Plaid

The secret Christmas knitting is coming along nicely, and I'm cruising through the to-do list before we take off to see our families. Well, I guess that makes it sound a bit more like smooth sailing than it has actually felt. In the last week Mr. M and I have both succumbed to a nasty sinus attacking cold. I'd rather pass on the exhaustion and sniffling, but having limited energy has helped me accept (perhaps more quickly than usual) that I had some unrealistic expectations standing between me and this lovely Christmas season. With those out of the way, I can enjoy the few treasured decorations that have made it out, the warm glow of the one garland of Christmas lights, and the big plate of Christmas cookies from the neighbor (um, who I haven't given anything to). With my new laissez faire attitude, would you be surprised to hear that I have also started reading Middlemarch? I think there will be a post musing on the themes of love, marriage and faithfulness but perhaps today I better cut to the crafting content....


vintage skirt, thrifted

So, how about that shawl? I worked my way through some samples, and the Shetland and the batt were a real dream to spin. Once I got it knitted up though.... meh. The fabric just wasn't as visually interesting as I had hoped. Then the dangerous little voice in my head then suggested that it might look nice woven... maybe as a plaid. Where does stuff like this come from? I don't even know how to weave!


Vintage skirt, from Mom

So anyway. Now I have plaid on the brain and I'll probably have to take up Cheri on her offer to teach me to weave on one of the guild's loaners.




Anyone know of some good articles on planning a plaid pattern?

Batty (in a good way)

Before we sold the house, I found some batts that were so amazing that I was afraid to link to them. I mean, what would I do if y'all bought these up before I could lay hands on the tweedy, woolly, goodness? Fortunately, I managed to destash some yarn that wouldn't knit up to gauge (take that!) and lay my hands on two of the lovely, fluffy things.

When they came what fun it was to open the package. That little bundle of fiber on top is a freebie. Love that. You rock artclub.

And inside:

Words fail me when it comes to these. So let me just say I packed them away for the perfect project. Now I'm suddenly struck with the urge to knit a feather and fan comfort shawl.

R-L: Black Shetland, Rambouillet, Romney, and mystery wool.

I'm thinking that if I alternate these somehow I can come up with enough yardage for the shawl. Right now I'm trying to envision it. Should I try to go from light to dark or dark to light? Both of those are very dramatic. I like how they draw the eye over the shawl. The problem is that I may not have enough of the multicolor batt to make it the the center of attention by sticking a big, thick, splash of it in the middle.

I could go for distinct stripes. Of the examples on Ravelry, I generally like the 2-4 row color stripes, although there is at least one example of broad stripes (varied in size) that is quite attractive.

I also think one of the darker wools is probably unnecessary. Right now I'm leaning toward saving the Rambouillet for another project. I think the deeper color and greater gloss of the Shetland will give the shawl some sparkle. Somehow the Shetland is the only wool in this group that is not "matte" and I don't want the whole thing to just fade away. I'm also wondering if the red will overpower everything else... but it is winter and I'm feeling the need for color.

I asked Mr. M what he though of the various color combos and he pointed out that fiber always looks different when spun (!). So I guess the next step will be some sampling :)

Heck or High Water

Gratuitous cat photo

So what has been going on hereabouts? There was a birthday which brought me to a nice balanced feeling age. The actual day was a bit hectic as it was a Friday AND I was called to substitute teach for the first time in this school district. Not to fear though – the math teacher left me a photo seating chart and an entertaining math movie. Mr. M made the evening special with a pizza dinner and chocolate sheet cake both of which he prepared from scratch. Delicious.

I then headed off to visit my family during their Thanksgiving break. Mr. M couldn't get away until school got out, but I was able to get a few extra days with everyone. Lots of talking and long walks and good home cooked (and baked!) food. Being one to draw out the festivities, I managed to get a second birthday celebration - spanakopita, Greek salad and Schwarzwaelder Kirschtorte for dessert. For my family, a great deal of life revolves around cooking and eating. The food might be fancy or simple, traditional or exotic, healthy or indulgent, but it is always wholesome and made with love. I look forward to getting to pick the menu for my birthday meal. Contemplating all the possibilities is part of the fun!

Of course, some birthday cash was spent on bundles of fibery goodness (Shetland, Gotland, Wensleydale, BFL, Rambouillet) that I am certain will make individual appearances on the blog later on. Perhaps after my dye kit comes?

While at my mother’s house I communed with the cats. This blog is sadly deficient when it comes to kitty snapshots, but I couldn't ask Mr. M to forgo breathing when I married him… so the little allergen bombs can’t live with us. Aren't they cute though?

