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My reviewrating: 4 of 5 stars I loved this! It took me a long time to get around to reading it, and I wish I had earlier. My only gripe was the huge, critical, spoiler in the chapter notes - very disappointing. I can only assume that they just think everyone has read the book already by now. A variation on the Spin-In, here I’ll be documenting progress on my first major handspun project. I’ve spun large amounts before, but only for lace where gauge doesn’t really matter. This weekend I started sampling for the Deev-V Argyle by Eunny Jang. Being a colourwork project, it’s important that the gauge is correct as I won’t be able to easily tweak the pattern, it’s also very fitted so doesn’t leave much room for alterations in finished size. Therefore, I’m doing something I’ve never really done before - which is to spin samples for swatches before embarking on the whole project. The pattern calls for a DK yarn, gauge 22sts/4inches in colourwork. I started spinning, aiming for a yarn with a wpi of around 12. I’m not doing a lot to the yarn in the finishing process (colourwork yarn doesn’t need to be bouncy) so there shouldn’t be much change in the wpi after finishing.
To check finished wpi while you’re spinning, pull back a good length of yarn from the bobbin and double it over, letting it twist back on itself. You can measure the wpi and then untwist the yarn and keep spinning. I spun and plied a sample of each colour at 12 wpi and then finished them by soaking in warm water and Eucalan, snapping a few times to distribute twist and then hung them to dry. I didn’t abuse the skeins at all as this will add loft, something I don’t really need in this yarn. The fibres (BFL and Shetland), in fact have plenty of natural loft already and the yarn is nice and springy but will still lie flat in the stranded pattern.
The recommended needle is 3.5mm but I know I tend to knit colourwork fairly tightly, so I started with a 3.75mm, knitting the swatches ‘in the round’ by taking the yarns across the back in long floats at the end of each row. I got a gauge of 27sts on this needle so switched to a 4mm.
The second swatch still has a gauge of 25.5sts so I am faced with having to spin more yarn for a second sample. I preferred the feel of the fabric on the 3.75mm, so I definitely don’t want to go up any more needle sizes. Next: I’ll be spinning more samples at 11wpi. As I don’t have a great deal of extra dyed fibre to play with I may have to consider adjusting the pattern a little if I don’t get gauge with the second batch. It would be terrible to run out on the last little bit of neckband! At the beginning of this week I made a list of things to do. Not work, just stuff, like ‘knit so-and-so’ but apparantly holiday mode had settled in deeper than I thought. It has been a week of playing around with new projects, reading, watching endless episodes of old TV shows and basically letting everything else slide. It was great! However, after Mum’s comment yesterday that there hadn’t been anything appearing on the blog lately, I thought I’d pull myself together and get to some stuff (although I am still in my pyjamas and only likely to swap them for yoga clothes today). So… I finally got around to photographing my Christmas haul (there’s some things still to come I think, Amanda, don’t worry - I haven’t posted yours yet either!). Fibre, and fibre…
These have been in my eye at Alice’s since they first arrived, and it appears that adding them to my wishlist was a cunning plan (thanks Mum!). Also chosen from my wishlist: Sheepaints Marisilk yarn (this is similar to Seasilk and very lush) in my perfect colour!
And Malabrig(i)o sock yarn,
It’s already wound up and as soon as I finish my current sock I’ll be casting on. Finally the most gorgeous shawl pin from Moving Mud - which Alice hid away, letting me believe that someone else had bought it! She can be very sneaky
Then there were books:
Already read! And I have a pair of socks somewhere, perhaps in the wash - I was wearing them for Christmas. You can see them on Kate’s blog here. They fit perfectly and I love the yarn (Hazelknits), I have some to knit up that I must get around to starting. I also received some cash from my MIL - she anticipated me spending it on fibrey stuff, but I figured I was pretty well-stocked so I treated myself to the complete box set of The West Wing which (on sale) happened to be the exact right price. Finally, you already saw the yarn that Kai gave me for Christmas, I cast it on on Christmas Eve and it has been my festive season knit (well, along with the four other projects I started in the last week as well!). Here’s a glimpse:
Lace looks rubbish before blocking so you’ll have to wait till it’s finished to see any more! - - - - - Looking ahead… 2008 seems to have been the year of small projects. 11 pairs of socks, 7 scarves, 2 small shawls, 4 hats, 2 baby jackets and 2 pairs of mittens. The only other thing on my ‘finished 2008′ Flickr set (and anything that isn’t on there is doomed to be forgotten forever) is Maude, which doesn’t really count as I knitted 90% of it in 2007. In 2009 I am determined to complete some bigger things, maybe even finish off the Central Park Hoodie, or Hey Teach which are both within a hair’s breadth of being done (hahaha - I kill me). Seriously though, I am setting three major completion goals this year: 1) Finish a handspun colourwork vest (that will be the Deep-v Argyle) Completely unreasonable? I don’t think so, I’ll let you know how I get on Have a great 2009 everyone, full of (natural) fibrey goodness! x x x
My reviewrating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve had this book for about 18 months - it was a thankyou gift from a friend who stayed with us for a while. I can’t believe I never read it until now! It was very fun, very lit-geek. I loved the way the characters were named, although I’m sure I missed a lot of the more subtle connections. I ended up so entranced that I read the whole thing - beginning to end in a day. Just saw a new group form for this over on Ravelry, and I love the idea so I’m going to pledge So, to go back to my list of books from a couple of weeks ago (which was when I really started thinking I should read more!) I have on my list: Catch 22 - Joseph Heller Those are the ones I happened to underline on that day. I also want to read: Twilight (well, that won’t be hard, I got it for Christmas) Plus a bunch of stuff I can’t think of offhand. Also, I’d really like to go back and re-read some stuff I only ever read once, sometimes a loooong time ago. When I was a teenager I read a lot of ‘Classics’ and stuff that was really a bit over my head, and I don’t think it’s quite fair to say I’ve ‘read’ those books when I didn’t understand half of it. Plus, audio books count I don’t think I’ll get to 52, but I’ll see how I go, maybe set 40 as a goal.
