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There is nothing like a week off work to rejuvenate a person. DH and I took the week off and spent a lot of it cleaning out the basement. It's amazing what four years of sloth and storage can do to a space. We sorted the kids' toys, cleaned out the Costco-overflow area, and shop-vac'd the storage closet. Have I told you how much I love our shop vac? Earlier this summer I took it to the kids' playhouse and slurped up all the spiderwebs. It was really satisfying.
Add to this a SF Giants game (they won), a day at Bonfante Gardens with kids, and a good cleaning of our bedroom, and it was a nice week.
Now, add to this...
Dinner with Natalya and Evelyn, and Susan and Jack... here is Evelyn modeling the Plymouth Fingerpaints bulky cardi I whipped up for her.
Thank you tons, Spinnity, for letting me borrow the pattern. It was fun and came together really quickly.
And... the Go With the Flow Socks.
These are in the wonderful yarn that Gina, my Dye-O-Rama buddy, sent to me. Here's a close-up.
The photo does not do justice to the shades of purple, bright blue, teal, grey, and even bits of green that are in the yarn. The base yarn is Louet Gems Pearl. Thanks Gina!
Now I'm swatching for an Eloise cardi in Noro Blossom. I'm not using the colorway in the pattern book (Jane Ellison's Noro book). I also cast on (while on the road to Bonfante Gardens) some self-striping socks and my very first laceweight project.
Ah yes, rested and rejuvenated I am totally not even wanting so ready to return to work.
Oh yeah, and...
Using the 20 questions from Karmicknit
1. Name of Project: Bulky Baby/Toddler Cardigan
2. Pattern Source: Plymouth
3. Yarn: Plymouth Italia Collection Fingerpaints
4. Fiber: Wool
5. Color: No clue what it's called
6. Where did I get the yarn? Webs, on sale of course
7. Is it the yarn called for? Yes
8. How long did it take to knit? About 2 weeks
9. Did I change anything? Yes. I did the sleeves in the round rather than seaming them. The yarn is so bulky that a seam would have been a mess. This idea came from Spinnity.
10. What would I have done differently? Nothing!
11. Were the instructions clear? More or less. A schematic or short note that it's a top-down pattern would have been nice.
12. What did I learn? This was the first top-down project I've done.
13. Was it worth it? Yep.
14. Would I do it again? Yes, I have more of the yarn. I think I'll make another cardi to have on reserve for the next baby that shows up.
