WooHOO!! I finished an actual PAIR of socks!! Even more amazing, I have not (yet) cast on for another pair so I can move on to finish another pair! These are Wendy's Southwestern socks (freebie at Looopy Ewe)made from Boomerang yarn (Australia). I love this yarn, it is just so squishable! I have some in my stash to hopefully make a whole sweater.
Just to prove I am still alive! I'm working on the hourglass sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts- I love the loud obnoxious colors! My favorite happy coincidence is that the yarn matches my knitpicks needles! Check it out!
First up is the lovely pair of sheep slippers my hubby got me for Christmas! I LOVE them! My feet are always cold and I would just dig around for an extra pair of socks in the morning- now I just jump out of bed, right into the slippers!!+of+Stash+house+001.jpg)
This is my January selection of fiber from Traveling Rhinos (on etsy). I signed up for the whole year after doing a three month trial membership. I love every package I get- batts + roving + embellishments =fiber bliss!!!+of+Stash+house+013.jpg)
Here is one of my youngest socks- he saw this yarn and followed me around the house until I cast on a sock for him- it's Baby Boom in Sedona. I only have one skein so I hope it's enought for socks (he's only 4 so it might be okay)+of+Stash+house+012.jpg)
The next two are my spinning. These are the Carbon colorway for Sheep to Shoe- about five of the eight ounces- 375yds sport weight. I navajo plied it to keep the colors together- I'm very proud of the evenness of the twist etc.- it almost looks too normal though! (Someone commented that it looked like it was commercially spun- am I wierd that I didn't take that as a great compliment??)
I hope to be posting a little more regularly now that the holidays are behind me and I'm more organized (BAWAHHAHAHAHAHA!!)
Okay...I WAS going to show some finished objects and progress pics. Blogger has other ideas and will not let me load one single pic. I will try again tomorrow...You can always look on Ravelry- I'm Tinkrknit.
Sorry I've been MIA been hugely busy, stressed etc... We FINALLY sold our other house- we close next week!!! If anyone is needing a realtor- we'd be happy to recommend ours! It's a tough market but we did manage to get a good price that was fair to us and the buyers! This next week will be busy making sure all the left behind junk is out of the house and it is clean for the new owners. We are sad to leave our old neighborhood- we had awesome neighbors but we are glad to have more space/yard in our new house! I did finish a project this week- however I'm without a camera so that will have to wait! Cheers!
Mystery Roving is Carbon!!
Here is some yummy yarn goodness from my stash diving/photo adventure! These single skein entries are killin' me!
I'm kinda in a knitting funk right now. Nothing sounds good to knit. At least I am documenting my stash (which is waayyy bigger than I thought- obviously the denial factor was at work...) The funk is probably due to a)it's 90 degrees outside and it's October b) our other house is STILL on the market and is getting a little stressfull (the irony is that knitting would relax me but i'm too stressed to knit!) c) I cannot keep up with the stinkin laundry enough so I can unpack the rest of the house! I never thought I would wish for rain and cooler weather, but there ya go!
I started spinning my Sheep to Shoe fiber I got at Maryland sheep and wool this past May. It's wonderful to spin no issues there, I'm loving the colors (in spite of it being outside my color box so far). My problem: I have no idea what colorway it is! For whatever reason, that particular kit was not labeled and now I'm just curious and can't let it go. My guess is Carbon and some Ravelrykeeters say the same thing. I'm interested to see what it looks like when I'm done, I'm planning on Andean plying some and traditional 3ply the rest just to see the difference. Here's a picture of the Roving and my spun stuff so far.
Please ignore the dog fur on the floor by the wheel- he just cannot resist laying on my feet when I try to spin and he is not a lap dog!!
Okay, I started to take pictures and inventory my stash onto Ravelry today- I can see this taking awhile... It's part shopping, part "can we be done now?". I totally need to knit more "plain" socks to use up the sock yarn. Working fancy designs are way too slow for me and I do *want* actual socks to wear! Enjoy the pics!
OOOOHHHHH!!
AAAAHHHHH!!
Okay, since I hardly have ANY wip's (okay I just got an eye twitch with that little fib), I've cast on a few more projects. Basically anything that has caught my eye, I've cast on for. It doesn't matter what, socks, sweaters, lace, scarves, washcloth- nothing is immune from my raging case of startitis. You would think with the severity of my startitis illness(es) I would at least get ONE case of finishitis- or at least just long enought to finish one project. I have no discipline what-so-ever. My only excuse is that I only knit for myself and what my immediate family specifically ask for- otherwise my knitting gifts tend to severely under appreciated. Note though- I have yet to finish anything for myself other than a scarf!
