FOs: Speaking of socks…

FO: “Sea Socks” — Purple Pomatomi

Details
Pattern: Pomatomus (from Knitty)
Yarn: Fleece Artist SeaWool
Needles: 2.25mm DIY birch dpns
Project Timeline: July – August 27, 2007
Modifications: none

FO: “Sea Monkeys” — more manly Monkey socks

Details
Pattern: Monkey (from Knitty)
Yarn: Fleece Artist SeaWool
Needles: 2.25mm DIY birch dpns
Project Timeline: July-August 29, 2007
Modifications: To make these monkeys ideal for the Dru, I knit a wide twisted-stitch rib cuff, 8 pattern reps. for the leg (+ 6 for the foot),with a reinforced slipped-stitch heel flap.

It should be noted that (for my gauge,at least), one can make a pretty large pair of socks out of one skein of Sea Wool. I had originally begun a different sock with this yarn (unimpressive, therefore frogged in favour of Monkey), and but the end of the 2nd monkey sock, I have only about 1″ of a ribbed cuff remaining unfrogged (maybe .5g?)! Very good value, those Fleece Artist skeins :)

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SP11 contest #2

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
I actually don’t use very many ‘accessories’. I’d probably be most out-of-luck without a good darning needle — most everything else can be cobbled together from other stuff, like or scrap-yarn stitch-markers, or post-its on charts, but you just can’t cobble up a good darning needle. (Trust me: a paperclip does not work very well. Ask me how I know.)

2. If you’re heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
Of course I take knitting with me! What would I do while travelling? I probably bring more than I need to, but f many simpler projects. Socks are now almost essential.

3. Where have you travelled to that you’d consider your favorite spot?
I don’t think I’ve found my favourite spot yet. The balcony facing the ocean in Cancun was particularly good for knitting, but I also love walking through the lush forests of the Bruce Peninsula. I dream of the British Isles.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
Again, I don’t think I’ve found my ‘favourite’ yet: I love Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Knitting Rules for its combination of good advice and humour (which I own); I’ve borrowed Debbie New’s Unexpected Knitting from the local library and it was tremendously inspiring for showing the boundaries (limitless!) of knitting; but I haven’t even got any EZ or other ‘big names’ yet!

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
Not yet. Recommend one to me?

6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?
Does ‘natural’ count? I think if I were barred from knitting with all other dyed colours, I would just want to see the inherent natural beauty of the yarn, unbleached and unmodified. (If it had to be a dyed colour, I could probably knit a lovely wine-red for many years without being bored!)

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?
Agonize for a long time, try to live with it, realize I can’t, try to cobble a cheapskate quick-fix, realize I can’t, then spot-rip all the way down to fix the mistakes and set myself three hours of picking up stitches with a crochet hook…. (Again, ask me how I know!)

8. Where is the most unusual spot you’ve ever knit?
After reading blogs, answers like “on the TTC with twenty other knitters” or “in line for the Harry Potter movie” just don’t sound very unusual… but I will, if given the chance, knit just about anywhere!

Fare thee well, Elizabeth

O fair Elizabeth! How I have proseper’d, knowing thy joys for lo these many months! But, alas, our parting has come, and my heart doth sorrow…

Even Arddu will miss her!

On Sunday evening I returned the Ashford Elizabeth spinning wheel to her rightful home, care of a mutual friend with a pickup. Like most of my spinning-love, I can’t properly express the depths of my gratitude for being loaned her, or how much I have enjoyed leaning how to spin on a wheel, or how much a part of my life it has become. I’ve been a bit mopey ever since she’s been gone.

Also, I really need to make myself some new spindles, because I’ve given all my good ones away! (Hey Jodi, how’s that little jade one doing for you?)

Without spinning, I’ve had to find other ways of occupying my time. Like, say, organizing all the knitting patterns I’ve ever printed out of photocopied. Y’know, something “simple” and “mindless” (more like, something one has to be simple-minded to begin!)

Anyway, most of the way through Shaun of the Dead, I’ve managed to surround myself with this:

There’s a pile for hats/gloves/scarves, for sweaters (pullover, cardigan, jacket and short-sleeve), for skirts, for toys, for lace, and of course, for socks….

That pile on the left? That’s the pile with the hats and sweaters and bags and all. That one on the right? Socks. Just SOCKS. I think I may need some help…

Send us your baked goods…

Wow! It’s amazing the offers one gets just by flashing some fibre photos! (Maybe it’s virtual wool-fumes?)