15. What seaming methods were used? No seams in the pattern, except a few underarm stitches to hold together.
16. Will I knit with the yarn again? Yes.
17. Do I think I’ll wear it? Evelyn will fit perfectly this winter.
18. Process or Product? Both.
19. Do I have shoes to match? This baby has a lot of little cute shoes, so probably.
20. Final Thoughts: This is a great pattern for a quick knit
1. Name of Project: Go With the Flow Socks
2. Pattern Source: Interweave Summer 2005
3. Yarn: Louet Gems Pearl, dyed for me by my Dye-O-Rama buddy
4. Fiber: superwash merino
5. Color: Stormy Seas, so named by Gina
6. Where did I get the yarn? Dye-O-Rama
7. Is it the yarn called for? No
8. How long did it take to knit? About 6 weeks
9. Did I change anything? Yes. I removed two pattern repeats so the socks would be small enough for my feet.
10. What would I have done differently? Nothing.
11. Were the instructions clear? Yes. All of Evelyn Clark's patterns are well-written.
12. What did I learn? Nothing new, just a nice pattern.
13. Was it worth it? Yes. These socks fit better than any others I've done so far.
14. Would I do it again? Probably not. I liked the pattern, but not as much as the Embossed Leaves socks.
15. What seaming methods were used? Grafting the toe with Kitchener stitch.
16. Will I knit with the yarn again? Yes.
17. Do I think I’ll wear it? Oh yes!
18. Process or Product? Both.
19. Do I have shoes to match? No... I need some mary janes!
20. Final Thoughts: Good pattern, good yarn.
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A long week, a late night. DH has been in Singapore on business. He also had dinner with his uncle, aunt, and cousins, who he had not seen in about 9 years. Cousin Irdah has 3 kids now, similar ages to ours. Of course the trip involved a ton of food (makan!) and many suggestions that we bring our kids there for a visit. I think we will in a couple of years. It's a long trip and we want to be sure the kids will appreciate it when we finally do it. K is ready now, but CJ needs another year or two. DH gets home tomorrow! I have been alternating nights working - trying to catch up! - and watching movies DH isn't interested in. I finally saw Whale Rider while working on the sleeves of that butterfly cardigan. I didn't make enough new progress to bother photographing. San Mateo Knitters was Wednesday - I brought the embossed leaves socks. I love that pattern and understand what the fuss was about! Finally, my special package arrived - 4 pounds of Henry's Attic superwash for dyeing! I mailed in the applications for a DBA (doing business as - fictitious name registration), home-based business license, and reseller's certification. I am going to dye yarn this weekend (at least some of it) and should be ready to offer some to Nine Rubies on consignment after my vacation in early July - maybe sooner, if I'm lucky. I don't have any thoughts that this will produce much money for me, I view it as a way to keep up the enjoyment of dyeing yarn and making it a self-supporting hobby. Plus, with the yarn dyeing I could produce thousands of yards of yarn I would never have time to knit! If I can get a few people to buy it then I won't have a major stash growth problem ;) Photos later, maybe I'll post some of the yarn I dye this weekend soon... | | |
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I am proud to say that we, the dorky Health Economist of Lynn, Steve, and Surrey, closed down Madison. On a Monday night. Yeah, it wasn't that hard. And I got this much done on the Embossed Leaves Socks. What a great pattern!  And here is the best geek promotional material I've seen in a long time. I think Lauren would especially appreciate it.  I returned home to find a huge pile of packages waiting for me. It's like Christmas! All had great goodies, some ordered, some not. I have coffee, which I am drinking now.  We have Jacquard dyes from Dharma, for my next foray into dyeing and maybe selling.  We have the new June Bug sock yarn for Project Spectrum from Mama-E.  And now I'm saving the best for last! I opened the box from Canada to find this lovely wrapping and some postcards from Cowichan Valley, BC. and Vancouver Island. It's from Gina Davison, my Dye-O-Rama Buddy!  And here's what's under the ribbon.  From left - her yarn (Stormy Seas, which is simply beautiful. Louet Gems Pearl is the base yarn and the color is deep blue with some hint of dark turquoise and purple, and other colors. Really amazing! I cannot wait to work on it. You also can see some Eucalan. But what else is in here?  Here's another shot of the yarn (more to come in better light soon). And also some #1 DPNs from Crystal Palace (so I can start socks!), Harlan's chocolates (mmmm), and this really cool Zip Clip in a knitting motif to put on a zipper (I think I know what garment will get it). Oh yes, and a lovely bag for putting the sock I'm knitting in while I work on it (see the top right). What a generous package! I am so thrilled with that yarn. It's very different than I would have dyed myself given my directions, which makes it even more fabulous. Thanks Gina! Today is Montessori Graduation from my preschooler. How quickly they grow up! | | |
