tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37800407117353544432024-03-06T11:50:56.240+10:30Confessions of a Knit WitA place to write about my knitting, spinning and dyeing adventures, or misadventures, whatever the case may be. A few tidbits from my life in general are thrown in here and there for flavor.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-18820275252109488462010-07-04T10:38:00.022+09:302010-07-29T15:33:09.878+09:30Long overdueIt's been so long since I've posted, and there is so much that has happened and so many knitting and spinning projects in that length of time that I have finished. I will, no doubt, forget probably half of it. Still, at the express request of mom, I will make a bit of an attempt at catchup. A "bit" being the operative word. If I thought I had to include everything, the task would just be too daunting to even begin. Oh well, enough with the excuses. I seem to start all of my posts with excuses, which is probably not a good thing.<br /><br />I guess I'll start, more or less, where I left off. I did knit for the Ravelympics, for Team Manic Purl (listeners and fans of the <a href="http://manicpurl.blogspot.com/">Manic Purl Podcast</a>), and I did finish my jumper just inside the 17 days the Winter Olympics games were on. As mentioned in the last post, I had decided to knit the Vis'a Vie jumper, out of some Naturally Woodland Mohair I had lounging around in my stash. A simple stockingnet stitch for the most part, done in the round all in one piece, it wasn't a hard project at all. I finished up the roll collar with only hours to spare before closing ceremony, but finish I did. The yarn is quite lovely and makes all the difference to it visually, but like most mohair, it's quite scratchy, and I can't wear it comfortably without something in between it and my skin.<br /><br />Pictured below is the front:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfLBgmzJ4WfkxxgZ5F64IkOEcrrVifDtexKEzyX-l1aqpLMubjbS7mPRTBRmz25eAvFjvznX_rhrbCiHbaoSx_Pugn5uiqWcH7-WfahTVXDT3XwES3r6PbOzgrRrEoXQWXOdkb3Sjkm9V/s1600/IMG_1829.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489866237320058290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfLBgmzJ4WfkxxgZ5F64IkOEcrrVifDtexKEzyX-l1aqpLMubjbS7mPRTBRmz25eAvFjvznX_rhrbCiHbaoSx_Pugn5uiqWcH7-WfahTVXDT3XwES3r6PbOzgrRrEoXQWXOdkb3Sjkm9V/s320/IMG_1829.jpg" /></a><br /><br />and the back:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu1yYfTuHw4w8w8ijw_rDQw4luAn3OIrX8eMxLtV4MxDfZXwnrtCJJXF0XurtL7hd_yb0XcUw1An18O6o9sxDB9PHFoY3lK74yt26m45Od_VE1IAwfe-JSHDNQytjp2FtEPwj5dcU3D3i/s1600/IMG_1830.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489866245701753890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu1yYfTuHw4w8w8ijw_rDQw4luAn3OIrX8eMxLtV4MxDfZXwnrtCJJXF0XurtL7hd_yb0XcUw1An18O6o9sxDB9PHFoY3lK74yt26m45Od_VE1IAwfe-JSHDNQytjp2FtEPwj5dcU3D3i/s320/IMG_1830.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Finishing that, I was free to turn my attention to the Alpine Lace Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. I really wanted to have it done in time for Winter Roundup, the big western action shoot, to wear with my new Civil War circa ballgown my cousin sent me from the US. I was about halfway done with it when Ravelympics was over, so there was still plenty to do. I finally finished it on May 2nd, a bit less than 5 months after I started it.<br /><br />Consequently, I did get to wear it with the ballgown at Winter Roundup:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCaz6ncx5jgwPTnkerQubkfGPa6kxoCygVIZAWt3mjn82s4_ABNF0EY_Cvzfx-uTkoNR2AnQh5MLpGSm94MgfBS3TVWbfl63a3YdQd3OJCsN9FABW6Dbw1tHukSPA2CYxUuo0NUY-oldM/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489881341200144994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCaz6ncx5jgwPTnkerQubkfGPa6kxoCygVIZAWt3mjn82s4_ABNF0EY_Cvzfx-uTkoNR2AnQh5MLpGSm94MgfBS3TVWbfl63a3YdQd3OJCsN9FABW6Dbw1tHukSPA2CYxUuo0NUY-oldM/s320/IMG_1871.jpg" /></a><br /><br />a couple more shots of it:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ512vObR4CZQ_DZa6sOJrwkhe9arIhKFkleViMr_AS3U-Z-NM7fTU63mwu1iEiFaJqP6fL3Lm4ifmVuo7O_bbcuuvssnB9-pPtZAKl-DSTMWBv0UYnIwtnfSKLMxgJDvU1_lMOv6qEOx/s1600/IMG_1852.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489866266890346354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ512vObR4CZQ_DZa6sOJrwkhe9arIhKFkleViMr_AS3U-Z-NM7fTU63mwu1iEiFaJqP6fL3Lm4ifmVuo7O_bbcuuvssnB9-pPtZAKl-DSTMWBv0UYnIwtnfSKLMxgJDvU1_lMOv6qEOx/s320/IMG_1852.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxKC7Hv_RMDHh_f2wKHZsJf7y2CjqwXeDGghZmdoSWa5y4W4dpCKA7iSD7q1WfI-XRVIBvMivcquaQh24dCICAU_EqMw2-rW1hF1zoGf88ByrBh7i42bcfRHjxI4AUJzxNynEg6k8jhU-/s1600/IMG_1870.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489881337885342834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxKC7Hv_RMDHh_f2wKHZsJf7y2CjqwXeDGghZmdoSWa5y4W4dpCKA7iSD7q1WfI-XRVIBvMivcquaQh24dCICAU_EqMw2-rW1hF1zoGf88ByrBh7i42bcfRHjxI4AUJzxNynEg6k8jhU-/s320/IMG_1870.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I made some really good progress on the Alpine Lace when on a boating trip with hubby Chris in March. We spent 3 days and 2 nights out on the Murray River, and the weather was pretty ideal. We went up above Mannum and tied up at a nice spot up that way.<br /><br />Since I last posted, Chris has picked up a new hobby. It's called geocaching and entails finding hidden "caches" using GPS tracking devices. There is a global website for it online called <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/">Geocaching</a>, as well as a linked but separate <a href="http://geocaching.com.au/">Australian site</a>. The gist of it is this: Someone goes and hides a container (shapes and sizes vary). This container contains, minimum, a notebook and pen/pencil for people to sign when they find it, and often other little "prizy" sort of gifts. Sometimes they have these geotracking "chips" in them, with the origin of the chip, dates etc engraved in it so it can be tracked on it's journey from cache to cache.<br /><br />Anyway, to make a long story short, people who enjoy doing this go out and find these caches, and hide those of their own. Everyone's participation, as well as the location of the caches is tracked via these online websites.<br /><br />Dear Chris is mad about this stuff. He is as hooked on this stuff as I am with my knitting, and we knitters know how crazy our obsession looks to others, and the strange lengths we will go to in persuing our hobby. Well, it appears, geocaching buffs are no different.<br /><br />So off we went on the boat, and the mooring place was chosen for it's reasonably close proximity to one of thise caches hidden along the side of the river. Chris brought along this little inflatable raft that is more a child's toy than a serious flotation device. His mission was to moor the boat as close to this cache he wanted to find as he could, then take the inflatable boat and row the rest of the way.<br /><br />So he blows up the raft:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS1datmY7jsdXnbuDPM06ynwuCsu7vX7XdRNTIHNGztf9hJHtZWyWvwkB3MhgsWWJkQjCMYp1m_oUNh46UQVFVq47Lv-xz_d56z6bNEezlTfftB16ViRoSFXsOycgiwRQt8yE8kH_-fXD/s1600/IMG_1840.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489924635037302146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOS1datmY7jsdXnbuDPM06ynwuCsu7vX7XdRNTIHNGztf9hJHtZWyWvwkB3MhgsWWJkQjCMYp1m_oUNh46UQVFVq47Lv-xz_d56z6bNEezlTfftB16ViRoSFXsOycgiwRQt8yE8kH_-fXD/s320/IMG_1840.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And off he goes:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQxgr1tR5sRrbyiMp6P3Im25efbp8rZkLK3ZjCL97xOLLzNuVsue0Od2UVtccXCXjoQZaiPmiYFWheAY7w4_M9PCaoWWzvWGYFcV5nEnzsQOIMoRK47kOhllYWu3yuiX4MkOgrh1hnf_D/s1600/IMG_1843.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489924642877229954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQxgr1tR5sRrbyiMp6P3Im25efbp8rZkLK3ZjCL97xOLLzNuVsue0Od2UVtccXCXjoQZaiPmiYFWheAY7w4_M9PCaoWWzvWGYFcV5nEnzsQOIMoRK47kOhllYWu3yuiX4MkOgrh1hnf_D/s320/IMG_1843.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The pictures do not do justice to how totally rediculous he looked. A big man, over 6feet tall, crammed into this little raft with it's plastic "toy" paddles. He did make it to his destination, or at least, thinks he did. He failed to find the cache. Still, and crucially, he actually made it back to our boat before the raft sank. It was half full of water, and Chris was so wet it looked more like he'd swam the distance.<br /><br />Okay, enough of all that. Back to fibrey things. In a previous post I mentioned having a spinning friend from Whyalla and her children out on the boat with us. While there, she did some spinning on my Magacraft Little Gem. I told her to just take the unfinished bobbin with her (she has another type of Magacraft at home, but the bobbins interchange) and bring it back when she's next around.<br /><br />Well, she did me one better than that (or two better...or even three). I recieved in the mail a package from <a href="http://www.ewegivemetheknits.com/store/Default.asp">Ewe Give Me the Knits </a>containing one Magacraft bobbin, one bag of merino/silk fibre in the Peppercorns colourway and some lovely homemade soap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLtDn43N93R3w0RUMeJSWh8wRcrk6OCoZlWSRuHY1t9_BlFKdH1zqzrnhnx5fh5pc8Cg6yilsN-FbFPpJ-VorWMORw4nFizNoNm9fNhjCfa6w309MluBEdFgIGi9-gY94rEdS-P1gUKaY/s1600/IMG_1822.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489866259133792274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLtDn43N93R3w0RUMeJSWh8wRcrk6OCoZlWSRuHY1t9_BlFKdH1zqzrnhnx5fh5pc8Cg6yilsN-FbFPpJ-VorWMORw4nFizNoNm9fNhjCfa6w309MluBEdFgIGi9-gY94rEdS-P1gUKaY/s320/IMG_1822.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Of course, I must show the closeup of the fibre:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7WJWU9JSPvf47HodS7F8pk1QNsKicAMVxGqaxBTeY0J3KU9YDRX7eBATu2uPTsFSMSuGprtYVoxmGqA0UcAicSepckvuMsz33chLx9vz5jBSDG7scHmOthxcMPpeh0TnSc_9d4xmDJa/s1600/IMG_1823.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489866251826476098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr7WJWU9JSPvf47HodS7F8pk1QNsKicAMVxGqaxBTeY0J3KU9YDRX7eBATu2uPTsFSMSuGprtYVoxmGqA0UcAicSepckvuMsz33chLx9vz5jBSDG7scHmOthxcMPpeh0TnSc_9d4xmDJa/s320/IMG_1823.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The fact is, I could not in a million years have picked out for myself a colour that suited my taste better, and she did it on the scant knowledge that I was "fond of greens".<br /><br />The grandest thing was not really the colour of the roving though. In all truth, it was the first colourway that fascinated me at every step. The roving looks quite multicoloured, with evergreen, lighter green, gold and white.<br /><br />The singles start showing the predominance of green, and the gold and white start becoming accents:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DLpZgl7E5_nK3B2zXuOSCbJ-OuwSGgTQN1eJdLj41KFFEz_78k5HTxKRQyRweTTJGxl5yuRHOYF9BsJLBNuTCz5Loo5GKVrbW52lqWFVZ_IUerLtFNcbRNyDtjtg84QHuEPR-d2TXSo/s1600/IMG_1885.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489924618641072114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DLpZgl7E5_nK3B2zXuOSCbJ-OuwSGgTQN1eJdLj41KFFEz_78k5HTxKRQyRweTTJGxl5yuRHOYF9BsJLBNuTCz5Loo5GKVrbW52lqWFVZ_IUerLtFNcbRNyDtjtg84QHuEPR-d2TXSo/s320/IMG_1885.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The resulting yarn is greener still, with golden highlights:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpLV7NopQxLdBLfEi-vY9v15TMM7BpieMS5zRDuf9h0riH5Lwwmiwjg8zjJf3rfWOyzyYaxeVYYGFoyF4EPu7eZ2dFrT19bNl1WODnOfjcr2j9z9J7OBHm_eELRGdh8fsIIuuv4Gg21V9/s1600/IMG_1890.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498054361498666418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpLV7NopQxLdBLfEi-vY9v15TMM7BpieMS5zRDuf9h0riH5Lwwmiwjg8zjJf3rfWOyzyYaxeVYYGFoyF4EPu7eZ2dFrT19bNl1WODnOfjcr2j9z9J7OBHm_eELRGdh8fsIIuuv4Gg21V9/s320/IMG_1890.jpg" /></a><br /><br />After finishing the merino silk, I spun up some alpaca roving a workmate gave me. It's naturally coloured fiber from a local alpaca ranch. She gave me some white and some reddish brown, and I chose to spin the brown first.<br /><br />I really don't know what it is, but spinning alpaca just doesn't seem to agree with me. Yes, it has short fibres, and that takes a bit of a different approach, but still, given that I know that, and know what to do, and know how to do it, it still doesn't seem to go as naturally for me as wools or silks do. I tend to break the singles more often, or get a slight "thick and thin" result, or both. Like anything, I suppose practice and familiarity would fix the problem. The trouble is, I get so frustrated with it, and there's so much beautiful wool fibre in my stash, I tend to get tempted to just not bother.<br /><br />This bit however was a gift, and wanting to make use of that gift, I dutifully spun away. I'd be going all guns blazing for awhile. In the zone..on a roll..that sort of thing. Then for no reason I could figure out, I'd start having all sorts of issues with it. Oh well, eventually I did finish, and the results are nice enough.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEC3lBACHFv2drbnpqX6f7AxTTcaehH8c2wWdDKQWpWUw9UrVQM0pbYFyDZXmps72ZDoUoqZ2LTawJTG-YSZ3HXJVXDIFIt-uxaZQK7-KZoFJMICpZGlD9SMmJBRrLULwJZYqb4c8ofEY/"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499123057712972754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEC3lBACHFv2drbnpqX6f7AxTTcaehH8c2wWdDKQWpWUw9UrVQM0pbYFyDZXmps72ZDoUoqZ2LTawJTG-YSZ3HXJVXDIFIt-uxaZQK7-KZoFJMICpZGlD9SMmJBRrLULwJZYqb4c8ofEY/s320/IMG_1914.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I plan on making a hat from it, and regifting it to the girl who gave me the fibre. I'm not sure it will be enough though, so I'm thinking of spinning some of the white and using both colours in the hat, but so far haven't found the courage to pull it out and put it on the wheel.<br /><br />Instead, I pulled out last month's fibre club offering from <a href="http://shop.southerncrossfibre.com/fibre-club">Southern Cross Fibre Club</a>. It's Shetland, and heaven knows I love spinning Shetland. It practically spins itself. Aside from which, it's more lovely green shades, and greens my current "thang".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTA2dwzsx7oACE3yB-2pbG6sUidhw-lQmoAP2zBvV-Hbl2IINYClsosOL84hY6IHGpubtr43T5Oh9FN3E7JA5fNsOHvtPcbVAMBurrfg_sD0cAoX3ob3sTFm4XsIu4tJpb3j8yHbecrWbK/s1600/IMG_1897.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498059617925135218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTA2dwzsx7oACE3yB-2pbG6sUidhw-lQmoAP2zBvV-Hbl2IINYClsosOL84hY6IHGpubtr43T5Oh9FN3E7JA5fNsOHvtPcbVAMBurrfg_sD0cAoX3ob3sTFm4XsIu4tJpb3j8yHbecrWbK/s320/IMG_1897.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I'm spinning the second bobbin up right now, and then I'll work out how (or if) I will ply it.<br /><br />Speaking of the <a href="http://shop.southerncrossfibre.com/fibre-club">Southern Cross Fibre Club</a>, I recieved the July installment a few days ago. It's a BFL top in the Reflection colourway, a series of browns, blues and purples. Rather dark, but very interesting. I'm not usually all that fond of purple, but I find this mixture has it's appeal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUNLhyrhgiT61CLU8cFm70m8FREYGMoGxOZOZWUlO_NlE9tS5jfRVIchyphenhyphenWnUbkHui_zd2dU8FUQI14VXStHCy4KTdQQzJNys7_fcrIzhEcdPBrZOsSge0umUvbzTBcemr-44PR9x14i-O/s1600/IMG_1918.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499123072633676610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUNLhyrhgiT61CLU8cFm70m8FREYGMoGxOZOZWUlO_NlE9tS5jfRVIchyphenhyphenWnUbkHui_zd2dU8FUQI14VXStHCy4KTdQQzJNys7_fcrIzhEcdPBrZOsSge0umUvbzTBcemr-44PR9x14i-O/s320/IMG_1918.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now, back to the knitting. First, I mentioned in the last post finishing the Welt and Rib Pullover from Interweave Knits (Fall 09). I finally got a picture of me wearing it (mom requires a picture of me in these posts or I get fussed at in the comments section).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwouyZXjCygVeE-RMosDQ7C7svvVvNyiOl5Wf0VnLnvhT2oj6e557LUdzWue3Zyzzmtm0Y2Eb9HEJcZWZW-XQxPGo_fHyJ8xgNtPJehKsfiWW3eeTmvJ9k7DZuwLfw1oHmI4hO8Vs-2-y/s1600/IMG_1907.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498059640256180626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwouyZXjCygVeE-RMosDQ7C7svvVvNyiOl5Wf0VnLnvhT2oj6e557LUdzWue3Zyzzmtm0Y2Eb9HEJcZWZW-XQxPGo_fHyJ8xgNtPJehKsfiWW3eeTmvJ9k7DZuwLfw1oHmI4hO8Vs-2-y/s320/IMG_1907.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I also finished a pair of socks for my nieces husband David who is currently serving in the US military. Made with Heirloom 5ply easy care wool and a simple (improvised) toe up rib pattern I think they fit the bill for military requirements. I'm only hoping the fit was right. I had to go by his shoe size, which can be an iffy proposition.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh_B3tv3QtSL1Ma66avXXd2IRaEKt1-joYnRU74dB5x_z0YOG9aOvb0eIwG4SMDi3p-cst8Xlvm2cfELx3HhSUxguP1F04p783lHf4Ok0RPB9UXjzOsRqVK-PsdcLanJY7dCreyJ7gKaz/s1600/IMG_1891.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498054370541842098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGh_B3tv3QtSL1Ma66avXXd2IRaEKt1-joYnRU74dB5x_z0YOG9aOvb0eIwG4SMDi3p-cst8Xlvm2cfELx3HhSUxguP1F04p783lHf4Ok0RPB9UXjzOsRqVK-PsdcLanJY7dCreyJ7gKaz/s320/IMG_1891.jpg" /></a><br /><br />When I was out shopping for the yarn for these socks, I happened upon some Aracaunia. I had no idea anyone in Adelaide sold it, but sure enough, they had it at The Yarn Barn. Having never tried it, I snapped up a skein.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLKDgvDiXtPouY-BQhkL-av0sHwk2IU1MhEmHejtK2oMrKYhYrvQAXrPHJO2w54uQeEoLULMfEIoJiQwGVl4to1cRGjSPyaruuklNUyXE06jFNz3iQn0jhZEEf2QyWRih3GS2-bCB3mf4/s1600/IMG_1866.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489881329675545570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLKDgvDiXtPouY-BQhkL-av0sHwk2IU1MhEmHejtK2oMrKYhYrvQAXrPHJO2w54uQeEoLULMfEIoJiQwGVl4to1cRGjSPyaruuklNUyXE06jFNz3iQn0jhZEEf2QyWRih3GS2-bCB3mf4/s320/IMG_1866.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Yes, the green theme continues.<br /><br />I also finished a pair of socks, the Twist Socks. I simply must show one picture of the work in progress, because the sock is lying on a neat quilt my mother in law gave me (she didn't make it, but it is homemade).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EIIjJoem_Bmr7ZfvF81HUwiaMAP0tlnYnq9xHB6nL3W-tplh5iWYKsZr1Qm4bBugWKiQ3xMqHgTZO9gkXoFiiiVdvk-fnJI7D1mDZLfYbbaIxf45Avz377vEaxq8uITb1B6XfuN05UjR/s1600/IMG_1898.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498059625572080418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EIIjJoem_Bmr7ZfvF81HUwiaMAP0tlnYnq9xHB6nL3W-tplh5iWYKsZr1Qm4bBugWKiQ3xMqHgTZO9gkXoFiiiVdvk-fnJI7D1mDZLfYbbaIxf45Avz377vEaxq8uITb1B6XfuN05UjR/s320/IMG_1898.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />The socks themselves were made with Grignasco Strong Print 4ply and my own improvised (and quite easy) pattern. I started with the general template for a toe up sock with a variation of the Widdershin heel (ie. increases for the gusset, a short row heel turn, and then decreases on the gusset till your return to the proper number of stitches). I added a twisted rib stitch pattern into the mix, and I rather like the way they turned out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv3z9XI6-vgX_i_ksAoTL3BpCOYgVvZBBE8UdlPWEcnzkUJzPbsN-tniRyW7OfgcFpBmFp4Q5A50VnBaB38qWCGb8lMxIhamLGJC_ypfmVlyrWDzmolMDd0G5StWQkYiPRZC2qP0EzyU8/s1600/IMG_1908.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498059646449980146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv3z9XI6-vgX_i_ksAoTL3BpCOYgVvZBBE8UdlPWEcnzkUJzPbsN-tniRyW7OfgcFpBmFp4Q5A50VnBaB38qWCGb8lMxIhamLGJC_ypfmVlyrWDzmolMDd0G5StWQkYiPRZC2qP0EzyU8/s320/IMG_1908.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Having finished the Alpine Lace Scarf, I simply couldn't help starting yet another project from the Victorian Lace Today book. (I still plan to knit everything in that book before I die). So on the needles right now is the Myrtle Leaf Shawl. I'm using the <a href="http://www.lara-downs.com.au/">Lara Down's </a>100% Cashmere Lace Weight, and what a dream that stuff is to work with. It's like clouds slipping through my fingers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cv5Syc9TIp6mEFNZPfz65X7ZDW2oV8fHuq6_bCKX98tIzi-cKFjJ2XkvR2flgqoZNXfSdLF0Xic820rEZFlcBQ5u8MMzEDqmVbGDcdUZFjYx_kOclUdR1Ly7J8dvIuGTrZJ8bSURjvUK/s1600/IMG_1895.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498054409210276802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cv5Syc9TIp6mEFNZPfz65X7ZDW2oV8fHuq6_bCKX98tIzi-cKFjJ2XkvR2flgqoZNXfSdLF0Xic820rEZFlcBQ5u8MMzEDqmVbGDcdUZFjYx_kOclUdR1Ly7J8dvIuGTrZJ8bSURjvUK/s320/IMG_1895.jpg" /></a><br /><br />That's the center section I'm working on now. This pattern has a border that is knitted onto the center section after it is completed. That will be a new experience for me, and I can't say that knitting on all those stitches seems particularly appealing, but I'm up for it nonetheless.<br /><br />For the last WIP (that's right...gasp...only 2 at the moment) I'm using the magical green wool/silk mentioned earlier in the post and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/new-new-shale-cowl#">New New Shale Cowl </a>pattern I found on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry.</a> When I spun the yarn, my original intention was socks. After seeing the resulting yarn though, I decided not to hide them away on my feet and decided on something around the face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa1SAjc-FiUSjo3T0_SuZVFcdSip5CfTnYuHRJdJj2aWORhBP7lhDoE128GDl0ifPoOEkI8aufFG4OM48PdlfNH2yY_ci3u710TSn1PAVXEfrSceW8KyRepsOJDmFcKVWplyLyZbUGId0/s1600/IMG_1913.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499123050426555314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa1SAjc-FiUSjo3T0_SuZVFcdSip5CfTnYuHRJdJj2aWORhBP7lhDoE128GDl0ifPoOEkI8aufFG4OM48PdlfNH2yY_ci3u710TSn1PAVXEfrSceW8KyRepsOJDmFcKVWplyLyZbUGId0/s320/IMG_1913.jpg" /></a><br /><br />That just about wraps it up. In the next few weeks, I'll be getting things organized for our trip to Tennessee in early September. That's one of the reasons I'm keeping my WIP's to a minimum. I probably won't be done with the Myrtle Leaf Shawl, so that will go along. I plan on ordering some yarn from <a href="http://http//www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm">Knit Picks </a>and having it shipped to Mom's, plus visit a few yarn and fibre shops while there, so I don't really want to take alot with me. I'll pack my needles and other necessary tools of course, but otherwise I'm keeping it to a minimum.<br /><br />You can knit now on domestic flights in Australia, but I'm still not entirely sure of the rules on overseas flights, so I'll have to check that out as best I can before deciding if I take a project along or not. Socks would be ideal of course, but I'm thinking my larger (5mm or above) plastic Denise needles might be a little less threatening looking than my small sharp 2.5mm Knit Pick Harmony's. So if I can knit, I'll probably go for a children's jumper.<br /><br />I will try and get another post in before we go, or ideally, two. Still, given my track record, I'm not making any promises.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-76284950691532026152010-02-05T13:11:00.006+10:302010-02-05T15:06:49.089+10:30Has it been a Month?I've just realized it's been almost a month since my last post, and figured I'd better get one up before folks start wondering what's happened to me. Contrary to my life slowing down a bit after the first of the year, it's been pretty busy. I've also discovered the rather remarkable world of Facebook, and what a rabid time sucking device that is. <br /><br />I'm going to stick pretty much to the facts, and I doubt I put things in very good chronological order, mainly because it's been so long since I last posted that I have a hard time remembering what order they came along in. So I'll just organize things in sections. I'm thinking a section for knitting, one for spinning, and one for social occasions and events. That should do fairly nicely. Can you tell I'm a bit overwhelmed here?<br /><br />I think I'll start with my knitting. I'm ashamed to say I still haven't gotten the other sleeve sewn on to the lacy cami. I don't know what's really stopping me from getting to it, but there always just seems to be something more urgent (or more fun) to do. I plan, though, on getting it sewn on sometime this weekend. I really want it off my project board before the Ravelympics. (more on the Ravelympics later). <br /><br />However, TA-DA!! I did finish my Welt and Rib Raglan after letting it sit on the needles 95% done for way too long. One of the reasons I left it on there too long is that I was a bit afraid I was going to run out of yarn, and I guess I was procrastinating rather that accept the inevitable. As it turned out, I did have enough yarn, but just barely. I think this is the closest I've ever came to running out without actually doing so. Here's what I had left when finished:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg51a6Kc5FrQdkGioPZskOLeRkzSE40rX8r3ezYisXzmvWu0AmyywKWrS2VCCk7wWy2KxwC90CZqb6gDpR1d0cVOLj798r_KZ5QU_4w5xHUjADK-ZbTbymruVAQQ3OGMSoH0hpbZ7W2u4B/s1600-h/IMG_1797.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg51a6Kc5FrQdkGioPZskOLeRkzSE40rX8r3ezYisXzmvWu0AmyywKWrS2VCCk7wWy2KxwC90CZqb6gDpR1d0cVOLj798r_KZ5QU_4w5xHUjADK-ZbTbymruVAQQ3OGMSoH0hpbZ7W2u4B/s320/IMG_1797.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434585319261748594" /></a><br /><br />I see a few mistakes in the jumper, particularly in the collar, but I doubt anyone else will notice. It looked hideous, to tell the truth, before I blocked it. I initially washed it, spun the excess water out in the washing machine, and then lay it out on towels overnight. The next morning, I put it on my sewing dummy to finish blocking on there. (Note: My sewing dummy is covered in a red feltish material, so I covered it with a plastic kitchen garbage bag to keep any of the red colour from transferring to the damp jumper.) Now, I reckon, it looks fantastic. It's amazing the magic blocking can achieve. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpowNGSSnRkYO9Px2by4-30V6QlNZlyULUhibZBwAJ0pF0XugvfJjyVUGQcu04VCHEqDPBebzegSL3Mb7_ERI6xNMumS4TuOjKXwP4zBkQsy-cuv9vI-5Xz1BWAKSSIktoMuV7rWog-iSh/s1600-h/IMG_1806.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpowNGSSnRkYO9Px2by4-30V6QlNZlyULUhibZBwAJ0pF0XugvfJjyVUGQcu04VCHEqDPBebzegSL3Mb7_ERI6xNMumS4TuOjKXwP4zBkQsy-cuv9vI-5Xz1BWAKSSIktoMuV7rWog-iSh/s320/IMG_1806.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434590573902290978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I also finished my Get Jiggy with It socks, made with Heirloom Jigsaw yarn and just a basic toe up pattern. They turned out great, fit well, and will make good servicable work socks, which was the intention. I don't just knit socks, I wear my knit socks pretty much every night at work, and consequently, I wear socks out. Lacy frilly socks seem to wear out quicker, and to tell the truth, the more expensive the yarn, the less well it seems to hold up for me, so nice wearable socks from relatively cheap yarn are perfect for my everyday wear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vD8OxBgnIRaEIFvs8SfifCAkdnZ_pfg3k2XtQo6V2D8v3qQFJzIrWMuh3eLG8s3hbv-MVf9uz_tO5yTTTsRqXCZTaKDW_h-vRLuPoy0Eo0jGvOzubtZhz9ubal1WDYYS4mB5JADWzPQ/s1600-h/IMG_1776.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vD8OxBgnIRaEIFvs8SfifCAkdnZ_pfg3k2XtQo6V2D8v3qQFJzIrWMuh3eLG8s3hbv-MVf9uz_tO5yTTTsRqXCZTaKDW_h-vRLuPoy0Eo0jGvOzubtZhz9ubal1WDYYS4mB5JADWzPQ/s320/IMG_1776.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431213692608176530" /></a><br /><br />In the WIP department, I've done quite a bit on the Alpine Knit scarf, although for me, lace never seems to show the progress I "think" I've made. I did get back to the point I was before the horrible disaster I mentioned in the last post and all the consequent frogging back to before the error, and have added a few more pattern repeats besides. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0v7xu-k6PAC-64L5psAAR4CJp5FDxCnfW1XDk3UIxR712Re-jk7InOmTOaz5b6cHcw-q66VO_hoGz__GXqqAFa2z8Znxy6DTnqwUtlTxyImNHk3Tl53y8iLq1aRkDNa0fHHbbxG0T0NB/s1600-h/IMG_1801.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0v7xu-k6PAC-64L5psAAR4CJp5FDxCnfW1XDk3UIxR712Re-jk7InOmTOaz5b6cHcw-q66VO_hoGz__GXqqAFa2z8Znxy6DTnqwUtlTxyImNHk3Tl53y8iLq1aRkDNa0fHHbbxG0T0NB/s320/IMG_1801.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434585335184649858" /></a><br /><br />It's just one of those projects that I leave handy and pick up when I have quiet free moments, do a row or a few, and then put down again. I do want it finished in time to wear to the Winter Roundup in mid May, though, so I really do need to devote more time to it than I have been.<br /><br />At this point, I should explain my future knitting plans, as that might explain why I don't have any more on the needles right now than I do. You see, the big event on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>, cleverly labled Ravelympics, is coming up. It corresponds with that actual winter Olympics in Vancouver. For those who don't know, the idea is to join a team, pick a project, and start the project (ideally) when the torch is being lit and the games officially begin (in this case, Feb 12th), and have the project finished by the closing ceremony two weeks later.<br /><br />I have decided to participate this year, and have joined Team Manic Purl. <a href="http://manicpurl.blogspot.com/">Manic Purl </a>is a podcast that I enjoy listening to, and the podcast also has a group on Ravelry. So, I joined the Ravelry group and I'm getting into the swing of things. I'll be knitting in the "Sweaterboard Cross" event (all things sweaters, vests, boleros etc.) I think, but I also qualify for the Stash Compulsory Dance (things knit with neglected stash more than a year old). It's all for fun, and all in the Olympic spirit. <br /><br />I have chosen as my project the Vis'a vis jumper (aka sweater) from the book "Knitting the New Classics". It's a very simple jumper done in the round in plain stockingnet with a bulky mohair yarn. I've chosen to do it with some stash yarn I've had lying around for, literally, years. It's Woodland, from Naturally, and is a lovely brown colour with different colour flecks in it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80Wqya1OsMEtqIeKHQwIGkqoyEcsSRXiAt8n3KjsZ_XvArock0NQCtE4jSIsyT8g0RLbtpM-p9TjSUbg3jSEmJN9GDpqEftW0s0mSAsSSfmF02qBQtYAfSoBqKNJcDD5mZdYoa49UaRh4/s1600-h/IMG_1807.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80Wqya1OsMEtqIeKHQwIGkqoyEcsSRXiAt8n3KjsZ_XvArock0NQCtE4jSIsyT8g0RLbtpM-p9TjSUbg3jSEmJN9GDpqEftW0s0mSAsSSfmF02qBQtYAfSoBqKNJcDD5mZdYoa49UaRh4/s320/IMG_1807.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434590580232825826" /></a><br /><br />As the beginning of the festivities is just over a week away, I've already began organizing my yarn, needles, etc, so that all will be ready when it times to cast on. However, due to needing to finish an entire jumper (albiet an easy one) in two weeks, I probably won't be knitting on anything else during that time. A manogamous knitter for two weeks, imagine that!<br /><br />I did, however, cast on for mom's birthday present this morning. I won't be showing pictures here for obvious reasons, but I figured I could get some of that done before the Ravelympics, and then work on them like a mad thing afterwards. I have about a month and a half till the gift will need to be mailed off, but once you slice two weeks out of that for the Ravelympics, well, I'll likely be cutting it close. <br /><br />With my spinning, I've actually gotten several things done, and a couple of new things started. I finished the skein of SCFC's "Deep Thought" colourway:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzVBc5c5w1qDGJr7fTzwbnErhClGoZZeQvPFwITDPGt60ZaIsZ0Yp2MJD4wkFSt938gIxhXaT5PznTrY2y6wkrk7i2w6HQD5wLCCZFNg_GHwlU7iB_W7BZp-fy_QeneFyTFxul2qwtEY/s1600-h/IMG_1768.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzVBc5c5w1qDGJr7fTzwbnErhClGoZZeQvPFwITDPGt60ZaIsZ0Yp2MJD4wkFSt938gIxhXaT5PznTrY2y6wkrk7i2w6HQD5wLCCZFNg_GHwlU7iB_W7BZp-fy_QeneFyTFxul2qwtEY/s320/IMG_1768.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431211119032447906" /></a><br /><br />And I also finished my third skein of the Flowering Red Gum colourway from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79Z20m4ZrTdNzasjbHhdhCzvqzQu7MFmvl7-pac3VfDP7U3Edgk4IuF-a3XY8xm7HQALLne1nWQMMtpI4e8CgKz2UsCTre9Q3uV7NWnATF4CSjFssdcQtmbAXh6ksbIDHvqmr1_qJeDM/s1600-h/IMG_1778.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79Z20m4ZrTdNzasjbHhdhCzvqzQu7MFmvl7-pac3VfDP7U3Edgk4IuF-a3XY8xm7HQALLne1nWQMMtpI4e8CgKz2UsCTre9Q3uV7NWnATF4CSjFssdcQtmbAXh6ksbIDHvqmr1_qJeDM/s320/IMG_1778.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431213702783953122" /></a><br /><br />Back a few months ago, I bought a bunch of Timber colourway wool and also some matching silk to spin a 3 ply, 2 plies of wool, 1 ply of silk. I had quite a bit of silk left over, so about a week ago I took the leftover silk and Navaho plied it, making this lovely mini skein (I just love Kathy's earthier colourways):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0emjyNecsiUfy6oQTc2zWOcGFpp6qvH7F3uaiiv6jzvcL7EWHnlvnFrq7GgUfJf7t2I0p-yo-ct_IU_J3iCU4OSz2rLWBQ90rdAh7ZUTo-fGtjyNsiAZZnbvezY2sXhIfJ5B7Wg8o1VH/s1600-h/IMG_1802.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0emjyNecsiUfy6oQTc2zWOcGFpp6qvH7F3uaiiv6jzvcL7EWHnlvnFrq7GgUfJf7t2I0p-yo-ct_IU_J3iCU4OSz2rLWBQ90rdAh7ZUTo-fGtjyNsiAZZnbvezY2sXhIfJ5B7Wg8o1VH/s320/IMG_1802.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434592279296812914" /></a><br /><br />In the last post, I showed you some Fleece Artist tops I recieved as a gift from a Ravelry friend who was visiting from Canada. I have spun up one of those tops into two singles on Matilda (my Majacraft Little Gem) and will be plying them together for a nice 2 ply soon:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo88YF4egpa3-sCS66eoKNKfhAWz8CifFDoR7djZVUd-Ft9yYGpMra9Mp7VYKXGx2WgpwGjtLYlG06sPxETMRYFkmUPKNEyx14Jll98tLKR8Dwac9FvvpEkyVE4-XkBGVbXdmQxdjpownH/s1600-h/IMG_1810.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo88YF4egpa3-sCS66eoKNKfhAWz8CifFDoR7djZVUd-Ft9yYGpMra9Mp7VYKXGx2WgpwGjtLYlG06sPxETMRYFkmUPKNEyx14Jll98tLKR8Dwac9FvvpEkyVE4-XkBGVbXdmQxdjpownH/s320/IMG_1810.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434590589613807362" /></a><br /><br />I've also started spinning some alpaca roving given to me by a friend at work. It's the first time I've spun alpaca on the Majacraft, and I can't say it's going all that swimmingly. I'm trying to make rather thin singles, but I'm undertwisting it even sew on the fastest ratio, so it keeps breaking. I need to work on tweaking this I suppose, and it does give me a challenge:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi261fArGyLR3M3kJsoZsFGxJEzN6oHzWpZ969R1fstM2VBM8CL7WzmYhVVfKz1K4DbJPBTiDPvjwATuQWtiVYAn04_a06jRAUMNTa_LTXDuWERHHsdee2TxH2LDQuSyncz5jCeZFXt2EPO/s1600-h/IMG_1798.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi261fArGyLR3M3kJsoZsFGxJEzN6oHzWpZ969R1fstM2VBM8CL7WzmYhVVfKz1K4DbJPBTiDPvjwATuQWtiVYAn04_a06jRAUMNTa_LTXDuWERHHsdee2TxH2LDQuSyncz5jCeZFXt2EPO/s320/IMG_1798.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434585342645390834" /></a><br /><br />Besides, I need to get it right, because she gave me a whole heap of it. She used to spin, but has since given it up, and had all of this leftover and gifted me with it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2uBp61rAN2Bx4Xx-ZTSf8wq424_AXeKaeh5Yhq-5Nq5hLWsk_HsOuv5G6ibkCJB7qlW0XXf9RbAYAd5UY9huhgY-tTPAFVDOBYP2ANRWse38XG_5UXNqrT0YFEy0VjEaCIs-qcWql8/s1600-h/IMG_1772.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2uBp61rAN2Bx4Xx-ZTSf8wq424_AXeKaeh5Yhq-5Nq5hLWsk_HsOuv5G6ibkCJB7qlW0XXf9RbAYAd5UY9huhgY-tTPAFVDOBYP2ANRWse38XG_5UXNqrT0YFEy0VjEaCIs-qcWql8/s320/IMG_1772.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431213678802114706" /></a><br /><br />My other spinning related aquisition is this handy stool that I found for $5 at a garage sale last weekend:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXwfQSAKrTjNCSPmKi0x2jI6g8Au2ht7zY2vCseMXIazzDib2ia5Uv76EL50Eevj4jqLLjbb3Vc9Y5-sPKco7KxUZ3yezCpbNi8WZAbYp3XyWy6-k7DAnN4zdWtwEY5kBDJZBUA5YS-cZ/s1600-h/IMG_1800.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXwfQSAKrTjNCSPmKi0x2jI6g8Au2ht7zY2vCseMXIazzDib2ia5Uv76EL50Eevj4jqLLjbb3Vc9Y5-sPKco7KxUZ3yezCpbNi8WZAbYp3XyWy6-k7DAnN4zdWtwEY5kBDJZBUA5YS-cZ/s320/IMG_1800.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434590564475266914" /></a><br /><br />It's not exactly a proper spinning chair, but it serves me well. I don't always like to sit straight on facing the wheel, and the rotating seat helps me out there. It is the perfect height, and I'm liking fine right now.<br /><br />A couple of things happened in my social life that are noteworthy. The first was a visit from another Ravelry friend, "Rosie". She and 4 of her kids came out for a cruise along the Murray River on our boat. I won't post pictures here for privacy reasons (and because I haven't asked), but just had to post the picture of the huge carp her 11 year old daughter caught:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJylFeLJ1U97u1ZgYjfAfRLqh1ZFAOZt0wDDVjmq2LzkDNykKDJAdeOMgrNSDRy1j61RpFHtth0XZjDrTKKzEMC56Hl0NFTNDIqF1O-bDwDUk7x9Nkuz2qQY2Mfgoi5iM7i2agS7w5kE/s1600-h/IMG_1764.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJylFeLJ1U97u1ZgYjfAfRLqh1ZFAOZt0wDDVjmq2LzkDNykKDJAdeOMgrNSDRy1j61RpFHtth0XZjDrTKKzEMC56Hl0NFTNDIqF1O-bDwDUk7x9Nkuz2qQY2Mfgoi5iM7i2agS7w5kE/s320/IMG_1764.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431211108895520418" /></a><br /><br />It was her first time ever fishing, and needless to say, she was stoked with her catch, even if it was a carp. <br /><br />That's about it for this installment, although heaven knows, it's long enough. I wish I could stick to my resolution of posting more often so as to cut down the sheer time it takes to make a post, but so far, I'm not doing so well, so I won't make any idol promises. Essentially, as usual, I'll see ya when I see ya.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-62139297491162187112010-01-07T11:10:00.014+10:302010-01-14T15:30:10.893+10:30Winding Things Back a NotchThe past week and a half have been a whirlwind, but finally, things have settled back into some sembalance of normalcy. It won't be totally normal until Chris goes back to work in a couple more weeks, but for now, this is as normal as it gets.<br /><br />I'll just take up where I left off...the trip to <a href="http://www.about-australia.com/south-australia/yorke-peninsula/destinations/wool-bay/">Wool Bay</a>. After spending Saturday night at work, I hurried home, getting here at about 8AM. After a quick shower, some last minute packing, and getting Chris' car loaded up, we headed out at about 9:30. It took almost 4 hours to get there, after frequent fag and toilet stops, and a takeaway lunch in Ardrossan. <br /><br />My take along knitting for the ride were the sleeves for my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/welt-and-rib-raglan">Welt and Rib Raglan jumper</a> (Interweave Winter 08). I was almost finished with the first sleeve when we left. I knit on it until I was sure I was close to the length required, but having no really flat surface to measure it on, I just left it on the cord I was knitting it on, removed the needles, attached them to another cord and cast on for the second sleeve. As I was knitting them using the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtBSmxGomPk">magic loop </a>method, cord length wasn't all that important, except, of course, that it was long enough. It was easy car knitting in relatively simple rib, and as small as a sock really, so it was just about perfect.<br /><br />We arrived in early afternoon, chatted with Chris' friends, Roger and Leslie, for awhile. They all went for a walk down to the water, but I, being rather exhausted by this time, stayed at the cabin and enjoyed about an hour of peace and quiet. I spent the time knitting on the Alpine Knit Scarf from Victorian Lace Today. When they came back, we fired up the bar-b-que and had a nice dinner, shortly after which I crawled gratefully into the bed.<br /><br />The next morning the boys were gone when I woke up. They had taken Rogers boat out on the sea for a bit of a fish, leaving Leslie and I to our own devices. I find Leslie to be very good company. She's the kind of person who you can enjoy "comfortable" silence with. She's happy to chat, but equally happy to sit quietly, and I like that in a person. We chatted, did a bit of tidying, I knit on the lace during quiet moments, and the jumper sleeve during chats. Leslie read or chatted, and time just flew by. <br /><br />The Great White Hunters returned from the ocean with two fish shortly after noon, both caught by Roger, and plenty of stories of fishing woe to tell. After only a little while, my dearest husband, true to form, was ready to roam again, so off we went in search of a conservation park he was interested in seeing. He had told me it was about 20 minutes away, but I should have known better. About an hour later, after traveling over halfway across the "foot" of the peninsula, and getting slightly lost once, we arrived at Carribe Conservation Park.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bvvle_xsLIeXF9u0iEy_paf6-HiAuY6b-WYOZ_KmNJqRkYJVt9whAOs2VZy2QVg_TctsuwKWUaU0bzlacDo_YQ_Jp1xogf12pKGyKel2O_uDuCn5nRahli-iDSAGmDx7GAuTjLnRWPFp/s1600-h/IMG_1731.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bvvle_xsLIeXF9u0iEy_paf6-HiAuY6b-WYOZ_KmNJqRkYJVt9whAOs2VZy2QVg_TctsuwKWUaU0bzlacDo_YQ_Jp1xogf12pKGyKel2O_uDuCn5nRahli-iDSAGmDx7GAuTjLnRWPFp/s320/IMG_1731.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423794300336237634" /></a><br /><br />It was midafternoon, and quite hot for walking, so Chris struck off alone for a short walk around. Meanwhile, me and about 3 million flies all hell bent on my destruction stayed with the car. I tried to knit on my lace while I had the peace and quiet, but it's hard to concentrate on lace, or even knit for that matter, when you are constantly batting away flies. <br /><br />We drove back to the cabin, showered and got ready to go into Edithburg where we had reservations for dinner at one of the pubs. It was a nice meal, and we went out for a walk on the jetty afterwards.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd7wHSAMK2uqihSF3Tj9Yvgx1EcsEftSxXJADi7CDmhgUTGIqtSKrEk1_RVoYgAErlyVXNHGYFXtivQPW0LG9E768AHZegoVyEpFSXparN_RtuqSPbcUZ3vziziUdOn-DiukDTNftswtO/s1600-h/IMG_1732.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd7wHSAMK2uqihSF3Tj9Yvgx1EcsEftSxXJADi7CDmhgUTGIqtSKrEk1_RVoYgAErlyVXNHGYFXtivQPW0LG9E768AHZegoVyEpFSXparN_RtuqSPbcUZ3vziziUdOn-DiukDTNftswtO/s320/IMG_1732.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423794307113728770" /></a><br /><br />Everyone seemed to think a cappacino was a good idea, so we walked down to "The Garage", a coffee house/takeaway joint styled like a 1950's American Diner. As usual, I took my knitting along of course, and Roger snapped a picture of me knitting by the jukebox: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-mii8rTLD8YcMwMwkysGgs5txh1xLNB5j9Sc-jJaZiWXP778eeNfo9TeHfmLBsY5_ZdHXKAZP5n7fPPuTx2DPvbGSwP00_EUPvtsBKmeDZeVvCFSNUsBCJ5yuCF8kMyxpc-ssRl42Wbt/s1600-h/IMG_1734.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-mii8rTLD8YcMwMwkysGgs5txh1xLNB5j9Sc-jJaZiWXP778eeNfo9TeHfmLBsY5_ZdHXKAZP5n7fPPuTx2DPvbGSwP00_EUPvtsBKmeDZeVvCFSNUsBCJ5yuCF8kMyxpc-ssRl42Wbt/s320/IMG_1734.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423794317008352770" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the night passed uneventfully. While everyone else had an early bedtime, I stayed up until nearly midnight, partly out of habit, and partly because I wanted to finish off that first sleeve. I had almost finished the ball of yarn on the second sleeve, and wanted to use the well over half a ball that was still attached to the first sleeve and would certainly be enough to finish off the second. From the looks of things, I'm not going to have much excess yarn from this project, so breaking a new ball seemed unneccessary. <br /><br />We left fairly early Tuesday morning on our return trip. I knit on the second sleeve this time, and had it nearly finished by the time we got back to the house. Then it was a whirlwind of unpacking, washing, hanging out, ironing and putting things away.<br /><br />On the way home, we had stopped by the post office. The Christmas package from my cousin Terrie was late, and even though it arrived right after Christmas, what with all the New Years holidays and us being away, the post office hasn't been open on days when we were able to pick it up. So we picked up the package and then headed home. <br /><br />I forced myself to unpack and put most things away first, and finally allowed myself to dig into the package. On top was a hat for Chris. Beneath that was the most exquisite Civil War style ballgown, complete with hooped petticoat, hat and muff. I immediately started stripping right there in the dining room and tried it on. It fit like it was made for me.<br /><br />Here I am outside by the roses in the dress only:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYizNuVz3e3WmmMxmEiydgWobSY1zNLIyzL2_8srxFJFU_BGRS3sGX_qpfv-oDTf-EcrG8uKWbaOwo_DkVtcJsyqnNqWU9wO8l3pwZ7kSeQH6_BF6_qssM9io7hzruAEkeGpUcnvHPx27/s1600-h/IMG_1739.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYizNuVz3e3WmmMxmEiydgWobSY1zNLIyzL2_8srxFJFU_BGRS3sGX_qpfv-oDTf-EcrG8uKWbaOwo_DkVtcJsyqnNqWU9wO8l3pwZ7kSeQH6_BF6_qssM9io7hzruAEkeGpUcnvHPx27/s320/IMG_1739.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423794333410350738" /></a><br /><br />And here in the living room with all the accessories on:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNQsm5lPUZ7p3XbvPIIrRbexJZ45X1M_TL1qnIJplSqNeScEokGN0nK-Yg_afsZVZ_o20AChEbcDtyBxuRxTdMi3yNoZjGhVvViYO42ZpMp6QkAFRUBmzlvWGoWZfZG672WMLbSjN8zWP/s1600-h/IMG_1744_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNQsm5lPUZ7p3XbvPIIrRbexJZ45X1M_TL1qnIJplSqNeScEokGN0nK-Yg_afsZVZ_o20AChEbcDtyBxuRxTdMi3yNoZjGhVvViYO42ZpMp6QkAFRUBmzlvWGoWZfZG672WMLbSjN8zWP/s320/IMG_1744_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423794324287127250" /></a><br /><br />It will just be so perfect for Winter Roundup in May, our big annual Western Action Shooting get together. There's a fancy dress ball on the Saturday night during the event, and I'd already began to worry about getting something together to wear to it, as everything I have like that is way too big. I never really had anything this grand to begin with. Needless to say, I'm stoked.<br /><br />The rest of Tuesday evening was spent sorting things out, including my knitting. I was almost finished with the second sleeve on the jumper. The way the jumper is constructed, after getting the proper length of sleeve, you then go back to the lower body, pick up your stitches from your original crochet cast on and start knitting upwards, attaching the sleeves to the body in raglan fashion. All this, in a nutshell, meant that it no longer qualified as "easy take along work knitting", being both too big and frought with fairly complicated bits at this stage.<br /><br />Turning to the ever so lovely <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/buttonbrite/alpine-knit-scarf-with-double-rose-leaf-center-pattern-and-diamond-border">Alpine Lace Scarf</a>, I didn't even speculate. Much as I love it, and love working on it, it will never, ever be "easy take along work knitting". While I might have cherish some faint hope of "remembering the pattern" and "developing muscle memory" when I first started it, I have long since gave up on this fantasy. Frankly, I can't even listen to my iPod when knitting on it, much less watch TV or deal with the distractions of work. I keep it on a TV tray next to my bed, with the Daylight lamp on the nightstand, and to work on it I go into my "bedcave", my DO NOT DISTURB zone. Even Chris just sort of clears his throat and waits if he needs my attention while I'm busy with it. No, not work knitting friendly at all.<br /><br />The result of all this speculation was that I needed a new project, and quickly. I had been thinking of casting on just a plain pair of toe up socks from some of the plethora of self striping yarn I have, and in the end, that seemed the best idea. I drug out the blue/black/grey/white Heirloom Jigsaw that I bought from my LYS here in Murray Bridge about a year ago, some 2.5mm needles and cast on some toe up socks, which I'm calling "Jiggy With It" in honor of the yarn. For the longest I did all my socks two at a time, but for ease and portability, I decided to go with just one sock at a time this go round. I had them cast on, and a bit of the toe shaping done by the time I had to go in to work Tuesday night. <br /><br />Having sorted my knitting out, I worked Tuesday and Wednesday night. I was off Thursday night, but can't brag about getting too much done. I did work on the lace awhile, and the jumper, but with Chris around, it wasn't terribly easy to get much done. <br /><br />Then back to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. <br /><br />The monotony of work was only broken by the visit of one of my Ravelry friends who is visiting the area from her home in Canada. She's from South Australia originally, and her mother still lives here. She, her mother and husband, stopped by on Sunday morning on their way back from a visit to Mount Gambier. I wish now that I had taken photos while they were here, but it seems I never take pictures when I should. But the visit was delightful, and I was so happy to get to meet her in person. For my Ravelry friends, her name on Rav is Handmadam. For privacy purposes (because I forgot to ask her permission to publish her name, NOT that she refused to allow it) I won't mention her given name here. <br /><br />She did bring me precious pretties which I have taken pictures of. Beautiful fibre from <a href="http://www.fleeceartist.com/">Fleece Artist </a>in Canada. I think she actually only intended to give me two out of three of these, but I oooohhh'd and awwwww'd so much about the green one she gave me that one as well. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq8N9gZoPf7A6gfX4BWeiTXquB6D3vniBnRXlaEdNPVcmNQaIVc-bqOShdCSzaywpsLx8usJPe6hpTxRqoRthE5pahBjnSjNV4dNRPX52vtRCrFcrUr01JwMq8qgZAVbXAIJm5EhyphenhyphennC-o/s1600-h/IMG_1749.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAq8N9gZoPf7A6gfX4BWeiTXquB6D3vniBnRXlaEdNPVcmNQaIVc-bqOShdCSzaywpsLx8usJPe6hpTxRqoRthE5pahBjnSjNV4dNRPX52vtRCrFcrUr01JwMq8qgZAVbXAIJm5EhyphenhyphennC-o/s320/IMG_1749.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426397815118603026" /></a><br /><br />The green one on top is kid mohair, and the other two are seacell and merino. Truly they are all three magnificantly soft. I'm trying to figure out now which I want to spin first. I'm thinking the more pastelly one, mainly because it's already unbraided. No better reason really. I love them all, but of course the green kid mohair best. My tendency though is to spin last what I love the most. <br /><br />Tuesday Chris decided to make a run back up to Port Pirie and (initially) spend a couple of nights there, coming home Thursday. I was, of course, over the moon to have a couple of "free days" for spinning, knitting and doing whatever I pleased. I was overly optomistic, however. He was gone all day Tuesday, which was nice, but as I had worked Monday night, I was really too tired to enjoy myself. Wednesday and Thursday were going to be the really productive days. <br /><br />Tuesday I set myself to work on the Welt and Rib Raglan, mainly it was easy enough to do sleepy and it was getting near to completion, or so I thought. You know how sometimes you think you are "almost done" with something, then keep knitting and knitting and knitting...??? That's sort of what happened. I knit on that thing most of the day, and I'm still not finished even as I write this, although I have made it to the collar shaping:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhxXR2945vW1kh_eINqHX4Wcj9uowlYbrE112M_1jo9D2eJfdIT6sQZAuuU0yZPuwS4-yE-G97UOha9KTk4SaKjK3Cl4mJh9EbG-ZJYX6xcYuvPDyfZ1gliado9FE2aPF1OYAg0aBUxw_/s1600-h/IMG_1747.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhxXR2945vW1kh_eINqHX4Wcj9uowlYbrE112M_1jo9D2eJfdIT6sQZAuuU0yZPuwS4-yE-G97UOha9KTk4SaKjK3Cl4mJh9EbG-ZJYX6xcYuvPDyfZ1gliado9FE2aPF1OYAg0aBUxw_/s320/IMG_1747.