While the Sun Shines

I have been on a tear lately. I've been knitting, sewing, cooking, and until disaster struck, spinning (more on this, I promise). I finished the Looped Loop scarf out of my lovely Dicentra handspun. About 2 days after I finished it, the weather warmed up to the point that a heavy BFL cowl was entirely impractical (trust me, I tried).

I'm chugging away on the Sweet Dreams shawl for my cousin. I'm into the beaded lace section, and I'm really enjoying the knit. The lace pattern is simple in this section, but doesn't lack for a dramatic finish. I'm using 11/0 clear square beads, and they look like ice crystals in the lace.

The Springtime Baby Cardi needs only seams and buttons to be complete. I could finish it in an evening. It's been in this state for over a week. Once it's done I promise pictures.

Finally, I've started a Dapple Bolero for myself out of Berroco Remix, color Old Jeans (3927). It's the yarn called for in the pattern, and I just happened to have the exact amount, and need a spring knit for myself.

On the sewing front I have nearly completed a dark grey wool (blend?) tweed vest. All that needs to be done is the final handwork (2 incomplete lining seams and 3 buttons). As with the other finishing work, this is languishing. I've got too much startitis going on too many fronts to actually finish things right now. It's a side effect of the burgeoning spring weather.

On Saturday I visited The Rain Shed and found stretch knits that aren't pathetic! I bought a yard each of a 100% merino 1x1 rib in Magnolia, weight/ sq yard 5 oz, and a 92/8 organic cotton/lycra blend in Palm Green, weight/sq yard 6-7 ounces. The wool is going to be a spring top out of a recent Burda magazine, and the cotton will be this Vogue skirt (pattern 8711).

Also a result of the improving weather, I've been cooking lighter meals. This past Sunday I made a delicious pancetta, mushroom and asparagus risotto. I managed to cook the rice to perfection.

And now, the tragedy of my spinning wheel. I was spinning along, happy as could be, working on my delightful Purple Nebula fiber.

Then, suddenly, the left foot pedal broke. The right connector broke several weeks ago, but I was able to repair it. The left side posed more of a problem, but I was determined. I was on the floor, with kitchen twine, rubber bands, and various other bits to help muddle together a fix. I was almost done when the second connector on the right side, the one that connects the footman to the drive shaft, broke.

Sadly, there's not a kitchen twin fix for this much damage. I'm in the process of sourcing local parts to fix my wheel, as ordering them online would require ridiculous shipping fees (one of the reasons I hate flat fee shipping).

I thought I had a good fix set yesterday after a trip to the home supply store. Wes even gave it his seal of approval.

I was going to replace the yellowed, aged plastic with plastic coated cabling. It has the right amount of flexibility vs. stability, and would last a heck of a lot longer than plain plastic. However, upon taking out the screws (2 different sizes of Robertson head screws, hence the two new screwdrivers that are only good for my wheel) I learned that the screws pass completely through the connectors. Which I can't do with the cabling. So today I'm heading back to raid the plumbing section for appropriate tubing. Maybe that will work better.

I'm foaming at the mouth to get my wheel fixed because this came in the mail yesterday:

It is a lovely Boho Knitter Chic batt with merino, bamboo, tencel, and sparkle. It is a color based on X-Men's Storm, and is part of her X-Men Spin-a-Long. It is beautiful and soft and oh, so sparkly.

I'd like to get this spun while the sun is shining.

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...

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.

New Year. New Things

And other new of news.

On New Years Day, as is my preferred tradition, I bought something new. Or, somethings new. Somethings that I've been wanting for quite a while.

Wait for it...

That's what you think it is. A new vacuum. It's lighter, more powerful, quieter, and has a hose with several attachments. Now I can vacuum the floor, the floor behind/under furniture, the furniture itself, and (squee!!) the drapes.

And...

 A full size crockpot. With high and low settings. And a timer. It holds a whole chicken and then some. I've already cooked in it, and plan to make more things this weekend. Partly because it's awesome, partly because I don't have the cabinet space for it yet, I need to do some purging and reorganizing.

Also, before the previous year ended I did some housekeeping in anticipation of more housekeeping to come. I reorganized my closet:

 No more stuff piled all over the floor, just a nice, sleek wire mesh organizational system. I also took out a bunch of clothes that I never wear/don't like/don't fit into.

I reorganized the pantry:

That included moving the shelves to be up against the wall, and getting rid of the ## of bags with 2-3 chips leftover, or boxes of cereal with only crumbs in the bottom.

Also in the pantry (which is also the coat closet and storage closet, with the pantry part between the two spaces) I cleaned up the pile-o-junk that I put there when I moved in.

I think I'm going to put some shelves above the totes so that I have even more storage, rather than just a bunch of random empty space.

There was also an influx of new storage containers, a cutlery tray, and my 2013 calendar.

Finally, here's my newest spun yarn. I finished it on New Year's Eve. 71 yards of aran(ish) weight yarn. Fiber includes alpaca, BFL, borderleicster locks, sari silk, locally grown wool (not local to here, local to somewhere else), and lots of angelina sparkles.

Next time I'll have exciting knitting related news. Stay tuned.

The year is finishing...

And I find myself finishing many projects. Which is good, I like starting each new year with fresh new projects, rather than carrying things over.

