Blue Ruin

NEW BLOG

2009-10-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

Okay everybody,
I've moved.

http://sadieruin.wordpress.com/

edit your bookmarks accordingly.
Hope to see everyone there.

Guess what I did this weekend...

2009-09-21T07:45:00.001-07:00

That's right I reinstalled my camera, and what a hassel, my own fault, I packed the software to install it, luckily there was some on the companies website. So in leau of getting her back online I bring you pictures. Lovely lovely pictures.

Now this may not look like much but I assure you it is. The Texture pattern is basically a cross between a rib and seed stitch, and anyway you slice it that takes time to do. But I do love the jacket so I am willing to slag away on it. And I did get a fair bit done (about seven inches - I'm taking the waist shaping out since I don't like to emphasize my waist so basically it's pattern until a certain point then switch to other pattern and volia jacket is done).

The Turtle tank (as I call it - it's really Norah Gaughan's Basalt tank from Knitting Nature) is coming along since I picked it up again. I'm on hex 6 of seven. I plan to wear it over long sleeved shirts etc when it's done, unless we manage to get more hot weather, but I really hope we don't. The construction of this is so much fun, it's easy and yet interesting, plain and yet complex. I don't know how she does it but she does it so well. I think I have a knitter crush on Norah.

When the heat went above 35 (celcius folks - canada does celcius) there was no way I was going to knit with wool. There was no way I was going to knit, I was sweaty and unimpressed. I found a solution however, and that was to spin in front of my fan. I got two skeins of two ply and a little skein of three ply out of this. It's Lambchop a Rambouillet from Auntie Annies Stuff. I processed the fleece as well as dyed and carded it. This is just a little bit of it, I batch dyed it in different colors this is the second color I've spun up, the first being the grey-blue stuff. I recommend Auntie Annies, great customer service, quality fleece, and just plesant all around.

Last but certainly not least is the Aestlight Shawl, I've been plodding away steadily since the beginning of the month and I'm on the edgings now, I passed the half way mark for it last night (while watching The Big Bang Theory Season Two). I'm guessing it'll be done by the weekend.

I also picked up fabric for my convocation dress this weekend. I have a little under a month to get it ready, I also want to knit a shawl to match so sometime this week (soon this week) I'm going to go to the yarn store and pick up some coordinating fingering weight for it. I know I'm going to be under pressure, but I'd rather wear something I like that I can wear again than go out and spend a lot of money on a dress I'll wear once and forget about. Oh practicality is my third middle name (and if you believe that....).

I'm getting better at this posting thing

2009-09-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

now to get the pictures back.

I'm onto the edging of the Aesthlight Shawl (not that I have learned to spell it yet). This is the first time I've done an edging like this, I feel all learned and such. It is going to be very pretty and bright when it's done.
The turtle tank also seems to be getting more attention, I'm almost done hex 5 of seven. I had such lofty hopes of it being done in time to wear as a tank top this season, but I guess it will be making apperances over long sleeved shirts in the winter months (yes I'm preparing for winter - it's Canada for crying out loud). Either way my love of Norah Gaughan is always reinforced when I knit on it, her patterns are amazing and her designs are simple yet complex. Plus nature and math totally raises my geek flag.
Lacy Baktus has had a little more time as well, it's my purse knitting so it gets a row here and a row there, last night when I was at Alisha's getting my letter of intent all gussied up (final revisions before submitting it) I worked on the Batkus. I double I'll get much done once home buying goes into full swing, and the end of september is shaping up to be one of those uber busy times.
Either way by November I'll be able to slacken off for a month or two and that I'm really looking forward to. Lately it's been about cleaning and packing and doing house work for my mom, and I really don't get much time for me anymore. It's a lot of work and what everyone else wants and what I need to get done. And I need to get my place ready for the move. I prefer to have a smooth move as averse to a chaotic mindbend. But for optimum smoothness I need to figure out how to get more money, save more money, just money in general. I really dislike how much of life has become about money, but there are always bills and they just get bigger.

idle chatter

2009-09-14T09:36:00.001-07:00

Still haven't gotten the camera re-hooked up since the great virus attack, stay posted for actual picture content. Still on the needles (and getting attention) are the Aestlight Shawl which is almost done the lace portion, the basalt turtle tank (which I picked back up again), the Lacy Batkus (which is suffering without being knit on for a few weeks), and the snail mittens (which get intermittant rows). I've been spinning though.
On the wheel is the ram I got and processed from a sheep named "Lambchop". It's dyed greens and blues, and I think will have a really nice heathery barberpole when it comes to fruition. I want to do a two ply instead of navajoing it because it's rather thicker than I'd use on a three ply.
As I was checking in to see where the intentions yarn club was at, I was saddened by the way it's been going, and what i expected vs. what has come around. I don't fault Miss V. as when it rains it pours and clearly she's got some troubles. And while I am still glad to be in the club etc, it's money I clearly could have saved if I hadn't signed up and there's no steady supply of yarn to keep me from feeling a bit like someone who got stood up at the prom. I don't think I'll do it again.
I thought it would be more like the Wollmeise yarn club, I suppose having expectiations isn't a good idea when joining yarn clubs.
In other news a bag of free yarn came today. I have some ideas I want to chart and pattern to make for samples. I squeed when I saw it. Who would have thought a sock pattern would lead to having people want you to use their stuff. I have no problem being a yarn whore, as long as I liked the product before hand.

Retrograde Retrospective

2009-09-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last week I caught a cold of the sinus infecting variety, and my computer caught a nasty virus (which I suppose was enevitable since it was virtually unprotected for several years). Thusly I was not only without my faculties but also without the interwebs that I have become accustomed to and love so much.
Needless to say until I can re-install all my software there will be no pictures of my current projects (no matter how this unnerves me).
Currently I'm frogging back half of the first half of the Weekend Sweater as I misread the instructions and rather than ending with a RS facing I ended on an RS and compleatly fraked up what i did. The sadder part is that I only realized this AFTER finishing the right front side. *facepalm* I will go back and re knit it but for now it's recieving a time out.
I started christmas knitting, not that it will loosen the chaotic grip of Decembers mad dash to finish everything, but I have started.
The Aesthlight Shawl is trucking along, I'm now onto the border, it's good to have the main triangle done, it gives me a vague sense of actually accomplishing something.
I have also dug out the snail mitts for moms friend and started back up on them again. The first one is 75% of the way done.
I appear to be drowning in WIP's and have thusly put myself on a stop casting on kick until at least two of the things that are on the needles are done. This could take a while since many of them are larger things.
Vilai got frogged, mostly because I felt the med. weight STR was a bit too heavy for it, I will knit them just in a different yarn and at a different time. I have a thing about STR since it's relatively expensive and hard to find in these parts (ie. if you don't order it from the internet you better have a friend that lives somewhere that has STR), but I get a bit neurotic about which socks get to be knit out of it. Maybe someday that will change but on my student budget it makes sense to me.
I am currently at the office wearing the finished earth maiden. I need to do the I-cord for tying it up yet but my fervent dislike of i cord's means that could take a while. I'm also contemplating useing a ribbon or something similar so I don't have to make the I cord.
On the wheel is "Lambchop" some fleece I processed then dyed and carded into rolags. I'm doing the blue/green stuff right now. I imagine it will be very pretty when compleated. And when I get tired of all the stuff I have already blogged about (because my knitter/spinnerly add knows no bounds) I break out the carders and work on the Corridale I got a while back and processed. It's a yummy chocolate brown/natural black that makes me want to drool.

2009-09-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

The house papers are signed! Possession on the 22nd of October. I am very excited.
However since I promised some yarn pron, lets get right down in it.

Baby Belle (pattern by CosyMakes) Knit out of two different handspun yarns of mine, "Blue Ruin" and "SparkleMotion".
Both handspun yarns are three ply navajo to keep the color from barber-pole-ing, I felt that would be best for the yarns I was making at the time.
Sparklemotion comes in at 8 wpi and Blueruin is getting 8.5. So I concider them a close match.
Sparkle motion is spun from a spinners salad from Golden Willow which is a 60/40 merino silk blend that I hand carded along with some nylon fibers for the “sparkle”, Blueruin is hand carded mohair locks (I know this because it made me a bit itchy) and romney also from the willow.

It's going to be Zibbie's birthday present, she'll get it tonight at her party, I hope it fits and she likes it.
Since I appear to have been on a Cosy kick

This hat is from Cosy's book "Knit One, Embellish Two" Which you can buy on her Etsy site autographed I messed around with the pattern a bit, I didn't want it to go to a point so I went to a certain point and then do a three needle bind off. In the picture in the book the hat looks pointless, and that is the line I went for. I ended up getting this very slouchy big fluffy warm hat for the winter months.
That's one of the great things about Cosy's patterns, they are all good simple knits that allow for customization out the wiz-waz.
Not to be missed would be the spinning I have been up to

This is from my Joni Mitchell hand-dyed farm roving. Colorway "My Old Man", I spun up all four ounces of this colorway and I'm glad I kept it for myself, It's going to look so great as a hearty winter garment. And while it is warm out, the nights are cooling off and I really think it's time to start the prep knitting for winter (I should probably get back to work on my andre scarf).
And not to be left behind, as soon as I cast off the Earth Maiden (by Ilga Leja which can be seen on her website in two different yarns) and got it all wetted and laid out for blocking, I felt the call to join the chant and start knitting The Aestlight Shawl.

I'm useing a varigated jewel tone Tofutsies and then a hot fuschia for the eyelet part then going back to the varigate for the edging. It should be interesting and bright, I forsee doing more of these in other colorways (possibly christmas presents) as the pattern is just so darn loveable.

Wow that was a lot of show and tell, and you know I'm not even done, but I am done for now, until I get around to taking more pictures. Upcoming will be Earth Maiden, possibly the progress on vilai, the lacy baktus in all it's half finished glory, and possibly some more spinning.

I know I promised more yarny goodness (and it is coming)

2009-09-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

but I got a HOUSE.
Okay okay, I don't have it yet, but I am going after work to sign the papers, and I'm setting up all the different disconnection/reconnections, giving notice at my apartment etc. right now.
It's been a really stressful week in which I wasn't going to convocate on time and then I am again, needless to say I am no longer hyperventilating because of the idea of an extra symester for one class.
I've been plodding along getting my grad stuff ready since I found out I get to convocate (I found out yesterday which meant today was emails galore to profs for recommendations, revising my CV, digging out the letter of intent to merge the two copies together).
On the house front I've been tracking down home inspectors, who I am still waiting on return calls from, calling people about floor restoration (there's oak hardwood under the carpets in the bedrooms and the living room - I want to take possession early so I can get the floors refinised before I move all my stuff in).
This house is fate, Seriously, I will call her fate. I found her on a private sale website and when I called the man I talked to said there was an offer in and that they were going to get financing, but if the financing fell through he would call me. I gave up then and there, the stress of last weeks educational bumps/ falling down the stairs/ house hunting had taken their sweet toll and I was nearly done in.
Then yesterday I heard from my academic advisor that there was a transfer credit I could use to graduate on time, and the man who owns the house called to say the other people's financing fell through.
Mom and I saw the house after work, and then went to supper, after supper I called with our offer. So begins the newest chapter of sadie life, I am looking forward to having an "office/computer space" seperate from my living room and a garage that I intend to turn into a work area. YAY.

Without further adeau I give you the future backyard

the prodigal's return

2009-08-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while and I have been knitting and spinning as much as i can (which is never enough I know) Life is still ass backwards busy, and I'm guessing the dive i took on the stairs last night won't help me either (my neice put a bunch of rocks on moms stairs while I was babysitting last night I bruised my left wrist and my tailbone, seriously there's a hideous bruise running up my back).
But since I have much to show I'm going to just do a few posts over the next few days with stuff thats going on.
I am still working on the birthday weekend sweater, I haven't forgotten about it. I've just been working on other things.

Useing bits and bobs of leftover handspun I made one of the scrappy lenght-wise scarves, it never hurts to have extra scarves on hand, how many people ask about scarves I will never attempt to count but for the people I don't dislike I like to have a few laying around.

