Liza's Fibers

Pomcho with Pompoms

2011-12-29T17:30:00.002-05:00

Poncho With Pompoms

Materials

300-400 yds bulky weight yarn

Needles #8 circular 32"; either another #8 circular 26"-32" or 14" #8

4 markers; 3 removable markers ; row counter if needed

Size 2-4 years old

Gauge

Finished Dimensions 24" across straight across bottom; 23 1/2" from edge of collar to center from. Will fit a 2-4 year old.

Cast on 170 sts and connect, joining 1st and last stitch to ease the jog.

Bottom Edge: Rows 1-4 Make a four ridge garter band:* P 1 round, K 1round* Repeat 3 times

1st Section: begin the decreases First row. *Knit 2; pm (sm in all subsequent rows) ; k2tog; Knit to last 4 sts; SSK; pm (sm in all subsequent rows) ; K2 * Repeat once ( till the end of the first round). Put a marker or something to indicate the beginning of the round (will be between the 4 sts between two markers). Knit 3 rounds. Repeat these 4 rows until there are 124 sts

2nd Section *Knit 2; sm ; k2tog; Knit to last 4 sts; SSK; sm ; K2 * Repeat once till end of round. K 2 rounds. Repeat these three rounds. Until there are 120 sts At the same time work on the Neck opening. When there are 108 stitches, begin the neck opening.

On the first round, P 1st and last st; 2nd round- k all sts

3rd & 4th round - p 1st two and last two sts; 4th round - k all sts

5&6th round - p 1st 3 and last 3 sts; 6th round - k all sts

7th round - p 1st 4 and last 4 sts. 120 sts but if not continue purling every other row the 8 stitches which straddle the beginning and end of the round until there are only 120 sts.

Neck Opening Switch to straight needles or add another circular needle. as usual, turning the work at the end of the row. Keep the garter ridges (4 sts on either side of the opening) along the neck opening. For a tidy edge, use the chain edge stitch (see below).

*Knit 2; sm ; k2tog; Knit to last 4 sts; SSK; sm ; K2 * Repeat once till end of row. P next round. Repeat these two rows until there are 92 sts. In the next purl row, pm (removable markers in a different style and /or color than the center front and back decreases) for the shoulder shaping after the 23rd and 69th sts.

Shoulders: Row 1: [RS] Decrease as usual at the neck and back edges. For the shoulder decreases, K to 2 sts before the 1st new marker and slip these two onto right needle, k next st and psso. Repeat before next marker.

Row 2. [WS] P

Repeast Rows 1 & w until there are 52 sts. The work is now divided into 4 sections, each having the same number of odd numbers of sts. End with decrease right side k row.

Neck Row 1: WS K

Row 2: RS make opening for i-cord - k1 *k2, YO* to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1

K 4 rows, cast off knitwise.

Make 36" icord and lace through openings. Make 2 1 1/2" pompoms and attach to end of icord after lacing it through the

FINISHING Sew in ends, wash and lay flat to shape and then give it to the lucky toddler/child

YO Yarn over

Psso Pass slipped stitches over the knitted st

St(s) stitch(es)

P purl

K knit

Pm place marker

Sm slip marker

SSK :slip two sts knitwise, slip back onto left hand needle and knit both at the same time

K2tog; put right hand needle into 2nd st from live end on left needle and knit the two together

Chain edge: just before last stich on needle, bring yarn forward pick up the horizontal thread and put it on the right hand needle, slip the last st onto right hand needle, turn work and knit the last first st (formerly the last!) together with the loop.

RS Right Side

WS Wrong Side

Pink Beaded Lace Scarf

2011-11-28T11:26:00.004-05:00

Yarn: Tilli Tomas Symphony Lace "Hope" (light pink)Lace / 2 ply

63% Mohair, 18% Nylon, 10% Silk, 9% Wool 345 yards/50 grams

Needles: #2.5-3
Pattern based on Artful Yarns "One Skein Portrait Scarf". Multiples of 7 +2
For a narrow scarf which will be about 5.5' cast on 58 sts. For a wider 4.5' scarf cast on 72 sts.
Row 1 start pattern: CE (don't start this edge stitch until the third row), K1 *Yo, K1, sl1 purlwise, K2tog, slip slipped stitch over the K2tog, K1, YO, K2* Repeat from *to* to last two stitches, Yo, Ki, CE(don't start this edge stitch until the third row).
Row 2 and every even row, CE, K until last stitch CE (don't start this edge stitch until the third row).

CE = chain edge (see previous posts)

Baby Crossover Coat...Again

2011-05-23T09:07:00.002-04:00

I love this pattern -- I've been working on it and have the 6-9 month size worked out pretty well, I hope. On my first go-around this time I saw the sleeves had puckered and were very tight. I'd picked up the stitches at the shoulder very firmly, crossing the loops. Big mistake. So I took apart the sweater, frogged the sleeves and began again, picking up many fewer and making the sleeves longer.

Machine Knitting Is Not For Me

2011-05-18T09:16:00.002-04:00

What a relief -- I've tried and decided not to pursue yet another fiber habit! Yayyyyy! Last weekend I took a lovely, well-run and presented workshop "Introduction to Machine Knitting" at Peters Valley Craft Center, my favorite fiber learning center. Frances Collier did a lovely job of teaching us how to use no-longer manufactured Brother machines. As invited to, I'd brought my own machine, purchased a couple of summers ago at the North Country Spinners Sell & Swap Day. I bought it from a most reliable friend. But, I'd never used it.
My father, always entranced by any machine that made things, had bought a machine at the PX when I was little. I'd learned to use it but didn't really know what to make with it. In those days I didn't have a stash, for one thing. So I was intrigued to try again.
By noon of the first day of the workshop I knew I was going to leave my machine with one of the young fiber artists also taking the class!
It just isn't my cup of tea. The repetitive, noisy motion would interfere with any audiobook enjoyment and perhaps cause injury? And I don't like the fabric -- it looks like something I'd buy in Walmart, if I ever did buy anything there. Even after Fran felted some of our stuff, I knew I would never use it. And, I love the extra room in the house now that it's gone! It was about 40" wide and had all its parts except the metal hook attaching the ribbing element to the knitting handle whoosie thing. It was a really good experience, actually, to cross something off the list!

Grandmother's Delight

2011-05-01T11:17:00.012-04:00

In April 2009 I finished an EZ Baby Surprise Jacket for my grandson [the post is at http://lizasfibers.blogspot.com/2009/04/ezs-baby-surprise-jacket.html]. The next fall [see post http://lizasfibers.blogspot.com/2009/11/ez-baby-surprise-altered-and-mittens-to.html] I lengthened the sleeves as my grandson was growing out of it and the short sleeves of this design weren't working for him. The only comment from the recipient's mother at the time was a lesson on how to use color better when knitting. And yesterday the recipient's father advised me on the errors I had made knitting the buttonholes; his fingers had trouble getting the [adorable vehicular] novelty buttons through without catching the yarn.

To my eternal delight yesterday I learned that until very recently said grandson had adored this sweater. Despite his parents' protestations he insisted on wearing it and until the last possible moment. I could tell 'cause the last button hole was pulled out of shape and he's not in the tubby department.

My grandson has a new baby sister thus the sweater will shortly have a new wearer. So Granny nabbed the sweater, assured the mother she didn't care if it needed washing and took it home to work on. We will look for big round buttons to make it easier for granddaughter's dad's big fingers to button it on her. And, I will put the charming vehicular buttons on a new sweater for my grandson. (See the first link for a view of the buttons or my Ravelry page.)

I sit here grinning in the knowledge -- two years after I finished it -- that the little person I made the jacket for loved it. It's all worth it.

P.S. My D.B. had no problem maneuvering the buttons in and out of the button holes as neither did I. Just checking....

Ribbed Ear Warmer

2011-02-08T21:38:00.010-05:00

Materials: 1/3 - 1/2 skein of Noro Silk Garden
#5 needles 16" circular
For Adult Small, very loosely cast on 71 sts.
When joining the end of the first row to the beginning, being very careful not to twist the row, knit together the first and last stitches to help ease the jog.
*Purl 4 rounds, knit 4 rounds* 4 times, purl 3 rows and bind off loosely. (Knit on the reverse side if you don't like to purl.)
Sew in ends. If either the cast off or the cast on edge is slightly tighter that's okay -- the tighter edge will be the top of the ear warmer, farthest from the fast.
The right side has five purl ridges. For larger or smaller sizes, add or subtract sts but maintain the same number of rows/ridges. This is nice and stretchy and is quite flattering. And, thank you to my kind model!

First Weaving Project

2011-02-04T18:28:00.006-05:00

It's been forever since I posted. This is how I spent my summer vacation -- last August. Following the suggestions in Deborah Chandler's Learning to Weave, a truly fabulous introduction for the novice weaver and having completed the sampler (see earlier blog), I designed some placements for my dear friend who loves these colors.

Don't you love this wonderful piece of equipment. I was very lucky to buy this excellent warping board from a New York Handweavers Guild member in my neighborhood who no longer uses it. It's just gorgeous by itself and even lovelier with the yarn on. When not in use it makes a handy hat peg board. The weaving went pretty well. Even tho'
I thought I knew just how much loom waste to allow for, I hadn't calculated quite enough. When I began the 4th mat I only allowed 2" between them for fringe. That wasn't enough extra so by the end the rod was almost touching the heddles and I was throwing the shuttle very, very carefully as the shafts kept coming off the bobbin loop thingy that goes through a spool on the castle. I am still learning all this new vocabulary! But, in the end it all worked out. Marsha cut the fringes beautifully and Maria and Shawn were very pleased.

Color Work Project

2010-09-22T10:49:00.006-04:00

I've been working with Margaret Radcliffe's new book, The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques and really like it. To practice some of the techniques, I made a number of afghan blocks for the Stettenheim Stitchers' charity project.

Weaving Sampler

2010-09-20T23:48:00.004-04:00

I spent some of my vacation this year working on the first 3 chapters of Deborah Chandler's Learning to Weave. It's the perfect sort of primer for me. I wove a sampler, using Harrisville's Shetland Style in Midnight Blue and Wedgewood (discontinued). It isn't fulled it yet. The little Harrisville loom I bought from Elisa which was really fun to use.

EZ Baby Surprise Altered and Mittens to Match

2009-11-08T19:10:00.004-05:00

This week I improvised, quite successfully, lengthened sleeves for Ari's Baby Surprise Jacket, (despite negative design criticism, I might add!). The sleeves were about 5", which now looks silly on him, although the jacket is still long enough. So, I picked up 40 sts along the sleeve edges on #6 dps. Make sure to pick up enough around the seam line -- but not too many or it will flare out at that point. I knit for 1" and then decreased on either side of the underarm center. Decrease again at just under 7" and 8", then again at 8.75", 9.5" and 10.25". Now there are 28 sts. on the needles. Bind off very loosely at 11". I did this to make a cuff with the darker colorway covering the white and resulting in a 9" sleeve. Ari seems to grow up rather than out so I wanted to make the sleeves long enough.

As for the mittens, I improvised, using the sleeve edge circumference as a guide. I cast on 28 sts, ribbed in k1p1 for 2". I like nice long mitten cuffs to keep the snow out in case snow suit jackets don't have nice, tight knitted cuffs. Using a twisted st pattern for a thicker, warmer fabric, I began the thumb gusset 1 row after the rib. I made the thumb gusset 9 sts and will start to decrease for the top at about 3.25" from the cuff. I was very pleased when I checked in Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns that my instincts had been right on the money for my gauge of 5.5 in the twisted st.