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426397799926768578" /></a><br /><br />I might knit on it later today, and then, I might not. Hopefully, I will have it done by the next post. I'm running very close to being out of yarn, and just hoping I make it to the end without having to buy another ball.<br /><br />Wednesday morning, I ran a few errands, and shortly after I got home had a call from Chris to tell me that he was cutting his trip short and would be home "late tonight". This was, to say the least, a bit disappointing. I had pretty much blown the morning as far as knitting and spinning were concerned, and I did have a couple of things I wanted to do before he got home. <br /><br />I wanted to attempt the Navaho plying of the SCF I had spun up for that purpose, and I wanted to get the heel turned on the sock I am currently using for work knitting so it would be good to go Thursday night, and for both of these things, I wanted the peace and quiet of an empty house.<br /><br />So I got busy on those two things, and essentially put off the Welt and Rib Raglan until after he got home. I got out the Ashford, and got started on the Navaho plying, which went better initially than I expected it to. I used the single of the "Deep Thoughts" colourway from SCFC. I'm sure it would have two plied fine, seeings how David's fibres always do, but the colours were so dark and subtle, I thought it would lend well to keeping those colourways more or less intact.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe7vfrkiMOhI_f9s6BFEIjDCeCEYavEOV1k7agbEo9FygSBbtkLdcl6ULcm7qQP9lBVuLOT16ia8LP35PgGtDtRb6PjxZHZmhiPXiHYVM6uK54sUIFKh9cdqp4UsKM5myDd28cmJoX-5R/s1600-h/IMG_1753.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe7vfrkiMOhI_f9s6BFEIjDCeCEYavEOV1k7agbEo9FygSBbtkLdcl6ULcm7qQP9lBVuLOT16ia8LP35PgGtDtRb6PjxZHZmhiPXiHYVM6uK54sUIFKh9cdqp4UsKM5myDd28cmJoX-5R/s320/IMG_1753.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426402544085035362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76RmL_TjVy_hnkmel6mDEEpq_OEJ1Uvfv6pnkBRJbnFzAWNRQeChBydLwsPBwVSPwtoEvrv30K5feY6EiW3riH3_hO-oH9rbqGk4LKCmjlZZJTxX0T6UciHPJTVnatGThaoA6P559sufh/s1600-h/IMG_1748.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76RmL_TjVy_hnkmel6mDEEpq_OEJ1Uvfv6pnkBRJbnFzAWNRQeChBydLwsPBwVSPwtoEvrv30K5feY6EiW3riH3_hO-oH9rbqGk4LKCmjlZZJTxX0T6UciHPJTVnatGThaoA6P559sufh/s320/IMG_1748.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426397806963935778" /></a><br /><br />So after getting the plying started, I turned my attention to the sock, got the heel turn done and had started to pick up the gusset stitches. I figured I could go from there without any problem, even with distractions. So I put that aside and went to do a bit of work on the Alpine Lace Scarf, which is always a "do in quiet" project, but particularly so when I was adding a new safety line, since I had to remove all the markers, then replace them.<br /><br />This is where everything started to go tragically wrong. In my survey of the lace that I tend to do every time I put a new safety line in, I noticed a big ole boo boo about four 16 row repeats back. I wish now that I had taken a picture of all this, but honestly, I was just not in the sort of mood where you even think about photos. Suffice it to say that one of the rows had went terribly pear shaped, causing the whole pattern to skew and then right itself again on the following rows. After blocking, it would have looked tragic, and I can't for the life of me figure out why I hadn't noticed it before. <br /><br />So I had to frog back to that point, something I really really wanted to finish before Chris got home. I frogged it back to just before the error, then tinked back a row to get all the yo's accounted for. Back on the needles, I knit a row to get a safety line in, and then another row to replace the stitch markers. Sadly, it's almost back to the point that it was at when we finished the boat trip:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbPYJesbFztk9RSaDgLuWRdRDRpxZBqO4Tta68Nwd5lZyZKq-EfJHMgd2_ekW_pm6CailPiFDlYbdocLYvTyM6clxBqKM2LbrurhFvQoeYOpXzQSmkFF2Zw7SoxGGJe58FPMF46Fk1_-q/s1600-h/IMG_1752.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbPYJesbFztk9RSaDgLuWRdRDRpxZBqO4Tta68Nwd5lZyZKq-EfJHMgd2_ekW_pm6CailPiFDlYbdocLYvTyM6clxBqKM2LbrurhFvQoeYOpXzQSmkFF2Zw7SoxGGJe58FPMF46Fk1_-q/s320/IMG_1752.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426402538788804178" /></a><br /><br /><br />All should be well now, although I must admit I haven't knit on it any more, since Chris came home just as I was finishing the stitch marker row. <br /><br />Chris got home at about 7PM, not the "late tonight" he had originally said, but then, I should know him well enough by now to know he will always be earlier than he said. Still, wishful thinking can go a long way towards deluding oneself. Ah well, another tick on the "Well crap" wall.<br /><br />I was sitting on the couch, watching TV and listen to him tell me about his trip during commercials, when I finished the gusset decreases. I was at the point where all I needed to do was knit round and round up the leg. Perfect for work. I tried the sock on. "Well crap!" It didn't fit. Not just by a little bit. No, it was tight enough to curl my toes up. <br /><br />So once again, I put on my frog face and starting ripping. Again, no pictures, and for the same reasons. But I ripped it all the way back to where I had started the gusset increases. Now, I'll need to knit another quarter inch or so length onto the foot, then redo the gusset increases, heel and gusset decreases. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7v-YvRaYDOumDIaXf2hFEQiKM5Myz5GeGTgw1o4JE15QY2qz4DRHkVLD0O_DF69_APEnXaJ8v8Eo231ZF_iws2JbnuW0iorJ9-PW10dFUcgOza0RuT4NMZOBVPhlRIJs3u23Nj95XNJn/s1600-h/IMG_1746.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7v-YvRaYDOumDIaXf2hFEQiKM5Myz5GeGTgw1o4JE15QY2qz4DRHkVLD0O_DF69_APEnXaJ8v8Eo231ZF_iws2JbnuW0iorJ9-PW10dFUcgOza0RuT4NMZOBVPhlRIJs3u23Nj95XNJn/s320/IMG_1746.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426397790061202114" /></a><br /><br />It's frankly a bit of a bother, but then, socks that don't fit are pointless, so there really wasn't much choice. I will admit though, I did run through my mind who amongst my friends and family had smaller feet than me. In the end, I need the socks, and that was that. A frogging I must go.<br /><br />So obviously, the afternoon did not turn out well. I can't say I was terribly amused by it all at the time, but in hindsight, all's fair in love and knitting. It is the first time I had to substantially frog back two projects in one day, and I really will die happy if there isn't a second time. But you know, one of the things I love about knitting is that no matter what, you get a "do over". I haven't ran across a mistake yet that frogging and redoing couldn't fix. If only life were like that.<br /><br />Today is Thursday, and I have to go back to work tonight. Chris, when he announced he was coming home "late" Wednesday night, reassured me that he had "lots" to do Thursday and would "hardly be home" anyway. Well, he did go out to his friends boat this morning (he's trying to sell it) and clean it up for some potential buyers who are coming by this weekend. He was gone about an hour and half. And now, he's gone for a walk at a nearby conservation park. So he is trying to stay out of my hair.<br /><br />My son sent me this neat UT (University of Tennessee) bag kit for Christmas. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWYtjMG0b3yGoYetG4suHoz_sshB64vUPNCn4IJnRRZ2leSAVExNOIMQ9xmEbSFOof3k7eHjiJrqxK7l018nRm9KWDIyhFJtsl9ao1uveLb_1GXTpezbSU6lJ1D3_hFECKbi0esvEFcF7/s1600-h/IMG_1745.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWYtjMG0b3yGoYetG4suHoz_sshB64vUPNCn4IJnRRZ2leSAVExNOIMQ9xmEbSFOof3k7eHjiJrqxK7l018nRm9KWDIyhFJtsl9ao1uveLb_1GXTpezbSU6lJ1D3_hFECKbi0esvEFcF7/s320/IMG_1745.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426397782292919506" /></a><br /><br />It's a pattern and some quilted fabric to make a bag with. I just love it to pieces and I reckon it will make a really cool knitting bag, so I pulled out the electric sewing scissors around noon, only to find that it had been so long since I'd used them they had lost all their charge. So they are charging up as I type, and hopefully by the next post, I'll have a cool bag to show you. Or some quilted scraps if things go badly. At any rate, there will be something to show. <br /><br />That's all I have for today. Till next time...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-24539706968919624512009-12-23T09:48:00.017+10:302010-01-02T13:24:39.327+10:30Boatie Bits and KnitsI wanted to throw a post in here before we left for our boat trip, and indeed, had much of a post done before we left. It was started, but not completed. So now, I'm doing some creative editing on the "old" post, and adding the unfinished and new bits. At the moment, time is not on my side, so if some of the edits make no sense, and if I'm sketchy and a bit brief, then I can only apoligize in advance.<br /><br />With Christmas obligations and Chris on school holidays, my schedule has been packed full. I came home from work last Monday morning, showered, loaded up everything and left for the boat. We were on the boat until Thursday afternoon, back to work Thursday night. I work Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and then when I get home Sunday morning I'll shower, load up in the car and begin a three and a half hour car journey to Wool Bay. Wool Bay is a seaside resort community on the Eastern shore of the Yorke Peninsula. An old friend of Chris' has a cabin there, and we will be staying with him and his wife Sunday night and Monday night, returning home Tuesday in time for me to be at work Tuesday night. Such is my schedule at the moment. Consequently, this might look a bit hurried, and editing will be rough.<br /><br />Now, to go way way back (or so it seems now) to the things going on before the boat trip. I'll get to the knitting bit eventually, but one thing I thought pretty exciting was that I actually had a raffle win. I was in the express line at the grocery store a couple of months ago, and the checkout girl asked me if I wanted to enter a raffle aiding in the support of the two new pandas they were getting (and have since got) at the Adelaide zoo. <br /><br />I said "I'll donate two bucks. I'm a bit short on time". <br /><br />She said, "Oh, the prizes are great, and I only need your name and phone number". <br /><br />So I scribbled down my name and number, gave her a two buck coin and never thought another thing about it until I got a phone call from Woolworths. Even then, I didn't recall it immediately. The girl on the phone told me where she was calling from, and I really couldn't figure out why Woolworths would be calling me. Then she told me she needed my address because I had won $1000 worth of "gift cards" in the "Panda Raffle". Still, no bells are ringing, and my first instinct was it was one of those calls where they try to glean information and then rob your bank account or something. I figured there was no harm in giving her my address, as it's in the phone book anyway, but I was wary about giving her any more information. Thank goodness she never asked for anything more. She just started explaining to me what I had won. It was then that I finally remembered the Panda raffle, and started paying attention. At that moment I realized it wasn't a prank, since I hadn't thought anything about buying that ticket, much less told anyone about it. <br /><br />After asking her to repeat what I had won, I started to get excited. Essentially, it was two $500 Wish gift cards that could be spent at any Woolworths or several associate stores. They arrived by registered mail a few days later:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAo1NRrLzhE-_rwCuE2dK-xrE9OGmCDLKEwr3PtHOR4kGQMG1QwPQ2ADuiAuWoFwiQMS9L71inZQWxxaZ4RWel9J72LkNRQmhwI4Vhe628HKAoWErHkTTn5bZN188VA1kekIQo7Bv0fOs/s1600-h/IMG_1693.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418204774901453346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAo1NRrLzhE-_rwCuE2dK-xrE9OGmCDLKEwr3PtHOR4kGQMG1QwPQ2ADuiAuWoFwiQMS9L71inZQWxxaZ4RWel9J72LkNRQmhwI4Vhe628HKAoWErHkTTn5bZN188VA1kekIQo7Bv0fOs/s320/IMG_1693.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Shortly after the phone call, I had called Chris to tell him the news. We had planned on buying a new digital LCD TV for Christmas, sort of one big thing for both of us, but we knew we'd have to put it on the credit card and pay it off. So he suggested we get the TV with the cards. We went shopping at one of the associate stores, Dick Smith Electronics, and got this lovely whopper of a TV (well, whopper compared to the 26in we had):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV04QQ_p_lCE5BSiKFKF8x7KixPbc1SciqzUJ4mTdVVGEZvr-Hxtiu9on6hDtWHHsMeZeBABOS8f_YbG_axVxYExVrO-qW7npTqP19GKkQS7JpDfXErSYZX3olQoOY7iT2W5TpWz5Qb4S4/s1600-h/IMG_1699.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205052195585778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV04QQ_p_lCE5BSiKFKF8x7KixPbc1SciqzUJ4mTdVVGEZvr-Hxtiu9on6hDtWHHsMeZeBABOS8f_YbG_axVxYExVrO-qW7npTqP19GKkQS7JpDfXErSYZX3olQoOY7iT2W5TpWz5Qb4S4/s320/IMG_1699.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It's a 42in Sanyo LCD, the picture is beautiful, and we are enjoying watching all the new digital channels. Admittedly, with all our running around, and the utter crap that on TV this time of the year, I haven't had a chance to watch to much on it, but I'm sure I'll get my chance soon enough. The only problem is that I'm having a bit of trouble hooking it to the DVD/VCR player, but I really just haven't had time to figure it out. Something else for me to put my mind to when all the running is over with.<br /><br />All in all, it was a nice little windfall, and helps us tremendously in planning and saving for our planned trip to Tennessee in late August. Chris has applied for the time off work. We still haven't gotten final approval back from the department, but it looks promising. We're planning as if it's a done deal.<br /><br />Also, on one of my days off a few days before the trip, Chris and I went bushwalking in a nearby conservation area, and I managed to get a couple of shots I thought I would include here. It's a lovely spot. Chris goes there alot, and was anxious to show it to me, and I must say, I was impressed by the landscape, but not so impressed by the plethora of flies that abounded there. I was wearing my "fly hat" though, so all was well:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSejP5qLHl0G-h-llYXuGXC7-8VgjT76U1Rhjn87Uc50q372mRsSZraJabSSl3_3gg9exGL42enMAJMThjfoG-gj0PHHgXQVP0XhBlObO6spK4W6tNRsCvlG00dAYGlA_gj-UYs2GYUBro/s1600-h/IMG_1698.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418204791503034594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSejP5qLHl0G-h-llYXuGXC7-8VgjT76U1Rhjn87Uc50q372mRsSZraJabSSl3_3gg9exGL42enMAJMThjfoG-gj0PHHgXQVP0XhBlObO6spK4W6tNRsCvlG00dAYGlA_gj-UYs2GYUBro/s320/IMG_1698.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Notice too our handy new hiking poles. Chris, ever the ebay stalker, found them on there. Mine was originally supposed to be his, and came from China, but it was way to short for Chris, even fully extended, but perfect for me. He got himself another taller model:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEeDEAx94Ll-wQtvQvGayF3WFPyTZIWcswPnyPdWdc-Cg_2MVRSlI_NzLLD-W2Oet-0vaU9nBZZkWuUQF72iuBt9EG1-jUc1qXk-pct6Wzfzzqb1Yn9M4eqjPj9ftP9tcvaFx2gz5fSzB/s1600-h/IMG_1696.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418204791092051106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEeDEAx94Ll-wQtvQvGayF3WFPyTZIWcswPnyPdWdc-Cg_2MVRSlI_NzLLD-W2Oet-0vaU9nBZZkWuUQF72iuBt9EG1-jUc1qXk-pct6Wzfzzqb1Yn9M4eqjPj9ftP9tcvaFx2gz5fSzB/s320/IMG_1696.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I suppose I should mention Christmas in here too, although really, we didn't do much. I was off Christmas Eve night, and we went to Chris' parents for lunch the next day, then down to the beach for awhile, and then over to some friends of his for a few hours in the evening before I went to work. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to take any pictures. I did, however, get one knitting related present that bears a mention and a picture here. My newest Christmas ornament, sent to me by my dearest mom. It's too cool for words, and I love it to pieces:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHMoD6EV2cc5y79vIaNbYm_aASos6eMq5jarSaxOMSQ6AQ-Jx3Hiu6fEGs9KYQyMvZZdXbglfmPIGTqsAV7nDw8sNBqMIjVebPUBEA6MwFwHfcm5Okv3jBVPzY-UyhFUyyUz6MsSiUL61/s1600-h/IMG_1684.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205458790947554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHMoD6EV2cc5y79vIaNbYm_aASos6eMq5jarSaxOMSQ6AQ-Jx3Hiu6fEGs9KYQyMvZZdXbglfmPIGTqsAV7nDw8sNBqMIjVebPUBEA6MwFwHfcm5Okv3jBVPzY-UyhFUyyUz6MsSiUL61/s320/IMG_1684.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Sometime back before Christmas (honestly don't remember when) I got my latest installment from David at Southern Cross Fibre Club. It's quite lovely, and I plan on taking it with me to Wool Bay tomorrow, and hopefully get started on it there. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW84aQ1t9khWVmMd7lEpChOGQWlltPvpwwN_8TEml-lM8-DSVxl7aVuqjSMyrBTBUHN_nTDxIREOr5i1VW06YjgtaHFNZtwtIkYbUTGrtdHA022MR-BfzmbFHRAbH1XXIniKI2GBgjKih5/s1600-h/IMG_1678.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205454312696434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW84aQ1t9khWVmMd7lEpChOGQWlltPvpwwN_8TEml-lM8-DSVxl7aVuqjSMyrBTBUHN_nTDxIREOr5i1VW06YjgtaHFNZtwtIkYbUTGrtdHA022MR-BfzmbFHRAbH1XXIniKI2GBgjKih5/s320/IMG_1678.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now, for pics of my pre boat trip knitting. The only finished object to report on is the Honey Bee Socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Solids, which turned out to be very pretty. Sometimes pretty socks aren't terribly "wearable", but these certainly are, and I'm very happy with them:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPi8FIUFnXRXAllG9LcQQgNUjkQoD8UDMqYVJwypOZ4n-Lt4_ZttTjQZ6p-uE62b33OFZF2wHKTWWhyphenhyphen_8JuHjB6za4-NfLPrPOyIb32cNO91yjzpoMRGFoVQm_NEoCX31JXVgqOLcYmeC/s1600-h/IMG_1686.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPi8FIUFnXRXAllG9LcQQgNUjkQoD8UDMqYVJwypOZ4n-Lt4_ZttTjQZ6p-uE62b33OFZF2wHKTWWhyphenhyphen_8JuHjB6za4-NfLPrPOyIb32cNO91yjzpoMRGFoVQm_NEoCX31JXVgqOLcYmeC/s320/IMG_1686.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421954959445330498" /></a><br /><br />Also, I took out some of my "early" homespun, a semi thick yarn made with some Border Leichestershire tops I got from Jane at Moseley Park eons ago and whipped up a quick little sock for my still very much loved iPod touch:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsixbxHrOcbgNjQhl-PBqH4QR2NhDIfRvf4iIh7XX8Ni5Wdxr0Qoq-yzO8W0K_JU76I_l58si0VpIW5PLfWvpsn1Lad5nTWSTuvoYV0qcwxOTp7Ouh-kpVCrxhdUmk4e4kWu7X5S4gL9A6/s1600-h/IMG_1701.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205061750146306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsixbxHrOcbgNjQhl-PBqH4QR2NhDIfRvf4iIh7XX8Ni5Wdxr0Qoq-yzO8W0K_JU76I_l58si0VpIW5PLfWvpsn1Lad5nTWSTuvoYV0qcwxOTp7Ouh-kpVCrxhdUmk4e4kWu7X5S4gL9A6/s320/IMG_1701.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here we have the Lacy camisole, which liked having the sleeves sewn on in this pic:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoiwV4UUkZVYRdNRcHqamnvjeASTe1F-xeWEBhTzaYNp5afyTCzJIOyXNYEaCAZEcwO6NU8ZXIbYKFKfW8FkelN0hAlr-9Q1dmRIYA5SUVlA9oHWhaKxVEQkVZsFbY6tmjs0E0EV7pCgc/s1600-h/IMG_1692.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205577181679394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoiwV4UUkZVYRdNRcHqamnvjeASTe1F-xeWEBhTzaYNp5afyTCzJIOyXNYEaCAZEcwO6NU8ZXIbYKFKfW8FkelN0hAlr-9Q1dmRIYA5SUVlA9oHWhaKxVEQkVZsFbY6tmjs0E0EV7pCgc/s320/IMG_1692.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I did manage to get one sleeve sewn on, and the second sleeve started before we left for the boat, and even though I took it with us on the trip, it is still in exactly that same position. I never even took it out. I'm not even taking it with us to Wool Bay, as I'm traveling a bit lighter and know I'm not likely to get to it. I don't like sewing at the best of times, and I really don't like sewing away from home. It doesn't fit my "strategy" for getting seaming done. That is, I like to lay it out on the couch and just leave it there. That way, I feel obliged to stitch on it when I sit down. <br /><br />Then there are those projects I did actually work on while away. I'll show a "before picture of them now, and save the "after" picktures for later on in the post. (I'm really trying hard for some cronological order here.) <br /><br />The Welt and Rib Raglan done in Sublime merino silk and cashmere blend went with me as my . Here's a photo of it before we left:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiiHwPjeEHsOMFNG8gol5TJlr6UrDT_fLPkvHCC5Uhk6OtbeuwZQlyUUXR_hzW8sOzDY-9U0NfyPrNdC0UIPzi8D3IhC09u9mTvJxyzNCetIOuJ9eroBAiNyKD9qemYg8AbQoapXpsxe/s1600-h/IMG_1700.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205054884214050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiiHwPjeEHsOMFNG8gol5TJlr6UrDT_fLPkvHCC5Uhk6OtbeuwZQlyUUXR_hzW8sOzDY-9U0NfyPrNdC0UIPzi8D3IhC09u9mTvJxyzNCetIOuJ9eroBAiNyKD9qemYg8AbQoapXpsxe/s320/IMG_1700.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Then there's my "pride and joy" WIP, the Alpine Lace Scarf from Victorian Knits Today book, made with Ixchel's merino cashmere laceweight 2ply in a lovely sky blue, or would that be ice blue?? Well, a very pretty blue anyway. It looked something like this before we left:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypTRd3P0PO3qAoMrWVYv10_dQxpdBY1LTXgHpy50B8_OGo2mc7ENpYhrFXtg0tVxwbiY6mXGDGDCgNdT25sT9hCxGQcaPfmS7JJku9utf-byg_qkM9mJF9d0y5Ynn45DfXWPvwYdmdYbl/s1600-h/IMG_1694.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418204781536552546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypTRd3P0PO3qAoMrWVYv10_dQxpdBY1LTXgHpy50B8_OGo2mc7ENpYhrFXtg0tVxwbiY6mXGDGDCgNdT25sT9hCxGQcaPfmS7JJku9utf-byg_qkM9mJF9d0y5Ynn45DfXWPvwYdmdYbl/s320/IMG_1694.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwiGX8X38r0mVg13MN04e4nPjVMLBFS3smiGNru48tgGaGZbUjE8LkJvuAqyy3AHhbXmngQTU0JtoBQJL7MJiJM-Bhn14L7UqxOngdH5RJ5h1VqQzINa1ZXfeYQIZyOGotqY-vKWnDSqK/s1600-h/IMG_1695.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418204785533355074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwiGX8X38r0mVg13MN04e4nPjVMLBFS3smiGNru48tgGaGZbUjE8LkJvuAqyy3AHhbXmngQTU0JtoBQJL7MJiJM-Bhn14L7UqxOngdH5RJ5h1VqQzINa1ZXfeYQIZyOGotqY-vKWnDSqK/s320/IMG_1695.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I took along Matilda, my Majacraft Little Gem spinning wheel. Before we left, I'd been spinning some of the roving I got from Southern Cross Fibre Club into one long single, and the plan is to Navaho Ply it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvTPLu3zNWK5upUNnm-wrsU-aeD41Td-4cTKA7Z2V_fAmZ0XqkS21GmK5KPosWTTRo3dvOI-s4rg5vDYAgn_p823Eeow0EP2GIz6K5AeO_-oc5aQXHKeS6ziSfiZzsYfP_3OWlbCQyzuN/s1600-h/IMG_1691.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418205472156196290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvTPLu3zNWK5upUNnm-wrsU-aeD41Td-4cTKA7Z2V_fAmZ0XqkS21GmK5KPosWTTRo3dvOI-s4rg5vDYAgn_p823Eeow0EP2GIz6K5AeO_-oc5aQXHKeS6ziSfiZzsYfP_3OWlbCQyzuN/s320/IMG_1691.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The trip upstream on the Murray River was nice. We caught up with Chris' coworker Amanda and her husband Bob shortly after we left the marina in their little pontoon style boat, the "A'Salt":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDgb3ZMpGJ4D7aeK09tkhAms_1L-_TMZ_ZkhP-U2u4MHsPFjBl2K5Q6YMjMPluLVFWZaLnWON3fwXYvXM2Z8Vwcr388bwqQTd-Vc_wpcD2XGZVShuYQcIkcDoWpBakkDpehH24rXuiBTd/s1600-h/IMG_1704.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421588220013133074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDgb3ZMpGJ4D7aeK09tkhAms_1L-_TMZ_ZkhP-U2u4MHsPFjBl2K5Q6YMjMPluLVFWZaLnWON3fwXYvXM2Z8Vwcr388bwqQTd-Vc_wpcD2XGZVShuYQcIkcDoWpBakkDpehH24rXuiBTd/s320/IMG_1704.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We went up to the cliffs outside Mypolonga:<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelIVW8owiN33KJgy6YdeA3LZu5XPEM02Lao_obp3nVdBzEQwVkX1fsAu5NS4xxglJFMRU-cjsiiOatMUws3Vt8hs-FAdhzAq-zWGLnNbL3alnhGR2ns0ij5y3ffKMoiPr63LhMOxqiYVR/s1600-h/IMG_1708.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421588221490561106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelIVW8owiN33KJgy6YdeA3LZu5XPEM02Lao_obp3nVdBzEQwVkX1fsAu5NS4xxglJFMRU-cjsiiOatMUws3Vt8hs-FAdhzAq-zWGLnNbL3alnhGR2ns0ij5y3ffKMoiPr63LhMOxqiYVR/s320/IMG_1708.jpg" /></a><br /><br />and moored in a shady area, but unfortunately the banks were a bit on the "weedy snaky" side, so we weren't able to get off the boat and walk around much. Amanda and Bob pulled the A'Salt in next to us:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P76t9epEf_zLjpQQwxwWys44keZWvKZhs-otfDYqr1EAlE5JOtvGmF9igI21k8DFj41boMi8PyCv4Cc3cUEGShg05uBP_j_zpL0qZJ6SPron75x0_W-mbtbIIE9FLisxh4n858Fbxovu/s1600-h/IMG_1706.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421588226747893458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P76t9epEf_zLjpQQwxwWys44keZWvKZhs-otfDYqr1EAlE5JOtvGmF9igI21k8DFj41boMi8PyCv4Cc3cUEGShg05uBP_j_zpL0qZJ6SPron75x0_W-mbtbIIE9FLisxh4n858Fbxovu/s320/IMG_1706.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We did a bit of swimming around when it got quite hot in the afternoon:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleKENtRCaQQ3GTxLfIFuV7LTYkVamBLBe4zqnCuXeBX-Vp8rvqDhYoVBqMG1zxKNDRH33OEN_nuOuwHWSSp6yKfMRlrgpukwUl6ppNVDl3QTmTrCxBuNIletD-v3Cui0Hce0TgdQuN5s6/s1600-h/IMG_1720.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421588236630207794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleKENtRCaQQ3GTxLfIFuV7LTYkVamBLBe4zqnCuXeBX-Vp8rvqDhYoVBqMG1zxKNDRH33OEN_nuOuwHWSSp6yKfMRlrgpukwUl6ppNVDl3QTmTrCxBuNIletD-v3Cui0Hce0TgdQuN5s6/s320/IMG_1720.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately, my swim was cut short by this dang dead fish that was floating straight for us. I crawled back in the boat quick as a flash, but my hero tried to protect me from the beast by removing it from our swimming space:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7EcHNkYhSuvtK4ONqzKoHDhXQOnW49Ha_eXIT_nvn0zgw01cICG9Yn-lOb_cLuKGEtNtSNCxISczBwbNbd33m5z_UNCnPZxPq7KdfLXkJm4ZZ2M8mA7kXpBCRXNdxr87HnmF-3t69qas/s1600-h/IMG_1722.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421588240504971282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7EcHNkYhSuvtK4ONqzKoHDhXQOnW49Ha_eXIT_nvn0zgw01cICG9Yn-lOb_cLuKGEtNtSNCxISczBwbNbd33m5z_UNCnPZxPq7KdfLXkJm4ZZ2M8mA7kXpBCRXNdxr87HnmF-3t69qas/s320/IMG_1722.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We went a bit further up the river, to the other side of Mannum and moored there on the second day. Again, a nice spot. More swimming and such, but I must admit I spent the majority of my time on the boat knitting.<br /><br />Amanda has an old spinning wheel, and likes to spin locks from her family sheep. I try to get her interested in prepared fibre, but she's more interested in the more rustic aspects of lock spinning. To each his own. But what she has been keen on is learning how to knit socks. She's a novice knitter, but she picked up the magic loop method in an instant, and with my help, set about knitting her first ever sock:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJScLr4b9mwC3V5YOYiRe5XK6H_dtC-rG41PD0HFoiE1ay3qQ7zdGjXQ3ZNNtVImjcfiEEF2DpjYjiIrsOxfOEnT0XjWo-OPPbfhXx08sIZxLdKzrz1FGI7y7JOq2LSh_LNuFX27maAvB0/s1600-h/IMG_1724.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421589019779442802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJScLr4b9mwC3V5YOYiRe5XK6H_dtC-rG41PD0HFoiE1ay3qQ7zdGjXQ3ZNNtVImjcfiEEF2DpjYjiIrsOxfOEnT0XjWo-OPPbfhXx08sIZxLdKzrz1FGI7y7JOq2LSh_LNuFX27maAvB0/s320/IMG_1724.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Matilda fit rather handily on the boat:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23VB4whqzR8QZHlyoSRueejRUCMHNspyC_wZcu-KPUvmDMBbA4RqnAhIlFqeihkWTUmxBCXbkYOXxpwYTKHFwTErujm8tSyRqqiRUkSrp77AX1vq0LtL4OvDWBrbYrZJkHMOYueZfr2lE/s1600-h/IMG_1723.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421589010971333762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23VB4whqzR8QZHlyoSRueejRUCMHNspyC_wZcu-KPUvmDMBbA4RqnAhIlFqeihkWTUmxBCXbkYOXxpwYTKHFwTErujm8tSyRqqiRUkSrp77AX1vq0LtL4OvDWBrbYrZJkHMOYueZfr2lE/s320/IMG_1723.jpg" /></a><br /><br />and at one time or another both Amanda and I took her for a spin. It was so nice to be sitting there spinning, rocking in the boat and watching the fish jump and listening to the birds sing. <br /><br />On the third day, we headed back downstream, and stopped in the exact same place we had stopped at on the first day. It had gotten progressively hotter as the days went by, and this day was the worst. In the late afternoon, I actually had to stop knitting on the Welt and Rib Raglan for awhile, since my sweaty hands were felting the stitches.<br /><br />Very early Thursday morning, more to beat the heat than anything, we were headed back to Murray Bridge. I found the best time for working on my Alpine Lace Scarf was while actually traveling, since Chris was busy at the wheel and Amanda and Bob were on their own boat. I took this picture of my progress on that final leg:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBhGNGE66Ivp5KXvaxUBTVO1PSZkVihkP9Gon-tmLe2-K9mO-atnjI2vaAyELoRZVSTFwhMcaIyWw6pAUK2QG_KCfCFUzdGE2IWwsvfJSsYPgRDeV4fNNc26-3b6lG77JsxUf4fWwZdMr/s1600-h/IMG_1725.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421589026622705586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBhGNGE66Ivp5KXvaxUBTVO1PSZkVihkP9Gon-tmLe2-K9mO-atnjI2vaAyELoRZVSTFwhMcaIyWw6pAUK2QG_KCfCFUzdGE2IWwsvfJSsYPgRDeV4fNNc26-3b6lG77JsxUf4fWwZdMr/s320/IMG_1725.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It is breathtaking and I love it immensely. I had alot of trouble getting started, having to completely frog it twice before successfully finishing even 20 rows, but eventually I got the hang of it. I'm also putting in lots of safety lines, which is easy to do with the KnitPicks Harmonys I'm using for the project. I'm using the method where I just pull the safety thread through the keyhole of the needle in my right hand. After all the running around and holidays, I'll do a bit of a mini tutorial on the method for those not familiar with it. At any rate, things are going much smoother now, and I've only had to use the safety line once so far.<br /><br />After getting home, I took this picture of the Welt and Rib Raglan. I finished the lower body part. It had to be cast off using the sewn cast off method, and that took me literally hours to do all that many stitches. Then I cast on for the first sleeve and managed to get quite a bit of it done:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5qcgftmclky97ducybv7UTng27YLv8-1cjO1EllhPPzdEY8WrGqR95lj350UZ4HeWJqROKLa0JgofJLJl-aU5v18A0V_r47MgN49ikq5YUHIv2wa-gBalqbXJKbszrYbZFitEeI0C9Pu/s1600-h/IMG_1728.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421589034355945058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5qcgftmclky97ducybv7UTng27YLv8-1cjO1EllhPPzdEY8WrGqR95lj350UZ4HeWJqROKLa0JgofJLJl-aU5v18A0V_r47MgN49ikq5YUHIv2wa-gBalqbXJKbszrYbZFitEeI0C9Pu/s320/IMG_1728.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It's coming along quite nicely I think, and it is easy knitting, good to do while watching TV or chatting with others.<br /><br />I didn't get as much spinning done as I thought I might, mainly because I was sharing Matilda with Amanda, but also because I was just feeling quite involved with my knitting. I did, however, manage to finish the bobbin I had started:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzaEmwMY5siWl065euN96D6gT_GIS7dGWg7rqVEHQTS0uLVgSyiM28Y2q2k7YE5BicbBjOswlsFgAx6fvb9xMu6qq7FAz2H13MN2aUhy5yMl4T12eRZ5KwG8dXEwO5yj1-4sozOcD9Wm8/s1600-h/IMG_1729.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421589041509918770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzaEmwMY5siWl065euN96D6gT_GIS7dGWg7rqVEHQTS0uLVgSyiM28Y2q2k7YE5BicbBjOswlsFgAx6fvb9xMu6qq7FAz2H13MN2aUhy5yMl4T12eRZ5KwG8dXEwO5yj1-4sozOcD9Wm8/s320/IMG_1729.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I still haven't plied it. I've decided to ply it on the Ashford, as I have the jumbo bobbin on there and (it seems) a bit more control while plying. That will have to wait till all this running is over with.<br /><br />Well, that just about brings me up to speed. We leave out in the morning for two days on the coast. The Alpine Lace and the Welt and Rib Raglan are going with me. I'm also taking a ball of self striping sock yarn, and might (just might) start a pair of simple stockingnet stitch socks while we are away. The Raglan is getting a little big for carry along knitting this time of year, and will certainly be too big once I finish the second sleeve and start joining everything up. So I will soon need some simple carry along knitting to work on. <br /><br />I'm now out of words and out of time. I'm only going to give this a quick once over, so pardon any imperfections. It's pretty much my bedtime, and if I don't want to be exhausted tomorrow, I'd better get my sleep today. I'll post again as soon as I can after we return. Till then....Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-69671390359713063402009-12-07T09:12:00.007+10:302009-12-09T09:10:37.334+10:30A Mistake, Some Successes, and a New LoveIt's cool, wet and dreary outside, probably the perfect day for sitting inside working on my blog, so here I am. As predicted, I haven't finished any of my knitting projects that I was starting in the last post, but that was to be expected. <br /><br />I did get the package of Christmas knits and other goodies off to mom in the US, and low and behold, she wrote me yesterday to say it had already arrived. I was gobsmacked at how quickly such a big package got there at this time of year. I suppose all the extra Christmas staff they hire in the states sped things up for a change. I always worry about those big packages getting held up in customs too, but obviously that didn't happen.<br /><br />Do I like to let things come down to the wire or what? On the day I needed to mail out the package, I was sewing the buttons on the Peace Fleece Central Park Hoodie for my sister. So finally, a picture of the completely finished project.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cwvZ06eXllagUQc0JuEzI6IHHyXhuXUOCFmeqeKTNql0udAGIaWs5dCopoqO3Klq7PhNQVVckJwQgFW8BUwgfWIsjqI3-fvzjIWI_sEP5KJ-BAZYmkz8hnXpJY1VIiwL9W5xerM0UWaC/s1600-h/IMG_1662.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cwvZ06eXllagUQc0JuEzI6IHHyXhuXUOCFmeqeKTNql0udAGIaWs5dCopoqO3Klq7PhNQVVckJwQgFW8BUwgfWIsjqI3-fvzjIWI_sEP5KJ-BAZYmkz8hnXpJY1VIiwL9W5xerM0UWaC/s320/IMG_1662.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412257607378893858" /></a><br /><br />In spinning, I did actually finish something. I finally got the llama plied, washed, hung to dry and skeined. Here it is on the niddy noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnA3Ia-kgCqTn923f99hJ6IzW3c9XPeEKXg6Fn5i5usuced9-5mhP5aTQg3whhdy0SK6fwEx6ESFJK3Hf3cZ2uONLLaH8QBa3b4draC29e3duA_4BNoM660QZZy506pfzupA5z-EmRpvb/s1600-h/IMG_1663.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnA3Ia-kgCqTn923f99hJ6IzW3c9XPeEKXg6Fn5i5usuced9-5mhP5aTQg3whhdy0SK6fwEx6ESFJK3Hf3cZ2uONLLaH8QBa3b4draC29e3duA_4BNoM660QZZy506pfzupA5z-EmRpvb/s320/IMG_1663.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412257611124760546" /></a><br /><br />I just love the colour. Here is it hanging to dry on the veranda:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMmtp8-RcjwnUf-djzBi02CJn3Jy4iT2YbD0kRrBf7mYtG0k56iEpW_KR9-Bx1VjjSlrNAT1TiNW9ZxuotBcO3ZB63yb7xy58vuDrNrg99LbiJASG8-TZtJDvwaI8dQMGQ4oYt5G0XYwB/s1600-h/IMG_1667.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMmtp8-RcjwnUf-djzBi02CJn3Jy4iT2YbD0kRrBf7mYtG0k56iEpW_KR9-Bx1VjjSlrNAT1TiNW9ZxuotBcO3ZB63yb7xy58vuDrNrg99LbiJASG8-TZtJDvwaI8dQMGQ4oYt5G0XYwB/s320/IMG_1667.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412257616114164626" /></a><br /><br />And here it is in the final skein:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauzxaLIebQByXYG55-xOn7JQFJVQdNu4ao2uIbL-_d0aQBaETonZUA8KTqlcemTXJYyWx7nlH0cs-pELRSysuY8WYeg-Jmy6aF03gg8KggyyzWBoCWfjeC_AEaPI-UwFT8nDLDT17mUfo/s1600-h/IMG_1669.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauzxaLIebQByXYG55-xOn7JQFJVQdNu4ao2uIbL-_d0aQBaETonZUA8KTqlcemTXJYyWx7nlH0cs-pELRSysuY8WYeg-Jmy6aF03gg8KggyyzWBoCWfjeC_AEaPI-UwFT8nDLDT17mUfo/s320/IMG_1669.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412257619324874098" /></a><br /><br />The colour is excellent, but must admit the stuff isn't terribly soft. It's actually a bit string-like. For me at least, it's definately not wearable next to the skin, and probably not even wearable as an outer garment. I'm thinking a small rug, or a bag, but I haven't made my mind up yet.<br /><br />Right now, I have the roving I got from Southern Cross Fibre on Matilda, and have about a half a bobbin completed. I'll show pics of that next time. On the Ashley, I have the second bobbin of the merino from Kathy's Fibres. In all honest, after finishing the llama, I've gotten very little in the way of spinning done. <br /><br />Now, as to the knitting, well, we'll start that out with a bit of an amusing story, although I didn't think it quite so funny at the time. In my last blog update, I showed a picture of the Welt and Raglan jumper that I had started. I ranted on about the crochet cast on and how hard the old method I had used was when it came to trying to keep the cast on from twisting. I talked about the new method I was using that wasn't nearly as "twisty". And guess what. I twisted it. The evening of the day I wrote the blog post, I had gotten ready to go to work and was sitting having my pre-work snack and checking my email. There was a message notification from blogspot, saying a comment had been left. The Anonymous (I still haven't found out who my hero or heroine is) commenter pointed out that in the photo, it looked as though I had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6bius_strip">mobius</a> going there. (I've outlined the affected area here).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnicZx26I9cUSInpS049fhPDjhny0oSNaMabVFO1xGippw42m38j8EjPWG_OcxYDIjQ6sN3KtmwIoikx8abfSs4W57kBdnxwgj83mJ6qIEuFNKUPPxaKe0AeyqDwciFHHgMbAIXLA37pm/s1600-h/markedweltandrib.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnicZx26I9cUSInpS049fhPDjhny0oSNaMabVFO1xGippw42m38j8EjPWG_OcxYDIjQ6sN3KtmwIoikx8abfSs4W57kBdnxwgj83mJ6qIEuFNKUPPxaKe0AeyqDwciFHHgMbAIXLA37pm/s320/markedweltandrib.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412660778266669618" /></a><br /><br />My heart sped up and I felt the sweat pop out on my forehead. Aside from being somewhat embarrassed, I really, really did NOT want to have to start this project all over again. I went to my knitting bag, already packed for work, pulled the project out, and low and behold, my dear Anonymous commenter was correct. I had indeed twisted the damn thing. I tucked it back into my knitting bag, not sure for the moment what I was going to do. I made a decision on the way to work, and while at work, managed to tear it back to just a round or two in, tink it back to the cast on from there and straighten it out. Thank goodness, I did NOT have to cast on again. I'm not a fan of the crochet cast on, even if I did find an "easier" way to do it. <br /><br />Now, to my Anonymous friend, who I suspect is one of my Ravelry Twitter buddies, I would like to thank you sincerely for pointing out to me the error of my ways. Being far from as perfect as I sometimes think I am in less rational moments, I appreciate when people care enough to let me know when I do something wrong. If you would please identify yourself, I have a little gift for you. Heaven knows how long I would have knit on that infernal coil without your help, wasting much precious knitting time. As it was, it's now fixed, and even a bit further along than it was before the correcting began. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32B7UR_e_LmekNME3LU_WVijjpPpJ5gfuOmFS3FM-Bsq-jp_gE6OugOIVSHzoF9ptmFYQaBgcoLKPNtf8NNmBy_Aq8IO-PIpQSB5QCAhOyE5YDgeKWBP5ELDaA9z1fkFLKXYjByidmraU/s1600-h/IMG_1675.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32B7UR_e_LmekNME3LU_WVijjpPpJ5gfuOmFS3FM-Bsq-jp_gE6OugOIVSHzoF9ptmFYQaBgcoLKPNtf8NNmBy_Aq8IO-PIpQSB5QCAhOyE5YDgeKWBP5ELDaA9z1fkFLKXYjByidmraU/s320/IMG_1675.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412731457362432018" /></a><br /><br />That being said, lets move right along to the projects I didn't totally screw up. My Blue Bird and Bees Socks (aka The Honey Bee Socks) are coming along nicely. I finished the first sock:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCoNSDzJm4Zip1RxYp-bgGC-fdZRaArUEu3HhMA3gJpxGj7LqVubpVGiQipNuqv3hxBaZ7MNxm6Ge7I2yHjbwWBiDGG-yaxBzcydWNzp6rSBiFAUMdJpZmmVK63EC-du3NVA73FF6KPr5/s1600-h/IMG_1672.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCoNSDzJm4Zip1RxYp-bgGC-fdZRaArUEu3HhMA3gJpxGj7LqVubpVGiQipNuqv3hxBaZ7MNxm6Ge7I2yHjbwWBiDGG-yaxBzcydWNzp6rSBiFAUMdJpZmmVK63EC-du3NVA73FF6KPr5/s320/IMG_1672.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412257628728325570" /></a><br /><br />and I've even made a bit of headway on the second sock:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIVL0uORXhTJaAm_yQYwt4ufa2ZRen9RTC0C3knk3I4BK_2BAetzA_cP9N1ak0G9nS0geoZfRTtoGP7RSmV9m3qLYwSlqjegySdf9XLo5VBtbUSvKqdhRXeA-PZtwdBU5cY40Ty906KZJ/s1600-h/IMG_1674.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIVL0uORXhTJaAm_yQYwt4ufa2ZRen9RTC0C3knk3I4BK_2BAetzA_cP9N1ak0G9nS0geoZfRTtoGP7RSmV9m3qLYwSlqjegySdf9XLo5VBtbUSvKqdhRXeA-PZtwdBU5cY40Ty906KZJ/s320/IMG_1674.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412731455100483234" /></a><br /><br />It is a nice pattern. The stitch pattern is the same as the one in my Saloongirl<br />Stocking (aka Bettie's Lace Stockings, Interweave, Spring 2009) except that in the latter project, the lace pattern went all the way around the stocking. So one would think I would know it by heart by now, but alas, I still have trouble with the faggoting part. At any rate, this pattern produces a far more "wearable" sock, something I can wear in the day to day world.<br /><br />I've been vowing to do at least one pattern repeat on them a day, and I've been sticking to that more often than not, because my primary goal these days is to finish my "Natually Me Cami" (aka The Lacy Corset Cami), and without some structure, I'm afraid the socks would get totally neglected. Because of the lace, the socks and the cami aren't really mindless knitting, so that sort of limits the times when I can work on them. The cami is a bit easier than the socks, as the pattern is only a two row repeat and easily remembered, whereas the socks have a six row repeat, and aren't quite so easy. <br /><br />The cami, however, is coming along swimmingly. I have finished the back, the front and both sleeve caps. All I have left is the lacy bit of edging around the neck. I have just finished that last sleeve cap today, and given all the housework I have to do, I don't see much chance in getting the stitches picked up for the neck today, or even tomorrow. Tonight is my first night back at work, so I'll be a zombie tomorrow. Perhaps I'll get it knit on Thursday morning. After that, there's nothing left to do but stitch it up. Hopefully, but my next post, it will be a finished object to display. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqAMoT8agNum08dof-Yb2Dgeo0AQUVGjtRi79nDtYFQEJppSF4_kkwqTSJ2T5sBvSSKr971ck0gSCUydpBheRNEdrf4P8tqKg-X9_oEpNbfzgpxZUSC-mcJ5KWk2aSSsQogsGMUG4r780/s1600-h/IMG_1677.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqAMoT8agNum08dof-Yb2Dgeo0AQUVGjtRi79nDtYFQEJppSF4_kkwqTSJ2T5sBvSSKr971ck0gSCUydpBheRNEdrf4P8tqKg-X9_oEpNbfzgpxZUSC-mcJ5KWk2aSSsQogsGMUG4r780/s320/IMG_1677.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412731472356071026" /></a><br /><br />The bulk of the knitting on it being done, and only a few "at home" technical bits to finish up, that of course means that I'm thinking of what to cast on next. I bought some yarn that I "think" will be suitable for the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTcoachella.html">Coachella</a> pattern last week at Spotlight. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KwfdXad2Y2JNPuZxBgvv4kvRBwGrlmmHKOCud5RqWEihS3YS2i1jydmVcWobSjNpDvrON7dmR73iR2ptUj8omcixkGhJHJ85E0oH3S0N2Y3pmfDrBFMN9CPRlkePNStNB2Xbi3vVbyC0/s1600-h/IMG_1673.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KwfdXad2Y2JNPuZxBgvv4kvRBwGrlmmHKOCud5RqWEihS3YS2i1jydmVcWobSjNpDvrON7dmR73iR2ptUj8omcixkGhJHJ85E0oH3S0N2Y3pmfDrBFMN9CPRlkePNStNB2Xbi3vVbyC0/s320/IMG_1673.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412660086974369378" /></a><br /><br />It was reasonably priced, and I'm very happy with the colour. It would be nice to get two summer tops knit up while it's still warm enough to wear them.<br /><br />However, I have been absolutely scouring my lace stash and the Victorian Lace Today book, and I'm intent that very very soon, I'm going to cast on a lace shawl or scarf, most likely a shawl. <br /><br />Here's my delimma though. I really need to start the Coachella pattern if I want to finish it in time to wear this season. I also need another pair of socks when these Honey Bee's are done. As for the Welt and Rib Raglan, well, there's no hurry on that, it's just served as easy mindless knitting when my life called for it and both my other projects weren't. Coachella will be easy, and so will my next pair of socks. So, if I were to cast on a lace shawl, I would have 4 WIPs, 3 that are fairly easy, and the shawl for concentration knitting. I really like to keep my WIP's at a maximum of 3, except when I'm in transition and maybe just need to stitch a project up or something like that. When I have 4 WIP's, invariably, something gets neglected. It seems I have three alternatives. I can either hibernate the Welt and Rib Raglan, or I can wait to start the shawl until Coachella is done, or I can break my own rule and have 4 WIPS. Right now, I'm leaning toward 4 WIPS. Well, I don't have to decide today. I might get Coachella started in the next couple of days, but wouldn't have time to cast on the shawl that soon anyway. I'll just have to make up my mind before all my lovely days off next week. This week will be full up with work and Christmas preparations anyway.<br /><br />Last but certianly not least, I've gotten a new toy. I recieved a voucher from the weight loss site I used to lose weight, in return for letting them publish my "success story" on their website. With this, I got myself an iPod Touch. If it is possible to feel true love and devotion for an electronic object, then I do well and truly love it. With electronics though, it is a bit easier to accept that eventually, a younger, cheaper model will eventually come along that will steal my heart away. But for now, I'm ecstatically in love.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlsbJ3_14mOegR5N1Zdekvv3T-IJBMRHFN9olIinEpJlhkCcGRY0dnW7kTlOnV_ZKfO6uv-NYjRPvbE1qTQZ9mUS57jMZkTYqaUsIiuDbtm8IgLIKqU_j3ggOJ6QRu2SeR8gJNxUdadg0/s1600-h/IMG_1676.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlsbJ3_14mOegR5N1Zdekvv3T-IJBMRHFN9olIinEpJlhkCcGRY0dnW7kTlOnV_ZKfO6uv-NYjRPvbE1qTQZ9mUS57jMZkTYqaUsIiuDbtm8IgLIKqU_j3ggOJ6QRu2SeR8gJNxUdadg0/s320/IMG_1676.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412731469224849394" /></a><br />(sorry for the horrible photo, best I could do)<br /><br />My iPod Touch has all these handy functions, and it's connected to wi-fi. So whenever I have a wi-fi connection (at home, or at free wi-fi hotspots), I can recieve my email, surf online (granted, the screen is small and this can be tedious), find out the weather, and just all sorts of things. It's like having a computer in my pocket. Instead of taking the laptop up with me, when I go knitting in my "bedcave", I can just take the iPod Touch, listen to my audiobooks, keep up with my Twittering and record my stitch or row counting, all in one amazingly small little package.<br /><br />To accomplish all this, I have been introduce to the amazing world of apps (short for applications). I had no idea initially what an app was, but I had heard there was a really cool spinning app, and wanted to find out. I threw the question out there in the Over The Fence group on Ravelry, knowing there were many younger, more computer and gadget savvy people on there than I am. <br /><br />Now I've been shopping for apps. Some cost (like the spinning one) and some are free. They are available on the itunes store, and I already have an account there. So far, the only one I've bought is the spinning one (called iSpin Toolkit) for $5.99, but I have a couple of knitting ones, the free "lite" versions, that I'm trying out to see which one I want to buy, and the app used to connect to Twitter called Tweetdeck (which is also what I have on the computers). The knitting apps have row counters, project lists, organizational tools and more. Quite frankly, it seems there is an app for everything under the sun, inside and outside of the knitting world, and I feel like a kid in a brand new candy store. By far the most prolific apps are games, and I'm not much of a gamer, but other than that, there are financial apps, apps with maps (even one of Adelaide), apps for boating, fishing, cooking, and well, for nearly everything. It is just so very cool. And none are terribly expensive. In fact, the spinning app is about as expensive as I've seen them get. Most are in the 1.19 to 3.99 range. If it sounds like I'm gushing, well, yep, I am. I could become addicted to this thing.<br /><br />So, that's about all the news that is news in my world this week. This is Chris' last week of work before his long summer school holiday, which means I might not be as "on schedule" with my posts for the next 6 weeks or so. He has plans to go away a couple of times, and always plans outings and such with his friends as he goes along. Besides, he's taken to bush walking on a regular basis, and I'm hoping he'll use his break to find new and exciting places to walk. Essentially though, he will be more "underfoot" than usual for the next few weeks, and I will be obliged to accompany him from time to time, so my time will certainly not be as much "my own" as it is when he's working.<br /><br />So, until next time...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-70627480003925416642009-11-24T08:33:00.006+10:302009-11-24T14:48:58.091+10:30Llama and LaceSo, here it is, time to catch up again. Today is going to be a busy day, and I'm rushed, but I will take my usual computer breaks, so I'll simply work on this post in fits and starts. <br /><br />It's been hectic getting all the non-knitted Christmas presents bought, organized and wrapped to send to the US, but I'm almost...alllllmmmmoooosst there, knock wood and all that good stuff. Three little pressies left to buy for the package, then I plan on doing the rest of my shopping on Amazon, what with the brilliant exchange rate right now and the savings on shipping.<br /><br />Speaking of shipping, I shudder to think what my shipping costs for all these packages is going to be. The three large knitwear items are going to be both bulky and heavy, and add that to a couple dozen smaller gifts, both knitwear and non-knitwear, and I have a feeling it's going to be a doozy of a shipping bill. I have three separate packages to go off as well, at least. There's a possibility that I will have to break the biggest package into two packages. We shall see.<br /><br />First I'll talk about spinning, because there's really nothing much to tell. I did finish spinning the llama singles a few days ago, but have yet to even start plying them. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3ayvYVxbXhZt4XRk2Y1Tvk92EYyqsEI_tS5-o8mLXQmCFc8b4ZkbF7wMOkqJIcry-s_2XQy56zt-DP0EtjBOBATRr3df9J5QYDwxys7g2ZPI3A1nscZc6aanslXz12Pf1fgnaki3sCOe/s1600/IMG_1647.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3ayvYVxbXhZt4XRk2Y1Tvk92EYyqsEI_tS5-o8mLXQmCFc8b4ZkbF7wMOkqJIcry-s_2XQy56zt-DP0EtjBOBATRr3df9J5QYDwxys7g2ZPI3A1nscZc6aanslXz12Pf1fgnaki3sCOe/s320/IMG_1647.