While I was sick with what I can only determine was the worst strep-flu I've had in years I managed to finish my stockinette monstrosity. It's been laying in wait in the stash for one of those times where I want to knit but pretty much anything over stockinette is too taxing on the system.
Here it is laying out ready to be seamed. I seamed it did the edging and added the tassles but haven't photographed it yet.

Some things that will be popping up: my cosymakes autumn harvest hat, baby (blue) bell (who just needs to be blocked), some spinning thats been done, earth maiden (one more chart repeat and shes ready for blocking), possibly vilai but not much work has been done there.

updates in the land of the knitterly love

2009-07-27T09:24:00.001-07:00

I know I know, bad Sadie no cookie, I haven't been posting as much as I should. I've been inundated with Chem, and this weekend I've had Sarah visiting, as well as helping mom with the backyard for her birthday, I've just been uber busy.
Dispite this uberness I have had time to do some knitting. I finished the first of these:

That's the Knee Socks! from Ravelry. I'm doing them in Casade Heritage greens, and a skein of Noro sock. I'm alternating four row repeats and just guessing most of the way. I have big calves so I like the toe-up construction that allows me to make them bigger as I need. The pattern is written well and I have managed to follow it dispite the changes I'm making.

The other thing I finished/ have been working on is Ilga Leja's Manon. My mom got it when she was in Edmonton from River City Yarns (a place I dream of visiting, in fact I may need to go to Edmonton just for the yarn). It's done out of Arucania Ruca and Silkessence.

As you can see it still needs a good blocking (which may take a while with the schedual I've been keeping). It is however gorgeous. Part of me can't wait for autumn to bring out all the scarves shawls and stoles I've been working on.

I also started the Inconcievable! shawl knit along, I'm doing it in Dream in Color Smooshy, it's turning out nice. I love lace but it does require more attention than I seem capable of devoting lately. Which is probably why the smaller easier patterns are getting done and the jackets and shirts are getting neglected (I will finish that tank top by summer).
The other thing that's happened is that I am going to frog the waterlily tank and re knit it in the smaller size. It' grew, and it grew again, and currently it resembles a dress. While sometimes I would be drawn to just saying let by-gone's be by-gones, this is some expensive stuff, and I do like the top, I thought going down two inches was enough but clearly I need to make the small size and let it grow. I don't want to frog and reknit the entire thing, but that is going to have to happen so I may as well accept it. It may not be reknit in time for the weather though, once I've frogged it the yarn is getting a time out for bad behavoiur.

Tour de Fleece and Socks

2009-07-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

So between class, work, and finding a house (which means packing cleaning etc), I have been spinning on the Tour de Fleece. My goal was and has been to spin all the Jacob I have, some of which is dyed and some of which is natural brown. I got the brown done first.

This picture is more true to the color than the other one. It's a fingering/light fingering weight, and there's over 700 yards of it. I'm calling it "Fezzik" after the Princess Bride, I'm also planning to knit the Inconcievable wrap from it. I'll get a different guage but that's okay.

Here is all the yarn that has been set, there are four skiens of it. The Jacob was a trial, it was fun and it is beautiful but the sheep was unjacketed and I processed this from the raw so there was much picking and even in spinning a lot of VM came out, but I think it's pretty and will have that rustic look that I want.

And because this is a knitting journal at the heart of it all, here are the cookie A. socks I finished (knit during my last class - Logic). It's the Thelonious Socks pattern done in Cables and Lace "Night's Plutonian Shore" from the Poe Club. Its hard to take accurate pictures of them because I am only one person (without sock blockers). But they are pretty and I am enjoying them.

week end accomplishments

2009-06-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

My two goals for the weekendwere simple, Dye and clean...and as everyone knows I am a process cleaner, so while I did accomplish some rigourous purging, furniture movement, and organization, this could take a while.
So Dying, I dyed a few of the Joni inspired colorways I wanted to.

This is the top rack of drying goodness.

And this is what the other levels of the drying rack look like. Once everything is dry and I can take some decent pictures the Joni stuff will be up for sale. Gotta get ready for the tour de fleece.

This is where a chair once was in my living room, by the fact that I can have a shelf and a wheel in the same place means it was one big chair, which now serves as a lookout post for the cats in my room.

And because I'm so chuffed (hey I had to take off the chair legs and do some interesting moves to get it in my room), here's the shelf now healthily organized and clearing up some space elsewhere. Slowly this place is doing what I want it to, slowly but it's going.

Written Out Mermaids Lagoon Sock Chart.

2009-06-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

If you are following the chart from Knitty.com or you want to but have problems with charts, here is the written format. (Note* there are four repeats per round of the chart per round).

Row 1)*SSK,YO,K1,YO,K3,K2tog,K1,SSK,K3,YO,K1,YO,K2tog* Rep. to end.
Row 2 and all other even Rows)K all Sts.
Row 3)*SSK,YO,SSK,YO,K2,K2tog,K1,SSK,K2,YO,K2tog,YO,K2tog* Rep. to end.
Row 5)*SSK,YO,K1,YO,K1,YO,K1,K2tog,K1,SKK,K1,YO,K1,YO,K1,YO,K2tog* Rep. to end.
Row 7)*SSK,YO,SSK,YO,SSK,YO,K2tog,K1,SSK,YO,K2tog,YO,K2tog,YO,K2tog* Rep. to end.
Row 9)*SSK,YO,K4,YO,Sk2po,YO,K4,YO,K2tog* Rep. to end.
Row 11)*K2,YO,K11,YO,K2* Rep. to end.
Row 12)K all sts.

2009-06-13T20:05:00.001-07:00

I spun up the batts I ordered agges ago it seems from Hungry For Handspun, then I navajo plied for color consistancy, I don't know what it's going to be yet. With the weather getting up to +30 today (we're in Celcius here in Canada) I am not in the mood for knitting anything wooly (which is a shame but proved good for the waterlily tank).
My uncle is in town from B.C. so I spent most of the day with him and mom etc, twas fun but I realized far too late in the game that I should have packed some knitting for the day. I had my Thelonious socks on me but not the pattern *silly sadie* That was in my clipboard for school. None the less a good day hanging out in the sun was had by all.

Here's the finished waterlily tank, ignore my angry look, I don't know why I look so angry, I wasn't I was quite content. Cameras and I don't nessessarily agree. I guess this proves it.
It grew with wearing over the day but it still looks good, I did the largest size and it seems to work best for me, I think if i'd have gone down a size it would be too tight on my less than flattery bits. Plus it's a cotton rayon blend, I can always figure out a way to shrink it a little.

Other than that I'm recovering from a stomach flu and some regular flu that has left me dehydrated and sluggish. Hopefully I have seen the worst of it and won't have to deal with being sick for a long while now. As soon as a sick bug breaks through my system I catch everything possible before I get well again, the breaks of an immune system that is less than stellar.

Mer Socks

2009-06-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

There were a couple of things I wanted to add to the Mermaid Socks, among them is this:

This was the original chart (note that unnumbered rounds are knit). I knit the socks off this chart (although I did much swatching with the other chart), I thought I would provide it to the masses incase they prefered this, note* this chart only goes for when working all sts tbl.

I'm also going to be putting up the written charts soonish, as I understand some do not like or get charts. This will probably happen after I get over the evil stomach flu that has kept me from life for the last day ish.

It's here!

2009-06-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Mermaid's Lagoon Socks (which I've been hinting at like an elephant in a china shop) have landed.
So go check em out, knit a couple pairs, have fun with them, cause I did.

Plagues, carding, socks, and Poe.

2009-06-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Can't keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earthbound misfit, I
- Pink Floyd

Okay, I started the Waterlily Top. I found my 9mm circs and boom, a skien was knit up, and now I'm onto skein two, because really... what else is there to do with ones evening? (Don't mention the homework or the impending letter of intent please).
I also finished spinning up 4 oz. of the Ram that I had processed. It came out in a grey/blue kind of color and then I navajo plyed it. I tend to like the ram in a more worsted woolen aran weight anyway.
This however means I need to card something. There is an itch in my soul for carding and oh yes it shall be done.
The Thelonius socks by Cookie A. are still on the needles Sock #1 was finished two days ago and sock two is well into the pattern. I'm useing the "Night's Plutonian Shore" colorway from the Poe Club that Violet (of Lime and Violet/Happy Housewife) and Cables and Lace are doing. They're actually taller than I had expected but the generous helping of yarn will surely make the pair (there probably won't be much left though).
I've given up the ghost as far as attempting to keep myself on only five projects this summer. I throw caution to the wind, let the startitis plague me I do not care. Eventually everything will get knit and eventually everything will get spun, so while I'm busy decluttering and destashing my life, I will just have to accept that the stash of fibre stays no matter what (we will not speak of the acrylic - it serves it's purpose).

The yarn gods smile

2009-06-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Occasionally it happens that when a fibreista such as myself sees her stash dwindleing she is hit with a paralyzing fear that she is going to *gasp* run out of yarn for projects. I had a few such moments in the days leading to my birthday, Really I am not joking I thought to myself "I better get spinning so I have stuff to knit with". I was on a processing dying spinning kick and what I wanted more than anything was to be reinvigorated by the stash.
Now the yarn goddess must have known my plight, and through some kind of strange twist she embibed my family with wonderous ideas of yarn. So I give you the take, aka what mah mommy and bro/sil got me.

First off let me say mom went to River City Yarns in Edmonton (one of the benifits of having a parental unit that travels a lot), I gave her a little list of suggestions, she not only got everything on the damned list, she got more!

Ilga Leja patterns, Ancient Bark, Balsam, and Earth Maiden.

What is this, could this be a bag of Manon? Silk and Arucania, plus the pattern, there was a lot of squeeing and swooning. I like to pet it before bed.

Mom said she saw this and had to get it for me, it's the knit kit for Fibre Trends Hedgies! I can make my own stuffed hedgies! And I've been wanting to try out the fibre trends for aageess.

Colinette Giotto (for the IK Waterlily top), this kind of stuff is never found here, it's usually beyond overpriced, and there is never enough to actually make something more than a shrug. So I am over the moon about this. I almost cast it on last night, but then found that although I have them my 9mm circs were no where to be found.

For the spinner/dyer's soul, half a pound of louet biffle, and a soy bamboo sampler. I've never spun with either soy or bamboo so I am super excited.

When going anywhere that carries STR I will usually beg and plead for a few skeins. I got two! which means i can either make something like a shawl or a pair of knee socks either way, two skiens of bunny foo foo.

On occasion Mary Maxim has a kit that makes you remember why you look at it in the first place, this is one of those kits, I have been drooling over this jacket for almost a year now, saying all the time that I will buy it when I have money to spare (as we all know how often that happens). My bro and SIL got the kit for my birthday, which is totally jinxing me in the starting department.

Seriously I was over half way through my goal of not having more than five projects on the needles at a given time until this giant pile of stash ended up in my lap. Sure I casted on the Textured Jacket recently, and I have the Thelonius socks on the needles for school, and a bunch of other things that languish in the WIP pile, but now I want to start everything. Maybe summer will be the time to have some severe knitting startitis that will all get finished in the fall. Hard to say. What I do know is There is not enough time in the day to properly molest this new haul.

No photos here sadly

2009-05-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to get new batteries for the camera (the rechargeables I've had for years seem to have finally kicked the charge button).
The roving went really fast for the amount I put up (there are still three left until further notice), I'll have to gear up the etsy. I confess I'm so busy these days it may take a while.
I got the last of the Jacob fleece drying. I have learned an important thing here, I don't like a lot of veg matter. I know in theory it's cheaper but it takes double the time to process and well I guess I'm getting snooty about it.
The ram that is blue black got carded up into a lovely grey, but until I get alisha over here to ply off her bobbins I am not going to get much spinning done. I'm still figureing out the newer wheel so she's only getting certain fiber I feel comfortable experimenting with.
I have seen the knitty pattern in it's ready state, I am overjoyed with it. My first pattern publishing experiance, and it was great, the editor Kate was amazing. I totally love her. Logic class is going okay. It's going. As far as I logically care.
In knitting I started Stephanie Japel Glampyre's Textured Jacket from Glam Knits. I'm doing it in Wool of the Andes from knitpicks.
I appear to have the nastiest case of startitis I've had in a good long while as I have soo many things on the needles already plus plans for more. My bro and his wife got me a jacket kit I really wanted from Mary Maxim for my b-day. Of course I'm straining myself not to cast on asap. And it's taking what limited willpower I have not to.
I promise I'll post pictures soon. As soon as batteries enter my life.