NCS Guild Project

2009-10-12T00:04:00.003-04:00

Today I began to turn washed CVM fleece into usable fiber. First I used the great digital scale my sister gave me for my birthday last year and divided both the white and colored fleece into equal parts. That way I can spin two spools of each without guessing how much is half!
I set aside 1g of both so I could experiment to find out whether I should card or comb or do something else. I pulled some of the locks apart. It's lovely, soft and very fine. And only a little vm. The brown is a little neppy, tho'. Carding is not my favorite fiber prep -- I've never really grown fully adept. Nevertheless, it's less painstaking and wasteful than coming so I tried that first. I made a little rolad [photo]. Then I took out my mini combs and tried some. I love the way all the little ends stick out together. If it worked with the mini combs, I thought it might work with the double combs. And , it did -- beautifully. I do hate the waste but I'll put it in the "to-be-carded" bag and see. It can always be stuffing for pillows.
I combed all the brown/red today. It's lots of different shades, which will be fun.

Seaman's Scarf and Hat

2009-10-07T23:35:00.003-04:00

Last year my boss popped into my office with a plastic bag containing the contents of his mother's stash. The 3 acrylic yarns were red heart and the needles the good old aluminum #7 double points (bits of two sets; did she lose one, as I have, on the bus?). I decided to use these yarns for charity knitting. At work we have a Sunday Lunch program which gives out bags of lunch to at least 100 people. In 2007/8 they decided to involve the "Stitch 'n' Time" charity knitting group to make hats and scarves to hand out with the lunch. I started mine last February but I've spent a lot of time this year not really able to knit much so I'm only now just finished. But, I made sure to start another scarf right away with the third skein.
The white in the hat was actually a fairly stiff aran weight which I used I saw I wouldn't have enough to knit the whole hat. But, I rather like the striped top and hope the recipient does!

Washing Fleece in a City Apartment

2009-10-06T22:43:00.006-04:00

The North Country Spinner's "guild challenge" this year involves CVM (California Variegated Mutant)/ Romeldale fleece. Interweave's Spin-Off Magazine is featuring (or featured?) skeins made from unprocessed, raw fleece. Our programs chair ran out of the fleece before each member received the bag she was entitled to so I was without my fleece for a few months. Very kindly and generously Mary M., who owns some Romeldale, gave me a present of some raw fleece. Finally I got my bag from the guild! So, I did end up with a fair amount. And, in the photo you can see the trusty aforesaid mesh bag on the drying rack!

Although I love the way raw fleece smells, I confess I did bag it up in plastic for the trip back to town. There isn't any vegetable matter, which is very nice.

My apartment has a lovely, old (1941) double sink. One side is deep enough to wash a toddler, as my children will attest. In the 40's some people actually did their own laundry by hand so I 'spose that's why that sink was installed. Anyway, it's wonderful for crafters. I zippered the greasy, wonderfully sheep-smelly fleece into a fine-mesh laundry bag, put a big bucket in the sink and filled it with 1/8 c. original Dawn dish detergent and filled it with the hottest water possible. Thank goodness for apartment building water heaters! Then I dunked the bag into the water, pushed it down and swished it very gently to make sure the fiber was getting soaked through. But, I was very gentle and careful not to cause it to felt. Immediately the water turned brown. I let the fleece soak for a while, pulled it out and refilled the bucket with a little Dawn and equally hot water. Then, I rinsed it in several buckets of water at the same temperature. The bag makes the whole process so much easier -- I wish I'd thought of it years ago. After spinning the bag in my salad spinner to get the excess water out I spread out clumps of fiber on a sweater rack on the wooden clothes rack, dividing the white from the brown. It took about 24 hours to dry thoroughly but it's just lovely and I can't wait to spin it. Thank you, Mary!

Two More Bathmats

2009-10-04T13:45:00.002-04:00

Not only am I finishing up a huge addition made to the stash in August of kitchen cotton, but I am providing the D.B. with two more bathmats that she loves! There will be about six ounces of the colors left over and they will become charming Swiffer cozies! These are wonderfully quick to make and very satisfactory all around.

The VERY Late Socks for Scott

2009-09-30T00:30:00.000-04:00

I promised my patient (but now, quite understandably grumbly) son-in-law socks about three years ago. I showed him the beautiful yarns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. They are Copper and Rooster Rock in Socks That Rock, medium weight. At the same time I showed him the booklet BMFA publishes with ideas for fair isle work with their yarns. All well and good until I actually began a swatch this spring. When I actually knit the two yarns I fell in love with them. The monochrome Copper is a perfect foil for Rooster Rock. Rooster Rock has all the tints you'd expect from a naturally-dyed tweed from the Shetland Islands. It is much too beautiful to use for stranded two-color knitting where the continuity of the color progressions would be lost. The colorway is elegant, actually, not one to play around with. It's a rare yarn that commands such respect.

It was a hard-going-summer with little time for knitting so I put this project aside -- again. At Rosh Hashanah my daughter reminded me that I was very, very late so I started again. Now she's upset that I've changed the pattern and may disappoint Scott. It would be foolish to spend all that time on something no one wants so I'm waiting for Scott's input.

Robert Polidori Disses Knitters

2009-09-29T22:49:00.001-04:00

On the 9/28/09 New Yorker Outloud podcast "Interiors" staff photographer Robert Polidori is scathing about knitters -- and his fellow photographers. Contemptuously he compares his fellow students who liked to work in the darkroom developing photos to women who like to knit. He was quite scathing. Stupid man, doesn't he realize he's a craftsperson, too? He's using a tool to capture what is before his lens; knitters use their tools to make yarn into fabrics. Not that different!

Yellow Dress Socks

2009-09-29T17:06:00.004-04:00

One of a series, knit on US 0 / 2.0 mm circular needles. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Superwash solid in light yellow #84.0114, ordered from Yarn forward. I used up almost all the 412 yds -- it was nip and tuck, actually. These were requested by the D.B. as "dress socks" to go with the black I knit last year. Her very favorite sock pattern is the basket weave rib, a 12-row pattern that becomes more rote the more you knit it. And, I've had plenty of practice. Finished August 2009.

I love Lang Jawoll -- it remains very soft and wears extremely well.

Cast on 96 sts (to fit generous calf) in k2p2 rib. Continue for about 1.25" to 1.5" then begin the basket weave rib. At 3" begin decreasing at each side of center back every four rows until there are 72 sts. 1" = c.12 rows but adjust if it doesn't because it's nicer if there's an inch or a bit over of 72 sts. Begin heel. Heel flap is about 2.25" or with c. 22 st loops to pick up for the gusset. I like to continue the pattern on the foot but it's a little tricky 'cause the pattern doesn't come out exactly even. On one side there are two extra sts, on the other, one (or so). Place a marker at the purl stitch at each side so you don't get confused. For the D.B. I work 6.5" from heel flap and begin a round toe, decreasing evenly on two sides of four points around the needles. Remember to knit one plain row after ending pattern before beginning decrease. Decrease until there are 16 sts. left, donkey ear the 4 end sts and use the kitchener to create a lovely ridgeless toe.

Green Cashmere Helmet and Mittens Set

2009-09-25T16:49:00.001-04:00

I knit this a year ago but Ari was too little for it. Now I hope he's not too big! It's the Convertible Cloud Helmet by Elanor Lynn in Cozy Knits for Cuddly Babies (Country Living) . I used US 8 / 5.0 mm and US 10 / 6.0 mm needles instead of the instead of the #9 and #10.5 called for as I knit very loosely. The set took 2 skeins Filatura Di Crosa Aiko (20% polyamide & 80% cashmere)in #31 Bright Green. It's a fluffly, bulky yarn

North Warren Regional High School Scarf (NCS) #2

2009-09-23T20:11:00.002-04:00

Here's the other scarf I made. The yarn was North Country Spinners' stash yarn from old projects and donations. It looks look Brown Sheep single ply. In dyeing it'd become rather brittle. The turquoise yarn turned my hands blue as I knitted with it, especially if I had hand lotion on. But, it is such a spectacular combination the anonymous guild dyers had created that it was well worth it. When finished, I washed it till most of the color stopped running and then rinsed it with creme rinse to soften the fiber. The Guild was knitting scarves to support the North Warren Regional High School Band.

Fisherman's T Finally Finished

2009-09-21T08:48:00.006-04:00

Hooray, I finally finished this and just in time for Rosh Hashanah. And with my right hand in a cast! The little yellow buttons were purchased at the button stand at the Garden State Sheep Breeders show the weekend before. Luckily washing it in hot water and putting it in a hot dryer until almost dry did full the sweater a little. I'm pleased that it turned out well enough to give my little grandson; however, I was not pleased by the fabric or hand which was uncharacteristically uneven for me. My daughter appreciates that it can be washed and dried -- she has enough to do without blocking baby sweaters. Ummhh, what shall I knit next?

I ended up using just over three balls of Filatura di Crosa Dolce Amore #5 (lime green). This is an awful yarn to work with on this kind of project -- it splits as you look at it. The photo below shows a join in the middle of the fabric -- which is unavoidable when knitting in the round. With this yarn.

For a winter sweater, I'd try in fingering weight in Baby Ull 7436 teal green and again make sleeves full length. Also DB Baby Cashmerino #340003 (light sage green).

The swatch was 4.5"(wide) x 5" (high) before washing was very loose. After washing and drying in hot water and dryer, a little more pulled together but only about 1/2" loss of height.

Problem Sweater for Ari

2009-09-09T00:15:00.004-04:00

I have grown to loathe knitting with any cotton but thick kitchen cotton or tightly plied cotton in any grist. This summer I've been knitting away at a lovely pattern which I've adapted somewhat by lengthening the sleeves. It's Oat Couture's "Fisherman's T-shirt for Baby". For some reason, now unknown to me, probably because I had the yarn and liked it in the skein, I used Filatura Di Crosa Dolce Amor in colorway #5, lime green. I will have probably used almost four balls. But, it's a very splitty yarn and I'm knitting it on #0 and #2 needles. The knitting went quickly enough but it is the most unforgiving yarn I've ever used so my hand, which is usually very even on both sides, looks just awful. I'm praying that a ride through a hot washer followed by a tumble in a hot dryer will full it a little and even up the stitches.

The final blow was that I didn't cast off the neckline tightly enough so it sort of waffled. See the photo! But, I frogged it back to the neck cast off and both front and back are much more acceptable. I'm even beginning to like it. And, it's the perfect weight for a fall sweater.

Another Lovely Dyepot Day at NCS Guild

2009-09-08T23:00:00.000-04:00

From left to right:
1. logwood
2. quebracho -- 2nd dyeing (it's a lighter pink)
3. onion skins -- it must have lain right on them 'cause there interesting watermarks all over the scarf. Most funky
4. quick dip in the onion skin then immersion in 2nd dyeing of logwood. Beige under the purple.
5. walnut -- deep rich golden bronze
6. quebracho -- 1st dyeing (darker, almost fuschia pink)
Last Friday was the annual natural dyepot day for North Country Spinners. I just love it. This year, tho', we only had the guild pots. Jean, who usually brings a big pot of golden rod was ill and unable to attend. Wishing Jean a speedy recovery! So, I only dyed silk scarves which are really pretty useless as I don't wear them and very few people I know do. However, I'm hoping they make little presents that will please 'cause the colors were just lovely.

Yet Another Bathmat

2009-09-02T09:45:00.003-04:00

I've been just delighted with a stash of 30 balls of kitchen cotton I scored at North Country Spinners annual Swap & Sell Day last month. Actually, it's a wonderful opportunity to exchange stashes, for some of us and for others, to take advantage of others' need to destash! It takes just over 16 oz to make this bathmat on #7. That works out to 3.20 balls of solid 2.5oz balls plus 4.1 balls of 2oz variagated balls.

So, there I was, knitting on the way to visit our good friends in Wildwood when I realized that the colors of the bathmat would work perfectly in their downstairs / guest bathroom. What a charm it is to make this practical item. I started it Thursday evening and if I hadn't greated a great rat's nest of a tangle, I would have finished it Saturday evening. As it was, I finished it early (for me) Sunday morning. Et, voila (we'd seen Julie and Julia the previous evening!)

