socks « Earthwhisper Fiber Arts

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More Spinning and a Sock

February 8, 2007

Deneen sent me some roving called, Sherwood Forest, pictured here. It was roving she purchased from WovenNSpun. Well, I spun it today. It is almost 3 ozs.

I enjoyed spinning it. Though after I plied it again, my right shoulder started to hurt. I hate getting old…

I knew I should have taken a day off, but it is hard not to spin on my wheel when it is sitting in my bedroom. I planned my housework around giving myself time to be in there tonight. Plus, while I do have plenty of yarn in my house, if I spin up all of my raw fiber it gives me something to want to purchase when I go to Stitches West in a few weeks.

I am feeling much better today. Luckily, neither Tony nor did any of the kids get my stomach bug.

I finished the sock for my mom. I casted on the second sock. It is my method of not having second sock syndrom, if it is on the needles I can’t cast on another sock. So far, it has worked brilliantly. I do have a set of metal size 1’s I can use, but I realized I hate knitting socks on size 1’s. While the feel good on my feet, it takes FOREVER!

Pretty sock, huh? I think my mom is going to need some shoes that show off all of my pretty socks that I make for her. Maybe she will buy herself a pair for her birthday.

Posted in Spinning, socks | 4 Comments »

Spinning, Sock, and Sweater Progress

February 7, 2007

First, I did some spinning. I spun 4 ozs of Corriedale in Brick. It is some roving that I got free with my spinning wheel last year. Sadly, it has taken me a year to spin it. I finally figured out the problem or maybe I should rephrase it as I finally figured out a new “trick” to spinning.

Last year, when I was starting to spin, I was taking chunks of roving and then trying to spin it down into yarn. I would get a lot of thick and thin and over-spun areas and it was a lot of work and frustration. This time, I decided to split the roving lengthwise several times so I was only spinning a thin long length of roving (not small chunks.) This made my spinning turn out much smoother. I had a lot less over-spun sections and overall I was much happier.

I went ahead and plied it, so it is two ply. After I put it into a hank, I was surprised the yarn didn’t try to kink up on itself, so I think that it is more balanced than anything I have tried to spin thus far.

I am not a pro. I am not even experienced at spinning. However, I am finally feeling happier about it. I really think it took putting it away in the closet for awhile for me to get a renewed spirit about it. I am like that. I did hurt my shoulder a bit spinning…I know, that is sad. I will have to give spinning a break for a few days.

Here is the sock I am working on. Since I was sick most the night last night I was able to work on it in bed on and off and made it past the heel. Nothing fancy…It is super-wash so when my mom washes the socks they won’t felt (like the other pair I made her…even though I told her to hand wash…she doesn’t listen.)

Here is the front of my dad’s sweater I am knitting him. I didn’t understand the bind off, so I don’t think I did it right. Why would they say, bind off eleven and then bind off ten. If you are working two balls (two sides of the neck) at the same time, Do you do them opposite?

***Edited to add…the directions doesn’t say to do it opposite and only gives the bind off for one side, which is a total of 21 stitches. It says to bind off 11 stitches at one time and then bind off 10. Bron told me I would bind off 11 knit to the end, knit back and then bind off the 10. I can see how that would give me a bit of a slope. So do I do the opposite for the other side? Sometimes my brain confuses me…

I know it is hard to see. I could have adjusted the color…but I am lazy. It doesn’t matter, the sweater is sort of curled up on itself on the sides.

Posted in In Progress, Spinning, socks | 4 Comments »

Ribbed Socks - Finished

February 1, 2007

I finished these ribbed socks. If you remember, this was the Socks That Rock yarn that had all of the knots. I had to do the russian join, to join the balls of yarn as I was going. I am really happy with these socks. I look forward to visiting the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth when I go to Stitches West in a few weeks.

The pattern is a 2×2 rib where one row is the 2×2 and one row just knit. If I could do it over again, I would have done the first inch or two in straight 2×2 with no knit row in between. This would have gathered the top of the sock more and make them less saggy. They aren’t really saggy though, just the different ribbing would have made them less saggy…if you get what I am trying to say.

I did a short row heel, which I love. I don’t think I can ever go back to a heel flap. The heel flaps always end up so big and baggy on me, while the short row heel is always a perfect fit.

Posted in 2007 Finished Projects, socks | 7 Comments »

Snap!

January 26, 2007

Tonight I went to put my needlemaster needles together. I finally found some more yarn to increase the collar of the shrug I made back in October. So I attached two lengths of the cable together and started to attach the needles. They screw on.

You are suppose to get out this little tightening tool and the rubber round thing and then tighten everything down real good. However, I haven’t been able to find the tightening tool or the round thing for awhile. So, I started to tighten the needle just by hand.

Snap!

Now, I know that I am strong for a woman. I have always had this weird, crazy strength and in college would challenge and beat men in arm wrestling. That was college, though. This is now. It is obvious that my needles had a defect. It is hard to tell in the picture, but the cable end is suppose to have a screw part sticking out. Apparantly, the screw part just snapped off and is inside of my size 8 needle.