I give you Tori Amos Inspired Roving

2009-05-18T21:42:00.001-07:00

Since I said I would on plurk here's a chance to get these fabulous rovings before I put them on etsy, and since it's a chance to get them before I put them on Etsy, I'm offering them at $5 dollars US each (plus shipping of course).
There is approx 2 oz per roving, it is a processed farm top, I can not identify the animal except to say it's not one of the scratchy hard wools, it is definatly a multi purpose roving.
So I will give everyone two weeks to mull the possibilities over. If you want any of them feel free to email me at dirtyjeans(at)gmail(dot)com.
Without further ado I give you the Tori Line:
In The Springtime Of His Voodoo
"in the springtime of his voodoo
he was going to show me spring"SOLD

Dragon
"You touched my hand
I felt a force
You called it dark
but now I'm not so sure"

Spring Haze
"so i know it's just a spring haze
but i don't much like the look of it
but all we do is circle it
and i found out where my edge is
and it bleeds into where you resist"SOLD

The Beekeeper
"Call Engine 49,
I have come with my mustard seed"SOLD

These last four are all the same color, Sweet Sangria
"Balmy Days,
Sweet Sangria,
She's been gone,
Have you seen her?"
#1 and #3 are SOLD

dying arts

2009-05-17T22:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I set about to dying, my major goal being to make a dent in the roving top and to get some of the ram I processed dyed up.
Several hours later this was where I was.

Here are some of the braided tops that are dry and weighted and will go up for sale soonish.

Here's a look at the drying rack. Top is ram that I processed dyed shaded solids in green and blueblack. The hanging stuff is roving top that's been dyed, and the bottom two hanging rows are Alishas farm processed fleece.
All in all it was very productive. I'm slowly running out of dye I will have to order more soonish. But getting two and a half pounds done last night was good. Only like 10 more pounds to go. Clearly this is going to take all summer.

Tomorrow I'm going to be going over to moms to plant and start cleaning the garage. She said I could set up a dying studio in there so I want to get it cleaned out asap so I can get all the shelving and other stuff set up and be dying in there by the end of june.

Waiting

2009-05-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

As I can't really talk about the pattern that's in the next Knitty until it comes out (or show you for that matter) I will just say that's been on my mind a lot.
It seems spring has been thrown back as yesterday I woke up to snow.... SNOW in MAY. Okay past the anger, it's messed with my mojo something horrible. I was on a spinning kick and now I just want to knit big comphy things.
But since I know how I love pictures in posts lets get to the good stuff:

This is the merino tencel from spunky eclectic (esuary) it was only two oz so I imagine I'll be doing something small, probably a calormitry, it's very soft. I don't particularly like spinning with merino tencel though, too slippy.

This is the amazing ram I got from MoonlightBaker on Etsy. I haven't gotten to the targee batts I ordered at the same time but I really love this stuff, it's soo smooshy. I spun it as thick as I could muster, and then navajo plyed it for color continuity. I think it will become a cowl or a hat eventually, possibly something cosymakes or wooley wormhead.

And since so many people seemed obsessed with my mock pigtails yesterday I give you the classic "off to work" shot. Please ignore the mess that is my life.

Apollo (or my newest find)

2009-05-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

I was at work doinking around on the internet and on the used website for my city I spotted an add for a wheel, a wheel for 100$, with a giant bag of wool, so I messaged the woman, it was unclear if there were two or three bobbins that came with it.
I did a little research, It's a LeClerc Nilus, which were only manufactured breifly but the LeClerc name is still strong in the loom business so they do a good job. The deciding factor would be the bobbins, if it came with three then I would be set for most spinning needs, and from the pictures I could discern some wear and some stuff that was going to need to be done, but for 100 dollars I was not about to let this go.
I called my mom and she said she would get it for me as a grad present if I wanted and if it seemed like a good buy. Good buy indeed. The woman messaged back that there were three there was a fourth somewhere but she hadn't found it in her cleaning but she would give it to me if she found it. So I said yes I wanted the wheel and she brought it into the city yesterday.

So this is my new baby girl. The thing was that the pictures as I found out were horrible, a lot of what I thought was wear was serious dust, serious dust and nothing more. The entirety of the body is fabulous, I had to tighten two screws. The shape of the body is impecable.

You can see the big bag of roving behind the bobbin here (i'm thinking of dying up a bunch and doing a sale of some of them - it's all prepared top and with some color omg how fab). The bobbins are shorties compared to Newo my Louet S10 there's two ratios on this one and she's a double drive. but as you can see the bobbins are pristine.

As I was wiping the dust away it just kept getting better, the footman and the treadle are in perfect order, it needs some oiling but nothing more.

This is the one are that she needs help, the paint has chipped off on the wheel a bit, but other than the surface appeal of the paint the wheel is still perfect, and the axle is also in fabulous working shape.
The spinner (the ladies mother) who had her before took immaculate care of her. Apparently the mother is now disabled and cant spin but was glad that it was going to a spinner that would love her and make nice yarn. Plus the money will help out the mother buying things she can do etc. Basically the 100 goes to the mother to do with as she pleases and quite frankly thats the way it should be.

So this is the new baby, I named her Apollo, since the line in Junesong provision goes "Dear Newo Ikkin how's Apollo been treating you" and my other wheel is named Newo, I imagine them having a camradery, plans for alisha to come over and spin on newo while i spin on apollo are already in the works.

In other news, I am waiting on the last of the ram to dry and then it'll be dying for that as well.

Now I better go get some knitting for mothers day done. I don't think I'll get it totally done today which sucks. Happy MD to all the mothers out there.

The dreaded "C" word, and Lambchop

2009-04-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

For some reason I was under such stress during finals that I couldn't even *gasp* knit. Seriously there was some form of mental block that disallowed me from even remotely knitting. So I started a crochet afghan out of scraps from the baby log cabin blanket. This will make me happy when it's done because I will have learned a new skill and used up a bunch of superfluous acrylic.

In the mail on the day of my last hand in final a lovely man with a box appeared. In it was this:

This gorgous fleece came from AuntieAnnies from a lovely sheepy named Lambchop. Now I have to say I have never processed a fleece before, a chunck I got at Agribition for free but really when it came to doing the whole partial fleece thing I was perplexed.
I have been reading SockPr0n for a while now, and have watched several fleeces transformed in her blog so I researched and backread her blog (which was really thee best informative source without a book that I found). I started by diving in. I wanted to know the fleece, I wanted to see what it had to offer. So did bebop. He's very much a fan of sheep.

So I decided to be nitpicky and I got some laundry bags so I could keep the lock formation. I contemplated the Yarn Harlot method, but as my kitchen heats up like crazy when the stoves on and I am one to walk away unsuspectingly I opted for the sink. I layered the locks in the bag after fluffing them out a bit and picking any VM out.
It should be said that this fleece is well skirted and was jacketed so really there isn't a lot to be picked but I find that if i pre-fluff the fleece before washing then I get more dirt out with less washing. And I am super paranoid about agitation so clearly I wanted to do everything possible to minimize that.

The lanolin just came off, seriously, this was the first wash, Look how yellowish that water is. I really should have uploaded a picture of the finished product but as I feel it's ongoing I haven't. Because of space constraints etc I can only really process a little at a time without compromizing quality. So as I truck along slowly I have a pile of fleece that is clean and joyous.

Now the only thing will be if I want to dye it, spin then dye it, leave it plain (this probably won't happen as me and white are mortal enemies). But I'll figure that all out when I have this whole thing processed.

I have been knitting... I swear

2009-04-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Just because it seems like I haven't doesn't mean that is the case. The February Lady Sweater is still on the needles and I'm almost done the body, it just takes so frelling long. Seriously. It's out of a recycled sweater that I found at the Value Village. The sweater itself was hideous so I felt no remorse (except maybe that someone worked hard on the orginal sweater only to have it discarded to VV). I'm guessing by the amount I have at the moment that it's going to be a three-quarter lenght sleeve that I go with for the sleeves.
It seems everytime it gets warm I want to spin, spinning and spring/summer go hand in hand in my world, I have no idea why. But I have been spinning a lot lately. Here is the skein of the lovely stuff I did at spinning day (navajo plyed and weightin in at 4. something oz). I call it "Sparkle Motion", and if you catch that referance know that I love you.

Remember the stuff I was carding during the power outage? Ya well, I used it to bait myself to get through a paper and ended up finishing the carding and spinning and plying it. Thusly volia (Approx 139 yards) Blueruin was born. Both skeins need to be set but I think I'll wait until I have a few more that need setting before I do it, I prefer to do a schwack load at once

When there's papers due, and the power goes out, I turn to.... carding.

2009-04-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

Around 2 pm this afternoon the power went out. This threw me into some form of crazed insanity the likes of which have not been seen for a while. With the coffee maker and all the lights out on this here gloomy april day I set about on some busy work, I put my textbooks away and cleaned the bookshelf, and then with time still standing still I decided "f this noise" and pulled out the handcarders.

I recalled a bag of locks that Amy had given to me during the spinning day leftover swap. The locks themselves have a fair amount of VM in them and they are severly felted in some areas but free locks will not be over looked. I started picking and teasing. And as i did....

I remembered that in the roving stash lay this, 110 gr of similarly dyed romney. The great workhorse of spinning fibers. I got it out and compared the colors, they were nearly spot on, having come from the same place this didn't shock but made me happy.
I set about carding the two together at a 80/20 split in favor of romney, as I didn't know how the locks would look with it.

The conclusion: fabulous. The deep blues and hot pinks were netrualized a bit and in some cases gave a purple hue that is very nice. I'm not usually a blue/pink person, I like hard colors, generally, or heathered greys and browns. It's carding up fabulously, and I'm guessing it will spin with ease. It will however take a while as after the power came back on I had about 10 rolags and made barely a dint in the bags of fiber. This could be a lenghty process.

dyeing and spinning

2009-04-04T10:27:00.001-07:00

Okay lets start this off with HANDSPUN, I started this on the drop spindle when lana was here and then put it on the wheel last weekend at the spinning day, and I plied it yesterday and thusly, a skein of prettyful yarn with a bit of sparkle and loads of fun. I hand carded the rolags for a kind of heathered run look. Minimal glitz but enough.

Now I had to dye a pound of roving for the spinning day so I took pictures, because well I was bored when waiting for the stuff to do it's magic. First off it all had to be soaked in its stuff for optimum absorbtion. I went with Deb Menz's instructions.

Here are some packets in the steamer, I did them in approx. 1 oz. intervals. this was the red orange yellow set, there was a blue green black yellow set as well. I got three packets in my steamer at a time and it served well.

While I waited for the steamer to do it's magic I preped the second set and let them absorb prior to packeting them up for the steamer. (And for the record magic eraser does remove dye from lino - just sayin).

And when they were done it was hang to dry overnight. Which left my place looking like a yarn harem. I think people enjoyed the colors. I myself didn't really like the red yellow, too bright for me, but it worked. I did however fall in love with the blue colorway, it was nice. The black took forever to wash out, and even after a good hour it probably still will bleed when they set their stuff. Tis the downfall of black I guess.

Purple and beyond

2009-03-14T23:22:00.000-07:00

As you can see here, I heeded the purple call. It's kinda nice, I always miss stupid hair when its not around, and now I remember why. It's fun!