2009-08-25T23:22:00.000-04:00

I love kitchen cotton. At my wonderful spinning guild's annual Swap & Sell Day early this month I bought some at a ridiuclously low (but very fair) price . Wow! I can't wait to make all sorts of mats and practical things like Swiffer covers.

Lei Scarves With Hairpin Lace Loom (NCS #1 for North Warren Regional High School)

2009-08-24T10:19:00.006-04:00

My spinning guild's project for the the year was making scarves to support the North Warren High School Band. So, here's what I've done -- they're due on Labor Day weekend and luckily I'm just about finished. Friend E and her sister C are the lovely models! Thanks, ladies!

I used a hairpin lace loom to make two of these scaves from Filati FF Kristha Multi Bulky / 12 ply ribbon yarn . Each skein was 66yds and the finished "lei" was well over 72" when stretched. The ribbon yarn was great to use for this technique as it doesn't twist all up as it does when knitting. Dye lot: 5113; Colorway: 204 jewel tone multi.

I finished the wool scarf today and will blog it tomorrow.

Special Requests

2009-08-23T22:15:00.003-04:00

Our friend Elaine recently told us that her sister would love another of the little cloths I gave her when she had breast cancer. It happened I had three versions waiting for a home. How lovely to have a fan. And, instead of a fan dance, she did a sort of doily / facecloth dance. Whatever works.

Sorry about the focus, or rather, the lack thereof.

Funky Retro Hot Pads

2009-06-03T16:27:00.006-04:00

Lots of fun -- made in a day. Vertigo had hit so I couldn't see very well and I was confined to inactivity. mainly bed. I had to do something while I listened to a book -- David Plotz' Good Book. So, I decided to use The Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Double Worsted I've come to love for summer knitting. Colors:
1. Leftover from cones, 55.3 yards in colorway #95 Red
2. 1 skein (50.0 yards )in colorway #203 Faded Glory reds, blues
3. 1 skein (50.0 yards)in colorway #194 Yorktown blues reds
4. 1 skein (50.0 yards)in colorway #193 Gettysburg blues
Needles: #9 wooden
For the pinwheels, cast on 12 stitches and knit all in short rows, decreasing one stitch every other row (at pointy end of pinwheel). About 10" in diameter diameter. Eight sections -- a little waffly but I bound the loose edges with a crochet borner. They'll pull together when washed and dried. The square -- I used the basic log cabin with my variation of one extra stitch at each end of the pick up row. Dimensions: 10.5" x 10". Bound with crochet to tighten up the edges.

Aren't they "ironic"? And, I really enjoyed Good Book. A day most profitably spent.

Peyote Stitch Bead Weaving

2009-05-25T23:44:00.005-04:00

For the May meeting of North Country Spinners guild member Jeanine shared her expertise in Peyote bead weaving. Unfortunately my eyes couldn't handle the tiny, albeit lovely beads in the kits provided -- after an hour I was seeing double and did so for the rest of the day! However, I am most fortunate to have a generous sister who is also a beader. She very kindly gave me some size 8 for me to practice on. I just knew I could master this technique and it was so satisfying to succeed after the frustration of not being able to do it at the guild workshop. Peyote stitch reminds me of cross stitch or needle point; it's quite logical and self-correcting. This weekend I made two of the sheep. There's also an adorable cat but I don't have the beads for that. My hope is that with enough practice I'll be able to use the gorgeous beads Jeanine provided and make those delicate little weavings.

The one on the left is for my sister; I plan to stitch it to a felted project bag. She also suggested that a cloud would look awfully nice in the deep and wide sky. Horror vacui? On the right is the first amulet I made. (I'm going to call it something else -- I'm very uncomfortable with the word "amulet.) It's a little funky, with an extra row of beads on either side and lots of starting and ending threads. We'll hang it up on the front door of our "country" house to indicate that a fiber artist lives there.

Can heavy beads withstand the weight if hung up? Will the sun rot the threads? I'll find out, won't I?

Cross-over Jacket for Reines Baby

2009-05-21T22:43:00.000-04:00

I loved this sweater which was rejected by the intended recipient because it's made from mother-friendly acrylic! So, I gave it to my wonderful volunteer for her new grandson and everyone, including the knitter, is happy.

Swiffer cozies reconsidered

2009-05-20T22:48:00.000-04:00

Now, why would I waste brain time on swiffer cozies? It's just that when I make presents for friends and family I have a horror of their being kindly accepted and then put away in some closet or drawer, to be taken out only to be given to charity. So, I decided to see if there were other mop covers out there. And, remembering that our friends, the intended recipients of the mop covers, are cleaning enthusiasts, I realized I ought not to use colored cotton if they were going to dip my little honies in chemicals like bleach. Or worse, in anything that would leave streaks on their walls. They actually wash their walls seasonally. What virtue.

Potholders...duh

2009-05-19T10:29:00.001-04:00

I can't find my favorite Ritz terry cloth potholders. And, I never think of knitting for myself. But, I had a breakthrough and I'm thrilled. There was this great Elmore Pisgah double worsted bright red yarn in the stash, just waiting to be useful. So I knitted up a test potholder -- 30 stitches on #8 wooden needles for 32 ridges, with enough yarn at cast-on (or off) for a generous loop. Before washing: 9 1/2" wide by 11" high. After washing, 9 1/2" wide by 9 1/2" high -- just what I wanted. I have enough for 4 nad have dug out several other balls of double worsted cotton -- tho' they're only 2oz and these potholders take 3oz. The finished one is good and thick but with the pliability you need to pick up a hot lid or something.

Angela's Shawl Resumed

2009-05-18T22:20:00.002-04:00

Hooray, I've resumed knitting my sister's Christmas (2008!) present. I had to "review" the lace edging of Meg Swansen's "Garter & Lace" shawl. I'm using some New Zealand yarn my daughter bought me: Sue Bateup 88% Mohair, 12% Wool. It was a breeze to knit till I got to the edge and then I lost heart. But, I understand it better now.

Thrifty Knitting

2009-05-11T09:11:00.005-04:00

Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm a fan. It's the practicality and the whimsey that attracts me to the Mason Dixon Knitting series. Now that Spring has come I'm preparing cotton projects for the hotter weather to come. In particular, I'm working on household items from last year's new release from Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner, Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines. Don't you just think swiffers, and all their ilk, are THE most wasteful cleaning product? Not to mention landfill stuffers? Some of my closest relatives and friends are, I'm afraid, avid consumers who now, as times have changed, are interested in the genius "Swifty" by Ann & Kay. I promised these as presents last December and my daughter wants one. But, cotton tending to mildew as it does, I think I'll make each recipient a few. What a perfect way to use up all my kitchen cotton odds and ends... Double thrift.

Finished Sweater and Vest for Grandson

2009-05-10T21:35:00.002-04:00

Yummy patterns from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Babies and Moms. The sweater was inspired by JoJo's Basic Crew Sweater. I added 2" 'cause the grandbaby is a long 'un. Also, because I like symmetry and I wasn't sure I had enough of the yellow, I made the sleeves the same. The Oz Vest, from the same book, has that funky little bit at the bottom of the v-neck with I don't like. Both are made in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino #340016 med green. The sweater used 1.2 skeins #340017, chartreuse yellow and 2.05 skeins of the medium green. The Oz Vest used 1.9 skeins. The color of the sweater is closer to reality than the Oz Vest which looks turquoise. #5 and #6 needles. I don't like stretched out bottom edges so I usually cast on 10% fewer stitches and increase in the first row after the ribbing. These are both size 18 months.

Organic Cotton Kimono

2009-04-26T07:59:00.000-04:00

For little Madeline, born in October 2008.

Natural color. I washed & dried a swatch and figured out the shrinkage – mostly vertical accounted for it. I measured the width and had to adjust to the largest size in the pattern, not the original newborn size intended. Garter stitch just stretches out, doesn’t it? I have come to loathe this “free” pattern from a back issue of Knits. The directions are more complicated than the structure which is pretty clever. And, it’s not sized correctly. Yes, I’ve checked my gauge. Cast on for small size – allowing for the shrinkage of my swatch – but it came out big enough for 24 month size for which it is an odd style.
Materials:

Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton, #786 Lipstick Natural 3.1 skeins, #3 needles.

Angora Bedsocks

2009-04-25T13:04:00.008-04:00

Materials
2 skeins Cleckheaton “Angora Supreme” 152 yds/139 mtrs per 50 grams. 70% lambswool and 30% angora. Held double. Listed as aran weight. Any bulky yarn may be substituted. Set of #11 double point needles (5 per set). Mine measures halfway between #11 & #13, stitch holder, darning needle
Gauge in garter stitch: 3 sts & 5.33 rows per 1”
Leg Cast on 29 sts in k2 p2 rib. Join, knitting the last k st together with 1st knit stitch of round to avoid a jog.
Continue in k2p2 for 2”. Begin dec. st. at beginning and at end of round every five rounds until 22 sts remain. At 5” begin garter pattern by purling a round, then knitting the next. (Continue to alternate k and p rounds thusly until the end of the toe.) After 1st garter ridge dec. again at beginning & end of round (20 sts. remain)
Heel After 5 ridges begin the short row heel at beginning of round. Row 1. k4, wrap 1 stitch, turn, keeping the garter stitch pattern.
Note: the heel sts will reflect that they are the beginning and end of the round so that the stitches from the 1st needle will be knit while the sts from the last needle (4th needle if using 5 needle set or 3rd needle if using 4 needle set) will be purled and vice versa. If you can use the center jog as a visual cue for switching between k & p, you can put the heel sts all on one needle but if you are concerned about getting confused, keep them on 2 needles (the 1st and 4th)
Row 2 K/P 8 sts, wrap 1 then turn.
Row 3 : K/P 7 sts, wrap 1 then turn
Rows 4-6 continue decreasing by 1 the k/p stitches before wrapping & turning
Rows 7 & 8: repeat Row 6 (k/p 1, k4, wrap & turn)
Row 9 K/P 5, wrap & turn.
Note: the 5th stitch in row 9 will have been wrapped. To avoid holes, pick up either the front or the back of the wrap and k/p with that stitch. Continue thusly as you pick up the sts previously wrapped. It helps to knit wrapped sts a little more tightly than the usual gauge.
Rows 10-12, continue to pick up an addition st as well as the front or back of its wrap.
Finish the heel by picking up the last wrapped st on the first needle and continue with the round. When you get to the beginning of the last needle, pick up one st from the hole that has been created by all the wrapping & turning. Pick up the 1st st on needle #4 (or #3 if using a 4-needle set) as well as the front or back wrap and the heel is done. It may look a little dicey at this point but don’t worry, it can be fixed easily. It actually improves as you knit.
Foot For an average foot. this means about 6” of additional garter st. With the gauge above it’s 16 ridges until the toe. In the last row before the toe, dec 1 st at the beginning of needle #4 (or #3—see above). There are now 20 sts.
Toe In the k row after the last garter ridge, begin dec. every other row 1 st at beginning of needles (for 4 needles). If you are using 3 needles, k 2 tog, k3 four times. Continue dec at same st until 8 sts left. End with k row and kitchener st together.
Finishing If there are big holes at the sides of the heel, pull gently together on inside with extra yarn & darning needle. Sew in cast on and toe threads.
Soles Can use leather or other devices, such as anti-slip carpet goo.
This is a fairly reversible sock, depending on how much you have to fix the holes on the sides of the heel. It is meant for a large foot and ankle. To modify for smaller feet, adjust the gauge by changing needle sizing down.

(c) Elizabeth F. Stabler. This pattern is available for personal use but may not be used commercially for profit or reproduced in any way without my express written permission.

Granny Knits On....

2009-04-24T07:41:00.003-04:00

Here are two projects I'm working on for Ari. They are almost finished, actually. The little vest just needs buttons and the striped sweater to be sewn together and buttons added. See my Ravelry site for the details.

