tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219933362024-03-07T01:23:08.522-05:00Criminy JicketsI'm confused. No, wait, maybe I'm not. Oh, yeah, I guess I am. I don't know. How can you tell?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-10307924689673181422010-01-24T10:02:00.001-05:002010-01-24T10:02:31.258-05:00On hiatus<p>I am taking a blog break, which may or may not become permanent.</p> <p>I am still knitting and spinning and will continue to keep track of my projects on Ravelry.</p> <p>Thanks very much for reading, and commenting, and just generally being there.</p> <p>Before signing off, one quick note for locals:  Knit-Knackers is hosting a men’s “knit nite” this coming Wednesday, January 27, “about 5-ish.”  I haven’t yet been to their new location, so I thought this would be a good time to check it out.</p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-57897912249887951222009-12-28T22:18:00.001-05:002009-12-28T22:18:25.404-05:00Titles are the hardest part of blogging … other than the actual blogging part, that is<p>So, I’m sitting here spinning and knitting away, getting close to finishing a few things, and I start to think about what I’m going to say about them on the blog, and then I begin to wonder, you know, when was the last time I blogged?  So I checked.  Oh.  Okay.  I’m behind again.  Some day I’ll be organized enough to actually keep up.  Maybe a New Year’s Resolution?  Nah. :-) </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0v6BulX-kFythAl-dgE8AyEkkklf-3JYWgGOjNnYTIWGCB_SGmensEOqyp5kzrKGxWhk__o8O8CcCQv4_kAsS5SqA1bhW3vxTEVQt3JE9_hMxm96mw_UN5nhsBVae0H68nihQg/s1600-h/IMG_8499a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8499a" border="0" alt="IMG_8499a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIUOpVaOd993FEbzQRqa9wr42BXGLpdGHUYCAdNOKORKjAh8QM8boB_srFInllo03DGcQ2i0DKAcUi2rZok32uZeQuY3fC7UpJgC_kYV1l3iUYdZgHoYzOMi_T4E1PZnyrcSsLA/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="278" /></a>Yummy Falkland from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Allspunup" target="_blank">All Spun Up</a> in the catchy colourway name of November/December Spin-a-Long.  This was an easy spin, but it’s hard to capture the colours correctly.  They’re deep purples and dark blues and intense greens, livened up with a bit of gold and yellow and brown.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW06Lg39PuoKvtnSN8aNcFlXipJwU9b5VYWmnRZnFvrNFAZs47wWdtHpQk2nU0Pnus_1-DtzTSxGdepKTQTRn7B2VGSJBn3OZKaStflHNJgtzEfYnlHuQE3mxXgMn-LSJ_pQHjQ/s1600-h/IMG_8913a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8913a" border="0" alt="IMG_8913a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Szl06XEnVFI/AAAAAAAAB0E/pb5-clU9wrY/IMG_8913a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="262" /></a>I spun up all 8 oz. and ended up with 756 yards, 15 wpi, chain ply.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEt3xnza7ieE5SeiKa0yg1XI9veIRfk5H-FhARsgPrQzm_83jbhSe9V89RSdAjPk5ZX6a3uiGxg8eAlo1MUTCymV7x-Nt1Unt1f9An4DIYmpRE92FuoTdrYAvv0G6HOYHk6QrFw/s1600-h/IMG_9194a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_9194a" border="0" alt="IMG_9194a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp2Z_iiUx9az9D6lZ0TJegRG-qjtQ3f8ZfsOfZYifkmui47Cq8epY2uVWQc-40vm8UDMPMpopaTsfQVvKD-qqrAjwarZdDQG9dTZT9uuuBjoVYw4xUwdqIsKmpPAQYIdXcZhYgQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> I love it – deep and dark, with a few highlights.  And even though I took about 100 pictures, those are the only ones that even remotely get the colours right.  I guess I should read the manual for the dang camera some day and figure out what all those other buttons and knobs and switches are for. :-)</p> <p>And from a totally different colour family:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4Btc5od7eIDfkQQsWFZZlzG6GMbHkqrGMAlvjXELqeoffhW8UsAagYoTEUHs0GpIJGagG55kxdEWninOKO0OAMZb0Cl6voWFwlJBfUKprwBG65He6hmhaTcAOmiAG32JTDDfJw/s1600-h/IMG_8951a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8951a" border="0" alt="IMG_8951a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDx9B4R-rraQ3O9c-dI5yX3SsTiaX4fjYs8UEca_1kotLVXVQWe6_xoCINw4An4EM_niPBcMhi0e_M_FKYuqw7ovd6I2bbnR0slEtZMwpLGfN5SwhNMbUyLpAvZylD7u1OF1CMg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="252" /></a> <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTwonky.php" target="_blank">Wonky</a>!   A quick and easy knit for a thicker yarn, and yes, it really is that bright.  I used the yarn I wrote about <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2009/10/585.html" target="_blank">here</a>.  It was knit up as a last minute Christmas gift, and the giftee loved it.  Happiness all around.    </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKVbiyE6OEBN4CuyHsS4zrVVo0LALhzt6-4BZxwU6FACsABN4selzsMTXLrU9L16mCTWiYonRgN1fKURNqF2viq4nWT7ekNYKJ7X0DKI9H-zZDocjFRcEZCiV7w094tBfVJpJ1g/s1600-h/IMG_8966b%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8966b" border="0" alt="IMG_8966b" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Szl09JStvBI/AAAAAAAAB0c/vVGIarc8B4k/IMG_8966b_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="272" /></a>And switching gears yet again:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklxuKMLX-Moz5DcBzBAqju92f8UwR4_-z3LaGy1_PQcL5qdXPnFg95zMAUBY4n3KgE7hhx3zgLYNEgdG0d5y_7rBtsnWzt-Jkhn1n3kQKcURKDv8jcSlr3YvReqmzasXHV_nUiQ/s1600-h/IMG_9508a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_9508a" border="0" alt="IMG_9508a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Szl0-NeAoxI/AAAAAAAAB0k/xtl0W_JMCXI/IMG_9508a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>This is  8 oz of merino, Holly Berry colourway, from the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cjkopeccreations" target="_blank">CJ Kopec</a> November/December Spin-a-Long.    I really wanted to make a thick and thin art yarn type thing, but my hands didn’t want to cooperate.  I ended up spinning it into two thin plies and then holding the two together as I chain plied. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XAO9CdyxHmZvUdxKMOmfy07gPFF6GfSU3H2vSp5_m5C15kPpTNyZS_pDedFuap52hXC_SIPHYEGzsTyz1dRL7rR-B-j-QTCmh7VDOS5AnHI1b7kj8wFNmDFfLKEPP1MmzmAG6g/s1600-h/IMG_9607b%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_9607b" border="0" alt="IMG_9607b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkbC28gzKoSvBzEVKjkz8LQx0UHBAzPImvsZaQ4nQIkRzzuoX9bW4De8IBeTh0kW7lrT27Cq1X_hPXBVTUVrcj8BHUCLRoar6qOQZR_szy-kbL8J1e99OPrNVaJ3Sqqc5AfqvJQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> I quite like the marled tweedy effect, and it’s a good way to bulk up some otherwise thin singles.  I wasted a fair bit of the fibre when I was goofing around with it, but I still ended up with 205 yards, 9 wpi, 6 ply.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Szl0_rojIbI/AAAAAAAAB0w/XJulbZZohLM/s1600-h/IMG_9621a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_9621a" border="0" alt="IMG_9621a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Szl1ADVOTjI/AAAAAAAAB00/13tc_yXeQsU/IMG_9621a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>There, all caught up, again … at least until tomorrow. :-)   </p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-55187594037660510972009-12-14T08:51:00.001-05:002009-12-14T08:51:28.747-05:00Round and round<p>Life continues to drive me round and round, seasonal stuff, work stuff, you know, life.  Gets so you just feel like you’re running around in circles and nothing is really accomplished.</p> <p>Except for a bit of knitting in the round: </p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4159720541_b469a68e85.jpg" width="320" height="219" /> </p> <p>It’s the <a href="http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-vtullock/StoreFront.bok" target="_blank">Fat Cat Knits</a> yarn from the previous post that I spun into a gradient yarn to shift from pale through orange into blue, knit into a möbius scarf/cowl thingamajig.  No pattern, just used <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4" target="_blank">Cat Bordhi’s möbius cast-on</a> and carried on knitting.  And then I ripped it apart and doubled the number of stitches, and carried on knitting.  Swatch?  Who needs a swatch when you can just rip out a coupla thousand stitches and start all over again?  Easy to knit, but I found scootching all those stitches around the circular needle and through the three-dimensional warp to be a bit of a pain.  I guess I’m too used to DPNs.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/4159727545_c5e2c85a95_b.jpg" width="320" height="241" /> When I got close to the end, I started to realize that I had to, you know, end, somehow, so it wouldn’t roll.  I did some seed stitch.  Moss stitch?  Whatever.  Took it off the needles, and it rolled.  Blocked it, and it rolled.  Steamed the heck out of it, and it stopped rolling.  For a day or two.  And then it rolled.  And I’m going to leave it that way. :-)</p> <p>I’m quite happy with it, though.  It’s the perfect size.  Wrap it around the neck three times, and it fills in that spot between the collar of your coat and your neck wonderfully. But I won’t make another one.  Unless I forget what a pain this one was.  But it might be nice to have a big, fluffy one.  Hmm.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4166580102_91963413ab_b.jpg" width="241" height="320" /></p> <p>Fluffy, sparkly Happy Hooves batts from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedknoll" target="_blank">Enchanted Knoll</a>, Good Fortune colourway.  Yumm.  Spun up the singles a couple of months ago.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4166616306_b5a773ee76_b.jpg" width="241" height="320" /> </p> <p>These batts are about 6 oz, so a little more fibre than usual.  I wound them into a plying ball and then, because I wanted to keep it all in one length, it sat, and sat, and sat, while I waited for my bulky/plying flyer to arrived.  Which it finally did, so I plied.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4165828553_5e5119cfed_b.jpg" width="320" height="241" /> </p> <p>498 yards, 15 wpi, of squishy green goodness.  I was originally thinking sock yarn, but it might be a bit soft.  Maybe something else, maybe socks.  </p> <p>I’m not sure I’m totally happy with the plying flyer.  The big bobbins do hold a lot of yarn, but it also makes it harder to treadle with the tension set for a strong wind on.  I’ll continue to play with, but so far, I’m kinda meh about it. </p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-54827142991995883442009-11-30T21:01:00.001-05:002009-11-30T21:01:55.812-05:00Catching Up: a four-fer<p>I have the most wonderful readers in the world.  Many, many thanks to the overwhelming number of people who commented on my last post about Tidget, my missing cat.  Quite a few of you have gone through the same thing, and some of you were lucky enough to have your cat come back, even after an extended period, which was wonderful to read.  I’m sad to have to report that I’ve not seen Tidget, nor have I received any calls from someone who might have found her.  I suppose it’s still possible that she will return – who knows?  On the positive side, my other cat, Muushuu, has had a dramatic change in personality.  I hadn’t realized just how submissive he was to the bossy Miss T.   He has blossomed in the last two weeks into a total love sponge.  </p> <p>Meanwhile,  the fibery activity has continued, so it’s time to play catch up.  Sorry if it’s a bit of overload, but I seem to have fallen behind, so I’m going to a one swell foop type post and “git ’er done.”</p> <p>I’ve been knitting.  :-)</p> <p>Back in <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-do-i-need-title.html" target="_blank">June of ’09</a>, I spun a sparkly red yarn from a merino/silk/glitz batt from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedknoll" target="_blank">Enchanted Knoll</a>.  It’s now become a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mirage-3" target="_blank">Mirage</a> scarf.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SxR46j99W1I/AAAAAAAAByc/McSdX0qtHko/s1600-h/IMG_8437a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8437a" border="0" alt="IMG_8437a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5sRVrhLBabmuqmeg5DLhDZqHMgCwzGbBWY7JdMTw_fEdze82ktMMm1gLuivlKnmc080J3ir7W-0GOylnKi2IO6VyQn_6dG1sitMpQrnpOwzqzFQH4oBSQ4HUjNMPUNfwUZM0Vg/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="324" /></a> </p> <p>I love the texture in this pattern.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlw7Ga07LDLhuujjsyr1_YwHHMfzwa088rYSbFa-wWuu4-sgUsTaoUbm9uWbWdRImLFiTXoSNx89iGWDvgGv7kIxsUN3OzfwHtmW3_r9jULviJYLuSvIxUUmASu_kByTpmJSHZg/s1600-h/IMG_8441a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8441a" border="0" alt="IMG_8441a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SxR48QRWt4I/AAAAAAAAByo/6hRvMuBdPZ0/IMG_8441a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="324" /></a>I’ve already given it to friend who fell in love with the yarn when I first spun it, and she’s already worn it at least twice in my presence.  I know it’s not necessary, and once you give something away you have no stake in it, but I must admit that I do love it when people appreciate and use gifts – especially handcrafts. </p> <p>A <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2009/10/distractions.html" target="_blank">more recent spin</a>, this time a BFL/silk blend from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thethylacine" target="_blank">The Thylacine</a>, has become a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/198-yds-of-heaven" target="_blank">198 yds of Heaven</a> shawl.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESY1WfjvporcrbDFNufIcnigbCElVN5FV9NSc0fcA7Il_mLqx6mWGr2cZnVBexhMAgqLlPDoCVtQWnWda7e73fnHeNaeedJUkhBGrj4iPXOP0NMtietu-SOHr9IEtxQEuCY3QIQ/s1600-h/IMG_8699a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8699a" border="0" alt="IMG_8699a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjAyc0kyEs-8lAGXhQjPpqLos40jvnhrM6q5AgE_kFF3kAGd8jmJg-TE5V4jgnZjze_Uiys_M5CgdVa9LBwt__EDkHe3GPlIV0VodwnceVMx6Qp6gdnp60vyJ2L0hAbnEU84GuQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="198" /></a> </p> <p>After blocking, the yarn softened up quite nicely and has a bit of shimmer from the silk.  I followed the same mods described in other Ravelry projects to make the edging line up better with the pattern.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIr0CMaE9IIqjLbVCL9jylwUR6c8J5U85iSAV4eHK0MuDmoY0NwvQXipzWoNIHmBpLKaKckb_kMFvicf8DC8VX7ZHhZzl8E5pzu3BNKmkV70U0Sf0JFqJ7b6i3_idntbNS-9KXiw/s1600-h/IMG_8742a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8742a" border="0" alt="IMG_8742a" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SxR4-j82hiI/AAAAAAAABy4/dr-mEeYhzw4/IMG_8742a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="324" /></a>I’m not normally one for lace patterns in multi-coloured yarns, but I think this stitch pattern is strong enough to hold its own with the subtle striping.  This will be a Christmas present for my new sister-in-law.  I know she wears shawls, but I don’t know she feels about handcrafts.  I guess I’ll find out. </p> <p>The spinning continues.</p> <p>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R-FnXkaRz_HW2y-fDfzg8_FZmuvuN-SjInGICtFJnvq4BujE-0vN0oNPkmfOIO8m2ZjXDOAJVs3j5jplTX6bywxZv-qlUUP_ewZe5Po19zvecv6G9mW8E7R89isL7WJUQsMNxQ/s1600-h/IMG_8481%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8481" border="0" alt="IMG_8481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8R8k6QZqQxa72ZTw8Gwxjdm3_w6Htqh6xKjZfRcL2jhciDPapNPo7fFTwfIADBrBWvY82xwUzu5wOzpiYtwyieKTFkEPcSlxpj4jDi_ykcLWlH6GHBSPbgvZElH1R3GLkN3UPg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>This merino/silk/bamboo blend is the first instalment of a new round of the Mixed Blessings club from <a href="http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-vtullock/StoreFront.bok" target="_blank">Fat Cat Knits</a>.  I love doing these, because it really gives you a chance to play.  I decided to rip the two braids apart and separate out the colours.  One I kept with all the dark purple and blue tones, and the other …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1ef6yRvwhe6JFDPS-tLhHmaFFRdbhMyRl7Rks9lLyBU_oY_Dv6dM1aEKqNDjwfwGZjpnLU9R24FQE7BJh4ESMywOIIr5B7bCsKEmt7G7Ah2Pol2aelT9BNHbVeljb18VOF6X_g/s1600-h/IMG_8539a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8539a" border="0" alt="IMG_8539a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjpZbTMrD6-WXjMgppQF7sHLSFKboE89Lby3tLigOIbdtG6mrZABrQKQ5fJ7UTWq3CnQ5g6_f0E29Y9qKu-Q0RfyQmIwimmEr4kS03T-IVTfauHz_m0D74g84poBfKR-FjMbKJQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="324" /></a>… I tried to gradate from yellow through orange to blue.  The finished yarn, 366 yards of two-ply at 15 wpi, came out like this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfH76mUZLaFIQAiZBDk36niU4DMC54o3hYeaEDWvM_szM5j8HhxtrkyGcLdITpyFteHg_wu9uFque_uSKKdnF8L_50qI4LAJYOV5HpnkfmVqEmj3Xp0UPa0lqBLI-PzgURjLE7w/s1600-h/IMG_8638a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8638a" border="0" alt="IMG_8638a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBPmIaqIUwEUBUkJfKXH0z2djYhvZzA00o9JQ449GO23FOhUvpDCB4645gK67krC4myDTrysfNH3b2zUy5_5VLfvV_RQ8_TZ1mZ1vSEeJCfx8wJBbnwF_09OJFf9pk7ikd6D_pw/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="304" /></a>   <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBOxpbrlSic0u7sPtXYt8hIhA3PpZF_2HdqJLQkvQN-s59h4IrJkv0Yrg3rUGAQu8xgAUkaesyZ_o7dI446GdKJjKki1AJd852EjT0pwhCSLT6t2S6saUWeRx5zzQlHmaliJKcA/s1600-h/IMG_8654a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8654a" border="0" alt="IMG_8654a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcYnqN-4FuTzF1fP5HfkjyDu0Tgvf2Tl5H0QI1OQMBrqGZ4FflChsDHOgedomGjl6pAEEqZ-6CewwKTdHm0VbAPwqEhVWEPv_v7wffyPYFMng7U8dDWzk_itT6pAaffpYmPI-mw/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> Since I seem to be in full-blown scarf mode, it’s already been cast and about half knit.  