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407471818161452594" /></a><br /><br />I spun the llama on Matilda, my Magacraft Little Gem, but I intend to ply it on the Ashley. I have a jumbo bobbin on the Ashley, and I think I'm going to need it. Actually, I know I'm going to need it. While the Magacraft bobbins are big, they are not big enough for 150g of this stuff plyed. Besides, it frees Matilda up for yet another project. <br /><br />Before I could ply on Matilda, I decided to go ahead and finish the bobbin of the Red Flowing Gum colourway from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres </a>that I already had on the Ashford. I didn't like much, and finished that bobbin yesterday. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCm3QQzJ4qBKZPDnqAbioGV0J6Z9EDnqETLbL_y3PlYjWUKYV8c-8x1ebTNqXIBOqWjuW9eNFcVLKTiwNYfma5Mea3vuyic_ZGPs7CeHxsvjyY1gEYZGYC89WJl58yU4gybclR8Peeee6/s1600/IMG_1648.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCm3QQzJ4qBKZPDnqAbioGV0J6Z9EDnqETLbL_y3PlYjWUKYV8c-8x1ebTNqXIBOqWjuW9eNFcVLKTiwNYfma5Mea3vuyic_ZGPs7CeHxsvjyY1gEYZGYC89WJl58yU4gybclR8Peeee6/s320/IMG_1648.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407471826541217634" /></a><br /><br />I still have another bobbin to spin, and then plying of course. I already have 3 finished skeins of this colourway, so I'm getting close to having enough to make a biggish sort of project with it. Nice.<br /><br />I got my monthly shipment last week from David at <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibres</a>. This month I'm in love with the colourway. It's an BFL top called "Deep Thought" and it's a very dark and intense array of browns and purples. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1CaIr-nhoh2b2z6jxA1UExm1UlbUfD7qoF3I-46AOxN0wMP7YLYifEvhAuVtTaElKrKDCtSQm6wow88xqC6_1p1oI1xH6fSK1wM-zatl65MFj2VGCeaSBq3AhoaRU2uPm3NMxm5nn1t3/s1600/IMG_1657.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1CaIr-nhoh2b2z6jxA1UExm1UlbUfD7qoF3I-46AOxN0wMP7YLYifEvhAuVtTaElKrKDCtSQm6wow88xqC6_1p1oI1xH6fSK1wM-zatl65MFj2VGCeaSBq3AhoaRU2uPm3NMxm5nn1t3/s320/IMG_1657.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407475021326504914" /></a><br /><br />I'll probably start that one on Matilda at work Wednesday night. I have so many other rovings that I want to start, but David keeps sending me these gorgeous colourways, so I can hardly resist. <br /><br />In knitting news, I did exercise self control and finished the plain stockingnet socks I had on the needles. I was planning on keeping them, but decided instead to swap them out with the present for Aunt Pat. They turned out just fine, and are more her style than the pair I had put aside for her, which were a bit on the wild side colourway wise. I tried them on just to check the fit and to take this photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBY5Xb-mcJCDDuyv39a4A2TVG2DOGx3Shby0GJTavXSjWzZ-K99ijwBe9Cua0RGiU-wHMim6uphm9iwbk2nuIFbPDuLZyCZNXLDSCMDnScEqO0aAkLgIxR_d2SSCC-_d1bOrMPQNwvHR6/s1600/IMG_1627.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBY5Xb-mcJCDDuyv39a4A2TVG2DOGx3Shby0GJTavXSjWzZ-K99ijwBe9Cua0RGiU-wHMim6uphm9iwbk2nuIFbPDuLZyCZNXLDSCMDnScEqO0aAkLgIxR_d2SSCC-_d1bOrMPQNwvHR6/s320/IMG_1627.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407471796106105794" /></a><br /><br />It only took me a couple of days to finish them, and then I was casting on for the Honey Bee Socks from Austrlain Knitting magazine, Spring 09, using that gorgous blue Lorna's Laces sock yarn I bought. For the record, it is dear in price, but it is also quality yarn, and that is obvious from the first stitch. <br /><br />Progress is slow but steady. The pattern isn't really difficult, but like any lace, it requires a bit of concentration and counting, so I'm limited as to when I can work on them. Still, I've made it past the heel turn on sock one and I'm almost finished with the gusset decreases.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2_SdkQdLyJm_HBU5BQx-3l3CHsjgHT_zD5coh4mkyQVXg5SNqyclSnvCrUxfsvm_zh5zl4zNmp9xvR7kVUuaEm9F_E2LchpxFZY93nIe0MmksQZWdzWWG2Eb9oGfr4ofwvdU1ogmzi_V/s1600/IMG_1660.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2_SdkQdLyJm_HBU5BQx-3l3CHsjgHT_zD5coh4mkyQVXg5SNqyclSnvCrUxfsvm_zh5zl4zNmp9xvR7kVUuaEm9F_E2LchpxFZY93nIe0MmksQZWdzWWG2Eb9oGfr4ofwvdU1ogmzi_V/s320/IMG_1660.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407475038078447314" /></a><br /><br />The lacy camisole is moving right along. Just last night, I finished the back section. As with any lace, it desperately shouts for blocking, but here's a picture anyway:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlYtTTF9HfQstsJhzrCUYCYGRfT-IJxS1Qq3l2gSnS0jchk0fGSLInsuLKriSp4I7qsIFcrKCKcU1BTbLayBMaeBNZw1cByIZwy9PqtviOi_3YguFNWmeVW96LMwOUBmVyZPxfNeG-qp9/s1600/IMG_1659.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlYtTTF9HfQstsJhzrCUYCYGRfT-IJxS1Qq3l2gSnS0jchk0fGSLInsuLKriSp4I7qsIFcrKCKcU1BTbLayBMaeBNZw1cByIZwy9PqtviOi_3YguFNWmeVW96LMwOUBmVyZPxfNeG-qp9/s320/IMG_1659.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407475032133570338" /></a><br /><br />The fitted waist shaping can be a chore to keep in pattern, but the charts are clear once you figure out how to read them. I got thru the whole back section with only one small error, but as noone I've shown can find it, I'm letting it ride. I hope to cast on for the front piece sometime this afternoon. <br /><br />Having two lace patterns was turning into quite a chore, and made it really hard on me to try and knit at work or while watching TV. Consequently, I decided (surprise surprise) to cast on another project. Unfortunately, most of the stuff in my queue that I was planning to do soon was either lacy or in some other way complicated, so it wasn't easy picking out a pattern.<br /><br />I essentially let the girl at my LYS decide. That is, I went down there in search of yarn. I wanted either some tape style nylon yarn similar to Berrocco Suede to do the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTcoachella.html">Coachella</a> pattern from Knitty.com with, or I wanted a silk and wool (preferably merino) blend to do the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/knitting/patterns/welt-and-rib-raglan.html">Welt and Rib Raglan </a>from Interweave magazine, Winter 08. No tape yarn of any discription was in stock, but there was a sqeezably soft and lovely selection of Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK. In all honesty, she didn't have a very large colour collection. I immediately ruled out the hot pink and royal purple. There was a brown colour I liked, but she didn't quite have enough. In retrospect, now I'm glad I didn't get it. What I did wind up with was a hard to describe beige to bronzy sort of hue. Best just show you the picture, but even it doesn't do the almost metallic shade justice:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEFfQV37_rE9RwwguAOoCT53TBeAwOv0_HpgC-EM9yGBiKZtNojawu6QbHaNqBfeJVqBSKSdPCzn9HzJ59AaCH7jYBnmbTd0WKdoTPW9RCyXV3bQG8xArplzCmDgY13PwJGG3Zna4HWG6/s1600/IMG_1646.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEFfQV37_rE9RwwguAOoCT53TBeAwOv0_HpgC-EM9yGBiKZtNojawu6QbHaNqBfeJVqBSKSdPCzn9HzJ59AaCH7jYBnmbTd0WKdoTPW9RCyXV3bQG8xArplzCmDgY13PwJGG3Zna4HWG6/s320/IMG_1646.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407471810596108898" /></a><br /><br />The Sublime wasn't cheap. The price was so dear in fact that I almost decided against it and considered going with the Cleckheaton Country Silk, which was half the price. It was also, however, only half as pretty, only half as soft, and not even half so shiny. So the Sublime won me over, and that's the end of that story. When you are going to spend countless hours knitting a lovely garment, then the "best yarn" rule must be applied: Buy the best yarn for the project that you can afford. <br /><br />Right away, the "easy" pattern I had picked out decided to be difficult. It starts in the middle, essentially at the bustline, with a provisional crochet cast on, and you work your way down from there. If there is one thing I despise, it's the crochet cast on. I did, however, find an easier way to do it <a href="http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=48">here</a>, and that saved me tons of time. I was doing it by making the crochet change, and then picking up stitches thru the back loop, trying to keep it all straight. Ok if it's a pair of socks, but when you have 200ish stitches to cast on, it can drive you mad just trying to keep the chain from twisting. The "new" way at the link above is much easier, where you make your chain as you are drawing the stitches thru. If you do this cast on often, you should definately check it out. <br /><br />So, I've gotten a bit of a start on it. The orangish coloured yarn you see is simply the waste yarn from the crochet cast on and will be unraveled and pulled out later, revealing live stitches so I can then put them on the needles and knit the top part of the bodice. (This process is a bit hard to explain to non-knitters, so I'm not going to try, but it's essentially a way to cast on in the middle, and knit the garment without any seams, and therefore, no stitching up at the end. Yay!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o_aImozgE-b8YKemhcyRDE9OmSwh1sI5zD9JdXadhBOEhvd4JG9DQK5opgKhh3kW7oIJ2R8GQBCHyXRmSL0ZGA-_rFtaorWc1nexFnJj-2sFf9vGAGURtfKLGYxuJoiFRPCj89eWlSbj/s1600/IMG_1650.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o_aImozgE-b8YKemhcyRDE9OmSwh1sI5zD9JdXadhBOEhvd4JG9DQK5opgKhh3kW7oIJ2R8GQBCHyXRmSL0ZGA-_rFtaorWc1nexFnJj-2sFf9vGAGURtfKLGYxuJoiFRPCj89eWlSbj/s320/IMG_1650.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407475016433374146" /></a><br /><br />I'm making the smallest size to give me some negative ease, as the second smallest size is exactly my measurements, and not the way it should be worn. It's knit in the round, starting out with 198 stitches in k2p1 rib, and while it's easy knitting, it doesn't exactly "build" quickly. Besides, I've been concentrating more on the lace lately, only knitting on this when I need some mindless knitting. I won't be able to wear it until fall or winter in any case, so there's no hurry at all. I am in love with the yarn though, and feeling that lovely fibre running thru my fingers is tempting to say the least. <br /><br />I started this project, at least in part, because we had the Christmas shoot last weekend at the gun club, and I knew that I had absolutely nothing I could knit on there while I socialized. I took a very few pictures, but here's one of Chris leading the "balloon" shoot, where they blow up a bunch of balloons and the shooters burst them all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHa7olBNRtBQJwxoAlH6YtAk-jtbtckkSWM-FEkSN5pGVmz9nt7AoS8ydCNUnY_SwzmfvbAJgbtugDF27mmUSQJN3Seq7DnRvaiD1Va2fyP9r3-dswCStRPoslQq81TgIz8-LtasjPbnc/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHa7olBNRtBQJwxoAlH6YtAk-jtbtckkSWM-FEkSN5pGVmz9nt7AoS8ydCNUnY_SwzmfvbAJgbtugDF27mmUSQJN3Seq7DnRvaiD1Va2fyP9r3-dswCStRPoslQq81TgIz8-LtasjPbnc/s320/IMG_1640.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407471799075130962" /></a><br /><br />I'm so early into these projects, and yet I already have my next projects in mind. I'm still on the lookout for yarn for the Coachella pattern mentioned earlier, and I'm also dead set on starting a major lace project. I'm thinking of doing the Alpine Lace Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. I have yet to knit a single thing out of that book, and yet hardly a day passes that I don't thumb through it and dream. I'm not precisely sure that's the pattern I will start with, but for sure, I'm knitting something from that book, and doing it soon. Next in the sock world will be a plain stockingnet pair knit with some of the self patterning sock yarn I bought from Spotlight last year. I need an easy servicable pair of socks, and that seems the perfect choice for work knitting.<br /><br />Well folks, that's all I have for today. In all likelihood, I'll still be knitting on what I'm knitting on now when it's time to post again, but I'll post anyway with what progress I've made. Till then...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-90233137029463159832009-11-10T11:00:00.006+10:302009-11-10T14:52:55.414+10:30The Update and a FleeceThe week has just flown by. Where has the time gone? I suppose it's seemed to disappear so quickly because it's my "short week", the week where I'm off more days than I work. Starting tonight is my "long week", where I work 6 nights out of 7. Such is my schedule, but I don't want to change a thing. It works fine for me.<br /><br />In the end, I have not cast on any more socks. I dug out a pair I originally started knitting for my aunt for Christmas, but they weren't turning out so well. Certainly wearable, but with too much sloppy stitches and noticable mistakes to be given as a gift. They are toe up socks made with 5 ply Heirloom Easy Care, knit 2 at a time. I'd already done the toe, foot and turned the heel, so it will only be a matter of finishing the leg part. They are in plain stockingnet, so that should be easy enough. So I pulled them out of hibernation and have knit a bit on them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeX4dL2ukOTEznWKbDWaYS_I8tW5eWgqhNwjkEsNQnDLySRMW5VUBmS0I8i5y_Tmeg0HcwTqCED6xMBAc7QsyKCae-cVLKjpJwLxzlMTAqXlLV4YLc6Vy6mlnN8LjdqgHPKoxTdcBI5jB/s1600-h/IMG_1621.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeX4dL2ukOTEznWKbDWaYS_I8tW5eWgqhNwjkEsNQnDLySRMW5VUBmS0I8i5y_Tmeg0HcwTqCED6xMBAc7QsyKCae-cVLKjpJwLxzlMTAqXlLV4YLc6Vy6mlnN8LjdqgHPKoxTdcBI5jB/s320/IMG_1621.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402295281244764162" /></a><br /><br />I also changed my mind about the Lorna's Laces. I was going to stash dive for yarn for my Honeybee Socks, and had the perfect SWTC yarn for the job...except...it was only a 50g skein and I need 100g for these socks. I do have some red Patonyle left over from Finis' hat that I could have used, but I decided not to do that either, as there is less than 100g and I'm not sure I'd have enough. I have enough black Patonyle, but I'm NOT fond of knitting black socks. So, I broke down and bought the Lorna's Laces from <a href="http://www.yayforyarn.com.au/">Yay for Yarn</a>. The colour I chose was Island Blue from the Shephard Sock solids and it is beeeee-uuu-teee-ful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHaBbIR2h3pvs5XEyfqhfZYfzYbBW-UbQ4_tGldlM07oDr9Q1Z6q0y4ZkYojs0NPlJHmr0mLlJFgefmgMnChL686M12b6gNKFeNm4NdaIBFAz3_bUz3CAdjFLVSP61jiG4t4vjR1m0J_0/s1600-h/IMG_1623.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHaBbIR2h3pvs5XEyfqhfZYfzYbBW-UbQ4_tGldlM07oDr9Q1Z6q0y4ZkYojs0NPlJHmr0mLlJFgefmgMnChL686M12b6gNKFeNm4NdaIBFAz3_bUz3CAdjFLVSP61jiG4t4vjR1m0J_0/s320/IMG_1623.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402323159062800754" /></a><br /><br />It just arrived in today's post, so I haven't cast on yet, but I plan on doing so soon. Right now, I'm deciding if I use self control and finish off the plain stockingnet socks first or just dive right in. Truly, it is always handy to have a plain stockingnet project around for those times when I want to knit but don't want to concentrate. You will simply have to wait until the next post to see what I've decided. <br /><br />What I have cast on is the Lacy Corset Cami (by Wendy Knight) from the Issue 8 of Yarn Magazine. I used the 4ply Cleckheaton Natural Cotton yarn in the tan colour that I already had, and as of right now, I'm about halfway up the back. The shaping it a bit tricky, but overall, it's not a bad knit. The lace pattern is simple to learn, but the purl rows can be tricky to actually execute. The pattern for the purl rows is a combination of purls, yo's and p2togs. You p2tog into the proceeding rows yo and the next stitch, and that second stitch can be a doozy to try to get your needle through. It's very tight and sometimes I wind up fighting the needle to get it through. Otherwise, it's all going along smoothly. <br /><br />This picture was taken a couple of days ago, but the progress I've made is essentially more of the same pattern, just longer and with more shaping:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznNY2RKu_ll5gyrC3yhHF4d_yhrGHvs7hXQXpsjCGIQBODZbdr4Imvn2DU7sYikxtJ2n-OqhNk0SauYrzvm2R9-htu8LnngCHh-co5p05l4eGu2YdkylHAqvBjFE7nTuZxzdB8kcR0U2l/s1600-h/IMG_1622.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznNY2RKu_ll5gyrC3yhHF4d_yhrGHvs7hXQXpsjCGIQBODZbdr4Imvn2DU7sYikxtJ2n-OqhNk0SauYrzvm2R9-htu8LnngCHh-co5p05l4eGu2YdkylHAqvBjFE7nTuZxzdB8kcR0U2l/s320/IMG_1622.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402295274454983618" /></a><br /><br />Sunday morning after I got home from work, Chris wanted to take a run in the boat. I agreed to go along to help him untie and tie it back up, on the condition that I didn't have to do much more than that. I was pretty tired from a rough night at work, and really ready to do nothing more than sit around the house and knit. I grabbed up my knitting, and in the end quite enjoyed our little outing, although you can see how I spent the vast majority of my time on the river:<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNROANcyu5AaPN-_kyDADvpArtJXOhx4rKPju7ajYKO0fBikmgCfFf_i1Ia4893yY71Py1CMGK86mEoZAiqY1X4izA2ay_WjrfKJYUBOjldqbIgdWt80OFb1bFqAZIgWPjJCfAem5VvySJ/s1600-h/IMG_1607.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNROANcyu5AaPN-_kyDADvpArtJXOhx4rKPju7ajYKO0fBikmgCfFf_i1Ia4893yY71Py1CMGK86mEoZAiqY1X4izA2ay_WjrfKJYUBOjldqbIgdWt80OFb1bFqAZIgWPjJCfAem5VvySJ/s320/IMG_1607.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402295283936139314" /></a><br /><br /><br />In other news, I finally washed the Polworth Fleece that I bought from Eagleveiw Coloured Sheep Farm. They don't have a website that I can find, but they are in Ashboune S.A., so you can look them up there. I actually bought the fleece at a Littlehampton guild show back in May and had been waiting this long for some decent drying weather. <br /><br />Even before washing, the fleece looked fairly good. Not alot of vege matter or matting. But of course, as Polworth tends to do, it had quite a coating of Lanolin:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M40KC4dZE2ftZOvGPOqwOQ_ZUrpxRz3fCRjQM4eTL0INPZMwL7UpY0O6yXc2gAgLXpf44xZ7hDFaOayuVY1dkt5RqXCpunZ-Qi_EN7xNoKquog3SrpQG4HYEqkcnkHJKvnGY_4T7s23f/s1600-h/IMG_1616.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M40KC4dZE2ftZOvGPOqwOQ_ZUrpxRz3fCRjQM4eTL0INPZMwL7UpY0O6yXc2gAgLXpf44xZ7hDFaOayuVY1dkt5RqXCpunZ-Qi_EN7xNoKquog3SrpQG4HYEqkcnkHJKvnGY_4T7s23f/s320/IMG_1616.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402295290541966498" /></a><br /><br />But with coloured wool, looks can be decieving. Aside from the lanolin, it wasn't quite as clean as it looked:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdzNABlY0ANecTE-5CBvOxf6TqGMOB-wFNi48u91fbVWRUdNtpN7VvL5gN_b_qfXbrJCwXYSmJV0CO8AZVGRatQ1AVzKaUivuEBFm3-2mXgj5TwUBjVA5zjPPANl9wy26mR8A7p3SBaTm/s1600-h/IMG_1617.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdzNABlY0ANecTE-5CBvOxf6TqGMOB-wFNi48u91fbVWRUdNtpN7VvL5gN_b_qfXbrJCwXYSmJV0CO8AZVGRatQ1AVzKaUivuEBFm3-2mXgj5TwUBjVA5zjPPANl9wy26mR8A7p3SBaTm/s320/IMG_1617.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402295293952129410" /></a><br /><br />I used the wool scour that I bought at the Sheep and Wool show in Bendigo, and it worked a treat. I only had to run it through the wash once, rinsed twiced and layed it out to dry:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3mOzCoYP9zIAGYbBqf2nz1vLq99TdrTRUbypBPOhfvgGa40yvVxkdJd4D1x3It7SmE5uszmZzyBT8jWQ2-0D7OMeLH7jASaThpKsrFgU_694StuQWsUjLL1of3wDiRnriB7tYSfL1Vdo/s1600-h/IMG_1620.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3mOzCoYP9zIAGYbBqf2nz1vLq99TdrTRUbypBPOhfvgGa40yvVxkdJd4D1x3It7SmE5uszmZzyBT8jWQ2-0D7OMeLH7jASaThpKsrFgU_694StuQWsUjLL1of3wDiRnriB7tYSfL1Vdo/s320/IMG_1620.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402309495358644802" /></a><br /><br />Here's a nice pretty clean lock, to give you an idea of the colour and staple length:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVD_1OLYzUz5b77Q2nFQETgrbmIEUwAKr68Fs9gsilAWYBNlHV8reDd-r7FLPccxsHEy2dnzRrzQysM7J4d93KRttoIyeRscXBMF5OdLygHmt13lK1YkueK-qnAQOzLNYsKUkW8mQal7-/s1600-h/IMG_1619.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVD_1OLYzUz5b77Q2nFQETgrbmIEUwAKr68Fs9gsilAWYBNlHV8reDd-r7FLPccxsHEy2dnzRrzQysM7J4d93KRttoIyeRscXBMF5OdLygHmt13lK1YkueK-qnAQOzLNYsKUkW8mQal7-/s320/IMG_1619.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402309504982393234" /></a><br /><br />So that about wraps up what I've been up to this week. I did get the rest of the Christmas presents I knit blocked out. I'm waiting for them to dry now. I also finished all the knitting on Mom's project, but I still have to do the finishing work. That will, I'm afraid, have to wait a few days. <br /><br />Until next time...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-58444627173095668342009-11-04T14:39:00.004+10:302009-11-04T17:06:03.543+10:30Train coming...or The light at the end of the tunnelSo here I sit, typing away for my blog when I really should be knitting. I've been knitting like the proverbial demon for the past week..maybe two...trying to put the wraps on the Christmas knitting. Internet adventures have been curtailed in an effort to get to the bottom of the Christmas knitting pile, and I'm scraping the bottom even as we speak. The only "official" project I have on the needles right now is mom's "mystery" project, which is rather close to completion, or at least, rather close to completing the actual knitting part. <br /><br />I finished the last hat today. It's a hat for mom's defacto. He owns a racecar, and I was going for something racey with the colours of his car in it. Why I took the photo on the side with the jog in the stripes I'll never know, but here it is none the less:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBjyHd7jAINYjhM9x52cN3VjBrEqGCBfNN0Swd23w3WsdW9Nvle7CzJgT4QJrlpL3SRcGW5gHqIwUMPLFOBrWQir2FmUT8rfx1HzdDSlkcMc5EQ7ov5d1ymgPuq6PaZV6S5y1abHAnt6l/s1600-h/IMG_1600.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBjyHd7jAINYjhM9x52cN3VjBrEqGCBfNN0Swd23w3WsdW9Nvle7CzJgT4QJrlpL3SRcGW5gHqIwUMPLFOBrWQir2FmUT8rfx1HzdDSlkcMc5EQ7ov5d1ymgPuq6PaZV6S5y1abHAnt6l/s320/IMG_1600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400105308614401746" /></a><br /><br />I used some stash yarn, about 1 and a half balls of Shepherd's Colour 4 me yarn for the main colour, and some scrap wool of undetermined genre for the stripes. The pattern is a pretty standard hat pattern, with a k4,p2,k2,p2 rib stitch pattern. <br /><br />Non-officially, I'm also knitting a 7in by 7in square in a bright cheerful yellow shade of the Heirloom Easy Care 8ply range. Lots of us are making squares, and then we send them to a Ravelry friend who is going to sew them all up (lucky her, lol) and produce a blanket for another Ravelry friend who hasn't been feeling well lately. As I'm not sure if a square can technically be classified as a project, I haven't added it to my project list. I will finish it tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest anyway, so it's of no real concern. I'm further along on it now, but this is what it looked like this morning:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifvjkNjtSlcUJPcqjdqXz58hk2ziONHgE8OlTtybABPScSy_mXPOrvQ5yF2XhwZwwYeMv0gHfGVeOjhMVob9oI5xoZZA04TJLDijsl2Iohe5pu9JPLDv6aTt8e29QOEeWaosISbKmTj6D/s1600-h/IMG_1601.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifvjkNjtSlcUJPcqjdqXz58hk2ziONHgE8OlTtybABPScSy_mXPOrvQ5yF2XhwZwwYeMv0gHfGVeOjhMVob9oI5xoZZA04TJLDijsl2Iohe5pu9JPLDv6aTt8e29QOEeWaosISbKmTj6D/s320/IMG_1601.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400105313786997010" /></a><br /><br />There's a project in my Sculptured Knits book called the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vasarely-vest">Vasarely Vest</a>, which is more a halter top than a vest. While it's not dynamic where style is concerned, I just loved the stitch pattern in it. It's called the Gordes stitch, and is rather simply: Row 1 *yo, k2, pass yo over 2 knit stitches*, Row 2 purl, and of course, repeat for pattern. For the square, I'm making it in a bigger gauge than in the Vaserely pattern uses, but I just wanted to get a feel for the stitch, to help me make up my mind if I wanted to make the top or not. Or perhaps use it for a design of my own. I do like it. I think I'll try it again in a smaller gauge, maybe make a dishcloth out of it, and see how that flies. At any rate, I got more bang for my buck out of the square, and killed two birds with one stone. <br /><br />So in real terms, I only have 1 (as in ONE) project on the needles right now, Mom's Christmas present. This 1 WIP phenomenon doesn't happen to me that often. My average is three. Three is a good number. Usually, that's one "big" project, one smaller but complicated project, and one simple dimple small project. <br /><br />So, by tomorrow at the latest, the time will have come. Yes, that glorious time when you choose a project, find your needles and yarn, and cast on those first stitches. Most knitters agree: Starting a project is more satisfying even than finishing one. When you start a project, the possibilities are endless, the anticipation devine. <br /><br />These projects will have a special significance. They will be the first knitting I've done for myself in months. I've already decided on knitting the top I mentioned in the last post, using the beige Cleckheaton 4 ply cotton from my stash. I'm also going to cast on a sock, probably the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honey-bee-socks">Honey Bee Socks </a>by Kiri Fitzgerald-Hillier from the Spring 09 issue of Australian Knitting magazine. Australian knitters might recognize the designer's name, she's the owner of <a href="http://www.yayforyarn.com.au/">Yay for Yarn</a>, an Australian online knitting store that I have shopped at and would certainly recommend. The pattern calls for Lorna's Laces Sock yarn, but I have sooo much sock yarn around here right now, I can't see buying more, so I will stash dive for this project. <br /><br />I'm positive I'm going to knit these socks eventually, but I did mention my desperate need for plain wearable knit socks in my last post. So option two is to cast on some simple stockingnet stitch toe up socks first, and do these later. Option 3 is that I could cast them both on, work on the easier socks at work or whenever mindless knitting is handy, and the more difficult Honey Bee socks at home when I have some concentration time. <br /><br />That sounds like the perfect solution, and would be, if I didn't also with a passion want to cast on a lace shawl from my Victorian Lace Today book. Which shawl I'm not sure yet, I like them all. This was my dream at Bendigo S&W show(when I was buying all that laceweight yarn), to go lace shawl knitting nuts after the Christmas knitting was done. It's still an appealing dream. The trouble is, aside from wearing to fancy dress balls at Western Action events, I don't need a lace shawl. The next fancy dress event of that nature is in May, so there's plenty of time. Meanwhile, I desperately need the socks, and I would really love to get a summer top knit and on my back before it's too late and it's winter all over again. So necessarily, they must take priority right now. If I don't start a shawl project this week, I will definately start one as soon as I finish one of the projects mentioned above. <br /><br />Well, enough of the future talk. I'm just so wound up and excited about getting started on some selfish ME knitting that I could ramble on and on about it for decades. Lets move on, though, to what else I've done this week.<br /><br />The double knitted Celtic Beanie project went very well and very quickly. I'm happy now that I was "brave" because double knitting was neither hard to learn, nor was it particularly slow. Sure, it was a bit slower than regular knitting, but not by much. I think it took me 5 days to finish the hat, four of which I had to work, so that's not too shabby at all. The reversability of it is just fantastic, and I got lots of ohhh's and ahhhh's from my coworkers who knit, or at least, know how to knit. They were impressed, and curious as to how it was done, and none had ever seen the technique before, so it was definately a novelty item there for awhile. <br /><br />Without further ado, the "right" side, or the "dark side" as I like to call it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYMITT-QTcJAc_DYsym5wYXUmvZ1tKfPPYE2c0d_6iuLiv2tMbim5fer4gdimbkbUTheyw69lud1fb_a33JTsvs4Jc7-6ox4hfHAOAjnbT_C1k2RzOXemiIbNedX5oAvTnPNocNLFCh5g/s1600-h/IMG_1592.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYMITT-QTcJAc_DYsym5wYXUmvZ1tKfPPYE2c0d_6iuLiv2tMbim5fer4gdimbkbUTheyw69lud1fb_a33JTsvs4Jc7-6ox4hfHAOAjnbT_C1k2RzOXemiIbNedX5oAvTnPNocNLFCh5g/s320/IMG_1592.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400105295800094338" /></a><br /><br />and the "wrong" side, or the "light side":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq0jS8fQB34Xdlmkit4xTH62JiVxSaPkmtZaPbn9S_YX4iSZDjPUPgBVbvAs0R1wG6Z5spZhfX1jvt3hKgN_A3f-xK34M0oul0qGXq4hvx5I_zdwyYIs318mLZ6eXxRIDcIRu4g9Hu__R/s1600-h/IMG_1595.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq0jS8fQB34Xdlmkit4xTH62JiVxSaPkmtZaPbn9S_YX4iSZDjPUPgBVbvAs0R1wG6Z5spZhfX1jvt3hKgN_A3f-xK34M0oul0qGXq4hvx5I_zdwyYIs318mLZ6eXxRIDcIRu4g9Hu__R/s320/IMG_1595.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400105300079870354" /></a><br /><br />I'm very proud of this project, and had about as much fun making it as I've had in ages. It's great to learn a new knitting skill, and double knitting is incredibly cool. You feel awesome when you've mastered it!<br /><br />Yesterday, I decided to get started on my blocking, so I put the first load into the utility room sink and gave it a wash. Here it is, all layed out on the dining room table to block:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_Qe_ephRp9ARZRoqTMtqMKwYm9aGttrkSpuCuP6U3lP7297KPt3xslhw2fRWcrdIlgBAOj5iLF1yldgCynjyf8XfJRy-eA-sApMU_qvwo_379mN6Yqv9_kXjq9RgmrcQ8UC2daoHoxm/s1600-h/IMG_1598.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M_Qe_ephRp9ARZRoqTMtqMKwYm9aGttrkSpuCuP6U3lP7297KPt3xslhw2fRWcrdIlgBAOj5iLF1yldgCynjyf8XfJRy-eA-sApMU_qvwo_379mN6Yqv9_kXjq9RgmrcQ8UC2daoHoxm/s320/IMG_1598.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400105303404199986" /></a><br /><br />I still have a couple more loads to do, but at least I've gotten started with it.<br /><br />While I am nearly done with my Christmas knitting, I do still have little finishing details to do here and there, such as sewing a button on Ayla's cardi. I'll take care of those details here and there when I have days off and such.<br /><br />So there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all.<br /><br />I have another couple of days off coming up in less than a week. I'll try to do a small update post during that time about what I have decided to cast on. Until then...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-60367321516501849842009-10-27T12:27:00.007+10:302009-10-27T16:53:23.170+10:30Winding upIt might seem like I've gotten very little done in the past couple of weeks, but I can assure you, I've been very productive. The trouble is, quite a bit of the work I've done has been poured into the mystery project, which I can't talk about here. You will have to be satisfied with the rest. <br /><br />Not long after getting back from Point Turton, I managed to ply and finish up the Sprout colourway from David at <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibre</a> Club. It turned out rather well, and I'm thinking it will make a lovely pair of socks. <br /><br />Here it is before washing, right off the niddy noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz5Xerq8QGIqKFIb2GJyCEFipGLsZVTdEdi7ArigTUQAqJ0fUkXzH7owK_hJPJRp5_u4tSsiYe7698fj2utkpQ3uyqbG79CAc0yPHT8Lk6eTEgw-M6tmjqbg_xsx4WTGeOVpmM8mdkMPc/s1600-h/IMG_1562.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz5Xerq8QGIqKFIb2GJyCEFipGLsZVTdEdi7ArigTUQAqJ0fUkXzH7owK_hJPJRp5_u4tSsiYe7698fj2utkpQ3uyqbG79CAc0yPHT8Lk6eTEgw-M6tmjqbg_xsx4WTGeOVpmM8mdkMPc/s320/IMG_1562.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397109927583335106" /></a><br /><br />A picture of the finished skein:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXbsAyYJE9B3WO4azndCmT31D7X24Ch2dnfTEh8ZcsDRgXL_-gksVs35GrSzK218DaIuq-mg8Mgm8eJlT30ftPnAEmxA5-ySbjMI6CjdJKEm9PwYnq8HdWajQBx7cXYMeV_bkpQNiHSXu/s1600-h/IMG_1563.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXbsAyYJE9B3WO4azndCmT31D7X24Ch2dnfTEh8ZcsDRgXL_-gksVs35GrSzK218DaIuq-mg8Mgm8eJlT30ftPnAEmxA5-ySbjMI6CjdJKEm9PwYnq8HdWajQBx7cXYMeV_bkpQNiHSXu/s320/IMG_1563.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397109934104736034" /></a><br /><br />and a slightly blurry closeup:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34pc6aSKF9BIkiHjh_TcWERFaBc9uy5uRru4FGpvlLYvGHhOu2t9VbyoztSDV-dH7lIDUO0t7VRfvAl5hdRz_KLf-PPSzLAbOrKIoCBnc1rfqZGx_06G-3k6vGiYuWJMR-M6kumpboxUl/s1600-h/IMG_1567.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34pc6aSKF9BIkiHjh_TcWERFaBc9uy5uRru4FGpvlLYvGHhOu2t9VbyoztSDV-dH7lIDUO0t7VRfvAl5hdRz_KLf-PPSzLAbOrKIoCBnc1rfqZGx_06G-3k6vGiYuWJMR-M6kumpboxUl/s320/IMG_1567.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397109936664193586" /></a><br /><br />That's it for spinning. I haven't done any more at all. I've still got two bags of the llama fibre left to spin on Mathilda, and I still have the last batch of Red Flowering Gum from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/default.html">Kathy's Fibres </a>on the Ashford. Neither have been touched since my last post. I've just been too busy with my Christmas knitting, so if I don't finish in time, it won't be my spinning to blame.<br /><br /> <br />In other news, this past Sunday, Chris and I went to the Yellow Rock Western Action Shoot here in Murray Bridge. I took Saturday night off work for the event.<br /><br />Here's a picture of Chris (for you mom) shooting:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLs7cayElmQC95kIP8buknKaWstNUVaNuZ3P-gMSqrVc9KZLlEDKNDqEWrjP4SQyBxERfU1qRKTGDUWkH98pPs-jKVOeKONlOmsPCx7Z4AeSWkLMk6OhW0Elvjjpd9kH-JuOEgdbKvkR5/s1600-h/IMG_1584.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLs7cayElmQC95kIP8buknKaWstNUVaNuZ3P-gMSqrVc9KZLlEDKNDqEWrjP4SQyBxERfU1qRKTGDUWkH98pPs-jKVOeKONlOmsPCx7Z4AeSWkLMk6OhW0Elvjjpd9kH-JuOEgdbKvkR5/s320/IMG_1584.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397094702761270530" /></a><br /><br />And me, shooting on the same course of fire. A shooting friend took this picture and sent it to me, as my dear hubby forgot to take my picture when it was his turn with the camera. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylrpxoExTQqEVKMZgxN8UxrK-Sa_7H-1Kuc-Hhxrwsr4CypVnLLvOhAZNFfiPNE4wcgPZ49ijTWyYe7GVQ2eIsCkLjc9BqVZOOj4VoCShaz6SvQ8qrMkeV89pOCjJH3gQDrYu1WFPP2G5/s1600-h/robbiepistol.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylrpxoExTQqEVKMZgxN8UxrK-Sa_7H-1Kuc-Hhxrwsr4CypVnLLvOhAZNFfiPNE4wcgPZ49ijTWyYe7GVQ2eIsCkLjc9BqVZOOj4VoCShaz6SvQ8qrMkeV89pOCjJH3gQDrYu1WFPP2G5/s320/robbiepistol.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397094692940948994" /></a><br /><br />I did have two major achievements knitting wise since my last post. I finished the second horse sock for my cousin's Christmas present, but as the second one looked just like the first one, and there's a picture of that on my last post, I didn't post another one. <br /><br />Sunday and Monday were my regular nights off. I finished my son Finis' hat, the Skull Island Pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Son-Stitch-Bitch-Projects-Crochet/dp/0761146172">D. Stoller's Son of Stitch n Bitch</a> on Sunday night. This picture is before blocking, but it looks quite nice:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gnW7NmjYJJ9gmcuxsyA0MjdAvciHHYDPeNTap8h72mVYHUGPXvLSXvEm3kP574mpQwJTKBgbozgv_ePttBOvHQRE9GNtuxXq0eMYCsEtbHhxSz8Y4N7_nbGcN-4xOlFUMxoAn71MQete/s1600-h/IMG_1589.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gnW7NmjYJJ9gmcuxsyA0MjdAvciHHYDPeNTap8h72mVYHUGPXvLSXvEm3kP574mpQwJTKBgbozgv_ePttBOvHQRE9GNtuxXq0eMYCsEtbHhxSz8Y4N7_nbGcN-4xOlFUMxoAn71MQete/s320/IMG_1589.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397094686466233426" /></a><br /><br />Monday morning, I bravely cast on the Celtic Beanie, also from Stoller's Son of Stitch n Bitch: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2ahB-fTrYxKF456fboEIxtj9Ss0ESATC-I9UsbnSpN1u9mrHusKnpS0rbrGJAI0xC6byLL1SFaP0OG3o0MvBhPqqRlPUpgYg9INsNy-1cDAtdsUDbvteJbOf3lOStRtILy4kZeDid7D4/s1600-h/IMG_1590.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2ahB-fTrYxKF456fboEIxtj9Ss0ESATC-I9UsbnSpN1u9mrHusKnpS0rbrGJAI0xC6byLL1SFaP0OG3o0MvBhPqqRlPUpgYg9INsNy-1cDAtdsUDbvteJbOf3lOStRtILy4kZeDid7D4/s320/IMG_1590.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397094690379846466" /></a><br /><br />I say "bravely" with good reason. It is double knitting, with a colourwork pattern in it, and I have never done double knitting before, much less with colourwork involved. Double knitting, for those who don't know, is a type of knitting that creates a double thickness of stitches, and when you add colourwork, is entirely reversable. It will look just the same on the back as on the front, except the colours will be reversed. I read what I could find on the internet about double knitting, but in the end, the instructions that came in the book with the pattern was the most helpful information, and enough to get me started. Once started, it wasn't terribly difficult to get the hang of it, and it's going well so far. <br /><br />As the Christmas knitting is winding down, I look forward to getting into knitting myself a summer top. I haven't quite decided on a top yet, but I'm leaning very strongly towards this one:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvV83-AXnOfoXCICFvKYlZ-B7VgBtKErpPsTmEY5f8f3o31CfmCwDuAHgcnJXIGlPUnb2i41UFavNvCp6j-6YocVqr0SI6OtB6Dq4oWq2VXUYYOZzBHNT2_W50p-0B0gHdFrGr_CivA4P/s1600-h/y8_lacycorsetcami_medium.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 176px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvV83-AXnOfoXCICFvKYlZ-B7VgBtKErpPsTmEY5f8f3o31CfmCwDuAHgcnJXIGlPUnb2i41UFavNvCp6j-6YocVqr0SI6OtB6Dq4oWq2VXUYYOZzBHNT2_W50p-0B0gHdFrGr_CivA4P/s320/y8_lacycorsetcami_medium.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397153353723563410" /></a><br /><br />It's from the very first issue of <a href="http://www.yarnmagazine.com.au/">Yarn Magazine </a>that I ever bought, issue number 8, and I've loved it for a long time. I bought the magazine years ago, but couldn't even consider making that top in my former size. Now that I've lost the weight, I can pull it off. This pattern has the added attraction of being an Australian pattern using Australian Yarn that I'm familiar with, the 4ply cotton from <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woolen Mills</a>. It so happens I have 10 balls of Bendigo Woolen Mills cotton that I bought when in Bendigo for the Australian Sheep and Wool Festival. As luck would have it though, my cotton is their 8 ply and just won't do. I do, however, have enough balls of Cleckheaton Natural 4 ply cotton, in a brownish beige colour. The yarn itself is very similar to the BWM 4 ply, but I'm not sure about the colour. On the one hand, it's a bit bland, but on the other hand, beige just matches anything, so in that respect, it would make the top more versatile. <br /><br />I also would love to do a big lace project, and will start one come what may once I get the Christmas knitting in the bag. I'll almost certainly pick one from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Lace-Today-Jane-Sowerby/dp/1933064072">Victorian Lace Today</a> book, which I've been pouring over almost nightly for the past two months. There is just so very much in that book that I love, the difficulty lies in figuring out just which one I want to knit first. The book itself is so beautiful, the photos exquisite, and the patterns are devine. I could rave on about this book indefinately, so I'll leave it at that. <br /><br />Also in my post Christmas knitting queue is the Anchors Away vest I plan on making for Chris, 2 more pairs of Horse Socks for my mom and my aunt, and more plain but practical socks for myself. Some of my older knit socks are two years old, and one pair, after 2 darnings, has decided to totally explode and are no longer wearable. So I'm desperate for hand knit socks right now. I hardly ever wear "bought" socks anymore, and don't care for them when I do. I'll probably put a pair on the needles more or less immediately after I finish the Christmas stuff, as my easy to take to work and everywhere else project. I still have several balls of the self patterning yarn I bought from Spotlight last year, which look great in plain old stockingnet. I also have some handspun that would look great as socks, so yarn isn't the issue. Time is the issue. <br /><br />To tell the truth, I have so many "I want" projects that my queue is quickly becoming never-ending. There are so many patterns that I love but would never consider at my former weight, and now that I've lost the weight, I want to knit (and wear) them all. I can forsee my knitting getting a bit selfish in the coming year or two as I knit for me me me. <br /><br />Well, that's it for today. I don't really have much more to write about, or much time to write it if I did. Till next time!Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-53932709576807089952009-10-12T10:40:00.014+10:302009-10-15T13:00:15.785+10:30Point TurtonWell, the week of the holiday has come and gone. I suppose to begin with, I should clean up the "loose ends" of the last post, before talking about the holiday itself. <br /><br />I finished Ayla's cardigan, or very nearly. I still need to find a button for it, and of course, I still need to block it, but to all intents and purposes, it's done. I'm quite proud of it. It turned out perfectly, if I do say so myself. I went to put it on my old beat up sewing dummy, and because of the "small" size, it actually didn't fit, but it's still the best way to display it I suppose.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBspLVX8pIGxgCOou9H_aP6BooBxZXJ7BzF-72WXlwc9g-BGrgHTWjyoMKsRgPF0soAQr21YnWmevzEjF5FpVlQwbrHow1CKzFw1E0GD8CqDpfvuGQm5PeFUhk79WxuroItgX7EDdV7739/s1600-h/IMG_1523.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBspLVX8pIGxgCOou9H_aP6BooBxZXJ7BzF-72WXlwc9g-BGrgHTWjyoMKsRgPF0soAQr21YnWmevzEjF5FpVlQwbrHow1CKzFw1E0GD8CqDpfvuGQm5PeFUhk79WxuroItgX7EDdV7739/s320/IMG_1523.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501052274813394" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTDytrHEfy3HxvtYKRoRqojnupNPA8jaNhnHdOM66e_IXN_Zc3ej6MHTd8bMIPu-1HKos1zAGB1tCyEgpJp_mihFSpGD2kSNN78F7woud5gzPYqpVDxL7-lwuOcwmAFI1dn6V3PsUV5F6/s1600-h/IMG_1526.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTDytrHEfy3HxvtYKRoRqojnupNPA8jaNhnHdOM66e_IXN_Zc3ej6MHTd8bMIPu-1HKos1zAGB1tCyEgpJp_mihFSpGD2kSNN78F7woud5gzPYqpVDxL7-lwuOcwmAFI1dn6V3PsUV5F6/s320/IMG_1526.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501055815676786" /></a><br /><br />Before we left for holidays, I also finished the Scalloped Table Runner I was making for my newly married neice and her hubby for Christmas, although truth to tell, I just got the ends sewn in yesterday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtzEC0Id4yvtms7zdEJ3xonXp87-slVttRzgjxO90D-prz3uT59Suj6jnipf3Ihaz87v2590fofwLrqVZ_4L6ILK8z8bfZ6x_RCwQlapHaPWisnsXKxyKjc8R-kmPRmDdlXAyVxjWjLq2/s1600-h/IMG_1552.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtzEC0Id4yvtms7zdEJ3xonXp87-slVttRzgjxO90D-prz3uT59Suj6jnipf3Ihaz87v2590fofwLrqVZ_4L6ILK8z8bfZ6x_RCwQlapHaPWisnsXKxyKjc8R-kmPRmDdlXAyVxjWjLq2/s320/IMG_1552.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391878896974803506" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkKQOsIEoseyr2sedUa5hhuzdeLwR67hnaEPt2kKXK99v9pW8ipocRwOcPtyb-smWGftaEbD70BCVwcsrKMNSNYuKs3IVTlJ_J_gClOPj1dbFu6jBhqiegJQ5rFBVgYjQ6UtKSnopngzd/s1600-h/IMG_1553.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkKQOsIEoseyr2sedUa5hhuzdeLwR67hnaEPt2kKXK99v9pW8ipocRwOcPtyb-smWGftaEbD70BCVwcsrKMNSNYuKs3IVTlJ_J_gClOPj1dbFu6jBhqiegJQ5rFBVgYjQ6UtKSnopngzd/s320/IMG_1553.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391878912423747426" /></a><br /><br /><br />Of course, like everything else it isn't blocked (and for lace, blocking makes a huge difference in appearance). I plan on doing the blocking in similar coloured batches to conserve water, so I'm leaving most of the things I finish these days unblocked, and plan on having one big "blocking party" when most things are completed. <br /><br />I also managed to go out shopping for summer clothes with all the money I recieved for my birthday. I had specifically asked for money to buy clothes with. Since losing the weight, I really had little or nothing that was wearable when the weather does finally turn warm. I'm including here pictures of just a couple of outfits that I bought, but you get the idea. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ17v2iJhBSInAUkOojDLbaxBiQ8QNKDVvu98CuaCxQZqKjL3Kgm1ehLUvCXgb1kGjj-DcIdJ0rVfrmDcqgqxsVqHvBKzeoqhJZlYDtu_QEyL-5ETISTcnlTIJ94PHYtd56PrdE1wFAC2/s1600-h/IMG_1537.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJ17v2iJhBSInAUkOojDLbaxBiQ8QNKDVvu98CuaCxQZqKjL3Kgm1ehLUvCXgb1kGjj-DcIdJ0rVfrmDcqgqxsVqHvBKzeoqhJZlYDtu_QEyL-5ETISTcnlTIJ94PHYtd56PrdE1wFAC2/s320/IMG_1537.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501299869886114" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4zGbwkTV-I1y38zbgzeUVLKiuirXIekJejcQt38nNJcvk4s0BaETVyUT8njh-GqOhh6gOVWFxAjqpSkAV8Q7vBj-vc0LGt2BlZNV8x4JaIkazJpiGjojnc9o5OK1mILK4gmiOFFPIusu/s1600-h/IMG_1534.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4zGbwkTV-I1y38zbgzeUVLKiuirXIekJejcQt38nNJcvk4s0BaETVyUT8njh-GqOhh6gOVWFxAjqpSkAV8Q7vBj-vc0LGt2BlZNV8x4JaIkazJpiGjojnc9o5OK1mILK4gmiOFFPIusu/s320/IMG_1534.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501292420916242" /></a><br /><br />For a full fashion show of all the lovely clothes I've bought, you can check out my Flickr page. I have all the shots in a separate folder entitled <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttonbrite/sets/72157622435026691/">Summer Fashion Show</a> for convenience. <br /><br />After one of my clothes shopping outings, I decided to spend just a wee bit of my birthday money at the LYS (of course I did, it's what we do). I suppose that yarn could sort of be considered clothing, since it potentially could be future clothing. But I didn't buy yarn. My mission was to find these mysterious "boards" I'd heard about that one uses to hold one's charts with. I had seen them in magazines from the US, but as yet hadn't seen anyone advertising their sale in Australia, so I wasn't even sure they were available here. Frankly, I didn't even know what they were called to ask for them. (I'm thinking "chart holder" doesn't sound quite right). I stopped at the Needlenook in Adelaide just to see if they had such a thing, and sure enough they did, so I promptly bought it. It was called a "magnetic board" and there was this gadget sold seperately but to be used with it that was sort of like a clear solid glass tube cut down the middle lengthwise, with a red line drawn down the middle of the length of it that magnified the charts. Confusing description, I know, but here's a piture of the board, with the magnets that came with it, and the "extra" glass magnifying gadget that I bought separately.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kBtBdeWwMDbh3AdrO_xUaizsqRdmST2wqPDR2b-tDi5d9AxjGlbnkqmzz91ZcAQA1g9FTGhe7KsZEDD_rLXv7MPzjXgsXFRUBTAi_jNjp0Q8bKzFmL14CheTg4j7NP1dt8_he3q-hrZt/s1600-h/IMG_1558.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kBtBdeWwMDbh3AdrO_xUaizsqRdmST2wqPDR2b-tDi5d9AxjGlbnkqmzz91ZcAQA1g9FTGhe7KsZEDD_rLXv7MPzjXgsXFRUBTAi_jNjp0Q8bKzFmL14CheTg4j7NP1dt8_he3q-hrZt/s320/IMG_1558.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391881040587798082" /></a><br /><br />Now I just want to say that this has to be the handiest knitting gadget that I have bought to date (with the possible exception of my Daylight lamp). I simply can't believe how much easier and faster my colourwork goes using this. The magnifying gizmo highlights the line you are working on, or you can simply place the long magnet that came with the board directly under the line you are working on. No more "hunt and search" every time you refer back to your chart. No more accidently reading the wrong row and knitting the wrong stitches. I haven't tried it on lace yet, but I'm sure the results will be very similar to what I've experienced with colourwork. It literally simplifies the job so much that I can knit the pattern in half the time I was taking before. Both the magnetic board/magnet set and the magnifying gizmo only set me back around $24 AU, and WOW. After having it only a week, I'm not terribly sure of how I ever got along without it. The only negative I've experienced so far is with transporting it, but I'm working on finding an adequate holder for it. I'm in love. If you don't have one of these, and you do any sort of lace or colourwork, I can't recommend it enough!<br /><br />Last Wednesday, the day we left on holidays, I finally reached my "goal weight" of 55 kilograms. It's more or less the top end of my healthy weight range, and I will admit to still have bumps and bulges here and there, but for now, I'm reasonably content. My goal now is to maintain this weight for 6 months, while working on those problem areas with exercise. If that doesn't work, then I'll consider tweaking things a bit and maybe losing a few more kilograms. Only a very few though, because when I'm too thin, I sacrifice my face, which starts looking haggard.<br /><br />We left out on Wednesday morning at around 9:00 for Point Turton on the Yorke Peninsula. It's a lovely place, and we've been there several times before. The trip over was pretty uneventful. We drove around the gulf, stopped for a leisurely lunch in Ardrossan, then down and across the peninsula to Minlaton, where we again stopped and did a bit of window shopping and leg stretching. I bought a knitting magazine (The Knitter, a UK mag) and then we were on the final leg to Point Turton. Chris drove the whole way, and I knit on the "mystery project" I'm making for my mother but can't show here since she reads this blog. The total trip took us about 5 hours. <br /><br />We had reserved a deluxe cabin that sits on a small cliff overlooking the sea, and has a nice roomy veranda where I can sit and knit and soak up the scenery. There are pictures of the coastline there on earlier posts in this blog, but I took more of course, and thought to refresh your memory. <br /><br />The view from the veranda to the left: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T3rxeC5mylAwy14R_5KZ_z2j3ZqbaizCn0hVOa7rpKJNtr3bYen2fz6CD_9rb1U8vFN8l-AUIKh7LZiBt0gK82d6lAS2Ie7pkGRHUj_Pu7jtyddj1ySyvs4zs9m_evDfHHmKbCmcxRPV/s1600-h/IMG_1497.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T3rxeC5mylAwy14R_5KZ_z2j3ZqbaizCn0hVOa7rpKJNtr3bYen2fz6CD_9rb1U8vFN8l-AUIKh7LZiBt0gK82d6lAS2Ie7pkGRHUj_Pu7jtyddj1ySyvs4zs9m_evDfHHmKbCmcxRPV/s320/IMG_1497.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500015461171794" /></a><br /><br />and to the right:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOig-7IUFtQHNwQSF0TvPCPu6Wyxk6hxSyUUSfblp8S_cBtRr4PoFr3gCk6cksoIevn2BBXGW6YoYEkMeBcyeXgiREDKhXCwGw-uekJOWoffRQ4pZyaarvni2VxkH9g92DFjSr2MP1oAF/s1600-h/IMG_1496.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOig-7IUFtQHNwQSF0TvPCPu6Wyxk6hxSyUUSfblp8S_cBtRr4PoFr3gCk6cksoIevn2BBXGW6YoYEkMeBcyeXgiREDKhXCwGw-uekJOWoffRQ4pZyaarvni2VxkH9g92DFjSr2MP1oAF/s320/IMG_1496.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500023433501890" /></a><br /><br />And a picture of the veranda. I'm standing there on it, but I'm in the shade so you can barely see me (in South Australia, shade is a good thing). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Zyx-Q8tO0pv9z9Ua_s9O8OBoa7Wrn5Ajh8GHp2MoYpegwzirxo7tZ5q6CYBmP8rTCE3PU4xfflRUNS84swb2w4msC2pnDMY3vWDZcpuu8nhys_gGCcLLY9vxVjh4WTmmKJ4aBTCRf_N/s1600-h/IMG_1522.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Zyx-Q8tO0pv9z9Ua_s9O8OBoa7Wrn5Ajh8GHp2MoYpegwzirxo7tZ5q6CYBmP8rTCE3PU4xfflRUNS84swb2w4msC2pnDMY3vWDZcpuu8nhys_gGCcLLY9vxVjh4WTmmKJ4aBTCRf_N/s320/IMG_1522.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501046842586466" /></a><br /><br />And of course, a picture of how I spent the greater part of my time on this holiday:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CZAdYvTQBvTMUeN6tN2N8K6f7nCFfNN1ry1rU_9gNSC8ZCbTty2uUGc5GMUXhs51Zehagl3bdWU7EabRhK8li01hwRNgUGWAaT_nknpSrJFh65UnDO4DtTqW0TDSZiV-7dXBG_oik-Dy/s1600-h/IMG_1521.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CZAdYvTQBvTMUeN6tN2N8K6f7nCFfNN1ry1rU_9gNSC8ZCbTty2uUGc5GMUXhs51Zehagl3bdWU7EabRhK8li01hwRNgUGWAaT_nknpSrJFh65UnDO4DtTqW0TDSZiV-7dXBG_oik-Dy/s320/IMG_1521.