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I'm in Madison, which Laurie promised would be a fun place for a conference. It's the American Society of Health Economists meeting, and if that doesn't sound like a party to you, I don't know what does. Some of the folks I toured around Barcelona with are here - I had dinner with one, which was nice. However, a perusal of the web revealed that the dance clubs in this town are not open Monday night, so I guess we won't be dancing until 5am this year. Maybe Copenhagen next year. Oh wait, did you come for knitting content? Sorry about that. My Dye-O-Rama buddy got her yarn! My buddy is Cygknit, and I've enjoyed reading her blog while dyeing her yarn. I can't wait to see photos of how it knits up. No, the Bella Sweater is not done yet. Well, it's all done except for the beads on the tie around the collar. Stephanie the wonderful jeweler is looking for some for me. Then I'll wear it and post photos. I finally cast on the Mama-E sock yarn I bought for Project Spectrum. Obviously I'm not doing Project Spectrum since green was the May color and I'm just using it now. I'm doing the Embossed Leaves socks from Interweave Knits and so far so good. I'm nearly done with the first leaf repeat on the first sock. I guess that means I have a long way to go but it's a good pattern, not too complex but complex enough to keep my attention. I present my paper tomorrow, so wish me luck! | | |
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It was a productive weekend. We have DH socks.  We have yarn for my dye-buddy.  I'm calling the yarn Lupine Meadows. I also finished this, which I call Stormy Sunrise:  And this, which I call On the Rainbow, but Sudha thinks I should call it Jazz:  Fun stuff, and highly addictive! Sudha says if I bring a bunch into Nine Rubies, they would put it up for sale for me. What do y'all think? Should I dye more and try to sell it? There is no way I can dye more and keep it, that's for sure. this is a good way to make my stash grow exponentially! But it is a lot of fun. Coming soon, the finished Bella sweater. Really. I am crocheting the tie now, need beads, and an eyehook! | | |
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I'm on a mission. I have to find a good source, you know how hard that can be. Someone reliable, low cost, quality of product good. Yep, I need more undyed yarn. The addiction is looming. I've been prowling the web and will catalog my discoveries to date, in case some of the rest of you in dye-o-rama have been hooked. The Wool Peddler - sells Henry's Attic yarns, many in stock. Kona Superwash sock yarn is $12.50 for 8oz. Inspirations Yarn - sells their own yarns. The superwash merino sport weight yarn is called Java and is $15 for 8oz. Pacific Wool and Fiber - has Louet Opal and Pearl yarns. The Opal is $7.95 for 112 yards, and Pearl is $7.95 for 185 yards. Blackberry Ridge - has their own line of yarns. The mer-made yarn is superwash merino, in 4oz skeins of sport or fingering, for $8. Fresh Isle Fibers - Suffolk wool in worsted weight, $6 for 200 yards. They have some Louet - Opal is $13.95 for 250 yards. Lanas de Libelula - Mostly Louet for dyeing. Gems Pearl (superwash) is $22 for 8oz (875 yards). Marr Haven - Rambouillet yarn, natural colors, $34 for a pound (1750 yards) of sport weight. They have worsted too. Simply Socks Yarn Company - Regia 4-ply solid white for $7 for a 230-yard ball. Note that this yarn has some synethtic fiber in it so I don't know how it would take to basic acid dyes. They also have Lang and Opal sock yarns. Wool2Dye4 - Superwash merino sock yarn is $17 per 1/2 pound. They also have Henry's Attic yarns. Yarnsource in Canada - Louet Gems is $60 per pound, I think this is Canadian currency. Paradise Fibers - superwash 4-ply yarn is $34/lb (although it's labelled $34/oz!), with about 1350 yards/lb. This is probably worsted. Discount Yarn Sale - Henry's Attic Kona Superwash is $20.85 for a bag of 2 8oz skeins (1 lb total!) Webs - Ecological Wool in heavy worsted weight for 478 yards for $15. Catnip Yarns - Henry's Attic yarns, with Kona Superwash at $11.60 per 8oz. Stick Chick on etsy - superwash merino fingering at $3.75 per 2oz ($15 per 8oz). She has other undyed yarns too. Wildcat Weavers - Kona Superwash at $23/lb. Based on the list on their webpage, I think their yarns are all Henry's Attic. Lisa Souza - superwash merino at $16 per 4oz. This is very high-quality yarn. Knit Picks - dye your own sock yarn is $3.99 for 440 yards. This is a regular merino, not superwash. They have a lace-weight and a worsted also. Woolery - natural and synthetic dyes, plus Louet Gems Pearl at $29 for 8oz. Fingerlakes Soft Wool in 2-ply is $8.50 for 4oz, with about 295 yards (light worsted weight) Elann - always worth a look. Today I see Laines du Nord Baby Star, DK weight, about $3.50 for 191 yards. I hope this list is helpful. I'm sure there are wholesalers out there but I haven't found them yet! | | |
