looming

so I've been mostly playing with my loom lately. Once you get the thing warped the weaving part goes really fast. And I'm getting better at the warping... not great but better :)

I finished up a scarf in beaverslide wool:

unlike with knitting you can't see the whole project while makin git. The scarf rolls up onto the beam and you see it all when you are done. SO at about the half way point I changed my stripe size... by accident. It started as 4 rows dark red 8 rows dusty red. That turned into 4 rows dark red and 6 rows dusty red. Oops. I'm a new enough weaver that I will just chock that one up to practice and not worry about it.

And another scarf (less mistakes) using a natural alpaca for the warp and some handspun navajo plied yarn for the weaving part:

This one I am happy with :)

and I've started a new one:

using knitpicks gloss for the warp and knitpicks decadence (alpaca) for the weft. So far so good. I like the subtle brown on brown part. Makes me want to make another one in all brown.

also been plodding along on candy stripes form the IK holiday issue:


and a hat for my husband:

using Filatura Di Crosa Zara. Should be nice to wear if I ever finish it :)

post christmas selfish knitting

So I've been working on a few non gift items just-because-I-feel-like-making-them projects.



it's just a basic entrelac pattern using Tilli Thomas Pure and Simple silk. So decadent to work with.



this is candy stripes form IK holiday issue. I'm using some long stashed rowan kid classic (it's for me).

and a little spinning and navajo plying:




and most exciting.... I got a loom for my birthday. It came yesterday and I have no idea what I'm doing but plan to spend some time with it this weekend :)

quick update

I've been knitting...

my tree jacket (the sleeves have been separated - it looks too red in this photo):


Yarrow Rib Socks for my aunt (first one done second one almost to the heel):


Harlot Poncho for my mom (she really wants one... )I added a cable down the front and back. Using Cascade Eco Wool:


and some spinning

bought soem blue/pink merino at a craft fair:


and here is the final yarn:


also some bfl in "vivian" from fat cat knits on etsy:


and the yarn:

3rd time is the charm

Homespun yarn + needles = scarf I like

Entrelac scarf made with blocks 8 stitches wide rather than 10 (better width than before). I'm really liking how this is turning out. I've actually been faithful to this project... perhaps I'll finish something :)

two failed attempts

I wanted to knit a scarf from my handspun


so I started an Irish Hiking Scarf:

but decided it was too striped for cables.

So I ripped it out and started an entrelac scarf:

but it was too wide (super wide scarf or really narrow stole). So I ripped that one out too and started a more narrow entrelac scarf. I finally have a winner (but no photo... I'll get one up soon)

instant gratification

Everyting is just going too slowly... so I started a narrow single rib scarf in size 11 needles. It's Cashmerino superchunky in a forrest green and dusty pink. It's practically done already. I feel this need to use up a bunch of yarn since the moth discovery. I just want to knit thorugh it all and give it away as gifts or wash it up really well and put it in my closet. Hopefully the eucalan really does help moth proof my knitting. Here is the scarf:

Baby Kimono knitted

I'm just trying to shame myself into seeming it up now:

cheeky monkey

that's the name of the color of this fiber. Amy over at spunky eclectic has fun with her naming.

Here's the yarn as single ply & 2 ply:


And with all this handspun yarn I've been posting... I have actually been knitting with it as well. Making some fliptop mittens with the Autumn 2-ply merino:

friend having a baby!

There is a baby girl due in August. So I'm making the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting (using Rowan All Seasons Cotton):




there is something about garter stitch that I just love. I need to use it more. Perhaps one of my bundles of handspun would work into a nice scarf that way. Anyhow... this pattern is super easy to follow and the Rowan ASC is great to work with (I am not normally fond of working with cotton yarn). So 2 thumbs up on this project so far. I just need to actually finish this one up (rather then move along to the next shiny project I see).

boatneck bluebell - fitted knits

I'm trying so hard to not abandon another mostly finished sweater :) Just need to finish off the sleeves. Knitting from the top down is awesome. I tried on the sweater and it fits so well! My problem is that it got so hot here in the last week that I just can't knit this sweater (big pile of wool in my lap). Hopefully it'll cool off for a week or so... then I can finish the sleeves.

I'm using Elann Uros Aran (wool/llama blend).
color : palm for most and peridot for some detail at the horizontal rib.

here are the more accurate color swatches from elann:
palm peridot

and a detail shot:


I'm going to knit so many patterns from Fitted Knits. So well written and flattering :)

scarves in progress

not quite straight scarf
I'm using Elsebeth lavold Angora (soft blue on the ends and creamy beige in the middle) I love this yarn:


Also working on the Simple Cabled Scarf from Cables Untangled. I'm using Elann 100% alpaca. It's working out really nice.

Farrow Rib Scarf

I needed a nice easy quick project. So I started a farrow rib (k2, p1 over a multiple of 3 stitches) scarf in Handpaintedyarn.com bulky merino on size 11 needles. It's moving along at a quite satisfying rate:

endpaper mittens

I'm using some baby cashmere from elann (the lighter blue) and some hand dyed Superfine Superwash Sport Merino from Lisa Souza (stitches purchase) for the main color (denim). Really enjoying making these. I knda love knitting with little needles. The final knit is so delicate :) I started this mitten in two colors of lisa souza sport merino... but the colors were just too similar in value. The pattern got lost. I I ripped it out and subbed in the elan yarn. Looking much better!

teddy bear

I'm knitting that little bear with the H on his chest... sans the H for a work friends baby shower on Friday. Hope to finish in time. White fur, pink shirt, blue pants. The yarn I'm using is Gjestal Naturgarn from Elann (a long time ago). Size 9 needles to get a tight fabric. I've made 2 squareys in the same yarn from this book... see them here

baby silk from Elann

This is a scarf I'm making as a thank you gift for a friend of mine. Using Elann's Baby Silk in Aubergine on size 5 needles. It really is nice yarn to work with and the color is awesome (sorry the photo isn't great... I used the flash in leu of real light). The pattern is from Ann Budds Handy Book of Patterns. I've used tis pattern a few other times. It works great with all weights of yarn. I made one using size 11 needles and 3 strands of yarn that turned out great a year or two back.

swallowtail shawl

Slowly but it is getting done. Here is how it looked about a month ago. I'm working on p5tpg's... sheesh that is hard. I slip the 5 stitches off the size 5 needles and onto size 1's and purl them all together there. It's really slow but it makes it possible to purl them.

been busy

Finished a 2x2 rib scarf using size 19 needles and Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky (2 balls):


close up of the yummy yarn:


Finished my angora/wool blend bias scarf (it's been on needles for about a year and a half):

that photo shows it in progress... but it's done. I just need a new photo :)

And learned a new technique. Entrelac.. it's really not hard. I just used a book to figure it out:


So I'm still knitting... planning a wedding... planning a honeymoon... and working 50 hours a week. Sheesh life is busy lately!

Vortex Street Pullover (knit along)

It was hard to pick a sweater in Knitting Nature to start with... I really love a bunch of them.

I'm 4 rows into the back of this sweater using Jo Sharp Silkroad tweed DK in emporio:

here is a better color swatch:

I plan to switch off between this sweater and my other WIPS. So much to knit so little time :)

Here is a scarf I knit up from some of my handspun:

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I cast on 15 stitches onto size 11 Addi Turbos and did k5, p5, k5 for 5 rows then swiched colors. So it's just wide ribs. It's yummy merino but way too hot out to wear scarves for many months :)