While I’d be happy to receive your various baked goodies, I’m not sure my conscience will allow me to take you up on the baking-for-spinning-lessons offers. Now, if we happened to be in the same room with a spindle/wheel and fibre and baked goods all the same time, well then…

But seriously, I’m not sure that I’m the one you want for “spinning lessons”. Remember folks, I’ve only been doing this for a few months now, and am doing this entirely by trial and error and force of will. I do this because it seems I’m meant to, because I have to, because I love it in a way that I can’t rightly describe or entirely comprehend.

I can — am actively trying to — do my best to get my friends (and some strangers!) to join me in this, to introduce others to it’s joys and charms, to share this love of spinning. I’ve had some moderate success in this — Kelly is totally hooked, finding fibre left and right, and is even now building her own wheel (!); Krista’s now begun her own knit/spin blog and has bought a new wheel the day after returning the 2-week rental; Mel (who has been knitting since forever and drop-spindle spinning for a quite some time) stayed with us a few nights back, and got to play at the wheel a bit — she’s a natural, no problems at all with treadling & drafting, and I’m sure her own wheel will find it’s way to her soon enough now.

Look at how even her singles are already!

Mel, spinning like a pro.

Y’know , though, as I read what I’ve just written above, maybe there’s a point buried up there. Maybe you don’t care that I’m not a master spinner. Maybe what matters is that I’ve got the spark, something that drives me to read what I can on the subject so I can ‘talk the talk”, and that drives me to spin almost daily in hopes that someday I will feel confident in saying “I know what I’m doing here”. Maybe you’d like to walk along with me on this path for a while.

So sure, send in your baked goods! I’ll make tea while you play with my best DYI spindle, or sit down at the wheel. We’ll compare our experiences: cuss out the frustrations, suss out our problems, admire our successes. Yarns will be spun: tales and fibre both. I can think of no finer way to pass an afternoon than with friends, spinning, and of course a baked treat or two!

To Spin (v)

Spin

Merino roving, “Rose Quartz” colourway (a hackle-blend, so interesting!) from The Drafting Zone, via my FibreSwap Pal.

Span

Rose Quartz, spun slightly heavy (but not bulky).

Spun

“Oatmeal” BFL: the first skein, 2-ply.

Fleece Artist Merino in shades of blue: one big skein, 2-ply.

UFO Sightings

I’ve been looking around my place recently, really looking, spotting details that I have allowed to drift into the murky background of everyday living. Perhaps it passing the one-year-here mark (a rarity for us indeed, who have been moving about every 12 months for ages); since we’ve not needed to do the usual pack/cull, some sort of reorganization should happen nonetheless. Perhaps it’s the chill in the air, triggering that good ol’ nesting instinct. Perhaps it is the need to squirrel away as much fibre as possible, having just realized that autumn = harvesttide = county fairs = fleeces!for!sale! Who knows what it is, really?

In any case, I’ve been de-cluttering the living room (and there’s a lot of living that goes on there, from Dru’s studying to my spinning, dinner-eating to tv-watching, and everything in between), and even I have to admit that knitstuff and spinstuff contribute to a great amount of living room clutter. Of course, de-cluttering anywhere means that you have to find the place where the things are actually supposed to live, which can lead to needing to de-clutter somewhere else… (I’m sure you see where this is going).

So that the spinning fibre has a neat place to stay out in the living room (where the wheel & spindles are), all yarn needs to return to the office (where the stash is). So that the new-spun yarns can join the stash, some UFOs need to find new places to be. Some are friendly things, easy to deal with. Others, not so much…

Worst Things First
UFO #1: The Cabled Shrug. aka the Cabled Fug. aka my Acrylic Nightmare.

Also aka Someone Else’s Problem, as of last night. I just hate this thing. The concept’s still not bad (it’s a highly modified version of the Blackberry shrug: stockinette rightside-out, with a large generic Celtic cable instead of beastly bobbles), but the execution, well, just needs to be executed (in the Marie Antoinette sense!). The back and front panels are too big, with the original sleeve ribbing being huge. The one reknit sleeve cuff’s ok, but unraveling them is a bitch, which is why the other cuff is just tangled yarny mess.

