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Tuesday, May 31, 2005
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So much for being the fastest knitter in the Twin Cities.
I cannot get anywhere with my knitting lately. I'm not inspired, to say the least.
My vacation knitting consisted of a Broadripple sock. The first time I made these socks, I finished half of the cuff in an evening. This time around, it's taken me several days to do three inches. (We won't mention how many times I had to rip out my work before I finally managed to get it right.)
Maybe the books on their way to me will provide inspiration. Rumor had it that Amazon has Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore available for $39.99. Of course I had to order it (along with Deb Menz's Color In Spinning and Loop-d-loop). If it falls through, no biggie, but it'd certainly be a nice book to have.
I picked up Dibs on Ribs again. I can't stand it sitting around and mocking me.
I wanted to spin, but the fiber I wanted to spin the most is the exact same color as the yarn I'm using for my Broadripple socks, and I'm afraid that's too much pink. Particularly since this, too, will be sock yarn (do I make anything else, really?).
A yarn store was visited while I was in La Crosse, Wisconsin: Follow Your Heart. It wins the prize for best yarn/quilt shop with the worst name. I didn't buy anything, despite their 25% off sale and excellent (though small) selection. Had they been open the night before at, say, around bar time, when I was tying one on next door, they would've gotten alllll of my money. I think Bobby and I left noseprints on the windows.
Tipper @ 7:22 PM * link
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Friday, May 27, 2005
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Mmm... vacation
This Memorial Day weekend is a long one for me. My employer offers a huge number of holidays every year (the usuals, plus several floating holidays), and the Friday before Memorial Day is one of them this year. I have a whole four days off, and I'm getting paid for two of them, which is something I haven't had happen for about three years. Needless to say, I will enjoy this (especially after the day I had yesterday!).
The hardest part about going on a trip is deciding what knitting to take with me. That's the most crucial part, in fact, and I will spend hours thinking about what knitting to bring, and preparing my knitting, and about 5 minutes packing my clothes and toiletries. I have my priorities.
The task is more difficult than it seems, as I never seem to have anything I'm working on that I can take with me. I end up having to start new projects. Today I'd like to start some Broadripple socks, but, alas, the last time I made a pair I lost size 3 DPN #5, and I really love to do socks on five whole needles. I'm almost tempted to buy a whole new set. Really, why don't DPNs come in sets of six? It's save everyone a lot of grief.
The only other contender is my lacy handspun scarf, which currently looks like this:
Pretty, and getting long (about 2 feet, with plenty of yarn to go), and on super-slippery aluminum straights, so it's not exactly drag-around-in-your-bag knitting.
I'm very grateful that my biggest problem at the moment just happens to be what knitting I'm taking on my trip!
Tipper @ 8:01 AM * link
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Wednesday, May 25, 2005
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This is the sock that never ends!
Yes, it goes on and on, my friends.
In all fairness, it'd take a lot less time if I was more motivated to work on it (knitting is not thrilling me lately, but that's probably because all my projects are Things That Do Not End). But isn't it PRETTY?
Speaking of pretty, have you seen Annie Modesitt's Silk Ribbed Corset pattern? I'm thinking I need to make me one of those. Maybe that'll bring me out of the knitting doldrums!
Stash sale reminder
There's still some really great yarn for sale on my stash sale page, including Rowan Cork and Crystal Palace Merino Frappe!
Tipper @ 7:45 PM * link
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Sunday, May 22, 2005
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I am Super Spinner!
True to form, I was passing out in my chair at 11 p.m. last night (from tiredness, not alcohol - really!). I went to bed, and was up and energetic at 2:30 a.m. So what did I do? I spun the rest of Matthew's sock yarn. At 6:00 a.m., I had another full skein finished (amazingly, it was exactly the same yardage as the last one). Here's a picture of the two together.
The second skein is almost dry, and I hope to get started on the knitting portion today.
I've also finally got my stash sale page up: buy some yarn!
Enjoy your Sunday! (I'm sure every Minnesotan is, as we've finally been delivered from the constant rain... for now.)
Tipper @ 10:48 AM * link
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Thursday, May 19, 2005
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More on the handspun front
My darling man helped buy my spinning wheel, and one of his conditions was, "The first thing you knit from yarn you spin has to be socks for me." Well, good news first: I started spinning up sock yarn for him.