And this is the Arbacia or whatever its called by wooly wormhead, knit out of handspun.
I'm still stuck in this hat buisness, and am working on *gasp* fingerless gloves.

pre-purple, poe club, hats and the exploding plastic enevitable

2009-03-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

So As you can see my Poe club came today (well it came on friday but I picked it up yesterday and am reviling today). This here is Cables and Lace Lizard Toes in "Nights plutonian Shore". I think Lindsay summed it up best when she said "we're poe-ple" For some strange reason Poe is close to a lot of people hearts, and I understand it as he is in mine as well. So we all understand why I had to jump at the club and get it. Plus the smell that came with it makes me wanna rub it on my dirty bits. There are some men I could slather in this and then take to bed for the weekend. Trust me the temptation is strong.
And somewhere along the lines of insanity having ten things due in two weeks research paper mayhem and darling lana coming home I managed to finish Ziggy (by Wooly Wormhead). I knit it out of handspun BFL on 3.75's to get gauge and although I was scared by the sheer amount of kitchener it turned out marvelous and does exactly what I want.
You may have noticed the title of this entry is pre-purple, that is because as we speak I am dying the front half of my hair purple (it was okayed by my boss so why wouldn't I take compleate advantage of it) so this is the last pick for a while that is going to be purple-less.

The big plan for today aside from the boring and mundane is to get the bags finished for the spinning day we're putting on (by we i mean the local SnB) For $30 you get nine ounces of fiber a drop spindle and a hand made reversable reusable bag to store all your goodies in. Quite frankly the swag is worth double that so it's a good oppertunity to get some stuff and to learn to drop spindle. I still have to hand dye the merino and split it up but that shouldn't be too hard, I'm predicting next weekend that will be my plan as it's the last weekend in march.
I think march is trying to kill me, seriously, I got clusterfucked all last week with stuff and now I'm trying to breathe amdist this spinning weekend and the research papers that are hounding me. It's okay though, I will make it through as long as I don't catch a cold or anything. And I'll do it with purple hair.

Shirkin homework (or at least taking a break)

2009-02-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

Oh blog, the homework clusterfuck from hell descended on me with a wallop. And while I trudge through it I decided to take a break to display what I've managed to accomplish in the interm (a lot can be done while visiting family and takeing time for ones spinning)

This here is the HungryforHandspun (from Etsy) in Cornucopia. It's Ramboullet, and I have to say, this is my new fave wool, it's soft and it spins so well. Like butter almost, and the colors. Well if you can't tell by the throw on my couch, I'm really into these colors right now. Even if Yellow looks attrocious near me.

An overhead shot of the Bonnet I knit out of handspun (pattern in knit one embellish two by cosymakes). I used two different skeins and then did the embroidery (which is hard to take a good shot of let me tell you) on the solid colored side. I kind of really like the way it's two toned, one side all crazy colors the other muted yet vibrant. It still needs a button and some strings but all in all I'm loving how it turned out.

Okay so you can't see the embrodiery that well but I loved the look of this picture. I needed to just sit in the sun for a little while after spending a few hours pumping out 1/3 of the midterm that's due thursday. I can't wait to block this and get the final parts put on. Then I might just wear it until all the snow is melted.

Spring, makes me think of lighter knits

2009-02-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

So since I've been suffering tremendous pain of sinuses due to the snow molds I can only assume that spring is trying to get here. And that has spawned a whole repitoire of tanks, vests, and short sleeved tops in my rav que. However I had wanted to make this (the basalt tank from knitting nature) for quite some time. I think spring trying to sprung just sent me over the edge. Since i finished puffy, (she's waiting on buttons then I promise pictures) I wanted to start on something else of relative size that was for ME (christmas knitting has imbued me with a need for selfish knitting lately).
I have the first hexagon done. After researching it on Rav I concluded to go down a size for a better fit (the weight loss combined with a terminal fear of knowing my actual size has made for some strange knitted bedfellows let me tell you). Now I know my actual bust is 44inches. So I went with the 42 (aka the large) and I hope that was the right decision. The whole open belly part worries me a little but I figure I can always throw a cami under it if I'm feeling super concious. No one wants to see that, least of all me.

And over the week with all the house cleaning I've been doing I managed to get it in me to finish spinning escuary from spunky eclectic. I then wound it into a cake and plied it back on itself, i figured I'd get more yardage that way than if i navajo plied it. There's not a lot of yardage since it's done aran weight or perhaps DK (i'd wager somewhere in the relm of 18 sts/4 inch) but it's very pretty, still I see what Amy's talking about it's a merino tencel blend and I had a hard time keeping it spun consistantly. It will probably become a headband or something similar. I don't think there's yardage enough for a hat, although I could mix and match for the time being it's going to be set and put away for a rainy day.

February keeps rollin, and so do I... in ways.

2009-02-15T20:12:00.001-08:00

The so goth it hurts handspun drying after being set. Since I had a bunch of woolies to wash and some stuff to block this also got thrown in. I've noticed that the roving I get from the willow tends to bleed a lot when I'm setting it, like crazy actually. I've made a note for other times I set things, Luckily enough it didn't bleed onto anything just muddied the water like crazy.

This is the bonnet from cozymakes pattern, I have to wind the next ball that I'm useing to finish it because the first skein of handspun didn't have enough yardage. It'll look interesting when it's done but I am okay with that. I started it while we were making our rounds yesterday to see the neicelings. Everytime I tell myself I have too many hats I go and make more... go figure.

The stephaine Japel Feminine Puff Sleeve cardigan. I've had issues galore with the math but having said that the fit is really rather good. I have to finish the second sleeve and the button bands and then it shall be ready for blocking and buttons. I don't think I have the buttons I want for it yet, I'll have to have a look around the apartment. Still it'll be good to get something big for me done.

And of course what entry would be compleate without Andrew's Chocolate sexy manly scarf. If Pam Greer was a scarf she would be this "my so called scarf" in a heathered brown, 100% wool. Quick easy and sure to please.

2009-02-01T11:19:00.001-08:00

Here you can see my andre obsession, unblocked, now I have to stockenette for miles but the compleation will be momentous and then I shall wrap myself in Andre on a regular basis. That's right my neurosis is almost compleate. Wait until I have him tattooed on me, then I shall be truely weird.

Just so you know I havne't been shirking spinning that much. Here is the Esuary from Spunky Eclectic that I traded with Amy for, it's currently half way done, it will be navajo plyed or maybe doubled I dont' know. It'll be heavier, I'm thinking something cosymakes for it when it's ready.

And this is my "so goth it hurts" skein of black and burgandy.

bouncing off of clouds

2009-01-24T17:09:00.000-08:00

While the top secret project has demanded a fair amount of my time and minimal photography skills don't assume I haven't been busy.
As part of my 101 I wanted to knit six different Cookie A patterns, so here is number two, as I did two pair of pomas recently. It's the red Herring pattern, I'm calling these my socialist socks, or the communistas. The first one is done, I haven't weaved the ends in yet but you get the picture (literally). I may do the second one in opposing colors just for a change. It could be fun. Either way I may need to buy more black as it is running much lower than the red. Also a factor in the opposing color for the second sock.

This here is my new pen (a Lamy) and my Andre scarf thus far. I find all the colorwork very intense and really if it weren't Andre I doubt I would have made it this far, but I want it, and that keeps me trudgeing along in a line. Once I get the the solid black circular knitting I'll laugh but right now it hurts my brain.
It seems like my color pallet has become blindsided by black and red but I'm also working on a brown cardigan and the blue top secret project.
I also got a bag of stuff off to good will today, which made me feel better (better out than in my tiny apartment). Slowly I'm clawing my way out of the mess that is my life and apartment. slowly.
But now I have a gazillion pages to read for classes so I am going to go, and if i get half of it done you better believe I'll be knitting. ;)

Organization takes hold...

2009-01-04T14:40:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I found a storage cube on sale at Canadian Tire, so I bought it got it home and added it on to my pathetic cube (which due to many moves has been reduced to a mere two cubes). Then I started moving yarns over. This is about 90% of my stash at the moment.
The acrylic remains in bags in my bedroom closet, the roving has been moved to the kitchen where I had previously stored the yarn, and a few odds and ends have yet to make their ways to the new cube of yarny greatness.
The organization is semi-haphazardous. The top lrft is for sock yarns and sock weight yarns, under it is for handspun. It seems like a small amount of handspun but I try to knit from handspun as much as possible these days, aside from socks and certain patterns.
The third cube on the left is basically empty, there's some roving that hasn't been moved yet and a few skiens of purple briggs and little sport that languishes for a pattern. It will languish longer.
The top right cube has two afghans worth of bernat self striping, two skeins of ultra bulky from my sil at christmas and a six or so skiens of lady fair that I got at value village and haven't knit anything out of.
The right middle cube holds the B&L soft spun for the simple knit bodice which I have started but will probably take a lot longer than it should because of other knitting duties. And the bottom is where the acrylics for neices and nephews hide. as well as the possum blend I bought ages ago but can't knit due to the sheer pain of being allergic to possum. Sad and true that's why it's in a bag.

In other news I got all the christmas knits done, and I'm working on a top secret project that everyone will see soon enough. I have cast it on and am merrily going through it, the snail mitts of which are 75% done are on hold for the time being because of said project. I predict with school I'll get it done in no time though.
The snail mitts as previously mentioned are almost 75% done, I'm almost to the thumb on the second mit and they knit up quite quickly.
I finished a cowl for mom that came out of left field but was asked for so I couldn't resist the oppertunity to knit it for her.
I swear I am this boring.

The christmas haul and other tales

2008-12-28T12:32:00.001-08:00

You may recognize this mitten from the book of yarn. Having a hearty love of snails (and bats) I wanted to make a pair for quite some time. The motivation came in the form of blistering minus forty weather and a lack of hand coverings. So i decided it's been a while since I've made something really intricate let alone something intricate for myself, so I cast on.
The welts at the bottom were a trial, I discovered I really dislike making welts, or tucks as the case may be. However they do look good and they serve a purpose so I am glad for that. Ideally I want to be done these before school starts again. I got lots of knitting time in on them on christmas eve, mom can attest to that fact.
They really are knitting up quicker than I thought they would.
I am useing two different patons kroy to make them, the stripy effect comes from patons kroy stripes in burnished sierra stripes, I have to take out the navy every time it comes around because i feel it's too close to the black but i really like how the other colors are working with the pattern.
I'm thinking about calling these my halloween snails.
I'm almost done the mitt in this picture I'm on the thumb now so I'm sure there will be more pictures when it has been compleatly compleated.
This lovely skein my mom picked up at the Agribition. It's white fingering just waiting to be dyed. I am looking forward to dying it but I haven't figured out what colors I'm going to dye it with yet.
I have no idea what the yardage is but I'm anticipating something like a scarf or maybe part of one? Really I have no idea yet I just look at it and smush it occasionally.

Ruby slippers mediumweight mom got me this from river city yarns. I love STR and this colorway is just so rock and roll. I haven't anyplans for it yet, except to stare at it and smush it with love occasionally.
I'm sure once class gets back in and my sock fetish comes out again this will be called up for something amazing. There's just so many patterns waiting to be made Oh my.

Chapman springs Mediumweight. HOT I love the color variations in this. Love.
Seriously. When my credit card is paid off I'm dropping a pretty penny on more STR. But you didn't hear that from me ;)

I swear I haven't forgotten you, I've been busy!

