have much trouble while plying. It turned out pretty well, if I may say so myself.
That Boogie Girl's pages of dyed and spun fiber have inspired me to dye my own. Since I'm sure I'll get sick of that free white roving before I'm done spinning it all, I'll split it into a few different batches and have some fun. Most likely it'll be with kool-aid, but as a Minnesota Knitter's Guild member, I get access to the... *eyes wide with excitement*... dye lab!
Tipper @ 3:07 PM * link
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Sunday, August 08, 2004
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Thy spinning wheel hath arrived!
Friday morn brought the arrival of my spinning wheel, who is yet to be named. (The boyfriend suggests "Hilda.") I set to work putting her together immediately.
I quickly broke the threading hook, as I thought it was the pin you place in the wheel and crankshaft; the pin they sent with the wheel was far too big, so I had to replace it (with something much more appropriate, in my opinion). One of the screws on the flexible leather joint was too short, so I had to replace that. I oiled the snot out of it all. It was still hard to treadle. And by "hard," I mean HARD. I had to use both feet and all of the potential energy of my many muscles.
Yesterday morning, after two half-bobbins full of singles, I realized that the flyer was out of alignment with the wheel. I pushed the treadle. It was easy as pie.
I've also figured out how to fix a broken single without much swearing, amongst other little things.
Now I just have to figure out how to get the yarn to wind evenly onto the bobbin, as well as how to get some major twist into fibers. When you pre-draft, how in the world do you end up with a drafting triangle that has a decent angle to it?
The two pictures below are the yarn resultant of my toils. I used the wool included with my wheel; it's very pretty and kind of soft and was a perfect beginning-to-spin fiber. And I have, like, almost a pound left.
Some parts actually look like yarn, and considering that 75% of this was done while the wheel was immensely difficult to use, this isn't half bad. I really want more twist, though.
I started on some multi-color roving last night, and that's spinning up beautifully.
Knitting has not been forgotten!
I've been plugging away on the Moorish Patterned Pullover. I have four reasons to get it done as quickly as possible:
1) The yarn shop ladies want to see my finished product, as they loved the colors I picked.
2) If I have any leftover full skeins, I want to be able to return them.
3) Mon amie Laura wishes to make one (after seeing that mine turns out okay), and she needs to have it by winter or else she'll freeze.
4) If I lose momentum, I'll never get it back.
I'm a bit worried about the body and sleeve length. The pattern states that all sizes are knit to the same length, which I don't think is a good idea. I lengthened the body about 2 inches and the sleeves about 3; I hope that does the trick without going over.
Tipper @ 8:48 AM * link
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Thursday, August 05, 2004
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If any of you feel the need to link to any of my wonderful goodness, you can now do so easily! Just go to the "link" link at the end of each of my posts.
Plugging away at the Moorish Patterned Pullover. I hope to start the sleeves tonight.
Tipper @ 10:10 AM * link
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Tuesday, August 03, 2004
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I present to you...
The Moorish Patterned Pullover from the Winter 2003 Interweave Knits:
I'm using Cascade Pastaza in Teal Heather and Granny Smith, size 9 needles.
I bought all this at Amazing Threads last Friday. Their sale was seductive, as was their sample of this sweater hanging in the store. I was midly interested in knitting it until I saw their version (using the Pastaza, but in grey and light grey), upon whence I had to have it. This yarn, although heavy, is heavenly soft.
As you can see, I needed a massive amount of yarn - 8 skeins of the main color, 3 of the contrast color. Though, I'm hopeful that I may have some leftovers that I can return.
I started on Saturday, then realized on Sunday that I had twisted the cast on and had to rip out 6 hours of work. Oh, well. It went faster the second time and I'm at the easy, relaxing part now. Before too long I'll be back at the attention-sucking part!
You'll see four skeins of K1C2 Tartelette in Mauve up there as well; I want a poncho out of ribbon yarn, dammit, and I shall have one! Three Kittens has a very cute, classy pattern that I may go back and buy. I'll likely have to buy size 15 needles as well, though. *le sigh*
Tipper @ 12:12 PM * link
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