Oops, trying to get the hang of the Flickr thing. Here's the real picture of Wollmeise color: Dani, strong intensity!
Here is the one skein of Wollmeise I managed to snatch from the last sneak up on Loopy Ewe. Some day I will get Poison no. 5- I may just have to go to Claudia herself- oh well!
Okay, I'm on Ravelry, I can't tell you how many hours I wasted this weekend just cruising around it. I've photo-ed some of my projects and stash, but I'm pretty much holding off on that for now. I used a picture of my youngest as my avatar- he loves to adore the stash and it was just tooo adorable!! Every day he asks if he can knit today and "drive" the spinning wheel! (We won't go into how he escapes after a bath, runs through the house naked, just so he can stand on the double treadles, and treadle...buck naked) The camera battery is dead, so no new progress pics- okay I was on Ravelry all weekend so there really is no progress!
I'm thinking about changing the name of my blog to TinkrKnit because there is another Knitting Knut on Ravelry! Just for my own sanity sake! I'll see if I can do it without losing everything!
I finally made it into Ravelry! Needless to say I am spending all my free time there and photo-ing my stash (rough life...). I'm Tinkrknit if you are over there or for future reference. I did finish little knitty guy #3's first sock AND have started on the second. It is my own vanilla pattern (4x2 rib) in Fortissima colori color #3001. I'm sure it had some really creative color name, they just didn't write that on the ball band and I need brain cells to remember other things! Off to Ravelry I go!!!!
You signed up on July 5, 2007
You are #14344 on the list.
409 people are ahead of you in line.
19071 people are behind you in line.
41% of the list has been invited so far
I'm almost on ravelry- I can't wait! My oldest turns 10 today (I cannot be old enough to have a double digit kid!) I'm off to finish cleaning for the party!
I know I'm not the speediest of knitter's. I am self-taught and I know that my style of Continental knitting is "eclectic" at best. As long as you like your knitting/process there is no wrong way to knit right?? Not necessarily. I was reading a certain Harlot's blog with the question of how many stitches per minute can you knit on a sock?? I was reading the answers- thinking "oh I'm probably on the slow side of average". I timed myself- several times- to my frustration it was 12st/minute!!!!! No wonder I have SSS! Average is about 30-40st/minute! My attention span wanders after the first sock, if I could knit average- I'd have warm feet every day this winter!!
So I'm reteaching myself how to knit- the "correct way"- death grip on needles and all. I found some great videos on UTube demonstrating Continental style. So far, so good although it's hard to break old habits (fortunately I've only been knitting 5 years). Slow knitting is not bad- but I know I would like to improve my speed and style. My goal is to be at 30 st/ minute- that's over twice as fast as now, and I might be able to finish something once in awhile!
Sorry for dropping off the face of the planet! It's been a bit on the hectic side around here! School has started, but I have all the back to school stuff, mtgs etc to deal with these first few weeks. My hubby is on a deadline and little knitty guy #3 is home with pneumonia! Hopefully next week will settle down a bit. I'm almost finished with the first sock of little knitty guys #3 and #4- almost done with a PAIR for knitty guy #1. Knitty guy #2 is going to take a bit longer- he picked out the thinnest yarn, so it takes about twenty billion stitches to do a round (okay it just seems that way). I have no camera right now so pictures will have to wait until I can free it from hubby. Have a great weekend!
Anybody notice how there are about a million indie dyers out there now?? Well I just decided to spotlight one a week out of my stash. I'm not the world's expert on sock yarn or anything- I just love it and wanted to push er enable others to find these dyers. I'm not affiliated with any of these and the following is just my opinion- no offense meant. (Most of the time it's positive anyway). This week is FLY DYED!!!!!!!! The picture below is my collection by this dyer. The colors are FABULOUS!!! If you like bold and intense colors, this is the dyer for you. I have two kinds: Lace Wing Sock which is sw merino and 546yds/125g and Monarch: SW merino 370yds/4.5oz. Lace wing is a 2ply and Monarch is a 3ply, both are tightly spun into a very springy yarn. I have not yet knit up any so I'm not sure how the colors pool or stripe or whatever. My favorite thing about this dyer: The reds! They are truly red, not orange-y red or pink-y red, just a vibrant red (I'll get back to you on colorfastness. They are one of the few dyers who have perfected red (I've been disappointed by other dyers endlessly on this front.) I have found them here.
Next week I'll do a fiber indie dyer.