This one is aloof...

After our return home there was more substitute teaching, followed in short order by a natural disaster. We were without power two days but our little neighborhood escaped relatively unscathed. Our friends with a fireplace and a propane stove took us in and we spent several delightful evenings with them holed up chatting and reading. When we did venture inland a bit we saw this…

Can you make out the mudslide and downed tree?

With all that it really is amazing how quickly they have been able to restore power and clear the roads.

Still there? Well, here is one of my current projects…

These are the gloves I promised my brother last Christmas. Shameful really, but I have an awful time once I know it’s not a surprise. I hope they fit.

FO: Surprise!

Just got the word yesterday that this had made it to its ultra-cute recipient:



Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket, EZ

Yarns:

Cream color: Domestic wool from Spunky Eclectic, two ply, bulky weight, handspun by yours truly

Light brown: Romney, two ply, dk weight, handspun by yours truly (held double)

Dark brown: Romney/Shetland/Merino, two ply, worsted, handspun by Mary Jane

Needles: US 7

Size: 1 year / 21 in chest (ish)



I hope this keeps the little one toasty warm this winter :)

FO: Nessie

I think the pictures tell it all...

Pattern: basic, top-down triangular shawl, 24 in. deep, 49 in. across when blocked.

Yarn: 1.8 oz/270 yards of my handspun singles from a "Sea Monster" batt by artclub.

Needles: US 10, Needlemaster circulars

Red Sky In Morning

... sailors take warning.

I snapped this shot some weeks ago when we had an eerie, red sunrise. The light was so strange, almost purple. Why does this picture come to mind? Perhaps because red mornings supposedly predict an impending storm. Our forecast here is for three days of poor weather. Sounds like it will be an inside weekend. Perhaps it is also because I feel the need to listen to another warning. Yesterday I had a lovely, crafty day. Spend two hours knitting, went to the weekly spin-in (1.5 hours) and then spent the evening prepping some very dirty alpaca fiber. By bedtime, my hands and wrists were hurting. Today I am holding off on all the spinning and knitting (Christmas presents!) I would love to be doing to try to give my hands a break. I probably shouldn't even be typing this. I really don't want to have carpal tunnel problems. Spinners have any suggestions for me? Maybe I will try to not bend the wrist of my back hand so sharply when drafting... knitting has never given me this tingly, persistent pain.

In honor of Friday I give you a picture of a luscious scarf kit my MIL brought back from New Zealand for me. I seem to be in one of my green moods again. Be patient little scarf, your time will come.

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement on the seafoam project. I think the concept is something that I will revisit, this time around the edging just didn't work. Sorry that your comments did not appear immediately, I was playing with the settings on the blog because I wanted to delete a comment (no worries, nothing bad, just something out of place). From now on your words should go right to print.

Have a great weekend!

Exponential Growth

Where have I been? I've been sitting on the couch, learning the mysteries of the ruffle. My walks on the beach have made me wonder if I could make a scarf evoking the lacy patterns of sea foam on the shore.

Started with some handspun:


I thought I would do a triangular scarflett (size of bandanna or so) and edge it with a ruffle, and do just the last two rows with white.



Attempt number 1:
Row 1: *K1, yo* K1
Row 2: purl
Row 3: *K1, yo* K1
Row 4: purl
Row 5: *K1, yo* K1
Row 6: purl
Row 7: knit
Row 8: BO

That sort of increasing produces QUITE a ruffle. Like 1058 stitches worth.

The swatch looked good, but when I tried it on halfway through the bind-off row, it looked like I was being devoured by a giant sea slug. The stiffness of the fabric plus the way I wanted to wear the garment made the ruffle stand up enough that most of what was visible was the "wrong side" of the ruffle.

Look at that swatch picture again, see how the ruffle looks good "down"? Trust me, it does not look so good from other angles.

Attempt number 2:
Row 1: *K4, yo* K1
Row 2: purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: purl
Row 5: knit
Row 6: purl
Row 7: knit
Row 8: BO

Theory: less fabric created initially, plus more plain rows to tame down the ruffle.
Result: no ruffle.

Attempt 3:
Row 1: *K1, yo* K1
Row 2: purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: purl
Row 5: BO

Result: a nice row of eyelets in the increase row. Rest of the work rolls up and obscures everything.

Further thoughts: I think that my bind-off is contributing to the rolling. Will blocking fix it? Not sure. The white single I am using for trim also adds a lot of body to the edge, causing it to roll. Looks like rolling is the natural tendency. Should I just... roll with it?