And then I ran out of needles (how can you lose a 9mm circular??) and yarn, so the edging is knit too tight (on 6mms), and even if it weren’t too tight there is not enough of it. However, this is already a salvaging project — the yarn was gifted to me several years back now by the MIL along with a poncho pattern I’d really liked, yet the yarn wasn’t even enough to make 1/2 the poncho — and since it’s not-great Mary Maxim bulky acrylic yarn in a colour I don’t particularly love, there’s no way I’m buying more. I don’t even care enough about this yarn to frog the thing, but if anyone wants it (either as a wonky, lady’s L/XL shrug, or as yarn), then my dear, you are welcome to it!

Best of the Rest
UFO#2: Endpaper Mitts

Ok, so I’ve done nothing at all with these since I photographed them to enter into Ravelry quite some time back. But now I know they’re there, and it’s looking like it’ll be a chilly fall: hopefully this is one UFO that, now sighted, will not drop off the radar again.

UFO #3:Thrummed Llama Mittens

Poor llama mitts. All they want is to be snuggled, and to help keep someone warm. Unfortunately, until I get more llama roving to thrum them with, they’re just going to have to stay UFOs, because why bother thrumming at all if you have to be stingy with the fibre? (I also just realized, right as I typed this, that this means I have a legitimate reason for shopping for llama roving. Oh deary me…)

Transformers!
UFO #4: Twinkletoes

These things have been knit, ripped, re-knit in a better gauge, ripped again when I ran out of yarn midway through slipper #2 (not enough for knitted ties), and re-knit again. (Funny enough, I actually enjoyed the knitting part.) Then they got relegated to the UFO pile when a) I couldn’t be bothered picking up the stitches for the ribbing edging, and b) Christmas passed, and the person they were originally intended for was gifted with something else instead. But a few episodes of ROME s.II, stitches were picked up, ties were crocheted (me! crochet!!), and now I have a cute pair of slippers. La la la, ballet slippers for me! (No, I have not pirouetted in them. yet. There may have been some slight prancing, however.)

From UFO to FO, just like that!

I’d better be careful, or else all this nesting might just develop into a bad case of finishitis! There are still some WIPs, of course, but I think I’ve got my UFOs well documented now. Have you been sighting any UFOs around your place recently?

Yukon Expedition

This past weekend saw a farewell dinner for my brother and his girlfriend, who are embarking on a grand adventure. After disappointments with the job climate here in Southwestern Ontario, they began looking farther afield — a lot farther! — and found a warmer reception in cooler climes. They’re now moving to Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territories (!) and a four-day, cross-country bus trip will soon see them in their new home (the cat, of course, gets to fly out after them, much more civilized!). I’m proud of them for having the guts to take such a big leap of faith, and to show each other such a great amount of trust as they start this new phase of life together.

I wish them all the best, though of course there’s a little part of my brain that hopes my ‘little’ brother comes home again, someday sooner rather than later. Then again, if the frontier spirit takes them, then at least I’ll have me a direct line on qiviut. :)

Another bright side to this Northern expedition is that I can knit all the warm-and-woolies I like, and know that when a care package gets shipped out, I’ll be helping keep my family toasty warm. This weekend I started, and finished, a pair or thick socks*, slightly big for me but just about perfect for my brother’s girlfriend. She seemed so happy when I handed them to her, fresh off the needles in all their lavender wool & silk glory. I’m usually a very selfish knitter (in that I mostly knit just for me), but it felt really good to see how happy it made someone else to get a hand-knit gift. I’m already planning projects, like socks and thrummed mitts, for the near future.

*must get a picture! If I do, I’ll post a pseudo-pattern too.

Long Overdue Spinning Update

Things haven’t been as crafty-slow around here as they probably have seemed from my posts lately, but they haven’t been all that exciting either. I’ve been settling into the new job, and generally being distracted by all this summertime we’ve been having lately.

The last few weeks have seen a fair bit of spinning, but it’s been incredibly off-and-on. I barely fell like I’ve been doing any at all, but when I step back to look what I have done, I’m actually quite proud of.

This is probably the most beautiful skein I’ve made to date. >50g of Fleece Artist merino roving, spun fine — like I ever measure WPI? let’s say it’s “fingering weight” — and wet-finished to gorgeous, bouncy beauty.

My best hand-spinning to date.

What a skein!

The glamorous close-up.

I have no idea what I’ll do with it, but it’s doing quite well as my favorite pet skein right now.

This next Fleece Artist sliver was spun very similarly (stripped into thumb-width/arm-length sections, slightly predrafted, spun from the end), but I think I was less successful in it’s plying. Nonetheless, it shows quite nicely on the niddy-noddy:

Yes, the colours are quite pretty, but…

…does this plying look loose to you?

