Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Busy with the Knitting

I have been a knitting fiend lately, though it doesn't feel like it most days. I currently have 5 projects going, and am actively working on 4. Also, I've got spinning going on, too. Plus, of course, everything that normally goes on for school and work. I'm feeling tired and overwhelmed just writing this down.

Bigger on the Inside has gained momentum. I picked up the 311 stitches along the bottom edge of the Time Vortex, and have worked several rows of the TARDIS charts. Each row takes a considerable amount of time to complete, as you may imagine, so the going is slow.



I'm using my LEGO stitch marker that I got down in Austin at The Knitting Nest. Turns out grabbing a Lego brick while knitting can be just as painful as stepping on one. This may become a decorative piece in some wall art in the future, I'm undecided.

My bus/meeting/class/waiting knitting is the Looped Loop Scarf by Kristin Johnstone. I'm using my most recent handspun, 5.2 ounces of Dicentra BFL top in colorway Bouquet 2.






I really love the way the yarn is only sort of stripey with the marled effect. To me it feels more like looking out at a blanket of spring flowers in a verdant field. I haven't weighed the scarf progress against the yarn remaining, but I don't think I'm quite at the halfway mark yet.

Next is a commission from my mother, who wants to give my cousin a lovely wedding gift this coming April. We searched the patterns and decided on Sweet Dreams by Boo Knits (Ravelry link).  Then there was some discussion about color. My cousin may decide to wear this at her wedding, so we wanted it to be appropriate. Her dress is reportedly ivory with mocha accents. She lives in Orlando, so we decided that 100% would be the way to go. The task of finding ivory silk in the appropriate weight was not successful, and there was no way of knowing if the 3 options I found would be the right ivory. So I decided to go with the mocha accents (I think it will be more re-usable in this color, too).  I searched high a low on the internet and decided to use Colourmart 18/120 NM 100% silk in dark chocolate.

I'm going to have a hard time giving this one up...I wish you could feel it through the internet.



I'm almost done with the increases in the stocking stitch section, then I get to start the beaded lace section. Yes, beaded. There will be between 350 and 400 glass seed beads in the completed shawl. I'm going to stick with the dark brown color so that they sparkle but don't overwhelm or detract.

Finally, nephew #4 is due sometime in March, so there is a wee little sweater on my needles. Since he a spring baby, I chose the Springtime Baby Cardi by Kaity Fraker (Ravelry link). I'm using Knit One Crochet Too Ty-Dy Dots in a lovely spring green color.


This one is going fast, since it's worsted weight yarn and a tiny little sweater.

Then finally there is my spinning. I picked out the fiber yesterday and spun for about 90 minutes in the early evening. I'm very pleased with the way the ply is coming out, and I'm planning on chain plying it for a nice shimmery 3-ply.



The fiber is 116 grams of 60/30/10 merino/tence/white firestar. It's soft, it's silky, and it's shimmery. I've named it Purple Haze Nebula.

The final project, for those who are counting a curious, is my Mythos cardigan. It's on hold a little bit until I power through some of the other projects (namely the Sweet Dreams shawl).

I'm going to go lay down now, maybe take a nap. I should learn how to knit in my sleep...

Monday, February 4, 2013

One Whole Month

I really, really need to build blogging into my weekly habits. I've managed to accomplish quite a bit since last time I posted, so this might get long.

First, I have several new finished projects. In no particular order...

I have finished, for all intents and purposes, my Foxtrot Gloves in Abstract Fibers Super Sock, colorway Koi Pond. I still need to do the little belts, but I'm having creative differences with the pattern so I called them done, as they're wearable.


I made a Bedknobs + Broomsticks cowl as a Stash shop sample. The yarn is Seda Rustica by Knit One Crochet Too, and it's 70/30 silk/baby llama.

I made a modified pair of Optimistic Mitts for a swap partner. I used Cascade 220 and ceramic buttons by One of a Kind.



I also put a bonus heart on palm of the right mitt.

I used leftover Abstract Yarns Super Sock in dragonfly for this little heart.

Just this past weekend I finished the 2 ounces of carbonized bamboo that I started spinning during TDF 2011.


I ended up with 336 yards of a heavy lace weight yarn. I still need to set the twist. I'm going to make a lovely lace summer cowl with this yarn, to showcase the remarkable drape of the fiber.

Also on Saturday I finally found the special deal that allowed me to upgrade my spinning wheel. I am now the proud spinner with a Lendrum wheel, complete with 4 bobbins, lazy kate, high speed flyer, and jumbo plying head and bobbin.


Last night I started spinning some Dicentra BFL that's been in my stash for several years, and it's just flying along. And the best part? My back doesn't hurt during or after spinning on the Lendrum. It's like magic. My new wheel's name is Benedict, Benny for short.

As for other WIPs, I'm crocheting a Lace Infinity Scarf for another shop sample using Twisted Sisters Essentials (60/40 hemp/silk) and I'm knitting Mythos in Elann Peruvian Baby Silk (80/20 alpaca/silk). I don't have pictures currently of these, but when I do I will be sure to share them here.