A few days ago, while cleaning out my yarn stash, I found a bag filled with unused Lion Brand Homespun yarns of varying colors (mostly blue) back in the day when I was either a) learning how to knit and for some reason, everything I wanted to make was using Homespun or b) for a feather and fan afghan that's been a work in progress for over 2 years now.
Normally I'd post on the local Freecycle board offering free yarn but after the last two times of doing that, I figured that this time I'd keep them for a while and knit some small project here and there in time for the holidays.
So I came up with slouchy hats...the first one is based on Barbara Walker's Wager Welt stitch which is just alternating knit and purl rows to give the yarn some texture. The next one is a simple blue stockinette stitch slouchy hat that's just screaming for an accessory - like a crocheted flower or something.
I don't even know how to start my own treasury on Etsy but today I received an email from GoodLookinTreasures telling me she had included my Oatmeal Knitted Earwarmer in her treasury. So cool!
You're looking at my second calorimetry done! This time I didn't use any of my handspun though although god only knows I'm drowning in them. But I'm also being overwhelmed by my yarn stash, which I've promptly dragged into the living room (there's still a few bins sitting in the garage beyond my reach because my belly gets in the way when I reach over!) to organize.
Maybe it's time for me to give away certain yarns that I'm not going to be using - but then a time will come for sure when I'll have a project in mind and can't find the darn yarn because I had given it away. Oh well...this must be the life of a stasher...
For now I've got projects crowding my to-do list as I'm wondering what I'm going to do when I can't work anymore. I am getting pretty huge and I'm only 25 weeks along. Pretty soon I won't be able to reach across the massage table! But it happens, so why complain, right? I'm sure with my growing stash of fiber and yarn, I'll find something to do...
I'm so excited to have finished my first ever calorimetry pattern from Knitty! It's also my first actual finished object since my dry spell started after finding out I was pregnant - that would be about 4 months or so.
I have about 5 WIPs languishing around the house but having one finished one definitely inspires me to finish all of them. After all, with my craft room/office now turned into a nursery, all my yarn and fiber have been turned out to the garage, while some bags of yarn have been sitting in the living room for the past week or so awaiting their respective projects.
Without much ado, here's the first calorimetry of many that I hope to make for friends and clients! I'm currently working on the second one using smaller needles and some wonderful Poems yarn!
Yup, my first hand-dyed, handspun, handknit FO to share (on second thought, it may not be the first, but definitely still fun!)!
I started with some Sheep Shed Studio mill ends in black and white, which I kettle dyed (just threw in the colors in layers and prayed), then navajo-plied, and finally knit into this hat that I hope isn't too big for Leo's head.
I usually use the Yarn Harlot's notes for knitting generic hats and socks, so this was pretty easy!
In other developments, I was sneak-attacked yesterday from The Handmade Movement (thank you so much, Heather!) and my shop Liz and Leo got its first seven sales (that's what happens when one has too many shops to begin with - but Liz and Leo on etsy has proven to be most representative of Leo's and my my work) so basically my earlier shops are going to fade away soon.
So all in all, it's been a good day! It's been slow for my practice but it works out because I'm helping Matt, my son, get all his stuff together so he can find himself his first job (he's 19) and today we went to DMV so we could get him his drivers, er, identification card. He says he's not driving yet because he doesn't want to be saddled with the expenses tied to owning a car. Good for him!
At least, he's going to look for a job locally so he can take the bus and the metro easily. Thank goodness we live in a central area with transit within a block or two away...
I have to constantly remind myself to be more patient with him since he's only 19 and being raised overseas where he had everyone doing everything for him, coming the US is a huge leap - especially when there are no maids here. Hehehe...heaven knows I need one in this little house as it is to control my fiber and yarn stash that's spilling out of every nook and cranny!
I knitted this hat using some of my novelty yarn spun from Homestead Wool and Gift Farm fiber and banana fiber (the green yarn) while watching the dvd "Twilight" last night. Since I can't knit and watch a movie at the same time, I ended up having to watch the movie again this morning and I have to say, the darn movie (and Robert Pattinson*) grew on me!
I've never read the books but now I'm curious to see how someone who had never written anything before simply woke up from such a vivid dream of a boy and a girl talking in the woods (and he glowed) and couldn't stop writing till she captured the essence of that dream. Reminds me of a dream I once had over five years ago which involved Chris Noth and I sitting under a tree bedecked with ribbons - and he was pregnant! Talk about dream interpretation, right? That scene sure is ripe for it!