Currently I’ve got some lovely “oatmeal” light grey and tawny Blue-Faced Leicester I picked up at Romni that I’m working through. I haven’t quite figured out how best to spin it — it’s very fluffy, so I’m worried about predrafting it overmuch lest if just fly apart, and yet it seems a bit sticky if it’s not stripped down some. I’ve spun one bobbin from the end, and one spinning frmo the fold, and I’m not quite happy with either. Once spun, however, the singles look quite fetching, if somewhat uneven.

I like the way the natural colours create a subtle barber-pole striping in the singles. I’m going to ply these ones up, but I may try to spun the rest of the 225g bundle as a fatter single, to preserve this nifty effect. I’m totally making this up as I go along; any tips, tricks, advice, and/or opinions are welcome here!

On the knitting front, progress has been made on the ever-present socks (the purple Pomotomus are 1-down, and there’s another pair of Monkeys “flying under the blogdar” too), as I have been enjoying relaxing knit-time, fine company, and delicious treats of Lettuce Knit‘s knit-nights. Last night I was gifted with a rather large handful of needles, cast out from the company of classier needles like Addis and KnitPicks, by Glenna (who is sadly moving next week, just as I we were getting to know each other — hooray for blogs, at least!).

Thanks again Glenna, best of luck in the move, and come back to visit soon!

Knit 1, Tea 2: Color Swap Questionnaire

I maybe, just maaaaybe, signed up for another swap a day after SP11…

What can I say, these things are so fun! Bring on the questionnaires! Bring on the Good Mail!!!

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

1. Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try?
I like both, but use bags most often out of sheer laziness.

2. What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)?
My favorite tea is black and organic, though I haven’t found “the one” yet. Lately I’ve been drinking Choice‘s English Breakfast in mornings, and an very enamoured with their Earl Grey with Lavender, it’s heavenly and relaxing.

3. Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up).
Ooh, how to choose? It’s down to black or red… Black, because it’s what I drink primarily, and daily. Red, because it seems so intriguing. O Secret K1,T2 pal, I leave the choice to you!

4. Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind?
Expediency is key to my caffeine habits, so I’m most often a kettle-and-mug person. But with good company, it’s the tea pot, of course!

5. What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself?
A tea pot. I’ve inherited many, from a hand-potted “woman” one to myriad Brown Betties, and been gifted with a lovely Japanese glass set for loose-leaf teas, but I don’t think I’ve ever bought my own!
I have also always wanted one of those tea-strainer-on-a-spoon-handle thingies; they seem like they’d make using loose-leaf tea easier, even when bleary-eyed.

6. How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc).
Treats. Lovely organic chocolate for pure indulgence, a Chai latte and a good book for soothing quiet time, or a fun walk out with friends for ice cream. Though a back rub is never turned down!

7. If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why?
I think I’d be a very soft, tweedy handspun. Natural, but still a bit luxurious. Not showy, but still special with an extra boost of personal creativity.

8. If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why?
I’d knit the Fair Isle, because of it’s connection to the knitting tradition, its challenge, and it’s practicality.

9. What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?)
Not much! Yoga classes can be skipped, and hopefully things like knit-night would coincide with the tea party :) A renaissance faire, or camp-out with friends, may cause me to miss the party, but hopefully I can arrange my affairs so that I may attend everything I’d like!

10. What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?)
Fine tea, fresh-baked breads, sweet fruits, shortbread cookies, a hint of chocolate, and witty conversation.

11. When buying yarn for a project how do you choose – do you buy the one called for or do you substitute?
I substitute all the time. Often for budget reasons, but most often to suit my fancy.

12. What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go?
My purse or satchel, with the yarn in a “protective” ziploc. I’ve never been a handbag girl, so I can’t justify the cost of designer knitting bags, and I never seem to get around to knitting/felting something of my own (though I really should…).

13. Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting?
I love the old fantasy movies, Labyrinth and The Last Unicorn and the like, and will watch them over and over. But I am awfully fond of silly romance movies (e.g. Bridget Jones’ Diary) and knitting!

14. Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match?
I am a XL-mug person by habit, though my cherished ones are hand-mand by independent potters.
Were I to take the time to leisurely drink tea by the cup, the saucers would match the cups, and each cup would symbolically match the drinker. When I was little, at my Grandma’s house I’d always have the lilly-of-the-valley set, my brother, the clover (no flowers, therefore masculine), and my sister, the roses.