Not only do I have to replace the cable, but I need to replace the needle as well.

Honestly, this is the last straw for the Boye Needlemaster and me. Seriously! When I first bought the Needlemaster a few years ago I didn’t notice that some of the cables had gaps were they attached to the screw part. Sometimes my yarn would get caught in there. It took me awhile to realize this was a defect. I contacted the company who really could not tell me much, except that if I mailed them the needles they would look at it to determine what to do.

At the time, the needlemaster was practically all that I used and I couldn’t afford to send them back to Boye. So I put it off….and well, now this.

Long story short, a little fairy sent me one pair of the Knitpicks Options and so I will be ordering those.

I finished one sock and the second sock is going remarkbly fast. I love them. They are a perfect fit for me, no sag in the arch and the toe is perfect. Tony even complimented me and told me I was getting better at them every time.

I still have kidney aches. I don’t know if it is just the beginning of something to come or if my kidney is just recovering from its torturous past. As the old saying goes, only time will tell.

Oh, one last thing, I completed these the other day. They match my crocheted hat.

Posted in In Progress, socks | 5 Comments »

Growing a sock

January 10, 2007

Here is some more progress on my garter ribbed sock. I think I should have done regular 2×2 ribbing for the first inch to pull/gather the sock at the top. This garter rib sort of spreads the ribs and while that is a nice design, I have a feeling the socks will be a bit slouchy. Oh well, I have committed to this, so we will see what I get. I also feel a cast on of 64 stitches is a bit much and in retrospect, think I could have done fine with maybe 10 less stitches.

Tomorrow I start spring semester. There is no way I am withdrawing from it. I am taking two classes and am just going to get through it. The good news is it is only Wednesday from noonish to almost 3 and then Friday is 8ish to almost 4. So I will have a long day on Friday, hopefully with some breaks, but it is the only day I have to commit to getting up “early” and I can deal with that, really I can.

I started to take this class, Anatomy last summer from the same instructor, so I know what to expect. He teaches directly from the book. His quizes are worded from the book, but he is very easy to understand and explains things well. He is a chiropractor and has an interesting perspective on the human body.

I am also taking an online political science class. Tony is also going to school this semester. He is taking two business classes, both online. Yes, we are busy, busy, busy…but it is good for both of us.

One final thing is I am back on trying to become healthy again. It will be a never ending life process for me. I am still working on eating healthy but now putting more of my focus on getting on the treadmill every day. I don’t care if I go mediocre or actually work up a hard sweat. I am really just trying to be consistent and getting on the darn thing.

I have done pretty well, though as this is the second week of me committing myself to it. I know it is going to be easy for me to find an excuse not to get on it, but there isn’t going to be anymore excuses.

Posted in In Progress, School, socks | 2 Comments »

Should have done this in 2006

January 9, 2007

Seriously…

First, I received two really nice fiber related presents for Christmas that I never posted about.

Deneen sent me some gorgeous batts of roving. Two were natural and two were in this colorway.

Bron sent me some yummy munchies. I was such a glutton and I ate most all of it, though Tony and I did split the last piece of fudge. She also sent me 6 skeins of my most favorite yarn, the beloved, NEW Cotton-ease. I absolutely love this color. It is a mix between blue and purple.

Finally, I finished Baroque from the Happy Hooker. I should have finished it in 2006, but it got sort of hectic around the holidays and so I put it down. What was going to be a Christmas present, will more than likely be my mother’s birthday present. I will post a picture of her wearing it when I give it to her in a month or so.

I blocked it, and there were some sections that were really off kilter. The yarn I used is Noro Lily. It is a soft and yet springy yarn. Against Deneen’s advice, I hit it with the iron as I needed steam to shrink up some areas that were a bit stretched. Well…one small section got a bit too much and I burned the silk.

Tony and I looked at it and it really looks just a little “dirty” in a small section on the outer edge and isn’t noticeable unless you really look at it, though it is “rougher” in that area. I decided if it bugs my mom I will pull out the trim and redo that part.

Okay…and what really belongs in 2007? How about a sock…

I started this garter ribbed sock. This is the Socks that Rocks (remember the one that had all of those knots?) I love this colorway. It was one of the last colorways that they had last year at Stitches West. I think it is gorgeous and really does suit me well. These socks are for me.

Posted in Crochet, Gifts, In Progress, socks, yarn | 4 Comments »

Finished Socks

November 9, 2006

Pattern: Basic Sock pattern with 2×2 ribbing, short row heel, and a regular decreased toe. Next time, I am going to try the short row toe.

Yarn: Trekking XXL in colorway 133

The yarn has been raved about all over the internet, and when I bought it I kind of thought it felt rough and thin. It doesn’t have the softness that some of the other sock yarns I have used. However, the thinnes makes these socks great for wearing inside shoes and they really fit my feet like a glove. I am hoping after their first washing they will soften up a lot.