But more about when it’s done. :-)</p> <p>Just one more:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SxR5CoJ6CzI/AAAAAAAABzc/zAFS1SqSltU/s1600-h/IMG_7163a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7163a" border="0" alt="IMG_7163a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgsB1o5EkStCy5gSvopLv_SGaPrN3tDcrgOb1u7lfokmOOSpxrds7V0H31WOFjOsGBQfic-MQkKchrsFygF7n5o-QkG9Px160GKP93d_isb5MbvpBd0Q7EltLb0y6YjOivsUl5Q/?imgmax=800" width="312" height="324" /></a> This was my first try at spinning Rambouillet.  It’s from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonlightbaker" target="_blank">Hungry for Handspun</a> in the Purple Dusk colourway.  It’s related to merino, and the fibre has that same spongy feel.  The finished yarn came out quite soft and really poofed up after finishing. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SxR5DQI3HBI/AAAAAAAABzk/H3GrK-gSIPk/s1600-h/IMG_8367a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8367a" border="0" alt="IMG_8367a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci_vWDVgHliQdtnHv1BL-PnjqQSIbta8zOdkIL7eh_5rhFtQ8pf3gR2T9Te3RkKXUZzCdU59w00wuOlW9puNqGfM2Ky5xGjaPHRIYvOZiWjKXBkBw6k_Mq23r7h0eDTqKzTVVVw/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> It’s a three-ply sock weight, 477 yards from 4.5 oz, and 15 wpi.  I loves it muchly.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3INAbUPjqlQOkVdFGSEg6tW_UCDGNgrd-imgI7neu5Zq9JmVl5s0m3c7qQTvK4GEi45hpS5g_JVV1ln8-0sNk0UnUWctFgmLWBSvkJ5-GIDKRxIXa79S5KcDgdZw_2UubYA9Vjw/s1600-h/IMG_8375a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8375a" border="0" alt="IMG_8375a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36YlEa75i2AaqnFAyQ0eVAwINTZsHLRbydZ3JxSh1hqoFWGGs43YrXuhrJp65wYxjXhn0FNb3hU-KgiUIo3OzkA2apNiV_SjZgyKz6gHdfKimvTj4am-NuQqXH9vlTae7aOB0Qg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>There, all caught up.  If you made it this far, thanks for sticking it out! :-) </p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-91496426398540609202009-11-19T23:16:00.001-05:002009-11-30T20:00:00.517-05:00Public Service Announcement<p>Back in <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2006/07/monkeys-dinosaurs-kitty-cats.html" target="_blank">July of 2006</a>, I wrote about how my cat Tidget came to live with me instead of the local Humane Society.  Since that time, we developed into a fairly comfortable rhythm of life together.  She has a few little quirks, but so do I, so we’re even.  </p> <p>Her favourite thing, other than food, is cuddling.  After the first week I got her, not a night goes by without her spending a few minutes licking either my nose or my ear, whichever is closest, and then purring away loudly for  about five minutes before falling asleep with her head resting on either my hand or my arm.  </p> <p>She’s not much for sitting on a lap, though.  She’ll visit for a minute or two if I’m sitting on the couch watching television, but then she’ll go find something else to do.  She hates the vacuum cleaner, and at the slightest hint of a thunderstorm, she runs under the bed and stays there for an hour or so.  I have never been completely able to convince her to use the scratching post instead of the carpet on the stairs, but she never used the furniture.  No one’s perfect.  </p> <p>She’s not a particularly needy cat, like some I’ve had, but  when she wants loving, nothing will stop her from planting herself firmly against my chest, one front leg on either side of my neck, head tucked firmly under my chin, insisting on being petted and rubbed and even squeezed.  She purrs so much she starts drooling.  It’s kind of gross, but in an endearing way that probably only another cat person would understand. </p> <p>When I got Muushuu in <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-kats-on-block.html" target="_blank">January of 2007</a>, she quickly accepted him, or at least his physical presence.  They’ve never become best buddies, but they will often both be sleeping on the back of the loveseat – on opposite side of it.  She’ll accept him grooming her for brief periods, but I’ve only ever seen her take a half-hearted lick at his forehead once.  She has no problem sharing the litter box, and she delights in cleaning up his food bowl if he leaves some behind.  All in all, it’s been a fairly happy little family. </p> <p>On Monday night, when I came from work, I was met at the door by only one cat, Muushuu.  This isn’t particularly unusual, especially if Tidget is sleeping downstairs.  I usually just go about my business, which will ultimately conclude in them getting fed a bit of wet food to supplement their regular diet of dry, and usually she’ll come upstairs when she realizes what is happening and sit waiting semi-patiently for me to open the can and prepare their bowls.  That didn’t happen this past Monday, though.  I kept thinking she’d come up any minute, but Muushuu was already eating and still no Tidget.  I decided I better go get her.</p> <p>She wasn’t sleeping on the bed, where I would normally find her.  She wasn’t in the office, under the desk, where she would sometimes have a nap.  She wasn’t in the storage room where I keep their litter box. She wasn’t under the bed, where she would go if something startled her.  Something wasn’t right.  I looked in the bathroom, and even checked the tub.  No Tidget.  Back upstairs I went.  Not on the couch or either of the chairs.  Not by the radiator that runs under the credenza in the dining room.  I looked behind the couch, in case she’d fallen and got wedged against the wall.  Nope.  I looked behind the wall unit where I keep the tv, thinking maybe she’d gone back there and got tangled in some wires.  I made another round of the whole house, checking all the closets and hidey-holes.  Nope, no Tidget.  </p> <p>And then, I remembered.</p> <p>That morning, I was running just a little bit late.  Not much, only about five minutes.  The day before, I had picked up some granola bars to take to work in case I got the munchies.  After I’d closed the door and gone down the front steps, I remembered that I’d left them inside on the window ledge, where I’d put them while I was putting on my shoes.</p> <p>So, I went back into the house, walked the four steps to the ledge, grabbed the granola bars and stuffed them in my pocket, then four steps back to the door.  Then I saw that the door had swung open.  I saw it and it registered on my consciousness because I always, always, always push it shut so it clicks, even if my arms are full of groceries coming in or garbage bags going out or whatever.  I always shut it till it clicks.  But this time, I hadn’t.  It was open for the time it takes to take three steps in and three steps out -- less than five seconds.  Muushuu was asleep on the couch, and Tidget was asleep downstairs on the bed, and I was five minutes behind schedule.  A glance at the front porch revealed nothing amiss, so I locked the door again as I left and went to work.  Except … Tidget must not have been asleep on the bed downstairs.  </p> <p>I realized what must have happened.  At this point, I’d been gone for over 12 hours, and who knows where she could have went.  She’d been strictly an indoor cat for the last three and a half years and certainly wasn’t street smart.  I put on my coat and started searching, walking the neighbourhood and calling her name, but the chances of seeing a small greyish-brown cat somewhere in the dark were pretty slim.</p> <p>I was up early the next morning, and as soon as it was light, I was out again.  I widened my search, but you know, in the average suburban neighbourhood, there are a LOT of places that a cat could hunker down for a night.  I didn’t find her.  I went back home and made up some “lost cat” posters to put on the power poles and assorted neighbourhood posts.  Tidget was wearing a collar, with tags, and she was micro-chipped.  Someone would find her and call me.  I alerted the Humane Society in case someone turned her in.</p> <p>It happened on Monday, and it’s now Thursday night, so Day 4.  Someone might have taken her in, but it’s not likely.  I still might get a call from the Humane Society, but that’s even less likely.  It’s getting colder out there, and now it’s raining.  She survived being a stray once, but I somehow doubt she’ll get lucky again.  </p> <p>Please don’t comment and tell me what a crappy pet owner I am.  Nothing you could say would make me feel worse about myself than I already do.  My split second of inattention has more than likely had the most serious of consequences for an animal that I undertook to care for and to love.  I failed her.  Over the past 30 odd years, I’ve had five other cats besides these two, as well as three dogs, umpteen birds, lizards, fish, etc.  I am well aware of pet safety and care, and I have been proud to say that all of the animals in my care have had a full, long and rather spoiled life.  Until now.  </p> <p>The anguish I’ve been going through for the past few days is nothing compared to what Tidget must be experiencing right now, if indeed she is even still alive.  I haven’t been able to accept that she is gone yet, and I will never be able to forgive myself for causing this to happen to her.  I failed her, and she is paying the price for that failure.</p> <p>Why am I writing this post?  I guess it’s because I was due for a reminder.  And if I was due, maybe somebody else is too, and maybe I can save them from going through something like this.  </p> <p>Here’s my public service announcement for today:</p> <p>Please, whoever reads this, remember the little things we do to keep ourselves and those in our care safe.  One tiny moment of inattention can have far-reaching consequences for ourselves, our children, wife, husband, friends, neighbours, or our pets.  Please, even if you’re late or tired, even if the dog is barking or the baby is crying, even if its raining or snowing or the person driving the car in front of you is going too slow or someone is talking to you or whatever the distraction, please, just be careful.</p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com84tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-44989561058519007092009-11-11T20:03:00.001-05:002009-11-11T20:03:32.524-05:00I am a big, fat liar.<p>Note to self:  Possibly change post title to, “I sometimes fear for my sanity.”  Think about it.</p> <p>So, I decided I wanted to knit a scarf, and I decided I wanted to use some of my handspun.  I picked out what was probably the most colourful one, my Grafton singles.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8esp5d9R0DLHtj7M2n88Adb8id6DE-el_-12Ivwwu8-aa5LWdWe2hgYOKHup2XBeKvh7IghJMVl7YhUKlFOWb3kF8HVZxDJVxX5JVqyXj3OPhO_I9q5ph24c_PJ3fVwjL3lxhw/s1600-h/IMG_3066a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_3066a" border="0" alt="IMG_3066a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTAtaLmhW7AvdPC-Qyk1q4WhrjPlzo7Q8E9muxKheNUJ-G8UFd1nJ2DbughF4uTUWXT-dZwDQ9aZhaftZuiOPQ4LOPJ_o3i-5LE8cYUN64uYNYRvWRzyR19rm0GedSysC5TJEMQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="324" /></a>Not the best picture, but it’s a felted single that graduates from blue through a yellowish to red.  You can read the details about the yarn <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2009/05/still-here-barely.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but I’ll save you the trouble, because really the only pertinent detail is that I said it was 175 yards and about 10 wpi, or worsted weight.  That’s also what I filled in on the Ravelry page for the yarn, which is what I use to keep of myself. </p> <p>Side note:  I read somewhere on Ravelry that when you make felted singles, you should carefully rewind the hank after washing and while it’s still barely damp-ish.  I read that well after I spun the yarn, so of course I didn’t do it.  It took a full two hours just to wind the yarn into a ball because it was stuck to itself.  If I ever do it again, I will rewind.  I was pleased, though, in that it held together quite nicely all through that process.  Yippee for felting!</p> <p>Back to the scarf:  The other thing I noticed while rewinding is that the yarn was, well, kind of, umm, thin.  Like, quite thin.  As in, really thin.  Yes, there were some places where it was likely worsted weight, but for the majority, maybe fingering, possibly lace.  Yeah, that thin.  See the first line of this post?  Yeah.  </p> <p>The thinness made me kind of revise my scarf plans.  I didn’t really want a wispy scarflette.  I do live in Canada, and we do have winter.  I decided to stripe it with another yarn to give the scarf more substance.  The Noro Striped scarf would be wonderful, non-concentration knitting, which was just what I needed after my father’s recent death, as my concentration really wasn’t up to much more than that.  After a bit of stash diving, I found a skein of Patons Classic Merino in Oatmeal,  Perfect!  Right?  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/SvteycrtzjI/AAAAAAAABw8/eZx-v8YjzP0/s1600-h/IMG_8168a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8168a" border="0" alt="IMG_8168a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqTUCwbZGQDCFwCisvkO9u-iIRdkuBcXyQdfm387okChWkVs4Cv3lj0icxxjpJCesjqCMQ_fQnGSm_SpvXv5y3l8ffaadzdnJMIKAyeJ-4kTa5poqwFctqsTBGAKVGN7Fqz2UwA/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>Maybe not.  I don’t know if you can tell from the picture, but the Patons skein is just about collapsed, so there’s not much left.  The handspun, on the other hand?  Tons left.  The yellow is just barely starting to peak through, and that would be about one-third of the way through.  So the Patons skein of 220 odd yards is just about gone, and the handspun, not even a third.  But I had measured 175 yards.  Apparently not only did I mis-measure the weight of the yarn, I mis-measured the length of it.  See the first line of this post?  Yeah.</p> <p>Another problem is that the difference in the yarn weight was just too much.  The handspun stripes of colour were thin and drapey, and the worsted weight oatmeal was kind of puckery and tight.  Not the best matching of yarns.</p> <p>The other problem, that you can’t really tell from the photo, is that the knitting is three feet long.  If I carried on, the finished scarf would be about, what, 10 feet long?  Who knows?  Not me, because at this point I have no idea how much yarn I have.  </p> <p>So what did I do?  I ripped out three feet of 1x1 two-colour ribbing, with one yarn being a single.  See the first line of this post?  Yeah.  Not fun.</p> <p>Time to go stash diving again.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyS3zToiJsJ-mSO3scrzV74-UemYqJ2ALdqpv7Y7xluckDhpU9SsZ65VFkSRz0uXpkPW5EueOLJdSZQ6jXIipllG16ouRqEOlAF3h8JxC4wSOp6pHg1Vkyq3PWH4RFE9Bx3KWTg/s1600-h/IMG_8253a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8253a" border="0" alt="IMG_8253a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncUN3VwHlvOxDUVwDXZVLbvBZPDJl_kz84r7dZb5hurMloUlzLm72mF8alb_RRlcHQTaS21-IfSBGn4znaT71CNXqIgQpQ-rgq8F5pInuh7oPDSFm7yptxlZ-cZajQHXnLx2Now/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="248" /></a>This was given to me by a <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2008/01/world-lost-knitter-today.html" target="_blank">friend,</a> and it was given to him by his sister.  I believe she just stopped knitting for some reason, and he wouldn’t touch anything remotely woolly, so it came to me.  The yarn is a DK weight alpaca blend.  I know the yarn store it came from, and it’s been out of business for several years.  Even in it’s heyday, though, it was kind of known for having, ummm, vintage yarn. I wasn't surprised that Ravelry has never heard of Marika Country.</p> <p>Starting over, I decided that I would double up the use of the handspun by knitting one stripe with both the alpaca and one with just the handspun.  I added about a third more stitches and went down a few needles sizes. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrA3MAtev5ckgLa29ScQ1n2BCDsuZV6QOQUf_HXhkaLwEcqjmtU9wGWnP4nAfffdLIyvXYx_UtcgQ5VwbijVndlpUuraiVMkoBOXhyr-p3c9v4HsE97kpoH7KHZyJ-8idy7WVIA/s1600-h/IMG_8248a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8248a" border="0" alt="IMG_8248a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBZpAl7g7rabQgIGLOs9mVXsb73P-0Yec7depNy6RboMDQRrUhh3kmmFowAhIHMobw8D32-RD5HK3RKs7vQmwvj7PLI4ellf5gWuCzR76mVfdarro3RGE8CBrqPg4FKu4YiosFA/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>Yuck, and also uggh.  So, what did I do?  I ripped it out, again.  See the first line of this post?  Yeah. </p> <p>Back to Plan A, with the larger number of stitches and smaller needles.  I decided to just knit until the handspun ran out, because that's the kind of mood I was in.  Three and a half 115-yard balls of Marika later, it was done.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FPqWjj2l9Abgc-8pONlbXs1OivnVo8hU7CV3YodZgOC9ObyBFJmVT2oH1mDTyzT2Rk7_8dZjLEMKYg7mQjk_I3jretVZ90M_M8ZmiWM9Z6bLr4QV7cA5OCd5nMFuhoe0po-wqw/s1600-h/IMG_8285a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8285a" border="0" alt="IMG_8285a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc8AQ0yXZEk9ecLFD8t0d1XPqfrqC95D3MV40WiQKA3nzAkvaLdEBMt0TFFU9QhJIsiEq9MIYHRP_UoR_3rPRi-OhCGoU2ixcOKI3_h-cLeDnDw6_DS9Ti7HaezwMzyxnT30XYQ/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="282" /></a>What did I learn?  