This is the handpainted superwash Colonial I purchased at Shepherd's Harvest. I split my four ounces into three sections; this one is two of the sections spun and plied together to make 230 yards of really great yarn. The fiber is drafting like a dream, and I'm ending up with very even (though not perfectly even) and lustrous yarn. I only purchased four ounces, though, so I'll be a little short. To remedy this, I purchased four ounces of superwash fiber in "copper"; I'll be plying one single of that with a single of what I have left over of the handpainted roving. If I need still more, I'll do some 2-ply of just the copper. I finally cracked open the Twisted Sister's book I've had for about two years and this is where I got my plan.
The bad news is that I started knitting something else with my handspun:
I couldn't stand it any more! I needed some simple lace, and needed to knit some handspun. This is the merino/tencel, and it's knitting up very nicely. I will likely not have enough to make a scarf of any reasonable length, so I might just have to get more. I'm using size four needles and this pattern.
I think he'll forgive me when he gets socks from that gorgeous yarn I've spun him.
Tipper @ 9:13 PM * link
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Monday, May 16, 2005
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Resurrected!
Did you know that I was working on the Snowdrift Stole? I barely knew it myself. I purchased a kit at the 2003 Yarnover, began it almost immediately, and stopped about 7 rows into it. Teeny-tiny entrelac is not for the weak of heart (not that I was weak of heart; I'm just easily bored). Given that I think it's gorgeous, am now a faster knitter, and have a higher tolerance for boredom than I used to, I dug it out of my stash after my recent stash culling. I've knit a whole two more rows (almost) of teeny-tiny entrelac squares. It sure is pretty, and sure is long.
However, Dibs on Ribs is in danger of falling victim to a similar fate (i.e., boring me to death and being punished with two years in a cold, lonely plastic tub).
Who knew that sleeves could be so dull? Thankfully, the front sleeves will be a little less dull, what with the v-neck getting in the way of the miles of stockinette. And then I'll be almost done. Have faith, Tipper. You shall get through the stockinette. (But will I have enough yarn? I am truly living on the edge.)
I'm famous! (Though no one knows its me.)
I got a nice email today, from Marie Irshad of KnitCast. She interviewed Pam Allen of Interweave Knits, and the Scarf Style Knit-Along was brought up. I can only hope that Pam Allen paid a visit to the blog, then clicked on my name, then clicked on my bio and noticed that I dream of being on their editorial team, and is now dreaming of hiring me for said editorial team. One can hope!
High in (on?) fiber.
Some people get high on life. I get high on fiber. Like how I went to Detta's Spindle this Saturday and I could barely breathe, the deliciousness was so all-encompassing. I managed to walk out with minimal wallet damage - a little bit of dyed wool that will make fun stripes, some handpainted stuff, a wee bit of tussah silk that I purchased in hopes of blending it with the aforementioned dyed and painted wool to soften it up, and some mill-end superwash wool that I'd like to turn into sock yarn for me. Something that I liked even more than the fiber was THE DOG. Oh, that's one sweet puppy.
On the way back from Detta's, Matthew spotted Knit One, Bead Too, and I stopped in for some of the most friendly yarn store chat I've ever had and two balls of Cascade Fixation.
Tonight I taught my future sister-in-law to spin on a drop spindle. Teaching her things is an awful experience, not because she's a bad student. Quite the contrary: she is automatically much, much better than I am at everything. She kicked my butt at pysanky, and is continuing to do so with the spinning. However, it must go on record that I did not know about predrafting when I started spinning, and I clued her into this right off the bat. So I should feel better, right?
Tipper @ 9:35 PM * link
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Sunday, May 15, 2005
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Fiber, fiber everywhere.
First, some socks:
These Regia Cotton Surf socks are on their way to my sister. I have a ton of Regia left over, as usual. Exactly how huge do I have to make these to need an entire ball for a pair?
Then, some yarn:
2 oz. of 70% merino/30% tencel. It's very tiny, and about 260 yards. It'll turn into a lacy scarf of some sort (unless someone wants to buy it off of me; all reasonable offers considered!).
2 oz. of unidentified wool blend with sparkles for good measure. I started this yesterday and finished it this morning; it was very quick and to the point (and I previously deemed it unspinnable, but I think I was just very pessimistic). I attempted to make it a little less perfect and more novelty, but it neded up looking like I tried to make it perfect and failed. But I like it. It's 115 yards.
Selling my handspun is something I'm definitely interested in. If you ever see anything on here that you like, make an offer. I have a feeling that spinning is going to leave me with more yarn than I can possibly use in a lifetime.