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Today was my afternoon with the kids, so after I finished my short report on some research interviews, I started on some dyeing. I have jacquard acid dyes, some Wool2Dye4 yarn, a new cheap steel steamer pot from the Chinese market, and a big thing of vinegar. Step 1: Mix dyes. I decided to use only a few colors - straight royal blue, turquoise, and jet black. I mixed the powder with vinegar (maybe 1/8 to 1/4 cup vinegar).  For the first hank of yarn, I randomly squirted the dye-vinegar onto the yarn.  It looked like this after I steamed it 30 minutes.  I'm rather fond of it just like that, but I decided to overdye it, with green, by immersing it in a pot of green-water-vinegar mix. And then I decided it was too-emerald green and added a bit of turquoise (after boiling 5 minutes!). So I got this:  Very cool color! The camera and light do not do it justice. It's got a bit of variegation, but the overwhelming effect is green. Some spots are lighter, some have a bit more blue. It is very forest-y.  Attempt #1: success, I'd knit it happily! For my second one, I decided to try to make striping yarn in a very ad-hoc way. I wrapped yarn to estimate how much would make about 3 rows of a color, and then wrapped the whole thing around chairs. The cat and kid helped. The kid is blurry because she was moving to distract Forrest!  CJ helped me add water to each dye mix (the same turquoise, blue, and black), and squirted it on each section (which was tied-off with some Berroco Suede scrap). She did agreat job and her legs are only a little blue after her bath.  A better look:  So what do you think? My dye-o-rama buddy likes green, purple, turquoise. But I don't think CJ will let me give away this one she helped with. Would she like the green-ish one, or should I try for something with green, purple, and blue in stripes? I have some Dale Baby Ull that I can dye for her this weekend. I want more blank yarn, but don't know how to get a slew of it before Saturday! | | |
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Last Wednesday (has it been a week already?), San Mateo Knitters met at Nine Rubies (known as 9R around here).  Spinnity showed off her crocheted starfish and the very cool ducky blanket she is finishing for a friend.  WizKnits showed off her Husband Sock and something else that I can't figure out in this photo! (Hey, Wiz, update your blog!)  Laurie and Angela checked out the very cool sock yarns. (Did you buy any?)  And Sudha was her wonderful, helpful self, working on a Debbie Bliss Silk sweater for Saloni. (That yarn is awesome.) When I got home I found this:  You'd think that Forrest and Xoyx have become friends or something! Update on my knitting: I got the dye-o-rama yarn, so a little bird will indeed get some dyed yarn in the next few weeks! I plan to dye this weekend. I am up to row 60 or so on the Bella sleeves, so I have only about 45 rows to go. Oh yeah, and blocking. And seaming. And crocheting the borders. And hooks or buttons. Never mind about the almost done thing. So, say it with me now: I WILL NOT CAST ON A CLAPOTIS FROM CHASING RAINBOWS WOOL-SILK IN DOVE. I WILL NOT CAST ON EMBOSSED LEAVES SOCKS IN MAMA-E YARN. I WILL NOT CAST ON ANYTHING UNTIL I FINISH ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE NEEDLES NOW! | | |
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Yesterday I hit the road at 6am to make a flight out of Oakland to Burbank for a meeting in LA. It was a great meeting of the California Institute for Nursing and Health Care, on diversity in nursing. Today I hit the road at 7am to get to Sacramento for meetings with the California Community Colleges Foundation (great people, great mission) and to speak at a small conference. I knit a lot but I am sure fried from the travel. So, a quick post and then I need to write lecture notes for tomorrrow... The main content here is the meme for the Dye-O-Rama! Your favorite colors? Green, purple, turquoise, blue, peach, burgundy - usually not pastels
Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? All kinds are cool, but for socks I'd say fingering or sportDo you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? Either is good!If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? That would be fun, but not necessary. I'm a WTFer so no way I'm going to produce something so fancy!
Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? Probably not one with alpaca - it's not that cold here in California. Otherwise, a blend is fine. More natural fiber is better for me - wool, tencel, silk, with just enough synthetic to hold it together.Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? Sea and reefWhat was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? I've wanted to try dyeing yarn, so now I have an excuse, some guidance, and motivation! I've never done a swap before.