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2008
 
Merry Christmas!Posted by: Diane in Finished Objects, Patterns, Weekends are for SpinningTo All My Readers (lurkers and commenters alike!), Thanks so much for being around this year, and for all the input, support, comments and advice. Here’s a little something for all of you - I hope you like it!
Mittens to Order A mitten is the perfect blank canvas for your favourite colourwork patterns. Fill with an all-over small design, or a large motif. This pattern includes the charts I used for the first Mittens to Order, (knitted for Kate). I have also given you blank charts and full instructions in two sizes so you can create your own unique pattern. Have fun! Or, visit the Ravelry page to add it to your pattern library. Have a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing break, and all my best wishes for the New Year. Happy Spinning! xx Not a proper Spin-In today, I’ve been resisting but have finally given in and I’m thoroughly in Holiday Mode. Proper spinning talk will resume on Jan 4. But, I thought I’d share some of the things I have in mind for next year, and invite your input. Not only for Spin-In, but the upcoming Spin! Series 2 as well. Something I’m really excited about - next year is The International Year of Natural Fibres, read more here. I’ve always been a big supporter of the natural, and I’m really glad this is happening. As part of the Spin-In, I’m going to be presenting a Natural Fibres series, once a month presenting a different fibre with background notes, uses and project ideas. When I started tossing around this idea I thought it would be tricky finding enough - but you’d be surprised! I’m including some fibres on the list that I’ve never spun before so I’m pretty excited about getting to work with those. Spin! will also be natural fibre based next year, in fact, I’m going to try and exclude man-made as much as I possibly can for the year in my writing and teaching. I’ve started work on the next series, and am happy to be using fibres from some great indie dyers local to me. Look out for previews and patterns before winter’s over! This all leaves plenty of room for adjustments however, and I’m very happy to have your ideas. Is there anything you’d particularly like to see in Spin! Series 2? in the IYNF Series posts, or another Spin-In? I’ve got 50 posts to play with after all! Leave a comment, or pop by tonight on Lingr for a chat. I will be there from 5-10pm (ish). Lastly, please make sure you drop by the blog on Tuesday to collect your Christmas present from me! Exciting news - Next year I will be consulting for the Socktopus Fibre Academy! Over the year members receive six fibre parcels (which I get to help choose) containing a different fibre each time, from six different indie fibre artists. Also enclosed will be a mini Fibre Manual (written by yours truly!) explaining the background and characteristics of the fibre, my experiences with it and recommendations and ideas for spinning and projects. Last, but not least, little goodies and useful fibrey tools in each parcel. It’s going to be so much fun - I’m really looking forward to the planning, and the spinning! The prices are very reasonable so maybe you could speak sweetly to the appropriate person and have it added to your Christmas list More details and signups here. Hope you can make it! Trawling back through the archives I found my original list:
Hahaha! I culled it a little. And added some stuff. Apparantly making lists is pointless if your Christmas philosophy is to make stuff you like and then decide who to give it to afterwards. So: 2 pairs handknit socks I did one - packed and posted, replaced the other one with a woven scarf. 1 handspun scarf (I have half the yarn done for this btw) Tick 2 skeins handspun laceweight Well, one of these became fingering weight for colourwork (almost done), one is going to be smoodgy DK. 4 skeins handspun sock not a chance, but two of them have been replaced with a pair of handspun somethings. 1 beaded lace Swallowtail Tick - except I did nupps instead of beads I’ve also added to the list a pair of wristwarmers (the yarn is wound) and a crocheted hat. One week to go. I’m thinking about leaving the knitting lying around in the living room, with a glass of milk and home-baked shortbread beside it. For the elves you know… The weekend spent at Kai’s was wonderful! We lazed around and relaxed and knitted and Neil slept in until midday which is his idea of a perfect holiday. It was freezing, I went a little bit childish about the crunchy grass and frozen puddles (!) but Kai and Ollie’s is thoroughly double-glazed and nicely heated and far warmer than our flat in London, it was lovely. I took parcels with me, and brought home some more
Stunning. It’s BFL/silk from Fyberspates and there’s a bit over 500m. I’m thinking of doing one of the scarves in the new Nancy Bush book.
Kai also bought us a fantastic curry recipe book, and then displayed tremendous patience while I went through every recipe and asked questions about ingredients and methods and made notes! Neil loves curry and I love cooking, so it’s a win-win. I have to scout around for all the spices and things I need, but it shouldn’t be too hard here in London. And since Kai is a little sweetie (and we generally raid each others’ stashes without pause anyway) this also came home with me:
I was very restrained though, and didn’t steal any of her fibre this time. Oh, and chocolate is not for sharing. But you know that. - - - - Today, to keep my toes warm, I’ve been baking.
Mmmmmm… will you be at Socktopus tonight?? |
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