Well, one, to measure my yarns more carefully  Maybe even two or three times.  It’s really hard to plan a project when you don’t know what you have.  Two, those people who say you don’t need to swatch for a scarf are wrong.  It would have helped in the planning process, and I don’t think I would have dug myself in so deep if I knew it was going to end up at eight feet long.  I’m short, and if I wear it looped like I would normally, it will hang down to my knees.  Folded in half and just draped around my neck, though, it will be fine, but the colour progression isn’t as obvious. Three, my neck is going to be nice and warm this winter. :-)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSxjaQe2Z-bSMZWMdFdtkU7U-sQ8r1hAUwob1SQ1MNmgO3kYEtR4xEcGhw_5HC-nrz2mPm5GUsM0u_iStCtF8pvyEyaSNy-dCGSuOosEB9np42nn4zyf7i-1kb_W3Jntm3HA_og/s1600-h/IMG_8314a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8314a" border="0" alt="IMG_8314a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Svte15y4ppI/AAAAAAAABxg/JomHqOH-gPw/IMG_8314a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a> And also:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Svte2NmQpJI/AAAAAAAABxk/ntRa-JjshXU/s1600-h/IMG_8304a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8304a" border="0" alt="IMG_8304a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GszYN9K4vRmLdkYCTyRgkrF0d4pH5ki4v-3QR1p8K0VHDMOLywDKu2Pni7igAijy5IvWy7Bw8npTD0oy9xtrXlM9XsbxCclE91BboibN557qzcl56ldyYcEs0tBNlIR87EUcyw/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a><a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/pictorial-guides/double-rib-tubular-cast-on/" target="_blank">Ysolda’s long tail tubular cast-on</a> is easy and a Thing of Beauty.   </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/04/easy-fake-tubular-bind-off-casting-off.html" target="_blank">Tech Knitting’s Easy Fake tubular bind off</a>?</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o4PCvK4db80d6fPIrguyRoMh5l0ms_rhKqNFQW6TfQZP27xXUaKkPObNl2g9p8VpGnUC5fluA1PjGMh65V42yxgQVksTkBkLKbefqgzktAhB6VzAhdipu38wqr9lZaGsZBU_zA/s1600-h/IMG_8307a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8307a" border="0" alt="IMG_8307a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGYvAd3bkIhCG9NkYsuWJh1Ft7U0hXF9hezct1yTTE8u3UDwdb9yq6PDu8oMeRkf2QxKPY5zPcRm-GoDwVNzBsDuKoNAvk6RV439BX5CG85F1ZoxZaHU3wunC9LBQbLgS5_6Hjg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>Also easy, but not quite so beautiful.  I should have just Kitchenered.  And no, I am not ripping it out and doing it over, and yes, after eight feet of it, I am very much over 1x1 rib for a while.</p> <p>The wheel has also been busy.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxHXdYpCnYLHnbCwIVM8jSoqUkv8z8UdZeamKCy2tH-YnQOjbjjcI3mPxZUqav-jWQynrTHvl83SQxMnXMapfysYVKf5Z29s-Uh6RffipsQ-L395O56WxlmNK0vrBMyv1D32wXw/s1600-h/IMG_7885a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7885a" border="0" alt="IMG_7885a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/Svte4GTf-FI/AAAAAAAABx4/mu7QYhR7K9E/IMG_7885a_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="324" /></a>This superwash BFL from a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cjkopeccreations" target="_blank">CJ Kopec</a> spin-a-long is now …</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdFevg9e9hJYurLnQ5rt3-Uq1_Zu2VTsjWo9hSpR_e4-zf1mO8Ftk8hJH-bkEJTUNIThQQtqCBR5_jGywwsuP1jujM55w8pspUqYluBG8kPiwb69CEeZQwoEGkf6R0_xTg8RBKA/s1600-h/IMG_8196a%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8196a" border="0" alt="IMG_8196a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMMYn3eUDuXE_addeMAylQ1jjMni0KzSgMI6ZP4saZew4BzU6tEbuAHM4Tp_9dgr-w6MMPPl0mfY2dHYwJJq6wCRqpZIevBLthiqBenS4f2aZcDYE2v85SyWVdOx8-LGUQKvXhg/?imgmax=800" width="324" height="244" /></a>… some three-ply sock yarn, and it *might* be 368 yards, 16 wpi.    </p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-73271958509449584622009-10-19T12:15:00.001-04:002009-10-19T23:11:03.398-04:00585<p>I stopped entering blog contests a while ago because I figured I’d done my fair share of winning when I first started blogging and it would only be fair to let other people have a chance, but for some reason, when <a href="http://thejoyofsocks.typepad.com/my_weblog/" target="_blank">Joan</a> had a contest to guess the yardage in a skein of yarn she’d spun, the number 585 jumped right into my head.  I checked her comments and no one else had guessed that yet, which quite surprised me, because, you know, it was SO COMPLETELY OBVIOUS.   Before I had a chance to control myself, I’d entered.  Well, turns out I was wrong.  The correct answer was 576.  But, as luck would have it, I was less wrong than anyone else, so I WON!  Wanna see what she sent me?  Of course you do.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/St0qKzdl-OI/AAAAAAAABsY/NTrxg6jHFIY/s1600-h/IMG_8145a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_8145a" border="0" alt="IMG_8145a" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQo98x9mI/AAAAAAAABsc/rwNmw6i-_vg/IMG_8145a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>  </p> <p>Mmmm, nummies!!  Cookies, Buffalo bars (Did you know Buffalos only have 330 calories per serving?  I didn’t.), sponge candy and some wonderful smelling soap so I can wash my sticky fingers after I munch.  </p> <p>There might have also been some fibre.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQpHqXUMI/AAAAAAAABsg/nU9xGzBJCWk/s1600-h/IMG_8148a%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_8148a" border="0" alt="IMG_8148a" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQpp0qIOI/AAAAAAAABsk/zuQB8Tfy4Ts/IMG_8148a_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> Hmmmm, softies!! On the right is some beautifully heathered merino in the Cranberry colourway from Firefly Farm, and on the left?   It’s from Spirit Trail Fiberworks, Moon Shadows colourway, merino, silk and angora!!  Dudes!! </p> <p>Thank you, Joan -- you do know how to spoil a guy!!  The moral for everyone else?  585 is a lucky number.  Remember that, mkay?</p> <p>So, what have I been up to?  Well, knitting.  Still no socks – sock mojo continues to be a a no-go – but I did knit up some of <a href="http://criminyjickets.blogspot.com/2009/08/sam-8-august.html" target="_blank">my handspun</a> into a shawl/scarf thingy.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EgcLgpMr97bbVWHzdSD3cUCid8kPBkld1Rq_I0j88ErGU38jbeENizWdSSQVYyhyRN2sG7bXCCvmcRGABo47j-NSLcV2Gh5AIQQaIJXGz0TO-g_EBg31ZPBkzog4awyiZVocAA/s1600-h/IMG_7974b%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7974b" border="0" alt="IMG_7974b" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQqgNyYVI/AAAAAAAABs4/CEsdVLXcXN0/IMG_7974b_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="331" /></a> </p> <p>The pattern is the uber-simple <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boneyard-shawl" target="_blank">Boneyard Shawl</a> by Stephen West, which I still managed to screw up, but whatever.  I figured a triangle shape would suit the light-to-dark shading in the stripes.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3ZmP9OfQ-dm60XvM3IxyG7YlnI8roVwhgpDUq3XCVhPjVULGm5pvy5Pb9bLtMmTBtHiqGFdf6GVJ0v8YfMFhfnXk4MbC-ByZTrRT9h-FYklf3U-G7lvGnVWlthW_-Ihsact1wg/s1600-h/IMG_7896a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7896a" border="0" alt="IMG_7896a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MiId4yWfCkdLTv95BPdYWsdOMmNO-88dOllG4RidE5OAAcYIEFy2WL9sSkI7a4byywRiEtPQ9lvi1kEZErfKdmhsU3U-f2qCrajFwWCdLmCsaSelwrjLP4jImhIRNSgoY5si-w/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> The main feature of the pattern is lines of garter stitch every 12 rows.  I did them every 10, because it was easier and I felt like it.  I’m quite happy with the project, from start to finish, but turns out that I prefer the back side.  Sort of makes the garter ridges moot, but I think the colour changes are smoother.  Design element, down the tubes.  That’s just the way it goes sometimes.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1w5QgPNrv3tY2oLqbrQH4RahzU14hY-76F7rvpa9mZXuoxQTtbXu43QZFeqsbrxs_KR8bOh3Hv498IJLs9B5eemMwTtBHPFcqU5O0MzBCwZldWxaEhLZW_3etZeMT9qDuNnwJ9g/s1600-h/IMG_7952a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7952a" border="0" alt="IMG_7952a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQsk10GfI/AAAAAAAABtU/a3VvVkAlYMo/IMG_7952a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a>  The wheel has been kept busy too.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7K-89h1UPO4HACUFxydc3Ts7eQc5qB1iFz-NETrTr45WubfJeeG_9To9xl333RaLErHErw86GXqL4XUV_iwpj4LE9pltEi9XjlVfHyKap3Q8PwywlhtNM4xpQMypc5Y8H4LyRw/s1600-h/IMG_7873a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_7873a" border="0" alt="IMG_7873a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzbLh0tprCMIPkKkgCjNynlbN3GlyyAmnNRmDDPT7s5ILNrkAisVJNqb87Me1JsYziLq0Q5onBa0hUPur69JeyQFkNtLN6XSJisxzDZfNGGrLOr9QD2PNdaQ6TcUXyqQCqsLyhw/?imgmax=800" width="365" height="404" /></a>This is some super fluffy and soft superwash BFL in the Trust Me colourway from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5085641" target="_blank">CJ Kopek</a>.  It’s part of a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/cj-kopec-creations" target="_blank">spin-a-long on Ravelry</a> where we were given photos of the inspiration behind the colourway but not a picture of the actual fibre, which I think is kind of a fun idea.  The colours aren’t really me, so I wasn’t really worried about making a yarn for a specific purpose and instead gave myself permission to play.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQtkawUvI/AAAAAAAABts/ZgiKtVk6zwM/s1600-h/IMG_8090a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_8090a" border="0" alt="IMG_8090a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQuOc3IlI/AAAAAAAABt4/HQpHdRFGskQ/IMG_8090a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> Techy stuff:  Divided the fibre into four lengths.  Predrafted two of them together to mix and meld the colours, then did the same with the other two.  Held both lengths together as I drafted at the wheel.  This gave me a very mixed up and marled single.  I chained the single, chained the chain and then added plying twist.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-YPCVxXpQwUvB16r7A885Q5vM0CH9XC78cGvBB1jwk6MOrggltoGgVu9qUKrQfdQ1d0wUSF97ANbkFdIVcfWauJRftWHWZiNAbTjgu0aroeNSlMkt3llSBnOUVQk0w1ai1ALNA/s1600-h/IMG_8081a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_8081a" border="0" alt="IMG_8081a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaTpcH3lAtH3GdeEm3LbtM1xOIpWJLEpEYTVFyvhn2T9GkW97RJmdw2JypKXIiu9qCbqeEDYwbnhtUQySYVGUHBAD1Jk7UBTBlxFTTlTEpQGVwLyFelliU7_Z3kiawp8GDjj-NA/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> End result, 75 yards, 9-ply double chained, 8 wpi.  I like it!  I think it will make a great <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTwonky.php" target="_blank">Wonky</a>.  I guess I should get started on that so I can actually use it this year, eh?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StyQvG2A53I/AAAAAAAABuU/JO04va3qnkc/s1600-h/IMG_8070a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_8070a" border="0" alt="IMG_8070a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTfEeuVnhbpc9gbKCQYKLARvbQtvr_Srhcz6CnZI7DrFCaiBjgOT1PdiGNL8wRfHS5wyI3EZQ_8S-pYE6R-r8XpkW8cy_6ljrhCNihbKZnNFJHL_uJHWHem-JjumyzDucXdDQPQ/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> End note:  Anyone else using Windows Live Writer to write blog posts? Wow, so much easer.  My only complaint is that it won’t accept my defaults and I have to format each photo.  Even that’s just two clicks,though, and it’s much easier than all the dragging and dropping I had to do before.  So, does easier equal more frequent posts?  That remains to be seen. </p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-84844845370910922782009-10-09T23:39:00.011-04:002009-10-19T23:15:29.239-04:00Distractions<p>You may correctly surmise by the lack of a “finished my September Sock-a-Month socks!” post that I did not, in fact, finish my September Sock-a-Month socks.</p> <p>Instead, I dug out some Tinsel Toes in the Prince of the Wood Elves colourway from the <a href="http://www.theuniquesheep.com/">Unique Sheep</a>.</p> <p>   <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB5zrkyTI/AAAAAAAABuk/UCAqtmH6UZA/s1600-h/IMG_7544a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7544a" border="0" alt="IMG_7544a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB6JAdwII/AAAAAAAABuo/UuD95_d2o-s/IMG_7544a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p>I got this yarn as part of their Lord of the Rings sock club, but since I’m not really sold on tencel blends for socks, it sat until its time came to be something else.  That time had arrived. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXjAbe_Ofz2-7LnrmQo2ZNVN2Z7qFDTF2wEZ4S2rWTF1BMYhMDYFLrE9ETdvDiPN6LaycB_o3Vi9O8B8MNyq2RUXTUmgAvltiU7ZhHnS8No5GcsrP8VbjawSfruNk434bftMBqA/s1600-h/IMG_7617a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7617a" border="0" alt="IMG_7617a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB7OEy5hI/AAAAAAAABu4/CN4XSUURlFo/IMG_7617a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="275" /></a> </p> <p>It was perfect for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/milkweed-shawl">Milkweed</a> shawl.  The pattern is well written, and a quick and easy knit. The colours in the yarn are subtle enough that, when knit in garter stitch, they don’t obscure the pattern at all but just add a bit of depth.  The tencel gives it a nice silvery sheen.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB8NDRHvI/AAAAAAAABvE/_HLBeONyxCY/s1600-h/IMG_7624a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7624a" border="0" alt="IMG_7624a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB8RoWUnI/AAAAAAAABvM/Oo6vDJHFZNU/IMG_7624a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="264" /></a> </p> <p>Sometimes, when you can’t be there in person to give someone a comforting hug, a knit has to take your place.   This was quickly wrapped up and sent off to be where I could not.</p> <p>I then returned to my socks, but found they weren’t absorbing enough and left me too much time to think and worry, so back to the spinning wheel I went.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB82-wftI/AAAAAAAABvQ/r5nzh5ByC78/s1600-h/IMG_4725a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4725a" border="0" alt="IMG_4725a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq71XCnvqaOu6s_5oTZ8lRmj9jl4SnVHKXicqmp8N8QSjC-N6sX0WMxLi1XJlfo3SLVQKcC99hphuGxIMmjNCDULtnGaomI3hbfQ2hRzqcT8eZr_Sc_KuZpfURODsC_65L5COJyg/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="380" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>This gorgeous rusty brown Corriedale was a gift from <a href="http://brileyknits.blogspot.com/">Briley</a>.  He dyed it and sent to me, thinking it would make some nice sock yarn.  It turned out beautifully.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI0ltW396z05DKVk7eZvNpGXnA5gUk5ikkiQfhCqffsRhd0M304z9AlV0ML3iN7TCk4IXoPNfyLGda831VhpzieBhhFhL8aLPH8DJyobESLJcKdT4zjeIJMeCO-q_ufqrZHFqUg/s1600-h/IMG_7576a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7576a" border="0" alt="IMG_7576a" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB9rf2alI/AAAAAAAABvs/GkIYfDRbtxo/IMG_7576a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>It came out at 319 yards, 15 wpi, 3 ply.  Thanks, Brian – it was a pleasure to spin, and I love the subtle colours.  I’m looking forward to knitting it up to see how the Corriedale fares compared to the merino and BFL sock yarns I’ve made.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB-PbnfaI/AAAAAAAABv0/aaTExJAJGdA/s1600-h/IMG_7597a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7597a" border="0" alt="IMG_7597a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzkkGKctvsK3v36tr5sXnnFRF9KyWZQL4ZQxW6sJ24U4AMo6zjqxNwwpsgZg4c27-VT97aXW6fytsPJmt4wc7xXuj-J9nnp231NDyOOtVod2umfbQvUYnJQjtk8jvSxeEPKqxCA/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p>So yes, I can put some music on and spin away, letting my thoughts be absorbed into the colours flowing through my fingers.  It feels strange that I now get that feeling from spinning instead of knitting, but there it is, and there’s no sense fighting it.  I couldn’t really leave the bobbins empty, could I?  </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StAB_IrNF0I/AAAAAAAABwE/KS4TjsqCqZg/s1600-h/IMG_7607a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7607a" border="0" alt="IMG_7607a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLibfU0CN_Yo9PpZCYmfNLLT3s2gaoP3tXKJJpQIb0452QbDyREeGAf6AnyV24mjZDQZ4c8vhS67y2wZqj3Z-J98VExNwUEE-afr3e91UDNq8MCsKtHr_qa0R1Cyy6aJSxrODfww/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p>Out came some 50/70 oatmeal BFL/silk in some beautifully  calm, cool colours.  It’s from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7253101">The Thylacine</a>, a colourway named Sandspit River.  Silk still seems to give me trouble, but I patiently worked my way through it.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vHH0ubEnaNyQHCloURoAAHgm6tsT2fczF5SmSqi43dlr6lX7NR80-2_p-F_TYtY-LJmnPYBugE0HKGDEGO6O8GZoHLdauSGk5r-zBcwNpm7NtF3dKl2cvsr69GMOxS5FczHrhw/s1600-h/IMG_7738a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7738a" border="0" alt="IMG_7738a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_XfJRe8Nai6w/StACAObGVyI/AAAAAAAABwc/WzzRY7dxKC8/IMG_7738a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a> </p> <p>At 12 wpi, it’s a bit thicker than was I hoping, even though it’s only a 2-ply, but 220 yards should give me enough to do something with.  