Mail & Miscellaneous
My mail box has had another very good week.
Mail No. 1: I recently won a blog contest over at StarzAbove and look what she sent me!
Some wonderful roving! I don't spin, but I've always wanted to try thrumming, and this will be perfect. Some cookies! I love chocolate and mint together and have somehow already managed to scarf down half the box. And ..
Some sock yarn! I'm thinking it's hand-dyed, in a gorgeous slightly variegated mixture of subtle greens and browns. This will make some Very Handsome Socks! :-) The package was a most welcome break in busy week -- thank you so much, Starz!
Miscellaneous No. 1: Several people asked where I got the Apple Pie yarn that I used in my March socks . That, along with this ...
... came from Pick Up Sticks . No affiliation-yada yada-blah blah blah, but I must say that I have made, ummm, several purchases from Connie and have received excellent service every single time. I highly recommend her. On the yarn itself, several people mentioned that they have had a knot problem with it. I didn't have any knots, but just so's you know, m'kay?
Miscellaneous No. 2: Locals might be interested to know that another yarn store in Ottawa finally got some Koigu. I feel safe in sending you to Yarn Forward on Bank Street because ...
... I've already been there.
Miscellaneous No. 3: I finished stringing the beads for my ISE4 scarf.
That is 427 cm., which is 168 inches, which is 14 feet, of beads. There are 10 beads to an inch, so ... 1,680 beads. I now understand why people who work regularly with beads get a bead spinner. Onward!
Mail No. 2: Thanks very much to everyone who offered to trade me for their Monsoon STR yarn. Blogless Elizabeth, with whom I traded my previous club yarns, came through for me!
Me likes it! I likely won't do the Inside-Out pattern, but who knows. I'll let it marinate for a while.
Elizabeth also sent me something else, along with a note that said, "If you don't know what it is or how to use it, LMK!"
I don't really KNOW, but I do have some guesses. It's an open-ended knit tube, with the ends unfinished, 229 cms or 90 inches long, 12.7 cms or 5 inches across, so 25.4 cms or 10 inches around.
I love mysteries, and I love contests, so closing off the circle in this post, a Contest! Email me (address in the sidebar) your best guess -- I said best, which doesn't necessarily mean correct -- as to the use of this object, and in two weeks time I'll pick a winner and send them some sock yarn goodness!
62 people had something to say:
A giraffe's neck warmer for those rare, chilly nights on the savana? Post pics when you do the thrummed mittens, eh? I'd like to try a set myself. Maybe a thrum-along? I don't want to give you work, but it would be fun!
That looks like a tube of machine knit socks. That's my guess, anyway.
The only thing I can think of, you can cut lengths out of it to create a face mask for a run of LYS heists. Not that you'd actually do that. Or anything. :-)
To fill with beans or rice for a door draft stopper?
I am totally laughing @ your koigu comment, I so understand :)
Hm, maybe not. Even in the good ol' eweessuffeh we don't need 90" wide doors. :)
That's rilly long! Oh wait, I GOT it. I think ;)
I was going to say a willy warmer until you mentioned the dimensions. But if that IS the answer, I'm a totally hot, fun chick, ready to travel and have a wild night. Of knitting. I swear! ;)
Wow! Good mail week. If I were you, I'd have to photograph the empty cookie box for the blog because the cookies would be gone! Yum.
its not sock yarn already machine knit that you can dye to make stripes???
I don't know.
The koigu to the left and the centre are beautiful, I'll have to pop over to YF on my lunch hour :). My guess on Elizabeth's item - a jam / jelly strainer?
Oh! I know! It's to make handpainted yarn. You paint it while it's knit up, then unravel it to get the coolest color repeats ever.
I've read about this technique somewhere....
All that lovely Koigu, is there any left? The mystery tube is indeed mysterious. Snake sweater?
um, stuff full of batting for a bed pillow/bolster? or, to protect from under the door drafts.
best guess is that you stuff it, and use it in combat.
ps. your koigu on the left is my fave KPPPM color!