I finished my only adult sweater of the year. It is Ashfield from New England Knits, worked in Cascade 220 Sport.





I love the yarn, it's soft and shows off the stitches beautifully.





I also finished my only full pair of socks for the year. I used the Sherman toe and heel that I learned from Brenda Dayne's class, and I love the way the heel fits. It's my new standard heel.





I used handspun to knit a new winter hat. The fiber was a Boho Knitter Chic batt from BSG (blogged it, remember?) and I love how it knit up. The pattern is Toorie.





I finished the other side with pom-poms.




I used more handspun to knit a little scarflette. It is the Orwell Bridge Scarf. The yarn was thicker than called for, so I modified the stitch count throughout,



I also finished a Christmas present that will be unveiled once it has been received.

I've got two projects on the needles right now, but one is a gift and the other doesn't look like much, so photos will have to wait.

48 Hour Bug

It's been a quiet week. There have been a few tense moments, like when I discovered that my truck has a fuel leak (scheduled for the mechanic tomorrow), but all in all things have been going well. I've made some major breakthroughs with Drupal for the website I'm building as part of my job (which I'm supposed to finally be hired for by the end of today, I'll believe it when I sign something). I did quite a bit of knitting, but can't share it with you as it's a holiday gift and I don't want to ruin the surprise for the recipient.

I did not do much knitting over the weekend, however, because I caught a 48 hour sewing bug. I've been wanting a metropolitan cape for quite a while now, and it's a bonus that they are in style this season (not that being out of style would have stopped me). On Saturday I put on The Great Muppet Caper and dug out the fabric I thought I was going to use to make my cape. I got out the pattern, cut out the paper pieces, ironed them, ironed the fabric (a nice winter outerwear weight wool) and spread it all out on my floor.

Curses!

And there was no way I had enough fabric. Just no way. Unless I only wanted 1/2 a cape, and I'd really rather have a whole garment, thanks. I flipped and folded and refolded and flipped and it just wasn't going to work, let alone work well with the stripes matching up.

So I went shopping in my fabric stash. It's nothing compared to my mom's House of Fabrics (though most of it came from there) but what I have is nice and I found the perfect substitute.

Success!

Right on top was 3 yards of a lovely grey tweed wool (blend probably). And right beneath that was 2 yards of a fantastic lining fabric. It was all just exactly what I needed. All I had to get from the store was some fusible fleece to add some substance to the outer fabric (it was a bit too loose for a winter cape) and away I went. Saturday I cut. And cut. And cut. The pieces are not small and I had to cut them out three times (fabric, fleece, lining). Then I fused the fleece to the fabric and sewed a few of the seams.

Sunday was the big sewing day. I put on the USA NCIS Real McGee Marathon and started seaming away. It is a simple construction (it's a cape, it's not like it's fitted) just lots of long seams. I put in 5 large button holes (4 for the belt, 1 for the closure). I hand stitched the bottom of the cape to the lining after turning it (and I did a very nice job). By dinnertime on Sunday, I had a lovely new winter piece.

My New Cape

The only thing left is a proper button. Right now I'm using a pin as a button. I know exactly what I want (a locally hand made ceramic button from Stash) but I can't get it until tomorrow. so my cameo will have to suffice for now.

I do love the lining. It's like my little secret against winter. Professional outside, fantastically colored inside.

Love the Floral

The fusible fleece gave it just enough body and added warmth. The lining is silky smooth and won't catch on any hand knits I wear in the future. And the grey outside goes with all of my hats, shawls, and scarves!

All in all, this was a 48 hour bug that I didn't mind having. Maybe I'll catch it again next weekend...

I Finished Something!

I'd like to present my newest completed shawl. The pattern is Lokken Kerchief from Knitscene Accessories 2011, and the yarn is handspun. My handspun. The second yarn I ever spun. It's been shuffled away in my stash for years waiting for the perfect project. I finished with about 1 yard left over, so it was perfect.





I'm not sure why the photo is upside down, but it's beautiful in any orientation. The pattern is modular in construction and plain garter stitch, letting the yarn shine.





There were only two modifications to the written pattern (other than gauge):

1. I only did 5 sections rather than 6. It's ok, the shawl is plenty big (see above comment about gauge).

2. I did a single crochet border on the top and non bind off side to even out the garter stitch edges.

I also have a project that had to be put away for a while through no fault of its own.





That is about 1/2 a sleeve of my first crochet cardigan. It is Louisa Harding Aimeè, worked with a size E hook. The pattern is Fall Fields Cardigan from the Fall 2012 Interweave Crochet.

Sadly, this is what put me in a wrist brace for 2 weeks. I am now free of that device, but don't want to go back to the crochet until I've worked on the ergonomics.

I do have 2 crochet successes though, both completed without bodily injury. My first crochet was Plumeria Frill in hand dyed yarn that was a birthday present for a friend.





It was speedy and immensely gratifying, a true gateway project to the world of crochet.

I then tried a crochet toy, and made Zork from Crocheted Softies. I used Knit Picks shine sport for the body and comfy for the eyes.





I call him Calvin because he reminds me of the various aliens from the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon.

I have more projects on the needles, but you'll just have to wait for the next installment of A Day in the Life.