I don’t what, but something.  </p> <p>And just as I was hanging it to dry after setting the twist, I got the phone call I was waiting for.  Things still aren’t good, but they’re better.  I can downgrade my worrying to a state of watchful concern.  I suppose that’s about the best one can ask for in the circumstances.  In the meanwhile, I’m thankful I have distractions.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOFKOHq_U4jfeqY62XLhloHD_dr6eMk8zjZbA4zkAPfol8u4Y9NR4-Neadcvjr-mOGFjyyNFqUgKp0RdTCBSD_DO4Cec0uRdLW6vuXqnC2KEORV-wfwZXHT64Ip5Bggx45hpiWw/s1600-h/IMG_7752a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_7752a" border="0" alt="IMG_7752a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-NaAvKB791A1HNGD4JQiBZhU9IuVF74gUTVC_uMGeTFFvrfke4y6UV3-SShOpyV8CPBc9M5C7sBUg3vbT4vbvM6EW-DrRUZN-vOif0aeQJnfsXi5lBPMa1MF3LiRKvGgGkA74w/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304" /></a></p> Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-20066427480690549712009-09-14T09:05:00.009-04:002009-09-14T20:05:46.629-04:00Chain GangI've been keeping the new spinning wheel busy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv50lRHM-EaCpBaeCwgUnUJFYZritNxv_bZfVIKKa2cICdnqFkFL23Sc7SVLwLI-GZnh3zm4_nlBT_Bz-H2vt_fzDDrpZrw4xxbUT8clN2EZMPKGbUKIsKFZCFksd-SeJPVMcssA/s1600-h/IMG_6285a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv50lRHM-EaCpBaeCwgUnUJFYZritNxv_bZfVIKKa2cICdnqFkFL23Sc7SVLwLI-GZnh3zm4_nlBT_Bz-H2vt_fzDDrpZrw4xxbUT8clN2EZMPKGbUKIsKFZCFksd-SeJPVMcssA/s400/IMG_6285a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381316006621456418" border="0" /></a>This is 8 oz of merino/silk/bamboo, the August/September Spin-a-long from All Spun Up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF6vK35gYlw9VVUrUuJL6zVpScA-Gf3iRgegh138e7pRtMFuk-Vq66XZAMvXV1gsFlri8modLGp01HYh5PvRkfl5d_fkp-8pAVzWKSvf4kgWLJVp3iZyVdc-75LiQEZGPCb37fw/s1600-h/IMG_7075a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF6vK35gYlw9VVUrUuJL6zVpScA-Gf3iRgegh138e7pRtMFuk-Vq66XZAMvXV1gsFlri8modLGp01HYh5PvRkfl5d_fkp-8pAVzWKSvf4kgWLJVp3iZyVdc-75LiQEZGPCb37fw/s400/IMG_7075a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381315997849274306" border="0" /></a>And so is this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8krHgp3Q3Kadqd9g-SU9AL2fHE2IVaHkdxQKaR4glVPolcuFcQ3Io4Y19NpKWN8UvPbUOA7_TapLHANmfO3P_XwCGIpkvZ3_RM2Y6vHu5DOOo8CIyOGNvNvU5Qo_FYcfgO89FA/s1600-h/IMG_7076a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8krHgp3Q3Kadqd9g-SU9AL2fHE2IVaHkdxQKaR4glVPolcuFcQ3Io4Y19NpKWN8UvPbUOA7_TapLHANmfO3P_XwCGIpkvZ3_RM2Y6vHu5DOOo8CIyOGNvNvU5Qo_FYcfgO89FA/s400/IMG_7076a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381315987223273122" border="0" /></a>And this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl-DIs7fXu5czzGS8_uoK4Nn_8DG5EBy0xqPUYgKPwXW31BafQYeNMmcOpvS-M7_HU-L5lPBjInnLN-itdwA29m6aqT_-lRwWKukH5yS3Ni4kckR96y6gllJhWkDA5ZP9fCXyNA/s1600-h/IMG_7024a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkl-DIs7fXu5czzGS8_uoK4Nn_8DG5EBy0xqPUYgKPwXW31BafQYeNMmcOpvS-M7_HU-L5lPBjInnLN-itdwA29m6aqT_-lRwWKukH5yS3Ni4kckR96y6gllJhWkDA5ZP9fCXyNA/s400/IMG_7024a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381315979772018690" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to try chain plying, also sometimes called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Navaho</span> plying. It's a method that helps keep the colours separate rather than the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">barberpole</span> effect you get with a regular two or three ply. I love the result. I ended up with 404 yards, 10-12 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wpi</span>. The came out soft and shiny. I found it a bit hard to draft because of the silk and bamboo, but it was totally worth the extra effort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xpqqkEv7Dy0DFmuRO_3JpAbyoB_waJBpDrCBafVF2dJYLVw5qwKhy1nq2ObMyHYLBFZqEiwq_4WQaMSdh5xjmYjPqDD_FsBjMCec-AbindDZOA6UOXKPXXhIi5AjzZOmtOO5kQ/s1600-h/IMG_7102a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xpqqkEv7Dy0DFmuRO_3JpAbyoB_waJBpDrCBafVF2dJYLVw5qwKhy1nq2ObMyHYLBFZqEiwq_4WQaMSdh5xjmYjPqDD_FsBjMCec-AbindDZOA6UOXKPXXhIi5AjzZOmtOO5kQ/s400/IMG_7102a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381315971625499714" border="0" /></a><br />This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BFL</span> in a colourway called Eclipse, the third installment of the Fat Cat Knits Mixed Blessings club. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xTY0rpKmOai3HAkNdGqSkZLAUvNXkyKS0vRSCeT9iTDFlwtlonyGmnIYbpt4KXzcOTg0XyWHSnj1WLXH5I-XXmRJn6A_1-B1oKWP2l_OJodNQGIzdVZrdLrEauMygZnZFAIPeQ/s1600-h/IMG_6974a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xTY0rpKmOai3HAkNdGqSkZLAUvNXkyKS0vRSCeT9iTDFlwtlonyGmnIYbpt4KXzcOTg0XyWHSnj1WLXH5I-XXmRJn6A_1-B1oKWP2l_OJodNQGIzdVZrdLrEauMygZnZFAIPeQ/s400/IMG_6974a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381312717810267234" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to chain ply this one too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRjBA8S6ekK8Lrqj3WW_smiYECBtbWq0nU3jrDMa6MIDL6QKElGppBeCGEkKPvQncrdk6MReoXP3xRAkXzpkPP6sVmNSDiBT58C5BwoSbpT5IZL1RUhc7GdnSKH7b8QOoXJoDiw/s1600-h/IMG_7186a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRjBA8S6ekK8Lrqj3WW_smiYECBtbWq0nU3jrDMa6MIDL6QKElGppBeCGEkKPvQncrdk6MReoXP3xRAkXzpkPP6sVmNSDiBT58C5BwoSbpT5IZL1RUhc7GdnSKH7b8QOoXJoDiw/s400/IMG_7186a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381312706363917682" border="0" /></a><br />I divided the brown/purple/green plait into short, thick sections, so that it would give longer runs of solid colour. The other one was divided into long, thin sections, for shorter runs with more mixing of the colour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQm6hyphenhyphenyWUhurYEgszRdcoy2_iTrTXTW8NMYCiMoredHF900dlH_eYKkSml92PrUbDGfhaMc2oyhMBF_0Bk7ABP61ptbAhy3IaG9ZuiuqyhvqbvQw_L4l283Cx07ltihyphenhyphenHn8YVrQ/s1600-h/IMG_7315a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQm6hyphenhyphenyWUhurYEgszRdcoy2_iTrTXTW8NMYCiMoredHF900dlH_eYKkSml92PrUbDGfhaMc2oyhMBF_0Bk7ABP61ptbAhy3IaG9ZuiuqyhvqbvQw_L4l283Cx07ltihyphenhyphenHn8YVrQ/s400/IMG_7315a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381310854958162050" border="0" /></a>The overall effect is mostly brown/burgundy, with little blips of other colours coming through in between. It came out at 164 yards for 5 oz., 9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wpi</span>. <br /><br />I kinda like this chain plying stuff, and it's nice to be able to do something other than the regular <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">barberpole</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagK3bJXNhyphenhyphenh3mxUm4BWMxDAIAOZP0WPKL2t2DzBsUUoHSqrtxHA6X2Fd1Qcn1WLz8_af8bP6yQUK4JN7Tp5Mu5a2sV-b8kuo7MckJzaowdxaMWqMGRfovtSqxTf7ruRc7N2UfDg/s1600-h/IMG_7225a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagK3bJXNhyphenhyphenh3mxUm4BWMxDAIAOZP0WPKL2t2DzBsUUoHSqrtxHA6X2Fd1Qcn1WLz8_af8bP6yQUK4JN7Tp5Mu5a2sV-b8kuo7MckJzaowdxaMWqMGRfovtSqxTf7ruRc7N2UfDg/s400/IMG_7225a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381309706869204546" border="0" /></a>In the knitting front, I'd like to thank everyone who offered advice on the sock in progress in the last post. Opinions were fairly divided between keeping it plain and letting the yarn do its stripey thing as opposed to mixing it up with the cable pattern. In the end, I decided to try to get the best of both worlds. Four cables, two up each side, with a plain section in between.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyupgEPvPxbpKyIvRz4Sv0_yyJBdhrmHDwQpqBPWtv9ZWQq0kYpbyo90rlMkQgCvABqlgaSNnkV_r3LHbfemHuq0y2RfpdkiPZxUe7TMRJ8Z8Q7u2sfm__-t6xZUH-fEoyBO2KHg/s1600-h/IMG_7461a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyupgEPvPxbpKyIvRz4Sv0_yyJBdhrmHDwQpqBPWtv9ZWQq0kYpbyo90rlMkQgCvABqlgaSNnkV_r3LHbfemHuq0y2RfpdkiPZxUe7TMRJ8Z8Q7u2sfm__-t6xZUH-fEoyBO2KHg/s400/IMG_7461a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381308872046062450" border="0" /></a>I like it! And bonus, it's faster to knit. Or, it would be if I could get off the wheel and back onto the needles.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-82886114283559772192009-09-06T17:07:00.009-04:002009-09-06T17:46:24.146-04:00Falling into FallI'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable with the spinning wheel. Or at least I don't think it's running away on me most of the time, which is a start.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6Y-1qCWEg-NbTyC7sb1lqv5aN-Ad04buM6K9i9ie3fB8ggx4eXD0FM81ITWFhUQh8On84xiM3hH67hOLeMouG61o0cDcaqMDRUU3uJsYbNPKwnpKBa5XMyZRXHpRAA3uAhC7Sg/s1600-h/IMG_6377a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6Y-1qCWEg-NbTyC7sb1lqv5aN-Ad04buM6K9i9ie3fB8ggx4eXD0FM81ITWFhUQh8On84xiM3hH67hOLeMouG61o0cDcaqMDRUU3uJsYbNPKwnpKBa5XMyZRXHpRAA3uAhC7Sg/s400/IMG_6377a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378467061940130546" border="0" /></a>This is 4.3 oz of merino from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5227283">Freckle Face Fibers</a> in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Aquazone</span> colourway, an unusual combination of aqua, forest green, mint and purple. I asked it what it wanted to be, and it responded that a three-ply sock weight might be a good idea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP58XWN2CkLGl_gV3g71O096jLYzRJ5y4cx1q2pEs-PIDKslIwxbD2C7uY1FvY1OrGMH064EXmxV2tMxxmOGC830tPo4mQyc39_gmvKU8Dg7LzzKq-rzX8QzA1j0Lcw_BQjDH2Jw/s1600-h/IMG_6731a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP58XWN2CkLGl_gV3g71O096jLYzRJ5y4cx1q2pEs-PIDKslIwxbD2C7uY1FvY1OrGMH064EXmxV2tMxxmOGC830tPo4mQyc39_gmvKU8Dg7LzzKq-rzX8QzA1j0Lcw_BQjDH2Jw/s400/IMG_6731a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378466598588972530" border="0" /></a>I think it was right. It ended up at 503 yards, 15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wpi</span>. Still a bit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">under-plied</span>, but I think it will knit up okay. When I'm spindling, I always <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">over-ply</span>, because I like it like that, so I'll have to try to remember to give an extra treadle or two when plying on the wheel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oCf_yE60L_9t0JwKIMDCd84v-3goSLqw4rCfMdxv8MMx_PoApmSuhpj3tgYI8qvb_qkeqnU0epIOWgUsgmKoUtVr6G8GRt9WcVkSZcnIesfzh3NppRN2uKtzw5rgNrPC0LMRgw/s1600-h/IMG_6684a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oCf_yE60L_9t0JwKIMDCd84v-3goSLqw4rCfMdxv8MMx_PoApmSuhpj3tgYI8qvb_qkeqnU0epIOWgUsgmKoUtVr6G8GRt9WcVkSZcnIesfzh3NppRN2uKtzw5rgNrPC0LMRgw/s400/IMG_6684a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378466058322498434" border="0" /></a>I think it will make some good socks, though. Whenever I get around to knitting it, that is.<br /><br />Knitting is progressing too, although slowly. I've started on my September socks. One of the problems with taking all your UFOs and throwing them into a personal sock club is that they were probably UFOs for a reason, and that reason was likely a problem of some sort or other, and when their turn comes up, you have to solve that problem.<br /><br />In this case, I think it was just that the yarn was knitting up into the usual spiraling stripe that you often get with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">handpaints</span>, and I wanted to mix it up a bit. I decided to try it with a slip stitch cable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLKa4-ik2H0lhrxcVn9VH164fhmDWEOhS5kFVv4MazaNsd_VGN0TlsvL7mTumqdKFjfPTR2iYh1heZ2UAQItjncF6FsrzehxmddjMidIbuqXSddgOSqDr2r2yNIfFwdAQSX97OA/s1600-h/IMG_6709a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLKa4-ik2H0lhrxcVn9VH164fhmDWEOhS5kFVv4MazaNsd_VGN0TlsvL7mTumqdKFjfPTR2iYh1heZ2UAQItjncF6FsrzehxmddjMidIbuqXSddgOSqDr2r2yNIfFwdAQSX97OA/s400/IMG_6709a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378470718226331106" border="0" /></a>But now I can't decide if it looks delightfully muddled, or just muddy. The other side looks like the spiraling stripe is coming back despite my attempts to thwart it. Sigh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX0MApJo-QleqekRD_YApBamJVPCeUhiVoUF1rKYiPC9BCx-7mk3Qdfz5XRWgxVsjUTXoFG3k86gK_dYBkTVcNY7ZLS2wRL8dHl5866uroGdoQJIZfx1XEzjxeT3r_u9vnjnK2w/s1600-h/IMG_6705a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX0MApJo-QleqekRD_YApBamJVPCeUhiVoUF1rKYiPC9BCx-7mk3Qdfz5XRWgxVsjUTXoFG3k86gK_dYBkTVcNY7ZLS2wRL8dHl5866uroGdoQJIZfx1XEzjxeT3r_u9vnjnK2w/s400/IMG_6705a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378469896744978322" border="0" /></a>Any opinions?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-61898408331165198322009-08-30T09:25:00.011-04:002009-08-30T10:13:42.717-04:00SAM 8 - AugustYou know how sometimes you get a yarn and it just takes your breath away because it's so beautiful? This was one of those.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tZ8rzyDQGYpnNYBJLj1hBbHEiOFllATx-ZcNaueQPVcI1yquo66vnQkTb8ptjnVC_LodBSV30Z6OHrACho1PqsMIsBcvXre2x6yHhZcinT0ujy-BC8rCceakzpxP6TxCqtfQTg/s1600-h/P1010015a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tZ8rzyDQGYpnNYBJLj1hBbHEiOFllATx-ZcNaueQPVcI1yquo66vnQkTb8ptjnVC_LodBSV30Z6OHrACho1PqsMIsBcvXre2x6yHhZcinT0ujy-BC8rCceakzpxP6TxCqtfQTg/s400/P1010015a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375752659527291618" border="0" /></a><br />It's from Painted Yarns, in the Fall Birches colourway. It was extra special because it will never be available again -- the artist who painted it has passed away. I really did just want to put it in a bowl on the coffee table and look at it and love it forever.<br /><br />That's what I should have done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zsV0tMCTI-Fh-c7UE-GarM6TOCYDqgceurAzfZvcUjr1m8HGN-nz4RRC5xT9LYFS4_DKB3winS08zyyrUFUKtE0_7QXo9UmaT4mEFcRFBFXIiq2Bgi4j8f-pgyj7c4cnzdm1qA/s1600-h/P1010083a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zsV0tMCTI-Fh-c7UE-GarM6TOCYDqgceurAzfZvcUjr1m8HGN-nz4RRC5xT9LYFS4_DKB3winS08zyyrUFUKtE0_7QXo9UmaT4mEFcRFBFXIiq2Bgi4j8f-pgyj7c4cnzdm1qA/s400/P1010083a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375752403385409938" border="0" /></a><br />These socks have been on and off the needles for probably two years, trying out many different patterns. Nothing really brought out the true beauty of the colours. In the end, just to get them done, I resorted to my standard, old 6x2 rib.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU77iHhka8jN74WurzRY-Lgif7HalLrtvjEcYaYA6cK1WGNHtvrz5Rz69dSxiDnWDCaUDdW1QaQG7LrKr39GzjeMhe9VjU1-2EVtXKzgkeEeHRro1iKH26MU52vWLLBw68rOGFLA/s1600-h/IMG_6630a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU77iHhka8jN74WurzRY-Lgif7HalLrtvjEcYaYA6cK1WGNHtvrz5Rz69dSxiDnWDCaUDdW1QaQG7LrKr39GzjeMhe9VjU1-2EVtXKzgkeEeHRro1iKH26MU52vWLLBw68rOGFLA/s400/IMG_6630a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375751454014316962" border="0" /></a><br />I kind of feel like I cheated on them and didn't really give them their due, and that bothers me, but it was time to call enough and just get them finished. August socks, you're done.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj5pq2T8o7GVJFyiTAvkvOwj0uJv3TUGfF-_t9HmLEpON4zZQmwd6TAIWywA467LuYXTM2_2CQlxRYGwSQQMCCKSAvefPMlP_mwTVESvq3QJoIIanXq7TOntzpgAFyr4xgv8bvw/s1600-h/IMG_6638a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj5pq2T8o7GVJFyiTAvkvOwj0uJv3TUGfF-_t9HmLEpON4zZQmwd6TAIWywA467LuYXTM2_2CQlxRYGwSQQMCCKSAvefPMlP_mwTVESvq3QJoIIanXq7TOntzpgAFyr4xgv8bvw/s400/IMG_6638a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375751056123913826" border="0" /></a><br />In spinning news, I finished up the second installment of the Fat Cat Knits Mixed Blessings. This was a colourway called Hombre, and I loved the colours in both of the segments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSMHtQBj6qKB1azzv9RmK7L51MgIqvJS5Z9kyJi_UUQT3XvpAmMHwAfqkgXw9DfYuprVAi0bipqJhuA9LioaQNYs20r16mxk5xVAjHAHbORu8a957nY_weOpBRZt_TK-LYaRBLA/s1600-h/IMG_6158a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSMHtQBj6qKB1azzv9RmK7L51MgIqvJS5Z9kyJi_UUQT3XvpAmMHwAfqkgXw9DfYuprVAi0bipqJhuA9LioaQNYs20r16mxk5xVAjHAHbORu8a957nY_weOpBRZt_TK-LYaRBLA/s400/IMG_6158a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375749611166462306" border="0" /></a><br />Inspired by what some of the other people had done with this, I decided to try to make a yarn that progresses from light to dark. I divided it up and put it into three piles, the first with just the lighter colour, the second with both and the third with just the darker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5bjH_1T3dKfVwHyTyQjzB9t5dOQ-wuPCQJSlpKvbEn3Aa5waXfhRALD4mqhOT2NbXs2MFS7HWApMr_e0TjuYtE4Zli4HP2Dm0OshkdEqQW7BXIgBFh292o2lvxsYIiI40fx7UA/s1600-h/IMG_6188a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5bjH_1T3dKfVwHyTyQjzB9t5dOQ-wuPCQJSlpKvbEn3Aa5waXfhRALD4mqhOT2NbXs2MFS7HWApMr_e0TjuYtE4Zli4HP2Dm0OshkdEqQW7BXIgBFh292o2lvxsYIiI40fx7UA/s400/IMG_6188a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375749163021526290" border="0" /></a>I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-drafted different lengths together through a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">diz</span> in order to really blend the colours and give them a more tweedy look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2XPYcIGovdBbgsdkOH9aGY2QeM4d-WzX0DyoJ0flzeswVwXzCkYZPiqCD5k4u9aakT3mh15txGioc4TJe6VQFUa1hyphenhyphen_9QAvCVuxsDLXIXh4hns1sdvWweCCqjZEEuAHxMZgQkw/s1600-h/IMG_6528a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2XPYcIGovdBbgsdkOH9aGY2QeM4d-WzX0DyoJ0flzeswVwXzCkYZPiqCD5k4u9aakT3mh15txGioc4TJe6VQFUa1hyphenhyphen_9QAvCVuxsDLXIXh4hns1sdvWweCCqjZEEuAHxMZgQkw/s400/IMG_6528a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375748579953192146" border="0" /></a><br />This was my first time spinning Falkland, and I loved it. Softer than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BFL</span>, with more grab than merino, it came out wonderfully fluffy. Spindle spun, wheel plied, it ended up at 296 yards, 8-9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wpi</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqMB1iLmdIM6HqlfRFM7QCyWDtMOCurHApx1yo557ALbSTfLO_pAocjwncm1b3QVJC9T1vp9QS23KoPmk-i-duq5BSsWxqV8OwjNVP0fiV_dbW2rVCZ8vacI8Frl4wS6oh5rLAA/s1600-h/IMG_6472a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqMB1iLmdIM6HqlfRFM7QCyWDtMOCurHApx1yo557ALbSTfLO_pAocjwncm1b3QVJC9T1vp9QS23KoPmk-i-duq5BSsWxqV8OwjNVP0fiV_dbW2rVCZ8vacI8Frl4wS6oh5rLAA/s400/IMG_6472a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375748168215829986" border="0" /></a><br />I'm quite pleased with the finished yarn. I think it wants to be a scarf ... or something.