Category: yarn

  • the mailman cometh

    And he bringeth me new stuff!

    The four skeins of Jaeger Trinity that I bought from erin, which I think will work perfectly for the Mermaid Mesh. It’s quite crunchy from the silk.

    My dye order from PRO chemical. I was looking into the Sabraset dyes, but some were so expensive ($20 for turquoise?) and they came in quantities I didn’t really need (50 grams). So I was delighted to find they had kits that go along with “Color in Spinning” by Deb Menz – all the Sabraset colours that she lists in the book plus WashFast magenta, in 10 g jars. Perfect! I also ordered some beakers, a graduated cylinder, and a syringe. I can’t wait to mix up some of her dye recipes.

    The Dulaan raglan – isn’t it so cute?

    I’ve just started the sleeves and the second skein of yarn – which is quite a bit bulkier than the first. Oh well. I’m not quite sure how long the sleeves should be, but I’ll wing it.

    New yarns – I finished spinning up the carded alpaca I got at the Frolic. It had quite a bit of VM in it that I picked out as I went, both in the singles and in the plying. There are still a couple little bits in there but hopefully a good washing will help. I found it interesting to spin – easy, but it had an oily feel to it. The washing will probably help with that too.

    Finally, two smaller skeins I finished today – the natural one is BFL, and I’m quite taken with its simplicity. The bottom one is from the blended batts from The Black Lamb, purchased at the Frolic. I just love the heathery colours! This skein’s about 120 yards/50 g, and I’ve got two other colourways to spin up. I’m hoping to use them all together in something.

    I decided to list a few yarns over on Etsy – you’ll notice the prices are higher than those listed on the blog; that’s to compensate for the fees! So if you buy direct from me through the blog, you’ll save a couple of bucks. I’m just hoping for a little more exposure on Etsy, and customers who weren’t already aware of the blog.

    Click here for my etsy shop.

  • on the go

    Ah, the List. Perhaps the List will help my brain sort out what it wants to do.

    Currently On the Needles:
    – latest project for stockinette-during-reading – a simple jacket out of Rowanspun 4ply, held double.

    It’s, uh, a bit bigger than I was going for – measures about 19″ across the back. But it’ll be ok – it’s just supposed to be a casual cardigan/jacket thing. Hopefully it won’t grow a whole bunch when it gets blocked.

    – cable/rib cardigan. ummmm…..I just really don’t want to knit the sleeves again. I’m awaiting a copy of Knitting from the Top to do a top-down set in sleeve.
    – supermerino cardigan, my own design, just a few inches into it.
    – whitby socks. Just a couple inches of foot to do on the second one – I know I could finish it if I just devoted an evening to it, dammit.
    – silky wool/tweed raglan – done the body, need to start the sleeves.
    – toe-up lorna’s laces sock – I’ve only got the foot of the first one done. If I turn the heel, it would be perfect for stockinette-while-reading…but alas, it just sits.
    – vintage blue cardigan – working on the second sleeve. No body yet, although again…candidate for stockinette-while-reading.

    Projects in mind:
    – that Garnstudio DROPS circle cardi. I love it. I just haven’t come up with a yarn yet. I think I might do it in the Sheldridge Farm wool that I got from the Frolic and maybe do the next size up to compensate for the gauge. On the other hand…I kind of really want to buy some Summer Tweed for it.
    – Raspy (Rowan Denim People) or raspy-esque pullover out of Pakucho cotton in one of the green shades, stashed from last summer.
    – Some kind of lacey cardigan.
    – Fitted blazer out of double-stranded Rowanspun in midnight, at a tighter gauge than what I’m doing with the other Rowanspun. Thinking either the Shocking! jacket by Veronique Avery, or the jacket that’s by Debbie Bliss from an older Interweave.

    I’m feeling quite uninspired at the moment, really. And I’d love to follow someone else’s pattern for something. Oh well, for now I’ll read and knit stockinette, and then I’ll try to come up with something fresh and different and somewhat girly that’ll kick start me again. Any suggestions?

  • and what a dream!

    Well, the weekend may be officially over, but I think I still kept my promise erin!

    Dreamcatcher Medallion Cardigan
    Pattern: by Teva Durham, from Loop-d-Loop
    Yarn: Elann Highland Silk in “Oxblood”
    Needles: Denise US 6
    Finished: April 22, 2006

    It’s everything I hoped it would be! Comfy, perfect fit, and certainly eye-catching. The yarn was lovely to work with, a bit dry-feeling from the silk but beautiful nonetheless. I made the smallest size of the sweater, knit at a very slightly tighter gauge, which loosened up upon blocking. There was so much going on at once I had to write out a row-by-row guide! It certainly made things easier, though. My back neck seam, which I thought I’d have to redo after blocking, actually lies very well. And the medallion? Super easy to do, once you figure out the instructions (I had a bit of a snafu but still managed to finish it within an SnB evening).

    All in all, a great knit. And the buttons? I got ’em at Fabricland, and you know, they’re perfect. Some may notice that it looks like I’m missing a button at the top of the band – and you’d be right. I only bought 6 buttons but actually needed 7. Eh, I can live without it. It’s not like I’d have done up the top button anyway!

    And in new yarn – spun up a skein of merino in violets with a touch of blue. DIY light tent of the day – white pillowcase. I wonder if my mom would miss it if I cut it up to build a sturdier light tent?