General yarn/fiber questions:Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? Nope! Do you spin? I have a spindle and have spun a little, but I'd rather knit.Have you knit socks before? Yes! I'm on my second pair now. Lest you think I'm a total rookie, I'm quite comfortable with full sweaters, lacy sweaters (but haven't done lace with lace-weight yarn yet), hats, and I usually pick projects to challenge myself (in addition to having one brain-dead project to carry on the road).
Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? I've knit a baby sweater from sock yarn.What are some of your favorite yarns? I love love love Schaffer Lola Superwash! I also like Tess Supersocks. Superwash merino yarn is a good thing.
What yarn do you totally covet? Silk-wool anything usually rocks my boat.Favorite patterns? Patterns with a bit of challenge, nothing frumpy.Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? The Mermaid jacket - can't remember the name of the person who designed it, but it's expensive and beautiful.
Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I use circs for just about everything. I do socks on 2 steel circs. I alternate bamboo and steel circs depending on the yarn of the project and gauge I'm trying to achieve.If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Chasing Rainbows Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? dark chocolateWhat’s your favorite animal? cats, large and small. Birds of prey are cool too.Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? Two Three cats, Forrest, Whisper, and Xoyx (who really is my BIL's cat but is living with us now).
If you were a color what color would you be? Purple (dark)Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s). Uh... cotton-silk sweater, not much ease but enough ease to hide the 10 pounds I've gained this year.
What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? Redwood trees, granite peaksTell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours." (Richard Bach, Illusions)Do you have a wishlist? NoAnything else you’d like to share with the group today? NoGood night! | | |
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Sometimes mail order is like getting Christmas presents. You get home from work and there's a package waiting... which item is it? Will I like it as much as I hope? Ooh, the excitement of opening boxes! But sometimes mail order is the ultimate exercise in delayed gratification. So here are my delays. 1) White Lies, more yarn for Bella. I'm about 1/2 way up the sleeves and don't want to work more because I might need to do the alternate-yarn-every-few-rows thing to blend in the new stuff. I mailed my yard of yarn on Monday and am waiting for a phone call about whether she could match it and how much it'll cost. I really want to finish this sweater! It is looking beautiful so far and the weather here in SF is perfect for something warm but not too warm. The summer fog has set in... 2) Project Spectrum sock yarn from Mama-E. I haven't been doing Project Spectrum - after the Knitting Olympics I can't take the pressure - but the yarn looks nice and it'll push me a bit on my sock-knitting. 3) Blank yarn to dye for the Dye-O-Rama! I have a buddy to dye some yarn for, in the WTF Am I Doing category. She's a newer blogger, and I'm trying to gauge from her blog what she likes to knit, and what colors. So I gave up and asked her via my new anonymous Google email address. I also heard from the person who is dyeing for me - she goofed and her full name was visible in the return email address, but that really doesn't tell me much... without finding her blog what do I really know??? I have the dye already, from Dharma Trading. But I can't do a thing until I get myself a dyepot and that superwash yarn! In the meantime, I'm knitting on the Butterfly Sweater, last seen here. I'm loving the Island Cotton from White Lies. I'm done with buttonholes and nearly ready to split for the sleeves. I'm doing a simple bottom-up raglan, with the button band knit integrally into the design. It's an experiment! Wait! Did I hear you say you want some photos??? Well, here are a few from our San Mateo Knitters meeting at Copenhagen Bakery last week. Attendees were Jocelyn, Ada, Saloni, Rebecca, Laurie, and myself. Laurie, working at the sleeve of the never-ending diagonal sweater (it's looking really good):  Jocelyn created a stir by dropping one of her toothpicks sock DPNs on the floor. Or so we thought. We dug around under everybody's chairs and then found it under a napkin on the table!  Rebecca was one of the four of us knitting socks! It's all Ada's fault. Rebecca is showing off her Husband Sock here a swatch from TKGA. She's farther along on the DH Sock than I am!  Next meeting: Nine Rubies, Wednesday May 10, 7pm. Be there! | | |
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