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXGNF0ei-SYOkxfyX2IaGWxfqVVjC9ZmsAIl2KWW6gcym1Uzp0mDTH7_jG1sas3cCBh3uNl35IkeH2tewl0FaEaoz4k26Tv3Ya43DGo2WTOOgB0Tg02kKvczFqpSH8Px_leV6XA/s1600-h/IMG_6567a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXGNF0ei-SYOkxfyX2IaGWxfqVVjC9ZmsAIl2KWW6gcym1Uzp0mDTH7_jG1sas3cCBh3uNl35IkeH2tewl0FaEaoz4k26Tv3Ya43DGo2WTOOgB0Tg02kKvczFqpSH8Px_leV6XA/s400/IMG_6567a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375758004577832738" border="0" /></a>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-64425390003951663932009-08-22T10:29:00.012-04:002009-08-22T11:30:35.895-04:00Sacrificial SheepActually, no real sheep were sacrificed, but I did a good number of some of their wool. I dug through the stash to find something to use while playing with the new wheel. Sorry for all the pictures, but I did want to document the learning curve. <br /><br />First up was some plain wool of some sort or other that was just sitting in a bag, origin lost in ancient history. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYJiiCR3gwsVEM-c5QlEnFGZH0LIoIlLPjR3sxtjYFJb6odMrml7qtMYsKMCD-a2zwU9dRoZFKuaeZbRBP0M6c-wcEPfxX1ltnEofubzqu2nZ7cSIUfmEcEg_yuxMGsxAnBoOkA/s1600-h/IMG_6329a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYJiiCR3gwsVEM-c5QlEnFGZH0LIoIlLPjR3sxtjYFJb6odMrml7qtMYsKMCD-a2zwU9dRoZFKuaeZbRBP0M6c-wcEPfxX1ltnEofubzqu2nZ7cSIUfmEcEg_yuxMGsxAnBoOkA/s400/IMG_6329a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372799625305171138" border="0" /></a>Scary, eh? Just getting used to treadling and drafting at the same time, trying out all the different whorls, etc. I think the part that got the hardest workout was the orifice hook. :-) And no, I did not bother to try to ply it.<br /><br />So, time to get serious and try to make, you know, yarn or something. I dug even deeper and found something that I wouldn't mind wasting. I'm not even sure why I bought this in the first place, but it was there, so I figured I'd use it. I apologize in advance for any retinal damage this causes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3cA0HYfiwD0BbVdwPf4FsA6tRSJAcnDyG98FZHYKgFIX0jIx77wsKxZioXdJ9YO-gWhrBk4JjEfm1xDAL2w6BfVS2PmdA3RGELTn1Tdsew1Ibg7woVg4mUBDTr7d5t-MqpPm3Q/s1600-h/IMG_6220a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3cA0HYfiwD0BbVdwPf4FsA6tRSJAcnDyG98FZHYKgFIX0jIx77wsKxZioXdJ9YO-gWhrBk4JjEfm1xDAL2w6BfVS2PmdA3RGELTn1Tdsew1Ibg7woVg4mUBDTr7d5t-MqpPm3Q/s400/IMG_6220a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372798910082590098" border="0" /></a>Yes, the colours really are as bad as they appear. But it served the purpose. That's four ounces of merino, in baby blue and searing orange. The bobbin on the left was first and, as you can see, I could barely fit two ounces on it. After a quick query on the Schacht list on Ravelry, and I received some wonderful advice about how to fit more on a bobbin. A few adjustments, it was winding on much tighter. It was worth trying to ply.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPruDPrX2u_qSX01MXf03Z8FG7ZGj3YAL2fQq_vvsmaoNt0KC_xPM6xnI-SH5tUj3NU7KPPDEsmgYVi2UoevAALD5g-_n3xiW_6aOAPJqQftEVf9l740B9dnEoQ_KWbjMYMhM_Q/s1600-h/IMG_6293a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPruDPrX2u_qSX01MXf03Z8FG7ZGj3YAL2fQq_vvsmaoNt0KC_xPM6xnI-SH5tUj3NU7KPPDEsmgYVi2UoevAALD5g-_n3xiW_6aOAPJqQftEVf9l740B9dnEoQ_KWbjMYMhM_Q/s400/IMG_6293a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372798354804781842" border="0" /></a>I couldn't figure out why my singles kept breaking, but it turns out there's a learning curve to using a lazy kate too. Don't put the tension too high or SNAP! After much cursing, I got some some crappy two ply and an attempt at chain plying. Thank you very much, virulent orange wool -- you've served your purpose and I'm glad you're out of the stash and never to be seen again.<br /><br />Attempt number 3 turned out much better. Again, something that I wouldn't mind if it didn't turn out well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-_S_eXJXnF9xm9pHru0TZ6RiaQ8T4E2gST1XaU6VkhdpUOQTE5KbKPPBU2pI4bvOE3HvH2xoQhxBsm9K0vmNFbcD8WSw6sadEVTi8kF6OXuEimxMBn5lqUMXwuqyvWckFEs7Cw/s1600-h/IMG_6313a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-_S_eXJXnF9xm9pHru0TZ6RiaQ8T4E2gST1XaU6VkhdpUOQTE5KbKPPBU2pI4bvOE3HvH2xoQhxBsm9K0vmNFbcD8WSw6sadEVTi8kF6OXuEimxMBn5lqUMXwuqyvWckFEs7Cw/s400/IMG_6313a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372797951293758594" border="0" /></a><br />The bobbins wound much better with the proper tension. However, if I had paid attention before I ripped the wool apart for a three-ply, I would have noticed that even though it is '70s wallpaper colours, the top was nicely dyed in a wonderful striping pattern and would have been perfect for a chain ply. I didn't see that until it was too late, so I stayed with the three-ply.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uNJyyygahQ42qC6qklenE8RfsqkRnF9hS165R4Rx_LS0q6vXMFbBvIX2KdORKyZ9wlQ_5Cve8SVuj8_Gi3_R-pRnpPwKWCea-RHjOjNRJuRpCCz7uv8V_fiuClvfwdWwxHhS4g/s1600-h/IMG_6334a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uNJyyygahQ42qC6qklenE8RfsqkRnF9hS165R4Rx_LS0q6vXMFbBvIX2KdORKyZ9wlQ_5Cve8SVuj8_Gi3_R-pRnpPwKWCea-RHjOjNRJuRpCCz7uv8V_fiuClvfwdWwxHhS4g/s400/IMG_6334a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372797641495874194" border="0" /></a>All four ounces plied, with room on the bobbin to spare. It's BFL in the Connor colourway from Squoosh. I didn't take a pic of the top because I didn't really think it would turn out, but the listing is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=10311294">here</a> for those who like to compare the raw wool with the finished product. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eMgo8s3yHSW83kT4HgB1CfqxwU_wMcExRh_GOrIl5-2Rhx825opLuDNcJfwip96Xdh1Q4EMmg7KO1dEYiMWLFgTR63q2rQVHp84gDuZ6v8ydBXvF5K8tglTT6YPH85wAW41qiQ/s1600-h/IMG_6347a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eMgo8s3yHSW83kT4HgB1CfqxwU_wMcExRh_GOrIl5-2Rhx825opLuDNcJfwip96Xdh1Q4EMmg7KO1dEYiMWLFgTR63q2rQVHp84gDuZ6v8ydBXvF5K8tglTT6YPH85wAW41qiQ/s400/IMG_6347a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372796921919842498" border="0" /></a>It ended up at 242 yards, 11 wpi, so not too bad for a beginner yarn. It would have been better chained to keep the colours separate rather than mixed in the ply, but c'est la vie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6RdziHRpOn-2fPTHXf2O3QfrYdvSKuPqe6uUkFVHpB6_iHLFjW_q0Zpf2bmE_1ZdqmZ2BncVJ72UVMhD1xyCZFqvlNwjVFCDgNlJYL478SB1Wqfp9WAkhtujGZAQ9WW_8JT05Q/s1600-h/IMG_6356a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6RdziHRpOn-2fPTHXf2O3QfrYdvSKuPqe6uUkFVHpB6_iHLFjW_q0Zpf2bmE_1ZdqmZ2BncVJ72UVMhD1xyCZFqvlNwjVFCDgNlJYL478SB1Wqfp9WAkhtujGZAQ9WW_8JT05Q/s400/IMG_6356a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372796550365127202" border="0" /></a>I still need to work on the plying part, as some of it is a bit loose. If I were going to use it for socks, I'd try running it through the wheel again, but since I don't, I won't.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Lf9QFKljEzn4-kZFZGBQlv9MkonC_QFKgKSdwWvm8I6cXVvb3hpMXWlHofiQe53C8-oLcYCkCJNuLLIUSVtUGqNz2tWtVdA-lMyPIpLLxuHihXV5oPSlL6P4B1_32enDVO-XbQ/s1600-h/IMG_6360a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Lf9QFKljEzn4-kZFZGBQlv9MkonC_QFKgKSdwWvm8I6cXVvb3hpMXWlHofiQe53C8-oLcYCkCJNuLLIUSVtUGqNz2tWtVdA-lMyPIpLLxuHihXV5oPSlL6P4B1_32enDVO-XbQ/s400/IMG_6360a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372796213431626258" border="0" /></a><br />Now I just have to work on getting it thin enough for sock yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviRSYIt41kcd_nYCo8DmXsP6AGbwRNlyKhDNJCCfffTG85vYZeuLQztWFvdQ9Il3A-jeTR9N7t_aVVtAOO3O8NqHhL2joKikAG-9m5RmOMNl9UGY4zik2IqHteE9n4qtSogZ7oA/s1600-h/IMG_6369a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviRSYIt41kcd_nYCo8DmXsP6AGbwRNlyKhDNJCCfffTG85vYZeuLQztWFvdQ9Il3A-jeTR9N7t_aVVtAOO3O8NqHhL2joKikAG-9m5RmOMNl9UGY4zik2IqHteE9n4qtSogZ7oA/s400/IMG_6369a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372795815819632674" border="0" /></a>But I really should be knitting on my August socks instead of playing around. Time for another dose of self-discipline, methinks.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-30292138327661099022009-08-19T10:01:00.007-04:002009-08-19T10:26:35.432-04:00August updateWhew, August is just speeding by. And then it slowed right down when summer finally arrived, with a boatload of heat and humidity. Or was that just me that slowed down? It's been a strange year.<br /><br />I did manage to finish spinning a yarn I started back in July during the Tour de Fleece.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0XH3vcbhd8XVqFzSL5FT2pExFa9QB9vK3ED0Mpw86cYLiVahqFBBe-J6ahXJyp7wteL37qaJWH5ymEfY4TLjwqxY0ctF1nmBWA3Ruj_wVbNs9mzvGv0k_fxvnZvXEpRHAB24Mw/s1600-h/IMG_5890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0XH3vcbhd8XVqFzSL5FT2pExFa9QB9vK3ED0Mpw86cYLiVahqFBBe-J6ahXJyp7wteL37qaJWH5ymEfY4TLjwqxY0ctF1nmBWA3Ruj_wVbNs9mzvGv0k_fxvnZvXEpRHAB24Mw/s400/IMG_5890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371677305477790370" border="0" /></a><br />Yummy Australian Merino in the Thorny Devil colourway from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6277297">Southern Cross Fibre</a>. It probably won't surprise anyone that I again went for a three-ply sock yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvFMqxl_58VVKBQnzaEpcNrF3EsrVNdsTs0QNi2Gc4iIEe6yM5f4qQYwreXuLKdqSVk2QyYIAsEDL4tyZQnOsv_ckRIJWtpi5TxCRVCTdhETQpVlXGwGt9VV3EKCv3zIM-R9BRQ/s1600-h/IMG_6002a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvFMqxl_58VVKBQnzaEpcNrF3EsrVNdsTs0QNi2Gc4iIEe6yM5f4qQYwreXuLKdqSVk2QyYIAsEDL4tyZQnOsv_ckRIJWtpi5TxCRVCTdhETQpVlXGwGt9VV3EKCv3zIM-R9BRQ/s400/IMG_6002a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371676777444169298" border="0" /></a> It ended up at 410 yards, 14 wpi, and should make some lovely, soft and warm socks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwcM4b5gJSYU2JaKN1NHMSOCTCysDzF-6D3h2UdXdNG0GMMoJ-41sQrRc1Mc-st3r3y3fSQ31rD0yeVTMtTaA5GeHZdyBYIE0Pf95o-kJZgzHdZueuP1MhU6vJGCwkNn-Ge8KLQ/s1600-h/IMG_6022a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwcM4b5gJSYU2JaKN1NHMSOCTCysDzF-6D3h2UdXdNG0GMMoJ-41sQrRc1Mc-st3r3y3fSQ31rD0yeVTMtTaA5GeHZdyBYIE0Pf95o-kJZgzHdZueuP1MhU6vJGCwkNn-Ge8KLQ/s400/IMG_6022a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371676323222773106" border="0" /></a><br />And speaking of socks, I can't believe I still haven't finished my August socks for Sock-a-Month. I kind of got stalled and distracted. I finally decided to get rid of that old stationary bicycle that's been sitting in the corner for the last seven years. I only used it about four times in all that time, and I was getting tired of dusting it. But then I was left with an empty corner and, as they say, nature abhors a vacuum, so I had to fill it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7d1JIX6BqNIvLRVJEbtOrZAIupFNqnEJHHrLjsPhWOStGMveF5jLQ-0tykcg_OzQW9oIPGC05QvG7Qx0ilYOXAr8ycYSCCQAfbs7RxgSm3Ke33yyXq5ZPF2_YChZdT5HJaLQ9g/s1600-h/IMG_6242a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7d1JIX6BqNIvLRVJEbtOrZAIupFNqnEJHHrLjsPhWOStGMveF5jLQ-0tykcg_OzQW9oIPGC05QvG7Qx0ilYOXAr8ycYSCCQAfbs7RxgSm3Ke33yyXq5ZPF2_YChZdT5HJaLQ9g/s400/IMG_6242a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371675446448899010" border="0" /></a>Yup, a spinning wheel! With curious cat shown, for scale. :-) I've played with it a bit, and as expected, my first bump was sort of disastrous, but we're slowly getting to know each other.<br /><br />And because these things seem to be important to Ladybug people, here's the bug: <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAquAiZJVF78ns53ceW3W3qa9gwOSHt4-D7Sbh50ttBr_70Mf9FQQurVuUzzELD0eB1yHGsqbPtKMRzLKuTQjzi7LSVpE5_6RdmCf94_r_mBtNfvGn9xgH5QNlmutBWVGBD4QFYQ/s1600-h/IMG_6196a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAquAiZJVF78ns53ceW3W3qa9gwOSHt4-D7Sbh50ttBr_70Mf9FQQurVuUzzELD0eB1yHGsqbPtKMRzLKuTQjzi7LSVpE5_6RdmCf94_r_mBtNfvGn9xgH5QNlmutBWVGBD4QFYQ/s400/IMG_6196a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371675045250841602" border="0" /></a>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-66783673279480060422009-08-03T20:27:00.026-04:002009-08-03T22:33:37.062-04:00Goodbye, July.I can't say I'm sad to see the end of July. It's been one of the coldest, wettest, grayest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Julys</span> on record. Here's hoping that summer finally comes in August. :-)<br /><br />One fun thing that did happen in July, though, was the Tour de Fleece on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tour-de-fleece">Ravelry</a>! I was too busy spinning to get any more knitting done this month, but I did manage to finish a few more yarns, plus try a couple of different fibres and techniques.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKL92DPGyFISCaf68v9xcI4eIwrjSiy-5XKt7EgP5sBkct7OlzUGdpSBHp2d5kDnPHL-fxtkLlI0OPn7QSpbLzyw0OQlwyPamEdO9g0ON0zjrk9Bkx6cwr4uMk0HoO8bDDhn_Tw/s1600-h/mosaicdf87fdf4089d2eb2bbf9cab8eae061be8bbe6407.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKL92DPGyFISCaf68v9xcI4eIwrjSiy-5XKt7EgP5sBkct7OlzUGdpSBHp2d5kDnPHL-fxtkLlI0OPn7QSpbLzyw0OQlwyPamEdO9g0ON0zjrk9Bkx6cwr4uMk0HoO8bDDhn_Tw/s400/mosaicdf87fdf4089d2eb2bbf9cab8eae061be8bbe6407.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365922927762574690" border="0" /></a>This was spun from a Luscious Ditty mini-batt from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6264683">Spin, Knit and Life</a> -- merino, silk and alpaca. My first successful yarn with silk, and first time using a Turkish spindle for more than just goofing around. The cool thing about a Turkish spindle is that when you're done, you just pull out the shaft and the legs of the spindle and you're left with a centre-pull ball and can ply with both ends of your single. It's not my favourite method, and I had a few problems with it towards the end, but it was good to try it.<br /><br />I was feeling a bit brave after that, so I thought I'd try spinning just straight silk again for the Challenge Day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH7NPS5iI3D084yzXVQ1g1IeHplOj8GGodJ4H2Sbea-A1yz8CgYgRwlZixLzELT1x3VJGxqVpzaVePksCmkZPc18m9jhFNJIvF9tnKU-IJXbeFeOejnbvrakwdDjPXGmm1wV_rg/s1600-h/Challenge+Mosaic1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH7NPS5iI3D084yzXVQ1g1IeHplOj8GGodJ4H2Sbea-A1yz8CgYgRwlZixLzELT1x3VJGxqVpzaVePksCmkZPc18m9jhFNJIvF9tnKU-IJXbeFeOejnbvrakwdDjPXGmm1wV_rg/s400/Challenge+Mosaic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365923702229578434" border="0" /></a><br />Not so good. I think silk and I will agree to disagree for a while longer. :-)<br /><br />I decided to carry on with trying a few more new techniques. A post or two ago, I showed a three-ply sock yarn that I made for the May/June <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=106594">All Spun Up</a> Spin-a-long. It looked like this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCOd3g33UNHvFL9SVDIEEIuLQ3PRwVNcey9b5NUZcmi1vtCVkamkV-ZQAFgjz-ysK_66jJzglqe6k5Qxu-Yehzo5PTGPqWlfAkn_b6jhWNbE3YmE9Fy9ziW4Q-lZvPkqKlAHgDA/s1600-h/IMG_5067a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCOd3g33UNHvFL9SVDIEEIuLQ3PRwVNcey9b5NUZcmi1vtCVkamkV-ZQAFgjz-ysK_66jJzglqe6k5Qxu-Yehzo5PTGPqWlfAkn_b6jhWNbE3YmE9Fy9ziW4Q-lZvPkqKlAHgDA/s400/IMG_5067a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365926326570657554" border="0" /></a></div><br />I had an extra four ounces of fibre, so I thought I'd try to recreate some of the yarns that other people had made. First, I played with chain plying. It's not as hard as I thought, as long as you take your time. It's a technique you can use to keep the colours more separate. I'm still not convinced that it's suitable for sock yarn, but I have to admit it's pretty. Maybe scarf material?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebR2kvtkBOkGzFOsUxxeGYJf8721-GPJ7yNHV7YBaGUD9hhmsoRFTK8XwmP-d1qE-tBELmaGeh8Mho0sRgh2B9Msjgwb47woXjK8xtU3ssmbDpUDwq5itfEo1QjzjhdgUN7lUEg/s1600-h/IMG_5146a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebR2kvtkBOkGzFOsUxxeGYJf8721-GPJ7yNHV7YBaGUD9hhmsoRFTK8XwmP-d1qE-tBELmaGeh8Mho0sRgh2B9Msjgwb47woXjK8xtU3ssmbDpUDwq5itfEo1QjzjhdgUN7lUEg/s400/IMG_5146a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365926859205562306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of the yarns that really intrigued me was a thick and thin thread ply, so I figured, eh, why not try that?