These socks are pretty basic. I started them back in August and put them down for awhile as knitting on size 1 needles gets a little boring for me.

I don’t get stuck with having the one sock problem that other people have because after I finish one sock I immediately cast on for the second. Then, I have been telling myself I can only have one pair of socks going at one time. Or atleast one pair per needle size. I am sure as life goes on I will continually make exceptions to my silly rules as I always do.

I am happy to finish them, especially since I haven’t been feeling well lately. Last night was particularly bad.

Well, I will continue trying to clear my plate of all my WIP’s. I really don’t have very many left. Yay!

Posted in 2006 Finished Projects, Knitting, Knitting FOs, socks | 7 Comments »

Quiet or just busy?

October 12, 2006

Both…I am fighting a sinus infection. My thyroid still isn’t making enough hormone so I just got a higher dosage and hopefully that will help increase my energy. I am up to 150mcg and that seems like a lot considering I still have a thyroid.

I have made a few things, but can’t show them here…because you know, Christmas is around the corner. If you are part of the Fiber Freaks bulletin board I have been posting pictures there. Anyone who is a knitter, crocheter, weaver, or spinner is welcome to join. Our KAL’s and CAL’s are hopping!

I am almost done with Brea Bag. In fact, I am finished with the knitting, just need a button, a leather strap, and fabric for the lining. This bag really doesn’t need lining, but I think I am going to do it because I am getting better at lining and so the bag will last longer.

I used Cascade Sierra (cotton wool blend) double stranded and size 9 needles. It was hard to get good pictures of the deep navy blue color and the detailed cable and stitching. However, this yarn is perfect and the bag turned out way better than I had expected.

I didn’t do the reverse sc as the pattern suggested, instead did regular sc. I tried the crab stitch, but it didn’t look very good, kind of sloppy with this yarn. The regular sc border looks very neat.

I really enjoyed the pattern. It took me 3 days to make it. One day for each side and one day to knit the gusset, which is roughly 34 inches…or more, I don’t know, didn’t measure the final piece.

The socks are knit with Patons SWS in natural earth colorway. I really liked the socks that AJ made and so decided to make myself a pair. I used this pattern (warning, pdf) Easy Worsted Weight Socks. I used size 8 dpn’s.

The socks are a bit big, but I think of them as “slipper socks.” They will be perfect when I go visit my parents at the coast and need a warm fuzz pair of socks to put on. They are thick enough where walking around the house with them on will not put holes in them.

I am still trying to finish my Trekking socks, a drop stitched scarf and a few other random projects.

Posted in 2006 Finished Projects, Bags, Fiber Freaks, Knitting FOs, socks | 9 Comments »

Sock Ornament

September 19, 2006

Sock Ornament

Yarn is Caron Simply Soft Shadows: color Autumn

Size 3 needles

This is my prototype for the sock ornament I will be teaching at Michaels in December. It has every basic aspect of a sock, dpn, ribbing, heel flap, turning the heel, picking up stitches, heel decreasing, and toe decreasing. It took me about an hour to make it, so I figure it will be a decent 2 hour class where I should be able to get the basics taught as the students knit along. Once the ornament is finished they will have learned all aspects of a basic sock and will have a small finished project to take home with them.

Posted in Teaching Knitting and Crochet, ornaments, socks | 8 Comments »

Scarf Closeup and Sock Progress

September 8, 2006

(clickable)I have been working along on the second sock. I am almost up to the heel. I also ripped out the toe of 2 others socks I already finished to make them shorter. The yarn bloomed and they were too big. I have one done and will finish the other one tomorrow so I can mail them to my friend.

I finally have the details of the classes I am teaching in October. They will be beginning knit and beginning crochet. I staggered them so one beginning class builds off the next. However, I think they are basic enough that even someone who doesn’t know anything could take any of the classes I am teaching. They are pretty basic.

Eventually I would like to have one beginner class for knit and one for crochet each month and then one advanced class for knit and crochet.

For November I am going to focus on knitting and crocheting in the round and simple decreasing. For both of these classes we will be making basic hats.

In December I have plans to crochet snowflakes and then will teach how to block them. For a knit project, I may consider a stocking. I haven’t knitted one before, but I think it would be a fun project. Don’t worry, I will make all of my projects before I ever put them on my project sheet.

I have a feeling January will be hand items and sometime in the spring I will teach basic sock knitting.

I posted closeup pictures of the scarf I knitted. I didn’t get any comments about it. Usually lack of comments means people are trying to be polite and so are refraining from saying what they really want to say. This could be true, but I was thinking I would try to get some closeup shots. It really is a nice scarf. Think cables…but they aren’t. Scarves always look better in person and especially when they are tied around the neck (not in the summer.)

Posted in In Progress, Scarf, Teaching Knitting and Crochet, socks | 5 Comments »