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500748445713330" /></a><br /><br />It is simply heaven, sitting there knitting away, listening to the waves lap on the seashore, and admiring the lovely view. It was, though, on most of the days we were there, a little bit chilly and a whole lot windy. I did get some chapping on my face from all the wind, but it was well worth it.<br /><br />The veranda wasn't just for me though. I got a cool picture of a little visitor we had who decided he liked my veranda too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhuE4KP2l6egheYqE6ZJt4dwzYsu8gL8QQTOENy_r5g8pCMDN3qYqu1EGViNAjdocALdzKgtTXtrZZu-7rq9iJIYzxyFS58Vj54J1usFZkujxOhXPZIAd2Ggy-vfDOX51iI_nR4I8jO2L/s1600-h/IMG_1503.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhuE4KP2l6egheYqE6ZJt4dwzYsu8gL8QQTOENy_r5g8pCMDN3qYqu1EGViNAjdocALdzKgtTXtrZZu-7rq9iJIYzxyFS58Vj54J1usFZkujxOhXPZIAd2Ggy-vfDOX51iI_nR4I8jO2L/s320/IMG_1503.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500049308235762" /></a><br /><br /><br />On the first day we were there, I went for my first and my last walk with Chris. Of all the days, this one was the coldest and the windiest. He chose this 4 wheel drive track that skirted Hardwick Bay. The view was nice, but it would have been nicer if it wasn't low tide:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbqbcLWbxMfX5TDM6LenVAjsjZfic-xH8TgM2yJjKll2VSy3bgyM2sXL7D4pA6VWLIFGIVZoQ_PBFabh02r5tcDN-_NbtRamRzMlyF2l47-kzwBFqCIVQpifvTqnMxo_3Yk_Daqj95UrH/s1600-h/IMG_1498.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbqbcLWbxMfX5TDM6LenVAjsjZfic-xH8TgM2yJjKll2VSy3bgyM2sXL7D4pA6VWLIFGIVZoQ_PBFabh02r5tcDN-_NbtRamRzMlyF2l47-kzwBFqCIVQpifvTqnMxo_3Yk_Daqj95UrH/s320/IMG_1498.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500033191670482" /></a><br /><br />Still, the view was pleasant. So I trudged along, headlong into the wind, and we managed to stick to if for about 45 minutes before the wind and cold totally sent me shivering and running for the car. When I got to Chris's car, I tried to dive into the front seat, but I had left my "mystery project" lying in the seat, so I snatched it up out of my way, got in the seat and shut the door. <br /><br />Almost immediately, I knew something was wrong. I was working the project on my Harmony needles, on the longest cord length due to it's size, and one of the needles had dropped down when I moved it. Crunch...I had shut the door on it, and snapped my needle right in two. Thank goodness I'm not a tidy person. I had started the project on my Denises, but as it got bigger, the cord was dragging the yarn. I had switched to the Harmony's for speed, but had left the Denises in the bag. YAY me, I could still knit on the project, but for a moment there, I think my heart stopped. I'll have to go into the city and buy me a replacement needle, but so long as I got to continue to make progress on the project, that's a minor thing really.<br /><br />Anyway, after that rather disasterous walk, I decided to become a sedentary vacationer. Yes, I should have attempted more exercise. I know I should have. But I had a specific goal in mind for this vacation, and that was to knit as much as I could while I was there. Nature walks were on Chris' agenda, and he went for several. On the other hand, I did alot of sitting and alot of knitting. <br /><br />Which brings me to the knitting part. I had taken along 3 projects. The "mystery project", which by necessity I won't talk about here, my version 3 of the horse sock (the first was too small, the second too large...am I sounding like Goldilocks here?) and a fair isle hat project I'm making for my son. <br /><br />The sock I had gotten started before leaving, and had made it a few rows into the colourwork on the leg of the sock (they are cuff down socks). I'm using the <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woolen Mills </a>5ply classic yarn that I bought while in Bendigo for the Sheep and wool show. While in Point Turton, I finished all the colourwork on the leg, turned the heel, and made it about halfway thru the colourwork on the foot. This picture was taken shortly after I turned the heel:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIHnsrLk84k4g3ytFlSK1IImFy2Lbq212pe3eencYW7IKIMlrCQ5ymAJLoDuQij9kpn27XcyaISRi_Pk1xMzDZmKNsr0jLoESXTuKhl77OP_eYvJkO29TVNP-SYoPg09P4XQvrwwKt53i/s1600-h/IMG_1507.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIHnsrLk84k4g3ytFlSK1IImFy2Lbq212pe3eencYW7IKIMlrCQ5ymAJLoDuQij9kpn27XcyaISRi_Pk1xMzDZmKNsr0jLoESXTuKhl77OP_eYvJkO29TVNP-SYoPg09P4XQvrwwKt53i/s320/IMG_1507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500314371186082" /></a><br /><br />But the project I'm most impressed with, and in truth had the most fun with, is the Skull Isle Hat from Debbie Stoller's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Son-Stitch-Bitch-Projects-Crochet/dp/0761146172">"Son of Stitch n Bitch"</a>. It's a fair isle hat. I'm using black Patonyle for the main colour, and red Patonyle for the contrast colour, on size 2mm needles. It's more of a proper fair isle than the socks are, with less gaps of 5 stitches or more where you have to carry the yarn. The socks, by contrast, have long areas of one colour or another, and tend to be a bit bumpy and messy because of it (and probably, my lack of skill in such matters). The hat's colourwork lays perfectly flat. <br /><br />Yes, the stitches are tiny, and the black stitches are borderline invisible when you drop a stitch or make a mistake, which serves to drive me up a wall. But the red and black together, and the fine patternwork, makes it all worth it.<br /><br />I had done the ribbed bottom border of the hat before leaving for the trip, and with the tiny stitches, it was impossible to work on while traveling, so I took up the project once I arrived, and by the time I left Point Turton, I had all but 5 rows of the colourwork done. I've included two pictures, but it's still quite hard to see the colourwork, since the project tended to want to curl back on itself near the needles. Hopefully, by the time I do my next post, I will be finished with it and can show it off in all it's glory.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1lXAOGz0pHDqFiP8G80n2Ka-sWPBPSPxNkRWJUjj79X-jCPo09rfbSZ71CRiodaQYdpZE30eurZer_URGQ01s1RzlejMR5VKTjXk8NIVQTMddTQCY6cuBPjLT6P-i8QcVdrxrU0gdtNT/s1600-h/IMG_1510.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1lXAOGz0pHDqFiP8G80n2Ka-sWPBPSPxNkRWJUjj79X-jCPo09rfbSZ71CRiodaQYdpZE30eurZer_URGQ01s1RzlejMR5VKTjXk8NIVQTMddTQCY6cuBPjLT6P-i8QcVdrxrU0gdtNT/s320/IMG_1510.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500333152188034" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uljNkvCPjNPWeTR57yCvj9nSxpLOJFLalt-BzE2iQnZ8qOKoSBfZbXD6V19ztpOVpuPUsKJkw92lW-tQKyiyIyIWPMZFS5_fHpPOZnFY4ZaEURd2zDIeBjStsjjboGPfF7LtrxHfQM7c/s1600-h/IMG_1511.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uljNkvCPjNPWeTR57yCvj9nSxpLOJFLalt-BzE2iQnZ8qOKoSBfZbXD6V19ztpOVpuPUsKJkw92lW-tQKyiyIyIWPMZFS5_fHpPOZnFY4ZaEURd2zDIeBjStsjjboGPfF7LtrxHfQM7c/s320/IMG_1511.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500334468993346" /></a><br /><br />On the second day, I spent the day sitting at the cabin knitting. The good thing about these cabins is that when the weather is fine, you can sit outside on the veranda, but when the wind and/or the cold drives you inside, you can still see the view from the "living area" located at the front of the cabin through the two sliding glass doors, so even when the weather forced me inside, I could still knit to a beauitful view. <br /><br />Chris, on the other hand, decided to go down to a nearby conservation area and take a bushwalk. I took this time alone to turn the heel on the Horse sock. It may sound funny, because I can turn a heel on a toe up sock in my sleep, but the whole set up of the cuff down sock heel, with it's heel flap and it's gusset takes intense concentration. I do very few cuff down socks, obviously. <br /><br />That evening we went out to eat, at the "only joint in town", the Point Turton Pub. It's a lovely pub, new and well decorated, with a great veiw out over the bay. I decded to splurge food wise, and had a lovely chicken breast stuffed with chambert and smothered in a creamy avacado sauce. While the chicken breast itself was good for me, I'm sort of betting the chambert and the creamy avacado sauce had more calories than a typical wedding cake. All of it. Ah well, se la vie. <br /><br />After coming back from the pub, I finally pulled out Matilda and had a spin. I was spinning on the second bobbin (of two) of last months installment from David at <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibre Club</a>, the Sprout colourway. After all the knitting, my fingers could use the break, and the gentle caress of Polworth and Tussah silk sliding through my fingers was just the trick. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YUysyaRGuyJm7pHAQGLQINY_QDOvOT_j80x5DWSrreY9uxHNPU3C5HnFsiSUU__mtRtn9WWmRz3CSmbnvCOHdCiq75tkiu1iLmbURFnHl9LLuCsefA8oN76D94nOwYbDSStQKLjwtWU3/s1600-h/IMG_1514.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YUysyaRGuyJm7pHAQGLQINY_QDOvOT_j80x5DWSrreY9uxHNPU3C5HnFsiSUU__mtRtn9WWmRz3CSmbnvCOHdCiq75tkiu1iLmbURFnHl9LLuCsefA8oN76D94nOwYbDSStQKLjwtWU3/s320/IMG_1514.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500726232832066" /></a><br /><br />I came seriously close to finishing up the second bobbin while there, and really, it only took maybe 15 minutes of spinning after I got home to complete it. So here are the two finished bobbins:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwWGbEQTTQbQRDicK9gsotqCFLFYZmT0gu2oevfi6pjuu7FvPbDslJlMlATHz39bxm0cl9mCDQEyJ_dP7TTq8v-x9AbB9w_-tfJCtSjpKRzPou92bh_E3ChRa7stNyVzWHe5i-QWYiPH8/s1600-h/IMG_1527.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwWGbEQTTQbQRDicK9gsotqCFLFYZmT0gu2oevfi6pjuu7FvPbDslJlMlATHz39bxm0cl9mCDQEyJ_dP7TTq8v-x9AbB9w_-tfJCtSjpKRzPou92bh_E3ChRa7stNyVzWHe5i-QWYiPH8/s320/IMG_1527.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501068167130034" /></a><br /><br />I had every intention of plying them today, but you know...best laid plans and all that. <br /><br />Back to the holiday. The third day was also a quiet day for me. Chris wanted to drive down to the Southern coast of the peninsula, so we did the drive in about 20 minutes. He went walking along the beach:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaJn6XHY2bkk8uhg3vf0ObF8oF66Pgxgbi5Lf7BeUhbGi9kXqp7HrhP0kvZ-2ETuVKsXEQZ0GxM2pYhnApDkTLfxv30KRKgUl8OSYdEtoCjnn-vx-2dbi89uqYDTtyo0O-02vdJ42Tlrq/s1600-h/IMG_1519.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaJn6XHY2bkk8uhg3vf0ObF8oF66Pgxgbi5Lf7BeUhbGi9kXqp7HrhP0kvZ-2ETuVKsXEQZ0GxM2pYhnApDkTLfxv30KRKgUl8OSYdEtoCjnn-vx-2dbi89uqYDTtyo0O-02vdJ42Tlrq/s320/IMG_1519.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391500736429958690" /></a><br /><br />For the sake of my shoes, I stayed near the car, and just knit while I waited for him to return, and enjoyed the different scenery. <br /><br />We got home in time for lunch, and then I spent the rest of the day lounging about the veranda knitting, or in the cabin doing the same.<br /><br />The next morning we left at about 8:30 to return home. There was more traffic on the way home than there had been on the way there, so it was a bit slower going. We only made two significant stops, one in Minlaton where I bought a "Yorke Peninsula" tshirt that I'm quite happy with and a handcrafted bookmark for a friend, and then again at a rest area outside of Port Wakefield where we stopped to have our lunch. <br /><br />Arriving home, I could see from the driveway that the mailbox was crammed packed full. In it, I found a recently released special edition Interweave Weekend, which I was expecting. I had looked everywhere for it, but couldn't find it yet at any of the newsagents, and not being particularly patient, I had located it (with the help of Ravelry) at <a href="http://www.yayforyarn.com.au/">Yay For Yarn</a>, a terrific online knitting shop out of QLD, and ordered it shortly before we left. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzjgtI55Z1DGNgsob2WCAOx5UWeEqpuS7l66q4LRc1awq4Y-yiMotzGvdNLMzknjp_mceVtnJcZqXTOKBuob5YUt_OMPPbDai6NTqRTNE3Wd5HWoc7tEpM-jZhMMTeSXg6im77TDAP4Xy/s1600-h/IMG_1555.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzjgtI55Z1DGNgsob2WCAOx5UWeEqpuS7l66q4LRc1awq4Y-yiMotzGvdNLMzknjp_mceVtnJcZqXTOKBuob5YUt_OMPPbDai6NTqRTNE3Wd5HWoc7tEpM-jZhMMTeSXg6im77TDAP4Xy/s320/IMG_1555.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391878894559130162" /></a><br /><br />Also in the mailbox was the latest installment from David at Southern Cross Fibre Club, a lovely Australian Merino colourway called Equinox.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3XdWLhCtDzyQQygdDmhkuHWPs3PMYI9a02keSr-2vPgkIt_jCtIyXMvd9En3pfL7q2Et-WB6_p7CwEEePHNetB6INdRxI82z4cvoiD3gduli-pPLxes8htncul0rSCVamEo0dXSGEFHI/s1600-h/IMG_1554.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3XdWLhCtDzyQQygdDmhkuHWPs3PMYI9a02keSr-2vPgkIt_jCtIyXMvd9En3pfL7q2Et-WB6_p7CwEEePHNetB6INdRxI82z4cvoiD3gduli-pPLxes8htncul0rSCVamEo0dXSGEFHI/s320/IMG_1554.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391878919595286978" /></a><br /><br />It is NOT a colourway I would make into outerwear, so I reckon I will most likely spin a nice two ply with it, and make some socks out of the yarn.<br /><br />Needless to say, I checked my email after getting home, and I found that I had a comment left on one of my previous blog posts regarding purchases I made at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo. The comment was kindly left by Cheryl Crosby, the lady that I bought the llama fibre from, suggesting that I overspin it a bit. She also left a website address for her business, <a href="http://www.granitehavenllamas.com.au/home.aspx">Granite Haven Llamas</a> . I couldn't find a website before, so I'm happy to leave it here now. I've since visited her website, and it's full of all sorts of info on llamas and llama fibres, and an interesting read for anyone thinking of spinning. <br /><br />Of course, after reading her comment, I then had to drag out the llama fibre that I had bought from her and give it a go. The fibre itself came in 50g bags, and I bought 3 of them. It is a luxurious natural lightish brown in colour. As this was my first try at spinning llama, I didn't quite know what to expect. After fiddling with the fibre, I realized it's a rather short fibre, so I decided to spin it on Matilda, as I can get better speed control on her. As Cheryl suggested, I've been overspinning it a bit. I find it spins up much like the alpaca, and like alpaca, it lacks that greasy feeling that even well cleaned wool can have, so it slips through your fingers easily. <br /><br />Without further ado, my first try at spinning llama:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQH2_JZsXkMNBVhskTtRQZMoHGZWsnjPbylNXk-GSRv08JfvepCSVbTk4_LKadFxpMAxsitu5AEiCMGVcUCvi1DIQ56N5tWpL5MhMO_KtqYbzq-zEpXNFxhEaROc1Ln1IoL2YbBXcmBmp/s1600-h/IMG_1530.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQH2_JZsXkMNBVhskTtRQZMoHGZWsnjPbylNXk-GSRv08JfvepCSVbTk4_LKadFxpMAxsitu5AEiCMGVcUCvi1DIQ56N5tWpL5MhMO_KtqYbzq-zEpXNFxhEaROc1Ln1IoL2YbBXcmBmp/s320/IMG_1530.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391501286149569810" /></a><br /><br />I've since finished the first bag, which surprisingly (considering it's only 50g) filled about 1/2 of my majacraft bobbin. I'm debating now whether to spin 3 bobbins and make a thick 3 ply out of it, or whether to do 2 bobbins with 75 grams a piece on it. I've put it on hold for now though, as I do want to use Matilda to ply the Sprout colourway from SCFC first.<br /><br />Also since I got home, I finished the colourwork on the Skull Island hat:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sgL15LLic7Mv9J9w22DvcPzouFdicwXtRVIC_boCmYzamlpjRlwmw9BTojw8RR7KST1BsiLM7E8BdnymCx1IGtSpzlbRb99Atlpk26P-7z7Q62lTaxPM2tF0y0sctNNzkad6nw-KEqUE/s1600-h/IMG_1557.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sgL15LLic7Mv9J9w22DvcPzouFdicwXtRVIC_boCmYzamlpjRlwmw9BTojw8RR7KST1BsiLM7E8BdnymCx1IGtSpzlbRb99Atlpk26P-7z7Q62lTaxPM2tF0y0sctNNzkad6nw-KEqUE/s320/IMG_1557.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391878930523510514" /></a><br /><br />I stopped knitting on it at that point, as I need to now continue knitting in the round with black only until it is 8 inches in total length before I start my decreases for the crown. Being small as well as stockingnet in the round, that makes it the perfect project to take to work with me, so I will continue on that in the coming few days when I have some free time there.<br /><br />I also finished the first horse sock (again..remember..version 3). This one actually fits, although the leg part is still a bit hard to pull over the heel, but that is the case with most handknit socks. The fair isle work only makes this one slightly harder, but it will no doubt stretch with time and wearing. Once on, they are remarkably well fitting and comfortable, and I'm very pleased. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorz9pVWPaGU_LGiQLdZhM-kXoiS6EZzVZqM_39MaBgLl5XEkd3IHfGZLwZiRjem5VO9OUfvhHecC0MPUMU_BAwm0RVrJIJPdxNGUKXE2UVLrpUE8EVBnwIx7q-gwqg6avFrnMj0SbomM1/s1600-h/IMG_1559.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorz9pVWPaGU_LGiQLdZhM-kXoiS6EZzVZqM_39MaBgLl5XEkd3IHfGZLwZiRjem5VO9OUfvhHecC0MPUMU_BAwm0RVrJIJPdxNGUKXE2UVLrpUE8EVBnwIx7q-gwqg6avFrnMj0SbomM1/s320/IMG_1559.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391881051995036338" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX3CYnAZPSc385aXCXUq2ycntUA2ZKfE5NgiwvA4grA51D7oIFQFDGGBoD6Rbh2VI5sxRo_1Z7uR_HkKLLsQhJLvGuOXOvIW9mD-b4StP_K89l1FT-WqSG8kGKIaOVG5UtuQcdbRa8eEX/s1600-h/IMG_1560.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX3CYnAZPSc385aXCXUq2ycntUA2ZKfE5NgiwvA4grA51D7oIFQFDGGBoD6Rbh2VI5sxRo_1Z7uR_HkKLLsQhJLvGuOXOvIW9mD-b4StP_K89l1FT-WqSG8kGKIaOVG5UtuQcdbRa8eEX/s320/IMG_1560.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391881052999781762" /></a><br /><br />It took me 3 tries, but it looks like the third time is a charm, and I finally have struck the magic formula for these socks. I got up this morning and cast on for sock number two, but again, packed it in my bag to take to work tonight. The ribbed cuff also makes for good work knitting. I'll work on it first, as it shouldn't take me more than a night or two (depending on how much free time I have) to knit the cuff and the 10 plain rows at the top. I'll continue to work on it at home when I reach the spot where the colourwork pattern begins, and then use the hat for work knitting. <br /><br />My Christmas knitting is sort of winding up. Well, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in any case, although it will still be awhile. There is only two more projects I need desperately to cast on for, another couple of hats I think. One definately not fair isle, and I haven't decided about the other one. I'll cast one of those on Friday, after my Thursday night off. By that time, I should be getting close to done with the other work knitting, and will need something I can carry in. <br /><br />I've seen so many beautiful patterns lately, and have so very many plans for after I finish the Christmas knitting, but I won't go into all that here. Instead, I'm rather convinced that this post is long enough. Probably a wee bit too long. So long until next time!Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-35744897019665915772009-09-28T13:17:00.009+09:302009-09-29T15:58:27.172+09:30Loose EndsI wanted to get one post in before we go away and take a short holiday to <a href="http://www.pointturton.com/">Point Turton</a> next week, because I know how long and picture heavy my "after holiday" posts can be, and this next one may be particularly long given I plan to do not much of anything but knit. Chris is on school holidays (yes, AGAIN) and wanted to go away somewhere, as he usually does. I wanted to go out on the Fancy Free, our Murray River cruiser, for a couple of days, but it was having some mechanical problems at the time, and we weren't sure if it would be fixed in time for school holidays. It since has been repaired and is now running fine, but it was too late. We had already reserved our cabin at the Point Turton Caravan Park on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula here in South Australia. <br /><br />Now don't get me wrong, I love going to the Yorke Peninsula. My idea of going out on the boat at the time was to save money, as I'm diligently trying to save now for a big holiday to visit my family in the states. I also favored the boat trip because we are essentially trapped on the boat. Chris and I have very different ideas about what is relaxing. I like going to "the place", staying at "the place", knitting at "the place" until we leave "the place". Chris likes to go to "the place", unload our gear at "the place" and then drive around for hours to see (briefly) every other place in the nearby surrounding area, returning to "the place" to sleep. On the boat, he is able to sit still, but I've never found anywhere else where he can do that. I've made it clear to him this time, however, that I'm going to "the place" and staying at "the place". He can go exploring if he wishes, with my heartfelt blessing. I'm staying put.<br /><br />We are leaving out next Wednesday, and will be spending 3 nights there in a cabin overlooking the Southern Ocean. We'll be returning home on Saturday. Because of how my regular days off fall, I managed to get a week off work by only using 3 annual leave days. So I'll be coming home Tuesday morning from my Monday night shift, and not returning to work until the following Tuesday night. That leaves me many many possibilities for knitting and even a bit of spinning, and I'll be disappointed with myself if I'm not very productive that week. <br /><br />I'm still working away, churning out Christmas knitting, but I have managed to squeeze a bit of spinning in here and there. First on my list of "to do" spinning, was to finish the long anticipated (by me anyway) 3 ply of wool and tussah silk done in the Timber colourway by dyer extraoridinaire Kathy of <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres</a>. It turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself. <br /><br />This is it right after it came off of the niddy-noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0yAewCYqhKRng0B_V1XGqjgVD2xrAMHeF98wCAYzp-ZxumnI3jai8TLAMREU6qdFY6bA7vQqLchJphyphenhyphen9KZGYO93HMNTklO0sDWJxwd_7XnsrlUM4UA1j5g3rBF0ZR4X6GGz6bz5OD9Eb/s1600-h/IMG_1476.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0yAewCYqhKRng0B_V1XGqjgVD2xrAMHeF98wCAYzp-ZxumnI3jai8TLAMREU6qdFY6bA7vQqLchJphyphenhyphen9KZGYO93HMNTklO0sDWJxwd_7XnsrlUM4UA1j5g3rBF0ZR4X6GGz6bz5OD9Eb/s320/IMG_1476.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386360726505870834" /></a><br /><br />It made 3 skeins, sort of. The final skein is rather small, but I just couldn't quite fit it all on two bobbins, so I got a yarn family: two adults and a baby skein.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA8EpMLN8NaB_jWuTgzP2OH4t37Denx_qSxpwhapRsdV_3_pDl4UUH0GOiuYn0R3cR5yxoifE-7f4SQUG4xWO9r4aar1f_h34HYy6L8GWcHw1sNL5DDNj1SG5MGHiYCeXPGtirjell-NA/s1600-h/IMG_1479.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA8EpMLN8NaB_jWuTgzP2OH4t37Denx_qSxpwhapRsdV_3_pDl4UUH0GOiuYn0R3cR5yxoifE-7f4SQUG4xWO9r4aar1f_h34HYy6L8GWcHw1sNL5DDNj1SG5MGHiYCeXPGtirjell-NA/s320/IMG_1479.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386360732764494274" /></a><br /><br />Here is a close up, or at least, the closest close up I could get with my camera without blurring the photo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uhUHOXXsWe3KsEedL2ljLzoznC5QVh6PDha-Z0T-rGrdUa3IlIIoyDnjEfXYnn175WqvuMZCBA1BdLovda8-ozDtu4rEuIbEmc5Uh8xg4SsaosXUht4OU0YKujvgThLvK8FMDH5GkepK/s1600-h/IMG_1480.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uhUHOXXsWe3KsEedL2ljLzoznC5QVh6PDha-Z0T-rGrdUa3IlIIoyDnjEfXYnn175WqvuMZCBA1BdLovda8-ozDtu4rEuIbEmc5Uh8xg4SsaosXUht4OU0YKujvgThLvK8FMDH5GkepK/s320/IMG_1480.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386360742637228914" /></a><br /><br />Shortly after I finished plying, I decided that the very best thing I could do is to quickly start up another spinning project on each wheel, as I'm far more likely to actually work on something if it's already started. <br /><br />So on the Ashford, I put another of Kathy's Fibres colourways, the Red Flowering Gum which I have done before. After finishing this one, that will give me roughly 300 grams of the stuff, enough to make a shawl or a childs jumper:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7g23XYjFJ4fGNwHjq23Ca5u5keqhTv2tbvQhTuaYJBhFh6H0OWg0NxY519VBm3TETBlnB5N7yuJKaiT7gdCBNuTHO5KQII9cQv9ntYjuF3OT5AihDNIlZEewctWmqV6PJHihOun6lwsS/s1600-h/IMG_1484.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7g23XYjFJ4fGNwHjq23Ca5u5keqhTv2tbvQhTuaYJBhFh6H0OWg0NxY519VBm3TETBlnB5N7yuJKaiT7gdCBNuTHO5KQII9cQv9ntYjuF3OT5AihDNIlZEewctWmqV6PJHihOun6lwsS/s320/IMG_1484.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386361139742204626" /></a><br /><br />On the Majacraft, I put on the lastest installment from David at the <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibre Club</a>. He calls it "Sprout". It's 80% Polworth and 20% tussah silk, and it's so soft it can make you cry tears of joy. I showed the fibre in the last post I think, but here's the very beginning of a bobbin: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqMESBp39W64AcVLYXkPW63ZroEfSsC21Eev9m9GdichHoIskkPz9piDa6nFST1-A-M95w3vsTDJjeEYA9CjXGlLgwo634yyQi9TFPLXpyVLy8iYe0hssXJjO-HpLCTl-sXuVUVVKoAeP/s1600-h/IMG_1483.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqMESBp39W64AcVLYXkPW63ZroEfSsC21Eev9m9GdichHoIskkPz9piDa6nFST1-A-M95w3vsTDJjeEYA9CjXGlLgwo634yyQi9TFPLXpyVLy8iYe0hssXJjO-HpLCTl-sXuVUVVKoAeP/s320/IMG_1483.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386361130718766562" /></a><br /><br />Moving on to knitting, I will quickly mention that I have one project going that I'm not going to put on here, as it's a gift for my mom, and she reads this blog. So, I've been knitting on a "mystery project", and it's a big one, so if it starts looking like I'm being less than productive, please remember that I have a project running quietly in the background.<br /><br />I'm currently (as in most of this morning) stitching away on the seams of Ayla's cardigan, which is looking fantastic and I have no doubts now that it will turn out well. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rfSMq7HobjqKrsEzWksrhydnBJLgNczimBfLSO4a_Zx8hxB6WtIdfFJeTiNkn9a99Xf55iaIyaUhdKthpK2pDDSIUYFBUEDPeFniG2wmyq80KoQDsZVHczfHd15oa5Yl0ObKN-dpjLqp/s1600-h/IMG_1487.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rfSMq7HobjqKrsEzWksrhydnBJLgNczimBfLSO4a_Zx8hxB6WtIdfFJeTiNkn9a99Xf55iaIyaUhdKthpK2pDDSIUYFBUEDPeFniG2wmyq80KoQDsZVHczfHd15oa5Yl0ObKN-dpjLqp/s320/IMG_1487.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386361645145915490" /></a><br /><br />I'm also working on version 3 or the horse socks, and have just today started with the first couple of rows of the colour pattern. In version 1, I finished a whole sock, and while it fits, it JUST fits, and I just don't like giving socks that tight as a gift, since it's such a struggle to actually put them on your feet. Version 2 I tried using fatter yarn, an 8 ply, mentioned in the last post. I finished the heel on it, tried it on, and while it will make a nice houseshoe, it's far too loose and thick to function as a sock. <br /><br />So now, on to version 3, where I used the same yarn as I used in version 1, Bendigo Woolen Mills 5ply Classic, a superwash wool so the poor recipient doesn't have to handwash. I've managed to get the cuff done in this shot:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NGA2qCpkukE5vzU4UqG4Zb7R_sLvHhDIHZlMbwi1MPFqU1ehaoGlG6UMsOqYKTpttqxcPVJZ-vyVnZa4MIAo2UJv6tz2FOAIFo_mGavKBTyY-EzyTDrKwflE5QyzRxIfRM4_L9Qy76CO/s1600-h/IMG_1486.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NGA2qCpkukE5vzU4UqG4Zb7R_sLvHhDIHZlMbwi1MPFqU1ehaoGlG6UMsOqYKTpttqxcPVJZ-vyVnZa4MIAo2UJv6tz2FOAIFo_mGavKBTyY-EzyTDrKwflE5QyzRxIfRM4_L9Qy76CO/s320/IMG_1486.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386361634374143170" /></a><br /><br />but since taking the photo, I have knit about halfway thru Chart A.<br /><br />I also cast on a lace project, a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scalloped-table-runner">"Scalloped" table runner </a>for my neice. The pattern is a free download on Ravelry. It's coming along rather nicely, and is easy enough and small enough to do at work. The 20 row pattern repeats daunted me at first, but there's a pattern within the pattern that makes sense, and it only took me a couple of pattern repeats to be able to read the knitting rather than have to follow the pattern line by line.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4vmM4gtA0G-HU1N7mhQpmpck9_lXqxN806tVH2AV1uRuTXfeuUZQW6MDQ2R0MhQe8J0mjHEqo8bLCud5NJySl6T7WBsqhcoSrqvoY4C5Ux89L1Tz0BxSkXon67XlG5MYsy5Lhv0_Wv1M/s1600-h/IMG_1485.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4vmM4gtA0G-HU1N7mhQpmpck9_lXqxN806tVH2AV1uRuTXfeuUZQW6MDQ2R0MhQe8J0mjHEqo8bLCud5NJySl6T7WBsqhcoSrqvoY4C5Ux89L1Tz0BxSkXon67XlG5MYsy5Lhv0_Wv1M/s320/IMG_1485.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386361629218826754" /></a><br /><br />I'm using the Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece I had left over from my Blooming Bloomers (aka Knitty.com's <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTunmentionables.html">Unmentionables</a>) project, and it seems perfect for the pattern. Heavy enough to serve the purpose to which the project is intended, but not stiff at all. I'm well pleased with it so far. <br /><br />The only project I've managed to finish in the past few days is the "Keeper Scarf". This is the scarf I mentioned in the last post that I'm making for my son's girlfriend. I used the free <a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/2005/09/liesel.html">Leisel </a>pattern I found on Ravelry and Naturally Sensations Merino and Angora wool. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqkcbssOvWRV0HAqe_Sz9V_bQJMP3MqYlM7eNZlFivSeKieL4LeonSYkS6ZfOPAPTgOtIiAExQgILHUudVok2jTRYKcO4VnJfXbIxFZbWOIwwRnF1vi5XfKDrXzoppxJGA0fyDt-7ilgJ/s1600-h/IMG_1478.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqkcbssOvWRV0HAqe_Sz9V_bQJMP3MqYlM7eNZlFivSeKieL4LeonSYkS6ZfOPAPTgOtIiAExQgILHUudVok2jTRYKcO4VnJfXbIxFZbWOIwwRnF1vi5XfKDrXzoppxJGA0fyDt-7ilgJ/s320/IMG_1478.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386389750897022306" /></a><br /><br />At present, I have several finished Christmas presents waiting to be blocked, but I've decided to just have one big blocking day, wash it all together and then block it all at once, at least all the little things. The cardigan, once I get it sewn up, will probably need to be done separately just due to the size. I only have a limited amount of space to lay things out, at any rate. <br /><br />So at present, I'm just going to keep working on those projects I've already started. I'm hoping to have Ayla's Cardigan stitched up, and the Scalloped Table runner finished before our holiday. If the cardigan isn't finished, it will have to wait until we get back, as it's just too big to carry along just for stitching. The table runner can go along though if need be. So far, my planned holiday knitting is the "mystery project", the Horse socks, and the soon to be cast on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/skull-isle-hat">Skull Isle Hat</a> from the Son of Stitch n Bitch book, which I'm making for my youngest son Finis. That will give me two fair isle projects, and one mystery (but not fair isle, I'll give away that much) project to knit on. But the mystery project is pretty big, so I might just search out another smaller but easy pattern for those moments on the road when big or complicated just won't do. I just have no idea what.<br /><br />This will also be Matilda's first real vacation,(Matilda being my Majacraft Little Gem, for those who don't remember)so I will be able to sit on the veranda, look out over the ocean, and spin to my hearts content. Sounds devine, doesn't it?Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-44664342644141907632009-09-17T11:17:00.006+09:302009-09-18T17:17:15.108+09:30Spring ThingsSpring is finally in the air in South Australia. It's still, technically speaking, winter here, but the weather is starting to be fairly fine on at least half the days, which is so nice. Winters down here seem to last forever. My houseplant in the living room has bloomed for the first time in 3 years this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Tz5cnejEhLxXxbzcU28CmNi8EF2NkJ8fpfLtm-jscMbr_AGGE2lTo7Gk0eV2Vg7VHAa54__jJ4iWO2U7wq0jn0gNmf1mvERV9Nvv7hjeZDLcK0c8cC0YFwTovsRcGu0zDRdT9Y9f4Q1/s1600-h/IMG_1463.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9Tz5cnejEhLxXxbzcU28CmNi8EF2NkJ8fpfLtm-jscMbr_AGGE2lTo7Gk0eV2Vg7VHAa54__jJ4iWO2U7wq0jn0gNmf1mvERV9Nvv7hjeZDLcK0c8cC0YFwTovsRcGu0zDRdT9Y9f4Q1/s320/IMG_1463.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382289382276507602" /></a><br /><br />And the pretty bell shaped flowers have bloomed on the hanging plant out back:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW4UAjEex8fOnFm19IzPMLSar1vQxswjfcWICnFVUnBuZ37E3s_J_XdmcL6508bIET9NxZ9z-zOMNAOnBMfxilpLTK-Wh5pygk2aWZ9jSweHBtUWHrCGGdhwBnsDgrvDzzUU2T7tQMfR7/s1600-h/IMG_1467.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW4UAjEex8fOnFm19IzPMLSar1vQxswjfcWICnFVUnBuZ37E3s_J_XdmcL6508bIET9NxZ9z-zOMNAOnBMfxilpLTK-Wh5pygk2aWZ9jSweHBtUWHrCGGdhwBnsDgrvDzzUU2T7tQMfR7/s320/IMG_1467.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382289393407494114" /></a><br /><br />Please don't ask me what either of these are called, because I wouldn't know. I did know at one time, in both cases, but I have this theory about plants. I'm only required to keep them alive (if I can) and not become intimately aquainted. Actually, Id do remember the first one has "angel" in it's common name, but that is about it. <br /><br />This months club selection for the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6277297">Southern Cross Fibre Club </a> has arrived, and it's a gorgeous one. David went with a spring theme, and came up with this lovely "Sprout" colour scheme, 80% Polworth and 20% tussah silk:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcvQbinF1Vnz6SXG7RqYydYitKT6hdPmkFGlsQY7UWWLIpV4pdn0QJrpFQm_sB8esJe2Ab5y6L9LVgaBbqc7OyT5VMVfhlNEZVhBIjP0CKdLfspKno7rxcGu9tfjvc7CuhcwVaVG59Wb6/s1600-h/IMG_1468.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcvQbinF1Vnz6SXG7RqYydYitKT6hdPmkFGlsQY7UWWLIpV4pdn0QJrpFQm_sB8esJe2Ab5y6L9LVgaBbqc7OyT5VMVfhlNEZVhBIjP0CKdLfspKno7rxcGu9tfjvc7CuhcwVaVG59Wb6/s320/IMG_1468.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382289394383270770" /></a><br /><br />You know, I seem to be on this sort of green thing lately. Most of the fibres I've been buying to spin have green as a dominant colour, or at the very least, as one of the main colours. Most of them are at or around 100 grams, so I've thought that I might spin a dozen or so up, and then make up a sweater similar to the "Rose to Blue V-necked Pullover" in <a href="http://books.google.com.au/books?id=jKMoAAAACAAJ&dq=twisted+sisters+sweater">The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters </a>by Lynne Vogel. For those not familiar with it, the designer spun various rovings with a common colour scheme ranging from deep roses to a more rosish-bluish colours, then knit them in a striped pattern into a jumper knit from side to side (ie. starting at one sleeve cuff and ending at the other). The great verticle stripes would be slimming too. The only trouble is, I've been using different fibres. I'm not sure how well it would go with all the fibres, so I might have to concentrate on, say, merino, which is more widely available, and I dare say I already have more of that anyway. I could ask around too, I suppose, and see if anyone else has mixed fibres like that. Anyway, there's a project lurking in the back of my head that I'm going to start randomly putting together.<br /><br />I have bought a few things lately, although in truth, not much. It still seems so soon after Bendigo, and really, I could knit for years with the yarn I have. But sometimes you need a specific colour and gauge of yarn, and in every case but one, this was the case with my purchases. But in the case of this lovely organic lace weight non-mulesed merino, it was just a matter of wanting a smooshy yarny purchase that I would, eventually, I hope, use. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2ejjiE1yQUBBxSNnNlIbW_l-NUvsBU3LblHwttUJiW43usP7IOXYhfiGE7h3sw7nJZHW1mLGprUkAKFnIy9U6KPtAze6dM1fAbRo3Nbgt61FXsa5uTvFgfBxbrPwQojzqQ0JMA-h-FtS/s1600-h/IMG_1457.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2ejjiE1yQUBBxSNnNlIbW_l-NUvsBU3LblHwttUJiW43usP7IOXYhfiGE7h3sw7nJZHW1mLGprUkAKFnIy9U6KPtAze6dM1fAbRo3Nbgt61FXsa5uTvFgfBxbrPwQojzqQ0JMA-h-FtS/s320/IMG_1457.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285459444603794" /></a><br /><br />A large lacy scarf, or small shawl I'm thinking would be lovely in that colour. Something out of the Victorian Lace Today book definately. I can't wait to get my Christmas knitting done and be able to indulge in a few lace patterns from that book. Anyway, I bought this when Chris and I went out to the Port Adelaide market last Sunday. It's from <a href="http://www.strandedinoz.com/">Stranded in Oz's </a>booth there, and is luscious, as is most of her things. She was still on her yarn tour of the US (the Sock Summit and some other shows there), lucky girl, but she had a very nice friend manning the booth. <br /><br />Yes, I said "non-mulesed" wool, but I want to clarify that I have nothing personally against mulsing. To me, it makes much more sense than allowing the sheep to get eat up by flies. Flies in Australia make the flies in the US look like wimps. They are vicious, focused and dedicated to destruction, and sheep here face a much greater nemesis than people in the US can understand (unless they've been here). And frankly, I see the circumcision of little human baby boys as far more cruel, and certainly not nearly as necessary. Not everyone will agree with me, but to each his own. So the "non-mulesed" quality of this wool did not effect me a bit. I just liked the yarn.<br /><br />I also bought some red Patonyle from a LYS in Adelaide. I already had some black, but needed the red to make the skull isle hat from the book Son of Stitch n Bitch by Debbie Stoller, pattern by Chelsea Fowler-Biondolillo. As usual, I really liked the colours used in the original picture in the book best (how very unadventurous I am with colours sometimes). I already had some black Patonyle in my stash, but I didn't have any red, so I stayed late one day after work to buy some.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqv4Cl3LQgy-ck__DCH1g9Pa9MrZN5gcYvLHoUJF3x-ZQ8no0HcOKtgCfdvfzMJf3WBgq4FlyRAPJM1r6Oz-SBzsvui9W-uLtjezjSeemH0i4t6t1VH_-VwjHBn7wGYbkPQafgcemdkmQg/s1600-h/IMG_1461.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqv4Cl3LQgy-ck__DCH1g9Pa9MrZN5gcYvLHoUJF3x-ZQ8no0HcOKtgCfdvfzMJf3WBgq4FlyRAPJM1r6Oz-SBzsvui9W-uLtjezjSeemH0i4t6t1VH_-VwjHBn7wGYbkPQafgcemdkmQg/s320/IMG_1461.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285480618582386" /></a><br /><br />A couple of years ago, there was talk of discontinuing Patons Patonyle sock yarn, which caused a bit of a panic in sock knitters all over Australia, and a run on LYS's to stock up. I participated in this mad rush, of course, which is how I got my small stash of Patonyle, but some of it has been used up since then, and I never had red in the first place. It IS a great sock yarn. In my opinion, the very best domestically produced, commonly available sock yarn on the market. There were many complaints to Patons, and a lot of conjoling from what I hear, and Patons, in the end, did decide to continue to produce it. But instead of the lovely 50g balls they used to sell, they now only sell 100g balls, which is, admittedly, the most common way to buy sock yarn. Ah, but I did love the 50g balls. Because I generally knit socks 2 at a time, it's quite nice to have a ball for each sock without having to go to my ball winder and make 2 50g (or close to that) balls out of one 100g ball. For this particular hat, the red is the contrast colour, and I really don't need 100grams, but if I wanted Patonyle, I didn't have any choice in the matter. Ok, now I'm being picky. It's not as though I won't use all of it eventually, and I'm just so happy they didn't discontinue Patonyle completely, that I'll shut up now.<br /><br />My final purchase was at the very local yarn shop here in Murray Bridge. The "horse socks" I mentioned in the last post, are a bit on the tight side. Not bad, but when put on, the fabric stretches and you can clearly see the contrast colours coming thru. I finished the first sock, and will make a second eventually, even if I don't gift them, and just keep them for myself, flaws and all. <br /><br />Anyway, I bought this Paton's Merino Deluxe 8ply, to try and make a bit thicker version, to add to the size, and help with the see through factor.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDtgVdnNjPk-SU2Rp-HCXzFogIN_Y1zm3VCiJ0cGxY6sxirmGxSVIam6NAUDy2KH28c0Mzxu6iZ5jSe-bAsf7Yks83w_HEsXPAnt2O9VcOCIjO9gyilChN4YqW_dxWkVYxD4Fw9kkuYV/s1600-h/IMG_1459.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UDtgVdnNjPk-SU2Rp-HCXzFogIN_Y1zm3VCiJ0cGxY6sxirmGxSVIam6NAUDy2KH28c0Mzxu6iZ5jSe-bAsf7Yks83w_HEsXPAnt2O9VcOCIjO9gyilChN4YqW_dxWkVYxD4Fw9kkuYV/s320/IMG_1459.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285470351434562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydzOYfdk1t2CtVN50abGk0jWTYUDdz4N3eNL9tKeDTqsu4O_MgxORLJ78B6gpq2Q9F2yPHrQqqVm4L9rmS95NsbFdHFMCcEkbAGHRGMP0tCIzEthW9m0D1z_1kPj_CyPID_uIzJLzdXRr/s1600-h/IMG_1458.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydzOYfdk1t2CtVN50abGk0jWTYUDdz4N3eNL9tKeDTqsu4O_MgxORLJ78B6gpq2Q9F2yPHrQqqVm4L9rmS95NsbFdHFMCcEkbAGHRGMP0tCIzEthW9m0D1z_1kPj_CyPID_uIzJLzdXRr/s320/IMG_1458.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285460634823154" /></a><br /><br />I also decided to attempt this version from the toe up, as I just really don't like knitting cuff down socks. I'm actually a bit further along now than this picture shows. I'm at the point of starting the gusset leading to the heel now:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvd-WJCbVILJWH-4WP0yG17Fw5xbDToNXA8C0QOI-GYqkKNbpJtLKwCH3Xty5BaUCnWZ07v6kM_NZ07S84Me5OCbHc6bsg-Cudtz2LeyEDcNLB9eB7vVzTwENWQfUG-aPzwhnZ_ZCdNF6/s1600-h/IMG_1470.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvd-WJCbVILJWH-4WP0yG17Fw5xbDToNXA8C0QOI-GYqkKNbpJtLKwCH3Xty5BaUCnWZ07v6kM_NZ07S84Me5OCbHc6bsg-Cudtz2LeyEDcNLB9eB7vVzTwENWQfUG-aPzwhnZ_ZCdNF6/s320/IMG_1470.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382695234318429522" /></a><br /><br />Which, of course, brings me to my knitting itself. I finished the knitting on Ayla's cardigan, and have all the ends sewn in on 3 out of 5 pieces. I'm sure I'll finish up the rest of them tonight, as it's good to do during TV time, and I really don't have any good "TV" knitting on the needles right now. <br /><br />So, after finishing the knitting part of that, I started a new project. My son's girlfriend has really stuck by him through some hard times lately, so I reckoned she's earned a hand knit Christmas gift. I don't knit for just anyone, you know. I went on Ravelry searching for a nice scarf pattern, and found <a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/2005/09/liesel.html">Leisel</a>, a free pattern designed by Mary Joy Gumayagay. It called for a 10ply yarn, and my stash is pretty poor when it comes to 10ply. I first thought of the Peace Fleece, but that yarn is just better suited for outer garments, as it can be stiff and course to the touch. Not something you'd really want wrapped around your neck. Then I remembered this luscious Naturally Sensation yarn. Two skeins of a 10ply from Naturally of New Zealand. It's a merino/angora blend, and is sensationally soft. I got it in a RAOK package from a fellow Ravelry member, and I'm stoked with it. It's the perfect yarn for this scarf, and a pleasure to knit with. It's a yarn you have to be gentle with, prone to breaking, but ooolala..it's decadant to touch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni5BXJMYtx4Mmu2dD8UfUG9V2u7MoPSzc5bzFSk3iEwHhAXygQ2PmfG4fnQFSuGEvy5uKbK61-hf_oIFSZUVH2d8kYRcr5-rnBgpmKNIxFwkOstMt7VM5BJiVq9tT-4HYXn6XHvwLkPdz/s1600-h/IMG_1462.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni5BXJMYtx4Mmu2dD8UfUG9V2u7MoPSzc5bzFSk3iEwHhAXygQ2PmfG4fnQFSuGEvy5uKbK61-hf_oIFSZUVH2d8kYRcr5-rnBgpmKNIxFwkOstMt7VM5BJiVq9tT-4HYXn6XHvwLkPdz/s320/IMG_1462.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285482921834706" /></a><br /><br />I know we keep stashes for just this purpose, but really, how often is it that you find just the perfect yarn, in the perfect amount and for the perfect pattern in your stash? Well, for me it's not that often, so I was thrilled.<br /><br />I gleefully began knitting the pattern, which is a series of 10 row repeats of a lace pattern. It doesn't have the predictability of some lace patterns (repeating rows or obvious patterns within the pattern), and I haven't come close to memorizing the pattern yet, so I have to keep a close eye on it. I can knit on it and watch TV, but it goes pretty slow when I do that. It's perfect audiobook knitting though. And it's going to make a lovely scarf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI8eDqT__VbzxWTuN8oGe8qjZClD8uGgsxZTRr_w1_LDiV_POKEFGwCJIqBC-E3-VdO3VJvil_DWXzO1vawvQ7IigqzSunsCnzLtvIQP8CHwy6I4QoZcWI8VhfcEuhmYSBaEgXb4xtNtx/s1600-h/IMG_1473.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI8eDqT__VbzxWTuN8oGe8qjZClD8uGgsxZTRr_w1_LDiV_POKEFGwCJIqBC-E3-VdO3VJvil_DWXzO1vawvQ7IigqzSunsCnzLtvIQP8CHwy6I4QoZcWI8VhfcEuhmYSBaEgXb4xtNtx/s320/IMG_1473.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382695247138692274" /></a><br /><br />The patterns author says it's a good "1 day project". HAH! Maybe if you knit all day on it and did nothing else. Or at least, at the speed in which I knit lace that's the case. It is a beautiful pattern though.<br /><br />I really need to stick another project on the needles, but at present, I'm not sure exactly what. I don't want to start the hats, as that's more Fair Isle, and since I need certain knitting conditions to successfull do it, I think I'll stick to one Fair Isle project at a time. I need something simple, perhaps another type of hat, or a jumper for Kaitlyn. I really want to start knitting on me a tiny slinky summer top, but that will have to wait until I get the Christmas knitting under wraps, dang it. Well, whatever I decide, I'm sure to write about it in the next post.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-87402582311265787992009-09-03T11:28:00.009+09:302009-09-04T11:26:52.350+09:30Glad tidingsWell, the Christmas knitting has taken off in a flurry of activitiy that I somehow doubt I can maintain over the long haul. In any event, I'm pretty sure the things I'd like to get done far outweight the knitting time I have to finish them. Things might look merrier after I finish Ayla's Cardi, but I'm only a bit less than halfway up the first sleeve, so that could be quite some time yet. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu8vulYoyhBzamEnGtvmXeJF_9L4XUh83Ro7dDLhJYMmqUaqeMHHMXumiMSzt2wgRrfZyUm0m-Hgb2smbRoc3qTF7GUG6KG0oaW2Fh4hrtj2DC31rDjyaQXh5G25sEXkrwoFyXmtwYuhi/s1600-h/IMG_1455.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu8vulYoyhBzamEnGtvmXeJF_9L4XUh83Ro7dDLhJYMmqUaqeMHHMXumiMSzt2wgRrfZyUm0m-Hgb2smbRoc3qTF7GUG6KG0oaW2Fh4hrtj2DC31rDjyaQXh5G25sEXkrwoFyXmtwYuhi/s320/IMG_1455.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066971340516546" /></a><br /><br />Thank goodness I'm done with the honeycomb pattern parts. The sleeves are done all the way up in the tree pattern, which is at least a bit more interesting to knit. It's going quite well, but like the Bustaroony, it's going slowly. If I had worked on it and it alone till finished, I would certainly be done by now, but it's a hard project to work on it's own. The pattern is drilled in my head now, but the repetition can drive you mad at times. <br /><br />I've been knitting some hats, working on hat number 2 now. The first one is actually not Christmas knitting. It's intended for my FIL for his birthday/Father's day (Father's Day being in September in Australia). It's Jared Floods "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/turn-a-square">Turn a Square Hat</a>", and it's quite popular on Ravelry. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eLEZxqCNuBYVhW4I68MZvbtvCDOHSHNeeLTAgADpE_fvZwPL7brfLgOraWoQioj3ms_fcw8Pa3c_FMyojkrQZYKY7A26bt8Nc0N_Q1qUdMmte4rIfv8A9vtz6s9mJjG8eNcXqBYvkznA/s1600-h/IMG_1453.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eLEZxqCNuBYVhW4I68MZvbtvCDOHSHNeeLTAgADpE_fvZwPL7brfLgOraWoQioj3ms_fcw8Pa3c_FMyojkrQZYKY7A26bt8Nc0N_Q1qUdMmte4rIfv8A9vtz6s9mJjG8eNcXqBYvkznA/s320/IMG_1453.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377056601885173586" /></a><br /><br />It's not a difficult knit, but I do have problems with jogless stripes. I'm not sure why, but I really think it's more my tension at the "jogs" and not anything to do with doing the actual procedure wrong. Or that's my excuse anyway. I've done them before, but I 'relooked up' the directions, and I am technically doing them correctly, but they still don't always look great. The second one is, overall, turning out better than the first one, so maybe there's something to that "practice makes perfect" saying after all.<br /><br />I finished my Kaliedascope socks I was making with <a href="http://ewegivemetheknits.com/store/Default.asp">EGMTK </a>fibre that I spun myself on the new Majacraft Little Gem. They have turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LnDbCEZhO2O1JSja7v1ErTLpGUEwes7Xbd3QDLJ0cIlLycFi2A3qL5CZkcipCug_sSCN4xtJzNt313ZtJrfY-eUXXIXvIvU6PlFG7EscKD0EpACfz4miAXCg6CZditLc9u5G4HaEw8A1/s1600-h/IMG_1445.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LnDbCEZhO2O1JSja7v1ErTLpGUEwes7Xbd3QDLJ0cIlLycFi2A3qL5CZkcipCug_sSCN4xtJzNt313ZtJrfY-eUXXIXvIvU6PlFG7EscKD0EpACfz4miAXCg6CZditLc9u5G4HaEw8A1/s320/IMG_1445.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066952624843074" /></a><br /><br />I'm still working on the first sock of the Horse sock pair, another Christmas gift. It is lovely, but time consuming. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPy8nUABTq4Ic46HEQIxVNDwx1Dyg0hMn4X3AOnF9W8r5CdgryT3ui3ntkY7vlVmSoyE96QzhX_1L9jkpW-HgX-9pu2JiwEDpTswUL7JSflKDmnKWHlEvXQm1Z9V8LE44pB3VM3p6iMVK/s1600-h/IMG_1448.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPy8nUABTq4Ic46HEQIxVNDwx1Dyg0hMn4X3AOnF9W8r5CdgryT3ui3ntkY7vlVmSoyE96QzhX_1L9jkpW-HgX-9pu2JiwEDpTswUL7JSflKDmnKWHlEvXQm1Z9V8LE44pB3VM3p6iMVK/s320/IMG_1448.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377056579770324706" /></a><br /><br />My fair isle is getting much better though. I'm using the technique of knitting the main colour yarn in English style and holding it in my right hand, while using the left hand to hold the contrasting colour and knitting continental style. The trouble is, my left hand doesn't like to knit very well, but again, it's getting much better with practice. I thought of giving up this method, but frankly, I find it too hard to carry the yarn along the back of the work any other way, so I'm sticking to it. I'm getting faster and faster at the actual knitting part, but often lose my place on the colour charts and that slows me down alot. I still can't do it well at all if I'm doing anything else, aside from listen to background music. So I flip on <a href="http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/">Radio Margaritaville </a>and work a few rows at a time. Last week though, I was ill for a few days, and simply couldn't work on it at all. The concentration when I felt so badly was beyond me. <br /><br />A friend at works daughter has been working on a school project. The idea is, she will spin some yarn and then knit a scarf out of it. My friend and her husband have a small herd of alpaca (are alpacas in a group even called "herds"?) and she wanted to use some of their alpaca fleece to spin. I had given her some books with simple scarf patterns in it, but a couple of weeks ago her mother told me that she was having lots of trouble spinning it. <br /><br />It occured to me that the poor girl, a very beginning spinner, was trying to spin Alpaca locks on an old Ashford traditional. Hardly a job suitable for a beginner.So I offered to run enough of it through my drum carder for her to make the scarf out of. Now my carder isn't exactly suitable for alpaca, but it was certainly better than trying to spin locks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVhZhe__IcyYAgnTHrZUr0ngSvZWnvJSXBdaQmQ2hlXXWQ0xrrzJlOmQteAB88OY9y1rCFCeumTbWQjMi8ON3pywz-DnvsjR538JFnQcnzWS8-ZxoRyYtlCUtzBKENE4KvviENj2vnPYy/s1600-h/IMG_1454.