tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25018744050970718312024-02-20T04:49:18.709-05:00TT 820A blog about knitting and spinning, written by a librarian.
TT 820 is the Library of Congress classification for yarn.Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.comBlogger898125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-68769031769322876412022-03-13T16:54:00.001-04:002022-03-13T16:54:09.032-04:00Color-and-weave twill scarf<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8TGhjJGIc1SiPuFIKSOOj_yx6x98nJgRnajjazXlQH47XxwkjYppPsSvGB_1puqhUwtnU0boF1x92qEdUla-R84kJEulpd1hxP4hHo4cDwZLBULfYtnsFzuY3xNzZ8ueF7TNNC5Zcb2lRteXlldwDVizMgkByN0L9k5rUxRxM_wKTJNXHhgg4pbh6=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8TGhjJGIc1SiPuFIKSOOj_yx6x98nJgRnajjazXlQH47XxwkjYppPsSvGB_1puqhUwtnU0boF1x92qEdUla-R84kJEulpd1hxP4hHo4cDwZLBULfYtnsFzuY3xNzZ8ueF7TNNC5Zcb2lRteXlldwDVizMgkByN0L9k5rUxRxM_wKTJNXHhgg4pbh6=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>The winter WAL with Liz Gipson over at Yarnworker is this gorgeous color-and-weave twill scarf. For those who appreciate a fiber vocabulary lesson, the "color-and-weave" part means that more than one color is used in the weft. The weaver has to juggle multiple shuttles, but it also means you can get some really cool effects. The "twill" part refers to the structure of the fabric. Most of the fabric I weave uses the most basic structure possible, which is called "plain weave." If you've ever made one of those potholders on a square loom, you've done plain weave - it's just under-over-under-over. With a rigid heddle loom like I have, you can place the heddle in an up shed or a down shed to get half of your warp threads up (or down) while you insert a weft thread. <p></p><p>A twill fabric is different, though. This project is a 1/2 twill, meaning the weft goes under 1 thread and over 2 threads...and the pattern sort of travels. There are 3 steps:</p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Weft goes under thread 1, over 2, and over 3</li><li>Weft goes over 1, under 2, and over 3</li><li>Weft goes over 1, over 2, and under 3</li></ol><p>This is possible on a rigid heddle loom if you use 2 heddles. I really appreciate the Weave-alongs that Liz does because she provides video support for every step of the project, making something new and conceptually challenging become completely doable. </p><p>I started this project by stash diving... I am keenly aware that <i><b>the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is coming</b></i>, and I want to reserve any fiber purchases for the festival! I tried several yarns on my sett checker. I originally intended to use this Jaggerspun sport, but it is a bit too thin... plus the two colors I have aren't high contrast, which I wanted for this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNd0HK17jcw56vkXD7Y1CNFg7UW4xUiAIGgQMVSY3EuRK0fSrDLez7PSCmZyupTsawhpn0x5pw-TWIJx3quTdwI2ZQoCaW5M_ELLYPYJkuDiLC3YrljseP48pTxBZ0InKNdpmBgdbLQ3abcaBYxUL4_Z6OqGIGLGf4McLaSrBIeMJr8mXvxqRk4X7p=s2965" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="2965" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNd0HK17jcw56vkXD7Y1CNFg7UW4xUiAIGgQMVSY3EuRK0fSrDLez7PSCmZyupTsawhpn0x5pw-TWIJx3quTdwI2ZQoCaW5M_ELLYPYJkuDiLC3YrljseP48pTxBZ0InKNdpmBgdbLQ3abcaBYxUL4_Z6OqGIGLGf4McLaSrBIeMJr8mXvxqRk4X7p=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Back