A Dish Cloth for the DB

2009-04-23T01:01:00.001-04:00

A little dishcloth to try out a new stitch. Cotton. Photographed 9/3/06

Autumn Colors Towel

2009-04-22T06:21:00.000-04:00

I'll have to take a photo of the finished towel next Hallowe'en! This, when completed, was a present for Elaine in October 2008. The bottom was decorated with Hallowe'en buttons. It's another pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting: Chevron Stripes Hand Towel by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne Materials: Mission Falls 1824 2.15 skeins 411 pumpkin & 2 skeins 772 variagated greens & golds. #5 needles.

EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket

2009-04-17T19:35:00.005-04:00

What a fun project. As everyone on all the blogs and listserves says, you gotta have faith so I didn't panic. And, it was surprisingly easy to understand how to assemble it, tho' only once I began the button holes. And, what a clever idea EZ has to make them on each side. No fussing where to put the buttons. I'm going to do this each time, I think!

I had so much fun at Annie & Company looking for the buttons. Today I went back 'cause I realized that tho' they didn't have to be all the same, they should be at least from the same series. What a lovely lys Annie's is.

I started this last weekend 'cause I'd forgotten a little vest I was working on at work and didn't feel like sewing the striped sweater/jumper together. I own the EZ books with the pattern, plus the Meg Swanson dvd. However, I also got a great cheat sheet from a friendly not-local yarn store and downloaded something from KnitWiki which was wonderfully helpful. I used KnitWiki's directions for a part of the sweater and followed her advice about changing coloros only on RS rows. Not that it matters with this wild combination. I think it looks rather like an oriental rug, actually. And, I fell in love with the buttons. I'm going to tell Ari that there are two trains because that's how Granny comes to visit.

Materials: ArtYarns Supermerino colorways 171 - the darker (2.4 skeins/250yds) and 172 - the lighter (1.54 skeins / 160 yds)and #6 24" circular needles. I found the yarn a little pilly and hope it wears well. It's about 22" wide.

Another change -- for the collar, instead of picking up 45 sts as EZ recommends or 18/17/18 as KnitWiki recommends, I picked up all the stitches from the fronts and the back so the collar would be full. There were 20 on each side and 22 in the middle for a total of 62 sts. I picked up the collar stitches from the right side and cast off after 8 ridges. Perhaps the collar would fold over a little better .

More Burp Cloths for Ari

2009-03-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

Here are three more cloths I made for Ari last summer. See my 7/28/08 post for the first three. The pattern, "Baby Genius Burp Cloth" by Kay Gardiner, from Mason Dixon Knitting, calls for a 12" x 10.5" cloth, or thereabouts. I realized that to adequately protect the chest and shoulder of the person holding the burper, it ought to be longer.

Materials: good old Bernat Cottontots ombres and solid and Lily's Sugar 'n' Creme. Size #8 needles. The Cottontots, although it does lint a little, is wonderfully soft and perfect for a tender little face.

Sam's Vest Resumed

2009-03-27T15:20:00.004-04:00

I think I began knitting this sometime in 2002. Poor Sam! Every now and again he'll say something to the effect, "where's my vest?" I lost heart when the ball of yarn I was using showed obvious signs of a moth attack. This, of course led me to a frantic search for evidence of moth damage in my stash. Luckily, it was only this ball affected. It must have come from the vendor (now forgotten) that way because the rest of the yarn is okay. I bought more of the Plymouth Galway #1 from another vendor but it doesn't match --it's too starkly white and the dye lot I'm using is a little creamier. Which could be from age, of course.
I'm using my own design, based on consultations with Sam about his favorite styles. He liked the cable pattern. I began with a tubular cast which disappointingly flares out.
So, today I've decided to take it up again. The cable row, every four rows, is a little slow-going but very satisfying.

Absorba Bath Mats from Fall '08

2009-03-26T09:30:00.005-04:00

Stranded two of each colorway. Started with a center block of 20 sts by 30 ridges; each of the surrounding sections has 10 ridges. Used chain edging on all exposed edges of surrounding rectangles. Finished the Butter Creme Ombre from the three whole balls midway through the 3rd strip around the center. I frugally and bravely frogged an incomplete modular knitting project that had originally been destined to become a mat and got 2oz (1 ball). The modular knitting bathmat ((see blog entry Modular knitting conquered 10/14/07) was too thin and wrinkly and much inferior to the Absorbas I later made. The strip I frogged had been, I admit, lamely destined to be a buttoned hand wiper. Couldn't bear to undo something I'd made...until I needed the yarn for something specific, that is. Luckily, there was just enough Butter Creme Ombre to use two strands through the 7th garter ridge of the last rectangle; continued to end with just one.
#13 needles

Top: 1. Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres & Prints.

Color:

222 Butter Creme Ombre peaches

Worsted /95 yds / 2 oz (4.8 skeins)

= 9.6 ounces / 456.0 yards

Lily Sugar'n Cream Solid, Color: Green

Worsted 120 yds/2.5 oz per skein. 3.8 skeins

9.5 ounces / 456.0 yards

Bottom:

Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres & Prints

222 Butter Creme Ombre peaches

Worsted /95 yds per 2 oz skeins. Used 9 skeins o4 18 oz / 855 yds

Used four skeins at once. The foundation rectangle is 20 sts. by 30 garter ridges so that it would be a good bathmat shape. The surrounding sections have 10 ridges. Used chain edging on all exposed edges of surrounding rectangles.
The bottom, peachier one, was made in September 2008 and the top, greener one was begun in September '08 and completed in November '08.
Postscript: a bathmat takes a total of 16oz of worsted weight Peaches & Creame or Sugar 'n' Creme.

Yarn for the Birds

2009-03-20T01:10:00.000-04:00

I collect the yarn scraps from my knitting and every year we try to get them out early enough for the birds to nest with. I use mesh bags which I've saved from onions or other veggies. The D.B. usually hangs them up as she knows just where the birds look for nesting materials. This year we had enough yarns ends, between New York & NJ stashes of yarn ends for six little bags. Three are temporarily missing but will soon turn up. The one pictured is a present for Marsha's friend (and mine, too), Elaine.
This afternoon there was a pair of cardinals on the lawn so we're just in time, I think. I try to get some shiny yarns in the bags as the birds seem to be attracted to glittery things.

Cotton Fiber Socks

2009-03-18T00:25:00.001-04:00

Maizy cotton fiber socks.

205 yds per skein. Not enough for a 7" sock for a generous calf so I had to order more.

Even tho' I didn't like working with this yarn because I didn't like the feel but even more than that, it split constantly so the only way to get through a sock was to use plain stockingette.

But, the D.B. loves the colorway (Men's Wear) so I ordered 3 more to have enough to finish this pair and in the future, when I'm feeling brave, to knit another pair.

Meghan's Scarf Finished

2009-03-16T00:09:00.007-04:00

Used: 5 Skeins Jade Sapphire’s Daisany in Lilac (Colorway #31); 55gm / 106 yds;
100% silk boucle. Variagated slightly. Used 4 ¾ of the five.
Price: $22.00 - $24.25 (online 2/09 – don’t remember what I paid)
Equipment: Needles: #7 wooden; 7 stitch markers
Size: 94” x 9”
Gauge: on K2P2 on #7 needles 54 sts = 9” (not stretched out)

I began by knitting a large swatch on various size needles to get a feel for the yarn: Stocking Stitch on #5, #6 & #7 needles. #7 needles gave the right feel and drape so I tried a few more stitches: K3P2, K2P2, Basketweave, Garter and K1P1. The swatch can be seen on Liza’s Fibers (www.lizasfibers.blogspot.com) December 8, 2008. I liked the way the silk rounded up in the K2P2 rib so decided on that. The yarn was lovely to work with and created contemporary yet classic fabric.

Body of Scarf: Cast on 54 stitches with provisional cast on. 54 = (13 x 4 [k2p2] + 2 sts -- so the edges match. Decide which side is the front; I chose the side with k2 edges. Put stitch markers on the side chosen as RS. Knit until ½ to ¾ of a skein is left. Put these stitches on a stitch holder, thread or large needle if planning to make edging for cast on edge first.

(I didn’t use a provisional cast on and therefore spent 2 hours + (All of the Saturday Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast of Lucia di Lammermoor) unpicking the cast-on edge and picking up 54 stitches in K2P2!). It was quite a chore but well worth it. Originally I cast off in K2P2 and was planning to add a fringe. But, the boucle yarn unravels so fringes wouldn’t age well. Silk spun so loosely doesn’t wear particularly well. Because the cast off and cast-on edges fanned out a little so I decided to add a decorative finish instead and undid the cast off. The number of stitches – 54 – presented a challenge so I designed my own edge, with inspiration from Nicky’s Epstein’s Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Floral, Points & Picots: The Essential Collection of 350 Decorative Borders. Although I liked a lot of the borders, I didn’t want to sacrifice length for furbelows. It was important to continue the rib stitching in the edge to prevent fanning out of the fabric..

Edges Cast off edge – continue with 54 stitches. Cast on edge: from the provisional cast on, pick up 54 stitches, keeping the rib stitches in line.
With stitch markers, divide the stitches into 5 groups of 10, 10, 14, 10 and 10. Working individually on each group, continue the K2P2 pattern while decreasing 1 st at each edge every other row, starting with right side row. Decrease 1 st in from edge, using the chain edge to keep the edges tidy. When 2 sts left, start bobble.

Bobbles (based on Nicky Epstein’s directions): Use this for the 10-stitch sections. The middle, 14-stitch section will have three bobbles.
(WS) K2 together; (RS) make 5 stitches [k1,p1,k1,p1,k1] in the stitch, making sure to pull the yarn tightly to prevent a large loop from developing. If a loop does develop, don’t panic, just twist it later on. Starting with a purl row, work these 5 stitches in stocking st for 8 rows. The purl is the back, the knit stitch is the front.
Row 9 (WS): p2tog, p1, p2tog.
Row 10 (RS) slip 1 st, k2tog, slip slipped stitch over the two knit together. Fold up the work, RS out (reverse st st inside). Knit this st tog with the original stitch that 5 were made.
Single bobble sections: break off yarn with a 6” tail and secure to point.
Triple Bobble: Make two more bobbles before breaking off the yarn with a 6” tail. Secure to point.

Hat and Mittens to Match the Blanket

2008-12-19T11:32:00.002-05:00

Ari is almost out of this hat so I've started a new one. He looks really cute in it

Pattern: Convertible Cloud Helmet by Elanor Lynn, size 3-6 months. Now almost outgrown.
Materials: Needles sizes 8, 9 & 10
Yarn: Karabella Supercashmere in yellow, 15% of 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM quadruple plied

Silk Boucle Scarf for Meghan

2008-12-08T11:21:00.003-05:00

I would like to show my appreciation for someone who really made a difference. Thanks to her my knee replacement surgery and recovery therefrom was made so much more pleasant and even more importantly, speedier.

So, I spent weeks, while still too hazy to knit well, looking at patterns in various books and magazines. I decided to make a scarf because I don't know Meghan's foot/shoe size, so socks were out. Silk is a good choice when you don't know if the wearer likes wool! I looked through my stash (thank goodness for Ravelry!) and
found a particularly special and favorite yarn. I only hope she likes lavender, actually!
I experimented with the yarn, trying out all kinds of needle sizes and stitches before choosing #7 needles and a k2p2 stitch. I love the way the ribbing is rounded. It has an elegant and contemporary feel to it, too.
Yarn: Jade Sapphire Daisany in lilac, a 100% silk boucle, variagated.

Charity Knitting

2008-11-26T01:16:00.002-05:00

The Stettenheim Stitchers have done it again! This year we made 2 whole afghans for the Sanctuary Project for the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services. The afghans are given to children entering the foster care system. We are very proud of making the afghans from start to finish so that no one else has to piece them.

The afghans are just gorgeous. When Hudas first lays out the blocks together I just don't know how they will turn out but after Rhona patiently crochets all the blocks and strips together they bloom into gorgeous handicrafted works of art.