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVhZhe__IcyYAgnTHrZUr0ngSvZWnvJSXBdaQmQ2hlXXWQ0xrrzJlOmQteAB88OY9y1rCFCeumTbWQjMi8ON3pywz-DnvsjR538JFnQcnzWS8-ZxoRyYtlCUtzBKENE4KvviENj2vnPYy/s320/IMG_1454.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066962315447538" /></a><br /><br />I stopped by her house last Saturday, helped her adjust her wheel, and before I left, she was spinning the alpaca quite comfortably.<br /><br />My spinning has almost ground to a halt. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but after my flurry of spinning activity after Bendigo, it seems that way. I've spun up about 300 grams of the wool from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres</a> in the Timber colourway:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnNR0GJqDlT6lP75QIu05gtwxEBkCbqbSLmo7gjqbiU3DcP-38lsWX1UBdTEDlNIl3gO4r5schO-SIk2gB908NP3ZfwFxyev4eONnicwaZldTIOdrIPpXsR-w5M7f5r44IxN5Y1B8QdNZ/s1600-h/IMG_1451.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnNR0GJqDlT6lP75QIu05gtwxEBkCbqbSLmo7gjqbiU3DcP-38lsWX1UBdTEDlNIl3gO4r5schO-SIk2gB908NP3ZfwFxyev4eONnicwaZldTIOdrIPpXsR-w5M7f5r44IxN5Y1B8QdNZ/s320/IMG_1451.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377056592499964018" /></a><br /><br />and now I'm spinning up some silk, also from Kathy, and also in the Timber colourway. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qDvvN34SkQxuNhvWzBS7J561_GSN7JU5X5lsJOXhgbzR0FN0qrmInxMAL1gYmACm8oDxHVooShRB_ud4QlmZvF4vTJP_7duWe4UxlnDTuYnG6ngmKmJ0i4P1CH99RBjEUP8vw8ApG_mh/s1600-h/IMG_1450.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qDvvN34SkQxuNhvWzBS7J561_GSN7JU5X5lsJOXhgbzR0FN0qrmInxMAL1gYmACm8oDxHVooShRB_ud4QlmZvF4vTJP_7duWe4UxlnDTuYnG6ngmKmJ0i4P1CH99RBjEUP8vw8ApG_mh/s320/IMG_1450.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377056583097289842" /></a><br /><br />The plan is to make a 3 ply using two of the wool singles, and one silk single. It's a rather big project, but I'm only working on it slowly. <br /><br />I don't have anything started on the Ashford. At first, I'd thought to try my hand at some cotton on there, as I'm still better at handling pernacious fibres on the Ashford, but so far, I haven't started. I've also bought another Red Flowering Gum roving from Kathy, and have thought to go ahead and spin it up. That would give me enough yarn in that colourway to create a decent sized project from it, but so far, I've been so focused on my Christmas knitting that I haven't gotten anything started yet. <br /><br />Well, that's pretty much it for the past couple of weeks or more. I can't even remember when I put my last post on here, and that's a shame. I keep promising myself I will get better at posting more regularly, but life, work and actually doing the craftwork gets in my way.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-41050245650191102312009-08-13T11:05:00.009+09:302009-08-14T17:11:48.749+09:30Part 3, Bendigo and Beyond - The ProjectsTime to talk projects! When thinking about doing this post, it seemed a bit overwhelming, as I'll be going back as far as the things I was working on before going to Bendigo. It's not really going to be as bad as I feared though, since alot of that time was spent doing just one thing; working on the second "Bustaroony" cardigan.<br /><br />I finished the back of the project, and moved on, in predictable order, to the left front piece. In this picture, I had finished about half of the left front, but I have since finished all of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrq4LmmH6TNqWeUeryEiSu7EXUsKxZZaVMw1207UgGgpDpr7j89PQ_PTO4mkxXe6iJ7MMY9OMWD28YuXV8tPjhwUVO_4fS97AnlEQvBYsRrk22zlNnkDUsqs4_0i-9bBhK5Yzs-9D4_jU/s1600-h/IMG_1376.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrq4LmmH6TNqWeUeryEiSu7EXUsKxZZaVMw1207UgGgpDpr7j89PQ_PTO4mkxXe6iJ7MMY9OMWD28YuXV8tPjhwUVO_4fS97AnlEQvBYsRrk22zlNnkDUsqs4_0i-9bBhK5Yzs-9D4_jU/s320/IMG_1376.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369634216152090050" /></a><br /><br />Right now, I'm working on the right front piece. I'm going to put a button hole in this one, as the "self making" buttonholes the pattern calls for is not on. The stitches are way to tight to shove anything but the tiniest button thru, and this style of cardi just screams for a decent sized button on the front.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC534gM68UDQzlAjGQjmZkIrxSFIw9JUxCIHKLRHE8eZDN6u2Mc3olEiqegSsQt0pGXcU-ooJE7Srlr5YBEMMHHqvjq4mRan2Ekhn-4lV8VfBHH0WO42viuh1p3ts4molSgCVC7BEwROF/s1600-h/IMG_1430.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC534gM68UDQzlAjGQjmZkIrxSFIw9JUxCIHKLRHE8eZDN6u2Mc3olEiqegSsQt0pGXcU-ooJE7Srlr5YBEMMHHqvjq4mRan2Ekhn-4lV8VfBHH0WO42viuh1p3ts4molSgCVC7BEwROF/s320/IMG_1430.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369318088941778258" /></a><br /><br />Since Bendigo, I've mainly been working on the cardi at home, and taking other smaller projects to work with me. Aside from it getting huge, I have so many small projects I need to finish for Christmas, that I really felt the need to feel like I was "getting somewhere", so I decided to alternate some of the smaller projects with the cardi, to break the monotony and hopefully to soon have finished projects to show for my efforts. <br /><br />If you will remember, on the same day I bought the Majacraft Little Gem in Bendigo, I bought a superwash merino top from Mandie at Ewe Give Me the Knits, so that I would have something to try it out with. I started spinning on that the very night I got the wheel, and spun quite a bit in Bendigo. There's pictures of the bobbins on my previous post, but below is the yarn on the Niddy Noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj-cBCilWvOj3CYac1WkP6mVxmHn5DLklJ8hXVNMtVmyBQv8pN8d2vGFGLCHfeKYg_n0d-zcPQRwM4YDQG5b9e00LYOTlUIZBoz_9ssug-hf33M7C1GZXxJnyVpOUhu0SynwxvCJKe2pd/s1600-h/IMG_1406.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj-cBCilWvOj3CYac1WkP6mVxmHn5DLklJ8hXVNMtVmyBQv8pN8d2vGFGLCHfeKYg_n0d-zcPQRwM4YDQG5b9e00LYOTlUIZBoz_9ssug-hf33M7C1GZXxJnyVpOUhu0SynwxvCJKe2pd/s320/IMG_1406.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627885619795058" /></a><br /><br />And here is the finished skein:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EWz0qZ-VizPO2ZrI_kocOK2j1k7nQjZ-Am9fOqSUQLzoasoli_mn-BPcf0LkGuAOjLxSPm6sx3mlEsNYpKSoLbTYxpZv04XIzaojO87Ef0DrkNEGE10ldhkZVnudJc4ayyaQhVWcmTbb/s1600-h/IMG_1409.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EWz0qZ-VizPO2ZrI_kocOK2j1k7nQjZ-Am9fOqSUQLzoasoli_mn-BPcf0LkGuAOjLxSPm6sx3mlEsNYpKSoLbTYxpZv04XIzaojO87Ef0DrkNEGE10ldhkZVnudJc4ayyaQhVWcmTbb/s320/IMG_1409.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627852149634706" /></a><br /><br />I decided to name it "Albequergue" as the colours remind me of the desert and the theme colours in some of the Navaho art you find there. I managed to spin and ply it quite thin, and decided it would be great for socks, so I started this pair below. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7IZZnyWoM_6xDp8vrdArGUpDj7VjxCiE0vIITbUQL-PUxoCXglg0Q83aYrh8BXYJWnB-RPhdmqygxptOdNrC8P1CMgGw_zHre0ygkByw6794sfoqo_yQYw0DaDuidJnfR-rcs4Sd-xwl/s1600-h/IMG_1431.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7IZZnyWoM_6xDp8vrdArGUpDj7VjxCiE0vIITbUQL-PUxoCXglg0Q83aYrh8BXYJWnB-RPhdmqygxptOdNrC8P1CMgGw_zHre0ygkByw6794sfoqo_yQYw0DaDuidJnfR-rcs4Sd-xwl/s320/IMG_1431.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369319650556952818" /></a><br /><br />I'm using David's Toe up Sock Cookbook (free download available at this Rav <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/davids-toe-up-sock-cookbook">linky</a>), which is my favorite formula for toe up socks, with my usual slight "Widdershinesque" variation at the heel, and I'm adding a few ribs for stretchiness. Of course, they look positively fun and funky colourwise, but also nice and thick and warm. At this stage, I'm just past the heels and starting on the leg section. I've decided these will be my 'at work' project for awhile, as the stitch is a simple one I could do in a trance (which is pretty much my usual state of mind at work). <br /><br />On the subject of spinning, I also finished spinning up the Shetland I'd gotten from David at Southern Cross Fibre Club. I'd started the first bobbin long before I left for Bendigo, so of course, it was spun on the Ashford. I must say that it was one of the most delightful fibres it has ever been my pleasure to spin. Whether that is just the way Shetland is, or whether it's David's remarkable talent I'm not sure. I had never spun either Shetland or David's fibre before, but from what I hear, it's probably a combination of both. Whatever it was, I now crave more Shetland to spin..when I have the room to store more fibre that is (not to mention the money to buy it). <br /><br />So here is the lovely green Shetland, which I wound up naming "Verde" on the bobbins:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogVHbx_asKcOCOPVncklc2ZpWT7LrKk9csxyhgIN7DFMYIcaksXqFq8_a4RxiSw0QR8N8vJgMDXIxWrhiV3z6A2zhHOyaPM__ddHalSaWws-llRXZ_s6rs1VjxmVvmRnWA-OfPnxcDiH_/s1600-h/IMG_1410.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogVHbx_asKcOCOPVncklc2ZpWT7LrKk9csxyhgIN7DFMYIcaksXqFq8_a4RxiSw0QR8N8vJgMDXIxWrhiV3z6A2zhHOyaPM__ddHalSaWws-llRXZ_s6rs1VjxmVvmRnWA-OfPnxcDiH_/s320/IMG_1410.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627832390195666" /></a><br /><br />The finished skein of Verde:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qztwsGv3OtWcOSEevfx4fJ-RpBeL7_f8OMeSWjF7MUja9B5BE6iW_goQNu27h27CXOSJtqHoR1DVmdYJ2k6QFDxPW8oyvXdWmcJdez0jidx2jcXL8OZYWJGThiWbZ7-H9R1ZnaLWrDNM/s1600-h/IMG_1419.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qztwsGv3OtWcOSEevfx4fJ-RpBeL7_f8OMeSWjF7MUja9B5BE6iW_goQNu27h27CXOSJtqHoR1DVmdYJ2k6QFDxPW8oyvXdWmcJdez0jidx2jcXL8OZYWJGThiWbZ7-H9R1ZnaLWrDNM/s320/IMG_1419.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627806617317410" /></a><br /><br />And a bit of a blurry closeup:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxk9y8aGpcDReOQKMEo0-Yor4axLJEcyWX9bfScLfX0oyU3QYzRaOMnBfY6lV0TFyB4728gWpmjlJGHkpnk7w1R3eCsRvNQv2YZ7vM0nkLEb3WqSJEqKmj20tHCDDm1iYJTaQDLcdxCHe/s1600-h/IMG_1420.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxk9y8aGpcDReOQKMEo0-Yor4axLJEcyWX9bfScLfX0oyU3QYzRaOMnBfY6lV0TFyB4728gWpmjlJGHkpnk7w1R3eCsRvNQv2YZ7vM0nkLEb3WqSJEqKmj20tHCDDm1iYJTaQDLcdxCHe/s320/IMG_1420.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369627820341199554" /></a><br /><br />It's actually quite soft for a Shetland, which definately broadens my options of what I wind up knitting from it. I haven't made my mind up what though. I'm once again waiting for that special project. <br /><br />Sortly after I returned from Bendigo, I decided it was about time to buy me a couple of new uniform tops. The pictures I took in Bendigo convinced me that I'm close enough now to the size I want to be that I could buy some shirts that I would be able to wear for awhile. I had never been to the shop that sells our uniforms before, having in the past ordered them. So I got directions and stayed after work one morning to do the shop. <br /><br />When I was leaving the shop, I realized that I was darned close to The Yarn Barn, and so of course, must pop in. They had started opening lately at 10:00 in the morning instead of 9:00, which made it rather hard on me, so I had started shopping at Needlenook instead. Anyway, here it was almost 10:00, and it seemed a good time to drop by.<br /><br />Every since I got the Victorian Lace Today book, I have told several people that I would love to knit everything in it. No doubt that would be a monumental task, as I haven't knit even the first pattern out of it yet. Not to be deterred though, it appears I'm trying to buy enough lace yarn to perform the feat. When I left The Yarn Barn that day, it was with this bright red Centavago extra fine laceweight in my clutches. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGN1pJ-yZiVoRG8_UlfPE5P_qVdmg15Qn963cWTEokycE6esAx-D-Cr6LIWOmBNvGOjnwiOCsNU9txjDsH-72C8jkU_WrtQOmrBM0ko3PZoB9ulbuSbQfJIYB23SZ8OvXfh0SUHvy0ju0/s1600-h/IMG_1407.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGN1pJ-yZiVoRG8_UlfPE5P_qVdmg15Qn963cWTEokycE6esAx-D-Cr6LIWOmBNvGOjnwiOCsNU9txjDsH-72C8jkU_WrtQOmrBM0ko3PZoB9ulbuSbQfJIYB23SZ8OvXfh0SUHvy0ju0/s320/IMG_1407.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369634198231350402" /></a><br /><br />I was in for a very cute surprise at work after I got back from Bendigo. My coworker, Linda, had seen this cute cup in a store and thought of me. She said she couldn't pass it up, as it was so totally "Me". And it's true. I despise exercise, and whenever I do it, always think I could be knitting or spinning instead. She knows me well, and I absolutely adore the cup.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd_diGWdx37cJSFum-QnFr7DSD6aR3l0I6pdLg904aJLvWWxtOIb7xcJbjCxiH6MRAcYSght8fVox8Dv7fILLl8HcBPVcREtI1RI9mT7-77vtES4Asq9CRcEWNIdiQU3lTAAioj_d2BDC/s1600-h/IMG_1436.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd_diGWdx37cJSFum-QnFr7DSD6aR3l0I6pdLg904aJLvWWxtOIb7xcJbjCxiH6MRAcYSght8fVox8Dv7fILLl8HcBPVcREtI1RI9mT7-77vtES4Asq9CRcEWNIdiQU3lTAAioj_d2BDC/s320/IMG_1436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369319683152007890" /></a><br /><br />Last weekend was the annual Mount Pleasant Fibre Fair. I'd missed this in previous years, frankly because I kept forgetting about it. Coming right after Bendigo as it does, I simply had let the day pass by before I figured out that it was on. But with the help of some fellow Ravelers' gentle reminders, this year I finally made it. Of course, I had to go after work, winding my way along roads thru the Adelaide Hills that would make a mountain goat nervous. Ahh, what we won't do for our fibre fix.<br /><br />It was a fun event. Tiny compared to Bendigo, but the SA fibre community was well represented. Jane, from <a href="http://www.moseleyparkhome.com/">Moseley Park </a>was there, along with Kathy from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres</a>, Brenda from <a href="http://www.coloniallakebooks.com.au/catalogue/knitting.html">Colonial Lake Books</a>, and Spinningwoodie and his lovely wife were there with all their wooden goodie. There were several other stalls set up with sellers I don't know quite as well, and all in all a lovely range of fibres and accessories. <br /><br />I also, finally, for the very first time, met Sharon, a fellow expat American and Ravelry buddy who I had been posting back and forth to for years but had never had the pleasure of meeting. She was there with her lovely family, and it was so wonderful to finally get to meet her. We shared a few Americanisms, like our "sticker shock" when first arriving in Australia, and other tidbits only another expat would understand. I'm looking forward to meeting up with her again sometime when we get the chance.<br /><br />I also made a few purchases, although it can be successfully argued that I didn't precisely "need" anything so soon after Bendigo. But in the interest of supporting the local artists, I just forced myself (hrrrumpphhh)...yes...forced myself, to buy a few things. <br /><br />From Jane at Moseley Park I got this royalest of all royal blues crossbred top:<br />Mt Pleasant MoseleyPark Blue<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIaDcTL-07u15dMBkyLWIVTBTkF1AUCdmTO-KpIQkOvlMy2eaftZKRQq0dLgo0Lc6QoxSLmlOejiP8XaB7BZKSGF3NRdPM6a0BOUMNVnmwgmIYbK0TfxnFtF1fSaNBdZjX-J_WgQbZm6h/s1600-h/IMG_1426.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIaDcTL-07u15dMBkyLWIVTBTkF1AUCdmTO-KpIQkOvlMy2eaftZKRQq0dLgo0Lc6QoxSLmlOejiP8XaB7BZKSGF3NRdPM6a0BOUMNVnmwgmIYbK0TfxnFtF1fSaNBdZjX-J_WgQbZm6h/s320/IMG_1426.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369318058997072066" /></a><br /><br />She obviously didn't want to get rid of it, as she had it hanging way way up on her fibre racks, but I tricked her by getting her handsome hubby to help me get it down ;). <br /><br />And from Brenda at Colonial Lake Books I found two books that I had been wanting. I bought Spin Control by Amy King, which is, of course, about adding more control to your spinning. I've read about halfway through it already, and I love the techniques it talks about, and the instructions are very clear and concise. It's an excellent reference and technique guide. <br /><br />I also bought Sculptured Knits by Jean Moss, and lucky me, it was in her bargain box! I'm a big fan of "coffee table" knitting books, the kind with the dialouge and the beautiful pictures. Each project is inspired by an artist of some sort, from painters to playwrites, with a little bio of the artist. The patterns themselves are very artistically bent, some to the point that I'd never dream of wearing, but there are actually a few usable patterns in it too. Just an all round lovely book.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhTNdoUtjz7S-Z1xJzTQufKVtQ0MCxuKWHSZEjcyzYI_FIMpuJxYz3JbXp_NOIHDlyQ3rODCgkYh13WB9qjnDYd9HuMcVG50GsHUxGT2_ZUJBG2nbYqjZZzFJWNt23DMScRRmWoyYIjZn/s1600-h/IMG_1424.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhTNdoUtjz7S-Z1xJzTQufKVtQ0MCxuKWHSZEjcyzYI_FIMpuJxYz3JbXp_NOIHDlyQ3rODCgkYh13WB9qjnDYd9HuMcVG50GsHUxGT2_ZUJBG2nbYqjZZzFJWNt23DMScRRmWoyYIjZn/s320/IMG_1424.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369318050121640338" /></a><br /><br />Back in May at the Littlehampton sale, I'd bought some lovely soft camel coloured alpaca locks from Indulgence Alpacas. They were set up in Mount Pleasant as well, and their prices are so very reasonable that I decided to get another bag of the alpaca locks, this time in a darker brown that will compliment the first colour I got nicely.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9s3WCwa4-VeZA5G_vr-QXGAcZofEwlkGhPo7IIAA392YE0JQJ-2fqlN8J-CF1mpDnhSHXEzcvcHK9oA6tK0KOiiaX7i83-LnHzztPBBo3yYifVFYzIqN4P1kw_ZmG4rohSOu-P8AYghj/s1600-h/IMG_1429.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9s3WCwa4-VeZA5G_vr-QXGAcZofEwlkGhPo7IIAA392YE0JQJ-2fqlN8J-CF1mpDnhSHXEzcvcHK9oA6tK0KOiiaX7i83-LnHzztPBBo3yYifVFYzIqN4P1kw_ZmG4rohSOu-P8AYghj/s320/IMG_1429.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369318077232055698" /></a><br /><br />And last, but certainly not least, I got several things from Kathy of Kathy's fibres. I got a bag of hemp. I've never spun with hemp, so it's more a novelty than anything else. I also go another top in the Red Flowering Gum colourway. I have two skeins in that colourway already, called Navidad, and thought another on would really give me enough to do a decent sized project with. I do love that colourway so much. I also got another top of the Timber colourway, plus a silk roving, also in Timber.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yXpsZbmrP4DoqQv9lqlWvuV89pdfBLp1rvxBMec3NidpzNkMf5__3BnkSODXSgQGrYfBL1Edgs9o8gq9KcFinTzO9GD1n0dZ26oVlTMIJoHzqjdX2j5sY7lygV0Va2FkhwjwIMMp8TvW/s1600-h/IMG_1427.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yXpsZbmrP4DoqQv9lqlWvuV89pdfBLp1rvxBMec3NidpzNkMf5__3BnkSODXSgQGrYfBL1Edgs9o8gq9KcFinTzO9GD1n0dZ26oVlTMIJoHzqjdX2j5sY7lygV0Va2FkhwjwIMMp8TvW/s320/IMG_1427.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369318068129070274" /></a><br /><br />The Timber requires a bit of an explanation. After getting the Magacraft home, and finishing the skein of "Albequerque" shown above, I wanted something fairly simple to put on the wheel that I could spin up at work. I decided merino would be best, and chose a top I had gotten previously (again, in Littlehampton) from Kathy, as the fibre she dyes drafts very easily. Now the Majacraft has much larger bobbins than the Ashford does, but I spun two with the top because I intended to ply it. I split the top and did half on one bobbin, half on another, which was fine, but the bobbins were only half full. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb2f0kE8tMDXpnxomJ1Q8q6dQYio3CWJqbE4K0SsbBIivq_nC1KgJViquvd_c7s5R_rEXqWWiuBEOr8kB22eJ5RfF_wzY6OZARU2yz5z3Q1jWaEI4sZqNSsx0EJNmNbbAqg8gSBD1eehyphenhyphen/s1600-h/IMG_1411.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb2f0kE8tMDXpnxomJ1Q8q6dQYio3CWJqbE4K0SsbBIivq_nC1KgJViquvd_c7s5R_rEXqWWiuBEOr8kB22eJ5RfF_wzY6OZARU2yz5z3Q1jWaEI4sZqNSsx0EJNmNbbAqg8gSBD1eehyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_1411.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369634205596113010" /></a><br /><br />I finished spinning the second bobbin Friday night, so it was fresh in my mind Saturday morning at Mount Pleasant. On a whim, I thought I would just buy another top, spin that on top of the bobbins I'd already done, creating two full Majacraft bobbins of the Timber wool, making one gigantic skein after I ply it. Then I bought the silk in Timber as well, thinking I would then ply it with silk. <br /><br />My hubby, Chris, left Monday morning to take his year 11 geography class on their annual camp to the Flinders. I had a few days off while he was away, and I spent a good deal of my time spinning that second Timber top. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHsJeOx-bX2KOAsWkMD70bcifXq6AtgpZ71Cs3QeFC-WO0J2zP8yJE3bXuSoogTFI2grbXTNv-FePcxQOeValwflj8bJnS53OVjdRLjl8FvavFOPlleigUNwyYhUrigK0ceYZ4QzqNNG/s1600-h/IMG_1433.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHsJeOx-bX2KOAsWkMD70bcifXq6AtgpZ71Cs3QeFC-WO0J2zP8yJE3bXuSoogTFI2grbXTNv-FePcxQOeValwflj8bJnS53OVjdRLjl8FvavFOPlleigUNwyYhUrigK0ceYZ4QzqNNG/s320/IMG_1433.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369319666311435362" /></a><br /><br />I'm now spinning the silk. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I1ZyCK3HbH0BXXcaGH7cXSc29v-B3IQMbEZhhwu22iheOylBtj1tqYkCzcAKKuWRs-n8byilJFWj5ZOuKpoVYGAiqWR4siaM2Qh-shqTtROhjOmau3VraR_HsbGkb7D3qsMEEUHO8Nil/s1600-h/IMG_1444.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I1ZyCK3HbH0BXXcaGH7cXSc29v-B3IQMbEZhhwu22iheOylBtj1tqYkCzcAKKuWRs-n8byilJFWj5ZOuKpoVYGAiqWR4siaM2Qh-shqTtROhjOmau3VraR_HsbGkb7D3qsMEEUHO8Nil/s320/IMG_1444.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369718733711370898" /></a><br /><br />It's obvious I'm going to have to buy more though. How much more I'm not sure. I plan to either ply the two wool bobbins together with one silk bobbin, making a wool and silk 3 ply, or I'm going to ply the wool singles with the silk. I just haven't made my mind up yet. <br /><br />While Chris was gone I made myself very comfortable, with my knitting strewn everywhere. Here's my knitting corner of the couch, complete with laptop open to keep up with my Twitter friends. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaiAbOezHevndHPPPI4_IATu0xClbJIbZvm4k17ArGyJECdCdXC2y7ELYpkZVP145YXVIzpdEOPmNnsMNQw97QR7RgYhongHdMmgPa303Grx2NByY12rLkeRMM9iQbvPE6UNJFJInJzoy/s1600-h/IMG_1434.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaiAbOezHevndHPPPI4_IATu0xClbJIbZvm4k17ArGyJECdCdXC2y7ELYpkZVP145YXVIzpdEOPmNnsMNQw97QR7RgYhongHdMmgPa303Grx2NByY12rLkeRMM9iQbvPE6UNJFJInJzoy/s320/IMG_1434.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369319672977328178" /></a><br /><br />Yes, it's a mess, but it's fine to be messy when the hubby is away. It was sort of like my own personal camp right here in my own living room. <br /><br /><br />Also during this past week of husbandlessness, I was determined to finally use my "Earth's Pallette" dyes while I had these few days of peace, frivolity and fibre fun. As I looked to the stash, the organic was the smallest actual amount of white I had, and it was perfect for the cold dye technique, as I wouldn't have to worry about heat damaging the delicate fibres. So I pulled out the dyes, mixed them with the fixant, and for some reason decided to go for a nice shade of purple. Purple? Me? I don't even like purple. Even so, it's a nice purple.<br /><br />With Earth Palette Dyes, you mix, then dye, then wrap in plastic and leave sit for at least 24 hours.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CGJmCnnooOnh2EZAIfAUI5bbPOtHPKGQoly0R2LT0PnQLjPYbde2Cwp1tlFIiK1ZDmbpUfVsharjUDt3_SDacP8HMx9_QhnajO-RXoqiZXZwldty4zy_IgAyZHrZ8vziUT06D0XmqrPf/s1600-h/IMG_1432.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CGJmCnnooOnh2EZAIfAUI5bbPOtHPKGQoly0R2LT0PnQLjPYbde2Cwp1tlFIiK1ZDmbpUfVsharjUDt3_SDacP8HMx9_QhnajO-RXoqiZXZwldty4zy_IgAyZHrZ8vziUT06D0XmqrPf/s320/IMG_1432.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369319660273750370" /></a><br /><br />Then you wash it to get any excess dye out:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhIW9h7ncvukgOP_BSCMeatx9KUq-jb1rbcKB2adnG39snJ8k7QN8tKLRys4mOkb7Lk-m_yBFRAVA1YOUJMxAEDug46U1n8hvjHChbGNB8K5W98BS0a8maZHnki2weJIl1Ej_4L5LDuif/s1600-h/IMG_1441.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhIW9h7ncvukgOP_BSCMeatx9KUq-jb1rbcKB2adnG39snJ8k7QN8tKLRys4mOkb7Lk-m_yBFRAVA1YOUJMxAEDug46U1n8hvjHChbGNB8K5W98BS0a8maZHnki2weJIl1Ej_4L5LDuif/s320/IMG_1441.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369718717132130514" /></a><br /><br />And then dry, which is where I'm at right now. It's almost dry. One more day on the rack should do the trick.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfUIbXr9cYADfObISopZ0MC8kwh5PZ35JoQmQIY5fP49KTmLFuv-KBK9G54dz5-tz8XZipClcDXjIPxnhf8JvFVvhlU15wuHWuL0MKK-5pBl4jHj0LoB8woV5KpEBEk-GMA3LziUq1AKK/s1600-h/IMG_1440.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfUIbXr9cYADfObISopZ0MC8kwh5PZ35JoQmQIY5fP49KTmLFuv-KBK9G54dz5-tz8XZipClcDXjIPxnhf8JvFVvhlU15wuHWuL0MKK-5pBl4jHj0LoB8woV5KpEBEk-GMA3LziUq1AKK/s320/IMG_1440.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369718715517559938" /></a><br /><br />The last project I started this week, and probably the one I'm most proud of so far, is the fair isle socks I'm making as a Christmas gift. I haven't done Fair Isle or any sort of colourwork knitting in years. When I'd done it before, I didn't like it much, but now, strangely, I'm finding it a bit addictive, watching the pattern grow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VPwo7ZMnoXYkaOYXSbTfyTqXidhxwideRebigcXzuiBSS7yz7SH7UtyXsLPL-1MDon1dBbU0AVXn5SSxFq2fM2_xHgEkXJme329feKWnYSftycCMmXT_Yvtuo_pmQv-rPjVMaX2WJ3g3/s1600-h/IMG_1443.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VPwo7ZMnoXYkaOYXSbTfyTqXidhxwideRebigcXzuiBSS7yz7SH7UtyXsLPL-1MDon1dBbU0AVXn5SSxFq2fM2_xHgEkXJme329feKWnYSftycCMmXT_Yvtuo_pmQv-rPjVMaX2WJ3g3/s320/IMG_1443.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369718728505218098" /></a><br /><br />That's just the first little part of the first sock, so I may change my tune before it's over. I'm doing the technique of holding the MC as for English knitting and looping the other colour over my left index finger and knitting it as if doing Continental style. I have little or no control in my left hand where knitting is concerned, even though I am left handed. It's still very fiddly, but getting easier.<br /><br />Well, that's it for this time. That finally get me caught up to the present on activities, purchases and projects. Till next time, Happy Knitting!Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-59047132101581866262009-07-22T08:54:00.014+09:302009-08-04T13:33:03.607+09:30Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Part 2: The Purchases<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOimZkzoHa6Jb6h4NGJdewYvjXTvVPOrKPxlhikuDDZUYkZLM1V2X5d8OtuA0ZSGS3cEzLR31bBOZPCV5MxwYfYY_0jdcO3qHWShDbwz_tML0Q92B8b1_JSEN3EsUhVpBi2-3qcQyZnMX/s1600-h/IMG_1371.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOimZkzoHa6Jb6h4NGJdewYvjXTvVPOrKPxlhikuDDZUYkZLM1V2X5d8OtuA0ZSGS3cEzLR31bBOZPCV5MxwYfYY_0jdcO3qHWShDbwz_tML0Q92B8b1_JSEN3EsUhVpBi2-3qcQyZnMX/s320/IMG_1371.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709828886312018" /></a><br /><br />In "Part 2" of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, I'm going to go into more detail about my purchases, and cover anything I missed in the last post. Oh, and include a piccie of Chris for Mom.<br /><br />I guess I should start with what I purchased on Wednesday, the day we arrived. As I mentioned in a previous post, shortly after arriving Wednesday afternoon, Audrey suggested a trip to <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woolen Mills</a> before they closed for the day. She pointed out that if we waited too long, all the people coming to the show would have things more or less picked over. <br /><br />So, on our one and only visit to the mills, I picked up these two 5 ply superwash yarns. I have a pair of fair isleish socks I want to make as a Christmas gift. The pattern calls for 5 ply, and these are great colours for the design. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zRhFZHTlcgUWPTv3C2rEd9OtgFhZ8gfh-gvhUZrMzRNrkIJz8K0pbOn-Dq-NIDSg3twf79KNbCqIrTBPerqur8W72GQ-bDknxeSpdVS30nsFffJfKxHpRCm6_8kUtn9LFVkyJGg16Rl_/s1600-h/IMG_1389.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zRhFZHTlcgUWPTv3C2rEd9OtgFhZ8gfh-gvhUZrMzRNrkIJz8K0pbOn-Dq-NIDSg3twf79KNbCqIrTBPerqur8W72GQ-bDknxeSpdVS30nsFffJfKxHpRCm6_8kUtn9LFVkyJGg16Rl_/s320/IMG_1389.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361066599922524242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6dc7tuGEvLlJRZ9x21vF6mcgzkt4FfzYWqUjv8-_kS_vX-zQTknC3tFFC707hCZAzKKy02K-QXb_Zk5PSeU7ePK8fTxGpycpQkhuqMUeELP1tOjHt0pD75qNwuS_VadGUyxPb78U56Ck/s1600-h/IMG_1388.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6dc7tuGEvLlJRZ9x21vF6mcgzkt4FfzYWqUjv8-_kS_vX-zQTknC3tFFC707hCZAzKKy02K-QXb_Zk5PSeU7ePK8fTxGpycpQkhuqMUeELP1tOjHt0pD75qNwuS_VadGUyxPb78U56Ck/s320/IMG_1388.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061948702160706" /></a><br /><br />With vague thoughts of a summer top in mind, I also bought 10 balls of BWM Cotton in a lovely light blue shade. I don't have a pattern in mind yet, but I'm sure I'll find a suitable one. At $2 a ball, it was a hard bargain to pass up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV05A5qqBvs-_X89MoWieAUC1JjHRg17kqwmWwPUH1n3qRWfARuSdBlMblYY0kr9vH2fyt64mb-aPQpwQfrl1XedyYDhdokaCUzYgi-ebY1WljrQMKK6ksM2foG71NOH4ajnJ5ZZFqoH2/s1600-h/IMG_1393.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV05A5qqBvs-_X89MoWieAUC1JjHRg17kqwmWwPUH1n3qRWfARuSdBlMblYY0kr9vH2fyt64mb-aPQpwQfrl1XedyYDhdokaCUzYgi-ebY1WljrQMKK6ksM2foG71NOH4ajnJ5ZZFqoH2/s320/IMG_1393.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361066613064716722" /></a><br /><br />On Friday morning, so soon after we arrived at the show that Chris was still with me (believe me, that wasn't very long) I found the <a href="http://www.sarahdurrant.com/">Sarah Durrant</a> stand. They sell Colinette yarns, and I'm just in love with Jitterbug Sock Yarn. She also sells Knit Picks needles and products (excepting yarns, which aren't sold in Australia) We chatted for a good while (which is where Chris gave up waiting and wandered off on his own) and I wound up with some extra size 4mm needles for my Harmony set, and some of the new connectors for Harmony cords (not pictured). I also wound up with the two skeins of Jitterbug pictured below. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlybAXGrtQEvh3OjWc26YA3MbwdnEo2yNWu-jc9wJiJ8nDSH7-OWGqP5pmMUP0ZtkmPKlUV0cYqU4JpmBa37jKXtVAjv96ZxQjGU5w-V9rtOrT3Gw6Dw3gM9rc-0UzZb7o94DdeT0aDnq/s1600-h/IMG_1394.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlybAXGrtQEvh3OjWc26YA3MbwdnEo2yNWu-jc9wJiJ8nDSH7-OWGqP5pmMUP0ZtkmPKlUV0cYqU4JpmBa37jKXtVAjv96ZxQjGU5w-V9rtOrT3Gw6Dw3gM9rc-0UzZb7o94DdeT0aDnq/s320/IMG_1394.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361066620232903938" /></a><br /><br />Shortly after that, I wound up at Stranded in Oz's booth, whose owner Mel showed me this lovely Jezebel. I've seen SWTC yarns in magazines, etc, but had never knit with it before, and such a nice solid sock yarn can always be used. It would even work for men's socks in a pinch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE0sJ1Vr3WWHeSRfj3nx4eiIvmSAwW9d617sk2DiUUOUObeF3KhmdN4Jr3fijxXANcwEsWlCHfYn5U45VabGvo0ZU3Qk0kqhqnWGyEEcGoyamelR28Hvqw02uR9omHB1mVbbDIqlwPAbn/s1600-h/IMG_1395.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE0sJ1Vr3WWHeSRfj3nx4eiIvmSAwW9d617sk2DiUUOUObeF3KhmdN4Jr3fijxXANcwEsWlCHfYn5U45VabGvo0ZU3Qk0kqhqnWGyEEcGoyamelR28Hvqw02uR9omHB1mVbbDIqlwPAbn/s320/IMG_1395.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361067399780861906" /></a><br /><br />When I left to go to Bendigo, I only had one specific thing in mind that I was definately going to get. Last year, I bought two skeins of Laura Down's cashmere in a subtle tan shade. The trouble was, two skeins only amounted to about 700 meters, and most of the lace shawl patterns I'd found asked for more yarn than that. So I was determined that, if I could match the colour, I was going to get another ball of the same. Lucky me, I found it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJN9fxGHdxQmGCygsagtz83giekGZnCMU_CT604jElactS0bE5Ng3nI0Ykvjo3jhSSpNCjPeQjW1vMheYo-SSEwvxZyrlBTSJ-3vXQlbQUNnZHtulRHZo9sugqoUAuV7GpH8pa7Ll724m/s1600-h/IMG_1387.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJN9fxGHdxQmGCygsagtz83giekGZnCMU_CT604jElactS0bE5Ng3nI0Ykvjo3jhSSpNCjPeQjW1vMheYo-SSEwvxZyrlBTSJ-3vXQlbQUNnZHtulRHZo9sugqoUAuV7GpH8pa7Ll724m/s320/IMG_1387.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061946010449282" /></a><br /><br />Of course, Friday morning I bought the Majacraft Little Gem spinning wheel, but after getting it home, I realized I had only bought yarn, and not fibre, other than the lot I got from Bendigo Woolen Mills, which I didn't want to break into yet, so Friday afternoon, I bought some Merino and seacell from Ewe Give Me The Knits.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32yPMDag-gUlyBJYX3T0gdW5voe6sIFZm98DvlXScmx4xkx_-1-q1VQhgGry_J3HAe29a3b0xyfHCl5g0kaUUmTezf1ACEgD-r5TXSiS-WRNyzSL-ikb6VXx6KbyvhHUeoXAYDKwvb_FY/s1600-h/IMG_1392.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32yPMDag-gUlyBJYX3T0gdW5voe6sIFZm98DvlXScmx4xkx_-1-q1VQhgGry_J3HAe29a3b0xyfHCl5g0kaUUmTezf1ACEgD-r5TXSiS-WRNyzSL-ikb6VXx6KbyvhHUeoXAYDKwvb_FY/s320/IMG_1392.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361066611147785682" /></a> <br /><br />As mentioned in the previous post, I started spinning on the majacraft Friday night after we had gone out for dinner. Patience has never been my personal virtue, but I consider it a remarkable show of discipline that I bothered to eat first. I decided on some EGMTK Superwash merino that is shown in the last post in the group picture of my Friday purchases, but alas, it was on the wheel before I thought to make an individual photo of it.<br /><br />Here's a closeup of the first finished bobbin:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziDUEyzBiZjU4b7v-dSBud102KnhCnh-HA72-oIUkJPaV976Tp9D_b57M8dfawzYBkUsXImBkGs1Pb7YlmJhci4xSqqtdnDFTBNABZQ_tvZYKTT-3wpM341xzkXdfredeOSX9gpI1XAn4/s1600-h/IMG_1404.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziDUEyzBiZjU4b7v-dSBud102KnhCnh-HA72-oIUkJPaV976Tp9D_b57M8dfawzYBkUsXImBkGs1Pb7YlmJhci4xSqqtdnDFTBNABZQ_tvZYKTT-3wpM341xzkXdfredeOSX9gpI1XAn4/s320/IMG_1404.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361074254474611826" /></a><br /><br />And here's the first finished bobbin with fibre for second bobbin alongside:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr5DHyw0Nk7fsrTzl6momEs6xjwPeiMKP-IWgmQAosQm4HUMcvD0bDwZYjiWcBLnnRiG71aAX7yCMT8wg_bdZbnHBGYapCBvmEGN50J4Dy-MDhDtLmIzSZnv5FbxL2SF4FbP8-Jqgtu4y/s1600-h/IMG_1403.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr5DHyw0Nk7fsrTzl6momEs6xjwPeiMKP-IWgmQAosQm4HUMcvD0bDwZYjiWcBLnnRiG71aAX7yCMT8wg_bdZbnHBGYapCBvmEGN50J4Dy-MDhDtLmIzSZnv5FbxL2SF4FbP8-Jqgtu4y/s320/IMG_1403.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361074255048489106" /></a><br /><br />After getting up Saturday morning to a less than well hubby and missing the Rav brekky, I got to the showgrounds at around 9:00. I went in search of the Ravelry building, which I had never found Friday. In my search, I did run across a building I hadn't investigated the day before, and in it I found <a href="http://www.wooldancer.com/">Wooldancer</a>, and some real jewels in her stand. I could have bought much more. She had so very many pretty things, but I settled on the haul below. 3 bags of cotton in very earthy colours (I've never spun cotton, so this was a particular treat), a green and a yellow braid of organic merino (yummy)and she kindly agreed to hang onto my purchases for me until I was ready to go. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXi9w5nzx6KWDyWCwtfzCCUrwewr1_7XM_KgFFTKiOIUMcdDC9GqGg-vYiIX4quE1yoSV87xlyRlvdyptF0olm6YXZhcvTuH16Iou55cCmzJ7EnGEq0nfHXfljhMHfeZYIMcc7thcsyBs/s1600-h/IMG_1384.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXi9w5nzx6KWDyWCwtfzCCUrwewr1_7XM_KgFFTKiOIUMcdDC9GqGg-vYiIX4quE1yoSV87xlyRlvdyptF0olm6YXZhcvTuH16Iou55cCmzJ7EnGEq0nfHXfljhMHfeZYIMcc7thcsyBs/s320/IMG_1384.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061939841908066" /></a><br /><br />I wandered around alot on Saturday, chatting with friends and aquaintences and meeting new ones, and didn't load myself up right away, as I was planning on being there about 6 hours, but I made some mental notes of those places I wanted to come back to and buy from. So most of the following purchases were either made in later in the day, or the actual purchases were made earlier and picked up later in the day. So essentially, I made one last mad dash at just before 3PM to pick up or purchase all my goodies. But I find it almost impossible to put Saturdays purchases in any semblance of order because of this, so I'm won't even try. If the timeline doesn't make much sense, well, that's because it probably isn't correct.<br /><br />I had bought some wool from <a href="http://www.ballaratweb.net/BandG/">Bennett and Gregor </a>before, at the SACSOS booth at the Adelaide show last year. A bag of merino slivers in a lovely brown that I used in my mom's Christmas jumper. Now at that time, I was a rather novice spinner, and shouldn't have even attempted slivers, but there you go. I do like their wool though, and the fact that they go with the natural sheeps colouring rather than dyeing, so I bought these naturally coloured tops from them, plus a bit of extra white. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iV3fRCcLVBe3U8PGQZ_HvzAY5_FDYVE2wwmoGZu7rLQj4sgpHI8Jo_SU-LWlLuievBYEdg4qdgA_ky1_M9PobAn8hot2aifW0RT221bGqi1T_ChZT_AFO8mJEL3AeHIQqdv5VQNL29-w/s1600-h/IMG_1383.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iV3fRCcLVBe3U8PGQZ_HvzAY5_FDYVE2wwmoGZu7rLQj4sgpHI8Jo_SU-LWlLuievBYEdg4qdgA_ky1_M9PobAn8hot2aifW0RT221bGqi1T_ChZT_AFO8mJEL3AeHIQqdv5VQNL29-w/s320/IMG_1383.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061938321792546" /></a><br /><br />After not seeing her at all Friday, although heaven only knows how I missed her, I ran into Jane from <a href="http://www.moseleyparkhome.com/">Moseley Park</a>, one of the lovliest ladies I've met since I've been involved in the spinning thing. She had many gorgeous rovings and yarns, but I wound up with this pretty, bright garnet coloured silk. We stood around and chatted for awhile, and it was so nice to see her again. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYMn23z68RkG2lgcttaqDRpT_2GCSKd9JbZR80_6aB4tQVVjtCkEzNQTwUnfHjybhKgxLp9866btOHxkb9-8-KpQTIbjzlLysUnfCjLNdhu3wlsqhsQoEsjd6sKSjPwGAYxEbyUku3WV1/s1600-h/IMG_1400.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYMn23z68RkG2lgcttaqDRpT_2GCSKd9JbZR80_6aB4tQVVjtCkEzNQTwUnfHjybhKgxLp9866btOHxkb9-8-KpQTIbjzlLysUnfCjLNdhu3wlsqhsQoEsjd6sKSjPwGAYxEbyUku3WV1/s320/IMG_1400.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361067416682716610" /></a><br /><br />While I was talking to Jane, I ran into a Ravelry mate who had bought some lovely camel and optim blend from <a href="http://www.virginiafarmwoolworks.com.au/">Virginia Farm Woolworks</a>, so of course I had to have some. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrmf8B8sTN3c8GMKCWZfEWTYgA8vuhRAU85DF8xUt7joNdNF8bijrwMXPMAIttq-oFC24lZcxFEZAz6MDjCwrAfLfBjdl_RPtNLzh1YouWFjmL4Zx0waTayyb1GUhjk8jzRhyhX7aoEVS/s1600-h/IMG_1381.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrmf8B8sTN3c8GMKCWZfEWTYgA8vuhRAU85DF8xUt7joNdNF8bijrwMXPMAIttq-oFC24lZcxFEZAz6MDjCwrAfLfBjdl_RPtNLzh1YouWFjmL4Zx0waTayyb1GUhjk8jzRhyhX7aoEVS/s320/IMG_1381.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061116368559906" /></a><br /><br />I also found this lovely silk there, which I plan to use to do something from my Victorian Lace Today book. I haven't decided if I want to dye it or not, but of course, that option is always there. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlVjQW_mx3s2QvAnDvsSafPu_X37R8PO76be-tsEz-PILK3EbSCMruEmTysNDEWCPwOiLbxoBmK3KCeWGZ9bD8LBerB7A-rVLco_-oLHCWLY7ljUkldukWbPO1H-U90xSRQZDd-moRjCs/s1600-h/IMG_1398.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlVjQW_mx3s2QvAnDvsSafPu_X37R8PO76be-tsEz-PILK3EbSCMruEmTysNDEWCPwOiLbxoBmK3KCeWGZ9bD8LBerB7A-rVLco_-oLHCWLY7ljUkldukWbPO1H-U90xSRQZDd-moRjCs/s320/IMG_1398.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361067402800851682" /></a><br /><br />I also bought these Landscape dyes from <a href="http://www.virginiafarmwoolworks.com.au/">Virginia Farm Woolworks</a>. The lady there was so very helpful in helping me choose them. I think I got a nice representative amount, and I'm even going to try and mix the colours for some hopefully interesting results. No doubt, I'll buy more variety in the future. I have the <a href="http://www.earthpalette.com/">Earth Palette </a>Dyes, which are cold water dyes, and of course, my Koolaid. But this will be my first foray into the world of real chemical dyes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gL3q3fRRPbI57ZMpdt-6AZqTsR1pW-Rxt1a9SSjZSZfZgtwM8uLJG7zLD2bUhmDzECYWdonIGQb1Jn_mPuHjF-NYZh4qit6r8ZW7R0Sgx4DziB8pafjvPEoFNW_ZtyyANT8Sbz5prSrD/s1600-h/IMG_1402.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gL3q3fRRPbI57ZMpdt-6AZqTsR1pW-Rxt1a9SSjZSZfZgtwM8uLJG7zLD2bUhmDzECYWdonIGQb1Jn_mPuHjF-NYZh4qit6r8ZW7R0Sgx4DziB8pafjvPEoFNW_ZtyyANT8Sbz5prSrD/s320/IMG_1402.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361074244435462930" /></a><br /><br />Also pictured are two bottles of WoolScour for cleaning. I bought these at a booth at the show, not long before I left on Saturday (due to their weight) and simply can't recall the name of the stand I got them from. I'm only hoping that they make me a bit more successful at cleaning fleeces.<br /><br />There was a lovely stand full of hand crafted jewelry from All Buttoned Up in Melbourne (I can't find a website for them) that was more or less themed for the event. I bought these earrings with the spinning wheel on them, and a stickpin with the same. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlMpjeKvEvxNsoTXWtFG2N-VF0eGODOj0CHpd3Zas7Ln1P8N9_soLwe-vfbUVTDytGlOoHfDsncU6NxEZkpSkiPTc30Nm0Ud7wy4RuGv-7OOnP6yQYxejK_dqYr7s0iD4YfLXp81XtM0B/s1600-h/IMG_1372.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlMpjeKvEvxNsoTXWtFG2N-VF0eGODOj0CHpd3Zas7Ln1P8N9_soLwe-vfbUVTDytGlOoHfDsncU6NxEZkpSkiPTc30Nm0Ud7wy4RuGv-7OOnP6yQYxejK_dqYr7s0iD4YfLXp81XtM0B/s320/IMG_1372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709811837078162" /></a><br /><br />Of course, I could never leave without getting something from Spinningwoodie and his lovely wife Sheilaheeler. I've been eyeing these scarf clips for awhile, although now I'm sort of wishing I'd gotten myself another wooden DPN tube as well. I love the one I've got. It's just precious. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZh7_vq7L20n4EzUApH5zhvGiIV5kjZWLQ-TQJ-I8fH0U5FC0zHkeidgebrUU73uKBEQHT9ARjd4iw3hEv02rVjHcnxhJo3nmt4gOF6zM7wDgvTT_QGSAA7iOVd6HK8aMmMfsMRNpslcS/s1600-h/IMG_1373.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZh7_vq7L20n4EzUApH5zhvGiIV5kjZWLQ-TQJ-I8fH0U5FC0zHkeidgebrUU73uKBEQHT9ARjd4iw3hEv02rVjHcnxhJo3nmt4gOF6zM7wDgvTT_QGSAA7iOVd6HK8aMmMfsMRNpslcS/s320/IMG_1373.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709818080476290" /></a><br /><br />Before leaving for this trip, my glasses case broke, and I was looking for another, but just couldn't seem to find one. The Jacob Farm booth was packed Friday and Saturday, everytime I walked by. Finally, Saturday afternoon I just decided to brave the crowd anyway, and what did I find. You guessed it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9VrC8zcYZou7pbix2K33_RsSeuznY4yBDybakkHGr6qoFYmxxC_1o6Aci_UZ1oLbTFYqs4bEt_EAPMUKCwLyd6OxH5hRegeaXta2zCoTFYjdViWBZBOu75nHxXqI3Wi_i-dDNfo0VBnw/s1600-h/IMG_1379.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9VrC8zcYZou7pbix2K33_RsSeuznY4yBDybakkHGr6qoFYmxxC_1o6Aci_UZ1oLbTFYqs4bEt_EAPMUKCwLyd6OxH5hRegeaXta2zCoTFYjdViWBZBOu75nHxXqI3Wi_i-dDNfo0VBnw/s320/IMG_1379.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061111501583058" /></a><br /><br />Also toward the end of the day, I found this lovely Llama Fibre from Granite Haven Llamas (Cheryl Crosbie, Strathbogle Ranges, no website found). Again, natural, earth brown colours.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-O5XpxYYTa2_u-PfCOcCW7LCxsdb_DfhG4-pIbJLo1mxxD9YkLwW5tql_7UxrRBjLMtOYJ0LmQcX3-ufSdbDI4GlLMkHU9rKBGC0UIT6XCtTB-jvtrTU3YrKyc-HKT6HYR9JFOUL0DQd/s1600-h/IMG_1382.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-O5XpxYYTa2_u-PfCOcCW7LCxsdb_DfhG4-pIbJLo1mxxD9YkLwW5tql_7UxrRBjLMtOYJ0LmQcX3-ufSdbDI4GlLMkHU9rKBGC0UIT6XCtTB-jvtrTU3YrKyc-HKT6HYR9JFOUL0DQd/s320/IMG_1382.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061932601311346" /></a><br /><br />Of course, I cannot fail to mention the lovely <a href="http://ixchelbunny.blogspot.com/2009/07/bendigo-show-fun-bunny-update.html">Ixchelbunnie's</a> booth, now can I? This year her booth was every bit as frustrating as last year. I WANT IT ALL!!! But discretion and funds forced me to chose, so I left there with some lovely (albeit expensive) baby camel, and two skeins of this remarkable blue cashmere laceweight yarn, perfect for a shawl from my Victorian Lace Today book. After Christmas, I really plan on getting all jiggy with the lace stuff, and now I'm prepared for a good start. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNBDwt8SmLXf7pgA0sd3w_MU-YhvZWAMAY6HD7d3smAuP5kjLdojxLNTxldPWx7wY89JyXJ4vhyphenhyphenHtyFZoG7JckFeMXkgpVT2WSrQS_p_ufMH4O175w_e90WMO1vMy9mwS1atulbOELDMp/s1600-h/IMG_1391.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNBDwt8SmLXf7pgA0sd3w_MU-YhvZWAMAY6HD7d3smAuP5kjLdojxLNTxldPWx7wY89JyXJ4vhyphenhyphenHtyFZoG7JckFeMXkgpVT2WSrQS_p_ufMH4O175w_e90WMO1vMy9mwS1atulbOELDMp/s320/IMG_1391.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361066607897919090" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7YlWh0s8U0_DU7y88wRtupfKAr51FUH1ERyoT43qH2XLRvSPMx4cux1sFv2n2f6WsSiasbakhcTWa11K-yCCkF5tVCuQQdPA0vyxs0ARJTVvek6FY38JCJ2SvX5JtVQVQtzC7Z4PD1Z/s1600-h/IMG_1401.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7YlWh0s8U0_DU7y88wRtupfKAr51FUH1ERyoT43qH2XLRvSPMx4cux1sFv2n2f6WsSiasbakhcTWa11K-yCCkF5tVCuQQdPA0vyxs0ARJTVvek6FY38JCJ2SvX5JtVQVQtzC7Z4PD1Z/s320/IMG_1401.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361067420150995954" /></a><br /><br />This is my skein of Ms. Gusset Sock Yarn, (gusseting on Rav) a lovely 4 ply wool and nylon. It seems I'm really on a green kick lately, both with yarns and fibres, and her dyeing is quite lovely. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kjT1RVn73jG4cM8oUtN6sJGnAkbz705wEDsqL_Q5bK4ZkT4Df3NmoN_vOrxx2RnwjrQOGalf5hxNgCyWGcH95gKWvN9rs4fqf_idWeMYBTxo8RiprasdMfQQwqnd9iiX7wJaheoVgbGU/s1600-h/IMG_1399.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kjT1RVn73jG4cM8oUtN6sJGnAkbz705wEDsqL_Q5bK4ZkT4Df3NmoN_vOrxx2RnwjrQOGalf5hxNgCyWGcH95gKWvN9rs4fqf_idWeMYBTxo8RiprasdMfQQwqnd9iiX7wJaheoVgbGU/s320/IMG_1399.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361074222561865202" /></a><br /><br />So, those were my purchases at Bendigo, front to back. I'm pretty sure I haven't left anything out, but if I did, I'll be sure to remember and post it on later blog entries. Getting this one done is way overdue. <br /><br />Saturday night, we stayed in, and I spun on my new Majacraft until the hour started getting a bit late. Then we did a bit of "prepacking" so that we could get the car loaded fairly quickly the next morning, so I had to put the Little Gem (aka Matilda) away. <br /><br />Now Mom, and this is just for you, here's a pic of Chris (and Audrey's back) when we stopped for a picnic lunch in Bordertown, on the Victorian and South Australian border. I'll try to get him to slow down long enough to get a better shot of him for the next post. <br /><br />Sunday Chris/audrey/bordertown<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnaRmXasEoa4RiwgC2-hCeg1HODmiKxCcN1GL9JtdO1k28klI3oWMOa6tbAHItnrJE7UeMcZnBY5mI5A1Hn8pcW1JVeUX3A0RQ5dNWd_Ux9XwM0FOinbd2FDYnccbLvnUVs4nlFTkk0a1/s1600-h/IMG_1375.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnaRmXasEoa4RiwgC2-hCeg1HODmiKxCcN1GL9JtdO1k28klI3oWMOa6tbAHItnrJE7UeMcZnBY5mI5A1Hn8pcW1JVeUX3A0RQ5dNWd_Ux9XwM0FOinbd2FDYnccbLvnUVs4nlFTkk0a1/s320/IMG_1375.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361061094569064674" /></a><br /><br /><br />We got home on Sunday afternoon, and Monday morning bright and early, I saw the Postie truck pulling away. Morning deliveries via the truck are always packages, and packages always make my heart flutter a bit. So I went out straight away to find my monthy installment from David's <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibre </a>Club, a very vivid green and sharp black Corridale top he's calling "Enchanted". Excellent name for it. <br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCXCeE7r_WjRW9mm5JFWWTtUBvoNqSupj7vmiQPF5WthQOXQE2_iYBeYLVKBElubMib_4_g91lVcIGqQTL5swzA4zBUUvgl9JNt3eFRGrWuGgBL0p7sod2rZ4CGtTUfsyZzVpTenIbtEi/s1600-h/IMG_1405.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCXCeE7r_WjRW9mm5JFWWTtUBvoNqSupj7vmiQPF5WthQOXQE2_iYBeYLVKBElubMib_4_g91lVcIGqQTL5swzA4zBUUvgl9JNt3eFRGrWuGgBL0p7sod2rZ4CGtTUfsyZzVpTenIbtEi/s320/IMG_1405.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361074296989611554" /></a><br />I will admit to a bit of dissappointment, as I already have a ton of Corridale here (ok, really only about 1.5 kilos) mostly undyed, and I love spinning fibres I've never spun before, or at least, haven't spun often. Still, it is a lovely dye job, and I'll reserve final judgement until I spin with it. Also, it is probably the fibre I spin the best, and have the most experience with, so it will be an excellent choice to spin on the new Majacraft while I'm getting a bit of experience with the wheel.<br /><br />Well, that's caught things up a bit. It's been a little over two weeks now since the show, so of course, lots of fibrey things have been done in the meantime. In my next post, I'll catch you up on my knitting and spinning that was done during, and since Bendigo. Hopefully, I'll get that out next week while I'm home alone. Chris is going away next Monday with his Year 11 students to his geography camp in the Flinders, and won't return until Friday. In the meantime, I've taken two days off of work to gaurd the house and to enjoy 5 days and 4 nights of spinning and knitting to my hearts content. A REAL vacation. Till then...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-48008873296257188992009-07-20T14:16:00.012+09:302009-07-22T08:34:51.876+09:30Australian Sheep and Wool Show Part 1: The Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1iK7MkADIcULaUaGAEpmN2Z1s6y0QHXyp9DGzNy3GXIhYMi7sqj2FFL3q2WirIFTFu5TkfMegOT5z6fCHK8sdsrQfUK9as0jqBvX8gdiw3l-3ycwQRE0cycdZc9BG6mG9-RKve_lsPb/s1600-h/IMG_1343.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs1iK7MkADIcULaUaGAEpmN2Z1s6y0QHXyp9DGzNy3GXIhYMi7sqj2FFL3q2WirIFTFu5TkfMegOT5z6fCHK8sdsrQfUK9as0jqBvX8gdiw3l-3ycwQRE0cycdZc9BG6mG9-RKve_lsPb/s320/IMG_1343.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399586835516594" /></a><br /><br />Well, it’s the time of year again! The Australian Sheep and Wool Show was held this past weekend in Bendigo Victoria. This particular post will be about the trip and the show itself. Later (hopefully not too much later), I will write another post about my purchases and any knitting or spinning I've done before, during and after the trip. <br /><br />We drove over without incident Wednesday, arriving at our cabin at the <a href="http://www.centralcitycaravanpark.com.au/">Central City Caravan Park</a> in the mid afternoon. We always stay there when in Bendigo. As the name suggests, it's near the center of the city, and certainly doesn't have the park like atmosphere of some of the caravan parks located on the edge or outside of town, but they have roomy, clean deluxe cabins with two bedrooms, good heating systems, excellent bathrooms, and all the amenities we could want. We like to stay with the tried and true. <br /><br />Audrey, a spinning/knitting friend of mine, had followed us in her car, and was spending the first night with us in our cabin. She and some others had rented a holiday home for the rest of the weekend, from Thursday on, but on Wednesday night, she was bunking in our cabin.