to the stash looking for DK yarn. I was hopeful about this HipStrings Buoy DK and the contrast between blue and green was acceptable, but I realized I didn't have enough yardage for the project: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRZPUoaGb0ufNrf6yFr0MlvyA03DhJPybBmKgFRz6nSakJ1VsYEK9vbwJXjX9u3L96hT_Sd5z5uDm0hO5JkHT6NpJ-z-lG780UHkSzfVEV2j13GBlOmLw_V5Y9O_o2Oc-oEkt0EI86sdn8F5Tj92X_Z0m9Mqb2_aERkxP7ISIASfGaM7Q9aZZaNUyq=s2911" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="2911" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRZPUoaGb0ufNrf6yFr0MlvyA03DhJPybBmKgFRz6nSakJ1VsYEK9vbwJXjX9u3L96hT_Sd5z5uDm0hO5JkHT6NpJ-z-lG780UHkSzfVEV2j13GBlOmLw_V5Y9O_o2Oc-oEkt0EI86sdn8F5Tj92X_Z0m9Mqb2_aERkxP7ISIASfGaM7Q9aZZaNUyq=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Like Goldilocks, I got it right on the 3rd try. This is Nashua Handknits Julia from deep stash (I got it when The Mannings went out of business in 2015) and though it's worsted weight, it just seems to work right sett at 8 (on the right). I only have 2 heddles in size 8 and 5 (not 10 or 12) so this was important. And the dark brown and grungy green have great contrast! Julia is 50% Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Mohair and it's a delicious yarn:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4tG1-_FTLX-EbBRh2-uMy-hQjU4gFJcBU6XQa1dOg8ibRmMYSSty5nA2KFEg9nEFmOpC9iNFda9HHIEhpxcRlCJ6YsnPpx9b_OGAB5HhZmgklHM5c6lleGelXMg7x9-fEwRHbZj2isNYjJj58fCInO827FXT_cB70TgLUdaWP_2TrdX4stS3mobX9=s2997" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2997" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4tG1-_FTLX-EbBRh2-uMy-hQjU4gFJcBU6XQa1dOg8ibRmMYSSty5nA2KFEg9nEFmOpC9iNFda9HHIEhpxcRlCJ6YsnPpx9b_OGAB5HhZmgklHM5c6lleGelXMg7x9-fEwRHbZj2isNYjJj58fCInO827FXT_cB70TgLUdaWP_2TrdX4stS3mobX9=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Liz encouraged us to warp with the indirect technique. I can warp directly without thinking much at all, but indirect is still a bit shaky for me. I decided to embrace the challenge and pulled out my warping board. I also wound one dark end and one light end at the same time, which cut down on winding time by 50% and looked pretty to boot: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuZvHNFUBedHFOw-Dap0XDjkWoinFt4SpgrM52Ffq97gIuZ5U3TgYUyGYMlG-SrIhuIg8k4gai26vbzQxGcn3F1g5ewIawNu_PpUIiI9MQzvtV-p-uDvHWOQWLyZJckwVkG96xhaVQ26lLSxwl7MXSpntuhrDDW7t9Q9q7L36rggODXk0htBmXgSaq=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuZvHNFUBedHFOw-Dap0XDjkWoinFt4SpgrM52Ffq97gIuZ5U3TgYUyGYMlG-SrIhuIg8k4gai26vbzQxGcn3F1g5ewIawNu_PpUIiI9MQzvtV-p-uDvHWOQWLyZJckwVkG96xhaVQ26lLSxwl7MXSpntuhrDDW7t9Q9q7L36rggODXk0htBmXgSaq=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>The next step required my full wits, so I waited until Sunday morning when the light was good and my brain was rested. I took my loom off the stand and put it on the table, over a yoga mat to keep it from sliding (this is a new improvement). Not having a "cross keeper," I put my potholder loom down as a way to sort of grab the threads when they are not in my hand. I felt I needed both hands