Many hands are responsible for the lovely blankets. One Fiber Fairy contributed the yarn: Dorothy, Wendy, Helen, Joyce, Hudas and I make the blocks. [Disclaimer: I haven't made many this year]. Hudas designs the layout and Rhona crochets the strips together. My main job is to put in all the ends and then crochet the border. Since October, as I recover from 1 total knee replacement, this has been the perfect project 'cause I can't concentrate very well yet on my more elaborate projects.

Lacy Cotton Shawl

2008-11-22T23:59:00.005-05:00

Knit during 100+ degree weather in Scottsdale, AZ during the 2007 AJL Convention.
Materials: 6 skeins Adriafil "Flower Fantasy", 50g, 125m; 87% cotton, 13% nylon
Color: Bagno/Bain [Bath] #50, Lot 1
Source: Marion S.
Needles: #11 and #8
Gauge: on #11 36st to 1' (not an inch!)
Stitch: Garter stitch throughout
Started out as a triangle shawl, knit from from the wide edge and decreased. However, at 30" wide, it became evident that the shawl was long enough and, more importantly, there wasn't enough yarn to knit down to a point.

However, the drape is just lovely and the dimensions are perfect for a generously shaped woman. And, there's a charming little flounce effect at the bottom.

Pattern:
Cast on 290 st and on next row doubled the yarn (for some body). Knit double for 6 rows.
In next row, begin the decreases:
Row 1: K 1 (or slip or do whatever edge stitch you like), ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (or edge stitch of choice)
Row 2: K (with whatever edge stitch is preferred)
Continue until the work measures 30" then change to #8 needles. K 8 rows (more if a wider neckbanc desired) then bind off very loosely.

Thanks to my sister M.A. for suggesting that our sister A.M.S., would love the shawl for this year's Christmas present. She is the excellent model above and served as my plucky photographer!

Copyright by Elizabeth F. Stabler 2008

A Slow Time

2008-11-07T23:44:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted for a while because I am recuperating quite actively from total knee replacement surgery. On October 8, I was the benficiary of a new left knee. All is going well but I don't have the time, energy or concentration at the moment for knitting or other crafty activities.

Spinning Class with Judith MacKenzie McCuin

2008-10-04T20:27:00.005-04:00

The North Country Spinners held its biennial Fibre Fallout last weekend. It was just wonderful. The organizers worked very hard to ensure that we all had a great fiber weekend. I had a chance to learn from two great teachers, Judith MacKenzie McCuin and Lily Chin. This entry will be about Judith M.M.'s class for two simple reasons: a. I have photos and b. it came first.

Judith is a wonder of information and fiber wisdom. Among the many subjects, Judith talked about different wheels and how to use them. Judith emphasizes that because it's so hard to change ones habits, it's imperative to get to know how to adjust the wheel to be able to spin and ply a variety of different yarn.

We experimented with a number of fibers, the first of which was Shetland. It was my most successful attempt of the day -- I actually succeeded in spinning and plying (back on itself) a short length lofty yarn. Judith joked that she'd like 50 pounds of it, please, as soon as possible! We learned how to draw fiber from superwash merino across the top of a fan created by the open sliver. To make it a harder lesson we were given up to five colors of superwash to play with. I am not terribly adept at this and will have to practice a lot.

Judith talked about making appropriate yarns for the intended object. For example, for socks, a good, round yarn is needed. To achieve this, a three ply works best. The photos are of Judith's three strand plying technique. I also have little videos but don't yet know how to transfer my camera's videos.

The first photo of Judith's hands is how NOT to ply 3 strands. The second is how she holds the strands so that all three ply evenly.

A New Grandson

2008-08-18T19:47:00.001-04:00

Little Ari arrived last Wednesday, August 13 at 1:40 pm, weighing 6 lbs 14 oz. He is thriving and will soon be big enough to wear some of the items knitted. He is already using the burp cloths, baby genius burper that he is!

Kimonos for the Baby

2008-08-08T09:21:00.002-04:00

These are the three little kimonos I've made for my grandbaby's layette. Two have ribbons already. I'm waiting to see whether it's a boy or a girl before putting the ribbons on the white with green and turquoise spots.
I keep wondering how comfortable these really are for a baby because the garter stitch one is particularly bulky. I used the Mason-Dixon pattern, One Piece Baby Kimono by Cristina Shiffman. Because of the bulk of the garter stitch version I adapted the pattern for stockingette, as I showed on my June 15, 2008 post.

Baby's Cross-over Coat, A Legacy Pattern

2008-08-05T01:28:00.000-04:00

In 1973-74 I made the same sweater pattern for my daughter as I'm making for my first grandchild. My sister also used this pattern to make a white sweater, tho' for whom I don't remember. I made this in a basket weave stitch for my son. The pattern was in the 1973 Mon Tricot magazine for babies and children.
It is a wondrous feeling to be able to make this for the next generation.
In the French pattern, the buttons are meant to be at the baby's back but no one I ever gave this sweater to buttoned it that way.
Used: Almost 2 balls of Debbbie Bliss in Baby Cashmerino color #340017, a chartreuse and #5 Addi Turbo lace needles. Originally I'd started on #3, then moved up to #4 before finally getting the right gauge on #5's. Very time consuming. But, I did want the sweater to fit a baby, not a doll.

Welcome to the World, Little Margot Eve

2008-07-30T00:04:00.000-04:00

Two little sweaters for my dear friend's new baby grand daughter, four weeks old tolday.

This is the class Elizabeth Zimmermann February Sweater or Sweater on 2 Needles. I used a stash yarn I'd had and loved for years. It's perfect.

The bottom sweater is my stockingette version of the Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono in kitchen cotton. I hope this will be handy during the summer months. I tied up the present with the other yard of the ribbon for use as hair ribbons.

Guild Challenge for 2008

2008-07-29T07:56:00.000-04:00

Every year we have a "paper bag challenge" at the guild. This year we received about 2 oz of CVM, California Variegated Mutant also knows as California Red. I've spun it before, having bought a sampler package from The Bellwether in Washington State which included an ounce or so of CVM. She doesn't offer these samplers any more but I found it a very useful way to learn about different sheep breeds.
The fiber Jenny bought from a NJ was softer but still had a few second cuts. It isn't a particularly soft fiber but the red hairs m hairs and creamy color make it intriguing.
The skein, 62 yds and between 1.5 and 1.75 oz, is one of my many "orphan skeins" from such experiments. It'll probably be great for rug hooking.
I spun it on my new Golding "birthday spindle", a 1.21 oz sterling silver ring spindle which is a dream to use -- like all of Tom Golding's spindles. For plying I used the Tracy Eichheim 2 oz "Starlite Comets" spindle. The hook is quite small but works with thick yarn surprisingly well. This is a trusty, great spindle to work with.

Burping the Baby!

2008-07-28T10:15:00.001-04:00

I've experimenting with the Mason Dixon Knitting pattern for a "burp cloth" -- the Baby Genius Burp Cloth.

This is the first one, using the pattern suggestions for one ball of kitchen cotton -- about 95 yards and #8 needles. It made a loose fabric, wider than long. I'm concerned that it won't be impervious enough for the purpose intended, nor long enough to cover the "burper's" shoulder adequately. Some babies are mighty good burpers.

So, for the next two (only one is photographed) I switched to #7 needles, which resulted in a 11" wide cloth. I used 3 balls of 95yd Lily 'n Cream in adorable pastel stripes. (see my Ravelry site for details). One is 15" long and the other is 16" -- no reason, just what worked out in terms of color repetitions. The fabric is properly dense yet drapes nicely.

The yellow and ombre striped version (#3 here) is my favorite so far. I'm using Bernat Cottentots from my stash and it's just perfect. I frogged what I'd knitted on #7 needles because the fabric wasn't drapey enough. And goodness knows, it certainly has to drape over the shouler. The loosely plied yarn makes a denser, thicker fabric. And, it's much softer.

New Spinning Wheel "Launched"

2008-07-25T10:35:00.006-04:00

Finally, after a year, I have a spinning wheel again in the city. I bought this lovely Lendrum from Elisa, a fellow guild member. She was so sweet and threw in extra bobbins and a big bunch of fiber. We finally got the wheel into town last weekend. I took it out of the box last Sunday morning, all eager to assemble it but the big knob was stuck -- probably the finish on the bottom of the knob adhered to the finish on the wheel. Happily, on Monday morning the super was able to turn it for me. When I got back from work I put it together. It's so easy and logical. The double treadle is very comfortable. I like the way the orifice hook is built right in so you don't have to go fishing for it. I must say that it does spin fast and that I had to learn not to sit too far back.

Elisa included a basket of cool accessories. There's a fast flyer (bottom left of basket) for cotton and silk. Towards the back of the basket is the jumbo plying head (plus 2 jumbo bobbins). The most exotic and intriguing is the quill head -- at the very back of the basket. The metal spoke is protected, thank goodness, by a plastic sheath. I watched Jenny spin paper with it at a guild demo and I can't wait to try something like that.
I was even able to produced a skein this week. I'm thrilled with the ease of this wheel. I chose some Black Welsh Mountain Sheep fiber, bought some years ago. It's a very challenging fiber -- greasy still, short, wiry fibers and very rough. It'll be great for rug hooking. I washed it last night in hot water with a little synthrapol. In the last rinse I put a little lavender oil and hair conditioner.

Plying was a little more tricky -- as Alden Amos told us, plying is a whole different kettle of fish from spinning. I'd spun very tightly but after some fiddling, was able to get the right amount of twist. And, wonder of wonders, I produced a balanced skein. My usual trick is to underply but I may have finally overcome this tendency.

A New (to me) Yarn Store I Adore

2008-07-01T06:43:00.007-04:00

I've just returned from a 10 day trip -- mostly business but some vacation, too. Of course, I managed to visit 3 fiber-related emporia in three different places! First I'll tell you about Knit One in Pittsburgh. You see, I live mainly in Manhattan but even when I'm in NJ for weekends, the lys are fairly small, sometimes even tiny and cramped. Knit One, by contrast, is in a large -- even vast by lys standards -- wonderfully warm and welcoming space. Stacy, the owner, has succeeded in creating a user-friendly space that is a knitter's heaven as well as haven. Yarn is arranged by weight and then by type. So, baby yarns, sock yarns and novelties, etc. are grouped together. In addition to the shelves lining the walls, there are also stand-alone units in a charming array of styles. What I also loved, and what The D.B. took advantage of, is the inviting seating in various arrangements throughout the store. Tho' chock full of different yarns, the store is tidy and organized which really makes a difference to the self-reliant shopper. I couldn't think of a yarn that wasn't included in their collection. We ended up spending hours at Knit One when we meant only to shop for about half an or so. It's also possible to drop in with your knitting and hang out -- we saw knitters do just that while we were there.

The best part of the whole experience was the individual attention available to yarn shoppers. Rochelle was on duty when we arrived. She is so very welcoming that we felt right at home immediately. Rochelle took me on a yarn tour of the store, showing me how the yarns are arranged. Because she's so yarn-savvy, she helped me find just what I was looking for -- easy care natural fibers for baby knitting. I had the privilege of speaking with Stacy, too, when she arrived and really enjoyed our conversation. Although I love my NYC lys, I confess to being smitten.

Knit One is in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, just "up street" (Pittsburghese for "up the block") from where The D.B.'s father lived and on the same block as a now-closed family-favorite special occasion restaurant, Poli's. Pittsburgh is a city of steep hills, which the natives take for granted. Murray Avenue, Squirrel Hill's main drag is no exception. It all adds to the atmosphere.

Don't miss this store if you're even vaguely close to Pittsburgh. In fact, I told someone yesterday to urge her knitting daughter to find a college she likes in Pittsburgh just so that she can have a good lys! How's that for a college-finding criterion?

Mystery Lace Pattern

2008-06-18T02:08:00.000-04:00

I just found this photo and I don't think I ever posted it. It's dated September 3, 2006! And, I can't remember where I got the pattern. Oh well.
Does anyone have a clue?