<br /><br />Shortly after we arrived on Wednesday, we decided to visit <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">Bendigo Woollen Mills </a>before it closed. As it was already 4:00 in the afternoon, I was lamenting the fact that we didn't have longer to shop. Audrey made the bold statement: "Oh, I can be in and out of there in 20 minutes". About 30 minutes after we arrived at the shop, she had perhaps 50 balls of yarn strewn out all over the bargain basement floor and was asking me to help her decide. And yes, I WAS tacky enough to remind her of her "in and out in 20 minutes" statement. The poor girl had never been to Bendigo Woolen Mills before. She just didn't know the extent of what she was getting into!<br /><br />Thursday, Audrey went off to her accommodations, and we went for an early morning shop in the downtown area, where we got Chris a couple of nice shirts at Rivers and a vest at Lowes. He’s losing weight too, and is drowning in his old clothes. In the afternoon, we went driving a little way out of Bendigo to walk some trails from one of the tourist books. We walked about an hour and half and then headed back to the cabin when we started running out of daylight. <br /><br />Friday morning, I got all dressed up in my new courderoy shirt and Colorado pants and was rearing to go!! Gotta love the new clothes and the new figure!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CHIwBzQ4Qclh7syepEjLomBlFR6Ls9f7zW8HcfsU1j429p_fXijj2Bnr93TGT1BzMljhx_UyiF2Y-XE70IJYSjOYSDR7CXahnjoPIs1sGK_Sk808E-_oaz6vbtO8P_frA2b5SxLg3XbC/s1600-h/IMG_1341.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CHIwBzQ4Qclh7syepEjLomBlFR6Ls9f7zW8HcfsU1j429p_fXijj2Bnr93TGT1BzMljhx_UyiF2Y-XE70IJYSjOYSDR7CXahnjoPIs1sGK_Sk808E-_oaz6vbtO8P_frA2b5SxLg3XbC/s320/IMG_1341.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399581217228562" /></a><br /><br />Chris and I showed up at the show on Friday morning at about 9:00, but we split up shortly after arriving due to him not being all that keen on looking at the things I like to look at. My first goal was to get a quick look around. Soon enough, I got stuck into my main mission, trying to find a portable wheel. I had been saving for one for months, along with just “mad money” for fibre and such, and was determined that if I didn’t actually leave with one, I would certainly leave with a clear idea of which one I was going to get. <br /><br />I had ruled out electric wheels because frankly I just don’t want one. I find the motion of the peddling soothing, and an electric machine a bit cold and impersonal. Now I understand that there are those who just love their electrics, and good for you if you do. I would be the last to want to change your mind, but since I started spinning and thinking of such things, I’ve always known that they just aren’t for me. Being a control freak, I need to be in constant control of my speed and direction.<br /><br />This left me with, essentially, two options. I could get the <a href="http://www.ashford.co.nz/spinning/spinning-frameset.htm">Ashford Joy</a>, which I was leaning toward, or I could get the <a href="http://www.majacraft.co.nz/wheels/little_gem.php">Majacraft Little Gem</a>. I thought from the outset that the Joy was prettier, and I liked the fact that it comes with a single treadle option. With just one pedal, my choice of chair or the angle in which I sat wouldn’t be as important, a good thing when one is using the wheel as a travelling wheel and are never sure just what kind of seating will be available at the end of the road. However, various friends had encouraged me to at least try the Majacraft Little Gem before buying. <br /><br />So shortly after arriving at the Sheep and Wool Show, I went in search of the <a href="http://www.ashford.co.nz/home/home-frameset.htm">Ashford</a> booth. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuR1bEe30OS3NZsl7Oqv1cU9Vl1wmTPWQEzntLhAaHDPBxbiCWQKg28z_q2XDPLX9VqKXySPHu3U3giEOXYwEK6uC8D_MWEm-dft65qhgmIH4-uapQ6UNK_bpkZ4mKes1t-LQiH8ON_5P/s1600-h/IMG_1345.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuR1bEe30OS3NZsl7Oqv1cU9Vl1wmTPWQEzntLhAaHDPBxbiCWQKg28z_q2XDPLX9VqKXySPHu3U3giEOXYwEK6uC8D_MWEm-dft65qhgmIH4-uapQ6UNK_bpkZ4mKes1t-LQiH8ON_5P/s320/IMG_1345.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399593610847938" /></a><br /><br />To my surprise, I found Bella there. Bella is the owner of <a href="http://www.bellatextiles.com.au/index.html">The Walking Wheel Studios </a>in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, where I shop for fibre and accessories in the city. The Ashford folks had only brought a double treadle Joy, but I sat down and tried it, and liked it just fine. In many ways, it spun very similarly to my Ashford Traditional. <br /><br />I then went and searched out Mandie, the owner of <a href="http://www.ewegivemetheknits.com/store/Default.asp">Ewe Give Me the Knits</a> (aka EGMTK). She was nowhere to be found in the two main pavilions, so I walked down the row of buildings that lined the front of the showgrounds, going in one after another. Finally, in the last building on that lane, I saw her. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKwgzXeTu57xKg4SZAulq9RsroIui_1h4Dk8lSlDRbLA2314u4XOnhGasNH_WHUOFfG4EDWrkby1vs02yyE5wjv1QDJnMM_ZOdXDqhtgQKnH9PEl_q6dZ3vAgkjQp8HkUQw0gtyun6_iY/s1600-h/IMG_1351.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKwgzXeTu57xKg4SZAulq9RsroIui_1h4Dk8lSlDRbLA2314u4XOnhGasNH_WHUOFfG4EDWrkby1vs02yyE5wjv1QDJnMM_ZOdXDqhtgQKnH9PEl_q6dZ3vAgkjQp8HkUQw0gtyun6_iY/s320/IMG_1351.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400050387306946" /></a><br /><br />She handed me over to this fellow who showed me how to use the Majacraft Little Gem. It’s main difference to the Ashford models is it’s orifice, which isn’t really an orifice at all. It’s more of a large wire oblong loop that sticks out the side of the flywheel, and you just thread the leader thru there. The tension of the brake is also much more sensitive than that of the Ashford. A tiny micro-twist can make all the difference. After a few false starts getting used to the new system, I was spinning on it. I’m not sure if it was the difference I liked the most or just the way the spin felt, but I was enjoying the spin immensely, and in the end, I was the proud owner of a Little Gem. <br /><br />I didn't stay too long on Friday morning, as I had Chris with me and really didn't want to eat at the showgrouds, as the food there is hardly the type of stuff my body is now used to eating. Besides, I wanted to get the new wheel safely in my possession and back to the cabin before it went poof and disappeared or something. So we left the show at around noon, went to <a href="http://www.bendigopottery.com.au/">Bendigo Pottery </a>where we really didn't see anything we liked, and then went home for a bit of lunch. I did get my hand stamped, so after lunch, Chris took me back and dropped me off, and I spent a couple more hours meeting a greeting old friends and new and shopping.<br /><br />One of the first stalls I stopped at that afternoon was <a href="http://www.coloniallakebooks.com.au/index.html">Colonial Lake Books </a>owned by Brenda Bartel. I've bought plenty of books from her before, and bought a couple this time as well. She's a tried and true favorite, and her stand was the perfect place to lose track of time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfXMHzdwtIBi_v2Bu2Czn6Lh191v9nbyX6atvuPc-_zTdiiwI1t9K656Ym7K1gKp5pKikZMO-Zgb73lxtw5cC0Fdi3RmV7HMutJOrzgfmomYwbTYkR8p7eREvLXCmQeBpSpUWeyO49Ght/s1600-h/IMG_1354.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfXMHzdwtIBi_v2Bu2Czn6Lh191v9nbyX6atvuPc-_zTdiiwI1t9K656Ym7K1gKp5pKikZMO-Zgb73lxtw5cC0Fdi3RmV7HMutJOrzgfmomYwbTYkR8p7eREvLXCmQeBpSpUWeyO49Ght/s320/IMG_1354.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400056932253794" /></a><br /><br />During the course of the day, I ran into Mel (womaninashoe) on Rav, and snapped a shot of her in her element, digging thru the bin at the Pear Tree Yarns stall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHFgEj8Sa6qx6GP-6Y_YU-JN_qCwwt1i4bea-32lnaW9ilQ7IyMcibUJ4XLE7jHlUu9oxYyfKge-TASo0YKsupS7sB5a8TDpGLdVpzeXKvrgGFfJ5cep-qK5NJZ3DAJbo12UZyihFcWQo/s1600-h/IMG_1347.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHFgEj8Sa6qx6GP-6Y_YU-JN_qCwwt1i4bea-32lnaW9ilQ7IyMcibUJ4XLE7jHlUu9oxYyfKge-TASo0YKsupS7sB5a8TDpGLdVpzeXKvrgGFfJ5cep-qK5NJZ3DAJbo12UZyihFcWQo/s320/IMG_1347.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399595600168722" /></a><br /><br />It was so nice to catch up with her again, and I even met a couple of her yunguns too. She is just the sweetest girl. And the jumper (aka sweater) she's wearing is one that she knit herself. She said it was her very first "big person" project, as it seems she's always knitting for the children. <br /><br />Pear Tree Yarns, as usual, had a lovely stand set up:<br /><br />Pear Tree Yarns<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplcz85XSDKzy9MNPde9AEztsuCw-TeaYYTli22jOgIziJamNtQXOvWZfZjnRX6lw738zw1prQUNWt5dh2JeHqPGnlDH_vQtfe9dCzTCwJNxYIj9elMkwQHJVVLDIex8EYfHVgLWAuX-tu/s1600-h/IMG_1348.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplcz85XSDKzy9MNPde9AEztsuCw-TeaYYTli22jOgIziJamNtQXOvWZfZjnRX6lw738zw1prQUNWt5dh2JeHqPGnlDH_vQtfe9dCzTCwJNxYIj9elMkwQHJVVLDIex8EYfHVgLWAuX-tu/s320/IMG_1348.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400037712649730" /></a><br /><br />And I had to have a chat with the girls from my favorite knitting magazine, Yarn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXFIMYh-iG_zXvBE1URF2Z2d5aWzT9qD0HIxfE1eTZBFV8YpZmaa6fkTv1r3ZbwVBSbiP0QHsqqMvpa2MeIFDo7Q0V4YyPi_1DZT7b8PM5FEcYkx6mqPBAt-FUdYWRkJ1-_gjtzSxgo6b/s1600-h/IMG_1362.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXFIMYh-iG_zXvBE1URF2Z2d5aWzT9qD0HIxfE1eTZBFV8YpZmaa6fkTv1r3ZbwVBSbiP0QHsqqMvpa2MeIFDo7Q0V4YyPi_1DZT7b8PM5FEcYkx6mqPBAt-FUdYWRkJ1-_gjtzSxgo6b/s320/IMG_1362.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400429479280306" /></a><br /><br />Earning a special mention here for very pretty products and wonderful presentation is <a href="http://www.glenoraweaving.com.au/">Glenora Weaving and Wool</a>. I had to buy something here. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfoliHPaYnhRXkjO37PSLnjsgS1GOh6ltcgy9E0B_semngDS8y-bcsOVg75nD3euFVsygGh-GThxxNUtxmjHj_pEmDIi_qByR7xi9Qja-bW2Kk3hjgiLklMt1zvrmZBAbCjZS3XAwttmq/s1600-h/IMG_1352.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfoliHPaYnhRXkjO37PSLnjsgS1GOh6ltcgy9E0B_semngDS8y-bcsOVg75nD3euFVsygGh-GThxxNUtxmjHj_pEmDIi_qByR7xi9Qja-bW2Kk3hjgiLklMt1zvrmZBAbCjZS3XAwttmq/s320/IMG_1352.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400052223851506" /></a><br /><br />One stall I didn't buy anything at (yes, there IS one) was Sylvia Park Mohair Farm. It wasn't because she didn't have pretty things. She certainly did, but I'm just not a big fan of mohair. Still, I had to include a photo here of the darling little animals she was selling. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSUwCzarBAm9F9hQkKmIbm27sicssLPsau0IVnKBOnLPOadR-SWHTLGnqbOjt2kz7qfee3fBWW2tgcA0W-XJoLXljO_qDDJW6f5BFLUPE_-hr7iZu8YEaBKV1dWWjutPv34vJd-LRoUvH/s1600-h/IMG_1342.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSUwCzarBAm9F9hQkKmIbm27sicssLPsau0IVnKBOnLPOadR-SWHTLGnqbOjt2kz7qfee3fBWW2tgcA0W-XJoLXljO_qDDJW6f5BFLUPE_-hr7iZu8YEaBKV1dWWjutPv34vJd-LRoUvH/s320/IMG_1342.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399584457606018" /></a><br /><br /><br />In the next blog entry, I brag shamelessly and in some detail about all my purchases. But I'm leaving that for then, as this post would be far too long if I tried to cram everything in this one, not to mention more picture heavy than it already is. So for the sake of brevity, here’s a picture of my “Friday Haul” in it’s entirety.<br /><br />Friday's haul<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYsEvmC3AjwRSxQyQK1jfhVG4shgsiUFpWuauRErV6czRtGY1gu3_Z9zO2Z51HE6dSCu6soWu2PhsF9vCowGkmfKwJytok5J17MXc3M2Cf0xENSVtD4pgvYeMj5tDEeIlk1XEcuR5cy6I/s1600-h/IMG_1356.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYsEvmC3AjwRSxQyQK1jfhVG4shgsiUFpWuauRErV6czRtGY1gu3_Z9zO2Z51HE6dSCu6soWu2PhsF9vCowGkmfKwJytok5J17MXc3M2Cf0xENSVtD4pgvYeMj5tDEeIlk1XEcuR5cy6I/s320/IMG_1356.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400422352890194" /></a><br /><br />Friday night, we went out to a charming Indian Restaurant in downtown Bendigo and then headed back to the cabin to settle in. I couldn't wait to set up the Majacraft and have a spin. While Chris watched the Ashes (for the American readers, this is a cricket match between Australia and England and a very big deal over here), I spun away on my Little Gem. <br /><br />Saturday morning was the day of the Ravelry brekky. I overslept, due to staying up too late Friday night playing with the new wheel. Once up, we started scrambling around, but the Chris got a nosebleed, and in then end, I never made it to the brekky. I do sincerely regret that I missed it, but sadly I can’t undo what is done.<br /><br />I got all dudded up in my other new outfit, and off we went. (Shots of me are purposely added because my mommy insisted ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpMa0tcsdAg4GJlS7GWvJEiCW7TrgvdgtI7MfBtGarYzskvsnCUy4POKExxZQXhSTuoRVDw-jxdUWnFFN4uMbpUjpIIi68N8ItaGywQH7R3xc2CvL0eG22PEqx7uyxcbaYkxqY6KbfTBZ/s1600-h/IMG_1359.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpMa0tcsdAg4GJlS7GWvJEiCW7TrgvdgtI7MfBtGarYzskvsnCUy4POKExxZQXhSTuoRVDw-jxdUWnFFN4uMbpUjpIIi68N8ItaGywQH7R3xc2CvL0eG22PEqx7uyxcbaYkxqY6KbfTBZ/s320/IMG_1359.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400422509335026" /></a><br /><br />The original plan for Saturday was for Chris to drop me off at the breakfast, and then go on his merry way. He had planned a long walk for the day, and a bit of exploring in the same area that we had gone to Thursday, after which he would wait for me at the cabin until I called letting him know I was ready to leave. As it was, he dropped me off at the show, again around 9:00 in the morning. <br /><br />I went in search of the Ravelry group. Near where they were "supposed" to meet after the brekky was this lovely stand that I just couldn't stay away from. "Wooldancer" has some lovely things, and I just couldn't walk away from there without buying a few things. I hadn't met her or seen her things before, and both were an unexpected treat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-5TkSwM1e_mCMuDA1AEHtrudsx8L7tVkOE3tCrEx0nlBCujluUj7G6LXucYdaoCy7qFTVHIYCKmXwnGiEMYVKJVk9fk62TaFPTL_1zrxSJnmXOLrLG3SgNGDDIFW3R8-ZSBKk0aZO0L9/s1600-h/IMG_1361.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-5TkSwM1e_mCMuDA1AEHtrudsx8L7tVkOE3tCrEx0nlBCujluUj7G6LXucYdaoCy7qFTVHIYCKmXwnGiEMYVKJVk9fk62TaFPTL_1zrxSJnmXOLrLG3SgNGDDIFW3R8-ZSBKk0aZO0L9/s320/IMG_1361.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400426403552194" /></a><br /><br />I ran into Tara (aka Fiestywench), who showed her extreme pleasure in getting her photo taken.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxZ1Ht_kILlfORZjgm6uAmrNNqFjTk7IjkxXlsmJAXj4biglxG3IhYfRhrWSXuZgHz75bloq0EpDGyPLOCYtHWW-r_uxG705IXCA8fvKcXwXvYUOyET-aXtlKP9ntdBlidtWu5H0ogAHQ/s1600-h/IMG_1363.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxZ1Ht_kILlfORZjgm6uAmrNNqFjTk7IjkxXlsmJAXj4biglxG3IhYfRhrWSXuZgHz75bloq0EpDGyPLOCYtHWW-r_uxG705IXCA8fvKcXwXvYUOyET-aXtlKP9ntdBlidtWu5H0ogAHQ/s320/IMG_1363.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403192715236402" /></a><br /><br />I suppose "making" my blog isn't the honor I thought it was. The poor girl has worked herself to the bone to make the Ravelry event happen, and according to everyone there, the brekky was a huge success. <br /><br />Then later, I even got threatened by Spinningwoodie when taking his picture, but it's going in here anyway. See, I'm not scared!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwVQmuzDuh5v_uT9m8B6vr0GVPN0ICXddJbI2kVnXcDQ4j8K7io-aPPVKBRwQWsytLew4svdlPFpOGgJ6s2wmX8sUgOhsW9uOcspW7Zxr1-JmkO3JZMso2umSFVJWYUwP02viNta9F_WU/s1600-h/IMG_1366.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwVQmuzDuh5v_uT9m8B6vr0GVPN0ICXddJbI2kVnXcDQ4j8K7io-aPPVKBRwQWsytLew4svdlPFpOGgJ6s2wmX8sUgOhsW9uOcspW7Zxr1-JmkO3JZMso2umSFVJWYUwP02viNta9F_WU/s320/IMG_1366.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403204815066114" /></a><br /><br />That's Ron, and his lovely wife Roz was somewhere behind their busy stand there. Ron makes gorgeous wooden spinning accessories, along with shawl pins, buttons and such. <br /><br />I also dropped by <a href="http://www.virginiafarmwoolworks.com.au/">Virginia Farm Woolworks</a> which had a lovely selection of yarns, fibres, dyes, spinning wheels and accessories.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h51UqNTbeRd98c71srBeoHKPqKHxnpWkCymwgDi10V5tEAD-zwNn4a8kmgoP2Y2ywylOSXn3RrDAA0HH3iFXpvOHtZCWxNXaWJD2pW2aax9BStNkmpX9x4G-Oxesqsr_0cedOwIOv7MP/s1600-h/IMG_1364.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h51UqNTbeRd98c71srBeoHKPqKHxnpWkCymwgDi10V5tEAD-zwNn4a8kmgoP2Y2ywylOSXn3RrDAA0HH3iFXpvOHtZCWxNXaWJD2pW2aax9BStNkmpX9x4G-Oxesqsr_0cedOwIOv7MP/s320/IMG_1364.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403198705432658" /></a><br /><br />Right across the hall from there was the <a href="http://www.charisma-art.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=754&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=105&vmcchk=1&Itemid=105">Sheep Incognito </a>stall, displaying wonderful whimsical pictures of sheep. You'll have to have a look at the website, as any explanation I might attempt of what the artist, Connie Togel, does on canvas wouldn't do it justice. If you only click on one link I've provided in the post, I suggest you click on this one!! Ahh, but now I know what to ask for for Christmas!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFNf07Lr_tQi09mK-x682pwcOrrWjZVJsXgc-eGaj0KzMRoxHJjV-cfRQWIRG0n1oPPJzJ0yrKGp5N4Z8qkA1F5fx_BMc8_fEPT1zUXyOGmMGgM9QDHdgItFhGgtZgRxrUYiwgUEcw0KG/s1600-h/IMG_1365.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFNf07Lr_tQi09mK-x682pwcOrrWjZVJsXgc-eGaj0KzMRoxHJjV-cfRQWIRG0n1oPPJzJ0yrKGp5N4Z8qkA1F5fx_BMc8_fEPT1zUXyOGmMGgM9QDHdgItFhGgtZgRxrUYiwgUEcw0KG/s320/IMG_1365.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403202970868146" /></a><br /><br />I also ran into Jane of <a href="http://www.moseleyparkhome.com/">Moseley Park</a> on Saturday, but for some reason, never got a picture of her stall (please forgive me). She had some lovely things though, and I did buy a skein of laceweight silk from her in a lovely garnet colour, but more on that in the next post.<br /><br />I stayed until after 3 in the afternoon, and even though I didn't believe it was possible, I bought even more stuff on the second day than I did the first. <br /><br />Saturday Haul<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaiNrxJ-OCrho9tTbyCm3cGjoziotzx-HRk2oyNd2tKiCPimAKeQ6fyVrcqyNI9XVr152vb3JDTGBuKYWzXVXP4NOWyotap2qvMqI2DwWvI_HfAeezbPekWDOME2Hk0ho8mvfp8VQplpi/s1600-h/IMG_1367.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaiNrxJ-OCrho9tTbyCm3cGjoziotzx-HRk2oyNd2tKiCPimAKeQ6fyVrcqyNI9XVr152vb3JDTGBuKYWzXVXP4NOWyotap2qvMqI2DwWvI_HfAeezbPekWDOME2Hk0ho8mvfp8VQplpi/s320/IMG_1367.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403209647812514" /></a><br /><br />Getting back to the cabin, I pulled out the Little Gem again (aka Matilda) and spun until around 8:00 that evening, when I had to pack it away in it's handy carry bag for the trip home, along with all the rest of the things I could reasonably pack early. <br /><br />We left for our trip home early Monday morning, once again with Audrey trailing behind us. It was an uneventful, even quiet trip, and Chris really couldn't believe his luck where traffic was concerned. I hardly noticed the traffic, or lack thereof. I was knitting and merrily dreaming of spinning my heart on the new wheel with allt he lovely, even exotic fibres I'd bought, or what I would knit with what yarn. <br /><br />Well, that's pretty much it folks. The trip in a nutshell. I had a blast, even if I did miss the brekky. Nothing will keep me away next year!<br /><br /><br /><em></em>Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-45510196520210899902009-07-07T07:30:00.003+09:302009-07-22T08:33:30.761+09:30Down Time 09The past week has been a good one. One of the few weeks when I actually feel that I've had less work and more play. But all good things must come to an end, My down time ends today, but I think it will see me though this coming week until we leave on our trip to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo next Wednesday morning. <br /><br />Given everything, I suppose I should feel in a better mood this morning, but I don't. Part of that is merely hormonal, I'm sure, but part is because I'd have loved for the past two days to go on forever. <br /><br />Chris is on school holidays. He left Sunday morning to go to a Western Action shoot at our club, and then he headed north to visit some friends who live about 5 hours away. He stayed up there for the past two nights, which just so happened to coincide with my normal two nights off from work. As a result, I've had two practically uninterrupted days of nothing but knitting, spinning dyeing and fibre frolic. It has been heaven, and I suppose my only regret is that it has to end today. He'll be home sometime early this afternoon. In between now and then, I need to pick up all the fibre mess I've created, sweep the carpet and floors and generally set the house to rights again. <br /><br />Before I get to all that, I wanted to do a small update here. With Bendigo looming right around the corner, I want to keep up with this blog. There's bound to be a huge post after Bendigo, and I don't want to add to that by having to play catch up as well.<br /><br />I'll start with the thing I forgot to mention in my quickie post last week. I was searching around on Ebay, actually looking for Alice Starmore's "Tudor Roses" book, when I ran across her "Children's Knitting from Many Lands". It, too, is no longer available in bookstores, as it's been out of print for some years. The price was right, so I snatched it up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3seqICVpnYudbPG-oprmt1DDQcZInYCHkde9-_k0-r0JZ7Hf_ld2F1AeWhvAIYftJ0kUxyzPwcjQswAt7e5wApCG78_wR8IwcwKaYyx4YwGz87R-Jcfy65-tQ5KtIeLxWG6lMRzlSloD/s1600-h/IMG_1339.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3seqICVpnYudbPG-oprmt1DDQcZInYCHkde9-_k0-r0JZ7Hf_ld2F1AeWhvAIYftJ0kUxyzPwcjQswAt7e5wApCG78_wR8IwcwKaYyx4YwGz87R-Jcfy65-tQ5KtIeLxWG6lMRzlSloD/s320/IMG_1339.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355490012120040594" /></a><br /><br />The book arrived a couple of weeks ago, and after skimming through it, I found there's nothing in it really that knocks my hand knitted socks off. In fact, several of the patterns are almost laughable. Outdated, fussy, impractical and/or glaringly colourful, they are patterns I wouldn't knit in a million years. However, there are a few that are very nice, very knittable, and very wearable. Ahhh, thank goodness for the precious few. The book is more a collectors item than a practical knitting book, but for a relatively new Alice Starmore fan, it's precious. <br /><br />I finished plying the white alpaca. It turned out very well I think for a first try at alpaca. I didn't have as much trouble spinning it as I expected. I had had plenty of people telling me that spinning alpaca was difficult due to the short fibres, and sadly, I chose to let that seep in. It is different to spinning wool, and the fibres are short, but after adjusting my ration, things sorted themselves out very nicely, and it was smooth sailing after that. <br /><br />Here it is on the Niddy Noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuPDxlLQSwRo-jK0ei693WrWw5WJCZzI5Col-R1gdjSTvJFayuUK4r9NgGFOgB9kBHW5jm7MizxbYkR40dd7QQwcJ07vRK9TfTj5p9C4HXU6_nxxTHNtqjzFGmsR4SDM39hd9HTxmRB0q/s1600-h/IMG_1334.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuPDxlLQSwRo-jK0ei693WrWw5WJCZzI5Col-R1gdjSTvJFayuUK4r9NgGFOgB9kBHW5jm7MizxbYkR40dd7QQwcJ07vRK9TfTj5p9C4HXU6_nxxTHNtqjzFGmsR4SDM39hd9HTxmRB0q/s320/IMG_1334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355490009645558866" /></a><br /><br />And the finished skein:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWRbUht0d7qcGmWNfw0GWhE_nRTDfjX9_lB_NEn3E54LyPJHWXqZjIbIP-e4NtOQ6svFjVdjh26Q5AQeq57owCtyl0IJ2h6yNEB5ldJDJ_LecRxWt2zoScGUn8tNgeq8x9X8tGWhrQGty/s1600-h/IMG_1335.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWRbUht0d7qcGmWNfw0GWhE_nRTDfjX9_lB_NEn3E54LyPJHWXqZjIbIP-e4NtOQ6svFjVdjh26Q5AQeq57owCtyl0IJ2h6yNEB5ldJDJ_LecRxWt2zoScGUn8tNgeq8x9X8tGWhrQGty/s320/IMG_1335.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355490022046692402" /></a><br /><br />I'm thinking I actually like spinning alpaca, which of course is a good thing since I have bought a ton of it already.<br /><br />After I finished the alpaca, I put the Shetland top I got from David at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6277297">Southern Cross Fibre Club </a>on the wheel. This stuff is beyond description, but I'll try. It's soft (yes, soft Shetland), springy, almost spongy, and it practically spins itself. I've gotten about 1/4 of it spun so far. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JkozW4I7Ny3KiZnJoZn4ZZcE7cnRUaQgiy-DbznIzOxVJn7N3LobW1ONd8C0UvqNDXnLK1_gDxC8Ejd5H6ixm_v9keR8b1QBeQ5y7No9vObKPFMb1h2rGHAWayDUjeMxqW9S8usrbWBC/s1600-h/IMG_1336.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JkozW4I7Ny3KiZnJoZn4ZZcE7cnRUaQgiy-DbznIzOxVJn7N3LobW1ONd8C0UvqNDXnLK1_gDxC8Ejd5H6ixm_v9keR8b1QBeQ5y7No9vObKPFMb1h2rGHAWayDUjeMxqW9S8usrbWBC/s320/IMG_1336.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355490024888291954" /></a><br /><br />Look at that sheen! The colours are so deep and rich, and yet maintain a gorgeous luster. David is, quite simply, a genius. <br /><br />I still haven't decided if I'm going to ply it or not. I'll test the singles when I'm done and see what I think. If I ply them, I'm going to get a more solid colour with just shade variations, which I love. If I leave it in singles, I'll have more colour variations, but potentially enough meterage for a fine weight Shetland shawl. Ahh, the possibilities.<br /><br />In knitting news, I have started on my second "Bustaroony" cardigan I'm making as a gift. It's in a darker brown than mine, and I was afraid the stitch pattern wouldn't show up as well, but so far, it's looking great, with great stitch definition for such a dark colour.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtrbIcqstLiCxfRxUVNj9qeW6LZeasQERYgtIz1V6I9GWtv-476pSvCgGJQUdAgAb7RcH_7wseKKzBmHBHTgPKkbvRh1yA_ZAlH_N8SgSKvcSx5-kHAV0ADiIM36-3DrJnZRXbWE4FGQv/s1600-h/IMG_1337.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtrbIcqstLiCxfRxUVNj9qeW6LZeasQERYgtIz1V6I9GWtv-476pSvCgGJQUdAgAb7RcH_7wseKKzBmHBHTgPKkbvRh1yA_ZAlH_N8SgSKvcSx5-kHAV0ADiIM36-3DrJnZRXbWE4FGQv/s320/IMG_1337.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355490023575024338" /></a><br /><br />That's the bottom section of the back piece, done in the tree pattern. I'm almost ready to switch over to the middle honeycomb pattern, which I remember well from the last time. The four row pattern is K 1 row, P 1 row, 2x2 cable cross row, P 1 row. Three out of four of the rows are easy peasy, but that cable cross row across the wide back section seems to take forever. To tell the truth though, after the past few weeks of knitting lots and lots of stocking net stitch, getting back to the reasonably interesting tree pattern has been a breath of fresh air.<br /><br />Last Friday, finally, I got the Brown Sheep Sport yarn I've been waiting for to make Chris his Anchor's Aweigh vest with. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OhY4TvEkuqkn-xWeDXZFCNa8SHTwxAlvYlQKJyuhm__Br0Bb0cLveCQTPRwOFAqwy3wYP17x7UEMRrStNeJHzO2DUFWSRJ6wv9JS6xbth4Q9zyPIiEE9rAmW4TkL58tw-UxAiWlwGJby/s1600-h/IMG_1327_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OhY4TvEkuqkn-xWeDXZFCNa8SHTwxAlvYlQKJyuhm__Br0Bb0cLveCQTPRwOFAqwy3wYP17x7UEMRrStNeJHzO2DUFWSRJ6wv9JS6xbth4Q9zyPIiEE9rAmW4TkL58tw-UxAiWlwGJby/s320/IMG_1327_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355501509575160626" /></a><br /><br />It took too long to arrive, however, and now winter is past the halfway over point, so I'm considering waiting until the late summer to start the vest. The main issue is that Chris is still losing weight, and I'm afraid that if I make it now, he will only get to wear it for maybe a month at best, and by next winter it will be too large. I'm still considering it, but I'm leaning heavily toward waiting for now.<br /><br />Yesterday, I dyed most of the grey Corridale that I had carded. I went for various shades of blue and green, with a small amount of yellow. It's still wet, and so rather hard to tell the colour. But from the sampling below, you can see that it looks more like camouflage than anything else. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIbtM7FV7GYmlPmRovbyf0Lm2N6CY9Puf3qeY2KizUAmqhDuYjhdDAOVHY5h6OGgpME7Fm0YvQhjP9GRT_cZPV2mZNfvgd-b7_Y7VCHkTIhKGo7xxQn1p9z1yWOnSKnd9s9iEFWXdIS7u/s1600-h/IMG_1338.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIbtM7FV7GYmlPmRovbyf0Lm2N6CY9Puf3qeY2KizUAmqhDuYjhdDAOVHY5h6OGgpME7Fm0YvQhjP9GRT_cZPV2mZNfvgd-b7_Y7VCHkTIhKGo7xxQn1p9z1yWOnSKnd9s9iEFWXdIS7u/s320/IMG_1338.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355495539098947538" /></a><br /><br />I'm trying not to be too judgemental though, as I know that the colour can change drastically when it's dry, and I plan on running the different colours back thru the carder for more depth, so really, until I'm finished, it's hard to know what I'm going to get in the end. That's one fo the exciting parts of dyeing on grey, I suppose. <br /><br />Well, that's it for now. Must get up and start cleaning up the mess I've created while dearest hubby has been away. There is fibre strewn from one end of the house to another, so I have my work cut out for me. I'll try and get another small post in right before Bendigo, so I'll be well and truly caught up. Until then...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-7607427712554088772009-06-30T09:48:00.007+09:302009-06-30T11:07:08.964+09:30Namaste Bag QuickieThis is going to be a quick post, and done a bit on the fly. I'll do another post to catch up on what I forgot to put in this one soon. <br /><br />The Big news is that I ordered a Namaste Malibu bag in a lovely olive green from <a href="http://www.americanyarns.com.au/">American Yarns</a>. They are having a 20% off sale on all in stock merchandise this weekend, and it was just too tempting to resist. (For anyone interested, sale ends at midnight tonight, and you can go to the American Yarns group to get the sale code.) I'd been oggling these things for a month or more, and had it narrowed down to either getting the Malibu or the Hermosa. Both were about the right size for my needs, but I finally decided to get the Malibu as a more practical bag for taking everywhere.<br /><br />I got a note from Gabrielle, the owner, saying she had sent the bag off from QLD Saturday. I was driving home this morning from work, trying not to get my hopes up. I knew getting it today would be sort of the "best case scenerio". I actually squealed when I heard the postie's knock at the door this morning.<br /><br />Without further ado, my lovely olive green Nemaste Malibu bag: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7adCd5STuBXdwCg0lLzXu6Z2VD_EezEA6_5WFReczJZEN6cqxchIg6OyK8LG_Zpyf9XOHgjW4RdsA3EB3SuytdFI8UW3t13qIbCnlSOCbk2NyZp7FTXI4M9Pe-Adqu6ioyRq0rgFphdo/s1600-h/IMG_1315.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7adCd5STuBXdwCg0lLzXu6Z2VD_EezEA6_5WFReczJZEN6cqxchIg6OyK8LG_Zpyf9XOHgjW4RdsA3EB3SuytdFI8UW3t13qIbCnlSOCbk2NyZp7FTXI4M9Pe-Adqu6ioyRq0rgFphdo/s320/IMG_1315.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352927774648984674" /></a><br /><br />The interior is nice and roomy and all sectioned off for all the bits.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL3nNGnxDvAa_jC2Ntei1Zw3ABZoTtxK9hwdkU8cwCbSPrwqGTjd70v0_Na0RXyYF5uFzoV33HenPxBGKYniw-doeD7BWepZScoxIxK9KoLkr3gshif9QmINtsxegaGPwKRs74xTDxjYO/s1600-h/IMG_1320.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL3nNGnxDvAa_jC2Ntei1Zw3ABZoTtxK9hwdkU8cwCbSPrwqGTjd70v0_Na0RXyYF5uFzoV33HenPxBGKYniw-doeD7BWepZScoxIxK9KoLkr3gshif9QmINtsxegaGPwKRs74xTDxjYO/s320/IMG_1320.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352919030470587362" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say, it will be very useful for taking with me to Bendigo this year! I'm just thrilled with it. I'm rather sick of taking my knitting around in cloth grocery bags.<br /><br />Now, on to the quick catch up bits. I finished the Unmentionables from Knitty, or "Blooming Bloomers" as I call them, made with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in the Putty colourway. I haven't blocked them yet, which I'm sure will help the lace around the legs, and just put my yellow cord in for taking this photo. But I'm rather happy with them as they are, and they fit perfectly. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnDt4UmECoRbwOp6552k2PyVmiSX7m9GpiJSwZ9F9JVKy2ZzwgTU_pSP96DgZpSFJ0qjES5ELnUsxy3HioXmnYzXr_AvJu7yc2ZBORqhTX84KqKr-Gc2QTQzGMsYcn_l9T5Ftx5PhDnem/s1600-h/IMG_1325.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnDt4UmECoRbwOp6552k2PyVmiSX7m9GpiJSwZ9F9JVKy2ZzwgTU_pSP96DgZpSFJ0qjES5ELnUsxy3HioXmnYzXr_AvJu7yc2ZBORqhTX84KqKr-Gc2QTQzGMsYcn_l9T5Ftx5PhDnem/s320/IMG_1325.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352919038884789826" /></a><br /><br />Also, I've very nearly finished the "Peace in the Hood" Central Park Hoodie made using Peace Fleece wool. I just like making the crocheted button loops and adding the buttons. It is, as expected, too big, as I started making it before I lost the weight. Hubby says it's okay, but lets face it, it swamps me. No pics of me with it on, but here's a shot of the back. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihKXgXewsTW9RsHBTCh0Hoqw1Q8ddNfNXh415rKz_vM0ZnSKhnyoEEkKi4Uh-Ntwr7HEL29yp1p5D2IscWkzKYEv8oz-_680q6uX4fN9gMLNk9CbBgyCa2rnB5oYiP5Tf4AkVGWaF9CLO/s1600-h/IMG_1321.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihKXgXewsTW9RsHBTCh0Hoqw1Q8ddNfNXh415rKz_vM0ZnSKhnyoEEkKi4Uh-Ntwr7HEL29yp1p5D2IscWkzKYEv8oz-_680q6uX4fN9gMLNk9CbBgyCa2rnB5oYiP5Tf4AkVGWaF9CLO/s320/IMG_1321.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352919034439483378" /></a><br /><br />Also in the "almost finished" pile is the scarf I've been making for a workmate. I made her a hat last year in 2x2 rib, and this year she requested a scarf to match. I made the scarf in 3x3 rib, and it's long enough. I only need to cast off, sew in the ends and block. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIhFKVN5k-g8ValrPRCrbYsgdJjP4TF-sJHZnzByPfCZPFYb_sBYT91Fptj3B_sqVpAsZbamIcB42GEJJG8rs2o8CVdLOgZKc_tWl2ebl-nD43VWJEgvJ1xk9ioK7H5yl3UJbgMj2wyi7/s1600-h/IMG_1323.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIhFKVN5k-g8ValrPRCrbYsgdJjP4TF-sJHZnzByPfCZPFYb_sBYT91Fptj3B_sqVpAsZbamIcB42GEJJG8rs2o8CVdLOgZKc_tWl2ebl-nD43VWJEgvJ1xk9ioK7H5yl3UJbgMj2wyi7/s320/IMG_1323.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352921523541836770" /></a><br /><br />The only project I've really got on the needles right now (gasp!! yes, just one...but that's due to change soon) is a pair of socks I'm knitting for a gift. At the recipients request, I'm knitting them with Heirloom Easy-care 5ply. I was knitting them 2 at a time, but had to separate them to finish the gusset increases and turn the heels. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBiodqq_-oQS1Do9jCrAYcVFv-Podm-6-atdouKpqeqckV5dx0TfWruvXviAFTlSDRrrk0vHufi-ya4Lk5_XG1G2ePC7zCUDnQ6t2ZsuAlnr-qCt3yduNTEMleiturCYM8hUgB3yfpsrD/s1600-h/IMG_1322.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBiodqq_-oQS1Do9jCrAYcVFv-Podm-6-atdouKpqeqckV5dx0TfWruvXviAFTlSDRrrk0vHufi-ya4Lk5_XG1G2ePC7zCUDnQ6t2ZsuAlnr-qCt3yduNTEMleiturCYM8hUgB3yfpsrD/s320/IMG_1322.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352921516041123938" /></a><br /><br />Spinningwise, I have been working on the alpaca I got from Woolywombat. It's lovely and soft, but alpaca spinning is like alpaca knitting...those darn stray fibres get everywhere. I'd never spun alpaca, so it's been a learning curve, but I think I've got the hang of it now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0bY1oZP4E5W60wF8uZ0ikAsXchftEDFvZXwG1afyYY_OuX0HmAlVXdhGKxiS1uZqVPAG4Q1__Pgr566A5jAlKvRh9gyuKoK7s65rgISQY5HHwwcR5mttxK4j6V1MqXvHhviUZqXdYM-l/s1600-h/IMG_1316.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0bY1oZP4E5W60wF8uZ0ikAsXchftEDFvZXwG1afyYY_OuX0HmAlVXdhGKxiS1uZqVPAG4Q1__Pgr566A5jAlKvRh9gyuKoK7s65rgISQY5HHwwcR5mttxK4j6V1MqXvHhviUZqXdYM-l/s320/IMG_1316.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352919044325458082" /></a><br /><br />Also in spinning news, I'd been on the waiting list for <a href="http://southerncrossfibre.com/wp/">Southern Cross Fibre </a>Club for a few months, and finally got my invite to join. My first months fibre arrived last week...115 grams of Shetland wool top in lovely greens (we know I love greens). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQm7gUbAtByGicEpwxF3Qf3TTPnLP-3JT_VSmx6PtoklSG5V1UEbvixtpiscrr2xLaO7uk7GiznQW3bEMZo3m4-Z_7gDZiGAVfUF5VDHZBzr4xLKJ_s6eEgWtjcvBWAaGEHdnQuEvSmW_/s1600-h/IMG_1326.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQm7gUbAtByGicEpwxF3Qf3TTPnLP-3JT_VSmx6PtoklSG5V1UEbvixtpiscrr2xLaO7uk7GiznQW3bEMZo3m4-Z_7gDZiGAVfUF5VDHZBzr4xLKJ_s6eEgWtjcvBWAaGEHdnQuEvSmW_/s320/IMG_1326.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352921528236205282" /></a><br /><br />I just love the earthy tones of David's fibres. I'm just sort of over all the pastels and bright bold colors that are pretty, but rather impractical for actual knitting when your...well...39 years old for the umpteenth time. <br /><br />I also stopped by Spotlight yesterday. They were having a 20% off everything sale, and I actually went in looking for towels. I walked out with 14 balls of Cleckheaton Naturals Cotton. I found them in a bargain bin for 2.49 a ball, plus the 20% off, and they were quite a bargain indeed. Since they're "Naturals" they aren't really dyed, but they come in different shades varying from a creamy white to a brown. I bought 10 of the darker shade, and 4 of the lighter shade.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqpj8cUXOuFZYZDPcGSx5rEgTQ0nyCo3Rc6A1I0vT9tDUTDZHX9XCv-4-e2k0lBR1Xyyye-Lm-AAQEfPovsfbVr-LsZwZc4Ct7BQpa4v-C17tAuc2rmQpJ_8pYBJDUv9EUV2DNZRdEKoh/s1600-h/IMG_1319.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqpj8cUXOuFZYZDPcGSx5rEgTQ0nyCo3Rc6A1I0vT9tDUTDZHX9XCv-4-e2k0lBR1Xyyye-Lm-AAQEfPovsfbVr-LsZwZc4Ct7BQpa4v-C17tAuc2rmQpJ_8pYBJDUv9EUV2DNZRdEKoh/s320/IMG_1319.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352921516992398722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUpPGLUoNrszNUXvai7jMFfdsrNvmLpiQhxiAZhi4_W4T7shfX6_MjmZJloSHjQXVWDfkHbKhtzlFPEPGHdyIu4nuIDGSfwTpYIWu-4T5RfgzOqlUeqK3_ncC895l_9y2kths68GYT-QU/s1600-h/IMG_1318.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUpPGLUoNrszNUXvai7jMFfdsrNvmLpiQhxiAZhi4_W4T7shfX6_MjmZJloSHjQXVWDfkHbKhtzlFPEPGHdyIu4nuIDGSfwTpYIWu-4T5RfgzOqlUeqK3_ncC895l_9y2kths68GYT-QU/s320/IMG_1318.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352921515233010898" /></a><br /><br />I was thinking the varying shades would work together, but after looking at patterns for "all cotton" garments on Ravelry, I can make something in my "new" size from just the darker shade if I like. Most all the summer cardi or top patterns call for roughly 7 or 8 balls in my size. Lordy, will I ever get used to being this small again? <br /><br />Well, as stated, I'm rather sure I've forgotten a half a dozen things I intended to put in the post, but lucky me, this is my "slow week" at work, so I'll have lots of free time to do another post soon if need be. Till then..Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-3736073271095991162009-06-17T14:44:00.007+09:302009-06-19T21:58:14.982+09:30Unmentionable LaceI'm a bit low on time to post this week, so this will be a shorter blog entry, by my standards anyway, than some in the past has been. I mainly just want to keep up on here. When I go awhile without posting, the number of pictures and the things I have to talk about can get a bit overwhelming.<br /><br />I did finish the Saturday Market Bag for my mother in laws birthday. Sewing it together was somewhat laughable, but it did work, and in the end the bag looked just fine. A couple of errors were in there, but in the general confusion of the stringy lace, I don't think anyone but me would ever notice. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV6xzTs_BJdFezwKP4gteArKzItAs7KfPJPL79g4xC5fvGA8oFb3BVXnh9AZi0nLpLDnmlFEAjz9ZX6bu7EevI2ZHctplZj1Og228Qp8mDX3rcMt8ri02ZcJazmLWHnFr_YHXg2yHO8hK/s1600-h/IMG_1304.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV6xzTs_BJdFezwKP4gteArKzItAs7KfPJPL79g4xC5fvGA8oFb3BVXnh9AZi0nLpLDnmlFEAjz9ZX6bu7EevI2ZHctplZj1Og228Qp8mDX3rcMt8ri02ZcJazmLWHnFr_YHXg2yHO8hK/s320/IMG_1304.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348164752412813106" /></a><br /><br />It was fairly quick, but it did feel alot of my "at home" knitting time. As I only stitch projects up at home too, I consequently haven't gotten a thing done towards stitching up the Peace in the Hood hoodie. That's ok with me though, as it's far from urgent. My main reason for wanting to finish it is just to be able to tuck it away and call it "done". <br /><br />I'd like to tell you that my "Blooming Bloomers" are coming along nicely, and they should be by all accounts. It seems like I've spent most of my time since finishing the market bag, and all of my away knitting time even when I was working on the market bag, lately. Actually, it was moving along like gangbusters until I got to the lace edging on the bottom of the first leg. Then...well...things kinda slowed to a crawl. I think it's 5 days now I've been working on this edging (yes, 5), and I still have about 8 inches to go.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXsgjtvcGSvBszxokpsggH9cyi7y1DcMlrOi4RFyt0gCweBPxxAoZxi3t32OMJAme8u7yIQ70u-SInXuBmx-vBdYCINVtlBol0qjw48G5mO-_fcBKqgcr-XMkwikv8837q_XCrRuzquCQ/s1600-h/IMG_1306.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXsgjtvcGSvBszxokpsggH9cyi7y1DcMlrOi4RFyt0gCweBPxxAoZxi3t32OMJAme8u7yIQ70u-SInXuBmx-vBdYCINVtlBol0qjw48G5mO-_fcBKqgcr-XMkwikv8837q_XCrRuzquCQ/s320/IMG_1306.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348164760307880066" /></a><br /><br />Here's the deal, which might prove valuable to anyone who thinks of doing the "<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTunmentionables.html">Unmentionables</a>" pattern. You knit right along in stockingnet stitch for what feels like forever, but really takes very little time at all. There's a purl row or two, and a bit of eyelet lace around the top to thread the ribbon into when finishing, but even including that, it's smooth sailing. Then you flip the whole thing over, pull out the other side of your provisional cast on revealing the live stitches, and start knitting the ruffle. I thought at this point that perhaps I should just use leftovers from an earlier ball of yarn, because visually (as in, in the picture) that ruffle and lace trim just doesn't look very big. In the end, I decided to play it safe and start it with a new ball. Good thing I did. Right after you begin the ruffle, you have to increase your stitches. In fact, you have to double them, which causes that nice ruffle effect. After this increase, for the medium size, I have 240 stitches, which means it takes longer to finish the rounds, but hey, it's still good old mindless stockingnet stitch. I increased the length to 3 inches rather than the 2.75 it called for (more about this later), and then got to the lace. That's when things got really nasty. The lace requires you do 8 rows, from 5 stitches on the needle, to 9 stitches in a triangle sort of shape. Each of these 8 row triangles only takes up 4 of your leg stitches. Now, doing the math, that means you have to make (gasp!!) 60 of those little 8 row triangles. As if thats not bad enough, you are working with 2 DPN's to actually do the triangles, plus one of your leg needles, where at the end of every odd row, you are k2tog'ing one of the leg stitches into the triangle. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjOPIm5dgErBGe6qSpvg_q6R6o60WPrJz0BKXmqSWiddXY6H79TaJjmClKjRsFUUzxujiq0rtyYI1ZbnpEp5Yq814YNuHjw_bZrrUjnBy33j68qispjZHpOPbcvHBydDbLe8WLvmEjZMQ/s1600-h/IMG_1307.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjOPIm5dgErBGe6qSpvg_q6R6o60WPrJz0BKXmqSWiddXY6H79TaJjmClKjRsFUUzxujiq0rtyYI1ZbnpEp5Yq814YNuHjw_bZrrUjnBy33j68qispjZHpOPbcvHBydDbLe8WLvmEjZMQ/s320/IMG_1307.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348164761587689378" /></a><br /><br />This makes for very fiddly knitting. It also means it takes a long long time, or at least, it's taking me a long long time, to finish just the one lace edging. There's still another one to do on the end of the next leg.<br /><br />I suppose the worst thing about all this is that, when you see then end in sight, in reality the end isn't anywhere remotely near, and it's a big let down when you realize that. As for the yarn, well, it's a good thing I started with a new ball, as I'm getting very close to using up that ball now, with about 15 triangles left to go. The jury is still out on whether it will make the distance or not, but certainly, it will be a close call. <br /><br />The other problem I've found is length. When looking on Ravelry at "real people's" finished projects, I did notice that alot of the finished Unmentionables looked incredibly short, particularly when compared to what you see in the picture on Knitty. This is one of the areas where Ravelry really, really comes in handy. I'm short myself, but seeing this, it raised some red flags for me, and I kept a close eye on how long the bits were, particularly the legs. So I increased about 2 inches on the leg part, and a 1/4 inch on the ruffle, and right now it appears that it will be falling to about where it does in the picture, but I won't know that for sure until I finish them and try them on. If they are too long, I'll have to eat my words, but I'm pretty sure I'll be very grateful for the extra inches.<br /><br />Another thing I saw mentioned on Ravelry by people who had made the project is that they hadn't used as much yarn as the pattern called for. This is likely going to be the case for me as well. Even with the extra length, I still will likely use only 6 balls, or maybe even 5 and a half, instead of the 7 recommended. I actually considered buying only 6, but then changed my mind when I considered how uncertain it would be if I had to add extra length.<br /><br />I haven't started the scarf for my workmate Tracy yet, but I did start a pair of socks. I've only just got them cast on and a few rounds of the toe worked, but they are nice to have around for times when I can't concentrate on the lace. I stil haven't decided if I'm going to make them rather plain, or put some kind of pattern in them. I guess I need to make up my mind before I finish the toes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM9VkCQUve9gA-aje0dZBV8fSfG8qd5BacltKeqbg1JfmfL6cqxs8ivRp0y29VfNFSZZzIKCOwb6gG1-ZBlVKLbOc3yXokGKQspW24j3jdbbgxCr9SHnjJMGbze-Pv0dt62s5mFRBFnCE/s1600-h/IMG_1311.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM9VkCQUve9gA-aje0dZBV8fSfG8qd5BacltKeqbg1JfmfL6cqxs8ivRp0y29VfNFSZZzIKCOwb6gG1-ZBlVKLbOc3yXokGKQspW24j3jdbbgxCr9SHnjJMGbze-Pv0dt62s5mFRBFnCE/s320/IMG_1311.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348166176771479394" /></a><br /><br />You might have noticed the pretty bag underneath them. That's my new "sock" bag, although I think it's technically a linen shoe bag. I saw it in a home store just off Rundle Mall last week when I was birthday shopping for my mother in law and just thought it was the prettiest thing, and perfect for socks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom-H2pvGO-wPpSLtQxIhuJIQh4S_BlIkrgMcizxK7qyzU2qwwLXFhbAyMk5uZoYbwWQ0zqogzWKsmCySQsFN7ZZwsHVbjFd1UwSS2gZI5qavSeOmOU8P6jY7bAsM7gyOe6lXzQ8XX1eQJ/s1600-h/IMG_1310.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom-H2pvGO-wPpSLtQxIhuJIQh4S_BlIkrgMcizxK7qyzU2qwwLXFhbAyMk5uZoYbwWQ0zqogzWKsmCySQsFN7ZZwsHVbjFd1UwSS2gZI5qavSeOmOU8P6jY7bAsM7gyOe6lXzQ8XX1eQJ/s320/IMG_1310.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348166172994891410" /></a><br /><br />I will likely start that scarf this week, as my order for the yarn for Chris' vest has been delayed another week or so. I also intend to start another cardigan using the same pattern as I used for the Bustaroony to give to my daughter for Christmas, and I will if I finish the Unmentionables before the yarn gets here for the vest. I might anyway, as it's rather more urgent to get finished.<br /><br />On the spinning front, I've plyed the second roving to match the Navidad, out of the merino I got from Kathy's fibres. Here it is just off the niddy noddy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Kfqwd4GmYNCObCQkqdCYzU-xJai9E8b3ZbSRX3ZDPyGpavovM3lWtXk065GqTqtMUnZ3Bdz0uENugSYbJTQa0H_zHLLUt4YKWxZy-NYSgDmsR5iRBHumkXBXAFok_G10L0hncVr5Lu2m/s1600-h/IMG_1305.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Kfqwd4GmYNCObCQkqdCYzU-xJai9E8b3ZbSRX3ZDPyGpavovM3lWtXk065GqTqtMUnZ3Bdz0uENugSYbJTQa0H_zHLLUt4YKWxZy-NYSgDmsR5iRBHumkXBXAFok_G10L0hncVr5Lu2m/s320/IMG_1305.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348164757629261858" /></a><br /><br />I've washed it, and it's now drying. I should have it skeined in a few days, and will provide a finished picture in my next post. <br /><br />I've also started to attempt to spin the white alpaca that Woolywombat sent to me. It's my first shot at spinning pure alpaca, and it is fiddly. I'm having trouble with it breaking alot. The fibres are quite short, so I have to keep reminding myself to get more spin into them quicker. But what I have finished does look pretty good:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20tF1y6cbvwxBPIr4uGrkLWsZjNPyx_8e8CMGKhqK-zYeiBCRZpL-r-10wXpCgjGY-_K3E6xiWd6MLPLGUNtxkoIFYg3qQtrm3WkHvUa5gYEXt85IxUkDf0XOhadPapE-dU8seboUTOGU/s1600-h/IMG_1308.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20tF1y6cbvwxBPIr4uGrkLWsZjNPyx_8e8CMGKhqK-zYeiBCRZpL-r-10wXpCgjGY-_K3E6xiWd6MLPLGUNtxkoIFYg3qQtrm3WkHvUa5gYEXt85IxUkDf0XOhadPapE-dU8seboUTOGU/s320/IMG_1308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348164764355265554" /></a><br /><br />I actually had intended to dye this at first, but on further inspection, I decided to leave it white. I can always dye the yarn when it's finished if I like. I don't know what I'll do with it yet. If it's thin enough, maybe a lacy scarf, but that really depends on whether I need to ply it for strength or not. If so, it will probably be too thick. Still, it will make a nice scarf even then, just not a lacy one. <br /><br />Mind you, I've spun very little. The short fibres are very messy, and I practically had to vaccum myself off after spinning just that little bit. But now that I'm done plying the merino, I will get back to it very soon. I'd love to learn to spin it well enough to get some thin singles to make a lacy shawl out of.<br /><br />Well, that's about it for me this week. I did buy some plastic boxes and rearrange all of my spinning fibre, but I forgot to take pictures, so I'll save that whole sordid story for my next entry.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-57780504683591668322009-06-01T13:24:00.007+09:302009-06-04T19:13:08.756+09:30A Week in TimeSometimes I think that I should change my style of writing this blog. Maybe write more about feelings, or do a kitzy essay about knitting, or something along those lines. But then, I thought, really, this is more of a knitting diary, and while deep thoughts have their place, I'd rather keep this as more a journal of what I'm doing at this point in time. So, I think I'll keep it as it is, and if I do decide to do a bit more "creative" writing, I can always make another blog and link it. <br /><br />Over the past week I've managed to finish the knitting part of Peace in the Hood, which is my version of the Central Park Hoodie. Given that I started it almost a year ago (I was knitting on it during the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show last year!), one might say "About time!" and be perfectly justified. It spent many months in hibernation, and I had it marked on Ravelry as 95% done. HA! Hardly. The hood was a huge square of knitting. Then there was still the button band. Not your average button band, by any means. It went from the bottom front piece up and all the way around the hood and then back down to the bottom of the right side. Three hundred and seventy eight stitches in all, first to pick up, and then to knit the longest 2 1/2 inches in width I have ever knit in my entire life. It took, literally, days. I was so heartily sick of it before I was halfway through. All that is done now, however, and it still needs stitching up. That, however, will have to wait. I have more on my plate right now, and as it's not going to fit me anymore anyway, there's no hurry. It will, however, make a dandy Christmas present when it's finished. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZSx-_UGRMPn9iG1l_26m85kKbluFtK7cfLtwNOnMKnx6UI3pK5zK_0xSzo-QHQ8TEVhPFKMztKNBKORcETHM2HEZAUAi-9ZfXSuCUP_dI_50xR40uMOb0Rl_CDLNDpVE_JBFMA5ffLE/s1600-h/IMG_1290.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZSx-_UGRMPn9iG1l_26m85kKbluFtK7cfLtwNOnMKnx6UI3pK5zK_0xSzo-QHQ8TEVhPFKMztKNBKORcETHM2HEZAUAi-9ZfXSuCUP_dI_50xR40uMOb0Rl_CDLNDpVE_JBFMA5ffLE/s320/IMG_1290.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343347677710778146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDABfHc5zXNlRpDWfeu6GQFBbbkn0gRtb9WMwAjJ9gTG0j0E8CrEEPy7mbIk1jb0sbngTLvwpwo9TYYq_0RBob25NvnAG2iOQ_K33GOUj-m-XCO9o3Y7XeuQXntd2cfmYpTzOYa5mP3ZJU/s1600-h/IMG_1289.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDABfHc5zXNlRpDWfeu6GQFBbbkn0gRtb9WMwAjJ9gTG0j0E8CrEEPy7mbIk1jb0sbngTLvwpwo9TYYq_0RBob25NvnAG2iOQ_K33GOUj-m-XCO9o3Y7XeuQXntd2cfmYpTzOYa5mP3ZJU/s320/IMG_1289.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343347674512311954" /></a><br /><br />I've been knitting on my Blooming Bloomers as well. I've been doing the legs at work, as they are stockingnet stitch in the round, and you just can't get any easier than that. During these days off, I really wanted to knit a bit on it, so that I could get myself up to the crotch part, where the legs join and you start knitting the body portion, but that was not to be, due to the aforementioned excessively long time it took me to finish the hoodie. So, I will simply take them to work over the next few days, and face that problem when I come to it, which could easily be tonight if things are quiet, tomorrow night at the latest. The join looks slightly complicated, but not terribly so. I'm using my knit picks for the knitting, and my Denise cords to hold it on. I'm taking both sets with me to work, so I should be able to knit them off with no problems.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgKpr1SdyKtNpyaeYDvhW5-VnbohptSVMts4v-LrrQuyym8Qo3GUmRSfvA8oO6wTsQcip_hRriKgly5e_AMCzQBjkxg6XtSlEzav5gulWA-FPJhHr094GiGyHcAEKog7JpQuPVzEpTyTu/s1600-h/IMG_1288.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgKpr1SdyKtNpyaeYDvhW5-VnbohptSVMts4v-LrrQuyym8Qo3GUmRSfvA8oO6wTsQcip_hRriKgly5e_AMCzQBjkxg6XtSlEzav5gulWA-FPJhHr094GiGyHcAEKog7JpQuPVzEpTyTu/s320/IMG_1288.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343347671550900722" /></a><br /><br />Just last night, I started another project. It's a market bag for my mother in law, June. I'm calling it "The June Bag". I'm using a pattern I found on Ravelry, called the <a href="http://www.violinjodie.com/blog/2008/04/10/saturday-market-bag-revisited/">Saturday Market Bag</a>. I must say I don't like it. I'm sure the pattern is fine, but I'm not terribly fond of trying to do stringy lace with 10mm needles. Nope, it's a labour of love. And the desperate need to make something she might like very quickly. Of course, it's so tedious, I can't do it even while watching TV. Taking it to work is also not an option. But, I have one side almost half completed already, so perhaps my agony will be over quickly. A good thing, since her birthday is next Friday. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-q6vqzLJAEy5pQKEe-q69m9ZHHOJ7DpJum6IxbNC-8O7EVyyBRhAPGtx9PjNZQI2eFHGzdYZCiYiCohaSnP7AyJOq7ROIcV9p0U0xqAdOd-N5FFshy0OX3EnQkQC4eolqHvDhwM5Zg6e/s1600-h/IMG_1295.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-q6vqzLJAEy5pQKEe-q69m9ZHHOJ7DpJum6IxbNC-8O7EVyyBRhAPGtx9PjNZQI2eFHGzdYZCiYiCohaSnP7AyJOq7ROIcV9p0U0xqAdOd-N5FFshy0OX3EnQkQC4eolqHvDhwM5Zg6e/s320/IMG_1295.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343347673081236962" /></a><br /><br />I tried to begin with to work it in the round, but that did not work at all. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, so I'm working it now per pattern, which means two sides that are eventually stitched together, although how I'll stitch the stringy mess is beyond me at the moment. <br /><br />There are a couple of projects in shouting distance of getting started. The first is a scarf for a coworker. I made her a hat last year our of Basics Entwine yarn from Spotlight, a nice bulky yarn, in a creamish colour. This year, she has requested a scarf to match. This shouldn't have been a problem, but it was. Entwine had been discontinued at Spotlight. (It seems few yarns there make it past a years run before they are discontinued). This is where Ravelry comes in, and one of the many things I love it for. <br /><br />After writing a friend in Whyalla about looking to see if they had any available there, and getting a negative answer, I went to the Australian Knitter's Group on Rav. They have a "in search of" (ISO) thread, so I put the word out that I was in need of some. A lovely Rav member just happened to have some in the colour I needed, we negotiated a price (more than reasonable) and in a few days I had 5 balls in my mailbox. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nK_kkSfT5ZPQnmVm7EasKgyY6Ulwsy_8sQq6xuzm7Ta8beXNNnmG9AohsQ90BtdpeynDBxp3oqEfWmKi_e24KaCMAqieSkt9APP8idaTJ3pgJOhJ10y4IOpZyw4_Vwp20vDFtt72NFMA/s1600-h/IMG_1294.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nK_kkSfT5ZPQnmVm7EasKgyY6Ulwsy_8sQq6xuzm7Ta8beXNNnmG9AohsQ90BtdpeynDBxp3oqEfWmKi_e24KaCMAqieSkt9APP8idaTJ3pgJOhJ10y4IOpZyw4_Vwp20vDFtt72NFMA/s320/IMG_1294.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343347682605094754" /></a><br /><br />People on Ravelry are the nicest people in the world. Knitters are always so kind and helpful and willing to help another knitter in distress, and it's this general feeling of goodwill and comraderie that makes knitting not just a hobby, but a way to make, and keep, some really fantastic friends. I've known this for a long time, but just little things like this remind me of what a wonderful community we have in the crafting world, and the knitting world in particular.<br /><br />The other project waiting in the wings is the Anchor's Aweigh vest, from the book Son of Stitch and Bitch. I found this pattern on Ravelry, showed it to Chris, and he actually said he would wear it. So, as I mentioned in the last post, I ordered the book from Fishpond. It arrived this week, and I set about searching for yarn. I went first to the local LYS, then to a bigger one in town, but 5ply in Australia is quite limited, particularly limited in colour choices, so I wound up going back to Gabrielle at American Yarns and ordering the Brown Sheep Nature Spun 5ply that it called for, in exactly the colours used in the photo below.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdDOnOVC4Fy5iH8pToBUjMDIS8cqo-3le_eC-XN_qIco8ypdVjyUg3VyImvcP89L9w1nqjLlSIQJphxcbB66uhWmVqR7iiOZhAammamEqp_wPBJ9nBOq-Z7U3WlMwUA8-OWCijoPTDivM/s1600-h/IMG_1291.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdDOnOVC4Fy5iH8pToBUjMDIS8cqo-3le_eC-XN_qIco8ypdVjyUg3VyImvcP89L9w1nqjLlSIQJphxcbB66uhWmVqR7iiOZhAammamEqp_wPBJ9nBOq-Z7U3WlMwUA8-OWCijoPTDivM/s320/IMG_1291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343353609724111234" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3NlCJ0PVTdYE_YAJ0iFdASkX10QVfjqipdqYCGBYh2sEYE0fOZa37nWXus0jx630Lp7zGCyhnAiMiteKT8dNxXdXY_8hnaR31S3Hvo8qkP6MTMTuDE_FTvf8dm7aajS8MwVacl0LNeZ1/s1600-h/IMG_1292.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3NlCJ0PVTdYE_YAJ0iFdASkX10QVfjqipdqYCGBYh2sEYE0fOZa37nWXus0jx630Lp7zGCyhnAiMiteKT8dNxXdXY_8hnaR31S3Hvo8qkP6MTMTuDE_FTvf8dm7aajS8MwVacl0LNeZ1/s320/IMG_1292.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343353611172563762" /></a><br /><br />The yarn is a preorder, so it will likely take a couple of weeks to get here, but that's fine. The price was reasonable at $5.50Au a ball, but I probably ordered more than I need. Still, I didn't want to get stuck without, and I do need to modify it a bit to make it long enough to suit Chris. Besides, if I have much extra, Brown Sheep can be a hard brand to come by here, so I'm sure I can resell it. <br /><br />For the past year or so, I've been getting books from Librovox, and listening to them mainly on my rather long commute to work and back, but also while I'm knitting and need to watch my stitches carefully, and sometimes on the treadmill when there's nothing to be watched on TV. <br /><br /><a href="http://librivox.org/">Librovox.org </a>is a free service that provides books in the public domain, read by volunteers and offered to the public as free downloads. Due to copywrite laws, these tend to be the classics, or books written in the early 1900's or earlier. Many of them are British or European, as the US has stricter copywrite laws than the UK or some European countries. I had a great time at first, going thru all the Jane Austen novels. I listened to the ones I hadn't read first, and then listened to the one's I had read. For awhile, I was finding some interesting books, but after 9 or 10 months, this became harder and harder. Not that they don't have many books on there. They have hundreds and hundreds. But of course, like anyone, not all of them fit my taste in reading (or listening, for that matter). But after slogging thru a few questionable titles, and getting a couple that I couldn't even force myself to finish, I started looking elsewhere for something to fill my ipod. <br /><br />Since Librovox downloads chapters to my itunes in the form of podcasts, I started searching podcasts available. Needless to say, the first thing I decided to search was knitting. I found way more than I expected to find, but the first podcast to catch my eye was "Sticks and String", which came with a little description, something like "An Australian Bloke Who Knits". So I went to the site and eventually downloaded everything he'd ever done, from his first podcast a couple of years ago to the present, put them in order on my ipod and began to listen.<br /><br />This guys name is David Reidy. You can find his website and podcast <a href="http://www.sticksandstring.org/">HERE.</a> He's got a voice that would melt butter, and his podcasts are very topical on Australian knitting, although he appeals to alot of people overseas as well. He did a tour of ACS (Australian Country Spinners) mills in the Melbourne burbs that I particularly enjoyed, but I do love all his on the road shows. <br /><br />I'm caught up with his now, but still listen to the latest when they come out. Meanwhile, I've decided to go back and listen to all of <a href="http://www.cast-on.com/?page_id=427">Brenda Dane's Cast on </a>podcast, which is also a very professional sounding broadcast, and full of information. It's quite entertaining, although I must say I like David's music better. I'm more into the "mellow" stuff, and even though she plays a decent mix, alot of it is more contemporary than what suits me. When I get caught up with hers, then I'll start hunting up another one.<br /><br />That pretty much covers the goings on this week, except for buying three knitting magazines this morning. I bought the most recent issues of Yarn (I really need to subscribe to this one), Creative Knitting and Designer Knits. I just went on a magazine buying frenzy, I suppose. I haven't even looked at them yet though. I just tucked them into my knitting bag, and I'm saving them for my breaks at work over the next few days. <br /><br />I'll be back with more as soon as more happens! Apologies for the terrible pictures, but it's been cloudy or raining here for a week. Not the best picture taking weather.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-77525077820899524922009-05-25T14:51:00.010+09:302009-05-26T18:04:19.023+09:30Playing Cowboys and IndiansNow that the glow from finishing the Bustaroony has started to dim, it's time to move on. Time to finish a pair of desperately needed socks. Yes, "needed". I've worn holes in two of my old pair, leaving me with only one pair of wearable socks. I do know there is such thing as darning, I just haven't found the time to learn how to do it. <br /><br />This years Winter Roundup, our annual big Western Action shooting event was a success. It was (and I don't say this lightly) the best one yet, for me at least. Our posse (that is what our group of shooters are collectively called) was run by a husband and wife team, and things ran so much more smoothly than they have in the previous few years. We got thru the matches in record time, and even had a few minutes to sit and BREATHE between the matches on Saturday and the fancy dress get together on Saturday night. <br /><br />Below, a picture of Chris in his civil war cap mom sent him from the states:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiy7EUuLRVDi_95CMhCV9WZt81DlKj-5Qyoj4SSGeNmwHuX5hgS3HkZBoHCOXg97z2rOW3jblgapYWlMfrzICmzHQeZsdxMieUQhg8r6HAf2mebGmfVsEMI-eVuROG_wwv-3FoEdEArDF4/s1600-h/IMG_1236.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiy7EUuLRVDi_95CMhCV9WZt81DlKj-5Qyoj4SSGeNmwHuX5hgS3HkZBoHCOXg97z2rOW3jblgapYWlMfrzICmzHQeZsdxMieUQhg8r6HAf2mebGmfVsEMI-eVuROG_wwv-3FoEdEArDF4/s320/IMG_1236.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339630708343798514" /></a><br /><br />And me on the range Sunday, waiting to shoot. It was quite chilly, so the poncho stayed on until the last minute:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe-4EFIb2nhS3-23qvxV7DofuQjSHMnACp3vXTPNXZ_UJrXAkNxNTtsx0QIjoFQYRK9k6iXGJ8RrNoTifCpczR-NUzJD1AMB3f8FX_9wZejtqHvzyIh2-lI20wjJcFoYV7B80pANZiho8/s1600-h/IMG_1243.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe-4EFIb2nhS3-23qvxV7DofuQjSHMnACp3vXTPNXZ_UJrXAkNxNTtsx0QIjoFQYRK9k6iXGJ8RrNoTifCpczR-NUzJD1AMB3f8FX_9wZejtqHvzyIh2-lI20wjJcFoYV7B80pANZiho8/s320/IMG_1243.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339630703411306002" /></a><br /><br />and shooting, minus the pancho because I'm dreadfully afraid a pistol will get stuck under it and I'll shoot my foot off:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB8fSFINXbNBd3xFZaSogPb5cIh-u9y5KX_FLfYOMPPAV84mvVgC5-RXZDjOw6OuFI_8F4je5YsRIhbhpPTIWAI-TiP1yusLQKCko02Y_eqaRomI_hgZe7eEkuKncpL_BEvTNRm09Q6li/s1600-h/IMG_1250.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCB8fSFINXbNBd3xFZaSogPb5cIh-u9y5KX_FLfYOMPPAV84mvVgC5-RXZDjOw6OuFI_8F4je5YsRIhbhpPTIWAI-TiP1yusLQKCko02Y_eqaRomI_hgZe7eEkuKncpL_BEvTNRm09Q6li/s320/IMG_1250.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339630699270935218" /></a><br /><br />That's "Coyote" behind me, husband in the couple who were our posse leaders/range officers for the shoot. Just wanted to give him and his lovely "Violet Rose" a two thumbs up for a job very very well done. <br /><br />Now, most (if not all) of the shooters attending hadn't seen me since, at the very latest, last November. While Western action goes on all year round on a club level, most of the interclub shoots are done in the winter, so my weight loss was more than evident to them all. Twenty seven kilos gone is hard to hide, assuming I would even want to, which of course, I didn't. Consequently, I got lots of kind comments and congratulations on my weight loss, and that was fantastic.<br /><br />Friday morning, I got two books that I had ordered in the mail from <a href="http://www.coloniallakebooks.com.au/index.html">Colonial Lake Books</a>. One was Victorian Knits Today, and the other was Colour in Spinning. Both were books I'd been pining over. Victorian Knits today is just pure sheer joyous eye candy, with the most exquisite pictures, equal to any coffee table book for sheer "flipthruability". As a bonus, it also contains stunning lace work patterns, and the only downside is that they are all so beautiful, how do you choose which one you want to knit? It has occured to me to start with the first one and work my way thru, which would take, ohhh, probably the rest of my life. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCLxtoAmzmlClxRDv9v6qGOjZKQGj-KKCM43xpDcvjakqTK0sHXNb1ivn5YGnzkd2uWDKdMaktMQei0HM1HzkrJj-HLxs71h83-Mi-HhG_LaUZg86bcGQ1olhBEtiODdNZLpvaRljEmzS/s1600-h/IMG_1276_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCLxtoAmzmlClxRDv9v6qGOjZKQGj-KKCM43xpDcvjakqTK0sHXNb1ivn5YGnzkd2uWDKdMaktMQei0HM1HzkrJj-HLxs71h83-Mi-HhG_LaUZg86bcGQ1olhBEtiODdNZLpvaRljEmzS/s320/IMG_1276_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340043039282663250" /></a><br /><br />Color in Spinning is more of a text book on dyeing and using colour in fibre, and how to play with, blend or change up color during fibre preparation, using combs, hackles or carder. It's an older book, and it had been out of print and quite expensive if you could even find it, but has been put back into print as a paper back, and if you are a spinner, you should definately read this book. I had no idea I knew so very very little about color, and I'm only up to the third chapter. <br /><br />I also took along just two projects. The first was my "Peace in the Hood" (CPH) hoodie, which I got next to nothing done on while there. The second was my Indian Corn socks. On the way there on Friday afternoon, I realized it was time to start increases for the gussets. They are being worked top down, with a Widdershins heel. Otherwise, they are plain ole stockingnet stitch and easy as pie. So, getting there at roughly 2 in the afternoon, I figured I'd have plenty of time to do the gussets and heel on both socks. HA! I did very little Friday night other than knit on those darn socks, and still was only just reaching the first heel by the time it was bedtime. I worked on them during my spare time over the weekend, which was minimal. <br /><br />I wound up finishing the second heel on Sunday afternoon at the awards presentation. There were about 150 people in the room, sitting at long tables, and crowded all around me. The light was dim at best, and here I sat trying to pick up the short row raps and finish the second heel practically in the dark. This from a woman who, a mere 6 months ago, waited until I was alone, took the phones off the hood and found a quite corner to meticulously work the heel with no distractions. <br /><br />Consequently, and it's no wonder, I did make a couple of boo boos on that heel that I had to paste up last night when I finished the socks. But all in all, I just wanted a pair of socks that were wearable until I could figure out how to darn the wholey ones, so they will do for their intended purpose.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmTNZgy_RqES-H0RwMLdg-Z4fJere2w78sQGgQStEq6llqTPs88PelDukNSvLBIDuNPFtlJKy9MC9HSZKCr9pok2MWaI39UXLrM7ToGxjDHnVoEAO4r5byrNb3mwwsaboo6MaNnr0AL2L/s1600-h/IMG_1281.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmTNZgy_RqES-H0RwMLdg-Z4fJere2w78sQGgQStEq6llqTPs88PelDukNSvLBIDuNPFtlJKy9MC9HSZKCr9pok2MWaI39UXLrM7ToGxjDHnVoEAO4r5byrNb3mwwsaboo6MaNnr0AL2L/s320/IMG_1281.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340043048788461650" /></a><br /><br />In spinning, I've actually gotten quite a bit done. I spun up the merino and glitz batt from Wooleywombat, mentioned in the last post: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG5QiOYSgfNw4xI8gVbdahyphenhyphenLzO6HmhzJHgJdocINWXJYKB8vZhwJiehKabPJ4lb7Xs6ayyPEYZYe0H6M8Tl6SBFyBbFcLyajuR4GMXXLjuhzacBs3Q2QTsbXuFIlnipoe4pVpbgZgB5zh/s1600-h/IMG_1257.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG5QiOYSgfNw4xI8gVbdahyphenhyphenLzO6HmhzJHgJdocINWXJYKB8vZhwJiehKabPJ4lb7Xs6ayyPEYZYe0H6M8Tl6SBFyBbFcLyajuR4GMXXLjuhzacBs3Q2QTsbXuFIlnipoe4pVpbgZgB5zh/s320/IMG_1257.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339630709362907266" /></a><br /><br />I plied, washed and set it yesterday, and it's now beautiful and dry:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoyrZ-DknGGxNUOgd7ZSSZQ5mw9kf5eKuTShazx0Vw1dYOd3dn5kUkvGbjjoiA-FiZC-xmUvojlgLikHuAcTgBuOzwJZsxXuDtc5v4AziZwzzBhE8WW9Um2kjL90u7GrBg5P_gtGHBiu1/s1600-h/IMG_1286.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoyrZ-DknGGxNUOgd7ZSSZQ5mw9kf5eKuTShazx0Vw1dYOd3dn5kUkvGbjjoiA-FiZC-xmUvojlgLikHuAcTgBuOzwJZsxXuDtc5v4AziZwzzBhE8WW9Um2kjL90u7GrBg5P_gtGHBiu1/s320/IMG_1286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340045525264500258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQH09NUTrZjPTXqozfWt5jkg9xpIbO4EaFdrBTZY3VwKs_Q3_Yrb1ORoXmtIjbmbRaDMJOvUkR3eARZm8_bkD4p0JA6NSWYppDXNlBNmRu7IeR8969gGGAt9P3cHHk2WLrNhS2xZttYFH/s1600-h/IMG_1284.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQH09NUTrZjPTXqozfWt5jkg9xpIbO4EaFdrBTZY3VwKs_Q3_Yrb1ORoXmtIjbmbRaDMJOvUkR3eARZm8_bkD4p0JA6NSWYppDXNlBNmRu7IeR8969gGGAt9P3cHHk2WLrNhS2xZttYFH/s320/IMG_1284.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340045522344889522" /></a><br /><br /><br />I like to let my bobbins "relax" for a few days before I ply them, so after I got it all spun up, I went digging thru my fibre stash for something to put on the wheel next. I had in mind some alpaca, but when I went exploring, I found a second roving from <a href="http://www.kathysfibres.com/">Kathy's Fibres</a> in the exact same colourway I had spun up before, the one I called "Navidad" when finished.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWARN-TB2H1uY3cHKQfAQ5E5ra3kSa4fSBqcjbVJSL6L0SBiXGs6JST7IHw9xaskKQzz01phEu4X8jDWaOjTu7pRQ5FGWegMjktG3xDyhltxga8qEAxnDx9yjQQn8YstRPFnxavkp4AFR/s1600-h/IMG_1258.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWARN-TB2H1uY3cHKQfAQ5E5ra3kSa4fSBqcjbVJSL6L0SBiXGs6JST7IHw9xaskKQzz01phEu4X8jDWaOjTu7pRQ5FGWegMjktG3xDyhltxga8qEAxnDx9yjQQn8YstRPFnxavkp4AFR/s320/IMG_1258.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339630710358114194" /></a><br /><br />It then dawned on me that I had bought two rovings, and seeing more potential in having 200 grams of yarn rather than 100, I decided to spin that up in the same way as I'd spun the first one. I got one bobbin finished before I plied Wooleywombat's batt, and have the second bobbin now started on the wheel. <br /><br />Yesterday morning, I recieved one of two books I ordered recently from <a href="http://www.fishpond.com.au/">fishpond</a>. I really needed "Son of Stitch and Bitch" for a vest pattern in there that Chris actually likes. It's called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anchors-aweigh">Anchors Aweigh</a>, by Kim Hamlin, and not surprisingly, has little anchors all over it. It's been a long time since I did stranded colourwork. By long time I mean I tried it once 20 years ago. To be frank, at the time, I didn't like it and moved on. But I'm all keen to try it again, and it's a project that Chris actually LIKES (oh, I mentioned that already, didn't I??)!! <br /><br />The only way to get the pattern is to buy the book. I checked the local bookstores and Ebay.au, no luck. I checked the destash pages on Ravelry. Still no luck. So I went to the online book sellers. Now here in Oz, the online sellers list like bazillions of books, but in reality, they only keep the most popular in stock. Most of the books you order, they then order from overseas and ship them on to you. Consequently, delivery time can be tragically long. Thus my search in "other places" for something more expedient.<br /><br />Fishpond offers free delivery for orders over $50, and their prices are reasonable, so I went with them. The Son of Stitch and Bitch Book was around $28, and I figured if I looked thru their knitting books, I'd find something else I wanted. Well, I found lots, really, but settled on Elizibeth Zimmerman's "Knitting Without Tears", which is a classic that I just didn't own. Fishpond must have had it in stock here in Oz, cause it arrived yesterday. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9tdyq-Vkzj754EsNcMP1PaB47Amc8h1CZGB9FHdspywR-bez_EK50i9Aq0EObMo7uqUXLoWvTypnnEppWU22U4GriSusSNE74qEYuUjsb8gpa8-5facf7x1Qes6lFVbg0RwL4josdAuD/s1600-h/IMG_1280.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9tdyq-Vkzj754EsNcMP1PaB47Amc8h1CZGB9FHdspywR-bez_EK50i9Aq0EObMo7uqUXLoWvTypnnEppWU22U4GriSusSNE74qEYuUjsb8gpa8-5facf7x1Qes6lFVbg0RwL4josdAuD/s320/IMG_1280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340043049317099410" /></a><br /><br /><br />I haven't really had time to look thru it yet, but I've heard wonderful things about it. There's probably a lot I already know, but alot I don't, as with most knitting books I buy.<br /><br />Sadly, the book that I actually need for the Anchor's Aweigh pattern is on that apparently fishpond didn't have on hand here in Oz, and it's likely to be another week before I get the book and the pattern. I've already been sourcing yarn though, and Gabrielle from American Yarns can get the Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport the pattern calls for. I've thought about trying to source yarn here, and still might, but Bendigo Woolen Mills is the only place I can think of that has multiple colours of 5 ply wool. Hummm, well, we shall see. I'll likely go with the original yarn in the original colours, as it just looks so darned spiffy in the picture. <br /><br /><br />Ah, there's something I meant to write about in the last post, but forgot, so I'll include that now. On Mother's Day, we went to my inlaws house for lunch. My mother in law went digging around and pulled out a lovely cardigan she had bought over a decade ago when visiting Scotland. It's an Aran cardi, and I believe the wool is Shetland but I'm not positive. I'm really thrilled to death with it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6lSBrV0nLGJ08H6E3te69RIBPks99ZGxCnoIUZMx7mjced1XRtt3g9d68sZ4BhaermzRGcFnJCtSCBCddMymxtXrpHwrBje04ESuoT9X-P2wol3FMN_a6dbnxWVfeQiKwK-j588A1XAu/s1600-h/IMG_1272.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6lSBrV0nLGJ08H6E3te69RIBPks99ZGxCnoIUZMx7mjced1XRtt3g9d68sZ4BhaermzRGcFnJCtSCBCddMymxtXrpHwrBje04ESuoT9X-P2wol3FMN_a6dbnxWVfeQiKwK-j588A1XAu/s320/IMG_1272.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339925678892212706" /></a><br /><br />The trouble is, it has a few holes in it now, and I need to figure out how to repair them. I will need some similar yarn, but I think it will be worth the effort. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8Bwyayc_fy4Er-wTtxMUKHLp0_Wa6EsV6cptoOExHTa5V9rS6zfrSgxaBPju_rAiecTrUvUx4j0NGt9pp693hpBMNEqkL0qiK57qXBgTIRkCeloiMBdyjx-Gcjnz-PizFMeM9LBAm1gD/s1600-h/IMG_1273.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8Bwyayc_fy4Er-wTtxMUKHLp0_Wa6EsV6cptoOExHTa5V9rS6zfrSgxaBPju_rAiecTrUvUx4j0NGt9pp693hpBMNEqkL0qiK57qXBgTIRkCeloiMBdyjx-Gcjnz-PizFMeM9LBAm1gD/s320/IMG_1273.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339925679412750114" /></a><br /><br />I also started a new project. Saturday, I realized that I was nearing completion of the Indian Corn Socks, so I went to Ravelry and looked thru my queue for my next project. I decided that I would cast on the <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTunmentionables.html">"Unmentionables" pattern </a>from Knitty spring 07. I decided to use the yarn called for by the pattern, because drape and stretch seemed important in this pattern, which was Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I ordered the yarn from <a href="http://americanyarns.com.au">American Yarn</a>s up in QLD a few weeks ago, so I was all ready to go. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8amKrqc6MA6QGtrkqZOgg9pa8WZFv5B0B4INhzml43MdWv3E1zUbQMwk6fhXR3Dk3ntfa7yzZWfkrOsiMQ7NFL40j2rHnj0snx-F9HQqqaj6w1mNg6UE1tSDX_XkmDL0WdTEcJzs-s5wh/s1600-h/IMG_1270.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8amKrqc6MA6QGtrkqZOgg9pa8WZFv5B0B4INhzml43MdWv3E1zUbQMwk6fhXR3Dk3ntfa7yzZWfkrOsiMQ7NFL40j2rHnj0snx-F9HQqqaj6w1mNg6UE1tSDX_XkmDL0WdTEcJzs-s5wh/s320/IMG_1270.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339925671027734082" /></a><br /><br />The cast on was a bit tricky, for me at least, since I'd never done one like it. It was a crochet provisional type cast on, where you made a crochet chain with waste yarn and then picked up and knit the stitches thru the back loop of the crochet chain. I've started on the stockingnet part of the leg, and then will come back later, pull out the waste yarn and have live stitches to use for the ruffle at the end of the leg. <br /><br />I was really in a bit of a hurry to get it started though, because we had a boat trip planned on Sunday, and I was afraid I would finish the socks on the trip and not have anything simple and reasonably small to knit on while out on the boat. Turns out, I didn't finish the socks until Monday, but I did get a dozen or so rounds done on the Unmentionables (mine are called "Blooming Bloomers" on Rav) while out on the boat. <br /><br />The boat trip was as nice as it could be, given the condition of the river. I had never met the couple that came along. She was a coworker of Chris' and her husband worked for the Hills council. Amanda and Bob turned out to be very pleasant guests and shock of all shocks, it seems Amanda spins wool she gets from her parents farm, so we had things to talk about. Here's a pic of Amanda and Bob at the helm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNmv4IZOU0kPzFp5bpCFwG9jT_6PfbkhWMnKvd3IBWZuKxhyoU50b5TWt3sgVUL2r8V82KzpOtR4pVhOk5LO46uKaDWNbfZX-q4sOcFFwDXsBhyTNpjr25GP_TRrWxYPGu-mb08nEnt6/s1600-h/IMG_1264.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNmv4IZOU0kPzFp5bpCFwG9jT_6PfbkhWMnKvd3IBWZuKxhyoU50b5TWt3sgVUL2r8V82KzpOtR4pVhOk5LO46uKaDWNbfZX-q4sOcFFwDXsBhyTNpjr25GP_TRrWxYPGu-mb08nEnt6/s320/IMG_1264.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339948888962056338" /></a><br /><br />I also made another major purchase this past week. AustralianS are switching to all these "energy saving" globes. They're all you can find in the shops anymore, and I really, really have trouble seeing things clearly using them, particularly seeing to read or do my crafty work. Some rooms are so dim, the light bulb sort of glows rather than shines. So I bought a Daylight Lamp from Spotlight. I had been looking at them for awhile, and remembered that the distributor was at Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show last year, so I had considered waiting until then and getting one there. But push came to shove, and I got really tired of straining to see, so I broke down, stopped at Spotlight on my way home from work Saturday and bought one. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRVpJC_X4DwhT1-yRIPW_20G625ocFcrIg5C0VFocx9krCXxuzAuS-fLg3IMyfEu8gPhWQBLNY1-YlJKf2z6dFEA399Hq17tnLZAUAaksYd92FeCSFpzHFos0v3HhxwXzO1OjJ7Gms7I9/s1600-h/IMG_1275.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRVpJC_X4DwhT1-yRIPW_20G625ocFcrIg5C0VFocx9krCXxuzAuS-fLg3IMyfEu8gPhWQBLNY1-YlJKf2z6dFEA399Hq17tnLZAUAaksYd92FeCSFpzHFos0v3HhxwXzO1OjJ7Gms7I9/s320/IMG_1275.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339948889556454434" /></a><br /><br />I absolutely love it! It spoils me though, as I can really notice the difference when I'm knitting at work and don't have it. It gives natural light, just like your working outside in full daylight, and it has a neat magnifying glass attached that you can pull over if you really need a close up look at what you are doing. It's a marvelous piece of equipment. <br /><br />I also stopped by the LYS last week and bought myself a few balls of yarn. I bought two balls of Sirdar Naturals and one ball of Sublime. The sublime is much like the Cashmerino I've bought in the past, and I'm hoping it works well for a pair of "Fetching" fingerless mitts I plan making someone for Christmas. I haven't got plans for the Naturals yet, I just want to try out the yarn, but it looks as if it would dye well if nothing else. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZCLSlDf9mbEnvpxR0I8hpLaQR8jJBIu8_UzyOntCqdK5TDc-uJkx07TnxJ9qYmrFBYGb3Po2juaDJZNPczmnFagSbMd0ZEPWUoDqAdYMc_ajPzP_FRJ6P7K7HGp2bL2AvWLcOvXPvh-T/s1600-h/IMG_1279_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZCLSlDf9mbEnvpxR0I8hpLaQR8jJBIu8_UzyOntCqdK5TDc-uJkx07TnxJ9qYmrFBYGb3Po2juaDJZNPczmnFagSbMd0ZEPWUoDqAdYMc_ajPzP_FRJ6P7K7HGp2bL2AvWLcOvXPvh-T/s320/IMG_1279_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340043046651119778" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBdtbsLwS3WgrABmdtWZcf3T6clJXrWKENX0hL17CuC3x7X-p1vwOd1TxS2YXVCw6gxjWWIxNH4riwe-LZImSTvTUUufB5VD18gvfA1FIDMQWGItAAslrHZZGr2bjWF-gKQi8I4L7cz5g/s1600-h/IMG_1277.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBdtbsLwS3WgrABmdtWZcf3T6clJXrWKENX0hL17CuC3x7X-p1vwOd1TxS2YXVCw6gxjWWIxNH4riwe-LZImSTvTUUufB5VD18gvfA1FIDMQWGItAAslrHZZGr2bjWF-gKQi8I4L7cz5g/s320/IMG_1277.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340043042571371202" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Well, that's more than I had time for today, but that seems to be a pattern for me when it comes to blogging. I need to renew my vow to start blogging more often, but life just seems to get in the way. <br /><br />Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week. As for me, I'm working the next 6 days straight, so it's going to be a busy one. Still, when it's all over, I'll have 3 glorious days off in a row. I reckon that's worth waiting for.Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-70660575324140918762009-05-12T08:15:00.008+09:302009-05-12T14:32:02.243+09:30THE Bustaroony Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5HkLjNAIJJhwtciZTL_phlJrssX0n9wBmwalqhrOvmrSs8ziTTomGj4Zbkgo5fTmfs_DEW3Q45I7Asi4-icCiS4cIrFO81V_k_F2JzjnUGztLByS9Oj8b0SLyL_gSTnmx8pEOi5qhRgi/s1600-h/IMG_1206.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5HkLjNAIJJhwtciZTL_phlJrssX0n9wBmwalqhrOvmrSs8ziTTomGj4Zbkgo5fTmfs_DEW3Q45I7Asi4-icCiS4cIrFO81V_k_F2JzjnUGztLByS9Oj8b0SLyL_gSTnmx8pEOi5qhRgi/s320/IMG_1206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334735322564698194" /></a><br />I hope everyone had a very happy Mother's Day. The picture above is my beautiful Mother's Day flowers from my hubby. <br /><br />This is going to become quite a long story, and for that I apoligize to those who don't favour reading so much, but the importance to me of the Bustaroony being finished couldn't be explained well without telling the whole story, and so I have. <br /><br />One day in mid October of 08, for some reason that really never was clear to me, I decided to I was way too heavy, and needed to lose weight. I was grossly obese, weighing in at 92 kilos (202lbs), which stacked up pretty heftily on my 5ft tall (152.5cm) frame. I had been a bit overweight, and a bit underweight, at various times in my life, but never like this. <br /><br />Funny thing is, though, I wasn’t particularly unhappy with my weight. I didn’t look in the mirror and “hate” myself. I’ve never been a particularly active person at any size, so it wasn’t as though I was missing out on any activities I loved due to the weight and general un-fitness. My husband seemed content with my appearance, or if he wasn’t, he certainly never mentioned not being happy with it (could have been fear, lol). <br /><br />Thinking back, the only thing I can recall that really irritated me about being so large was that it was hard to find knitting patterns in my size (20 to 22 at the time) that would both fit and look flattering. Knitted garments are, as a rule, thick, heavy warm pieces of clothing, and it seems no amount of design ingenuity could make a knitted top not add 10 pounds (5 kilos) to an already bulging figure. <br /><br />Then there were all those gorgeous fitted patterns, or at least, there seemed to be a lot of them at the time, although as I get smaller, there seem to be less of them (funny how that happens). At the time, it seemed to me that all the “interesting” patterns were fitted, and therefore taboo to someone with my frame.<br /><br />Now I do remember consciously thinking all this stuff through. What I don’t recall is actually linking these thoughts with “losing weight”. What actually put the thought in my head when I did finally decide to do something about my weight is a bit of a mystery to me. But I did make that decision, and with or without a conscious “reason”, I did take my decision very seriously.<br /><br />I’m a firm believer that mindset is the most important part of any life changing decision. Firstly, no one else can talk me into doing something “good for me”. I have to decide to do that myself. Secondly, if I face it positively, and with a “can’t fail” attitude, then I won’t fail. It really is as simple as that. I have to firmly believe I will do it. I also didn’t hesitate to tell people that I would succeed. Lots of people want to keep their weight loss efforts a secret, but I think that’s a bad sign. Frankly, if you’re thinking of keeping it a secret, then you’re probably not mentally ready to do what you need to do to succeed. It’s simply a way of giving yourself an “out” in case you don’t succeed. You think that if you don’t tell anyone, or if you only tell a very few, then you won’t feel so embarrassed if you fail. See the problem here? You’re going into this thing with a negative “I might fail” attitude right from the start. Not a good sign. By telling others around you (and I don’t mean making it the only topic of conversation or wearing “I’m on a diet” on your T-shirt) you are holding yourself accountable to others. Scary as that may be, it is a motivator. <br /><br />So I started out positive, I’ve managed to remain positive, and I will stay positive until I succeed in reaching my goal weight of 55K (about 120lbs). I’m going to maintain my weight once I get to goal, and even tweak it if I think I will look better a bit thinner or a bit heavier. Never have I said “If I reach my goal weight”. It’s always “when”.<br /><br />So what about the practical aspects of losing weight? What have I done, precisely? Well, that can be a long story, or a short one. First, I’ll tell you what I haven’t done.<br /><br />I haven’t used “products”. No pills, powders or potions. Pills are just ridiculous if you ask me. They artificially suppress appetite, and teach you nothing about how to live with food in the long run. Or they claim to burn or bond to fat or some other ridiculous claim. They are a scam, and I stay away from them. I stay away from anything that promises me an “instant” cure. If it say’s “Lose 30lbs in 30 days”, it’s a scam. <br /><br />Then there are meal replacements. You know, those shakes, soups and bars that seem to be all the rage these days, at least in Australia. Here, they are sold in every chemist ( aka pharmacy) shop, and there are little booths there where you can go in, weigh in, and visit every couple of weeks or so and then buy more of their product to see you thru the next couple of weeks. There are shakes available in the grocery stores and some variety stores as well. Really, you can’t go anywhere without seeing them. They are endorsed on TV by celebrities and generally given the thumbs up from nutritionists and the health science community (remember, however, that popular products generally are given the thumbs up, or at least a general overall approval, as their profits often goes toward funding that pays for most of the scientific research). <br /><br />I have problems with shakes on several levels, and much as I would like to, I won’t go into the details for lack of room and fear of rambling off the subject here. I’ll sum up my disapproval as well as I can. Shakes don’t teach you to develop long term eating habits that are crucial to maintaining your weight loss. They aren’t really any quicker than pouring a bowl of cereal for brekky or throwing together a sandwich for lunch. They are, to me, a bit of a crutch, and while better for you than diet pills, I think people use them for much the same reason as they do pills. They are looking for the easier softer way, and with a shake in their hand, they psychologically “feel” like they are actively doing something about their weight. In truth, they are holding on to a lifeline to keep them from dealing with their issues with actual food. But my biggest issue with the shakes is that they are simply not necessary. They are simply yet another way of siphoning money out of the gullible consumer’s pockets. <br /><br /><br />That is not to say that you shouldn’t get any help along the way. After I made the decision to lose weight, I went in search of tools to help me along on the internet. Without being too specific, as I’m not writing this to promote a website or product, I was looking for something to help me monitor my food intake, and an online food diary was the thing for me. You need to find one that is specific for brands sold in the country where you live. Having done that, I recorded those things that I ate during the day into the diary, and the diary did the math on calories and nutritional content of the food. I don’t know if I could have done what I’ve done without this tool. There is also software you can buy with a food diary (which you update online) and of course calorie count books that are handy when you are out and about and don’t have computer access. All in all though, being able to keep up so specifically with your intake is invaluable. The site that I use is a paid membership site, but there is at least one site available in Australia for free that has a food diary. A Google search should tell you what’s available in your neck of the woods.<br /><br />Of course, if the diary is going to work, I would have to measure out my food. Things are not always what they appear. A cup and a half of pasta noodles can look deceptively like ¾ cup, but of course, contain twice the calories. When I started out, I immediately bought some food scales. I leave them on my counter, along with my liquid measuring cup, my solid measuring cup, and my measuring spoons. They are right there, easy to find and use, so there are no excuses. <br /><br />Now for the things I can and cannot eat. Essentially, I can eat anything I want, within reason. There are no rules like “no carbs” or “protein only” or any of that rubbish. I just eat a balanced diet. I eat three modest sized meals a day and two (sometimes 3) snacks. I did “low fat” or “fat free” everything in my refrigerator and pantry, because low fat tends to mean less calories, but watching that fat is important too. I also switched my oil to olive oil, and stopped cooking like a “Southerner”. That is, I stopped deep frying things. Now I cook with a modest amount of oil (1 or 2tbsp) or olive oil spray. I shop for only the leanest meats and watch my portion sizes carefully. I have desserts, but only of the low fat, low calorie variety (some of these are surprisingly good). My grocery bill is still much the same as it was though. Even though I’m buying more expensive meats and more expensive brands, I find that when you cut out the mud cakes, Carmello bars and tub upon tub of ice cream, you tend to break pretty close to even. <br /><br />Now, comes the part I’m not so fond of, exercise. I have not been able to find any exercise I can do yet while knitting, and although I’m tempted to add on the treadling while sitting at the spinning wheel, I haven’t yet. The main focus of my exercising has been walking. My hubby has gladly joined in this part of my routine, and we started out walking (together or separately, depending on our work schedules) around the neighborhood. When summer began to heat up to the unbearable point, we bought a treadmill, which has been a fantastic investment. Rain or shine, it’s there, and there are no excuses for not getting a bit of exercise in. The treadmill is actually better than walking along the street for burning calories, as it sort of forces you to maintain a speed. I certainly wears you out quicker. Plus, I’ve got my treddy set up in a place where I can watch TV while walking…such a bonus!! I also bought a set of light dumbbells for toning, yoga mat, and a couple of exercise DVD’s (which are easily available at most libraries if you don’t have the money to spend). Mostly, though, I walk. <br /><br />As for the results, well, there are photo's below that tell the story pretty well, but for people who like numbers, I started out at 92 kilos (202 lbs) and now weigh in at 66.2 kilos (146 lbs). I've lost 25.8 kilos (56lbs)altogether. I've lost 92cm <br />(36in)from various areas of my body, and have gone down from size 20/22 to size 12/14!! But I'm not finished. My goal weight is 55 kilos (121 lbs), so I still have 11.2 kilos (24 lbs) to go. I plan on being at or around my goal weight in October or November. I've never been in a terrific hurry about all this, and I know that the last 10 kilos are the hardest to shed, so I'm prepared to keep doing the right things and wait for my body to adjust accordingly.<br /><br />Now, to get back to the knitting related part of this story. About 3 years ago, I walked into The Yarn Barn (link) and told the shop attendant I was looking for a really special cardigan pattern. She immediately went straight for the pattern book racks and pulled out Cleckheaton #950. She showed me a cardigan pattern in that book that took my breath away. But, as I pointed out to the girl then, it fastened at the top and draped open in front, sort of like an upside down V, and of course looked fantastic on the stick thin model, but with my “beer belly” poking out through the V, probably wouldn’t look nearly as hot. She suggested I could put buttons all the way down the front instead of leaving the gap. With this in mind, I went ahead and bought the book, although I did still have my reservations. The book sat on my bookcase for a long time, but I always kept the pattern in mind.<br /><br />The next year for Christmas, my hubby got me a $100 gift certificate from my LYS as one of my presents. I decided that I would go ahead and buy the yarn for that lovely cardigan, although I still had my reservations about how it would look on my body. I bought the yarn, 30 50g balls of Cleckheaton Naturals in the same beige/brown shade the cardi was knit with in the book, but it wound up tucked away in my stash, as I still couldn’t bring myself to cast on in the enormous size (the biggest size in the book) I would require. <br /><br />As mentioned, I started losing weight in October of 08. Sometime in December, I had a cool idea. I would start knitting that cardigan in the size I wanted to be by winter, as a motivation and a reward for staying the course. I decided to wait until after the Christmas/New year holidays to start, so I cast on the cardigan on January 8 while we were away on vacation to the Eyre Peninsula. Meanwhile, on the weight loss website where my diary was, there are forums as well. I met a very lovely, encouraging girl in there who went by the forum nickname of “Bustaroony”. Because she was (and still is) such a wonderful support for me, I decided to name the cardigan after her. Thus, the Bustaroony cardigan was born.<br /><br />Now I know I’ve told you some of this in previous posts, but I thought I would draw it all out in one place for clarity. I finally finished the Bustaroony cardigan last week, and it fits very nicely. It took forever to block/dry, but it’s finally at the wearable stage. You might notice it has no buttons, because I’m still not sure what I’m going to do about that. The button’s have been replaced, at least temporarily, with a shawl pin I bought from Spinningwoodie, a wood craftsman from here in South Australia, although those hadn't arrived yet when I took the pictures, so I simply have it pinned. <br /><br />So, without further ado, here's a couple of pictures of me wearing the Bustaroony cardigan:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNiE2wrviETO33EgOeHAYzezzr8lR0Na7TsVUCvA0xSIZsGRaQasX2tJb81YkcDM4_wPbbFAIF15gItuRQnRJ4PuRoDbuxswkwf0V66s3ve9xb8zwykQfdkr-GWqDfs-60wBBWbFlXF0J/s1600-h/IMG_1201.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNiE2wrviETO33EgOeHAYzezzr8lR0Na7TsVUCvA0xSIZsGRaQasX2tJb81YkcDM4_wPbbFAIF15gItuRQnRJ4PuRoDbuxswkwf0V66s3ve9xb8zwykQfdkr-GWqDfs-60wBBWbFlXF0J/s320/IMG_1201.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334732563492774546" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDKcWG5q670FKeq18lKGWex4CxAnS4xs0_PjODZAvSYWbEAshapvgYwdEpNOzY6VqcL6rLvyaZ1Grkw2U2LZMNFfa5beHTtbAxdVmramQ6nKEU8cJPRiHUBUrxdmXGw1YYHotCGag_W1d/s1600-h/IMG_1198.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDKcWG5q670FKeq18lKGWex4CxAnS4xs0_PjODZAvSYWbEAshapvgYwdEpNOzY6VqcL6rLvyaZ1Grkw2U2LZMNFfa5beHTtbAxdVmramQ6nKEU8cJPRiHUBUrxdmXGw1YYHotCGag_W1d/s320/IMG_1198.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334735315681390962" /></a><br /><br /><br />As a sort of before and after photo, here's me in the Alpaca Worthy Jacket I knitted for the winter of '08:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj2MouWd0RLiuO58ri8fn5PS6Pvid543AML3OGCSAGiK0IKQUQKN7oymKCCeZzhVE1u9LNSbHS8Xh6DVXWxSq1O_RM0QxoFloAcIQqRNnUOeNyECe_T-tmxCw0hRg2t8HplOyJm_M3MxF/s1600-h/IMG_0362.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjj2MouWd0RLiuO58ri8fn5PS6Pvid543AML3OGCSAGiK0IKQUQKN7oymKCCeZzhVE1u9LNSbHS8Xh6DVXWxSq1O_RM0QxoFloAcIQqRNnUOeNyECe_T-tmxCw0hRg2t8HplOyJm_M3MxF/s320/IMG_0362.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334732558169548050" /></a><br /><br />And embarrassed as I am to show it, here's the "before" picture I took the day after I made the decision to lose weight:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNPEohqLjFoDrubmqfgCR86Wi4cocT7UC5uVjiFbEOshGOUMj5PvlxTarBCdgNPTBBnQw2edcW-M2M8LvNhQuzQsFNsNgmw9xZb8UVlU4ZLygNTHKsh920fNr2Cz7S_MBwoo5GuRa6ySI/s1600-h/Oct31+weightloss.bmp"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNPEohqLjFoDrubmqfgCR86Wi4cocT7UC5uVjiFbEOshGOUMj5PvlxTarBCdgNPTBBnQw2edcW-M2M8LvNhQuzQsFNsNgmw9xZb8UVlU4ZLygNTHKsh920fNr2Cz7S_MBwoo5GuRa6ySI/s320/Oct31+weightloss.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334735313009517938" /></a><br /><br /><br />For those of you interested in stitch detail, more shots of Bustaroony, this time on the sewing dummy:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCh4a4-zE9iKQiE9Gauj9Vfl-60i9CA-B-1ZeqXNqa741-X-3DmMHNOWbQLQ-8SHSpEUFgYj3kAXXd72UE5D8rj7n07VJkmfnu5gC_X-NX07DlFRoSnwG5swdKw34mjeeyMJuX-Kg0z2w_/s1600-h/IMG_1210.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCh4a4-zE9iKQiE9Gauj9Vfl-60i9CA-B-1ZeqXNqa741-X-3DmMHNOWbQLQ-8SHSpEUFgYj3kAXXd72UE5D8rj7n07VJkmfnu5gC_X-NX07DlFRoSnwG5swdKw34mjeeyMJuX-Kg0z2w_/s320/IMG_1210.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334732569341603442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqxRF4vwKx7VVhJGt1oeXKVSPOUHY0HUF61E_DaatTrxGsg2dldLcct-qwYrpse1XLF6SgCpzhJqSpB6LhpunDKdriqdWT3OZ4SFCf_7AMpUhxwWm5FdLshGzo-RAlpd15HYx3CnlvOlS/s1600-h/IMG_1209.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqxRF4vwKx7VVhJGt1oeXKVSPOUHY0HUF61E_DaatTrxGsg2dldLcct-qwYrpse1XLF6SgCpzhJqSpB6LhpunDKdriqdWT3OZ4SFCf_7AMpUhxwWm5FdLshGzo-RAlpd15HYx3CnlvOlS/s320/IMG_1209.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334732563007976306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp8ZVIccx35m9vIJw7ITRmmtlQtju0Y5lLCZSru8YFpbyPJQiSBw2cV6bcrrlBZU3youzTc5kqW4l3WXT-OfTsTyCvf9fh8yGQNZ4oTbsd9S7cytXh3-B1vSzjcVrMOEl-IGy6cQw6M57/s1600-h/IMG_1208.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp8ZVIccx35m9vIJw7ITRmmtlQtju0Y5lLCZSru8YFpbyPJQiSBw2cV6bcrrlBZU3youzTc5kqW4l3WXT-OfTsTyCvf9fh8yGQNZ4oTbsd9S7cytXh3-B1vSzjcVrMOEl-IGy6cQw6M57/s320/IMG_1208.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334732554695189490" /></a><br /><br />Obviously, I'm very proud of my weight loss so far, and very proud of the beautiful cardigan I made to celebrate my accomplishment! I'm so happy with the results. <br /><br />Now, quickly, to my other projects over the past couple of weeks. I have finished the lovely Saloongirl stockings (Bettie's Lace Stockings from Spring 08 Interweave magazine) for western action. I soaked them in a strong tea solution to dye them, and they look a very nice tannish brown now:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22wmQ8G0ImXVpSg9jeYALoKRiibJ4RWxwVduDL2sMDtsPDGyhBI8qUMuKT72d1uGuWkQyLSupMomQYLzn7N7R5ZEumpB84hGrIPfYg4OJzjSlVcNgjZxwax1BDL2XkVVXN9iZvbanN3OD/s1600-h/IMG_1216.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22wmQ8G0ImXVpSg9jeYALoKRiibJ4RWxwVduDL2sMDtsPDGyhBI8qUMuKT72d1uGuWkQyLSupMomQYLzn7N7R5ZEumpB84hGrIPfYg4OJzjSlVcNgjZxwax1BDL2XkVVXN9iZvbanN3OD/s320/IMG_1216.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334793632588070450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkQVG2tzxi8Na56o2vhOQu_ZlfemgnXK3HeyZAkMBFIxOEjimuEPLeGntWfTF5ZFFCEJ3j-pKnKQ3_SApas2-PIp_sSfBBADDOtR2fEkB3pSZX9ifmWUM_P97aTMK4zdIzigjaFxmcxxT/s1600-h/IMG_1219.