free to deal with the threading hook and two heddles. This was the setup right before I cut the ends and released the cross: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbbxdj30bnLqSsYjjGY-xKd4f8iZEooMsXfsiPOhzylVbI_yPmqDzEYuBcwFoT4H7CH-iXKe3B0uuv55xtjT7-SOyChaSCdLWf9Gr8HzHiQ_XYtOdJvkYpUdovn1ccEaKyrNx_mxI1zN7Wk5EYpsqHfBZ4oxFQM-YABGzjlqPXkkYPmDQ_pookwtCJ=s3740" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3740" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbbxdj30bnLqSsYjjGY-xKd4f8iZEooMsXfsiPOhzylVbI_yPmqDzEYuBcwFoT4H7CH-iXKe3B0uuv55xtjT7-SOyChaSCdLWf9Gr8HzHiQ_XYtOdJvkYpUdovn1ccEaKyrNx_mxI1zN7Wk5EYpsqHfBZ4oxFQM-YABGzjlqPXkkYPmDQ_pookwtCJ=s320" width="320" /></a></div>And here we are, all threaded for twill!<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoTkfQa0GedE27Nko4QetzoJggPRdUVa04DE9it9ZerMNk3b3k6TZ1bFMSwzgPXK3V9w0bUXhWjugVt7cBAxx7ndjvR_lhJB9YPhQTdwwJ31ymGRHaqkihqawsfn3tTe6VU-4K71bQ2souWKNApY0fwTHEXNNfoYR3qT7eJ-53SJx9mGl_x-Yo5_D7=s3544" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2839" data-original-width="3544" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoTkfQa0GedE27Nko4QetzoJggPRdUVa04DE9it9ZerMNk3b3k6TZ1bFMSwzgPXK3V9w0bUXhWjugVt7cBAxx7ndjvR_lhJB9YPhQTdwwJ31ymGRHaqkihqawsfn3tTe6VU-4K71bQ2souWKNApY0fwTHEXNNfoYR3qT7eJ-53SJx9mGl_x-Yo5_D7=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>I tied on to the back beam and then packed it before tying on to the front beam. Then I was ready to weave. </p><p>I chose to weave 6" with a single color at each end (one end light, one end dark). The main part of the scarf uses both weft colors and alternates one pick light, one pick dark, in the twill pattern. Here is how it looked as I wove - so pretty! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9moGs6kW_GgrBDy9zTyc8DZJrdhFXL86DyNAycHRT4U-AFDYlphPHWOJ_cIX53kXzsARrxmwwTs0U6v0piGGdRD9twTNgprYniG7XF2n7AqH-WckLtuZ6fc2iWKzQcVio5rtzjRg2gOkHmV8_-c--v6JRzbzVJ_Ulk1B-Z89PIVJjN6XvCHUlUQqy=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9moGs6kW_GgrBDy9zTyc8DZJrdhFXL86DyNAycHRT4U-AFDYlphPHWOJ_cIX53kXzsARrxmwwTs0U6v0piGGdRD9twTNgprYniG7XF2n7AqH-WckLtuZ6fc2iWKzQcVio5rtzjRg2gOkHmV8_-c--v6JRzbzVJ_Ulk1B-Z89PIVJjN6XvCHUlUQqy=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />The register tape is a guide that helps me keep track of length. <p></p><p>I carefully inspected my cloth after it came off the loom. I was thrilled to find only one float, and it was a warp thread float (which is easier to fix) and only a couple inches away from the end (also nice and easy). You can see it here. The purple thread is the header...just waste yarn: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAgnaSEvtkl13rN1iGibtueNSxFFVcMpyZJLjLjUz3ClAVKR2P28SsKWshY3OZEVt_3nsjFv9fnd3AIKSPdlfnEcpoTPgLU6lO-GB3wp5DHn-WLfOv_9ROZkOhe5v5dqONDpHV8oeXg95W58dCwsu1od7OwwSQ26HHFS0LZVDCJrHZXOkohw223B8b=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAgnaSEvtkl13rN1iGibtueNSxFFVcMpyZJLjLjUz3ClAVKR2P28SsKWshY3OZEVt_3nsjFv9fnd3AIKSPdlfnEcpoTPgLU6lO-GB3wp5DHn-WLfOv_9ROZkOhe5v5dqONDpHV8oeXg95W58dCwsu1od7OwwSQ26HHFS0LZVDCJrHZXOkohw223B8b=s320" width="240" /></a></div>For twill, Liz advised us to correct the mistake on the back of the fabric and to weave in a contrasting color of scrap yarn to keep track