• Finished the singles of Inglenook polworth, colorway Earl Grey. Hope I can ply it next weekend. I have so much fiber and yarn and no time to use it.

    Polworth
  • My left thumb joint has been bothering me, so I’ve let it rest. I did start a pair of cotton socks. I did the heel on the first one today.

    Short row heel and toe

    The big news is a couple of hours of spinning! Last time I tried the Country Craftsman, it kept throwing the drive belt. I figured it was time to sort it out. But no problems at all! I just kept going. This is some Polworth from Inglenook Fibers, colorway Earl Grey. Really happy as I have a lot of fiber to spin. And spinning didn’t bother my hand.

    Spinning

    The last is what I’ve been doing intead of fiber. I’ve been taking Liz Steel’s sketching/watercolor classes. She’s a good teacher and I am enjoyimg it. I’m getting better at drawing things on my kitchen table but still working on outside sketches. Here’s mine from tonight:

    That’s it for now!

  • They don’t look like much. First up, Churchmouse’s Two point Cowl in Cloudborn Alpaca. Getting close to joining the shoulders. I hope I like this. I’ve decided I need more protection for my throat in winter. I seem to be coughing more.

    Next up is a gift for a coworker. This is Churchmouse’s Ribbed Watchcap. 1×1 rib on #1s for almost 10″. This is The Fibre Company’s Amble, which is a superwash wool/alpaca blend. I like the yarn and I have plans to do a couple more. But it’s a slow knit.

    I spent part of the day cataloging the stash. When I left Rav, I had to find a new way to track projects and yarn. I found that Notes on my iphone works well for this. I have a template to record details about the yarn, with a section for project notes. I add a picture of the project and the yarn. Looks like this:

  • This is Churchmouse’s Easy Folded Poncho. I need to block it, sew a seam and add a cowl. Orange is not my color but this is a lovely alpaca blend that was on sale.

    Dirty Lace

    This is Truly Myrtle’s Dirty Lace shawl. I actually stopped work on this. But I decided to rip a row back then put it away. I knit the row again, it came out right and I kept going. It’s nice to make progress on a few things.

  • The move is complete so I can finally focus on other things. My curtent knitting projects are pretty basic but will try to post those this weekend. But I wanted to share what I just received today. It is a box full of old double pointed needles. I probably paid too much but I just found it interesting. I also ordered a knitting sheath to use with these. Socks are the one thing that I usually knit. Will start cleaning these up. May we all have more time to knit next year!

    Lots of needles!
    Cover
  • I have finally finished spinnimg Cloak and Dagger! This is spindle spun and got sidelined for almost two years. It’s nice stuff and I might do socks with it.

    And I am still working on Icelandic number two. The sleeves are done. This is how far I’ve gotten on the body.

    And finally I am getting the hang of nälbinding. This is just sort of mindless work. I would like to make mittens at some point.

  • Projects 02.01.2022 No Comments

    I don’t think I ever posted a picture of this hat. Someone helping out pitched it into the wash and it felted a bit, before I’d had a chance to wear it. Here’s a link to the pattern and it’s free. The Inga Hat

    The bottom rolls, which seems to happen every time I do a knit braid. I will change this, next time I knit it. Also, there are some long areas that I wove in the 2nd color, rather than just stranding. So the inside looks like this:

    Inside

    This is my hat to wear outside, as it’s very warm. I used leftover yarn for it. I still think it’s ome of the most elegant patterns I’ve seen and plan to knit another.

  • Looks like I need a nålbinding category. Just started playing with this yesterday.

    It’s all very strange and I will try and post some helpful video links.

  • Tutorials 28.09.2021 No Comments

    Back in the old days, there was a revolutionary knitting book. It was called Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman. She gave you a percentage system, that you could use to design your own sweater, without needing a pattern. EZ’s work led to a lot of knitting innovation.  We seem to have fallen back into buying patterns, letting someone else do the design work. I am putting together a tutorial on knitting an Icelandic Sweater, using the percentage system. I will be using Knitting in the Old Way by Priscilla Gibson-Robert for my work. She uses EZ’s percentage system, but also focuses on how to use that system for classic sweater design.

    Also, I am linking to this set of tutorials online, from Knitting for Everyone:

    https://youtu.be/0ss8VxLNqlY

    https://youtu.be/tRUCf3mzTGg

    https://youtu.be/BGNLk1sSdEk

    She does use commercial patterns, but it is a good overview on how this sweater goes together. Also, she uses a really nice method of starting a 1×1 rib. There’s an additional video on her channel, if you need a clearer view of it.

    The drawback to making your own patterns is that you have to figure out how much yarn you’ll need and a few sizing details along the way. I’m making mine bottom up, as she shows in the tutorials, so you can try the sleeves on as you go. You’ll have a good idea of gauge after making two sleeves! I love Icelandic yarns, so I just bought a bunch of it, online from Little Knits. I have enough for two sweaters, possibly three. If you need to get a better idea before you start, there is some reference material in PGR’s book on yardage and you can always check a pattern online to see what they used. There are graphs for a couple of yoke designs in the book, or you could graph a pattern that you’ve seen online. Trust me, you’ll get braver about modifying things as you go, once you’ve started working this way.

    I’ve finished both sleeves, so will try to put the first part of the tutorial up soon. I would love to see more folks making their own designs and learning how easy it is to have a sweater that fits you well.

     

  • Nothing special. I’m working on socks. First is a completed pair I’ve been wearing. These are a wool/bamboo blend. If you use something like this, make a smaller size. They are stretchy. They have been okay in the hot weather. The yarn is called Bamboo.

    Next up is my current pair. These are Trekking XXL, which is a good yarn. I buy sock yarn on sale at Little Knits.

    I am working on a sweater out of sock yarn, Rebel, Rebel by Truly Myrtle. Lots of boring stockinette, so I just started working on it again. I’ve bought the yarn to make a DK weight Norwegian sweater. And I will be doing this the old fashioned way. I will make my own pattern. I am tired of sweaters that don’t fit me. And I am tired of looking at patterns. I have Knitting in the Old Way and a book that shows old Notwegian sweaters. Just waiting for cooler weather to get me motivated.