TA DAH!! This is one completed sock (bottom two pics)for the Sockmania KAL- Spiral socks- very fun- the other is started on the needles but alas I will not get the pair done by the end of month. This first pic is my false start- it was frogged. The yarn was two thick for the needles and was turning out to be cardboard!
Yarn I used: Apple Pie Lady Blue by Apple Laine. I think the yarn color is a bit busy for the design but the gauge, and yarn were turning out so lovely. (it is a wool, mohair, silk nylon blend and feels wonderful on your feet.) Thanks Anni for another great pattern!
Last thing- I've finally accomplished some more spinning. Here is my lovely soaking to set the ply. (You know you're a spinner when the only time you clean the sink is so your wool won't get dirty when you wash it...)
This was my first time Navajo plying- I'm quite pleased actually. I was so paranoid about overplying it that some parts are under- plyed - figures. Navajo plying has always intimidated me, turns out I was making it more difficult than it was- don't ya love those AHA/lightbulb moments!
Weighs about 4oz light worsted I think. Roving is Superwash by Interlacements either Submarine or Blues colorway. Until next time!
If you are a member of the socks that rock club, spunky club (fiber), or Chameleon colorworks sock and fiber club and do not want to see the colors yet, stop reading after the first picture.
Believe it or not- I have a finished project!! Okay it's just a washcloth but I started yesterday and finished this morning- we are in need of washcloths so I just whipped one up! The pattern is a freebie I found sometime ago by Amy Carpenter. Great pattern- held my interest, I'll be making several more once my hands recover from knitting with cotton.
I've also decided to "reclaim" the yarn from one of my sweater wip- the yarn is just not speaking to me in this pattern so off it goes! It's actually quite a relief and I'll update my numbers accordingly!
This is the Spunky club fiber: Color Harvest Haze- it looks more 'spring-y' than harvest-y but I love the color. It is Lincoln wool, very heavy and coarse. I have not spun this before so I'm just leaving it sit out until it tells me what to do with it.
Here is the socks that rock club: color Flower Power. Again I love the color, but there is NO way I'm doing the included pattern- it's very nice, but I'm not a lacey anklet cuff kind of gal. For now it will just go into stash- one less wip to add on!
Here are the Chameleon colorworks selections: The yarn is Glacier Moraine and fiber is optium in Tahiti colorway. I love both! Very happy month for me colorwise! The sock pattern is incredible! If you want to learn more about her clubs the link is here.
Update on the customer service front: One issue has been resolved (I finally got my refund). However I'm still waiting for my missing item and I'm tired of having to call long distance/different time zone to hash this thing out again! Have a good weekend!
Okay, I really get that mistakes, omissions etc. happen...I don't get having to address the problem for weeks on end. Case #1: I had a shopping cart of an online shop that really wanted me to purchase some needles with my order (there was a clitch that wouldn't allow me to remove them and I never put them in...). I contacted them with the order and then again with the problem. They indicated I wasn't the only one and they would credit me asap ($28 worth!). A week goes by and I notice on my statement that NO credit has been issued- I contact them again. They apologize and say they will check into it THAT day. Now I've received the order with no needles and the invoice makes a note of no needles but no price adjustment was made! I contact them AGAIN!! (I double check with the CC company just to make sure- no credit yet...) Now it's been three days with no answer on their part at all!! What a pain!
Case #2: Ordered two items (different company) but only one was in my package- I was charged for both. I contacted them FOUR times before they understood that I did not have the item AND I was charged!! It's been a month- I still do not have the other item and everytime I call it's "I see it right here to be mailed out.". I would just ask for a credit but the two things go hand in hand and to return the other thing costs me postage and restocking fee! It's such a headache to always have those things brewing in the back of your head!!
That being said, I have always had excellent/perfect/fast/friendly service from places like The Loopy Ewe and Woolgirl and Little Knits and WEBS ...okay I could go on and on and the good outweigh the bad, but the bad kills the joy of new stash!!!
Alright! Ravelry is clearly the best thing since Knitpicks needles and I'm VERY anxiously awaiting my invite! (Read as: I'm getting list rage and yelling at the numbers to move faster...no more caffeine for me!) I just realized that about 1000 people get invited every week or so and I'm just over 5000 away. This means in about 5 weeks I will get my invite. It just so happens that is the week (two weeks actually) that we are crazy booked with back to school stuff/meetings/soccer games/kids birthdays AND the hubby OUT OF TOWN! SO I WILL HAVE MY INVITE BUT NO TIME TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT FOR TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