Anyway, finally got my spindle-spun yarn for the Celebrate challenge on Rav's Spindlers group all soaked and dry!
Bellarosa 2-ply handspun. I ended up with 204 yards. Not bad. However, I'm taking some time off the drop spindling...this was a fast spin, and next time I really should just spin on my wheels.
ETA: Now, Cam Gigandet's James has grown on me, too!
So congested and still waiting for Claritin to kick in, I'm simply posting pics today. My head is so full of cobwebs I can barely type a coherent sentence even...but like I'll let it stop me, right?
Anyway, I got myself pretty busy with my needles the last few days after boxing up the drumcarder for another day.
I finally finished my Darkside Cowl and I'm pretty happy with it. I can't wait to get another one cast on soon!
I really like this cowl. It's very simple yet classy and it being handspun makes it even more special. Like my 4 year old-nephew and ringbearer-at-my-wedding would say, "Super Special!!!"
This one was inspired by Jane Bennet, the ever-sweet sister of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. It's a cowl adapted from the Feather and Fan pattern and handspun from a merino/bamboo blend.
Feather and Fan is pretty easy and it's one of the first lace patterns I ever tried out after branching out from the usual knit and purl stitches.
I don't remember how much yarn this cowl requires since it's spun from my own handspun and I forgot to measure the yardage as well (bad knitter!). But since you're going to knit in multiples of 18, depending on your yarn weight, yardage ang gauge, it should work with just about any yarn :)
To make this cowl, cast on multiples of 18 (the cowl was 90) and join to form a circle. Place marker and knit 2 rows.
For the third row: (K2tog)3X, *(YO, K1)6X, (K2tog)6X, rep * till you reach the last 6 stitches, then (K2tog)3X.
Next row(4th row): Purl all stitches.
Knit the following rows till you reach your desired length and then end with Row 4. Bind off loosely.
Cindy's got skillz! Cindy is Studioloo and she spins these amazing art yarns!
Last November I was very fortunate to have her as my swap partner and this is what I got! She ended up getting small small skein of pink yarn that I had to spin up in a hurry because the first yarn I spun for her didn't even make it there. My fault though.
I sent it to some state other than CANADA. I must have been high because we all know that Canada is not one of the 50 states of America...
So last night, after two months of staring at her yarn (I hung it by the light so I would see it every day), I finally broke down and knit something with it.
I decided to do something simple that would bring out the special qualities of her novelty yarn. I knit this using size 19 needles and chose to do the Go Diagonal pattern from Lexi Boeger's Intertwined book.
Took 2 hours! It was so easy that the only difficult time I had was trying to take a photo of it without showing all my extra curves that shouldn't be there...
In the meantime, Velma of Colorbomb Creations created a tutorial on how to create corespun yarns on the wheel! She is wild, that woman! I just love her motto - "Color Can't Hurt You!"
And while we're on the topic of skillz, I've been practicing my weaving skills. Here's my rigged warp for that kiddie loom I wove some coasters on. Since the Curious weaving loom is designed to weave small pieces like coasters and pot holders, I needed a way to lengthen the warp. So I rigged a dowel to which I tied the warp threads (gold crochet thread) and then secured the dowel around the leg of the coffeetable.
It made for an uneven warp, depending on the angle of the loom, but it was do-able. I was then able to roll the finished sections around the bottom dowel and continue weaving. I used some of my handspun yarn, and alternated it with some paper ribbon from my wedding bin.
Not too bad.
In the end, I finished with a piece that was about 13 inches long by 5-1/2 wide, kinda crooked on one side because the far right weft yarn was cut too loose. But it seems to have personality. I have yet to add finishing touches to it, but Leo has already agreed that it be hung somewhere in the house, since the place is devoid of any of my artwork to date.
"Red Paper" would then be the first to grace the walls of our little home - warts and all!
It's not everyday that I get to knit something from my handspun - and actually finish it! Right now I've got two projects from handspun that's been on hiatus.
However last night, while sitting at home and watching Tropic Thunder ("I know who I am! I’m the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude!" - Kirk Lazarus), I decided to be brave and knit something out of the first handspun yarn spun from the now-returned Louet Julia (I miss her, but I've got another wheel coming within the next week - stay tuned).