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6YM7DGn4f9pfHTd_rO2jGuvIhZef4XWqF_u-uCJdwilSEn6v1GmLqRS2LVuu-PZhquC7E2vKbph0a7cZge8xsVQlC8mEvQp8FQvLjZB9L_GOj_0HtfpEdqNqulzYFRrS9i501w/s1600-h/IMG_5055b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6YM7DGn4f9pfHTd_rO2jGuvIhZef4XWqF_u-uCJdwilSEn6v1GmLqRS2LVuu-PZhquC7E2vKbph0a7cZge8xsVQlC8mEvQp8FQvLjZB9L_GOj_0HtfpEdqNqulzYFRrS9i501w/s400/IMG_5055b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365927905909727202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's actually kind of hard to do on a spindle, and the thread is slippery stuff to ply with. My thick parts ended up a little bit too thick, and I'd like to try it again going a bit thinner. I do like the look of it, but again, I'm not sure that I'd knit with it or what I'd make. It was interesting, though, to see the different effects you can get with the same fibre, just by spinning it differently.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax9UksIRyY0oO7HraJebzJeBc_kEHLyjl7S8FBDfV27Q0hq48S-3lGKk8vzYCioaICPWDO8ygF1el_JvvQ7tYLtZ7XqhkdQnI1R2jM32JQ8EKgOOjk79xPCqYo-kyCR4tTHd5dQ/s1600-h/mosaic20fc4f009aede8c03a0f51980c7b7e5d919d350f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax9UksIRyY0oO7HraJebzJeBc_kEHLyjl7S8FBDfV27Q0hq48S-3lGKk8vzYCioaICPWDO8ygF1el_JvvQ7tYLtZ7XqhkdQnI1R2jM32JQ8EKgOOjk79xPCqYo-kyCR4tTHd5dQ/s400/mosaic20fc4f009aede8c03a0f51980c7b7e5d919d350f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365928395858204322" border="0" /></a></div><br />After that, I figured it was time to get back to basics .. sock yarn. :-)<br /><br />This is mixed BFL, again from All Spun Up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh3Lurxkec1w9OrRP_6OfvH07r4aq1q75C73Z6P11-ukavFNX5IFEXE79YrhTQqP8czTDWXkHMDGrVJSqz3Z7edyudvcdbkylTiGuR28Aqig3HQLtZWQ83RyuNt37FWCyhCcvXg/s1600-h/il_fullxfull.77506397.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh3Lurxkec1w9OrRP_6OfvH07r4aq1q75C73Z6P11-ukavFNX5IFEXE79YrhTQqP8czTDWXkHMDGrVJSqz3Z7edyudvcdbkylTiGuR28Aqig3HQLtZWQ83RyuNt37FWCyhCcvXg/s400/il_fullxfull.77506397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365928904110380226" border="0" /></a></div><br />I went for a standard three-ply.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAN-iBMKOhNPoladR1hAE5l7unB4Hgwa31CbDAbtM2W3JscTOErRBpCttGHr6HPXjwNKIzC28JjNwtsAosyDl6_CzLOgunPZv169zQyxE82dugifDMDww3BO8DQ0zbYbtlBMZsQ/s1600-h/IMG_5656a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAN-iBMKOhNPoladR1hAE5l7unB4Hgwa31CbDAbtM2W3JscTOErRBpCttGHr6HPXjwNKIzC28JjNwtsAosyDl6_CzLOgunPZv169zQyxE82dugifDMDww3BO8DQ0zbYbtlBMZsQ/s400/IMG_5656a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365929515159733714" border="0" /></a></div><br />It ended up at 410 yards. It should make some wonderful socks, and I loves it muchly. :-)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfyrPcgIipMqda1egn23MPBIryaCjhd6J3RDuQDRlnRNsRo-do9vs2H94fyx6S4jGxjQ07wTwxKkoMbIS50O9fPbhNpr9VdjyYP4BfQyCe25OisBxNeP1mUNBWFkoTxwms9BFkg/s1600-h/IMG_5687a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfyrPcgIipMqda1egn23MPBIryaCjhd6J3RDuQDRlnRNsRo-do9vs2H94fyx6S4jGxjQ07wTwxKkoMbIS50O9fPbhNpr9VdjyYP4BfQyCe25OisBxNeP1mUNBWFkoTxwms9BFkg/s400/IMG_5687a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365929815736626498" border="0" /></a></div><br />And that was the end of the Tour de Fleece. Whew!<br /><br />I apparently have more of an ornery streak than I thought I did. Being forced to spin actually really made me want to knit, so I've been cranking away, trying to finish up my August socks. One's done, and the other is cast on. Maybe a finish by the end of the week?<br /></div></div></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-79265027734722579162009-07-12T09:57:00.010-04:002009-07-12T10:42:01.820-04:00A-long alongingAs I'd hoped, the slight pressure to get stuff resulting from joining a KAL or some-such has resulted in, well, getting stuff done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh9SbbMzAcwlPYDHnMww63IuPgFgz47WCQpIJXI9L_i2W1MqIySfJzxGRmwlGftmIuQ4SnfJZPGdITTy2Lo7S_wmQfVjxqMnKRSq-u_YXD4jw_CEYkH0dlY9ZRFcrLoTXf2nL0g/s1600-h/IMG_3581a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh9SbbMzAcwlPYDHnMww63IuPgFgz47WCQpIJXI9L_i2W1MqIySfJzxGRmwlGftmIuQ4SnfJZPGdITTy2Lo7S_wmQfVjxqMnKRSq-u_YXD4jw_CEYkH0dlY9ZRFcrLoTXf2nL0g/s400/IMG_3581a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357572877003337202" border="0" /></a>This colours in this gorgeous yarn from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=106594">All Spun Up</a> re-kindled a yarn lust that I haven't felt for quite a while. I had to have it, and I had to knit it as soon as it arrived. Joining <a href="http://sockamonthkal5.blogspot.com/">Sock-a-Month 8</a> helped keep the knitting from languishing and actually made me knit <span style="font-style: italic;">both </span>socks. :-) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWdNURzb_UjmZv3qIdLPLyOurAup9CNwT5OkXBITndoARoLAPe3jXd8Rh035UYCDKJdk0WcPoIIjQ2rjwax_WKrzXeHGemiPI3zKAN4W8j6nBCdH0yhvP4S-ICyiklEsH9abJ2g/s1600-h/IMG_4632a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWdNURzb_UjmZv3qIdLPLyOurAup9CNwT5OkXBITndoARoLAPe3jXd8Rh035UYCDKJdk0WcPoIIjQ2rjwax_WKrzXeHGemiPI3zKAN4W8j6nBCdH0yhvP4S-ICyiklEsH9abJ2g/s400/IMG_4632a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357573322549339154" border="0" /></a>Plain socks, in a fantastic colourway, but a finished pair! Hurrah!! Mojo, are you back? Only time will tell.<br /><br />The fact that I was able to finish the socks while participating in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tour-de-fleece">Tour de Fleece</a> on Ravelry kind of gives me hope that I can do both spinning and knitting. I mean, that was kind of my intention before the spinning took over.<br /><br />And speaking of the Tour de Fleece, I managed to turn this ....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpSdfUX7mEc8dIRFAPZL6Tjn1CZPku8Dd_tsuvEpmGPrEQvJ5amLPMEWj3JQBtqW1oE6NC2qxfiveCRssjYP28K0KfSpDxMmwcLnHEFSpA9Lvm-7G18EUDHiWLnWArafaWK5APg/s1600-h/IMG_4066a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpSdfUX7mEc8dIRFAPZL6Tjn1CZPku8Dd_tsuvEpmGPrEQvJ5amLPMEWj3JQBtqW1oE6NC2qxfiveCRssjYP28K0KfSpDxMmwcLnHEFSpA9Lvm-7G18EUDHiWLnWArafaWK5APg/s400/IMG_4066a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357575528639865170" border="0" /></a><br />.... into this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPkmEsNuZJj9nymdp8KxOut-Sytd4mNlYn-tjaSTdKfIh46xSMdkYPNlDtyoZCzoiC3dNA8cMeFia-ymcpq1zlUqTHxyWYhwHO-cdxfyRUdzQEUHKt5pJzJjzl6_Jt_2CPj6zBA/s1600-h/IMG_4325a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPkmEsNuZJj9nymdp8KxOut-Sytd4mNlYn-tjaSTdKfIh46xSMdkYPNlDtyoZCzoiC3dNA8cMeFia-ymcpq1zlUqTHxyWYhwHO-cdxfyRUdzQEUHKt5pJzJjzl6_Jt_2CPj6zBA/s400/IMG_4325a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357573799756374034" border="0" /></a>It's merino from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49269">Fat Cat Knits</a>, in the Seaside Cottage colourway. I signed up for a three-month subscription so I would push myself outside of my normal colour range, and this certainly did the trick.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqnmihpsPlyNO025Rymjm5ksXTZs8BSLJNmYiDXnDC6p-3mD5N2aw_QT683cgbyv-dwxF_foohbE3Agfo9iJVI4sA_e_ng_f8b4mYLXkuJxU2YfMoJCf_1wh7e7ZjSeqyp4VJ0Q/s1600-h/IMG_4385a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqnmihpsPlyNO025Rymjm5ksXTZs8BSLJNmYiDXnDC6p-3mD5N2aw_QT683cgbyv-dwxF_foohbE3Agfo9iJVI4sA_e_ng_f8b4mYLXkuJxU2YfMoJCf_1wh7e7ZjSeqyp4VJ0Q/s400/IMG_4385a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357574858820529362" border="0" /></a>I was trying to spin it thicker and ended up with 306 yards at 11 wpi, which is on the thin side of worsted weight but not too bad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXalotPDyLdR-2nteb2mc8w5O82OxGebTC7QwmH2sEmXtHfp5uB3KwcgjtwMQzUct5nN9E6LvipQLz1VvqP0CRZEFIMMqQU4TX4Z92jf95xbZX-XKxJoTC9anKJV4aYA0B3QffIg/s1600-h/IMG_4404a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXalotPDyLdR-2nteb2mc8w5O82OxGebTC7QwmH2sEmXtHfp5uB3KwcgjtwMQzUct5nN9E6LvipQLz1VvqP0CRZEFIMMqQU4TX4Z92jf95xbZX-XKxJoTC9anKJV4aYA0B3QffIg/s400/IMG_4404a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357581903957472578" border="0" /></a>Definitely a happy mix of colours!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-56329820637402349552009-06-27T09:46:00.004-04:002009-06-27T10:19:10.211-04:00Ready for SummerIt took a while, but I finally finished spinning up the fibre from the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=106594">All Spun Up</a> May/June <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/allspunup">Spin-a-Long</a> -- a lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">superwash</span> merino in watery, bluesy-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">greeny</span> colours. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmSFMHsI-xiWA4X5o40_FZfExxWUNOTWJxiCCCHDhqkLAr52B1drie0-lz_mUf2cbDI8jYxM0ZYaURy9wrzRWu9_1RsxlmNnz6UdfwvfqEvkGp8ikHJ0kHpnTjwJFHCnRY5N6SA/s1600-h/IMG_3335a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmSFMHsI-xiWA4X5o40_FZfExxWUNOTWJxiCCCHDhqkLAr52B1drie0-lz_mUf2cbDI8jYxM0ZYaURy9wrzRWu9_1RsxlmNnz6UdfwvfqEvkGp8ikHJ0kHpnTjwJFHCnRY5N6SA/s400/IMG_3335a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352005382834515410" border="0" /></a><br />It is so much fun to see how everyone spins up the same colourway in different ways. There are so many gorgeous yarns out there. Of course, me being me, I just went with a standard old three-ply sock yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsicIqY3KA1Ow_ApM1FTZCi5htGZzrLMxwSxNcEK0Yo536ex1HEIf7qZUBlzsjTAI3JYKDXWB1pHzqODu_0Ats0HkgTTwjEW-IplQybiFw82Qeu0VF45M0HCJiPqPuQas8GcHgA/s1600-h/IMG_4104a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsicIqY3KA1Ow_ApM1FTZCi5htGZzrLMxwSxNcEK0Yo536ex1HEIf7qZUBlzsjTAI3JYKDXWB1pHzqODu_0Ats0HkgTTwjEW-IplQybiFw82Qeu0VF45M0HCJiPqPuQas8GcHgA/s400/IMG_4104a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352004856126768402" border="0" /></a>I'm quite pleased with the way it came out. I ended up with 453 yards at 16 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wpi</span> -- perfect for a pair of socks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Ae2QQk6nLTR3b8w-OB3hIXtbDWuQih6IkwX0mwNQNVQNvOzeuvXjF5rr6EcnpARij7symy-rxPPyTiFlNGPaqadFC05wMtEryHcu5rUbSpxcxFF44NUyopb4esJQm2gFhP7WA/s1600-h/IMG_4124b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Ae2QQk6nLTR3b8w-OB3hIXtbDWuQih6IkwX0mwNQNVQNvOzeuvXjF5rr6EcnpARij7symy-rxPPyTiFlNGPaqadFC05wMtEryHcu5rUbSpxcxFF44NUyopb4esJQm2gFhP7WA/s400/IMG_4124b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352004433175471554" border="0" /></a>It should knit up into subtle, monochromatic stripes, although you never really know until you actually knit it.<br /><br />And speaking of knitting, the stitches continue to fly off the needle at breakneck speed! The sock that didn't have a heel two weeks now has a heel!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w3zd_31BthvcT7LpOtLY413l0xtKEl43ZlyfD0uaX6rm7dURq7TADbUmMktihWFdKmzcbdH4XzOuRgiEaKLk60tyOCVTbzGnqqBjn0iQ-pdB3rvYz8YN4SfBfS9qrS66b_eaCQ/s1600-h/IMG_4173a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w3zd_31BthvcT7LpOtLY413l0xtKEl43ZlyfD0uaX6rm7dURq7TADbUmMktihWFdKmzcbdH4XzOuRgiEaKLk60tyOCVTbzGnqqBjn0iQ-pdB3rvYz8YN4SfBfS9qrS66b_eaCQ/s400/IMG_4173a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352004016605508306" border="0" /></a>The craziness at work has settled down for the next two months, so I should have a bit more free time to knit. Now that I've joined <a href="http://sockamonthkal5.blogspot.com/">Sock a Month 8</a>, I'm also hoping to be a bit more motivated, but there is also that darn <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tour-de-fleece">Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">de</span> Fleece</a> thing going on too. And tomorrow is spinning class. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmmm</span>. I think I need a time management expert to come in and schedule my hobbies for me. If they do windows and clean bathrooms while they're at it, that's all the better. :-)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-32453691005064303342009-06-14T12:00:00.007-04:002009-06-14T12:51:26.757-04:00Breaking Outta the RutI seem to be in a rut. Well, not seem to be ... I am in a rut. A deep one. It's time to do something about it.<br /><br />A while ago I was <s>trying to move around</s> tidying the stash room and happened to notice that, ummm, I seem to have a lot of blue, and brown, and green. One of the things I enjoy most about spinning is watching the colours mix and change as the fiber flows by. Although I'm still more likely to wear the blue/brown/green, there's no reason I have to actually wear the yarn I make; right? When I saw that <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49269">Fat Cat Knits</a> had started a fibre club called Mixed Blessings, I figured it was just the kick in the pants I needed. Each month, for three months, you get five oz. of fibre, but the catch is that it's in two different but coordinating colourways. <br /><br />So, is this me?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo-upSk5yx22lQjWR4bzp9AO9gHysSV7yR36DKw5bPYRpcXFVXWUd8jNqKjcMGYMmWRS8Gq_Ehmualdix1HW8FMDrioVYJWN9T48ZLixVCgUlkJMzFFNyyaoIZbmDjTEghtVGTA/s1600-h/IMG_3923a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo-upSk5yx22lQjWR4bzp9AO9gHysSV7yR36DKw5bPYRpcXFVXWUd8jNqKjcMGYMmWRS8Gq_Ehmualdix1HW8FMDrioVYJWN9T48ZLixVCgUlkJMzFFNyyaoIZbmDjTEghtVGTA/s400/IMG_3923a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347215376091525234" border="0" /></a><br />How about this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUv6hlETuLlSJtr3rWnn0_p9rrQOck1d6sX5PHj3-C54mueqq-7uM7o5qOe0yvBR2lUkJfvE6O23cMeOJpS-9Inlf4dSrcX4LEp_0aNOC_NizgcEFYAIAxN2rEgMR5N8SVbfO6Q/s1600-h/IMG_3925a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUv6hlETuLlSJtr3rWnn0_p9rrQOck1d6sX5PHj3-C54mueqq-7uM7o5qOe0yvBR2lUkJfvE6O23cMeOJpS-9Inlf4dSrcX4LEp_0aNOC_NizgcEFYAIAxN2rEgMR5N8SVbfO6Q/s400/IMG_3925a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347215746947887298" border="0" /></a><br />And when you put them together?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK5gxyzfGQsvFzxewHp5a3h5DTq76QKPYJJV1pB3Qdl6vr-fc1qWrys0OGLDfyH6ERAnQK-_UWQc_ewelM1Wur3Lsn7nFTH7KAF0HO7ThJexqpPfZ8wAOCYwZuyJAVLc43r3Ovg/s1600-h/IMG_3929a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK5gxyzfGQsvFzxewHp5a3h5DTq76QKPYJJV1pB3Qdl6vr-fc1qWrys0OGLDfyH6ERAnQK-_UWQc_ewelM1Wur3Lsn7nFTH7KAF0HO7ThJexqpPfZ8wAOCYwZuyJAVLc43r3Ovg/s400/IMG_3929a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347216273934496130" border="0" /></a>I'm really looking forward to playing with it, although I have absolutely no idea what it will end up being, if anything.<br /><br />If that's not enough of a shake-up, how about this? I've signed up for a class. Yes, out there with real people and everything. For a socio-phobe like me, that's just about a nervous breakdown in the making. :-) What could possibly coerce me into such foolishness? A <a href="http://wabi-sabi.ca/index.html">local yarn store </a> is offering a spindle class with some different techniques, such as long draw, how to spin silk, and who knows what else. It will be fun; right? <br /><br />The knitting, it continues. I've knit my fingers to the bone and produced .....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyuP5l7OJyxhAtlHZ2A6NKJyyfWHECUBtBIR4qwZYI-vbWzgEDkf4RdwHKqUJvO_0OhY6xgkSS4TRTLpJ_NZGVILGfC0KRvPOhR3h3ao_5qhwU8n9vr7mE98rZ4laEY3DaHF3ww/s1600-h/IMG_3914a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyuP5l7OJyxhAtlHZ2A6NKJyyfWHECUBtBIR4qwZYI-vbWzgEDkf4RdwHKqUJvO_0OhY6xgkSS4TRTLpJ_NZGVILGfC0KRvPOhR3h3ao_5qhwU8n9vr7mE98rZ4laEY3DaHF3ww/s400/IMG_3914a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347214406793471250" border="0" /></a>.... one sock leg. Sigh. Time to kick that up a notch too. I used to at least get one pair done every month, back when I was in the <a href="http://sockamonthkal5.blogspot.com/">Sock-a-Month</a> Knitalong. SAM 8 starts in July, so I joined up. One of the good things about this series is that you don't have to start the socks in that month, just finish them, so it should be good motivation for finishing up some of my WIPs. <br /><br />I did a bit of round-up and ended up with this:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6Ctj4HQh2op6e8GXLQozHOh6ovhZxnRnPZhqu3an04sQ4xRWoVHTMo5biFgKJYncvOjEgeTt1hPIWGFlj4ZRkWh_F3GXuKDX0LIev9srBHmGCepj6-cSwOEa7-hREDKIhReYSA/s1600-h/IMG_3934a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6Ctj4HQh2op6e8GXLQozHOh6ovhZxnRnPZhqu3an04sQ4xRWoVHTMo5biFgKJYncvOjEgeTt1hPIWGFlj4ZRkWh_F3GXuKDX0LIev9srBHmGCepj6-cSwOEa7-hREDKIhReYSA/s400/IMG_3934a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347214760321683298" border="0" /></a>A box of bags. In six months' time, I'm hoping they'll be EMPTY bags. :-)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-51024216004688859232009-06-06T16:03:00.008-04:002009-06-06T16:35:23.068-04:00Why do I need a title?Thanks to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Battlestar</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Galactica</span> Season 2.5 (what's up with that?), I got a bit of knitting done.<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344309124149817714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjUSZj3K6vKbFJgfuGvsWPehFYBE9fF1k78nUl7iuK24H35D9dU7ByTai9YOO4Bb7SMT4ML1t9gLxgG_XPIcdXyJJVA27M3OVD3xB0k7X5Y3WB_-1BPT-i5CDbqGXspcFB1urZw/s400/IMG_3701a.jpg" /></p><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Noro</span> Silk Garden, Colour No. 8, blues, greens, purples .... <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">yummm</span>.