2008-12-23T08:09:00.000-08:00

In my house the cats rule the roost. So when I placed this stuffed toy christmas gift beside Peatrie for a picture upon compleation, when she reached over and grabbed it like a pillow I was hardpressed to have to remove it from her. She used it for a while and when she woke up, I spirited the stuffie to the bookshelf.
Now anyone who knows me knows, I hate the fiddly stuff, this was like hot needles in my eyesockets, not that it doesn't look cool and won't be compleatly loved, just ten stitches for ten rows on dpns, makes me want to hurt myself. But I may have to make another one, as peatrie has decided she's rather fond of the dang thing.
Some may recall that free handful of fleece I got at agribition (cleaned and weighted about 50 grams). Well with the help of Amy's handcarders I handcarded the white with some green shaded romney from the willow and then spun those rolags nice and thin. Then I plyed it with the leftover green romney, and when that ran out I used a single I spun a while ago that was a neutral tan-y/brown alpaca. The alpaca was a bit on the thick and thin side but not too much, blocking seemed to take a lot of the issue away. All in all I think this skein might be a hat.
It marks the first time I've ever hand carded or hand blended fiber, I like it.
Okay, so I finished mom's christmas gift, the go with the flow tank from "Inspired Cable Knits" just in time to block and wrap it before the big family shindig tonight. Quite frankly I wonder if I'll end up accidentally falling asleep after dinner, it's only the morning and I'm already ready to nap. Bebop gave me no sleep last night dispite the fact that I could go to bed because I was done all pre-requisite christmas knitting.
While I wish fondly that my family were somehow interested in this knitblog, I know they're not so I don't actually worry about showing some x-mass gifts before their gifted.

logic breaks and surprizers galore.

2008-12-10T10:50:00.001-08:00

Okay so my knitter group "the clicking needles" had a secret santa this monday, and this glorious box was my giftie. It's 80/20 merino silk. There are several different colors and some natural colored stuff. The natural colored stuff will get dyed most assuridly, whereas the already died will be done either by itself or with something else. It's soooo solf so soft. I was starting to get worried because of the spinning jag I've been on and I've started running low on the dyed stuff, but this combined with *squee* the stuff I'm trading for with Amy will definatly keep me over the break. Plus I do have a lot of natural that I want to spin to make boxed from knitty. But you have to be in a mindset for natural, and that mindset is far from me right now.
This here is the superwash merino I got a while back, spun up and then navajo plyed, and yes, it was one of my first navajo plying experinaces but it came out so nice. I wonder what I'll make with it. the colors are nice, It might be a hat or a cowl, I'm on a cowl fetish right now so that's more than likely its fate. But honestly this city is frelling cold, there's nothing wrong with a million cowls. Cowls GALORE.
Then my mom called to say that I had a package at her place (most everything gets shipped there since I live in an apartment and mail and apartments don't mix well). So I went and picked it up last night and this was inside the plastic bag....
That's right WOLLMEISE!
The second shipment of the sock club came and quite frankly not a minute too late. I've been funking it up (who knows why) and basically I needed something to brighten my day.
Inside was the two skiens (pretty pretty - but yellow is so not my color). And a yarnissima pattern that is to dye for. It's enough to turn me back to my sock lovin self. Cranking out christmas socks has really killed my soul on the sock front but I think once christmas is over and classes are up again the sock urge will be strong within me. And there's a little suprise ball that I have to knit to get to the gift inside, and a little baggie of gummies. Which won't last long since my love of all things gummie bear like is intense. Seriously coke bottle gummies are like ambrosia to me.

Anyway that's the update. There's lots a brew in my head that I want to get to once the last final is done, but alas I must not think of things until the final is out of the way. Grr argh.

2008-12-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

I have really wanted to see and feel the greatness of cherry tree hill, and now that I have I wonder if I'll ever be able to go back to the same old Opal again. It's colors are so vibrant, it's a fingering weight so I'll have to do something that's a finer knit sock or maybe mittens with it, but the color I could not refuse.
I question why i didn't get two of them they'd make a lovely clap. Even if knitting yet another clap seems like a lot, I only have one and the other was a gift to someone. I can totally see the colors just being amazing in that pattern. Maybe I'll make something else. Right now I'm all about getting my holiday knitting done, and that is a chore in and of itself. I am so close yet so far.

Dream in Color Smooshy Sock anyone? Isn't it gorgeous? I really want to knit with it but that will have to wait until other obligations are taken care of so it might be a while, but dangit it's so pretty and soft I want to bear it children.
I am overjoyed that there is a store carrying this in my city now. I feel like a new sock door has been opened.

Inbetween days.

2008-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

The mystery beret after it's second knitting. The first one didn't have the slouchiness I wanted to I frogged it and reknit it with an extra repeat for the perfectness that it is. Now it's blocking over a plate, but it totally rocks. It's out of some Manos that Roxanne gave me in repsonce to the hat I gave her. It basically shows that knitting is a very reciprocical art. One can knit and give away something, and sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, they are returned with yarn. And that's what makes me really happy, when someone enjoys the things I give them so much that they voluntarily give me something in return. Especially something as swanky as Manos.
This is the quivet scarf, also blocking. It was a gift yarn from my mother who got it at a "sorry you had a shitty break up" gift. I finally knit it up and blocked it. The pattern that came with it is devine and works fabulously for the yarn. It's 1/3 Quivet, 1/3 merino and 1/3 alpaca. It's also very soft and warm dispite being very delicate looking.
It was a quick knit, I seem to be taking to those the most these days with papers and finals all swirling in my head. Hell even right now I'm taking a break from finals stuff to blog this. But I think if i didn't I'd go insane.
While the amount of knitting/spinning I've gotten done lately has slowed to a trickle (which is why I have blocked so much) I can't wait until I don't have to worry about school for a few weeks and can just focus on work and knitting/spinning/dying.
The last thing I have to show you or blog about is the Cat Bordhi Mobious Cowl. I made it out of handspun, thicker than I usually spin but i wanted to try for a borderline bulky. This is being called the "starry night" skien because it reminds me of that famous painting.
And now I should probably get back to researching. This paper won't write itself. Even if i Wish it could.

Agribition 08

2008-11-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

These here are a special kind of sheep. The Katahdin sheep also known as "The Meat Sheep" doesn't grow wool. One would be inclined to wonder at how it comes to being that a sheep the great giver of fiber would have the ability to grow wool weeded out of them. But this sheep is bread with hair and is done so for it's "low mantinance" meat. While I may not think this is generally a smart move, and while it does make my knitterly soul die a little, they were very nice sheep. They seemed zen and generally peaceful.
There were several different farms showing them this year, personally I have never heard of them before. Still a beautiful animal all around.
This little lady is a Burrowing Owl. While they are smaller than a pidgeon they are going extinct and that is a shame. However some canadian farmers realizing they co-exist well with cattle have kept some land from becoming pasture land to keep burrowing owls. The burrowing owl is a great mouser and that is something that attracts farmers to her. She also lives in abandoned gopher holes that are burrows then lined with various things including at times cow dung. They are well known insect eaters (grasshoppers and the like), as well as mice, snakes, frogs and beetles. They never make their own burrows but rather use abandoned burrows from other burrowing animals. In canada they are found mostly in alberta, saskatchewan and manitoba.
This particular burrowing owl was at a conservation booth, she was extreamly goregous and well behaved, she even allowed us to touch her (so soft it seems unimaginable). I have never had the joy of petting an owl before but it was akin to touching other birds. Her eyes also were just breathtaking.
One might wonder why we wouldn't feel more about such a clearly benifical animal. While less than 1,000 pairs currently live in Saskatchewan. Their natural preditors include eagles, foxes, eagles, coyotes, badgers, and snakes. Unfortunatly the spray meant for grasshoppers hurts these little fellows and makes them either impotent or kills them outright. This seems counter intuative as they feast on grasshoppers, it would seem smarter to keep a few burrowing owls and forgo the grasshopper spray, as they can eat over 10,000 grasshoppers per day as full grown adults.
She seemed to know that she was beautiful, she was very calm with everyone and was perched atop her travel carrier. The handler said that when they travel she likes to perch on the back of the headrest and hang out. Clearly this one isn't intended to be re-released into the wild, as she seems to have gotten used to the easy life. It's still quite a shame there aren't more of them living in the wild.
This pair of Alpaca were part of Living Sky Alpaca's. The brown one seemed more social in the beginning but it was the white one who loved mugging for the camera and talking to us.
Of course I had no problem talking to alpaca's while people around me may have thought I'd lost a screw or two at some point. They were quite hungry when we came by the stall, and it took the brown one a few minutes to find the food.
They decided to show us their bums, being ever the eager photographer I couldn't resist a picture of paca tocks. Rediculous? Surely! But this proves that they even have cute butts. Right next to them where I took the picture from was some fleeces, one of the paca's had one first place, I think it was the brown one (or else a paca that didn't show up at the stall) as it was a darker colored fleece with an intense staple length and softness. It was uber fab. as were the pacas.
As I said the brown one wasn't much for us humans but the white one was making some noises and looking at us, or as my mother would say about a baby human doing the same "telling stories". I prefer to think that the alpaca was just trying to have a friendly conversation and ask me how the agribition was going.
That of course was around the same time people started looking at me funny. But who can resist that cute little face with those cute little ears? Clearly not a human.
There were also MINI Donkey's. There was a pair of them, they were probably tired by the time we came along but we very cute and if that's the size of a mini-donkey I would like to know exactly how big a regular donkey is. But then again until I got there I had no idea what size an actual cow was. I was on par with the size of actual sheep, but aside from that I really didn't have a spacial concept of animal proportions. Even though I'd been to Agribition as a child.
The donkey's wanted to sleep I guess, and I can't really blame them, it has been a long week full of onlookers for the dynamic duo. And while all the animals were treated nicely and recieved more than adiquate care I can more than likely bet that they wanted to be home in their nice warm barns rather than in the agribition barns being gawked at by buss loads of school children. But who wouldn't love their cute little faces?
Here is another Katahdin sheep. Possibly the most Zen of sheep, the buddah of sheep if you will. Just maxing and relaxing in the provided hay. That would be the quality I noticed most in these sheep they were zen like. While one stoped to baa at me, the rest being tired as every animal must have been just kind of chilled out. I don't think personally I could ever eat a sheep. I love them too much as fiber providing animals.
I leave you with more sheeply enjoyment. Sheep faces, sheeps in jackets, sheeps without jackets, just sheep in general. While we attended the sheep shearing Amber was kind enough (as I was being a total sissyass) to go and grab me a handful of raw fleece (they were just letting people it was crazy) which I am going to process myself.
All in all it was a good year to go, much fiber, much fiber animals, much fun. And a ravelry pin to boot!

Hot Chocolate and Essay Breaks.

2008-11-24T17:55:00.001-08:00

As you can see I've been spinning. Well I've been spinning and doing lots of knitting, but most of the knitting won't be seen on here until after it's gifted away. This lovely skein is my first time spinning BFL, and also my first large try at navajo plying. I gotta say after having done the whole roving navajo that I really like the color graduation as averse to the barberpole, don't get me wrong I still like the barber pole, but the overall color transitions are magnificent. There's roughly 121 grams there, enough to do something with.
This here is Fibermonster (http://fibermonster.etsy.com) in the colorway "Stained Glass". I spun it as medium thin singles, and really think that this yarn wants to be a cowl. I've been hunting down a good pattern for after I'm done the christmas knitting, and then ooh boy will I be in a spin of knitting shit for me (THATS RIGHT ME). As much as I love knitting in general and therefor take pleasure in knitting for others, I'm getting sick of this knitting for others. Just sayin. I wanna keep some of my socks.
Since I blogged about the fibermoster batts together last time I figured I'd show the spun up versions together as well. This is the sunrise colorway and I want to have it's babies. Seriously I could buy a pound of this, I LOVE it. It too is a single and it's a medium to heavy yarn. It may become a hat, a panta, I'm not quite sure yet, It's that skein you have that you love so much you never want to knit. I was trying out the long draw method gleaned from Amy during stitch and bitch when she brough her Louet to show off. (Yes I drooled copiously and she even let me spin some).
Speaking of socks I don't get to keep, this here is a pair of Pomatomus that I do not get to keep. They are also maniaclly too big for me. I hope the recipiant likes them as much as I got frustrated with them. Nothing against them but the pattern was way too involved for this time of year for me. A nice way of saying they drove me batshit insane.