of the placement of the warp end we are replacing. I used pink: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoEirU9jL1Bbi4R9GExL1JW9PBfR5M1HTL8d7RcODm4zJ0UyxjCLRXa0_9ilk-QDeIX4mcqUT9VDL7Fu4qrYCcDo4z-sRn86k5kMs46O-EQnSpsBvduBqQLFCk9vTvKsbFILfG6kT8ErPvq9A0ISjQOtlBgYTahSK9MBcylHfLGqQrOgI6pRKGv7GQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoEirU9jL1Bbi4R9GExL1JW9PBfR5M1HTL8d7RcODm4zJ0UyxjCLRXa0_9ilk-QDeIX4mcqUT9VDL7Fu4qrYCcDo4z-sRn86k5kMs46O-EQnSpsBvduBqQLFCk9vTvKsbFILfG6kT8ErPvq9A0ISjQOtlBgYTahSK9MBcylHfLGqQrOgI6pRKGv7GQ=s320" width="240" /></a><br /></div><br />Then I picked out the problematic brown warp thread, and needle wove it again next to the pink thread - like this: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwvT2Tn6h-BgEPdo8dnZucQCDbvql6F3YKIR7B-QIXQvh4lMuqtCEw38_aD41KCcrICulg0mWYh4U6vr54vJBXxcv1CCf32Gz_qf8o9AJsWf9osmgQM4MO587Ok2dLxlHP1M87iNzeYU1Wd3PAv00kfeYzEKSiWBJDzOasl9mgckSzbftyos_IiSnN=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwvT2Tn6h-BgEPdo8dnZucQCDbvql6F3YKIR7B-QIXQvh4lMuqtCEw38_aD41KCcrICulg0mWYh4U6vr54vJBXxcv1CCf32Gz_qf8o9AJsWf9osmgQM4MO587Ok2dLxlHP1M87iNzeYU1Wd3PAv00kfeYzEKSiWBJDzOasl9mgckSzbftyos_IiSnN=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then I pulled out the pink thread. Problem solved and you can't even see it! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmP6XsjCZbgNaKMs5ZpwFu0ujEdUbAFiKjKRdFvceIdULaoht-v02vzHipGdC5o0haB0cFv82vrwnNrQNrKzB9gygwrVHoI3aBaGRUfJogZaShlV2k1992l3CNSrXogtGh5Yv1rMRBuUslYxpkO3ay-Txh0Y034WVrZOqEWFnk24lnBgv0xi72X0wS=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmP6XsjCZbgNaKMs5ZpwFu0ujEdUbAFiKjKRdFvceIdULaoht-v02vzHipGdC5o0haB0cFv82vrwnNrQNrKzB9gygwrVHoI3aBaGRUfJogZaShlV2k1992l3CNSrXogtGh5Yv1rMRBuUslYxpkO3ay-Txh0Y034WVrZOqEWFnk24lnBgv0xi72X0wS=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />Now let's check on the front side: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgki1U51oo1qISWBMbIeE4vjuJw5kCLixyWo_0ETiYmesPWL3mNizNn42bWDkGYKlVIB53xp2bXnZKBdwHwzvgWCYuSfVEaPvQp7T5gtGmKPliCfIW-FO8pWv-e6Ci2AGHJEClWPr8rTBnU_VzrUr0XqOCXA9MxeH726s2PN_sQo2gfAjf4S-L8tFyk=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgki1U51oo1qISWBMbIeE4vjuJw5kCLixyWo_0ETiYmesPWL3mNizNn42bWDkGYKlVIB53xp2bXnZKBdwHwzvgWCYuSfVEaPvQp7T5gtGmKPliCfIW-FO8pWv-e6Ci2AGHJEClWPr8rTBnU_VzrUr0XqOCXA9MxeH726s2PN_sQo2gfAjf4S-L8tFyk=s320" width="240" /></a></div>All good! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here you can really see all 3 patterns in this project: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYpIJNW9sLC9eVQg7YgtJVdpk7ON-VDVUxESUdv_JRNf_H1xx3YVXqf7pvQwIRTa0s8cQ_gHuZ415OJup4RyOYGEeob6lYN3P8Yz5IVS7e9WB0Nk9awLIjLyOMfv3sEzx7Q95HFX6-F6r4s-Z3YYpVb_zQ7NEo7GgHZxvnTiw7UZ1vcRWMbicAZxHY=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYpIJNW9sLC9eVQg7YgtJVdpk7ON-VDVUxESUdv_JRNf_H1xx3YVXqf7pvQwIRTa0s8cQ_gHuZ415OJup4RyOYGEeob6lYN3P8Yz5IVS7e9WB0Nk9awLIjLyOMfv3sEzx7Q95HFX6-F6r4s-Z3YYpVb_zQ7NEo7GgHZxvnTiw7UZ1vcRWMbicAZxHY=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My finished scarf is about 66" long, including fringe, and 7.5" wide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I learned a lot and am completely thrilled with the result. Hooray!