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344309485972505570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFQ9ZZ_Xb2WsBffBIY77foZGviuRPaCRoFa9X1TwH7hXy_3YuGkPODibjBfWPLTLvoa7jFuFkI4MzXdLFpGCrsF5u6wdWf7CvEra23LeZf8t_GXEj0cmE-yvTSAloFoE1pNoo0A/s400/IMG_3707a.jpg" /><br /><br />This is the second time that I've run out of yarn. Luckily <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Noro</span> just recycles the same colours in different combinations and I could use some leftovers to finish it up.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 362px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344309782739516098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3WybNAf5W5_JJu52Z4vpTD4jsmsXFBqjrHuv1h-cCoo3lBiHNTMeV5GYn5Eojx1Pl5Y3UgH2PIj9wSvhTdYJBq4agbG2DKCwQpt8zEKmYDFJdFFX97WVubHG50GkpikSRqVZjA/s400/IMG_3705a.jpg" /><br /><br />Can you tell which end I had to doctor?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnF5Vulhz3Fk09tZfdgbPEVYdvcp-ne6huXyZ7NZsxuP93mUWhVXdnXX2jf_ALibD9tuwohhKyiAufOdWWmu2qtQbHRofeNZicfBvQSNVXu75mO8xK8cpKFYDdu41Kz62kl4-HQ/s1600-h/IMG_3662a.jpg"></a>I also finished plying the Enchanted Knoll Red Silk Kimono yarn.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344308089106533842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNz5V-xGHGTLE8Qd-6yoqD8Dmv0fezxHKWp276WlfNp39o09yNECXITRlwi2pjUxtNYHme-BEs1XutAmanhgO-_lCJblgbRhWUDjQzbD_1ImZ3MXAZyuD447wg-RFAainT6RvbQ/s400/IMG_3660a.jpg" /><br /><br />As I was spinning it, I didn't really worry about how thick or thin it was; I just let it do its thing.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344308319161219474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPuaVe6_whOL5M2IjjinukKObteNT-TaeM8-X-Xu5wEQlerAwq13YfkNYF5UN_EelCgvtj4aVLNp4G15EkZTuii-jh5YGz8LqJ1BEAMDTTXD5leWP2hyphenhyphenbDQuaGPgrBRNNj0crpA/s400/IMG_3685a.jpg" /><br />It ended up at about 136 yards, 12 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">wpi</span>, and very textural and sparkly.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344311632503437058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuWOZl3PNt6CiXW0MrFLk3DQDLFvbnnGWmYOWy573xyy7LCTzKlSwlvpG4SWGmNNFyX1CRLIx8uZAIv7xZG_ZACUopLJtkl3arhhqbn3-PlODmWmxlmgTgOdxRqZd8ZaRiqW_qA/s400/IMG_3738a.jpg" /><br />I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sparkles</span>, and I might even have decided what I'll knit with it. But for now, I think I'll go out and enjoy some sunshine.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-73085489276473547982009-05-24T10:36:00.004-04:002009-05-24T10:56:14.049-04:00I have no clever titleIt seems there's a large preference for Google Reader over Bloglines -- thanks for the recommendation, everyone! Just as comments were coming in on my last post complaining about missing blogs, Bloglines decided to pull one of those, "Oh, by the way, so-and-so has 200 new posts" dealies, so I made the switch. Google Reader is kind of wonky, as in what's up with alphabetizing blogs that begin with the word "the" under T, but I can live with that.<br /><br />Last time I removed my blogroll from my sidebar, I got a few emails of ... concern ... that it had disappeared. I have spent over six hours trying to reinstate it from Google Reader, and it keeps screwing up. I'd rather spend my time doing other things, so my best advice at this point would be, "Get your own blogroll." :-)<br /><br />I've been knitting a bit, thanks to Battlestar Galactica Season 2.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rv8nWSWOZpRv9aa94akuPr0Qu_ffjtot4ny0vS00OkPY3vJ9GzQK5WjSUF1ljxsOy9vjmaehYRzhy5Y_eXh1QWHEv58Awfloh_R5CHEm4LCumASEaIYWGN68ewzx629kBJptPA/s1600-h/IMG_3445a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rv8nWSWOZpRv9aa94akuPr0Qu_ffjtot4ny0vS00OkPY3vJ9GzQK5WjSUF1ljxsOy9vjmaehYRzhy5Y_eXh1QWHEv58Awfloh_R5CHEm4LCumASEaIYWGN68ewzx629kBJptPA/s400/IMG_3445a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339400542889529170" border="0" /></a><br />Noro Silk Garden No. 241A, a lovely mix of mostly greens and purples.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepHtDQkrS-3_AUVj5MbTPqTrGYCN9ZVXo0tQUVieThv9LzlA6ObmLIJ-gfMtehl7wVS6Uaye5nfnenw-cz0Q3Lzv-JFnv1c-UjD0e9EyGnfk_z_PwaD5mn-W2xvMieCCmGnbzYw/s1600-h/IMG_3433a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepHtDQkrS-3_AUVj5MbTPqTrGYCN9ZVXo0tQUVieThv9LzlA6ObmLIJ-gfMtehl7wVS6Uaye5nfnenw-cz0Q3Lzv-JFnv1c-UjD0e9EyGnfk_z_PwaD5mn-W2xvMieCCmGnbzYw/s400/IMG_3433a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339400220229967474" border="0" /></a><br />Yum!<br /><br />I finished spinning the red sparkly stuff I was working on, but I have started plying it yet. That hasn't stopped me from starting to spin something else, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1aJoKJ0ZRuROfBxgzwbPsc-YSk4K-3MewjU53vhJHp03JJ2Td-AjoDpKpZi3dvbTtA05dlzsCTkV4aiKVMhvHW99iB1lGT8m4o5rFy7lodbMT5_QBXkcQIQ86AoufF7NBEFotg/s1600-h/IMG_3430a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1aJoKJ0ZRuROfBxgzwbPsc-YSk4K-3MewjU53vhJHp03JJ2Td-AjoDpKpZi3dvbTtA05dlzsCTkV4aiKVMhvHW99iB1lGT8m4o5rFy7lodbMT5_QBXkcQIQ86AoufF7NBEFotg/s400/IMG_3430a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339399789116130914" border="0" /></a>This is superwash merino, the May/June spin-a-long from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=106594">All Spun Up</a>. Greeny blues with a bit of white and rust, drafts like butter -- love it!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-59929000022423071062009-05-17T09:13:00.002-04:002009-05-17T09:43:56.384-04:00At least I'm consistentSo, you know how when a bunch of things go wrong, and then something goes right and you think the string of wrong is gone? That's not what happened. The wrong continues. It's kind of reassuring to know that my place in the universe is secure. <br /><br />See, I've been knitting a secret sock, and it's coming along just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">smashingly</span>. Very cool pattern, easy to remember, no charts to be glued to, just read your knitting and keep on going round and round. It even has a different construction technique than I've been used to -- toe up and a wonderful invisible gusset to help make the short row heel fit better.<br /><br />And then the pattern is released, and I want to show you some pics of how wonderful it is, and then my camera decided, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Umm</span>, nope. You can have this ONE pic and I am going to keep all the rest for myself." And it steadfastly refuses to release its hostages, even though I talked nicely and told him what a nice camera he was and offered to buy him ice cream. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ummm</span>, nope. No go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdbdLl7FdHGNK51QfMyID0lO1894lNSusTswtXePrXypPyA0pGoicKuYRC0SzA7RIXcuSX0kiSRoY_J0EMKvzMUNVg5mCWsT2_Io-pe1EE6mzT7-aCwWp_pZlBot3uriu4-Ivrg/s1600-h/IMG_3319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdbdLl7FdHGNK51QfMyID0lO1894lNSusTswtXePrXypPyA0pGoicKuYRC0SzA7RIXcuSX0kiSRoY_J0EMKvzMUNVg5mCWsT2_Io-pe1EE6mzT7-aCwWp_pZlBot3uriu4-Ivrg/s400/IMG_3319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336780916400698498" border="0" /></a>So, you get what I got. That's most of one sock. I'm sure my camera will eventually decide to cooperate, and I'm sure I'll actually knit the second sock, so I'll wait until the stars are realigned to do a proper <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FO</span> post. In the meantime, you can see wonderful pictures of two socks <a href="http://yarnloopie.blogspot.com/2009/04/beas-socks-test-knit.html">here</a> and you can download the pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2k-2p-inside-out">here</a>. It's even free! Go for it -- you'll like it! Thank you, <a href="http://www.beate-zaech.de/">Bea</a>, for sharing your wonderful creativity!<br /><br />Any one else use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bloglines</span>? Notice anything wonky? Like, it's eating people and won't let you see them? Kinda like my camera? Look over to the right? See that list of blogs? Way down near the bottom there should be someone that I've been reading for, like, forever. And all of a sudden she's gone! Not on that list, not on my list of subscriptions on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bloglines</span> -- just gone. But when I try to re-subscribe, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bloglines</span> says, "Hey, you're already subscribed to that blog." Sigh. There could very well be others that have been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">invisiblized</span>, but I read enough that it's hard to keep track. If <a href="http://wendyknits.net/">Wendy Knits </a>and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bloglines</span> doesn't see it, is she actually really knitting?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-6239694832574392942009-05-10T16:08:00.010-04:002009-06-06T16:36:04.676-04:00Still here ... barelyI don't know if I mentioned it before, but back at the beginning of the year I joined the <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/">Grafton Fibers</a> ColorWays club. Every month, you get a big, fluffy batt of corriedale, died in wonderful colours and blended in interesting ways. I opened the first package and was totally petrified. The one time I'd used a batt before, I just grabbed handfuls of fiber and spun them together. Although you could use that technique with these, you'd lose the wonderful colour progressions. Yup, each batt so far has been carded so that the colours gradually shift from one end to the other. January went from red to turquoise and back to red, and February from red through yellow to blue, March from ultraviolet through blue and brown, and April from gold through green to burgundy. They have been gorgeous. Rather than end up the year with a stack of 12 nice neat boxes,, I decided it was time to just dive in. <br /><br />I started with February. I must confess that none of these pictures accurately reflects the true colours. The original batt was sort of like this, but the red is way off, and it doesn't show much of the green:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334290962651742802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gY-NA6U2DH6-Fipk4UB3SIE7C3mIk6iFDbWpD8vtKeqK-Ve8A67ue7kymaExZGW_F3owwr6i3K4vAwEhirrAfoIBd_WeKGKz9bKPmZjrRcLiNJc5Va50BMvPtxuPtsBRc_7c3g/s400/IMG_1682a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />I tore the batt into four sections length-wise, then pulled each section out width-wise into a tube (rolag?) and then dizzed them into a long strip (roving?). <br /><br />To keep the colours true while spinning, I had two choices, either Navajo ply or singles. I did two chains of N-ply and got bored, so singles it was. :-)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289932061801042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4NFUsVmW-IMaNFJlV301jpVF7i13SawZk103GDSQY2TnhReDYzQZb0GyzZRJaRv2Sp9jwNrmHAXm0UwEZZCUecJCqQ_4AB3DfgOxQCpwwTiTkuhWPmMCg4srn6JnFAtxOyJhyA/s400/IMG_3168.JPG" border="0" />One end of the yarn is red, some with a bit of brown. The yellow is gradually introduced, with some green, and it shades through blue with some black to clear blue.<br /><br />Spinning a single is a bit scary, because normally the plies in a multi-ply yarn give it strength. In a single, you need enough twist to hold it together but not so much that it gets all kinky. I used a fairly heavy spindle -- my Bossie maxi --so I could try to keep my yarn thick. It took some planning to keep the colour progression so I had the right ends to join together as I built the total length. I finished it by alternating hot and cold washes, with a bit of agitation, to slightly felt it and give it some strength.<br /><br />This picture shows the blue and green, but the red is off.<br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv5bVNIFGqcocrsLQHHBLjHlJ6XG4UgGUz4qrMKhHswJAU70qKGAxCPQBsyoEaHYuFQj0ftDtmyJwfiBnxC5BwOtM-p7CCR9Zt3etus0NpLf9319XRR7Sy2kuptqqdGGdEwSdpA/s1600-h/IMG_3278.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334291974115010994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv5bVNIFGqcocrsLQHHBLjHlJ6XG4UgGUz4qrMKhHswJAU70qKGAxCPQBsyoEaHYuFQj0ftDtmyJwfiBnxC5BwOtM-p7CCR9Zt3etus0NpLf9319XRR7Sy2kuptqqdGGdEwSdpA/s400/IMG_3278.JPG" border="0" /></a>In this one, the red is right, but the blue and green are off. I'm not really a red person, but I do love this colour.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJqpBRq92S9qfPuXoDCoFe13PuRU0otMw385knN3fE6EJ8hD5886PR3bIOecaUqsSUk31HLT07hFnwSRHFpbgqVJAqOrb3RdAIqg6Ry8jGG3js1-c64TAkMHs71tT329rxUqzaA/s1600-h/IMG_3177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334291272954402034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJqpBRq92S9qfPuXoDCoFe13PuRU0otMw385knN3fE6EJ8hD5886PR3bIOecaUqsSUk31HLT07hFnwSRHFpbgqVJAqOrb3RdAIqg6Ry8jGG3js1-c64TAkMHs71tT329rxUqzaA/s400/IMG_3177.JPG" border="0" /></a>I ended up with about 175 yards, 10 WPI, of the softest, fluffiest yarn I've made so far. </p><p>I'm thinking it wants to be a scarf, probably like the Noro striped one that's very popular, but I haven't quite decided if I want to match it with some plain black or maybe wait to see if another batt later in the year will coordinate with it. I think I'll just pet it for a while. :-)<br /><br />I finally finished a pair of socks. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334292467815687858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJoR9pSBQcUiO2kSMPci_yrR0ArUkPoEEXHWm5OJM1vIAnoXbP6nc1UXRIEqIlZj5NP6Uk49ZwxCElyPCLT5b9tRusK7lLFOH8pCD6DzjYLLPnz0tl5eivZj0-PdFGn1sH_9D_w/s400/IMG_3289a.jpg" border="0" />I posted about these before and how much I was NOT enjoying them. The yarn is Regia Kaffe Fassett, and when I bought it, I thought I was getting the striped variety. Turns out I must have been distracted by some other nearby pretty and reached into the wrong bin and got -- whatever that is. I was determined to finish them, though, because I was in one of those "Next time you go yarn shopping, remember to check the bin!" self-improvement masochistic modes. A good way to just get through something that isn't appealing? Rent a couple of DVDs and just sit and knit and don't look at them. I have Battlestar Galactica Season to thank for getting these done. I hadn't seen any Battlestar before, and it looks to be a good series. I still kind of hate the socks, though.</p><p>With those two projects done, it was time to start another. It's been very busy at work, and stressful, and I've been generally grumpy and tired. But every time I pick this up, I can't help but smile a bit. If the red and purple sparkles don't do it, the spindle itself certainly does. </p><p> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334294925278466562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeB0DcZ1pgelR8-DAzEhE2hfUjS4s-NclulPzRlTGFGNnawwBW4Xzw4uGK80m7vIEbedtf3G4nG12aotZhttoN3_B6mxwWNlvOow73JPk2-uIzQFFufVZf-uTrNMOPzD6rnprTQ/s400/IMG_3007a.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>It's batts from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=58716">Enchanted Knoll Farm</a>, Red Silk Kimono colourway, being spun on my <a href="http://tiltawhorl.blogspot.com/">Tilt-a-Whorl </a>drain strainer spindle. Big fun, and I have absolutely no idea what I will do with the finished yarn, and I don't really care. :-) </p>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-66446387466527766432009-04-08T12:05:00.006-04:002009-06-06T16:36:37.252-04:00Turning the corner, or around the bend?From <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5921323&section_id=5506699">Fiber Optic</a>, Foot Notes pencil roving, 80% superwash merino/20% nylon, in the Dark Coffee colourway .... yummmm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUTnT7GXD09e-37QxypBBGLqymzMhjRSQucnryeGpBpzUKSHfnUOocQ8YvCqhUXUJttl0kIAEUPcnVMtR1PLoanysNzolW445Iq4lAfBjnaA5XlUZ4MLLzO0pxFHXZMhlE6JXxw/s1600-h/IMG_2206a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUTnT7GXD09e-37QxypBBGLqymzMhjRSQucnryeGpBpzUKSHfnUOocQ8YvCqhUXUJttl0kIAEUPcnVMtR1PLoanysNzolW445Iq4lAfBjnaA5XlUZ4MLLzO0pxFHXZMhlE6JXxw/s400/IMG_2206a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322354043425710258" border="0" /></a>Should be perfect for socks. Spins up smoothly and easily.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTca5cOfL43j2Dl9eMW7njCUMn_SNWmAejRlFA_0yQ9TlgC3eMpZ6qUM_RDPbgUndqkknTKqveJgEPiffn1yia87s4GvMy3x7IQKjbTTgjWw1rrdSHS-COETIK-MVrtyr9CwDZw/s1600-h/IMG_2219a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTca5cOfL43j2Dl9eMW7njCUMn_SNWmAejRlFA_0yQ9TlgC3eMpZ6qUM_RDPbgUndqkknTKqveJgEPiffn1yia87s4GvMy3x7IQKjbTTgjWw1rrdSHS-COETIK-MVrtyr9CwDZw/s400/IMG_2219a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322353767914616786" border="0" /></a><br />Makes a beautiful yarn.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiv4mMj_fHOFZ9TDRwCjT_a2vR0Uz0TwNwsfexRi-8Tly2YQCZopw9uaBAvzVpGN3SNsSd5R9sxy8bxMHYC6HrVvsw97JRrFYUzbxdygl3EPAA6ageyeZb5xwVmbCPuYogrScWw/s1600-h/IMG_2649a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiv4mMj_fHOFZ9TDRwCjT_a2vR0Uz0TwNwsfexRi-8Tly2YQCZopw9uaBAvzVpGN3SNsSd5R9sxy8bxMHYC6HrVvsw97JRrFYUzbxdygl3EPAA6ageyeZb5xwVmbCPuYogrScWw/s400/IMG_2649a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322353192638317730" border="0" /></a><br />I love how the colours play in 3-ply.