So this is october

2008-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some commissioned knits awaiting their new home. It's safe in the bookshelf. Three pairs of men's socks. Next up, or already started should i say are the two pairs for Janelle, harder to make but maybe I need that to stay awake in classes. These three pairs however are done and waiting. I gave myself a deadline to make them and came in in good time so yay.
As you can see I've been working on that 101 things, here are some grasses waiting to be stuffed and eyeballed, all the neiclings and nephling are getting one for x-mass. I'm going with the rule of four for x-mass. Then I'll pad what I have with more if I need to or feel I need to. But for now I'm two and a half grasses done. That's right I'm accomplishing things even in the haze of books.
If you think it's been all knitting in my world you'd be wrong o. I have been spinning too. I finished this bobbin last weekend, and am spinning it's accomplice at the moment. It's stuff I dyed myself so I'm attached to it on many levels, it doesn't know what it wants to be yet. It'll tell me when it feels like. I've still got a skein that needs to be set. I'm going to wait until i have a few skiens to set before I go all set crazy and have an apartment that smells of wet sheep. Kinda makes the cats nutty. Just sayin. They all stand in the bathroom mewling at the hanging yarn, which is strange cause they generally ignore all yarn. I have good cats that way, they have no urge to play with it, only errant strings.

And last but not least, a hat. Yes it's a strange hat, maybe that's why I made it/like it. It's modified from cosymakes geometric helmet hat pattern. I used hand spun silk/merino handdyed with elderberries plyed with silk hankie spun and romney spun, basically a mishmash of things. It looks a little odd, like me. And it hides a multitude of hair sins, since the hair and I are not getting along lately. But I think I'll make a semi-normal hat to go with as well, and another beret.... okay so I've been on a bit of a "I NEED TO MAKE HATS NOW" kick.

101 in 1001. Start date.... NOW.

2008-10-09T14:38:00.001-07:00

101 in 1001 (compleate 101 things in 1001 days...)
End date: Thursday, July 7, 2011.

Bolded Items compleated.

1) Spin enough of one yarn to knit a sweater
2) ~~Finish Cable Hell~~ Its being frogged, let's not talk about it.
3) Knit ten kids toys for the nieces and nephling (5/10)
4) Write five patterns (2/5)
5) Complete two charity blanket from squares
6) Dye at least one pound of roving
7) Create the Joni Mitchell sock colors
8) Spin with five different types of fiber
9) Finish at least one mystery shawl
10) Post to knit blog at least once a month for a year(10/12)
11) Organize books
12) Organize cd’s.
13) Organize knitting supplies
14) Organize crafting supplies
15) Cook at least fifteen new dishes. (2/15)
16) Make a yarn swift
17) Complete 40 pairs of socks.(10/40)
18) Sew 10 re-usable shopping bags
19) Make Rhodes baby quilt
20) Make or buy local for five family members for the holidays. Neices and Nephling each count as 1.
21) Give two garbage bags full of things to charity.
22) Save $1000 dollars for frivolity. Just to see if I can.
23) Learn how to make a PDF pattern.
24) Make said pattern available for sale.
25) Not cut hair except for bangs for a year.(5/12)
26) Get three more tattoos.
27) Sew Kitchen Café Curtains
28) Finish watching complete run of six feet under
29) Read Moby Dick.
30) Sew a Pair of Pants that does not have a drawstring waist.
31) Get NetFlix if it’s available in Canada, get something similar if not.
32) Print 10 blocks of Speedball art.
33) Get a T-shirt screen printer
34) Design and block print five t-shirts.
35) Eat at home three days a week for one month.
36) Knit 20 New dishcloths in different patterns. (6/20)
37) Learn to crochet granny squares
38) Crochet a granny square blanket (in progress)
39) Make soap possibly from a kit but try it anyway.
40) Spin 5 kg’s of yarn (3)
41) Read 50 books (audio books okay comic books no) in one year. (25/50)
42) Knit the Big Lebowski Siwash for Jody
43) Leave Regina for other places travel related twice. Concert trips count.
44) Go To N.Z. after graduating from University.
45) Create business plan for the Yarn Prawn.
46) Get secure funds for the Yarn Prawn.
47) Do a Cure themed sock yarn run.
48) Get a loom
49) Learn to loom (almost learned)
50) See the ocean.
51) Get drivers liscence.
52) Go to berlin.
53) Knit six different Cookie A patterns. (3/6)
54) Watch Doctor Zhivago
55) Get enough Fezzik yarn to knit a sweater
56) Knit button up cardigan out of said yarn
57) Knit everything in my ravelry cue as of today (08/10/08)
58) Collect all the sandman comic volumes.
59) Organize pictures in albums.
60) Learn to crochet amigurumi
61) Knit socks out of my own handspun.
62) Sew new covers for couch cushions
63) Learn to reupholster
64) Learn to make lasagna
65) Start taking vitamins regularly (let’s say three times a week for a month).
66) Drink at least one glass of water a day for three months (hopefully this helps the weaning off caffeinated products).
67) Knit two socks at a time.
68) Attend a knitting convention or fiber convention.
69) Bake something at least once every two months for a year.
70) Not dye my hair more than once a month for a year.(11/12)
71) Make a queen sized quilt.
72) Meditate once a week for three months.
73) Finish three cardigans/sweaters/coverup’s for myself.
74) File income tax.
75) Own all the Betty Davis Movies (3)
76) Host a Big Lebowski Bowling night.
77) Learn how to make cornbread.
78) Ask out a random stranger (coffee is enough in this case).
79) De-stash my wardrobe once.
80) Eat ethnic at least once a month for a year.
81) Learn to make skuffles.
82) Re-read the Lord of the rings trilogy.
83) Try three new knitting techniques
84) Cull the bookshelf once.
85) Have no more than five projects on the go for a year.
86) Pass Logic 100
87) Work at one job for one year.
88) Take Calcium tablets regularly (three times a week for one month).
89) Have a John Huges movie marathon.
90) Knit something with beads and actually finish it.
91) Watch all the Red Dwarf episodes.
92) Get matching cutlery that doesn’t rust or bend.
93) Knit the andre scarf (in progress)
94) Kiss a fool
95) Watch a minimum of 10 foreign movies in a year.(2/10)
96) Reserved for 09/10
97) Reserved for 09/10
98) Reserved for 09/10
99) Reserved for 09/10
100) Reserved for 09/10
101) Make another list.

baby blankets and berets.

2008-09-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is some hand dyed Romney I got from Golden Willow and spun up, it's a fingering weight and is very pretty. The colors meet at some places and thats an accomplishment to me. There's a fair bit of yardage, once I get the twist set I'll probably take more pictures. It was my self project last weekend. It turned out beautifully. I am tres pumped to knit it up into something.
This is the new beret in all it's glory, made from clapotis leftovers. It is lovingly known among me and my friends as the "getting over you" beret. It really did help the whole purging him from my life aspect. And the beret itself hides a multitude of hair sins, yay for bedhead hiding accoutrements. I'm down with not having to deal with my hair on class days, I'd much rather spend the time making and consuming coffee.

As you can see I've been hard at work on the baby blanket for new baby. It's actually done but I lamely haven't taken any newer pictures. I love how bebop looks like he's being tucked in by the blanket. It's really big and has the ability to be both light and warm. Alas I bought way too much yarn for the actual project so I have at least 8 balls of random colors left over from the blanket. But that's okay, I'll think of something to do with them, maybe another Baby Suprize Jacket? That would work. Or if I can find something that takes the same guage I may make something else.

Ahh it's been a while mi corazon

2008-09-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

But I have been knitting the whole while, between work and life anyways.
I've finished yet another clapotis... (done in Knitfrontandback S.A.S.S.Y. sock yarn, with enough leftovers to replace the beret).
This is for Brenda at the university for organizing the Missing Women confrence, it's in the colors of the confrence so it's perfect, that and she's a gorgous woman and a great prof, and really need I gush more? I will.

This charming number is done in Dog Lover's Sock Yarn (i think there's still some available on etsy), and it's for the future neph whom I do believe is being named "Rhodes", which is possibly thee coolest name ever. It's just a traditional Baby Suprize Jacket, they're soo easy to make and it really hilights the subtle color changes in the wool (a merino silk blend which is soft and extreamly plesant to work with). The buttons are going to be yellow lions and dolphins. I may make another BSJ yet as they are so dang easy.
This batt my friends is called "Sunrise", it came in the mail a few weeks ago and I have been gnawing off my arms not to spin it until I'm done what is currently on the bobbin. Sooo yummy. I have a possible pattern idea for it and stained glass but I haven't fully decided yet. It's from Fibermonster on etsy, I tell you this barely wanting to because its so amazingly wonderful I want all her things to myself. (greedy little knitter). I can't tell you what pattern I'm thinking of making but it will be beautious and beatific no matter what I choose, but I will choose handspun. All I'm sayin.
"Stained Glass" as mentioned above, I love the bluey black color mix. I'm not sure how i'm going to spin it, or how I'm going to spin the "sunrise" but either way I will and they will rock muchly.

In other knit related news I got into the Wollmeise sock club (yum) and that super pumped me up, although it also created a giant need for excessive ramen eating in my household. Between that and neil young tickets and school I'm so not able to spend money for the next little while.
Also I got an email back from Amy at Knitty and the pattern I submitted a while ago got lost, or rather overlooked in the whole process, but I now know she has it and it is being concidered for the winter 08 issue so yay that. I'm pumped to be in the running finally and actually to know that I am is a great.... relief? excitement? thrill?

Okay that's enough for today, I promise to try and post more, which will probably happen since I'll do almost anything to not have to focus on school work *evil smirk*

A day without rain.

2008-06-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

Well here be a finished Clap (clapotis from Knitty that is) made from Blue moon's STR med. weight in thistle and tanzanite, see I ran out of thistle and rather than order another skien I decided to blend the two together. I think it's good looking and depending on how I feel I can wear one side or the other to the front. Versitle. Thats right...
I finally (accent on finally) finished the swallowtail shawl so here's a picture of it blocking. Done in misti alpaca lace weight. It took a while but it's really very pretty. To me it seems a bit... dressy? breakable? definatly not something I'll wear everyday but it was a challenge and it was fun to do. I don't think I'll do another laceweight shawl though, they're too flimsy for my likeing. I think I'll stay closer to stoles. Then again I did just cast on another shawl but it's in DK weight so I feel more comfortable with it. It's a little more up my alley and rugged.
The Susanna socks for auntie donna are done, and will be blocked before she comes for a visit later on in June. She picked the colorway so Hopefully she likes the patter I picked for her. They seem disproportionate but she does have very large feet, and she likes lower cut socks so cross your fingers she likes them lots.
It was my first forray into the cascade heritage sock yarn, and it's a nice sock yarn. Its definatly a bit thinner than the stuff I was useing before but it also lends itself nicely to lace patterns. I'm planning something cool for the other skeins of it I have. The Red/Blue is just calling to be a Cookie A. sock I know it is I can hear it right now. It will however have to wait I just casted on some Salto's for my travel knitting. And I like to keep it down to one pair on the needles lest it get a bit sock heavy.
Saving the best for last this is the Heartland Shawl (from the ravelry heartland shawl KAL). I'm doing it in some dk weight alpaca blend from the Crocus Hills Alpaca place in Pangman Sk. It's a great grey color and it's just dang fun. You can see bebop here likes it too.

Socks and Shawls oh my.

2008-05-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

The swallowtail shawl (pictured here) is going again, as you can see. I stopped again to work on the Top Secret Mother's Day Present, but that is finished so its back to Auntie Donna socks and the Swallowtail. The shawl has been ripped once already (it was once long ago the MS3 shawl but I wasn't a fan of the second half of the shawl so rrrrip.

This is the Auntie Donna socks, the first sock is now done, the second sock is awaiting it's start (sorry the picture is old but whatever). Again they got stalled for mothers day (that project just needs to be blocked and then it should be ready). I'm happy to be going back to socks and shawls but the urge to cast on is strong, seriously, but I want to finish more things before I start another big project. Getting job has significantly changed my ability to knit and my time so I'm sure the summer will prove to be a slower time in Sadieville knitting. Sad I know. But so it goes.

ahh finals are done

2008-04-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Now onto the knitted goodness.
The koigu socks are finished and gore-gous!
On top of that the Holly jacket is nearing compleation. It may need to be shrunk a little but whatever at this point yayness is in order.
I understand the lack of pictures to this post makes it less monumental.
I have started auntie donna's socks. Hopefully they work up fast.