<br /><br /></div><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-7236723986969818482022-03-05T17:44:00.001-05:002022-03-05T17:44:57.250-05:00Two more hats<p>Hats are still happening.</p><p>And hats can still be humbling.</p><p>I've decided to go for the WoollyDozen challenge again in 2022, so that means a hat design by Woolly Wormhead each month. It seemed to take me FOREVER to knit the Get Garter Beret in January out of light fingering weight yarn, so I wanted to pick something out of bigger yarn this time. </p><p>I chose Mirallat, a sideways knit hat. I've knit all 5 sideways knit hats in the Elemental collection, and I mistakenly assumed this was written for the same gauge. I hastily chose two colors of Silky Wool from stash (Wasabi and Blue Spruce), noted my preferred needle size for this yarn (3.0 mm), and cast on. It begins like this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ_YJnZT2K0ZzHedbIE3EYUgipaBDXWqN26ponxCK4g7Mf59g57y8bkJ6zVft-x3QdYCuENIyp1wN3MQ3bB4mOnfjD3kN5MWrkgc6kBU3XV00PTIR82n3nWCADXogFOpJzsiIa_jn4ogmQenGjx_Viu3QD4lsfOTdkABquczPFPVyd0zwhbkgTb5Mk=s2765" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="2765" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ_YJnZT2K0ZzHedbIE3EYUgipaBDXWqN26ponxCK4g7Mf59g57y8bkJ6zVft-x3QdYCuENIyp1wN3MQ3bB4mOnfjD3kN5MWrkgc6kBU3XV00PTIR82n3nWCADXogFOpJzsiIa_jn4ogmQenGjx_Viu3QD4lsfOTdkABquczPFPVyd0zwhbkgTb5Mk=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've heard people say that a hat IS a gauge swatch - have you heard that? Maybe hats knit from the brim up can be gauge swatches, but this one can't (at least, not as compared to a human head). Still, I knit on. This is how it looked partway through: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZF4OUS4FOU6sw1uhUWeZ_5aEKcN75A83YlCWgfZq_-flGdTKdyln3oGjqghDg7v0siQDv4rrZOy-hqKQkuV3hK_jle4Bsox7TRsPLejjDBkEIz_BT8NdSX9rEatQmQ3brPSBeZPRwPgneQU_eBxr4mzR6L8bQFPlSB_L9oHSOizDw1z0OG9UrH1tj=s2243" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2243" data-original-width="2243" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZF4OUS4FOU6sw1uhUWeZ_5aEKcN75A83YlCWgfZq_-flGdTKdyln3oGjqghDg7v0siQDv4rrZOy-hqKQkuV3hK_jle4Bsox7TRsPLejjDBkEIz_BT8NdSX9rEatQmQ3brPSBeZPRwPgneQU_eBxr4mzR6L8bQFPlSB_L9oHSOizDw1z0OG9UrH1tj=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I really should have known that things were rather "off" at this point, but I forged ahead anyway. This is how the hat looked when it was time to do the final sideways graft to close it up: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaxJY8GwzPmpo08IPlhF0AUud0rCvACFBkMy7BtKxcSvnlBME9xRn1Vb_yDvf9FJAeYnT3vzAvK_Nx-eCLhA2xpNLqStaR_vgsdypNItREuxGn7wANMGxdQvpn4YlG5dnW9IDyCMg-0Wd3WnzQyXH2r1_Ka_CEWphTEXWZP4a7gmqswEWBG_3bDNZB=s2359" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="2359" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaxJY8GwzPmpo08IPlhF0AUud0rCvACFBkMy7BtKxcSvnlBME9xRn1Vb_yDvf9FJAeYnT3vzAvK_Nx-eCLhA2xpNLqStaR_vgsdypNItREuxGn7wANMGxdQvpn4YlG5dnW9IDyCMg-0Wd3WnzQyXH2r1_Ka_CEWphTEXWZP4a7gmqswEWBG_3bDNZB=s320" width="320" /></a></div>It's hard to tell how big it really is, though. How about putting another hat on top for scale? This is a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JLWinPA/butterflies-and-bees-cap" target="_blank">lovely hat</a> (Rav