Speaking of which...
I sorted through my stash again last night, weeding out yet more yarn to get rid of. Pictures will be taken and it'll be put up for sale. Included in the mix is a sweater's worth of Crystal Palace Merino Frappe (it's awesome, and I haven't wanted to sell it previously, but I really don't think I'm the fluffy sweater type), five balls of Rowan Cork, a sweater's worth of Lopi yarn and the Best of Lopi book, and various oddballs and remants I'd like to sell as a lot.
But even doing that, I still have too much yarn. I have very large plastic totes that hold everything. Two of them hold yarn destined for sweaters (and some for an afghan). One holds yarn for scarves, socks, and charity/gift stuff, as well as (lots of) laceweight. The other has some UFOs, only one of which will ever make it to FO status (Rogue - it just needs sleeves; what the hell is taking me so long)? After I sorted through everything I realized that I still have a couple of small stashes in the living room. Uff da.
Tipper @ 11:46 AM * link
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
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Down-to-the-wire donation
Beth at Yarn Envy is about to go under the scissor for a good cause: Locks of Love. But she's taking it one step farther, and trying to raise $1,000 by the big day (this Saturday) in order to sponsor a child and help defray the costs of the wig. She's $70 away from her goal! Jump on over to her blog to donate. (She's even sweetened the deal for us by entering donors' names into a drawing for some beautiful hand-dyed yarn.)
Other content
There is none!
Tipper @ 9:16 PM * link
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Monday, May 09, 2005
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Houston, we have yarn.
Here's the first yarn spun on my Jensen:
You'll see a swatch in front, as well. It was done on size 7 needles, which were a perfect fit for the yarn. And believe it or not, that's the first handspun stuff I've ever knit. There were more spots on this skein that were exactly what I wanted than any others I've spun, so I call that progress.
I tried spinning the random red fluff I bought, but it's impossible to do it without combing it first. Of course, I have no combs. It's pretty chunky at the moment. Instead, I started on the pink/purple/ivory merino/tencel stuff. It's easy to spin, but it's spinning very finely.
That's been my biggest issue - I spin small. I never really had that big, fat single stage, and can't do it even when I try. There are two other issues with my spinning, as well: being able to put enough twist in, but not too much (both while spinning singles and while plying), and making everything smooth (it seems I spin hairy, too). I suspect this will change with practice. It'll click.
Aparrently, I cant speel.
Thanks to limedragon for pointing out my bad Bloglines link. Can you believe that it's been bad for, well, since I put it up? The link now works, so sign up to read this ol' thing via Bloglines.
Tipper @ 9:08 PM * link
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Sunday, May 08, 2005
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Don't tell me you didn't see this coming
Me + lingering longing for spinning + everyone and her sister in blogland spinning lately + going to a sheep/wool festival where fiber outnumbered yarn 2:1 = a certain something coming home with me
That's right, folks. I caved. It didn't help that my wonderful Matthew says things like, "You know, I've spent almost $1,000 on swords and a cape" and "I think you should get it because it will make you happy and sometimes you get sick of knitting" and all sorts of supportive stuff. (This is the same man who regularly says that I can buy whatever I want in yarn stores. Are you jealous yet?) I didn't take him up on his condition that in order to get a wheel I must also buy an angora rabbit and spin off of it like someone at the festival was doing. Somehow, he let me get away with JUST getting the spinning wheel.
My wheel is a Jensen Tina II, unfinished, and man, is it wonderful. My previous wheel was old, clunky, slow, loud, and inflexible - this one is quiet, fast, has six ratios already built in, the orifice is the right height and in the right location, the bobbins are huge, etc., etc. I was pleased to see nothing but praise for this wheel when I was looking up information after my purchase.
I've already spun a two-ply worsted-ish 135-yard skein that's currently drying. It's by far the best yarn I've spun.
But that's not the end!
I spent all of my cash on the wheel (and Matthew paid the rest, in lieu of paying for rent), so I had to return with some today to buy fiber, of course.
- 8 oz. merino/silk in "Sea Mist" from Mielke's Fiber Arts
- 8 oz. colonial top in "Teal" from the same, of which I've spun about half
- 2 oz. unidentified red blend with sparklies from someone I don't have a card for
- 4 oz. handpainted merino/tencel from Sandy's Palette
- 2 oz. lincoln/silk from Inspirational Fiber and Textile
- 4 oz. handpainted merino in "Peony Bloom" from the same
- 4 oz. handpainted superwash colonial from Anne's Fiber Expressions
- 2 oz. Nature's Paintbox merino/tencel from the same
Quite a haul. Several vendors commented on my tote bag - "You came prepared!" You bet I did.