My first Christina Shiffman One-Piece Baby Kimono

2008-06-17T23:45:00.003-04:00

Here's the little kimono I made in April and gave away in May as a new baby present. I love the ribbon which I found at AC Moore. Before using it I tested it to make sure it didn't run. I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the ribbons, actually.

Variation on Christina Shiffman's One-Piece Baby Kimono

2008-06-15T09:44:00.016-04:00

All I have to do is sew it together. I love how it turned out. I prefer the stockingette version because garter makes a pretty bulky version which seems out of proportion for a tiny baby. Not that they can move around so easily -- and do so love to be swaddled. The thinner fabric appeals to me more.

My adjustments
1. Because garter stitch is horizontally stretchier than stockingette, I cast on 10% fewer stitches (36) and increased evenly across the last of the 4 garter ridges to achieve the 40 stitches called for.
2. Chain edge stitch for all edges that will not be part of a seam. See the sleeve edge and front edge below.
3. To prevent the sleeve edge's rolling over, knit the last 6 sleeve stitches in garter rows. Begin on the 7th sleeve increase. Of course, the last stitch is the chain edging.
4. Back of neck. After the 8th and last sleeve increases are completed on both sides, on the next WS row: 1 edge stitch, knit 5, purl 28 , place marker, knit 20, place marker, purl 28, knit 5 , 1 edge stitch. Increase the knit stitches between markers by 1 on each side every second row until there are 26 stitches between markers. On the next row, bind off the center 20 stitches, using a purl bind off so the bind off chain stitching will be on the inside. My own preference -- can be ignored if you don't care about that detail.

5. Front edges. I used the optional YO (yarnover) increase to make this cute column of holes, (a.k.a. "lace") before a garter ridge of 4 stitches, the last of which is the chain edge stitch. The yarnover is on the RS row and purled on the WS row.

6. Bottom edges: On the last 2 rows of the front edge increase (39 stitches on needle): RS, knit 34, YO, knit 3, chain edge. WS: Begin bottom garter edge: 1 chain edge,* knit 6 (including the YO), k2tog*. Repeat *xxx* 3 times. There are now 36 stitches for the edge. Continue with chain edge until there are 4 ridges. Bind off as desired. Sew together.

More Tricks
A. Chain edge stitch for all outside edges because my edges are awful otherwise
B. For garter version: edge increase: with 2 sts left, pick horizontal yarn between sts, leaning left; k1, chain edge
C. Bind off for sleeves. To avoid the gap between the 3 stitch decrease sections. Cast off first set of 3 stitches as usual. For the next 7, k to last stitch, keeping the yarn in back, pick up last stitch as if to knit, place it back on left hand needle, wrap yarn around stitch on left needle and turn the work, pick up wrapped stitch as if to knit, DO NOT KNIT IT, knit next stitch, bring the first, unknitted stitch over the knitted stitch and proceed to next cast off.
D. I figure out how to increase by dividing the number of stitches ultimately desired by one more than the number to add. So, 40 divided by 5 equals 8. That means, every 8 stitches make or increase 1 stitch. This will center the increases, leaving the same number on either side. If the total doesn't divide so tidily, distribute the "carryovers" evenly over the row. For example That is: 42 divided by 5 is 8 with 2 left over. So, decide where in the row to knit 9 (twice) before increasing.
E. I haven't figured out the formula for decreasing but I'll let you know when I do.

Plying the Koigu

2008-06-13T11:10:00.003-04:00

Jenny Backriges and Aldos Amos have both emphasized how different plying is from spinning. Well, they're right. Even with an already-spun and plied yarn, I found it challenging to get an even ply. But, it's good enough and it will look lovely as blanket stitching on the baby blanket (see previous post).

Layette Blanket Almost Finished

2008-06-07T14:07:00.007-04:00

Well, I've finally finished the main part of this project. I used 6.75 balls of Karabella Supercashmere Bulky. Of the seven skeins used, 3 had joins in the middle. Considering that this yarn at full price costs $55 per skein (not what was paid, thank goodness), and is only 81 yards long, this is totally unacceptable.

My daughter bought the yarn and asked me to knit this pattern for her, from Linda Morse's Luxury Knitting. I followed the directions for washing the blanket, putting it in a mesh bag and washing it with cool water on the delicate cycle. I even followed the book's advice to put it in the dryer on low for 5 minutes in the bag. I lost courage and took it out at 3 minutes, tho'. What had been a rather grayish yellow cleaned up beautifully. The hand is incredibly soft now and feels luxurious. I'll snip all the joins after I add the blanket stitch border.

Initially I used a #10 circular needle but at the rate I was going would have needed 2 more skeins to complete the project. Using a #9 needle instead I was able to get to almost the dimensions called for. My blanket is 26.5" x 31" .

Now I have to do the blanket stitch border. I don't have the directions from the book and am somewhat concerned about all the joins unless I use a very long tail. My daughter chose the Koigu KPPPM colorway from my stash. Although Kersti, a dk weight is called for, I don't have any. This week I wound the two skeins together. If the ply is too loose, it won't work. This weekend I'll run the doubled skein through the spinning wheel. The color in the photo above isn't really true -- on this monitor it's too blue.

Layette sweater

2008-06-05T01:33:00.002-04:00

I’m not sure whether I bought this sale yarn at the Yarn Loft (in Sparta before it burned and moved to Newton). This is a pattern I first made for my daughter when I was pregnant with her in 1973. It’s a great little sweater for new babies as it can button either in front or in back. My daughter has rejected it as she doesn’t like the acrylic yarn. No problem, actually as this yarn isn't very soft. But, it will make a great baby prsent for a colleague who’s having a baby next month.

I really do love this pattern: Baby's Cross-over Coat in Mon Tricot, 1973. It has five variations and I plan to make them all!

Materials: I'm using a ball of King Cole Big Value Baby Dk, 316.0 yds in white and #3 circular needles.

Dyeing Self-Striping Yarn

2008-05-28T08:40:00.003-04:00

October 27, 2007 North Country Spinners Workshop, taught by Tricia Weatherston

The dyeing peg board with 1/2 of the dyed yarn.

The single sock with the afterthought heel just begun and the leftover skein

Tricia led a wonderful class. She is well-organized and very patient -- and remained unflappable for the four or more hours of teaching. She'd also worked out the design of the dyeing peg board in the top picture. A number of already mixed chemical dyes were set out for us to work with. The variety was quite good but I hadn't a clear idea of how to use them, never having done so. That;s why I decided to use a familiar rainbow palette.

Tricia demonstrated how to wind around the pegs to achieve different lengths of color bands. After painting a section, we wrapped it up in cellophane wrap to keep in from bleeding its neighbors. Some bleeding -- see the yellow parts of sock -- had fortuitous results, creating orange from the blending of yellow and red. The dye was set in a microwave.

I was lucky to be working with some very experienced dyers -- Jean S., Jill W. and the owner of a yarn store who also dyes some of her own yarns. Because of their experience with dyeing, they used fewer colors and instead concentrated on mixing gradations of shades and tones of two or three. But, I'm pleased to have learned the technique. I've volunteered the sock, yarn and dyeing board for use at the Guild's display at Garden State Sheep Breeders. When I retrieve the board I will play with this technique again.

I'm just now finishing the sock -- a plain tube of 64 stitches with an afterthought heel. This is my first attempt at this heel, also known as a peasant heel. The sock is small and the fabric is dense. For a stretchier sock I'd use a #2 needle for the KnitPicks sock yarn for dyeing.

Weaving at Peters Valley Cont'd

2008-05-27T00:09:00.004-04:00

My first exercise on the second day was a balanced weave, meaning that the weft threads would be the same number as the warp threads. I measured inch by inch and only achieved the goal as an average of all the six inches. As you can see on the sampler, or "book" as Sarah Saulson calls it, this section didn't hold up so well, not maintaining its structure at the edges where it was pulled.

Here are two views of my first twill weaves. The fuschia is fine acrylic boucle, tighly beaten and doesn't show up the structure so well. With the blue warp I chose, I used weft thread colors that harmonized.

Here's my "book", to be read top down. The first leaf was cut off, (see yesterday's post) so the book is a record of what I did on the second and third days of the workshop. Left photo shows the front and the right the back.

The seventh section down, gold and black, was an exploration of unexpected weaving materials. It was really fun. My goodie bag contained black tulle with gold dots and six 12" lengths of gold cord. I worked out how to cut the length of tulle into one long strip, which I accomplished with only a few minor glitches. Fran, the helpful and knowledgeable studio assistant, suggested I spin it. Great idea. So I whipped out my Golding Spindle and made a tulle yarn. Spinning it intensified the black and "popped" out the gold bits. I began weaving this at around 7:30 and continued the next morning. Some of the tulle pokes out, at Sarah's suggestion. I'd just had the gold cord and loose tulle bits hanging over the selvedges so that added just the touch needed. I thought the regular stripped structure somewhat ironic considering the materials.

We also learned to read and draft patterns. Sarah demonstrated software and introduced us to Marguerite Davison's classic pattern book. I'm glad I took notes on the drafting because it helped me with the drafting homework assigned for the last day. I didn't remember until I was in the shower Monday morning. Eeek. So, I furiously wrote out the pattern on the drive up. In a panic that I wasn't understanding it, I asked Marsha to pull over so I could grab my notebook. The D.B. was laughing -- nay, e'en howling in delight -- because she'd never known me to forgePublish Postt to do my homework before.

The magic of the whole experience was how natural weaving seemed to me. I think I may have some deep physical memories of all the weaving I'd done as an eight year old at the Phillipstown Manor Restoration (it's name in the mid-50's when my father'd been their business manager). It may be that I felt very much at home working with the loom as a machine. It seemed very logical and easy to use. I figured out tricks by myself that a more experienced weaver had to have Sarah show her, which surprised me. There's a very appealing rationality to the craft. Now, I only hope that I can find an affordable loom before I forget everything I learned.

Learning to Weave

2008-05-26T23:51:00.005-04:00

This weekend at Peters Valley I took the three day workshop taught by Sarah Saulson, "Adventur0us Weaving.". Although I'd learned on a real (antique, actually) loom when I was eight years old, I haven't woven seriously since. There were four students and a studio assistant, so we each got a great deal of individual attention. I love the way Sarah teaches -- it really works perfectly for me. First she explains the topic, then she allows us to explore for ourselves and finally we discuss it as a class. It's the first workshop at Peters Valley during which I haven't felt stressed or overloaded. Although I've really enjoyed all the workshops I've taken, I do appreciate the feeling of mastery I've come away with this time. My fellow students were all either art students or working artists. A most inspiring group.

Here's my loom with the warp. The first day we learned to dress the loom. It took so much time that I didn't have time to weave much besides the toilet paper. Sarah says her students enjoy this way of filling up the warp until a usable, even warp is reach.

The studio was open after class was over so I was able to get going on my first actual weaving. It's plain weave, experimenting with different beating strengths. It was cut off the loom to demonstrate the effects of wet finishing. It shrank in height more than width. The more tightly beaten sections shrank more.

Sandy Terp's Lace Workshop at NCS

2008-05-20T15:00:00.001-04:00

On Friday, May 9 Sandy Terp presented a workshop entitled "Kinds of Lace " at the monthly meeting of North Country Spinners. This is the sampler I made that morning. You can see it hasn't been blocked.

Although I've knit some lace, I've never had a formal class or workshop in the subject. Sandy's approach combines teaching the historical background with clear technical instructions. She has developed a transcription method which replaces the graph -- and saves the eyes.