Every year, I stash two boxes of Thin Mints in the freezer for important times or emergencies during the year. : )
And 1,000+ beads? eek!
A flagpole cozy?
I'm thinking it's a knitted blank... a great way to dye up your yarn so it stripes.
- Leisel
http://sagebrush.typepad.com/knotagain
Looks like a machine knit "blank" for creating hand painted yarns. 'cept I thought those were done flat.
loving your koigu and the STR. I have seen some "inside out" socks and they look cool. no idea what the "thing" is- but its long enough to use as a neck warmer, doubled.
I have no idea what it is, unless it's someone's attempt to knit support stockings for after a heart by-pass surgery??? It looks like the ones I wore (only they really WERE tightly knit! lolol!).
I'm so glad there not a permanent part of my wardrobe!
Your sock yarns are scrumptious. I'm drooling here...
(((hugs)))
oh, and I forgot to say- the scarf looks like it will be amazing.
I think I am going to place my first order from Pick Up Sticks within the next couple of weeks. (When the government decides to pay me my tax refund.) I love your new yarns. You have such wonderful taste! I love green, so I am totally in love with your gift yarn. Glad you swapped for the STR -- I remember you saying that you really liked that colorway.
Girl Scout cookies never last long.
I didn't see the dimensions at first and thought it was one of those "socks" for a rolling pin -- you know, in theory it keeps the dough from sticking. Since I have no idea, I'm going to say a rolling pin sock for the world's largest rolling pin.
yumm, thin mints...more koigu... your blog is delectable!
I am going to guess that that tube is the knitted version of a chain letter - you're meant to pick up stitches and add a few centimeters, then send it off to some unsuspecting person or else you'll get 7 years bad luck. But if you DO pick up sts and send it on, then you'll have a long life full of happiness.
However, I have recently been the very lucky recipient of one of your recent contests, so please don't count me in the running! Others are more deserving of your generosity!!
Love the STR yarn - and the Koigu! That tube thingy? Haven't a clue... but, didn't you want us to EMAIL our answers?
http://black-dog-knits.blogspot.com
Honestly? It looks like the stuff used to place on a broken arm before putting the plaster on for a cast. I'd have to see the thickness of the fabric.
it looks like a dyeing blank, maybe for socks. you place the dye colors on the blank and then set them by steaming or microwaving it. then you unravel the yarn and knits socks (or whatever) from it. the socks will (or should) have about the same striping pattern as the blank.
lots of new goodies!!! thin mints are my favorite!!!!
hmmm - a long scarf???
I'm guessing it's a tube dress for a really tall, thin supermodel.
I don't really know what you would need it for, but hey!
Very nice gifts:) I found the apple pie yarn. Will get some next paycheck, even though I've sworn of knitting fingering socks for a while.
Ang
You've got some great yarn there! Can't believe you left some Koigu for others.
I noticed that you're in the Ottawa area too. This place (see link) also has Apple Laine yarn at $12.99 CD per skein (although, depending on where you live, it might cost you this amount in gas).
For those who live outside of the Ottawa area, they also do mail orders.
http://www.wool-tyme.com/
I'm sure it's for dyeing striping socks! Can't wait to see what you do with it. The beads and the yarn combination is stunning. I don't think I have the patience to string beads like that, even if the end result will be lovely.
It looks like it's machine knit. If so then It's yarn bra. Simply cut off a piece large enough to hold your center pull ball and presto, no more annoying outside ends running around. If it's hand knit, it's a fancy scarf.
I am so jealous! I have beeen coveting that Monsoon STR.
Hmm... can only think of dirty uses for the item...
Just a question - the Apple Pie yarn, do you find it at all scratchy? (I know you said it was nice feeling but just asking.) The colors are so pretty but I am allergic to mohair. 100% mohair, anyway. :(
Must. Have. Green. STR. Yarn. What's the colorway? Please tell!