It was a very nice festival. A little small, but plenty to see, including many breeds of sheep (man, merino sheep are ugly) and llamas and alpacas. I thought the llamas looked seriously pissed off; Matthew said they looked relaxed. In any event, they're very weird creatures.
A big "Hello!" to anyone I ran into! I love running into people, probably because I grew up in a small town and it happened all the time. I miss that sort of random interaction in the big city.
Last, but not least, here's some Dibs on Ribs progress:
I'm at the long and boring knit-the-sleeves-lengthwise bit. The body fits perfectly, as far as I can tell, though I'm not 100% happy with the back diamond - it sticks out just a little, but I think that blocking it will help, and it won't be noticeable while being worn.
P.S. I also picked up a niddy-noddy and At Knit's End, finally!
Tipper @ 8:16 PM * link
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Tuesday, May 03, 2005
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I feel like a groupie.
But then, we'd all like to have SEX* with the Yarn Harlot, wouldn't we?
The other night I had a dream that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the Yarn Harlot) had a book signing at a yarn shop and I was able to go. I talked to her beforehand and she remembered me from blogging. When she signed my book, she did an elaborate thing that encouraged me to follow my dreams and insisted that I'd be famous someday.
Then I tried to find Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4-Ply in the store and couldn't.
She follows me out of my dreams, too! During orientation at work, we were introduced to Factiva. It's supposed to be used for, you know, work purposes, but I couldn't not set up a search for "knitting." Lately, I get at least one article about At Knit's End (I must get this book; I'm waiting until I find it at a yarn shop to buy it) and the Harlot every day. It makes me feel like I know a famous person. Maybe I should print out and frame the three-or-so emails that I've gotten from her! They could be worth money someday.
/end groupiness
So, I find myself farther into Dibs on Ribs:
Notice the near-perfect symmetry of the fronts? I'll give you a moment to worship me.
So far, so good. It looks like it'll fit me, and I think it looks darn cool. Put it this way: it'll either look awesome, or it'll look ridiculous. It's just that kind of garment.
You can KEEP your Maryland Sheep & Wool garbage!
This weekend, I'm gonna have me some of this: Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't buy a spinning wheel (again). Or, heck, cross 'em that I do. Whatever suits you.
*You know, THAT kind of SEX, not that kind.
Tipper @ 9:40 PM * link
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I call dibs!
It didn't take me long to deem Dibs on Ribs from the summer Interweave Knits subscriber-only area as ideal. I love interesting construction - and this is interesting construction that won't look ridiculous. I have a full bag of Noro Kureyon (in colorway 95, the same as the pattern - how's that for coincidence?) that was screaming to be made into a sweater, but most of the Noro patterns I considered I didn't really love (and I'm cheap). The thing about any self-striping yarn is that it can be used in really impressive ways, and I think Dibs on Ribs does that.
So of course I jumped on this one.
(Holding down the upper-right corner is my most-used tool: a little oriental brocade pouch that holds my small DPNs - up to size five - stitch markers, yarn needles, etc. I paid a whole dollar for it at Target. Thank goodness I bought it in red, because that makes it easier to find. And believe me, I lose it a lot.)
It's fast, too. I finished the right lower body above on Sunday evening, and last night I got about halfway through the left lower body.
The construction really is genius. As you're increasing two stitches in the center of the panels, you're creating a barely noticeable ridge, which ends up hitting one's waist when it's all said and done. The way the rib inserts pull in further shapes the garment, so no other shaping is needed.
Plus, I love working with Kureyon. The color changes are hypnotic, and this batch seems to be particularly soft.
Tipper @ 5:40 AM * link
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Sunday, May 01, 2005
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So much for remembering!
Finally, I remember to get pictures taken of Remembering Honey:
My "watching Law & Order while waiting for pictures to be snapped" pose.
Pattern: Remembering Honey, Summer '03 Interweave Knits
Yarn: 5 balls Cotton-Ease in Strawberry Cream
Modifications: a different lace for the sleeves, and none of the bobble-ish hogwash on the sleeves, either.
Time elapsed: not quite two weeks
It hasn't been washed yet, but I can't seem to manage the time and space to do a little blocking.
Tipper @ 10:08 PM * link
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