Baby Micole's Pinwheel Blanket

2008-05-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

Baby Present for my dear friend Lucy's first grandchild, Micole. We were at Micole's parents' wedding in April, 2006 in Rome. The next May little Micole was born. When Rebecca, Micole's mother was born, I made her a quilt to which she became very attached. I hope Micole loves this blanket, too.
Pattern: I adapted this from Mielke's Farm's free round dischcloth pattern: http://www.mielkesfarm.com/dishclth.htm
Materials: 2 balls each of Cottontots solids in Pretty in Pink (light), Wonder White, Strawberry and 2 Cottontots Ombre in Very Berry
Needle Size: 7
72 Stitches

Corkscrew Scarf for Ozzies

2008-05-07T23:55:00.000-04:00

Knit during the AJL Convention in Boston, June 2006, displayed here by its recipients in April, 2007. It's always useful to have something tucked away. The D.B. claimed to hate it every minute I was knitting it but once she saw it on Joan and Di, was convinced of its merits. More yarn was acquired for another but forgot to buy the time to make it! It's now in Melbourne and I hope had an outing (as it were) for an Aussie Pride celebration.

Checkerboard Socks Finished

2008-04-28T09:02:00.003-04:00

I finished these on Saturday. I'd used the new KnitPicks circulars (not modular), size 2.25 mm (#.5), which I loved. Yarns are Trekking XXL color 284, dye lot 4896 for the blue gray and for the red, some left-over Lang Jawoll (I love this dependable yarn!) in color 83.0098/ lot #581/71. I used the matching reinforcement yarn for the toes.

The D.B. loves the checkerboard pattern. If I'd had more red, I would have used it for the heels as well.

They fit her perfectly.

Socks with Schaefer Yarn

2008-04-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

Another pair for my D.B., finished mid-October, 2007. I used my favorite pattern, starting with 96 stitches on #0 needles and her very favorite pattern. Finally, I've come to the right calf shaping. However, all her socks gather round the ankles anyway - which the dear doesn't mind. I bought this yarn, even though it's made in New York State, when I was visiting Las Cruces, N.M. last June. I'd never come across this yarn in any New York City yarn shops, and definitely not in my quite limited NJ lys.

The details: "Anne" by Schaeffer Yarns. 60% merino superwash, 25% mohair and 15% nylon. At $26.99 (silly, that!) it's expensive but you get an awful lot of yarn for your money -- 560 yards / 4 oz. I have enough left over despite the generous socks pictured above, for a pair of booties!

I just love this yarn. More especially, my D.B. adores the colors and feel of it. It was a real pleasure to work with and although the socks have only been in the wash a few times, they're holding up well.

Blog Fairy Fiber Present

2008-04-22T23:57:00.000-04:00

Present from Jeanne -- cotton and hemp yarn. This is one of the sweetest presents I've ever received. My friend read this very blog to find out what I would really like for my 60th birthday. So, she read my 10/15/07 post and went hunting on the web for more of this wonderful yarn. And, look, there it is.

Isn't that a lovely present from someone who doesn't even knit?

Another Absorba the Mat

2008-04-16T15:27:00.001-04:00

The Absorba Frenzy continues. This time it's big enough to count as a rug.

Materials: leftover of 3 1lb cones plus most of 3 more 1lb cones Elmore & Pisgah Peaches & Creme Mountain Colors double worsted
Dimensions: 36" x 30" prewashed
Cat: Phoebe Rose
Leftover: 2 oz yarn!

This little rug is very heavy and thick, as one knits 3 strands at once on #15 needles. But, these wonderful absorbas have the virtue of staying flat on the floor, not tripping up passers-by.

The top photo features Phoebe Rose sniffing out Absorba in an early phase. I ended up with three strips around the center, with two more on each long side (to make 4 on those sides), resulting in a rectangular Absorba.

Another rug / mat for The D.B.! yay!

Dishcloth

2008-04-06T12:58:00.000-04:00

Here's a little washcloth for Elaine -- I used a favorite Sugar 'n' Creme by Lily skein and made up the eyelet pattern as I went along. Elaine likes dishcloths with holes 'cause they don't mildew so quickly. We gave it to her for a very late birthday present last weekend. She loves it and thinks it's too nice for dishes. Oh well.

Layette beginnings

2008-04-03T13:15:00.001-04:00

The prospect of becoming a grandmother is soooo wonderful. Kinehura.

I've begun knitting for my first grandbaby, due in August. These booties were made from leftover Schaefer Sock Yarn "Anne". They're still missing their little ribbons but that will come this weekend, I think. This cute little washcloth is from my favorite and otherwise totally reliable knitting book, Mason Dixon Knitting Unfortunately, this is not a good pattern. It just won't lie flat. Look at the book -- you'll see that it's never shown flat. But, never mind, it's still very cute and I know how to make flat round or pinwheel items all by myself. So there! I knit it in Sugar 'n' Creme by Lily worsted. If I haven't planned too much, there'll be a big old baby towel to accompany it.

Blanket for Tirtza Chaya and a Present for Her Big Siser

2008-04-02T00:28:00.000-04:00

For the blanket:
Materials: 6 skeins of Cotton Classic DK 100% mercerized cotton; 6 skeins 1.75 oz / 50 g and 108 yds / 100 m in crayon colors, light navy, bright yellow, dark purple, kelly green and school bus orange. This is an unforgiving yarn. Pattern: based on the "Modular Log Cabin Blanket" in, you guessed it, Mason Dixon Knitting. My adaptation: instead of 66 ridges, I knit 33. Except for blocks 9 & 10, used 24 or 12 ridges. Block #9 stripes: 9 green, 4 orange, 2 yellow, 4 purple and 18 red ridges. Block #10: 37 navy blue ridges. Block #1: Yellow; #2: navy blue; #3 red; #4 green; #5 & #6 purple; #7 yellow; #8 orange. Dimensions: (before wash and drying: 22.5 x 28".
The dickey: I used the Cozy Confetti pattern in Knitter's Magazine Winter 2007.
The dickey pattern was adjusted to allow for a button band, requested by the mother. I added 4 stitches on each side and inserted 4 buttonholes. For a four year old.

The hat used Sarah Bradberry’s size chart for watch caps for 18-20” head. On #9 cast on 80 sts in k1p1, knit for 6 1/2”. Decrease: 10 times around, always knitting the purl stitches in decrease. Pulled last 10 sts together. Then added 3 “curlicues” on top. For curlicues: Row 1 & 2: Knitted cast on 25 stitches; Row 3 Knit two stitches in every stitch (except in 1st and last); Row 4 Knit; Row 5 same as row 2; Row 6 Bound off loosely.

From Fleece to Skein

2008-03-17T13:43:00.001-04:00

The fiber is Blue Faced Leicester, a part of a fleece dyed in osage orange at a workshop in Peters Valley in 2003, after scouring and mordanting it in alum. To process it, I combed the locks on English hand-held combs and then spun and plied it. This week we had a combing demonstration at North Country Spinners, given by MaryLou. At Soar in 2004 I took Robin Russo's excellent Fiber Prep workshop and learned to use the various combs and diz. I'm still working on my plying, tho. I really love the way it turned out.

Socks in the Works

2008-03-11T23:50:00.000-04:00

After breaking quite a few of my beloved wooden #1 and #0 needles, losing them on the bus and knitting more slowly for fear of both reasons above, I decided to give the magic loop another try.

Birthday Present for The D.B.

2008-03-07T09:58:00.003-05:00

This is one of those wonderful projects that just sort of designed itself. And, one inspired by Ravelry. What a difference it makes to go through the stash, as embarrassing as the totals turned out to be. But, I found a baggie with Lopi, 1 skein of recycled sari silk and a swatch I'd felted.

I started out thinking I'd make a pillow to felt. As I cast on -- again and again -- it just didn't feel right. I kept frogging it. Next I tried to make a bag but the fabric didn't feel right. Finally, I remembered I wanted to make the nested boxes for The D.B. (The Dearly Beloved) who just adores containers for emptying her pockets and bags into.

It just so happens that The D.B. has a birthday this coming Monday. So, I'm making a small table mat and a box from Lopi (see photo) and Himalaya Yarns recycled sari silk. I'm going to knit the mat until the Lopi is finished.

The inspiration for the box is, of course, from Mason-Dixon Knitting -- the nested boxes. My variations: I used one strand of Lopi with one strand of the silk. And, I won't be felting it.

A test swatch I did some time ago was lovely but it muted the silk. The D.B. loves the vibrancy of the colors as they are. I used #11 needles so the fabric is tight enough now to hold its shape, albeit softly. I also only but handles in the two small sides. Next time I won't put in any handles as the somewhat compromise the stiffness of the sides.
I've used two whole skeins of the silk and will use about 1/4 of this third one in the photo. The colorway doesn't seem to matter as the purple unifies them all.

The finished dimensions:
Box: 4" deep and 6"x7"
Mat:

Ravelry Mania

2008-02-26T22:16:00.002-05:00

I'm home recuperating and just well enough to become absolutely obsessed with getting all my yarns into Ravelry. The problem with my yarn stash is that it mainly consists of one or two skeins per yarn so it's going VERY slowly. I've spent 10 hours today retrieving, organizing, photographing, and putting back about 70 yarns.

And, I'm only about 1/3, if that, done.

Ashland Bay "Columbia"

2008-02-23T01:50:00.001-05:00

Have I said how much I dislike this fiber? This is close to the end of what I'd bought when I first started spinning. And, in July 2007 I sold the Bosworth Journey Wheel to someone who really wanted it, with the help of the wonderful Bosworths. It was quite an adventure but I learned my lesson never to use the services of my local so-called shipping store. The Journey Wheel was a beautiful piece of furniture for my small apartment but never versatile enough for me. I needed a wheel that could spin thick to thin. I'm sorry that I had to part with Jonathan's beautiful handiwork.

Coopworth Skein, May 2007

2008-02-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

This finishes up one my first rovings. , except for one spindlefull I found just after I spun and plied this. Because I spun the Coopworth is fairly thick and fuzzy (read: woollen), it did not ply well on the Journey Wheel. However, I was able to ply it on my trusty Louet.

Socks with Trekking XXL

2008-02-21T14:26:00.001-05:00

Pattern: My own for The D.B., starting with 96 stitches on #1 needles. Gauge is c.9st to 1". Stitch pattern: basket weave rib -- her favorite
Materials: Trekking XXL Color 298, dye lot 4206 ; 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon. 2.5 oz (100 g) ; 459 yds (420 m);
Jawoll Superwash Sock Yarn by Lang, Color Dark Moss 75% superwash, 18% nylon and 7% acrylic.
She loves this yarn so much that I bought the only 6 I could find on the web plus 3 more of the Lang Jawoll Dark Moss.

Aren't these pretty? I made them for The D.B. but I gave them to her before I photographed them. I've lost the ball band but do remember that it was a skein of Trekking XXL bought at Woolcott & Company in Cambridge in June 2006. I finished them sometime in early 2007. Meanwhile, the socks are in the semi-dress section of the The D.B.'s sock cabinet.

There's no way to coordinate the colors in both socks but it doesn't matter. The stitch is The D.B.'s favorite -- basket weave rib.

Stoke-On-Trent Knit & Felt Tote by Sarah Bradberry

2008-02-19T15:37:00.000-05:00

Phoebe the cat is studying the pre-felted market bag. The photo was taken in early January 2007. I haven't fulled/ felted the bag yet because we've been having septic tank, or rather, the pipe to the septic tank problems in NJ so I don't want to tax the waste water disposal situation.

Finally, in on February 2, 2008 I felted the bag while doing the laundry in the city apartment's basement washroom. It took two go-throughs.

My daughter visited me on February 9 -- a refuah shleymah visit following my surgery on February 5. She is mighty pleased with her birthday present bag in her favorite color combination of pink and brown.
Materials: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Pattern: Sara Bradberry. Click title of posting for link to pattern

Hat Emergency solved!

2008-02-18T15:35:00.000-05:00

Hat Replacement #1
My DB loves this hat. Actually, she just adored its predecessor, lost in a cab, probably, at the end of January. She was disconsolate! But, not to fear, I always keep skeins of the yarn set aside for possible replacement of the hat and the matching mittens. The DB is a most faithful sort, not one to lust after a new hat style. So, last Monday I started to replace it. Made originally in December 2001 from a Bernat booklet's beret pattern, which I adjusted considerably, this hat had (has) been a great success.