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkQVG2tzxi8Na56o2vhOQu_ZlfemgnXK3HeyZAkMBFIxOEjimuEPLeGntWfTF5ZFFCEJ3j-pKnKQ3_SApas2-PIp_sSfBBADDOtR2fEkB3pSZX9ifmWUM_P97aTMK4zdIzigjaFxmcxxT/s320/IMG_1219.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334793639618927730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I also finished the Trigger Happy Gloves in time to have them for the big Winter Roundup western action shoot this weekend. They were a fairly easy pattern, and I followed it more or less precisely, although I did just use my knitpicks cables rather than using waste yarn to hold the stitches on the fingers, which did give me a bit of a octopus effect:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosJIF_4w-ytTzWoXb54X57lmKLsbLpD6CPrBZESn-10MPDq103d-wDFZte9L4FIRP4Zw4-5Sitg1q5htphLgvhnoGWuRVcogML0Xz3bLKDl4mE2Q1cUu__JxMHQBx7AwlRuUTa9hFEbgS/s1600-h/IMG_1205.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosJIF_4w-ytTzWoXb54X57lmKLsbLpD6CPrBZESn-10MPDq103d-wDFZte9L4FIRP4Zw4-5Sitg1q5htphLgvhnoGWuRVcogML0Xz3bLKDl4mE2Q1cUu__JxMHQBx7AwlRuUTa9hFEbgS/s320/IMG_1205.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334735320534665362" /></a><br /><br />But I finished them up last night, stuck them in wool wash to soak, and they are laying out to dry now. I tried them on wet for the photo, so the fit looks a bit funny, but trust me, they fit fine when dry:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh61vgjEG-mi25UlAC_V1KmqygVOFv21XZbDRW13zDu-7cNS_zWA2yfJ5q9JgHyTEf8p9kjFOIfjreEiiRXQSUPVBJlKNnCz0vMi_tGSzdVpTuQj_HfAhs5QRjmYmL9KDwgPTXA2DhZm1/s1600-h/IMG_1215.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh61vgjEG-mi25UlAC_V1KmqygVOFv21XZbDRW13zDu-7cNS_zWA2yfJ5q9JgHyTEf8p9kjFOIfjreEiiRXQSUPVBJlKNnCz0vMi_tGSzdVpTuQj_HfAhs5QRjmYmL9KDwgPTXA2DhZm1/s320/IMG_1215.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334793629640351138" /></a><br /><br />Last Thursday I noticed I was getting precariously close to having only one project on the needles, so I dug through my sock yarn stash and pulled out some inexpensive Spotlight Moda Vera "Socks" yarn. It's the self patterning kind, "fake isle" if you will, and should make for a very easy knit, as I'm doing the whole thing in stockingnet stitch and letting the yarn do the work. Due to the colour of the wool reminding me an awful lot of the Indian corn back in the states, I have named them "Indian Corn Socks" (although I think with a little effort I could have come up with something better). It will be a good knit to take to the shoot this weekend. I've got the toe shaping finished, and I'm going to do a Widdershin's heel when I get that far:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjrnOwYEGCVOI77d3A7JwfQG_dD-5nZL5h5ar9i5D_HZTn-qzdZPJkA0xWDmihq5GnYOoYHZNZSi7BWm_ixN82r-zv_GqNOwrkeQErTPeTxjGm4Blh7cPBTqPCHny4TE_EtljZ8ca1TB_/s1600-h/IMG_1203.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjrnOwYEGCVOI77d3A7JwfQG_dD-5nZL5h5ar9i5D_HZTn-qzdZPJkA0xWDmihq5GnYOoYHZNZSi7BWm_ixN82r-zv_GqNOwrkeQErTPeTxjGm4Blh7cPBTqPCHny4TE_EtljZ8ca1TB_/s320/IMG_1203.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334735316477441698" /></a><br /><br />I haven't done a thing on the "Peace in the Hood" hoodie. Aside from having the stockings and gloves that I needed to finish in time for the shoot this weekend, it is just so bulky that's it's at the stage where it is hard to carry around. Besides, between finishing the Bustaroony and getting the other two "deadline" knits done, I haven't had much time to devote to my fibre preparation and spinning. <br /><br />I've finally been able to get back to carding the corridale fleece. I'm surprised that it's such slow going, even with the drum carder. The plan right now (and we know that's subject to change) is to card up enough to make a vest for Chris, then dye it, perhaps blend some colours after the dye by carding some more, and then spin it up. At the rate I'm going, the odds of him getting a vest before the end of this winter are getting pretty slim.<br /><br />In the meantime, I've been spinning some fleece that Woolywombat from Rav sent me. (The prize I won from OTF group for Kaitlyn's jumper). It's a lovely spin, and she did a wonderful job of carding and blending the fibres and colours:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliSuAXA9SZrTUXNpSQy6sbNWh1ifdnPenPBBp8yS81THH9wDBcEIVMrGmsD1UmrAO-ew5Y4dk139kD3jOe62AnreFnRwhbNlcOw9oJwokPlF8vwzqN1iumMAhUqyn8f4008WbVTo2Lsoh/s1600-h/IMG_1220.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliSuAXA9SZrTUXNpSQy6sbNWh1ifdnPenPBBp8yS81THH9wDBcEIVMrGmsD1UmrAO-ew5Y4dk139kD3jOe62AnreFnRwhbNlcOw9oJwokPlF8vwzqN1iumMAhUqyn8f4008WbVTo2Lsoh/s320/IMG_1220.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334793642135168642" /></a><br /><br />As for my plans, well, I'm only taking the two projects to Winter Roundup this weekend, that is, the Peace in the Hood hoodie and the Indian Corn socks. I'll have the socks to take to the range with me and knit on during breaks and such, and the Hoodie to leave at the cabin for "night knitting". I'll decide which to do on the drive to and from when the time comes. I did think of starting something else, but I knew if I did I would be discouraged from working on the hoodie, and I really want to get that one done, so I'll stick to just the two for now, and consider starting a new project when I get back.<br /><br />I do apologize for the extra long post, but that's the breaks. I hadn't explained the "whole" story of my weight loss before on this blog, as it is a knitting/spinning blog and not about weight loss, but I thought that with the Bustaroony getting finished, this was as good a time as any to tie the whole thing together (neatly, I hope). <br /><br />Next post should be some pictures of our western action shoot and the knitting I manage to get done there. Until then...Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-57135556089302911532009-04-30T13:15:00.004+09:302009-04-30T15:33:21.223+09:30Sewing up Blues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN36tx87YYN3qr95D9qRxqksSfoXCnUrd0TFcbAZrqts-nFpSW8z7ooYu7u88p9gRbqWnGgutuwC5RZBlTXgpPSrAIBpH1-IdnGAcAG_QEeY2vdFuij80-goFKVZGzJgas0nk_54bVucJw/s1600-h/IMG_1170.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN36tx87YYN3qr95D9qRxqksSfoXCnUrd0TFcbAZrqts-nFpSW8z7ooYu7u88p9gRbqWnGgutuwC5RZBlTXgpPSrAIBpH1-IdnGAcAG_QEeY2vdFuij80-goFKVZGzJgas0nk_54bVucJw/s320/IMG_1170.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330329476283808930" /></a><br />I know I've mentioned before that I despise sewing up knitted garments. For the record, I still despise it. I'm quite excited and impatient to finish (and wear) the Bustaroony cardi. None-the-less, I'm still not motivated to sew my fingers to the bone to see it done. It's been sitting on my couch for about a week now, and I sit and stitch up bits at a time. I haven't been allowing myself to knit at home, because if I did, I would never get it done. So it's heaped up on my couch, and whenever I sit there, I sew. <br /><br />I've sewn in all the ends, which took literally hours, but wasn't particularly hard. I've sewn the shoulder seams. Piece of cake. But now, I'm attaching the sleeves to the body of the garment. This is where things are getting a bit tricky. When attaching sleeves, of course, you are attaching the top cast off edge (assuming you knit the sleeves from the cuff up) to the side edge of the garment. Normally, I do this using an amalgamation of mattress stitch (on the body) and fake grafting (on the sleeve), which makes a nice smooth seam. However, the textured patterning in this garment, when working on it from this angle, seems to go every which way, and there are few nice neat easy bits to stitch. <br /><br />Terrible picture, but here is the sleeve lined up to the body for stitching. Maybe you will see what I mean.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WtFz_KYJX-k0v5gyFdxIb-7gno0o92NUp8vsg9eIrgR1j_nfM9kFlwSpGXpEfBEv8noymKylllJHulvbhFpqol2YyZjPOsZGezYsYvrQvq54-brbGEeVMYWuwK42qYXo-YsT8hoH_SOI/s1600-h/IMG_1179.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WtFz_KYJX-k0v5gyFdxIb-7gno0o92NUp8vsg9eIrgR1j_nfM9kFlwSpGXpEfBEv8noymKylllJHulvbhFpqol2YyZjPOsZGezYsYvrQvq54-brbGEeVMYWuwK42qYXo-YsT8hoH_SOI/s320/IMG_1179.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330329476463685954" /></a><br />As you stitch along, because of the patterning, particularly in the tree patterned bits, stitches are heading in diagnal directions right up to the edge of the fabric. I'm doing ok, a bit of wobbling around but nothing I can't live with. It's just a bit slow and tedious. The first sleeve is attached, and the seam looks fairly good. I just passed the halfway point on the second sleeve so I'm getting there. Just very slowly. Then come the long side seams, which will at least be fairly uniform for mattress stitch. I will finish this thing someday, I promise. <br /><br />Im making another one of these as a gift, and when I do, I'm leaving a couple of stiches for seam allowance, no matter what the pattern says, or doesn't say.<br /><br />Moving on, I've gotten a bit of knitterly things lately. I added a bit to my knitting library, getting the book "Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters" by Lisa Kartus. To be perfectly honest, it hasn't told me much that I didn't already know, but does have a section on altering finished knitting which I might find helpful down the track. It would be a great book for a reasonably new knitter, and as problems arise, even as a more experienced knitter, I might find it more helpful than I did on the general read through. It's written with humour and, for a technical type book, is actually fairly entertaining. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccQP5YZxoIj3lUNt7NQBuG8rq1KlNy3HFAVBZnkhNhiJDZlsTRJK7q3gfxdJaF3vxwffgNqozEDFUgjGgV0FPeB2elzLDWMH_wlFI6Xyz5rxvIWja4SFfhryGjUnzCiALkzItNb2db8Zp/s1600-h/IMG_1171.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccQP5YZxoIj3lUNt7NQBuG8rq1KlNy3HFAVBZnkhNhiJDZlsTRJK7q3gfxdJaF3vxwffgNqozEDFUgjGgV0FPeB2elzLDWMH_wlFI6Xyz5rxvIWja4SFfhryGjUnzCiALkzItNb2db8Zp/s320/IMG_1171.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330329484616177842" /></a><br /><br /><br />I also bought the April09 issue of "Knit and Style" magazine, purely because I hadn't bought it before and liked some of the patterns at a glace through. It IS a very nice magazine, with very wearable patterns. You know, things normal people would wear. I think what I liked best was the photos of the finished items. They were great photos, and allowed you to see detail well. Which lead me to my favorite thing about the magazine. The modeled garments look like real knitters knitted them. I found the ever so slight imperfections very refreshing. <br /><br />I dropped by Needlenook a while back to get some more of the plastic yarn sewing needles I like using (and breaking) and they happened to have their 5ply Heirloom easycare wool on sale, so I bought a couple of 50g skeins. The color is sort of a goldeny brown, and the final intention is to make some thick socks with them, probably for a gift. Hence the "Easy Care", as I've found many gift recipients don't appreciate the special washing handling regular wool often needs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJGC5F-LczZwzw-JLDh3Wa_TmLzxXEfiNe_x_HR7INS8XbcfFwqfywezbk7IH_Vz3-s0QPZqLS78x5ZxJiRuBe4q62MjVBCW608TVyomuMy8b913RniFt5Aj09JoxClengHH5I2Y5yPGZ/s1600-h/IMG_1169.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJGC5F-LczZwzw-JLDh3Wa_TmLzxXEfiNe_x_HR7INS8XbcfFwqfywezbk7IH_Vz3-s0QPZqLS78x5ZxJiRuBe4q62MjVBCW608TVyomuMy8b913RniFt5Aj09JoxClengHH5I2Y5yPGZ/s320/IMG_1169.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330329480560286690" /></a><br /><br />As mentioned earlier, I haven't allowed myself to knit at home in a few days so I could concentrate on the seaming. But I have gotten quite a bit finished on the Saloongirl stockings at work, and only like a half a dozen or so pattern repeats finishing the second sock. I have cast on the second glove, but have gotten no further than that. As soon as I finish the stocking, I'll dedicate my time to the glove. It will knit up fairly quickly at any rate. <br /><br />I've been meaning to mention what I've been listening to lately. After running thru most of the books on Librovox that I was interested in, I decided for a change to check out some knitting podcasts. Of course, I'd done this before, but I must have picked the wrong two to try out. The sound quality was miserable, scratchy and rather more irritating than entertaining, so I hadn't really bothered with them in awhile, but not having anything interesting to listen to on my Ipod was getting a bit old. My trip to and from work seemed to be getting longer and longer every day. So I went on a search, looking specifically for Australian knitting podcasts this time, and ran across <a href="http://sticksandstring.wordpress.com/">Sticks and Strings</a>. It's done by a fellow named David Reidy who lives in the mountains outside of Sydney. The sound quality is great, his voice is perfect for "radio" and his topics, on the whole, are very interesting. Even better, he talks at least some of the time about Australian yarns and Australian events. I went back to show number 1, and I'm now at show number 63, which was recorded sometime last year. I'm really getting a kick out of listening, and would recommend the podcast highly. <br /><br />I finished spinning up the merino I've been working on:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcz1pW7F9b62immBPpqOpmpLmcYtIwJ5mx-NqIR0pdrNF1bvhYJLvIRhYWR9fdvEzjczj8TZyDiIa-Uqwr9Mwifd1MiT2lf3xGt1dRzS0HWNnUEjGPbdZRCdDMAGN0DiFrif0wE0iL2AJ/s1600-h/IMG_1172.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcz1pW7F9b62immBPpqOpmpLmcYtIwJ5mx-NqIR0pdrNF1bvhYJLvIRhYWR9fdvEzjczj8TZyDiIa-Uqwr9Mwifd1MiT2lf3xGt1dRzS0HWNnUEjGPbdZRCdDMAGN0DiFrif0wE0iL2AJ/s320/IMG_1172.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330359784527891250" /></a><br /><br />and finally got around to plying it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvDfO41Qy1Y62cv4GB18yY7bGFv7HktPR5muMhsChXoz7kaHmtm1ACriiGMprnq2EfRaJM5C0T6I88ATk63fGIdpBLScBcztG5XlKr1aRMBR6VGfqVUJCGwsojxPolAC45CVmrZ8X2sim/s1600-h/IMG_1174.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvDfO41Qy1Y62cv4GB18yY7bGFv7HktPR5muMhsChXoz7kaHmtm1ACriiGMprnq2EfRaJM5C0T6I88ATk63fGIdpBLScBcztG5XlKr1aRMBR6VGfqVUJCGwsojxPolAC45CVmrZ8X2sim/s320/IMG_1174.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330359786205661826" /></a><br /><br />I'm very happy with the result. I named it "Navidad" because it has a definate Christmassy look to it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIerHRCAsgU0ott-cxF1LpzxqmQ30b6L2fBl3UaDvKHew9_vaL3BGzsitWspulUsaNIauH53ss4NbZBCSkyUh62e9RYoEP_md7rIsYuWrE9YvHu0CrG7NCHtFVoHKXz_7Dq1_26hssl2El/s1600-h/IMG_1176.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIerHRCAsgU0ott-cxF1LpzxqmQ30b6L2fBl3UaDvKHew9_vaL3BGzsitWspulUsaNIauH53ss4NbZBCSkyUh62e9RYoEP_md7rIsYuWrE9YvHu0CrG7NCHtFVoHKXz_7Dq1_26hssl2El/s320/IMG_1176.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330359789526996546" /></a><br /><br />Sorry, the closeup is a bit blurry...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvroWWPhUeRmYyWS1Tu6eff_0Tg2azGUUVZJ-sxHqTqxWmz0m4CX9MWcdVhLReqUc4yKuayQNvO05LjLqDY_r_NbKCJisudHCVE1JsGTYG_vAdzyKRieeyAPgXxQmUQdPehC0FSCxCIna/s1600-h/IMG_1178.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvroWWPhUeRmYyWS1Tu6eff_0Tg2azGUUVZJ-sxHqTqxWmz0m4CX9MWcdVhLReqUc4yKuayQNvO05LjLqDY_r_NbKCJisudHCVE1JsGTYG_vAdzyKRieeyAPgXxQmUQdPehC0FSCxCIna/s320/IMG_1178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330359786514281506" /></a><br /><br />No plans for it yet. I'm just enjoying admiring it right now. It came out quite thin, and would be thin enough for some thickish socks I reckon, which was my original intention. One can never have to many socks. <br /><br />That's it for today. Until next time when, hopefully, the Bustaroony cardi will be ready for display!Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-70534291653944631962009-04-23T13:19:00.011+09:302009-04-27T13:34:13.784+09:30Away and back againOnce again, it's far too long since my last blog post, but I have resolved now to do much better in the future. Resolved I tell you! The posts might get shorter, but they also just might get more interesting. As it is, I let things go for so long, and there is so much to write about and show photos of that I tend to rush thru without saying the things I want to say.<br /><br />Things are moving right along with the knitting, although the spinning has been going along much more slowly, and the fibre preparation, despite the new drum carder, have almost ground to a halt. Not enough has been done to warrent photos. I've produced another few batts of the undyed grey corridale. Just more of the same, so it barely warrents a mention. I still haven't figured out what colour I'm going to go with. I'm actually considering leaving the majority of it grey, which would be a nice manly colour for Chris a vest or some such project, but then, given the interesting colours the grey wool produces, that just seems such a waste. I'm still deliberating.<br /><br />I have managed to finish spinning up the fibre I got from "Kathy's Creations", which was a gorgeous colourway. I still need to ply it, and finish it of course, but the hard part is done. I spun it rather thin, but that doesn't really explain the time it took. I only worked on it a bit at a time, when my fingers were itching to spin, but just in short bursts and sometimes days apart. The knitting I've been doing has been the most time consuming thing going on. I could have had it finished much sooner had I not been in such a knitting frenzy lately.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2Y0t8v067HJrp0ame4BCxqXTvr1_i9c1t4YND8vFOoFIEq4sRw4y_SFZ3ntTFbQO2nNkd4awDLRFOTxjJGxiBdxmt_l8DOfvCM5Yj150AmTWTsfKRm031Ve8y-SwObVibVaIcn26YIDb/s1600-h/IMG_1163.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2Y0t8v067HJrp0ame4BCxqXTvr1_i9c1t4YND8vFOoFIEq4sRw4y_SFZ3ntTFbQO2nNkd4awDLRFOTxjJGxiBdxmt_l8DOfvCM5Yj150AmTWTsfKRm031Ve8y-SwObVibVaIcn26YIDb/s320/IMG_1163.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328078098842810978" /></a><br /><br /><br />Still, it's looking good so far. I plan to ply it up over the next few days, so it should be finished for the next blog post (the one I'm going to do SOON, remember?).<br /><br />I finished the knitting part of the Bustaroony Cardi! Now for the dreaded stitching up. I haven't even started on that yet, even though I finished the final sleeve almost a week ago. With the weather getting cooler, it will provide some welcome warmth when I get it done. Added incentive...but man, I hate stitching up.<br /><br />Having finished the Bustaroony, I had only the Salloon girl stockings left on the needles. With a bit of a holiday coming up, I had to get some other WIP's going. The first thing I did was drag the "Peace in the Hood" jacket out of hibernation. It had been in hibernation so long, I'd forgotten why I put it there. I think maybe because I needed to concentrate on my Christmas knitting, but I don't remember for sure. Unfortunately, I didn't write myself a note on Rav or even a date of when I put it in hibernation, so I'm only guessing here.<br /><br />Anyway, I had made alot of progress on it. I had done the back, both fronts and both sleeves. I was at the point where I needed to start picking up stitches for the hoodie when we left for our short holiday over to Point Turton on the Yorke Peninsula here in South Australia. I got some knitting done on the hoodie there, and it looked like this on the day we left to come home:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOWbIVU-5L4BPXNIgSvUU9220mFekuG-TzcGzOoeyTLIwMWCVIJC_y6uBfTmYQnI5ZpYY_SFplDO1NfpDpDlvf98AoMaugmuJMcdF1kTnVDDaKCHohGVKrtWq0rpZDx333lJvrzRiEhwZ/s1600-h/IMG_1152.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOWbIVU-5L4BPXNIgSvUU9220mFekuG-TzcGzOoeyTLIwMWCVIJC_y6uBfTmYQnI5ZpYY_SFplDO1NfpDpDlvf98AoMaugmuJMcdF1kTnVDDaKCHohGVKrtWq0rpZDx333lJvrzRiEhwZ/s320/IMG_1152.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327739310185555874" /></a><br /><br />After all the lace I've been doing lately (the shawl and the socks) and the intricate and constant textured/cabled work on the Bustaroony cardi, I found the knitting on the hoodie to be extremely dull, but it did make for excellent TV knitting, when I wanted to pay more attention to the show than to the knitting, so I mainly worked on it in the evenings when we were in the cabin watching the tele. <br /><br />The Saloongirl stockings have probably gotten the bulk of my attention. I finished sock one, which is looking just great, and have moved right along on sock 2. I actually started sock two before finishing sock one, so that I wouldn't have to be starting it while on the road, and because sock one, when nearing completion, required me to transfer it off of the DPN's every few repeats to try them on, which was time consuming but necessary. However, it's not so convenient to be transferring needles and trying on socks on a road trip,so I wanted the second sock for times when I couldn't be doing the fiddly stuff. <br /><br />But I did manage to get the first sock done except for the casting off part at the cabin, and was happy to have the second sock at the stage where I could take off and just start knitting. Here's another picture of the progress on the stockings right before we left for our trip home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqGJgIS5UBa0BoQJnpM0oonBTxN0cC5AiQF2iXKyP9kCcH1L-hw5Dgx32NwkGemMvpCKDW0Hw13rwUO4-t3aSVFzmtDQokZluXScoGvTCkgJICe-UQFZxcVGGnkZezWaWk17xhgLs3GQo/s1600-h/IMG_1154.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqGJgIS5UBa0BoQJnpM0oonBTxN0cC5AiQF2iXKyP9kCcH1L-hw5Dgx32NwkGemMvpCKDW0Hw13rwUO4-t3aSVFzmtDQokZluXScoGvTCkgJICe-UQFZxcVGGnkZezWaWk17xhgLs3GQo/s320/IMG_1154.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327739307906838690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />After getting home, I managed to get the casting off done on the first stocking:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UT40BuQC-_d_wvl3BoOgtfGYXoUQZpmQArrc0a0Gn6P0gnLGOKOheJXqP8r2QEr1k6nvmxGOL9tgqc0CKPnhc5A03R97lDcieloEmMjOLpKuarnWCbrsf3swMHmWB7Pp1TGUEGxZcDs-/s1600-h/IMG_1162.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UT40BuQC-_d_wvl3BoOgtfGYXoUQZpmQArrc0a0Gn6P0gnLGOKOheJXqP8r2QEr1k6nvmxGOL9tgqc0CKPnhc5A03R97lDcieloEmMjOLpKuarnWCbrsf3swMHmWB7Pp1TGUEGxZcDs-/s320/IMG_1162.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327749486263270274" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2QCO5AHQohZ1dre8_kIH6K0h_RYw4O0Dv7iYnIkN-4k-y4IjdCxU4vDawdXCmPQDOULRrB_wVcuUUvZfp_jVHnC2G1nCZccra8N_Nkgs-N1-EFuxFwOI69TwP87Lu8iEJcaBQA-bFQ4M/s1600-h/IMG_1160.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2QCO5AHQohZ1dre8_kIH6K0h_RYw4O0Dv7iYnIkN-4k-y4IjdCxU4vDawdXCmPQDOULRrB_wVcuUUvZfp_jVHnC2G1nCZccra8N_Nkgs-N1-EFuxFwOI69TwP87Lu8iEJcaBQA-bFQ4M/s320/IMG_1160.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327749489794543202" /></a><br /><br />(Please pardon the bad photos, but we haven't had much sun lately, requiring more indoor shots that just don't seem to have good lighting. Damn "save the planet" light bulbs don't help much with that.)<br /><br />Which brings us to the "cigar" gloves, which I started right before the trip, and did manage to get quite a bit of work done on them. They are pretty easy, really, but require alot of 'waste yarn' to hold the stitches to be use later.<br /><br />Here's the progress I made on the first glove during the trip:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xLfxenWulM_iZKDyRZYGYAkfr0odSdhGvoZZYUHHzRH1NR6vI_Unf3Gx-GGIHpnvy-ikE6KNR9Y-aQ5Zq-1OJSBz83DqACi0feckkMq79aZiQqAzYNXipm6KJFXj6L61dFdsR6wJygTw/s1600-h/IMG_1157.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xLfxenWulM_iZKDyRZYGYAkfr0odSdhGvoZZYUHHzRH1NR6vI_Unf3Gx-GGIHpnvy-ikE6KNR9Y-aQ5Zq-1OJSBz83DqACi0feckkMq79aZiQqAzYNXipm6KJFXj6L61dFdsR6wJygTw/s320/IMG_1157.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327739308734958178" /></a><br /><br />Notice that I had put the pinky and thumb on waste yarn. But after I go home, I got the bright idea of using my Harmony needle cords to use as waste yarn instead, which worked out much better on the three middle fingers, and certainly sped up the process.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddH-8ukk7bAMLOYdN7MyYZgGXndubLYYfi1wVRFBcZp7GmTIFhLuNpMCsZ7F0c3MuYFUGW7HZanQwmsKwkt12HjiO-996ebZ8V-z012aF2DFn-TWDdYtD-BS6uoxudJiSzk0tGqhyphenhyphenaNaa/s1600-h/IMG_1159.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddH-8ukk7bAMLOYdN7MyYZgGXndubLYYfi1wVRFBcZp7GmTIFhLuNpMCsZ7F0c3MuYFUGW7HZanQwmsKwkt12HjiO-996ebZ8V-z012aF2DFn-TWDdYtD-BS6uoxudJiSzk0tGqhyphenhyphenaNaa/s320/IMG_1159.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327749483764596818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTMBoOMgWLo40_HQkOWlqdhoyf0wqvEuV2AjObOUIVKU3sJGwDwxEfYAYQQCTjOJ5v6ePNh8QBjV3SYB6yzVwkCcFyDQ2aah-KFaCCstnP2j8afmlORuuqZgItH0J7212b4AnHw_iaONm/s1600-h/IMG_1158.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTMBoOMgWLo40_HQkOWlqdhoyf0wqvEuV2AjObOUIVKU3sJGwDwxEfYAYQQCTjOJ5v6ePNh8QBjV3SYB6yzVwkCcFyDQ2aah-KFaCCstnP2j8afmlORuuqZgItH0J7212b4AnHw_iaONm/s320/IMG_1158.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327749483912581234" /></a><br /><br />That first night after arriving home, I managed to finish the first glove, except for weaving in ends, but I haven't gotten a picture, and wil show that to you in the next post. <br /><br />And of course, no post would be complete without a few holiday piccies.<br /><br />Here's the lovely lighthouse at Corney Point, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWVJW9TMnqy7l-wZJQ9G5pMr2sLCMo5F-GU6BHvP3b-cgGjYkdjT8CvGCQ8JgXRTjaIktntGE8VyG5JftHCUllcmKbtmwQ6ai_zugCa6Mtkwp3s_2cItLOy1oRRJRoNc2ivMDb6BRd01V/s1600-h/IMG_1136.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWVJW9TMnqy7l-wZJQ9G5pMr2sLCMo5F-GU6BHvP3b-cgGjYkdjT8CvGCQ8JgXRTjaIktntGE8VyG5JftHCUllcmKbtmwQ6ai_zugCa6Mtkwp3s_2cItLOy1oRRJRoNc2ivMDb6BRd01V/s320/IMG_1136.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328028571380754706" /></a><br /><br />And a neat bit of rocky coast down the coastline south of Corney Point. The waves crash up onto the rocks, and a miniature waterfall is created when the tide is going out off of one of the rock shelves:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcLw4Uo2_XPAfoz2RCEIXq0ROL5IuKGdg7P9GHhPmrAVTHdlVWrVbevlvX5waw5-gztXmnCQZGnJLyo7NXbH3-isG5O2AX_IEfRiRz6nFqigBYKn1MVrDBAoDd91epYnWbmzSPBkvCaXF/s1600-h/IMG_1141.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcLw4Uo2_XPAfoz2RCEIXq0ROL5IuKGdg7P9GHhPmrAVTHdlVWrVbevlvX5waw5-gztXmnCQZGnJLyo7NXbH3-isG5O2AX_IEfRiRz6nFqigBYKn1MVrDBAoDd91epYnWbmzSPBkvCaXF/s320/IMG_1141.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327739298665278418" /></a><br /><br />A picture of me standing over a beach near the cabin we stayed in in Point Turton:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEk2wSY4H4HxDnNAePWjG82BzYnrBAt0P4dE1uB-P98Jb11ifOf7DokJs-DYqaKu3p0l0oHR2gtLqyHVI9nLD6IPD-y_z-ZbVN69R5bM_jyFPEG_GhYrpm_TxJNyvdAwuguDPN3XPKGJx/s1600-h/IMG_1151.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEk2wSY4H4HxDnNAePWjG82BzYnrBAt0P4dE1uB-P98Jb11ifOf7DokJs-DYqaKu3p0l0oHR2gtLqyHVI9nLD6IPD-y_z-ZbVN69R5bM_jyFPEG_GhYrpm_TxJNyvdAwuguDPN3XPKGJx/s320/IMG_1151.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327732701612854306" /></a><br /><br />And me standing near the rocky outcrop where the mini-waterfall is created (mentioned above). It's a beautiful and very secluded area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgbF4iUCZ7pP2fn8OLA0XXDt94_c5lmfEPJRkaryFtMtPPamM92D5SlUuHBkywc4hsTL2_hDo80aL7qsXot4l-FTQ79tUoo553DEikkyjVZcVXTGTy7cawUEgRsGq6v7rl7qfJG6yev3c/s1600-h/IMG_1143.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgbF4iUCZ7pP2fn8OLA0XXDt94_c5lmfEPJRkaryFtMtPPamM92D5SlUuHBkywc4hsTL2_hDo80aL7qsXot4l-FTQ79tUoo553DEikkyjVZcVXTGTy7cawUEgRsGq6v7rl7qfJG6yev3c/s320/IMG_1143.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327732701188810450" /></a><br /><br />A hazy sunrise from the varanda of the cabin we stayed in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaIok3mgiriaa_Y4UDiMAzK46qBkgIKqFAL0qatY204griqCH2uoj9fCCIIfXn3w7xp1C2BGXBhAiRf5_y17dvYkNHeRMZp0gS6jXm5kQv2EQbqbsiVaA3SNGZ3OeIWoRSMdaKk8sfkMy/s1600-h/IMG_1128.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaIok3mgiriaa_Y4UDiMAzK46qBkgIKqFAL0qatY204griqCH2uoj9fCCIIfXn3w7xp1C2BGXBhAiRf5_y17dvYkNHeRMZp0gS6jXm5kQv2EQbqbsiVaA3SNGZ3OeIWoRSMdaKk8sfkMy/s320/IMG_1128.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327732700852943202" /></a><br /><br />The rocks seen from the veranda of the cabin where we stayed. (Just sitting on the veranda and knitting was so enjoyable!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpOIjwDpSUhhuZTJeQ753lcPAddylUPAfG_WDt2VEKQ6BsRbXFHVtqkOGRejqAjJeAywTZNLWg5LuGz5q8J2IU0JVxTMwzFm7IpJDCzQN7vIASd0qc_BWJN9UjoPj4XoCdcPMRudjjq28/s1600-h/IMG_1126.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpOIjwDpSUhhuZTJeQ753lcPAddylUPAfG_WDt2VEKQ6BsRbXFHVtqkOGRejqAjJeAywTZNLWg5LuGz5q8J2IU0JVxTMwzFm7IpJDCzQN7vIASd0qc_BWJN9UjoPj4XoCdcPMRudjjq28/s320/IMG_1126.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327732692810220226" /></a><br /><br />And of course, me knitting at a parking spot overlooking the beautiful western coastline of the boot at the foot of the Yorke Peninsula:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcXB7m3W_zj8IJv_jT1jXo6CmHP9kbM3EuSKt6FroNEauvRxUP9Ts38Tqspbre4asdydwAf7d67WptrERe8SYk_VpyLwWmuBvCULShGaUleszVZamYXwDTMVpvagDUyWV3GI_bHiXU4XT/s1600-h/IMG_1147.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcXB7m3W_zj8IJv_jT1jXo6CmHP9kbM3EuSKt6FroNEauvRxUP9Ts38Tqspbre4asdydwAf7d67WptrERe8SYk_VpyLwWmuBvCULShGaUleszVZamYXwDTMVpvagDUyWV3GI_bHiXU4XT/s320/IMG_1147.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327732692717326082" /></a><br /><br />Hopefully, in the next blog entry, I will be able to at least show some progress made on finishing the Bustaroony, even if it is a bit optomistic to think I might actually have it done (remember, I'm dedicated to getting another post out SOON), more pictures of me using the new drum carder, and even some of the fibre I card in it actually spun up. I'd also love to have the spun merino from Kathy's Creations plyed. And I have tons of sewing to do for winter roundup, and would love to have the second "Saloongirl stocking" finished and ready to go, and in a perfect world, the "cigar" gloves as well.<br /><br />Till next time :)Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3780040711735354443.post-10305283743038702412009-04-09T14:25:00.009+09:302009-04-09T16:47:43.483+09:30Cardi, Carder, Combs and ClutterI just looked back at the date of my last post. Almost a month has passed, and really, I'm almost ashamed I haven't gotten more accomplished in the past month. I has been busy, but there's been nothing "completed" to speak of. Just a whole lot of random "this and that", which I suppose pretty much sums up my existence.<br /><br />I will start with the knitting, since that will be the easiest subject to cover. I have almost completed the first sleeve of the Bustaroony cardi. Now I started this project in early January. Shameful really. Even though I knew it would take me a long time to complete it, given it's a rather intricate and even a bit difficult pattern, I really didn't count on it taking this long. At times, it was the only project I was working on, and aside from a couple of times, I really haven't "put it aside" all that much (compared, of course, to how long I've put some aside). Add to that, I really really enjoy knitting on it. My only excuse is that I have been quite busy with "other things" besides knitting, and haven't had time off work, a vacation, or other really superb knitting conditions. Anyway, I really wanted to finish the sleeve before making this blog entry, but time is running out, so you will get it as it is right now. However, I only like about 10 decrease rows and about 4 rows of shaping finishing this sleeve. I plan on having that out of the way tonight, and sleeve number two on the needles before I go to work tonight. So here's the sleeve:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuE5kk_E33u3kh7uAwXmKYrIgw1fC7xH1Gv38AE3076_3nt2Y_9xmjzSrnt3RfHwdQ2xFj65qNeKO4MXWrHrcLU4uaTGSwlAt4bnTX7_07_jEu7E2bpc7TZygybWWniez2S_SJXt2Q4zB/s1600-h/IMG_1104.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuE5kk_E33u3kh7uAwXmKYrIgw1fC7xH1Gv38AE3076_3nt2Y_9xmjzSrnt3RfHwdQ2xFj65qNeKO4MXWrHrcLU4uaTGSwlAt4bnTX7_07_jEu7E2bpc7TZygybWWniez2S_SJXt2Q4zB/s320/IMG_1104.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322559763382800674" /></a><br /><br />And the back and both front pieces lying in "position", to give some idea of the finished look of the cardi:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e3eoq6CATIFRsr69Bxa8dH82VsKVqQdN5mOWIRKOkvJre38w8aFshyphenhyphenYKcmJhaiwnJhIkd2QVQNgPZ-pBxHCyp2lBfvizB6F2Zt5YGhA-1c6QaBYW5TjfDaks43bFcW8-FmaGnDBNwt0c/s1600-h/IMG_1057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e3eoq6CATIFRsr69Bxa8dH82VsKVqQdN5mOWIRKOkvJre38w8aFshyphenhyphenYKcmJhaiwnJhIkd2QVQNgPZ-pBxHCyp2lBfvizB6F2Zt5YGhA-1c6QaBYW5TjfDaks43bFcW8-FmaGnDBNwt0c/s320/IMG_1057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322563322587798402" /></a><br /><br /><br />I mentioned in the last post I was trying to decide what socks to start. Well, I decided on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/betties-lace-stockings">"Betties Lace Stockings" </a> from the Spring09 issue of Interweave knits. They are perfect for western action. I had some Patonyle already in my stash, 3 balls of black, 3 of white. Now from pervious experience, those of you who remember know how I detest knitting black socks. Still, black would be sexy, and match just about anything. But my spinning/knitting friend offered another suggestions. Just knit them in white and then soak them in tea to "dye" them to an "old paper" sort of tannish colour. I loved the idea, off I went knitting them up in white. I started them on March 24th, and even though I only am about halfway through one sock now, they are a quick knit. It's just that I've been working so hard on the cardi I've neglected them. But they have a deadline, and need to be done by the Winter roundup in mid-May, so sooner or later, I'm going to have to dedicate some quality time to them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu2VCmQa25NmHSQwFYuBQZA38WKvsofekCuefy1bl_Xr51VhmpRIE9gjZw2QGW5VqRVPUu9Rs2GAI4DfGzBRNFE70SRQz0A1bHey25cIZX2FfR_1RjwMsQy1q0CLdjFQmAk6ppbKlyQKG/s1600-h/IMG_1106.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu2VCmQa25NmHSQwFYuBQZA38WKvsofekCuefy1bl_Xr51VhmpRIE9gjZw2QGW5VqRVPUu9Rs2GAI4DfGzBRNFE70SRQz0A1bHey25cIZX2FfR_1RjwMsQy1q0CLdjFQmAk6ppbKlyQKG/s320/IMG_1106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322559762422275234" /></a><br /><br />Now, to purchases this past month. I really haven't bought much in the fibre department, but I did get lucky and show up on Ravelry in Ixchelbunny's group right as she was doing an update! All her nicer stuff seems to sell out almost the moment it is posted on <a href="http://www.ixchelbunny.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>, so I never seem to get her goods as I'm always a day late and I'm lucky to find anything left, much less something I like. This time was different though, and I'm now the proud owner of this lovely package of goodies. The black and white is the Jacob Humbug, and the green/gold medley is from her Masham sheep, and is called "Tawny Frogmouth". (Who can resist something called "tawny frogmouth"???)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGjjzWc16SSMb3plFmY44y1AseVkEAU5RoFmKdNaRuvrHKE3k8A7TLekoDVFvNJKVqLZKUHVaru9aA9kPLDFpoShsdcY0LCwGWFYLiMGAcbao4gqhyphenhyphen20QBXpnVX9D8c31t-3m-DplyO2e/s1600-h/IMG_1103.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGjjzWc16SSMb3plFmY44y1AseVkEAU5RoFmKdNaRuvrHKE3k8A7TLekoDVFvNJKVqLZKUHVaru9aA9kPLDFpoShsdcY0LCwGWFYLiMGAcbao4gqhyphenhyphen20QBXpnVX9D8c31t-3m-DplyO2e/s320/IMG_1103.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560470978848418" /></a><br /><br />If you've never checked out Ixchel's yarns and rovings, I would highly suggest visiting her blog regularly and buying a sample. If you don't see something you like there, or it's all sold out, email her and tell her what interests you. Not only is it beautiful, but her "bunny" fibre is so soft it will make you cry (for joy, of course). I first experienced her products in Bendigo at the Sheep and wool show last year, where I bought two skeins of cashmere/angora mix yarn that was so exquisite. It's still in my "most prized" stash, but one day I'll find a pattern (or a recipient) to do it justice. If I can bear to part with it that is. <br /><br />The hugely major purchase this month was my brand new drum carder. Now, for those of you who spin and, more to the point, prepare fibre for spinning, well, you know about how much these things cost. They are by no means a small purchase, but I won't go into details of the price here for fear of shocking my mom, and making her adore my hubby more than she already does for "putting up with me". But, I swear the thing could pay for itself. I'm not saying it WILL pay for itself, because that would require me to quit buying other people's prepared fibre, and that's not something I'm prepared to do right now. I'm only saying that it COULD, if times got tough and I really really needed it to. Besides, anyone who shops on ebay for such things also knows that it's resell value is fantastic. So, I always figured if I don't like it, or don't use it enough, reselling it will be a breeze. So far though, no danger of that.<br /><br />I bought an Inwood Smith drum carder from Bella's shop in Adelaide (The Walking Wheel Studios). She didn't have one in stock, so she had to order it, and it took some time to get there, but it finally arrived and I went to take possession of my new toy. Now, not having much experience with carders, I didn't really have a huge brand preference, so I decided to buy Australian, as the money is coming out of the economic stimulus check (once I get it, that is), so buying local seemed the patriotic thing to do. So I bought an Australian product from a South Australian shop. <br /><br />Isn't she lovely:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmMnDl3R3C70ds9fKBOBxqBoCQFvLs7AcjJJPiLWNk2C3QHSqzyBd741oeYLlqLoNH8Xxun5njMYDu9AuAB4fNmlWbuNdIBrBiuqprpvKsdInk6fFLOwsFPkRIHBNx5a6HqxDOOiuZmQ9/s1600-h/IMG_1067.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmMnDl3R3C70ds9fKBOBxqBoCQFvLs7AcjJJPiLWNk2C3QHSqzyBd741oeYLlqLoNH8Xxun5njMYDu9AuAB4fNmlWbuNdIBrBiuqprpvKsdInk6fFLOwsFPkRIHBNx5a6HqxDOOiuZmQ9/s320/IMG_1067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322563316001394146" /></a><br /><br />I had to try it out right away, so I used some of the brown fleece that I've had for ages. It actually came in a basket with the spinning wheel when I bought it, and gave it a go. Here's a picture with the fibre on the drum:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86y_xwsQcH6NOhSdDtAl10BIfyPfB63afO_d6NoFt21nNSzu-QvtjXoVZPUmdHMFxaSzpQH6U-LSLmdmJYPdgF01vQ9ITkIrys7ZyNEYLvAr568naxS4-YIKg95DuV4ViM4TthiAwWNn9/s1600-h/IMG_1074.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86y_xwsQcH6NOhSdDtAl10BIfyPfB63afO_d6NoFt21nNSzu-QvtjXoVZPUmdHMFxaSzpQH6U-LSLmdmJYPdgF01vQ9ITkIrys7ZyNEYLvAr568naxS4-YIKg95DuV4ViM4TthiAwWNn9/s320/IMG_1074.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322563318824151330" /></a><br /><br />And a picture of the fibre coming off the drum, all lined up and spinnable:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAvU2LfKOGivGOonSnU639cNYDnDo3jgSOqsE5pgVPMOuHBNp-jNrjx_4KravmwrbgRu4X7n5Gp4rx0UNCcNCQYNL428OBvEd3wWBOomll6AQyXyr6vOsiHpGsIZsL-Ut9b1H9JAqH-2V/s1600-h/IMG_1075.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAvU2LfKOGivGOonSnU639cNYDnDo3jgSOqsE5pgVPMOuHBNp-jNrjx_4KravmwrbgRu4X7n5Gp4rx0UNCcNCQYNL428OBvEd3wWBOomll6AQyXyr6vOsiHpGsIZsL-Ut9b1H9JAqH-2V/s320/IMG_1075.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322563317503589058" /></a><br /><br />Now those photos shorten the process quite a bit. What you actually do is take your raw fleece, stick it in one end, turn the crank until it picks it up with the small drum and deposits it on the bigger drum. You add fleece, trying to space it more or less evenly around the drum, until the drum is full, then you pull it off. You come up with a pretty nice looking bit of carded fibre after the first run. You tear that into strips and feed it through again. Than, for good measure, it goes thru a third time. Generally three runs is enough, depending on the type of fleece and what you want. It's also fantastic for blending colours too, although I haven't quite got that far yet. But that's in the cards (pun intended) for the next week or so.<br /><br />The thing about carders is they demand to be fed, so one must keep clean fleece on stock. I had a "nearly" clean Corridale fleece, which I had washed twice already but still needed an extra go as it was still pretty sticky with lanolin. So I washed it one more time, and it came out of this bath more or less perfect. (Although I did run us completely out of hot water and had to take a cold shower before work that night). It seems I've been washing fleece forever. <br /><br />Recently, on a trip to the Salvo's here in town, I saw this neat sweater drying rack for 50 cents, so I picked it up on a whim. It has became very useful over the past couple of weeks for drying my fleece. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClz0zUQdxFa7bB8xbtycutxWo2JyQp1Ryinm8jWj5x-2LCoRa-3-Rq8gMh81xabwTv0Zia-CYpUet0TdlcLlJTaS4yI07cgEtdKmPfrLaHVtOsdn1Rp0h59XvfetD3HLOc-4IVPR2tLHQ/s1600-h/IMG_1091.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClz0zUQdxFa7bB8xbtycutxWo2JyQp1Ryinm8jWj5x-2LCoRa-3-Rq8gMh81xabwTv0Zia-CYpUet0TdlcLlJTaS4yI07cgEtdKmPfrLaHVtOsdn1Rp0h59XvfetD3HLOc-4IVPR2tLHQ/s320/IMG_1091.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322561191129947970" /></a><br /><br />How handy is that?? Particularly with the cooler weather we've been having the past couple of weeks. Not exactly the greatest weather for drying fleece outside, although if it is nice enough, the little screen also fits just perfectly on the top of my clothes rack that I can take outside.<br /><br />I also took some tips from Bella and others and made myself a homemade rack to wash and dry "locks" for combing. I bought some "Gutter guard" and some clips, and made this contraption, which fits into the bathtub and allows the locks to go through the whole process without getting them out of shape or messy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mINJMwOFWSiwjfoNZ1DbphEo8t4gQZzv32YagOsHS0YiyAn0VIJLBmNNdztEAyf4xSUTuOC_HP6zrOJ0tC-lYOh4sItLtLmKepaxFvAvvtBkcfLOXuJlhQeLQ36FjaIwvTnfzMebd4gs/s1600-h/IMG_1077.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mINJMwOFWSiwjfoNZ1DbphEo8t4gQZzv32YagOsHS0YiyAn0VIJLBmNNdztEAyf4xSUTuOC_HP6zrOJ0tC-lYOh4sItLtLmKepaxFvAvvtBkcfLOXuJlhQeLQ36FjaIwvTnfzMebd4gs/s320/IMG_1077.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322559768841667490" /></a><br /><br />I think, for next time though, I'm going to cut it down into small squares, so I can use the utility room sink, and also because the long contraption is a bit hard to handle.<br /><br />That brings me to my combs. After washing my fleece using the "Gutter Guard", I then set about really giving combing a go. Combs are finicky instruments, and take a bit of practice, but I reckon I did okay for a beginner.<br /><br />First I took my nice clean locks from the "gutter guard": <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iw0Rvm6DiyMDw1X0uP9pCm4oEqERAtp1OJcaOf0WKiWKvO5VGIC6IbNjmtco6zERU69-J5i34Tf6K_wonXbZ27-R_gNSbUKcxUgUi61wdzOCbNUcs7I0Ac18JFgQDx96HYY_WAiADQO4/s1600-h/IMG_1082.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iw0Rvm6DiyMDw1X0uP9pCm4oEqERAtp1OJcaOf0WKiWKvO5VGIC6IbNjmtco6zERU69-J5i34Tf6K_wonXbZ27-R_gNSbUKcxUgUi61wdzOCbNUcs7I0Ac18JFgQDx96HYY_WAiADQO4/s320/IMG_1082.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560941642323954" /></a><br /><br />Then I loaded a comb:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI52aKgL-a4Nwdk-Uev78ESS7dyls1DSzIWlyXOYl0x77mNvipDZpEDy8WFnmeA2QjNMI9uIPMgcB59HBoAfVz7JEm8e2mBkDXtL8FTIH3LYKIDsh7I9WvR4ZrcsVBKlUNxheSURL18YDj/s1600-h/IMG_1089.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI52aKgL-a4Nwdk-Uev78ESS7dyls1DSzIWlyXOYl0x77mNvipDZpEDy8WFnmeA2QjNMI9uIPMgcB59HBoAfVz7JEm8e2mBkDXtL8FTIH3LYKIDsh7I9WvR4ZrcsVBKlUNxheSURL18YDj/s320/IMG_1089.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560477944349010" /></a><br /><br />Then I swiped gently at the bottom of the fibres with the other comb, transferring the fleece over:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVat7RvJ7xPNVX4OQGdxChAF0_K9D9e3xmm_2ixRRWgZxnavCQZSVQ2QVOLSqOv0F_UufGrrdn6ZNWt5y5JqD0H26ORP09C0_2l8nuJZ0ABz3tsEPZW5W0SU439s1eiynARWa29YaqMFe/s1600-h/IMG_1084.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVat7RvJ7xPNVX4OQGdxChAF0_K9D9e3xmm_2ixRRWgZxnavCQZSVQ2QVOLSqOv0F_UufGrrdn6ZNWt5y5JqD0H26ORP09C0_2l8nuJZ0ABz3tsEPZW5W0SU439s1eiynARWa29YaqMFe/s320/IMG_1084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560940386851858" /></a><br /><br />(BTW...there's the clutter mentioned in the title)<br /><br />This process loads the comb, giving it a nice beard:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVuW_mA3IUxbrt9zA5aEtmcUpm9C52JQMOtZ98YWtzIXGJ67hEXsbhCOBOyIanJYKPUQ8kyM7YQln8RHGUvoBJ8_tImooCpFvEhyQs9xBmuOpDE2Wij6GUW9RIw7Hrm-YeNwcq-jRx-A8/s1600-h/IMG_1083.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVuW_mA3IUxbrt9zA5aEtmcUpm9C52JQMOtZ98YWtzIXGJ67hEXsbhCOBOyIanJYKPUQ8kyM7YQln8RHGUvoBJ8_tImooCpFvEhyQs9xBmuOpDE2Wij6GUW9RIw7Hrm-YeNwcq-jRx-A8/s320/IMG_1083.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560940324511890" /></a><br /><br />After repeating this process a few times, switching the fleece back and forth on the combs a few times, you pull the fleece thru a "diz". (My diz is of the homemade persuasion):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjdCiGmwRruNbkC4Rilo6ryOsslyqP6WAjVZrAjzO2U1FZSr0gGsM1ZUiKACHINFgaxYwM0Dr5-KnIyQ5MqXO5VhQIaoWKLn14rd_6pg4JnizepWW9k7hOPoWb5GRFD3oLvH1jzpRgsrC/s1600-h/IMG_1087.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjdCiGmwRruNbkC4Rilo6ryOsslyqP6WAjVZrAjzO2U1FZSr0gGsM1ZUiKACHINFgaxYwM0Dr5-KnIyQ5MqXO5VhQIaoWKLn14rd_6pg4JnizepWW9k7hOPoWb5GRFD3oLvH1jzpRgsrC/s320/IMG_1087.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560942161793618" /></a><br /><br />And this is my finished roving:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitysRJpahpZUzwlr0mlyuWPkM2EDe3diDX77fNH8K8AtY0KPiDvPmuyEga9_pqMb1OZchwM94N18GFE78DVO3ycQ5FZCO4-eTfGQV5p0gp8HrTWR5Zq9wZ2SNzcFGsfl6SMhVJTSu_QB8R/s1600-h/IMG_1088.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitysRJpahpZUzwlr0mlyuWPkM2EDe3diDX77fNH8K8AtY0KPiDvPmuyEga9_pqMb1OZchwM94N18GFE78DVO3ycQ5FZCO4-eTfGQV5p0gp8HrTWR5Zq9wZ2SNzcFGsfl6SMhVJTSu_QB8R/s320/IMG_1088.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560944075388610" /></a><br /><br />You make the rovings into little "birdsnest" and your all ready to spin:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iB5aB1y_jJSSG-mqlTMFHnZRMKUIw4G9YxM1sSJsqt6L7o3E229W877NHs3fXXIfHZwDp5SSqGzzA46vYapXVpnoRSx1cjVQheQ_-1gkM0wTbvdxH6emY7s_kG_iNTwmuvUQnb6aVrTb/s1600-h/IMG_1092.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iB5aB1y_jJSSG-mqlTMFHnZRMKUIw4G9YxM1sSJsqt6L7o3E229W877NHs3fXXIfHZwDp5SSqGzzA46vYapXVpnoRSx1cjVQheQ_-1gkM0wTbvdxH6emY7s_kG_iNTwmuvUQnb6aVrTb/s320/IMG_1092.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322561194553049986" /></a><br /><br />I have also managed to card up a bunch of this fleece, and have several batts now ready to be dyed. I'd like to make on "biggish" project out of these rovings, but I haven't decided what yet. I was thinking of a vest for Chris (who has been patient with me and my hobbies, after all), and I was hoping to get a good manly colour for him. <br /><br />So I had to do a bit of test dyeing, using mostly just the basic colours and some 50/50 mixes of them. Since the wool is grey, the colours you get are interesting. They are more forceful than the pastels I tend to get on white roving, but because the grey does change the colour, I wasn't sure of what I would get. So, an experiment was necessary to give me some idea.<br /><br />Here are my samples straight after dyeing:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKH05DB34Vm3L0FZ0hbAxYs9_4UbRsHpy-8SZAtszhSeUygtze3gXhgYa1CeWmJEMrfXlUwHbCPQPOENzMBdEqSo8YgJLmCKwCOWwYqmzjtMrek9OGvPVGAwllrJ0JtsU8Ga6Wk0Oycf3/s1600-h/IMG_1081.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKH05DB34Vm3L0FZ0hbAxYs9_4UbRsHpy-8SZAtszhSeUygtze3gXhgYa1CeWmJEMrfXlUwHbCPQPOENzMBdEqSo8YgJLmCKwCOWwYqmzjtMrek9OGvPVGAwllrJ0JtsU8Ga6Wk0Oycf3/s320/IMG_1081.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322559767488419762" /></a><br /><br />And hanging to dry:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEuORpXAbSlO0F5koEvjn932mjWk2uF3L0v687R5sSKsG1h-yH_mvU37X7O3FIswgrfwAZEGCOWUR0q2CUcvMjZ8nsWHhM4Oe5Qjhv62LSTNlfpaKJQVnSnS9oioBc3p-PIoyoBOnYjqn/s1600-h/IMG_1093.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEuORpXAbSlO0F5koEvjn932mjWk2uF3L0v687R5sSKsG1h-yH_mvU37X7O3FIswgrfwAZEGCOWUR0q2CUcvMjZ8nsWHhM4Oe5Qjhv62LSTNlfpaKJQVnSnS9oioBc3p-PIoyoBOnYjqn/s320/IMG_1093.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322559770022607346" /></a><br /><br />The finished products were interesting, and the colours certainly were brighter and less pastelly, but I'm not sure if any of them qualify as "manly".<br /><br />The first batch is blue, blue/green in the middle, and green on the other side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrmzv6QO4oSKSyGD8R19hVkBm-C5WOLPwZht9dRmxHhG1Qq3v4G41Wfx7CegLGxHqDEfeWsSGSp0ypADMls48RrEhC9nDeSWI2A48uGecgKFlM7TfnX_R3QhWUTGplo4vIGKZ_DUwIlYp/s1600-h/IMG_1098.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrmzv6QO4oSKSyGD8R19hVkBm-C5WOLPwZht9dRmxHhG1Qq3v4G41Wfx7CegLGxHqDEfeWsSGSp0ypADMls48RrEhC9nDeSWI2A48uGecgKFlM7TfnX_R3QhWUTGplo4vIGKZ_DUwIlYp/s320/IMG_1098.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560471543714722" /></a><br /><br />The second batch look better in person than in the picture, but still, the dye didn't seem to mix as well. One is orange/green, the other orange/blue (I was trying for a brownish):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dy1Llcf5V04xytrh6Df5WiJH8vMwXO9LbcOtE5pAB5HJqFrhfL_qhdftmC-k0E66TTtAjbPhVKBuOYXS-GrXRKuFsO_672BAtfHiQvuJXYs3l5r3hFDJpjiVWyVfpxlYTXVTYbixEubo/s1600-h/IMG_1099.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dy1Llcf5V04xytrh6Df5WiJH8vMwXO9LbcOtE5pAB5HJqFrhfL_qhdftmC-k0E66TTtAjbPhVKBuOYXS-GrXRKuFsO_672BAtfHiQvuJXYs3l5r3hFDJpjiVWyVfpxlYTXVTYbixEubo/s320/IMG_1099.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560472968877058" /></a><br /><br />The last set has red at the top, orange in the center, and orange/red at the bottom. I really like all of these:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDRNDKMw9yML9mbtdkmgugV4QFyXOMH2cHg3hglaqMkODhnnAjs_FiIUPAkgG0FBippn1vGy5HEB2t0luaYbD2FrsFV1YnFhJ3WgAaSaps0qds9vXgMISrZHxBAeeHBnz0zmYL6GTQuSe/s1600-h/IMG_1101.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDRNDKMw9yML9mbtdkmgugV4QFyXOMH2cHg3hglaqMkODhnnAjs_FiIUPAkgG0FBippn1vGy5HEB2t0luaYbD2FrsFV1YnFhJ3WgAaSaps0qds9vXgMISrZHxBAeeHBnz0zmYL6GTQuSe/s320/IMG_1101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322560468440742530" /></a><br /><br />Now all that's left is to make a decision, or do more experiments. Not sure which yet. <br /><br />As some of you know, I've been losing quite a bit of weight lately. I don't mention it much here, as weight loss isn't really what this blog is about. But for those of you wondering (you know who you are), I will post some "before and after" photos when I get the cardigan done. I began making the Bustaroony cardigan as sort of an incentive. At the time I began it, it would have been about 4 sizes too small, but now, depending of course on the finished product, I should fit into it. When I get to that point, I will "unviel" the weightloss on the blog. But, I will say that I've cracked into the 60's this week, which was a big goal for me. Now onwards to the elusive 55K.<br /><br />Well, that's enough for this post. Heaven knows, I do need to do entries more often, and save myself from these long long posts. Well, maybe next time. Or not :)Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01841253670783502207noreply@blogger.com6