And speaking of wheels, I am totally envious of Jamie for getting a Mach 1 by Spinolution wheel for Christmas! I can't wait to see it!
Okay, back to the scarf. This was spun from Crosspatch Creations' Little Lassie. I plied the first skein which was spun bulky with some white merino singles while the next skeins were plied with the same roving. But because for the second skein I was following instructions (more like suggestions) on how to spin the roving, I spun it really thin and so I had to double up the second one as I knit with it.
I also thought I didn't have enough yarn (I'm pretty notorious for not measuring yardage...well, I measure, sure. I just don't write it down!), but in the end I still had 2 yards left over. Not too shabby.
Now I just need to figure out how to soften this handspun up since it's pretty tightly plied in some places and not feeling too soft against the skin. But soft enough for now.
Instead we bundled everyone in the car (that would mean myself, Leo and Truffles), and headed 65 miles north of Long Beach to Lancaster. It's in the Antelope Valley and a few days ago, while L.A. was inundated by much-needed rain, the Antelope Valley received snow!
The 14 freeway had to be shut down for about a day and drivers escorted down the road by police vehicles, while most other vehicles had to stop right before the treacherous part of freeway and just wait till the roads would be clear and safe.
"Are we there yet?"
My friend Lolita emailed pictures of snow outside the house, and we in the L.A. area were grateful for the rain. SoCal so needs it right now, and after all the rain, the mountains just west of us were blanketed with snow. It was beautiful! But because I was headed to take my finals at school as I was ooh-ing and aah-ing over the view, I neglected to take my camera.
So this weekend, we started our Saturday in the car, driving and admiring the view. Then there was a huge lechon (roast pig Filipino-style) waiting for us, as well as some awesome pancit (noodles), bulalo (beef marrow soup that's totally artery-clogging you simply have to close your eyes and just enjoy it and know that this is a rare treat!), macaroni salad and so much more!
This is just one reason why it's rare to find Filipino vegetarians...
Dessert included a delicious chocolate mousse cake from Victor Benes, and wonderful mango cake from Red Ribbon Bakery. This was no two-to-three hour visit. We weren't staying overnight like we did last year (which was such a production), but we had planned this to be an all-day event. Then we'd roll our way out of the house, back into our respective homes so we could percolate in private.
In between meals, we worked out (or tried to - I think I only burned 3 calories on the lateral climber and my brother burned 7 on the treadmill), watched some NCAA games on the telly, took turns on the couch to nap (the guest bed was too tempting and occupants may stay longer than planned), and I even got to spin some sample romney on my Spindlewood drop spindle as cousin-in-law Joe asked tons of questions ("So is that how it looks like, coming straight from the sheep?" "Is this the natural color?" "Wow! So that's how yarn is made!"), Mike1 (Lolita's dh) curious but deathly afraid of the wool because he is allergic to wool, and Mike2 (Mike's bestest friend) remarking, "Wow! Cool top!"
Even Ann, who I had gifted with a prayer shawl last year and who told me last night that she finally got to use it in Las Vegas last week, asked me how long it would take for me to make a shawl or scarf from scrath, sheep-to-shawl-style. Hmmm...if I didn't have to work, cook, clean the house, and surf the net, maybe three weeks minimum? Or am I being delusionary. I told her, reasonably for someone with a job and a family, maybe three months. Which means I probably would need to give it a try...
This was actually the first time I'd ever brought a drop spindle to a gathering and spin in public! What an accomplishment, eh?
But I wasn't the only one willing to "perform" in public. Mike2 took out his guitar and other music-making-paraphernalia and played a few songs on his guitar. One was his own composition, inspired while reading Memoirs of a Geisha (read the book first before seeing the movie!), entitled For Sayuri.
It's only a brief clip but it was a beautiful song. Now if each of us practiced on an instrument for the next year (work on that F, Lolita!), next Christmas, we may just have a full-fledged band! He then surpried us again with postcards we could choose from (I admit, we took more than we were supposed to. His pictures are great!) as Christmas presents! I just love it that people unfold before your eyes the longer you get to know them...just like how a cut diamond bears so many facets that give it a totally different look with each turn of your hand to view it!
