Sheer Craziness

Weekdays blow past in such a hurry. I’ve been working on a bunch of stuff I’m really excited about but it isn’t the time to tell you about…for now.

Instead, let me show you some gorgeous Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Wool, available at Twisted in Portland, for my next shop sample.

Soft, sweet…it reminds me of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, but, in finer weight (DK versus worsted) and 20% cheaper in price ($12.50 versus $9.95 a hank.)

Have you been wondering what happened to the Tea Leaves cardigan?  Here it is…been a long time in coming…finished a week ago.

I meant to type this up sooner; but, it’s been sitting in my drafts, awaiting the right temperature…some photographs. Better late than never I guess.

Holy Moly…like this gathered scarf and the Citron shawl, the yoke seemed to take forevvvah…a lot of stitches on the ruched part! Eeck…a nice result in the end.

The cardigan is a top-down raglan and really quite simple. The gauge leaves room for a variety of yarn choices although for a nice medium-weight garment I used a worsted weight. LOVE the way this is knitting up. I am quite happy with the finish. This lovely squishy, squeezable yarn–MadelineTosh Merino–is SO pretty. Delicous! The Rose color makes me smile. ) Lovely cardigan. It used all–1063 yards–but a gram (about 2 yards) of the five skein…PHEW!

I started the cardigan a week before and put in a couple of hours a day here and there. Super easy, fast, and fun knit.

Modification: I did have to make a minor change to the button bands. As shown next, I followed the pattern as is.

The buttonhole band is 1) too long, thus, unattractively flabby; and 2) buttonholes were on the bottom if done on Wrong Side as written. I even consciously tightened up the tension when knitting the bands in smaller-size needles as written. I did read over it three times and check other projects, but, can’t seem to find any errata before and after. As I went with my intuition and did the other side of the band, I picked up 4 stitches every 5 rows–instead of 3 stitches every 4 rows–plus created buttonholes on the right-side row. It was much better. Isn’t it amazing when a simple technique can produce just the cutest thing?!

I’ve been thinking a little about the projects and techniques that I’d like to try my hand at this year. While I have always been remaining an impulse knitter, I attempt to stick to lists generally end in dismal failure. There are still a few of things that I find my mind returning to. What are some of the techniques you are playing with?

Tis the season for another fiber retreat at my good friend’s ranch, starting tomorrow through Sunday. Only scheduled event is making a Dress Form at 2 pm on Saturday. The rest is free play. Do stop by and indulge if you are in town!

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Each Day A Harvest of Hope

Over a cup of coffee I sat dreaming yesterday’s summer…of deep contentment when I thought life was a forever thing as the world lay before me…a green field blossoming, waiting harvest.

Autumn is here to stay. A time for transition. Cooler, shorter days.

The appearance of colorful foliage, harvest time, feasts and festivals.

Here is something to brighten your day and help you to remember to smile. Isn’t he adorable, sweet? This is Kirsten Holbo’s son manning the booth at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.

I first met Kirsten of Iron Water Ranch this summer at Black Sheep Gathering. Unexpectedly, I ran into her again at OFFF the weekend before last. This time, she stuffed in my bag 15 grams of her beautiful locks of newly hand-dyed Romney.

It’s even better this time around. The art of spinning the thread of life.

Miraculously, to my own disbelief, I spun a gram straight off the locks and got 32.5 2-ply yards out of it~~that’s over 30,000 yards-per-pound of singles.   A good bit finer than the commercial handspun sold as Orenburg. I’m tickled pink!

I may certainly knit something small out of the 15 grams of locks I have as it’s spun…48 wpi 2-ply/66+ wpi singles. However, Kirsten likes to see a larger lace sample in her Romney. So, there are more being sent to me in the mail. I am thrilled to the commissioned work and can’t wait to spin more of it. Just wish I have some authentic Orenburg needles for this fine gossamer yarn to knit with…

Life is short, spin the batt! I’m spinning…Pygora and Silk blend here, it’s like…heaven. It is really soft and spins up great–as fine as the romney threads above. Think I have spin fever!

Another commission I recently received from Terry aka Spinpygora (the lady in green) while at OFFF.

Terry was the party girl/enabler that got me hooked on Spindlewood finest spindles last year, spinning her copper pygora roving in a custom-designed featherweight spindle that was unavailable to the public at the time.  Spin me a yarn…and it did!

I’ve had a great day despite a canceled hike last minute due to Aspen’s down for an unexpected nap! Disappointed? Yes…but that did not deter me from enjoying the day. I have made some amazing progress on the shop sample…working on sleeves two-at-time. Spinning and knitting go hand in hand, doesn’t it?! Both are passed from one artisan to another, used to create warm and beautiful fabric. I hope to get at least a cardigan off tomorrow, or the next day latest, and show you the finished piece

Meanwhile, here is one of the treasures I found at Goodwill yesterday.

Not that I need another bag…doesn’t it look perfect for my next swirl collection of yarn?!

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Every Day Is The Start Of Some New Adventure

to live with pizzazz,

to start fresh.

Out there in the world is life go forth and make it yours.

Love every moment.

And that, some days, is a massive achievement.

Yesterday I had a fit of the doldrums. Not exactly depression, more a sort of dissatisfaction with health and life, and with the fact that having worked my socks off–trucking the girls back and forth all morning and the older teen to her first concert performance as French Horn-er (instead of a flutist.) I had a good part of the evening and today, with the house to myself–with hubby gone for 10 days–to do with as I wanted and could have spent it on spinning/designing.  Neither happened. I laid in bed, doing nothing, in real terms, and getting crosser and crosser with myself for it. Thankfully, before getting sicker and sicker, I sneaked in an hour or so yesterday…hung out with my friend Kristin

and worked on a shop sample for Twisted/PDX

This is one of three samples picked up from Shannon on Sunday when I was at OFFF.

I love MadTosh but underspun worsted may be another story. Time will tell when there is more substance in Tea Leaves Cardigan, designed by Melissa LaBarre.

This top-down–knit flat in one piece, with subtle garter stitch trims and softly rippled neckline–is rather simple and cozy.

I really like this pattern, but, am a little unimpressed with all those stitches on the needle for the cute ruffle. But! I like the outcome. I’d have probably been less frustrated by it if it hadn’t been hot outside and inside the house while I tried knitting it and being under the weather.

So far, it knits up rather quickly. It’s all stockinette stitches from here on. First skein of MadelineTosh Merino is gone in no time. Yoke’s completed and now ready to separate for sleeves. Maybe I will pick it up again tomorrow when I feel a little better.

I don’t feel any sense of real achievement today. :0(

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)