Since the papers have landed.

2008-04-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

I Know I haven't been posting much, what can I say six papers in two weeks and finals to boot (I question my sanity daily).
But here is Nutkin which I started in the Koigu, it's goregous. And the pattern is fabulously easy to memorize. It's the perfect sock pattern, I'm putting it up there with the Monkey socks in my mind.
Until the storm is over I bid thee good knitting.

The haul

2008-03-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

Mom got this kit so I could knit it up for her. It's definatly a mom thing. The color is actually a creamy beige and very shiny. It should be fun to knit, the pattern itself seems easy which is nice since I have little brain power at the moment thanks to finals+papers season.
Okay, so mom went to help auntie Donna and uncle Mike move to B.C. and since i was under the influence of the mutant flu from hell she brought me back some yarn... okay a shwack load of yarn. So in order of appearance. The fuschia cascade heritage.
Followed by beatle modeling the lovely Tofutsies in a browny/tan colorway, she really liked the tofutsies because they smell like cat treats to her, not that I can smell it but I could tell she was impressed. I think she's made the Tofutsies her fave, I have yet to knit with it but I am excited since it's something we don't get here in Regina town. The colors are interesting, I shall have to find an adiquate pattern. I'll surf the net and check the books I have around, I may just go with a traditional sock to see how the colors work.
The verigated Cascade Heritage in a lovely red/wine and blue stripe kind of colorway, again modeled by Beatle (in fact all yarns seem to be modeled by her, but how could I resist the photo-op. She didn't much mind and liked sniffing all the yarns so I take it as a win win situation. These colors seem indicative of my mother, perhaps she is trying to tell me something... perhaps she wants a new pair of knit socks....
The blue is for Auntie Donna, she bought it and sent it home with mom for another custom pair. If i keep this up my whole family will become addicted to the greatness that is the knit sock. And then Stephanie Pearl-McPhee will truely be proud.
Here we see the shaded green cascade, reminds me of a forest, I am tempted to do Baudilaires (by cookie a) with it. It's definatly muted enough to support an intricate pattern.
And this is the other set of Tofutsies that was gotten. I like the brightness of the colorways. Again Beatle would like to express that she is fond of this particular stuff.

can't let her spread her sickness

2008-03-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

So being horribly ill all I've been able to do (seemingly) is knit the least complex yet large patterns I feel like. So after the great rosmary swing jacket debacle (let's not talk about that shall we), i succumbed to the Holly Jacket. Simple, flattering, in my size... I had guage and I was hooked.

Here you see the Back and part of the left front as of two days ago, Now i'm on the right front and just breezing through it all, this could be because the second round of anti-biotics is finally working... it could be because the knitting gods decided to smile on me.
Needless to say with papers coming up, school eating my brain, and of course that ever ellusive life I have to live it could be a while before the Holly Jacket finally sees the light of spring.

Next post: the sheer yarn of it all a photo essay in all the yumminess my mom brought back from Abbotsford.

Oh mah Gawd (the Koigu has landed)

2008-03-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

KPPM mmm yummy.
I have no idea what they will become (socks anyone)but i am excited their here.

things in the mix

2008-02-26T12:50:00.000-08:00

So Josephine needed a blanket for her babydoll, and as i had some red heart laying around I quickly set to work making this boring peice, however she loves it so I can't complain (oh the things we do for neices).
After mom saw my Sunday Market Shawl she wanted one, so here it is unblocked but ready to be. I made it useing her color palette, as we all know I am no wearer of tan.
This is the sunday Market shawl that made her want her own. I made it out of some Rowan Linen Print, you can't really tell it's greatness but it is truely great. The perfect spring acoutrement.
And here is the sweater I started knitting for Lana, it's out of handspun hand dyed and some moda dea. I'm useing the Forsythia sweater from Spin to Knit as the pattern. Hopefully it turns out all good.

Coriolis socks of scraptacular goodness

2008-02-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

These just came off the needles and I am more than happy. The first one cast off a little tight and needs some easeing to get on and off, but I added a few stitches to the top of the second one and it truely is a pleasureful sock.

Finally some pictures.

2008-02-22T21:07:00.000-08:00

So I fell into total knitterly love with the greatness that is the Lime and Violet podcast, and when i was listening like a rabid fan to all the old episodes I came across the pattern for snakes on a sock. Immediately I cracked out the STR (in cracked canyon) and set to work on a pair for myself.

Handspun alpaca and romney turned into a lovely Calorimetry, this was some of the first stuff I spun on my wheel (aka the christmas present of great kniterlyness).

Long time No Post

2008-02-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

Well I've been dying, in that lovely "every sickness known to man has befallen me" kind of way.
There has been knitting.
There has been spinning.
And as soon as i can root out the installer software from moms house I shall hook up the camera and then take pictures for everything.
Beware the posts to come, beware i say.

Sorry No FO's

2007-10-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Since I've been moving/ have moved I haven't really been able to upload any finished things. However I have finished my embossed leaves socks and am wearing them proudly this very instant.

On top of that I've started the wine and roses mitts from Interweave and the Q socks from knitty. I have big plans for socktoberfest but first have to get to my sock yarn stash which is currently in transit.
All in all october promises to be an intense month. Here's to the hope that I keep my mind through all of this.

Pingouin

2007-09-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

I finished the jumper and am very proud that it is done in time for the baby shower. cable-less cables are cables still.

Socks socks and more socks

2007-09-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

I finshed the "caro" socks last night (the pattern is free at socktopia.net I believe). Of course finsihing my "easy" socks. More so portable than easy but whatever. I was left with this unknowing of what I was going to do. But I was tired it was late and all my school readings were done so I went to bed.

When i woke up this morning I was faced with a decision. Which socks to start. And which would be a good fit for between classes etc. I wanted something I could do on 2 circ's as I have my dpn's in a different pair of socks, my "at home" socks to knit. Thusly rash decisons were made and I was out the door with Meida (from Favorite socks by interweave). Needless to say I'm going to lengthen the socks as I dislike ankle socks horribly but I'm doing the "cable-less cable" with them and it's working out fabulously.
My knitting geekery just went up another notch didn't it?

I promise once I move I'll get back to the MS3. I feel bad for neglecting it so.

RAVELRY

2007-09-14T13:37:00.001-07:00

I'm blueruin.
Friend me damnit!

Flame wave socks from interweave

2007-08-27T01:33:00.000-07:00

Done in blinding Fuschia Cascade fixation. They took very little time and are perfect for the summer.

Everlasting Bagstopper

2007-08-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the pattern for the bagstopper, well I was intrigued. I didn't particularly like the whole "ribbon" idea (it seemed a bit unfinished to me) but I really like market bags, reusable bags and basically bags in general. I was swayed by the airy feeling the bag had and the hemp-yness of it all. I love hemp, I love the fact that it holds up well, that it's eco friendly, I just love the stuff.

So Lana and I were picking up the yarn for her very own Clapotis and I saw that there were two skeins of allhemp in the most lovely color (cinnamon) that would go perfectly with some vintage "ribbon" I found thriftstore shopping (the best 75 cents ever). I immidiatly got the allhemp and last night set to work making the bag.

As you can see I've just finished it (less than 24 hours that's a record) and all it needs is the drawstring and closure. I'm totally digging the look and the feel of the bag. In short - yet another reason to love Amy R Singer,because you know knitty just wasn't enough of one ;)

variations on a theme

2007-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Since I've been on somewhat of a yarn diet (attempting where at all possible to knit from stash rather than from bought things) I've been finding patterns I love to knit moer than once, and clearly EZ's baby suprize jacket is one of them. So I took some yarn I spun and plied (the green with thread and the brown is my first two ply experiance) and made yet another surpize jacket. The good thing about this is should anyone have a baby in my vicinity I shall be ready.

Then I had some left over butterfly super 10 from makeing a Henry Rollins doll and because well white/creme/offwhite etc and I don't get along even slightly I died it a kind of poppy red and pink (or what was left of it). I do fully intent to knit this up with black accents into more than likely a babyjacket. That and the fact that there's another baby coming into the family I really want to have some nice stuff to choose from to give to her.

Lana is starting her very own clapotis which will be more than cool when it's done. She's just finished blocking Magknits Durrow, which she intends to give to her man Adam for his birthday. It looks great (and helped me de-stash at the same time). Yay!
Anywho I should go clean the house and possibly start knitting something else. Or not start knitting something else and finish the siewash. The only thing is knitting with icelandic wool in the heat seems obscene and I need mentally easy things to tackle until I'm done babysitting Joesphine.

baby jackets everywhere!

2007-08-07T11:02:00.001-07:00

Okay so I finished the suprize jacket, it turned out great, and since I now know it's going to be a boy I added some cute blue buttons. I also found a Stephanie Pearl-McPhee baby jacket pattern on Knitty which I made in brown, all the ends are sewn in and everything it just needs buttons, but I try to wait to put buttons on until I know if its a boy or a girl etc.
I'm also throwing in a shot of Peatrie guarding my knitting as she tends to do. Shes like a magnet to wherever a project is, she never sleeps on it though, just hovers.
While I'm babysitting my neice I doubt I'll get much knitting done still i started another suprize jacket (they seem to be an addiction so if you need a babyshower gift etc) I'm useing some wool i hand spun and pairing it with some merino alpaca blend I got when I lived in Saskatoon.

Plyed Yarn! (and things in prorgress)

2007-08-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I got some rovings (and subsiquently turned it into some yarn). It's a goregous red brown and is 100% romney wool. It's my first try at plying yarn with yarn rather than with thread or floss.

Also I started knitting a Phildar jacket for myself for autumn (i know a bit ahead of myself) with some ModaDea I picked up on clearance from Michaels a while back. And although I know I really should be finishing my tank top from NSFY (just needs the armbands and neck band) or working on my uncles siewash (started sleeve one) I really have this nasty case of startitis that just makes me want to start millions of things at once.

Soon to come - Pictures of the finished baby suprise jacket with buttons.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Suprize Jacket

2007-07-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

It seems to be catching like some kind of flu. The obsession to make EZ's baby suprize jacket.... and I had a spare ball of softy baby... and there are always babies... and well how could i resist.
As you might be able to tell I've just finished casting off for the neck and hope to be done in the next few days. I'm currently on the second level of downing myself off of anti depressants so my joints ache my head hurts and my elbows feel almost broken but somehow I manage to keep knitting.
This particular jacket is a gift for lily's friends in NZ who are having their first baby. I'm going to put some swank boyish buttons on it to finish it off when it's ready.

MS3

2007-07-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Here you can see how i'm slowly prodding along on the Mystery Stole. I got a horrible case of startitis after finishing the third clue and have now quite the menagery of things I've started (as well as two dishcloths that i've made recently from leftover scraps). I'm on a recycle yarn kick.

MS3

2007-07-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

Since the beads arrived I've been going nuts and slowly (as i don't want to make many mistakes) I've been working on the Mystery shawl 3. I'm almost done clue one (although I took the picture a dozen rows ago you can see it's going to be amazing and beautiful).
I also made Lana a shrug/bolero and managed to use a good chunk of stash. I also bequeathed her some of my stash for her Adam's birthday sweater. It's going to kick much ass when she's done it.

Socks socks and more socks

2007-07-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

I've been busy, just not busy taking pictures... I finished two pairs of socks and had a tragic mishap with the leaf cardigan that won't be discussed as of yet (let's just say the harlot is right... knitting vortex best laid plans and swatches). However I managed to pull a pair of bordello socks out in under a week (close call) and prior to that had finished a pair of flame socks from interweaves 25 timeless patterns and two balls of cascade fixation yummy.
I'm starting a lace back tank from No sheep for you for myself. And on top of that knitting a henry rollins doll (From snb nation) for a friend. I guess being busy is what I do best some times. I started on the sleeve for the harley siewash, and sewed in all the ends from the back and fronts and seamed the shoulders. I'll have to wait until it gets less warm out until i finsh the siewash though its just too warm for summer knitting.