Before the night was over, the lechon had to be divvied up and Leo, Ann and Joe had their moment of Andrew Zimmern's Bizzare Foods when they each took a bite of lechon brains. Um, I did take a look at the brain to identify the corpus callosum (flashback from anatomy 150), but no, I'm not that brave to try pig brain - no matter how much you tell me it's "good".
And oh, on the knitting front, I hurried up and finished a striped gray hat for Leo, which he loves above all the hats I've made him (so much for knitting him wool hats...the guy's so low maintenance, he prefers an acrylic blend over wool...maybe for now. He finds Lamb's Pride pretty itchy) and now he wants me to make Truffles a matching sweater.
Sunday is another Christmas pig out at Todai in Huntington Beach, but we're gonna be late for that. Even Truffles is constipated from all the feasting yesterday...
Tomorrow is my Physiology finals and after rewriting all my notes which amounted to 16 pages, I'm ready to tackle studying for the rest of the day. Of course, after all that typing and reviewing, I had to take a break and show you what I've been up to.
To be honest, in my Dayquil- and Nyquil-induced haze for the past four days, I forgot all about my finals but I am pretty confident that I'll do okay.
First off, last night, I discovered the Brioche stitch (I hate doing the rib stitch and so this is a lifesaver!) and I whipped this one up out of some leftover blue bulky yarn I've been storing for years - got it done in less than two hours!
It is so cozy and warm that if only I hadn't lost the band,I would be ordering another one to make it a bit longer. But for now, with the addition of three black buttons from my stash, I'll have to settle for an ultra-snug Comfy Blue Neck Warmer:
Then there were the two skeins of corespun yarn that I had spun up, drying away in the corner. Today I tried to discern the difference between the two - one was spun on the drop spindle and the other on my Fricke wheel - and except for some stiffness in the spindle-spun skein, you can't tell one from the other.
Sugar and Spice. 59 yards corespun on a drop spindle
Sugar and Spice. 55 yards corespun on the wheel
Right now, my challenge will be to knit something up with the spindle-spun skein and see how it will knit up. Will it be stiff and unwieldy since I used some bulky acrylic yarn from my stash as the core instead of some soft crochet yarn that I usually use? Well, only time will tell - more precisely, after the final exams are over. I'll have to knit something up with the 59 yards (which is plenty for a variety of projects - I have a bag in mind though) and see.
I have seen a few knitted from corespun projects on the web worth mentioning:
Well, I guess there's so much more out there as far as knitted projects for corespun yarns. I have seen the Lalana corespun or tailspun yarns that make such wonderful scarves, and Ozark Handspun is especially amazing!
I recently gifted one of my spindle-corespun yarns to my friend Tsuya and I can't wait to see what she makes out of it! If you have any knitted projects made from your corespun, let me know. I'd love to see it!
Before I leave you to return to my regularly scheduled programming called "Cramming for the finals", let me leave you with one more eye-candy of Sugar and Spice!
After a few starts and stops, I have my second FO - fingerless gloves using a free pattern from Plymouth Yarn. I used Bernat Satin worsted weight yarn in sable and though it was a pretty boring knit at times, it was nice to knit with it while listening to Ask and It Is Given, by Abraham through Jerry and Esther Hicks.
No cables to worry about, no stitches to count - just round and round till I reached the desired length, and tada! It was done!
When I finished the first one yesterday, I was honestly considering just moving on to another project because it was such a boring knit - but a lone glove is a lonely glove, so last night I started knitting its partner and finally got done today.
It's just great to finish something one starts once in a while...
After tackling my first ever cable with the Irish Hiking Wrist Warmers (I keep calling them "fingerless mitts" for some reason), I started a scarf of my own design using a pattern for Five Rib Braid as featured on Claire Crompton's The Knitter's Bible which I received in the mail a few days ago.
I wish the yarn weren't so bulky. The braids don't really "pop" out the way I'd like them to be, but so far so good...
While cleaning out my stash last night, I found an unfinished basketweave blanket that I had started when Leo broke his leg last year. It was my stress blanket in a way. I knitted that thing while waiting for him do his Physical Therapy treatment three times a week for a couple of months, then taking him to work, as well as while waiting for him outside of work.
I had no intention of finishing it up though. It was some baby yarn that I had bought years ago and it didn't matter if it were neon - I would have knit something with it during those stressful months (I was planning a wedding, too). So I bound it off, then presented it to Truffles - who didn't seem to mind it at all.