Why are there two photos of what appears to be the same hat? Because yesterday, Sunday, I finished the second, emergency backup hat ...just in case the first gets lost. The differences between the two: I made a couple of mistakes in the decreases in #2 and the pompom is more compact.

Materials: 1 skein each of Lamb's Pride Worsted in Periwinkle and Creme. #3 & #5 circular needles; #5 dps,
cardboard for pompom
Circumference: 21.5" -- women's medium

Pattern: Cast on 106 stitches on #3 20" circ. needle using periwinkle. Complete 10 rounds in k1p1 rib. In next round increase to 120 stitches every in alternating 7th and 8th stitch (k in front and back of stitch). This increase avoids the holes of "make 1, using the horizontal thread between stitches" in the original pattern. Thus: increase in first stitch, then in 8th, then in the 7th and so on.
Change to white yarn and begin pattern: k11, p1. This creates 10 sections in the hat, separated by a purl "ditch" which helps hide the increases and gives the hat structure and shape.
Change color every two rows. The first row of the new color is the increase row until 220 stitches have been reached for a wonderfully full tam-like beret. For a more modest, less outrageous beret, increase only to 190 stitches.
Increases: After some experimenting I found the perfect increase for this hat. Knit all the k stitches in the section and only then pick up the horizontal yarn between the last knit stitch and the purl stitch. Place it on the needle with the yarn on the front of the needle slanting from the bottom left side of the last knit stitch to the top of the needle (up and left). Increase by knitting a stitch into the back of the loop on the needle. This avoids holes.
When you reach the desired outer width of the tam/beret, in the next color change begin decreases, knitting together the last two knit stitches before the purl in each of the twelve sections. As with the increases, decrease in the first row of the color change. Continue to decrease until 24 sts remain. Last decrease: knit together the last k and p stitch in each section. Thread yarn through stitches and pull together tightly through bottom of hat to avoid that silly bump which sometimes results.
Pompom, optional but mighty -- use any method you like. I wrapped a lot of yarn around a 3" wide piece of cardboard, tied the middle of each side together firmly with matching thread, slipped it off the cardboard, wrapped the thread around the two little "waists" to make 1 pompom, cut the loops and trimmed it until it was round. Very simple. No tools are ever needed for pompoms.

This is a thick, warm hat.

Hat & Scarf for Stitch'n'Time's Sunday Lunch Program Project

2008-02-17T12:43:00.004-05:00

Here's the hat and scarf I finished on February 10 during the first days following surgery on February 5. Let me recommend this as a great recovery activity. I chose something that wouldn't be too much of a challenge and would also be very forgiving. Instead of knitting either the hat or the scarf as the directions advised, I decided to knit both.

At work we have a charity knitting program called Stich 'n' Time, chaired by the lovely and most capable Charlene W. They are planning to give out hand-made scarves and hats to the people who come to The Sunday Lunch Program on February 24. Claire Brenner, President of the Big Apple Knitters Guild, created the patterns for Stich 'n' Time , who also provided the yarn to willing knitters.

I used 6.5 oz of a 7 oz / 187 g. skein of Bernat SuperValue Acrylic, 382 yds / 350 m. in worsted weight. The hat weighed 2.5 oz, the scarf 4 oz.

Because I knit loosely I used #7 needles instead of the recommended #8 and cast on 34 stitches instead of the recommended 32. The edge stitch is a chain edge. It's 14" of garter stitch, 14" of k2p2 rib and 14" of garter. I made the hat on a 16" #7 circular needle instead of the recommended 2 needles, ending, of course, with #7 dp's. Cast on 88 sts, k2p2 for 5"; stockingette st for an additional 5" then decrease every other row , evenly 11 times in the round. It works out to k6, k2tog in the first dec.row; k5, k2tog in 2 dec.row, etc. until there are 11 stitches, then pull these together tightly.

Thank you, Charlene and Claire, for the chance to participate in this project.

Tofutsies Tried

2008-01-31T00:29:00.000-05:00

Here is my D.B., sporting socks finished in mid-August, 2007. I used Tofutsies by Southwest Trading Company and #1 needles, using a pattern I designed for her very own legs and feet! And, she loved the cheerful colorway.

I wish the socks looked as good now. In just four months of wearing they've become rather drab. Luckily my D.B. still likes how they feel and doesn't seem perturbed by the change. I did not enjoy knitting with this yarn at all. Not only did it smell of shrimp peels during the humid summer when I was knitting with it, but it split more than any yarn I've ever used. I grew to loathe it. Unfortunately, I have two more skeins.

Present For My Sister

2008-01-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Materials: Ritratto by Filatura Di Crossa, color red #44 dye lot 2091. 3 balls, each 198 yds/1.75 oz.; fiber content: 28% mohair; 53% viscose (rayon); 10% polyamide and 9% p0lyester. I'm not certain which of these fibers adds the subtle metallic glittery element. Knit on #2 needles (wooden), 70 sts in k1p1 rib to give it structure. It's about 60" long and about 10" wide.

Above you can see my sister A. , sitting in the architecturally exciting lobby of the building in which she works. There is so much light and space, both luxuries in the middle of Manhattan Island. I love the way she looks in the scarf and was so pleased that she likes it.

I worked with a number of sizes of needles before deciding that the rich yarn needed the simple structure of k1p1 to show off the beauty of this yarn. It took a long time, actually, to knit it, and confess that I almost kept it for myself.

A few years ago I'd knit a scarf for my aunt, using the now discontinued and impossible to find -- and perfectly lovely -- lavender shade of Ritratto. However, because it was knit in stockingette with only a few stitches on either side on garter, it did curl. Even though I'm an experienced knitter, I failed to avoid the dreaded stockingette curled-up scarf.

Neck Hugger

2008-01-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

Last year my sister Angela gave me a very generous gift certificate to String, http://www.stringyarns.com/ my favorite yarn store -- at least before it moved. (Now it's up a flight of brownstone steps which are very hard for me to manouevre on all but my best days. ) Anyway, I treated myself to some qiviuk yarn. Lydia, the brilliant knitter at String, had created a wonderful pattern for a neck hugger I fell in love with. Rather than experimenting with the expensive qiviuk, I made a trial version with some KPPPM Koigu I had in my copious stash. [Color 435 dye lot 34; 100% merino wool, 50 g/ 175 yds.] KPPPM is a tightly plied 2ply and can make a stiff fabric.

This is double knitting at its best and I was eager to try Lydia's beautiful pattern. Because I believe this might be a proprietary pattern, despite it's not having any copyright on it, I will only tell you about the changes I made.

With the recommended #3 needles I used a provisional cast-on to start which made a very clean tubular beginning. The pattern promised a dimension of 5.5" x 27" but no gauge was mentioned. The dimensions after washing, which relaxed the yarn, are 4.75" x 29". This is better for me. Instead of 11 ridges noted in the pattern, to achieve almost the desired width I had to make 14 ridges. I decided not to use Lydia's cast off of * ssk, pass 1st st over* . I painstakingly divided the two sides of the tubular knitting onto two #1 needles and kitchener-stitched the entire 118 sts on each side -- yes a vast total of 236. I wanted to match the tubular cast-on edge. It worked out beautifully, actually. For the side borders, I picked up what worked, not the recommended 42 sts.

To finish I stitched the two layered button hole together.

Because I really like both sides and can't really decide which is the right and which is the wrong side, I decided to make it reversible and bought special buttons for each side. My favorite is the darker silver rounded one which reminds me of the buttons on loden felted coats, jackets and capes I'd had as a child.

The side border is thick so I made certain to buy buttons with posts and sewed them on firmly with a little extra height, wrapping the thread around the extra height. The button is probably supposed to be at the edge of the opposite side border but I didn't quite understand the directions. It works quite nicely with the button in the middle.

So, now I'm ready for the qiviuk.

Afghan for Jeanne: A Work In Progress

2008-01-06T12:38:00.000-05:00

The 8 colors in the afghan

The very first square, about 16" x 16". You can see the vestige of the original log cabin plan, although to be consistent, the lavender and olive green would be switched.

The current and 2nd sqare, a variation on the first. Thus far I really like this one as the greens really complement the lavender. But, you never know how the whole will look until it's all put together.

Jeanne knows only too well that I don' t happily take to process, preferring definite decisions or, ideally, solutions. This afghan will be an opportunity to engage in process as I make this afghan for my dear friend. Jeanne is always so supportive of my knitting and most appreciative of anything I make.

Again, I'm being inspired by the techniques in Mason Dixon Knitting (see earlier blog entries for further details). First I began to make a classic log cabin, with the large lavender center as the center of the entire afghan. I chose the llog cabin design as a metaphor for Jeanne's newly-built house in the wild, wild West (brave soul that she is!). That's why the center much bigger than the usual center of a log cabin block. I now think of the llarge centers as evoking the wide open space and large sky of her new home. And, her large heart.

As I knit the first block, I had three thoughts about my original plan. Cotton yarn is quite heavy, doesn't hold its shape well and would benefit greatly from the structure provided by smaller blocks. Secondly, the variation in the size and color of strips around the center of each block would add great visual interest. And, finally, the large centers could be a unifying element depending on how I arrange them.

Planned: 16 blocks. The center four will be blocks with purple and lavender centers. Because Jeanne's feng shui calls for purples and greens, these colors will predominate. I'll see what happens and if I have enough to make four each of the dark purple and lavender center blocks. I have a lot of this yarn and part of the challenge (and fun) is working within the constraints of what there is in the stash.

Next installment: Yarn brand and colors, needle size and progress.

One More Afghan by the Stettenheim Stitchers

2008-01-05T03:32:00.000-05:00

The Stettenheim Stitchers finished their third afghan since 2005 for the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services' Sanctuary Stitchers Project. This worthy organization gives these blankets to children entering the foster care system. At the moment, a fourth afghan is being put together and we have enough completed blocks for one more. I've ordered 15 skeins from Yarn Forward, in Canada, which offers a wide variety of Paton's Canadiana acrylic yarn. On January 16 the JBFCS will hold its blanket ceremony where I work so we'll be able to attend.

From left to right in the photo above: L.S., D.M., and W.H.; D.M. and W.H., along with H, who is D.M.'s sister and W.H.'s aunt, made many of the blocks that make up this afghan. Look for their interesting stitch and color patterns. H.L. is our designer who decides how the blocks will be assembled into an afghan. She also does a a big share of the knitting. R.L. cheerfully and efficiently crochets the blocks into strips and then joins the strips to create a whole new afghan, as though by magic. To finish off the project, L.S. sews in the yarn ends and crochets the border. See previous posts for H.L.'s andR.L.'s photos and that of J.R., who'd made a few blocks when she had time in the past. Photo credit: R.W., another Stettenheim Volunteer!

Favorite Washcloth Pattern

2008-01-05T01:14:00.004-05:00

Eeek!!! I can't remember which knitting book this came from but I do have several photocopies I made. If anyone recognizes the pattern, please let me know so I can ascribe it properly. My notes say it came from a sock pattern book but the fabric doesn't seem right for socks.

After trying lacy and loose washcloths, I finally realized that because cotton stretches out when its wet, a firm fabric that has texture and is fairly thick makes the best washcloths.

Notes:
Pattern name: III.10 -- a slipped stitch pattern.
Special stitches: C4 (Cross 4) plus slipped stitches.
Pattern is knitted in multiples of 7 plus one.
Better not to have a garter border for this pattern.
Materials: various but at least one with an old skein that's been in the stash for at least 20 years. Bernat "Gloucester Sport", 100% cotton, 1.75 oz / 50 yards; #4 needles. This was finished in June, 2007. I've made several others, including one from a white mystery yarn -- probably acrylic or worse. The D.B. is happy to use it as a dishcloth.