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ps3K_vSWYjD-P_1JlOvGI5-WBAPBCauL06tZ3O3LqK3B0zVubdXkxquC8QsN0EjWJUSI2qqwoSgAp862NgRZa8abH48vtkisTOAyG0QF0HaF0WCFbaMLew0WpXWe30Xvxq3y3Q/s1600-h/IMG_2666a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ps3K_vSWYjD-P_1JlOvGI5-WBAPBCauL06tZ3O3LqK3B0zVubdXkxquC8QsN0EjWJUSI2qqwoSgAp862NgRZa8abH48vtkisTOAyG0QF0HaF0WCFbaMLew0WpXWe30Xvxq3y3Q/s400/IMG_2666a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322352954610590898" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, this project is a bit of a failure. The yarn came out feeling drapey instead of bouncy, perhaps because of the superwash. The bigger problem, tho, is that I likely enjoyed watching the beautiful colours too much and wasn't really paying attention. It's the most even I've been able to spin yet, but I ended up with only 209 yards. The WPI is either 17 or 12, depending on my mood when I measure it. :-) I'm quite disappointed, because I was really looking forward to knitting up these colours into some socks. They would have been glorious. Sigh.<br /><br />So, spinning didn't work out the way I wanted it to, and the knitting was bleh. Time to re-group. In a comment to a previous post, <a href="http://lost-arts.blogspot.com/">Alwen</a> suggested that one good way to get the knitting groove back is to put aside the projects that are annoying and do something completely different. In her case, the "different" was a Nielbing doily. I'm not quite that desparate. :-) Instead, I'm going to use this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeCt0K31L9s1ZeaWIg_sTE5bmgrlFvYJPtQyfvOXUHaMGRcje7EwU13djrdB2GwwqmxRZuLg9RUl09WDabc6jaYhy6YLRPW1Ct6Q5vm9TzHObOXUtrwysUKDdN_Sop1hBN6pWvQ/s1600-h/IMG_2677a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeCt0K31L9s1ZeaWIg_sTE5bmgrlFvYJPtQyfvOXUHaMGRcje7EwU13djrdB2GwwqmxRZuLg9RUl09WDabc6jaYhy6YLRPW1Ct6Q5vm9TzHObOXUtrwysUKDdN_Sop1hBN6pWvQ/s400/IMG_2677a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322352712100081794" border="0" /></a>And in an even more radical departure, I'm doing this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnU7UAEstRifaWtWpqqOXlvEMfAXnE3azxi0FINaANIKCR2VatonDhVDH19IlyJiLx5HhFR-WD-xfU7ZotwFq_O6R6S2AiYDaiEwqe1v2spN1r29M-cCdxq809eBRVYlLVA02UA/s1600-h/IMG_2681a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnU7UAEstRifaWtWpqqOXlvEMfAXnE3azxi0FINaANIKCR2VatonDhVDH19IlyJiLx5HhFR-WD-xfU7ZotwFq_O6R6S2AiYDaiEwqe1v2spN1r29M-cCdxq809eBRVYlLVA02UA/s400/IMG_2681a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322352469647139650" border="0" /></a>Yes, it's a toe. Are the two related? Maybe, maybe not.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-36825460413647831052009-03-30T10:36:00.004-04:002009-06-06T16:36:20.512-04:00Green Tailed Jay<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Still no knitting to show, since there's still no knitting going on to show (although the bug has now nibbled and I'm feeling the itch), but I did finish a spinning project that's been in the works for a while now.<br /><br />I'd taken out a three-month membership in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5207884">Butterfly Girl Designs</a> spindle and fibre club, and this was the first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">batt</span> I received. It's in her Green Tailed Jay colourway, a mix of one-third black merino, one-third green merino, and one-third green bamboo. There's more black than appears in the picture below and the colour is a bit off, but it's the best I could do to capture the shine of the bamboo. The spindle I started with was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ledbetter</span> with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lacewood</span> whorl, .95 oz., although I later switched to a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bossie</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-FGVwWn4HRm9P5K3byJY7K4DeXavavLjLkdbMh0CI_XRnQVjY98B-pv-WZU5yACEBSVM3mnfrg80famtdfoKpirlNJ9ksE_7UFgZZTHGylyFEnPPsQAns_BXLTsRn4LpYKEYwQ/s1600-h/IMG_0981a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-FGVwWn4HRm9P5K3byJY7K4DeXavavLjLkdbMh0CI_XRnQVjY98B-pv-WZU5yACEBSVM3mnfrg80famtdfoKpirlNJ9ksE_7UFgZZTHGylyFEnPPsQAns_BXLTsRn4LpYKEYwQ/s400/IMG_0981a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318991465434177138" border="0" /></a><br />I liked all the colourways I received in this club so much that I actually went back and ordered a double dose of each one that I'd received: Buyer beware. :-)<br /><br />This was my first time spinning from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">batt</span>, and it was quite interesting. Not exactly relaxing, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">more so</span> ... absorbing. Each fibre drafted out differently and it was difficult to keep the singles even, so much so that I eventually gave up and went for "even enough." The green merino felt what I could consider to be normal, the black merino wanted to be extra <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">floofy</span>, and the bamboo was sticky and slippery and wanted to be very, very skinny. It took a lot of park and draft to play with it. It was kind of like one of those video games that sucks you in and you play and play and play and next thing you know, hours have disappeared.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrOlqzunXYOtAXb5lb-EmqK2QKvhD-urEWMgTgCrS4HH-uuQLyVyp64fVNPJWXXWMZWn2Av72nrVWAVxc5m3y7Fmp54c0NFvtcPPed9S-oSkclIpWNa7PlKsFKhkexDMSwjWl8Q/s1600-h/IMG_2393a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrOlqzunXYOtAXb5lb-EmqK2QKvhD-urEWMgTgCrS4HH-uuQLyVyp64fVNPJWXXWMZWn2Av72nrVWAVxc5m3y7Fmp54c0NFvtcPPed9S-oSkclIpWNa7PlKsFKhkexDMSwjWl8Q/s400/IMG_2393a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318990564404534450" border="0" /></a><br />I ended up with 470 yards from 6 oz., about 400 of which came out to 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wpi</span> and 70 yards at one end about 25 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wpi</span>. I'm not sure what happened there. I know that I drafted some from the end and then switched to spinning from the fold, as I seemed to get a better mix of the fibres that way, but one end of the skein is definitely different and I don't think the difference is all attributable to that.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGTWQui5X7jCXsSX0l0nUM7MZ6CjVPb-43KQH2pJRTBLn6R1mBsu3ZmP3l6g3ejc4NhsR4Wt896gzRcQGYtFcVyhHHD-OUx2MJu9JdW06NrtHFFQaCFl-eoof5PtuhnQkukORWA/s1600-h/IMG_2404a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGTWQui5X7jCXsSX0l0nUM7MZ6CjVPb-43KQH2pJRTBLn6R1mBsu3ZmP3l6g3ejc4NhsR4Wt896gzRcQGYtFcVyhHHD-OUx2MJu9JdW06NrtHFFQaCFl-eoof5PtuhnQkukORWA/s400/IMG_2404a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318990274771649218" border="0" /></a>In the end, I'm happy enough with it, although it is really hard to get a picture that shows the shine and drape from the bamboo. The finished yarn has a nice shimmer and hand to it, but I'm wondering if the colour differences might be too much for lace. A swatch is the only way to tell for sure.<br /><br />So, where did I leave my knitting needles?Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-88022215779543419452009-03-21T10:57:00.011-04:002009-06-06T16:36:52.566-04:00Up and DownFirst, the Up.<br /><br />I participated in the March/April Spin-along in the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=106594">All Spun Up </a>Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/allspunup">group</a>. Kristin's fibres and colours are always gorgeous, but this time around was a particular favourite of mine -- lovely, soft BFL that looked like this:<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2FWYvhBVSb09x_IVLxSYaaahyphenhyphenrb_8efEog14Y7OgDsw_Q-BFaJd9ce1tlX9UuF54a8tSZLIOpr1ZEmWv647_tlmh_rKnzYe8hvxH1bkymKl17nguCV8hMsNkwbzMq9A1g658DA/s1600-h/IMG_1977a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315655875677120530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 356px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2FWYvhBVSb09x_IVLxSYaaahyphenhyphenrb_8efEog14Y7OgDsw_Q-BFaJd9ce1tlX9UuF54a8tSZLIOpr1ZEmWv647_tlmh_rKnzYe8hvxH1bkymKl17nguCV8hMsNkwbzMq9A1g658DA/s400/IMG_1977a.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Double Yum!</div><div> </div><div>I don't very often knit with worsted weight, but for some reason I've had a goal of spinning it, two-ply. No, I don't know why, and no, it doesn't matter. Spindles generally want to spin thinner yarns, and since my first awkward attempts, I've just gone thinner and thinner. This time, though, I made it thick.<br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315657114499406018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQtI9SHW33Akke9ul2Mt12aD415LL0d08Pj1AgO8CiugGjYsB-_atQ_AMDExAsvBPA6XsH6fWOtAei5-a4qRbRXXpea7FcdNLUJ6PwYaqcehzNvC26y0IPk8Q6N8X0XsT4U0quA/s400/IMG_2089a.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><div> </div><div>I find spinning thickly to be difficult, so it's fairly uneven, but it averages 12 wpi. Despite my throwing fibre into the twist as quickly as I could, it still came out fairly dense and only 160 yards, but I think it will make wonderfully warm pair of mittens. I love these colours.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315657697822179266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn2NNpVXl-WYadCHo0Wyoxo2Ybxjs4EPP8v-OtJLnyOL6ZOzDrKK6jXcmE6tjzJmXHrJ_vWLy_rur1vdqxyUiuj6p2KyfIVLqNZDQo8KNBP_d6CV3I2F0TlOm4oNK05B_SBGJvA/s400/IMG_2094a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>I am also amazed at how quickly it went. One evening per ply, and one evening to ply -- a finished yarn in three evenings.<br /></div><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315657996050640002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGtSSFdM_fXiXAoJylKb9Hurgugoq0s-tmmtvbZCQPzM5jyqNky7J_dKHxBGH79Hsg9YLcjt84WjJ80eTxtXZyN7Sqf6SLc22LuWu6x9rVgKbAvWK6CYEeVI9RWPMh0FdCipTjg/s400/IMG_2103a.jpg" border="0" /><br />I had meant to take a picture of the yarn on the spindle, but it went so quickly that I kind of forgot, so here's one of the spindle I used. It's a Forrester Dervish. It weighs 1.77 oz. The top whorl is hickory, the bottom whorl is Caribbean walnut, and the shaft is maple. I originally thought it would spin very fast, but it didn't. It was quite steady, though. I only mention it here so that the next time I get a hankering to make worsted weight, I know which tool to use. <br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315658362575058482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHi3GSVHhVt27gl51MzPzhenaIgexCRl8Dt3AT4dwxGjL098roJXQNUTnSZ7LjsFsIspcsbL6h14CBdydjQ1QlG3drhZtIgcxebl5TMGIYU2_5p8hygtLnw-OSkOHpId_h24G2g/s400/IMG_2162a.jpg" border="0" />So, now for the Down.</p><p>I mentioned in my last post that I've been suffering from a lack of knitting mojo, particularly as it relates to socks. Given the amount of sock yarn I have, this is rather distressing. I joined Sock Madness III in the hopes that it would give me the kick in the pants that I need to get back at it. The first pattern came out this week, and I duly cast on. Unfortunately, I'm just not feeling it. I've got the leg three-quarters done but have absolutely no desire to finish it. The inspiration behind the pattern is quite clever -- a quilt block translated into knits and purls. The heel is innovative -- an afterthought heel, but with a flap and gusset. The problem is that I don't think the pattern is translating well and the 32 stitch repeat is too big to read visually. To my eye, the sock just looks .... wrinkled. I obviously haven't knit it yet, but I'm pretty sure the flap will end up too short for my foot, and the gusset is to be decreased over only four rounds so I'm pretty sure it won't fit properly on my high instep. I hate dissing on people who volunteer their time and effort to organize and participate in all these wonderful "alongs," because I do think they are a wonderful thing that help build the knitting community. That is not my intention here. Neither do I mean to denigrate any one particular pattern -- everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and it's a very personal thing. Really -- it's me, not you.</p><p>Confession time: I've already got nine "trouble" socks sitting here. Yes, nine - 9! You know, the ones that don't quite work out the way you thought they would, or the yarn didn't work with the pattern, or whatever. You put them aside to cogitate on them or to wait for the right pattern to pop up, start something else in the mean time, and there they sit. If it were one pair, I'd chuck it and call it good, but nine? I can't do that. I'm tired of doing this to myself. It's draining. I have to do something with these, finish them up and move on. With the Sock Madness sock, it feels like I'm just doing it again. Argggh. I also have three singleton socks that I'm quite happy with, but they all involve sitting in front of a chart. That's fine when you're in the mood for that, but when you're not, it's also ... arrrgh. </p><p>I'm dropping out of Sock Madness. I apologize if I took someone else's spot and they really wanted to get in. It looks like I was the second-last person out of 200 to sign up, so I don't think there was a waiting line, but just in case you were trying and didn't get in, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I'll add the yarn from those socks to the pile of "what do I do with it now" stuff, and get back to plodding through the ugly socks I mentioned in my last post. I figured they were so ugly that no pattern would save them, so I'm just knitting them plain. Maybe I'll go rent a couple of movies so I don't have to look at them while I knit them.</p><p>Speaking of which, some people wanted proof that they really were ugly. Well, here you go:</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315658844514775874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-2URvuvfbKVKZLTxXDhcxBfJcHssoaU9tNB3FUIX2tTHGvPklYtnXhgxfcvIMIoxHwobYUY76OHRwF9wSRxHFqTGzYbtOfPxgsxLcUl6Kr9xlkFR8oqmo33S2hVKMJpSon3SSQ/s400/IMG_2200a.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>See? Ug-ell-ee.</p>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21993336.post-87057052451202379912009-03-16T18:37:00.003-04:002009-03-16T18:55:14.186-04:00Feeling not productiveI think I jinxed myself by commenting in my last post that I was getting things done. Turns out that working 12-14 hours a day the last couple weeks has the opposite effect. Go figger, eh? Not much time for blogging, and not much time for doing anything worth blogging about.<br /><br />Still knitting. Working on a pair of socks -- slowly and sporadically. They're UG-LY. I wonder why I keep forcing myself to finish them instead of just chucking them. I'll have to keep that in mind as a topic for another post. Despite my dismal performance last year, I did sign up for Sock Madness again this year, in the hopes that it would revive the mojo, but now I'm afraid it will just bog it down even more. Guess we'll see what happens.<br /><br />Still spindling. I actually have one yarn that's ready to be plied, and will likely finish another one this evening. Then I just have to ply. More about that when they're done.<br /><br />So, why am I posting when I have really nothing to say? Well, I received an email the other day that I thought was pretty clever, so I asked for, and received, permission to share with you. So I am. It's a way to do the garterlac dishcloth that doesn't involve a cast-on. The following text and photo are courtesy and copyright of blogless Jane. Thank you, Jane!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn1ThtW0jHK4tdCIgc_o_kVpMD6ToqY1quB-GGfmUsiGpUp-XcEj56X4Ky1Fbt8Z6jdl8j80Mt_mu-h_J8pHIUWUB0qQ96eqyfmaPB_DH5oY803WHbUnPqmLlQWQbVAizwAeNrg/s1600-h/Garterlac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn1ThtW0jHK4tdCIgc_o_kVpMD6ToqY1quB-GGfmUsiGpUp-XcEj56X4Ky1Fbt8Z6jdl8j80Mt_mu-h_J8pHIUWUB0qQ96eqyfmaPB_DH5oY803WHbUnPqmLlQWQbVAizwAeNrg/s400/Garterlac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313921809638658306" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">I love your garterlac dishcloth. I make lots of dishcloths for gifts, and this has become one of my favorites.</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">I have found many loose cast-ons that work well but then I thought, why have a cast-on row? Here is a change I tried that is pretty neat:</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Wind off enough yarn to knit the three top triangles and don’t break it. (I actually knit 8 rows of 25 stitches each, which will always be enough.) With scrap yarn, crochet a chain of about 32 to 35 stitches.</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">With the dischcloth yarn, knit an increasing side triangle. Pick up 8 stitches on the chain and knit the square. Skip 3 or 4 stitches on the chain and pick up 8 more for the next square. Skip 3 or 4 stitches on the chain and pick up 8 stitches for the decreasing side triangle.</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">On this first row, everywhere the pattern says SKP, just K1. Then finish the dishcloth to the end. Turn it around, and using the yarn that was wound off, knit another top row. As you get to each shape, pull out the crochet and pick up the stitches that the chain was holding.</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">This results in a cloth with 90-degree rotational symmetry. Yes, it’s just a dishcloth; but I am the Anal Knitter.</span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Thank you for sharing your great patterns.</span></span></p>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483752128029075112noreply@blogger.com20