No Sheep Swap Yay!

2007-06-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

Today in the mail was a package, one I was truely not expecting. It's from my "secret pal" in the No Sheep For You SWAP. The package was not only enjoyed by me but as you can see Frankie and Beatle took to it as well. I wasn't expecting so much stuff, I really have to send out a big big thank you to SvenGirly who totally made my week.

Shaped Triangle Shawl from A Gathering Of Lace

2007-06-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm using some Alpaca from a local Alpaca farm that I got at the Golden Willow. It's an insanely goregous black grey (the camera really doesn't catch the greatness) 80% alpaca/20% merino. Mom got me it for my birthday. Now only will it keep me warm when i am cold but it also helps support local alpaca farmers (which I am more than all about).
The pattern itself is complex, but as this is my second shawl pattern (two Tuscany's before this is all the shawl experiance i have) I'm taking it slow and double checking everything. But seriously this yarn is a treat for me it's so lush i find myself just petting it. *love love*

Harley Siewash Front peices

2007-06-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the front peices finally being blocked... as well as a close up of the designs on the front of the siewash. I know it looks big but it is for a 4XL person whose measurements I have on hand. Once I've blocked both peices it'll be onto the sleeves and then it's all button bands and collars and seaming.

My First Free Sock Pattern

2007-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

Escher
By: Sadie Domes-Bellegarde

SIZE
Womans M/L

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Leg: 7 inches un-stretched 10 inches stretched.
Length: you decide

MATERIALS
[MC] Trekking pro natura [75% New Wool 25% bamboo; 459y/420m per 100g skein]; color: 1600; 1 skeins

#1 set of 5 US #2/2.75mm double-point needles

notions required:
-tapestry needle
-stitch marker

PATTERN NOTES
1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
Round 1: [K1, p1] to end.
Repeat Round 1 for 1x1 Rib.

Sl1-K1-Psso
Slip one stitch knitwise, knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over.

Any specific stitches to your pattern or necessary notes

PATTERN

Leg:
Using long-tail cast on, CO 71 sts. Divide stitches as evenly as possible across needles. Join being careful not to twist stitches. Work in 1x1 rib for 1 inch.

Round 1) P2, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, Sl1-K1-Psso *P3, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, Sl1-K1-Psso, Rep from * to last two stitches, P2.
Round 2, 4, 6, 8) P2, K11 *P3, K11, Rep from * to last two stitches P2.
Round 3) P2, K2tog, K2, YO, K3, YO, K2, Sl1-K1-Psso, *P3, K2tog, K2, YO, K3, YO, K2, Sl1-K1-Psso, Rep from * to last two stitches P2.
Round 5) P2, K2tog, K1, YO, K5, YO, K1, Sl1-K1-Psso *P3, K2tog, K1, YO, K5, YO, K1, Sl1-K1-Psso, Rep from * to last two P2.
Round 7) P2, K2tog, YO, K7, YO, Sl1-K1-Psso, *P3, K2tog, YO, K7, YO, Sl1-K1-Psso, Rep from * to last two stitches P2.
Round 9) K1 *YO, K3, Sl1-K1-Psso, P3, K2tog, K3, YO, K1, Rep from * to end of round.
Round 10, 12, 14) K6, P3, *K11 P3 Rep from * to last six stitches K6.
Round 11) K2, YO, K2, Sl1-K1-Psso, P3, K2tog, K2 *YO, K3, YO, K2, Sl1-K1-Psso, P3 K2tog, K2, Rep from * to last two stitches YO, K2.
Round 13)K3, YO, K1, Sl1-K1-Psso, P3, K2tog, K1 *YO, K5, YO, K1 Sl1-K1-Psso, P3, K2tog, K1, Rep from * to last three stitches YO, K3.
Round 15) K4, YO, Sl-1K1-Psso, P3, K2tog *YO, K7, YO, Sl1-K1-Psso, P3, K2tog, Rep from * to last four stitches YO, K4.
Round 16)K6, P3 *K11, P3, Rep from * to the last six stitches K6.
Repeat Rounds 1-16 three times.

Heel
Row 1)Knit 18 sts, turn.
Row 2)Sl1, P35.
These stitches form the heel that will be worked back and forth.
Row 3) *Sl1, K1, Rep from * to end of row.
Row 4) Sl1, Purl to end of row
Repeat rows three and four 15 times more.

Turn Heel
Row 1 [RS]: K20, ssk, K1, turn
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, K6, ssk, K1, turn
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 5 [RS]: Sl1, K8, ssk, K1, turn
Row 6 [WS]: Sl1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 7 [RS]: Sl1, K10, ssk, K1, turn
Row 8 [WS]: Sl1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 9 [RS]: Sl1, K12, ssk, K1, turn
Row 10 [WS]: Sl1, P13, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 11 [RS]: Sl1, K14, ssk, K1, turn
Row 12 [WS]: Sl1, P15, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 13 [RS]: Sl1, K16, ssk, K1, turn
Row 14 [WS]: Sl1, P17, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 15 [RS]: Sl1, K18, ssk, turn
Row 16 [WS]: Sl1, P18, P2tog, turn
You will now have 20 stitches of the heel worked.

Gusset
Using one needle knit 10. This will now be the start of the round.
Using a separate needle knit remaining 10. Pick up and knit 16 sts where you have slipped stitches along the edge of the heel.
Needle 2 and 3: K2tog, K1, and then continue working established pattern starting with row one until last until last three sts K1, K2tog. You will now have 33 sts on Needles 2 and 3.
Needle 4: Pick up and knit 16 sts and knit 10 sts of the heel ending the round.

Round 1)Needle 1 knit to last 3 sts on needle one, K2tog, K1. On needles 2 and 3 K2, continue working pattern as established to last 2 sts, K2. Needle 4 K1, ssk, k to end of needle.
Round 2)Needle 2 k all sts, Needles 2 and three K2 continue working pattern as established to last 2 sts, K2. Needle 4 k all sts.
Repeat Round 1 and 2 until 19 sts remain on Needles 1 and 4.

Foot

Continue in pattern. Working sts on Needles 1 and 4 in stockinette st and sts on Needles 2 and 3 in pattern as established, until work measures approx. 1.5-2 inches less than desired length. Ending with Round 9, 10, 15 or 16.

Toe
Use favorite toe shaping method.

FINISHING
Graft stitches together using kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends. Block if desired.
Make second sock.
Wear!

*Note: This is the first time I've created a pattern so bear with me if there are any glitches. I knitted the second sock based on the pattern which i wrote while i made the first sock.

belated update

2007-05-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

Finished the Queen of Cups socks (from knitty.com) and one of my socks I'm designing. Also finished the front left side of the harley siewash. Started on the other side. After I'm done with that I really want to get started on something that's just me, for me. It's been a while (since the knitting nature pullover i finished after x-mass) since i made something other than socks for me. 90% of this of course is that I'm on a wool diet and have an abundance of redheart supersaver I can't think of what to do with.
I've decided that after I get rid of all the redheart supersaver I'm only going to use.... real fiber. In so much as I think it's time I started investing in really good yarns in order to make less peices but peices that will stand up to time better than say..... 100% acrylic.
The sea wool is still overwhelmingly goregous. I think i'd like to make something out of that.... like a sweater or hoodie.
But first to finish this siewash. And my socks.... and mom's gift... gotta find a good pattern for that one...

Hand Spun by Yours Truely

2007-05-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yarn: Handspun by me :) and modeled by a lovely styrofoam ball.
Pattern: augmented version of knitty's "madge"
Time: Less than three periods of hockey.

Sock Love heart heart

2007-05-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Yarn: Sea Wool by Handmaiden
Pattern: "bordello socks" came with yarn.
Needles: 3mm
Time: less than a week

I Am IN LOVE with sea wool, it's so soft. It caresses your hands. It makes you want to knit even when the knitter hangover settles into your wrists and pinky fingers.
I am currently wearing said socks and wish I never had to take them off. Seriously, major thanks go out to the fine proprietoress of Golden Willow Natural Fibre who steered me in the direction of this fine fine sock.

Harley Davidson Siewash back finished

2007-04-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

And blocking... Ta-Da!

Socks from Interweave...

2007-04-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

And aren't they Goregous?
In Opal Parti.

Tuscany take two and the Harley Siewash

2007-04-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

80% of the back of uncle Mike's Siewash in progress. I think it's coming along nicely.... slow but nicely.
I made it for Mom useing yarn from my stash, as part of the whole "Knit from your stash" project.

The No Sheep For You Shawl

2007-04-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

I made Tuscany from No Sheep For You and substituted Makalu Yarns Bamboo Ribbon it turned out great. I'm going to give it to a friend for her birthday.

Finished Socks!

2007-04-04T02:10:00.001-07:00

Here they are Knitty's "Monkey"http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter06/PATTmonkey.html

Knit in: Opal Smoke.

monkey see monkey do

2007-04-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Of course when I saw the Monkey Pattern in Knitty I knew I just had to do it.

So here's the progress on the second sock (done in Opal's Smoke)

Flickr

2007-04-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

Knitty's Center Square... my sister in law won it in a Chrismas gift draw.

Mt first pair of socks (gifted to mom as shown wearing them here).

For pictures of myself, my knitted things and of course my beloved fured four-legged loved ones, check out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35406656@N00/

some FO's

2007-04-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

My Alafoss fair-aisle.

This horrible picture does not do it justice.

The famed "roughriders" sweater for my brother.... a labor of love truely

Hello and welcome to the new knitting journal...

2007-04-01T22:23:00.001-07:00

Livejournal just wasn't working for my knitting needs so here I go, trying a new kind of thing.

Blue Ruin

NEW BLOG

Guess what I did this weekend...

I'm getting better at this posting thing

idle chatter

Retrograde Retrospective

I know I promised more yarny goodness (and it is coming)

the prodigal's return

updates in the land of the knitterly love

Tour de Fleece and Socks

week end accomplishments

Written Out Mermaids Lagoon Sock Chart.

Mer Socks

It's here!

Plagues, carding, socks, and Poe.

The yarn gods smile

No photos here sadly

I give you Tori Amos Inspired Roving

dying arts

Waiting

Apollo (or my newest find)

The dreaded "C" word, and Lambchop

I have been knitting... I swear

When there's papers due, and the power goes out, I turn to.... carding.

dyeing and spinning

Purple and beyond

pre-purple, poe club, hats and the exploding plastic enevitable

Shirkin homework (or at least taking a break)

Spring, makes me think of lighter knits

February keeps rollin, and so do I... in ways.

bouncing off of clouds

Organization takes hold...

The christmas haul and other tales

I swear I haven't forgotten you, I've been busy!

logic breaks and surprizers galore.

Inbetween days.

Agribition 08

Hot Chocolate and Essay Breaks.

So this is october

101 in 1001. Start date.... NOW.

baby blankets and berets.

Ahh it's been a while mi corazon

A day without rain.

Socks and Shawls oh my.

ahh finals are done

Since the papers have landed.

The haul

can't let her spread her sickness

Oh mah Gawd (the Koigu has landed)

things in the mix

Coriolis socks of scraptacular goodness

Finally some pictures.

Long time No Post

Sorry No FO's

Pingouin

Socks socks and more socks

RAVELRY

Flame wave socks from interweave

Everlasting Bagstopper

variations on a theme

baby jackets everywhere!

Plyed Yarn! (and things in prorgress)

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Suprize Jacket

MS3

MS3

Socks socks and more socks

No Sheep Swap Yay!

Shaped Triangle Shawl from A Gathering Of Lace

Harley Siewash Front peices

My First Free Sock Pattern

belated update

Hand Spun by Yours Truely

Sock Love *heart heart*

Harley Davidson Siewash back finished

Socks from Interweave...

Tuscany take two and the Harley Siewash

The No Sheep For You Shawl

Finished Socks!

monkey see monkey do

Flickr

Sock Love heart heart