15. Favorite childhood birthday party?
Once a friend had a party with horseback riding along a country trail. It was all I could have dreamt of, except I couldn’t wear a party dress to it. This probably tells a lot about me.

16. Favorite type of scone and jam?
Freshly-baked, light and fluffy, with melting butter and blackcurrant jam.

17. If you use candles, what is your favorite scent?
Clove, or vanilla.

18. If you could choose 3 people to have ‘tea’ with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead).
I’m terrible at this sort of question. Who indeed? Don’t ask me to party-plan for the entirely of history; someone is bound to be overlooked and become upset, and I’m sure two guests will be mis-seated beside each other, and will start throwing biscuits.

19. You’ve been invited to a tea party, what ‘props’ will you wear (formal or casual)?
That depends entirely on the party. Should I wear an Edwardian walking skirt and bring my parasol, or should I just slip on a comfy cardigan and pop on over in jeans?

20. Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to?
Allergic to most “environmental” allergens (smoke, pollen, pets), though I’m quite tolerant to pets (especially since I spin). No very strong perfumes, please (light, natural scents are great though!).

21. Anything we missed that you want your pal to know?
See the SP11 questionnaire for more details!

Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

I’m IN! Secret Pal XI here I come!

And so, without further ado: THE QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really love using natural fibers. Merino is always a good staple, especially when blended with silk ;) If it’s soft and nice and came from an animal or plant, I’ll probably dig it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Ugh, a basket — no, wait, many baskets. And some ziploc bags. And my purse. And, probably, the couch cushions….

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I consider myself to be intermediate: not many patterns intimidate me, though there’s still a lot I’ve yet to explore. I love knitting lace and cables, but I’ve only done a teeny bit of stranded knitting, and haven’t even got to entrelac or intarsia yet!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do, though It’s mostly just a place for me to say “ooh, remember this thing someone recommended on her blog” to myself. Should you wish to peruse it, my knitting-book wishlist is here, and spinning-book wishlist is here.

5. What’s your favorite scent?
I like spicy naturals, like amber and cedar, and soft scents like sandalwood and ylang-ylang. Citruses are also nice. I’m not much into florals, though I do love the little spring flowers is person like lilac, hyacinth, and lilly-of-the-valley.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh, yes! Very addicted to sweets, chocolate especially. Nice and dark, or smooth and creamy, with the occasional addition of almonds or orange or mint… Organic, even better!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I definitely spin! (Wow, I don’t think I did when I signed up for SP10!) I’m completely smitten with spinning.
I really ought to crochet, but I don’t, yet. I do, however, sew (historical costuming, mostly), and have dabbled in a lot of things, from copper-wire jewelry to bone-carving to woodworking. As you can probably tell from the blog archive, I do a lot of DIY!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I really like acoustic folk, ballads especially. I also listen to a lot of world-fusion/ambient stuff.

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I really like autumn colours, apple reds and forest greens, leaf-copper and thunderstorm grey. I also am fond of deep, jewel colours, amathyst-purple and ruby red, etc.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my husband (the Dru) and two cats (aka “The Horribles”).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
In their season, yes.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I hate picking favourites. Lace? Socks? Lace socks?

13. What are you knitting right now?
Monkey socks (again), Pomatomus socks, and the interminable slog of the “Magical Earth” shawl. (I really ought to start a sweater one of these days …)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, I do. I really appreciate receiving other people’s time and craft.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I think I prefer wooden straights, but everything has it’s place. I have yet to try the mystical Addi lace needles, which could change everything!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Sadly no. Would love either.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Let us not discuss such things. (But probably only a year or so, since things I really hate get ripped rather than merely languishing)

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmastime, the whole season!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Faerie art books (esp. Brian Froud). Yarn.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I’m a sucker for indy/luxury sock yarns. I would love to try Addi needles, or other nice circs (anything’s better than the el-cheapos that I’ve got!).
I don’t currently subscribe to any magazines, but I could really see Interweave Knits and Spin Off luring me for good in the near future, and I really enjoyed Australia’s YARN magazine. I occasionally buy Vogue Knitting, and would like to check out Wild Fibers someday.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
More colourwork is probably in my future. I also would like to further explore cables, the openwork cables and double-sided ones look really interesting. I would like someday to have the courage to try free-form knitting, a la Debbie New.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I am! (A total convert from a year ago.) I wear ladies size 8US (approx), or UK 38.

23. When is your birthday?
February 1st.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?
“aemmeleia”, of course!