I've got it, I've got it....It's a REALLY long girdle (did I spell that right) that you are gonna send to me, so that I can stuff it ...in all the appropriate places of course, with yarn to give me that womanly figure *smiling sweetly* that's about as clean of a guess as I can give;)
Don't you just love to find yarny yummies in the mail box?! Oh my, that yarn will make perfect socks for a man! I have a pattern in mind for such a colorway.....I better get busy, hmmmm.
I think it should make a good advent calendar / swag. Just insert each gift or goodie, and tie a bow around it, and repeat down the length of it. Then drape it down a handrail or something. You could dye it dark green first, and tie red ribbons. Or other colors, for an alternate holiday. Unwrap each present on each day.
I would say a magic scarf, however those are usually shorter.
Isn't bead stringing fun? I think using wire makes it easier :o)
The Inside Out socks are neat, I did the test knit for them, but you might want to use a bigger needle size than suggested if you make them so they'll pull on over your heel. They're pretty tight through the instep.
I think the knitted tube is a dress to be for some hollywood actress who is in dire need of a sandwich.
But more likely what Kelly said. There was an article with the how-to in a recent Spin Off.
What is the diameter of the knitted tube? Is it the stuff you'd use inside the cuff of a jacket sleeve (folded and stitched down) to keep the cold and wind from your wrist and arm?
The Koigu colors are gorgeous.
Dear Dave,
Thanks for your advice re the cables for my ISE4 scarf. I understand the 'why?' for tight gauge with cables now. Having said that, I looked at the pattern again and there is NO drape to be detected! I'm going to try for a few more repeats and see what comes in the way of fluidity. in the end, I think that going up to 3.5mm will be the better bet.
The tubes remind me of the stuff that I had around my wrist to keep my drip in my hand while I was hospital. I'm sure that these tubes have much more pleasant associations, though : )
I think it is to custom dye your yarn you let it dry and then wind it into a ball to knit into a really neat pair of socks.
My first thought is ooh, I want one of those! lol It's a piece of knitting meant to be dyed, then unraveled, and reknit to create a beautifully shaded finished piece. I wish I could remember where I first saw/heard of the technique, but it is something I've always meant to try. Lucky you! ;)
A fishing-pole cozy!
But it might also be made into some nice hand-dyed sock yarn.
I think your yarn tube is either a) a plain scarf in a yummy fiber waiting to be repurposed, or (as several others have suggested) b) a knitting blank to handpaint in the hopes of creating color gradations a la Nancy Roberts (article in Spin Off Fall '06), but I doubt with those dimensions, that you'd be making socks. But who knows?
Yarn porn indeed. It's a d**k cozy. For guys who are constantly tripping over their d**ks.
Well it's not the funniest or best guess but it's the correct one!
It's cotton tubular bandage used for making a dolls head before covering it with tricot. It's stuffed with fleece.
Like I said not very imaginative but it's the truth I swear!!! LOL
From the Land Down Under
Can over here to check out your blog after the very nice comment you left me - who knew I would find so much yarn p0rn!!!
Lol... and that knitted tube is for dying sock yarn I'd guess.
I've come visit your blog several times,but always can't come up with what the tube is.This is a tough contest and I am eager to know exactlly what it is.
Is it... a belly warmer?!
hm, well, is it a knitted restraint for those nights when knitting isn't nearly entertaining enough? ;-)
Any chance it's a scarf--of very generous, lots-of-room-for-
wrapping-around-your-neck length--made by someone who didn't want to mess with flipping the thing over every five inches and instead chose to knit in the round?
yummy yarn! BTW, the mystery item looks like something I've used before - kinda like what you put on someone's broken limb before putting on a splint or cast; it can also be used as an IV (intravenous) line covering too. On closer inspection, it looks a bit too nicely woven for that, but maybe that's b/c my hospital's cheap, HA! ;)
If it's not too late, I think it is a length of "stockinette" used in the medical field for under casts, over bandages, covering for above & below a surgical site on an extremity.
Margaret - rmhend@comcast.net
PS: no web page or blog - just a reader
Post a Comment