link) that fits an adult head:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh9gjXt7kKGRNNFfss5Kful176AaoksyThiwwjHvN0QQXa5J633FVGz8kwrh8E9MZXbkkF1BEpeTaWxryuX5zF2VM8RyKcJaXSOsS-aewVF2Sbl3ppaiY-02d5hDM__1tcA9YE7YZGH6f4s1mrfv1STbMTeLweAv1gtWXKKxEFk2Wl4_A0U9FYsrbC=s2783" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="2783" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgh9gjXt7kKGRNNFfss5Kful176AaoksyThiwwjHvN0QQXa5J633FVGz8kwrh8E9MZXbkkF1BEpeTaWxryuX5zF2VM8RyKcJaXSOsS-aewVF2Sbl3ppaiY-02d5hDM__1tcA9YE7YZGH6f4s1mrfv1STbMTeLweAv1gtWXKKxEFk2Wl4_A0U9FYsrbC=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />At this point, I considered ripping it out. But people convinced me that every hat finds its head. This might fit someone with a large head and/or a lot of hair, especially long dreads or braids. Another knitter said her local hospital requests larger hats that fit over bandages without adding pressure. So perhaps there is a head out there somewhere for this hat. I'll let you know if I find one! I went ahead and did the graft and wove in the ends. It's now in the DONE pile: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlNWA28nWYKT19UH5l9DB9UDb2FLi8nM31tmGlICVkz3TWYmBLhieOpfN0_FbJrK0P_BN7mJGME_gUma_mHkYZL4G4mXrPA1ZIHucFErcKhcZk1AmnXSwUyYN43ebTIicX1rxB1ymU5ElMdmYsKHE2l2x-O6qvMEixzAbchrjlRTKD_MpkQWox11LU=s2845" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="2815" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlNWA28nWYKT19UH5l9DB9UDb2FLi8nM31tmGlICVkz3TWYmBLhieOpfN0_FbJrK0P_BN7mJGME_gUma_mHkYZL4G4mXrPA1ZIHucFErcKhcZk1AmnXSwUyYN43ebTIicX1rxB1ymU5ElMdmYsKHE2l2x-O6qvMEixzAbchrjlRTKD_MpkQWox11LU=s320" width="317" /></a></div>Cool design, but I should have used fingering weight yarn. I heard from one knitter that this design even came out on the large side in fingering weight, so she removed a few rows. I'll keep that in mind in case I knit it again.<p></p><p>I cranked out another easy hat last month, too. One night, I realized that I needed something knittable for an evening lecture the next day. I wanted something in a larger yarn and a light color, in case the lighting wasn't great (it never is). I chose an old ball of Nashua Handknit Julia in a beautiful shade of light blue ("aqua fog") and cast on so that I could work on the ribbing during the lecture. The rest of the hat was very meeting-friendly to knit, too, so I had it finished pretty quickly. This is the Sea Spray Hat. It has a little slouch if you don't cuff the brim: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPI1LL17-Q-qYrs81iYJ0EnETJwuNZAmfYHg31fzluyY8rgMS79zB7zf9HWQlNOvYi0fSXRsgJpt9rtIEtUIHlC1kEdxC4lreiZj9VrBuEe30mmhg0bPelJUFWIkwCHUN-Z-U3CkGfTFa8fPcXwiNTHjGy6OhtkqFxeP8ZxX0kphcQIXKEIzZ42fgn=s2877" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2877" data-original-width="2877" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPI1LL17-Q-qYrs81iYJ0EnETJwuNZAmfYHg31fzluyY8rgMS79zB7zf9HWQlNOvYi0fSXRsgJpt9rtIEtUIHlC1kEdxC4lreiZj9VrBuEe30mmhg0bPelJUFWIkwCHUN-Z-U3CkGfTFa8fPcXwiNTHjGy6OhtkqFxeP8ZxX0kphcQIXKEIzZ42fgn=s320" width="320" /></a></div>...and it fits closely like a watch cap if you fold the brim: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPCmFATJZoWvSmc9VsccT1gsY0U61wkP3UA9XMwyioG00M9E2fdmt4u2gGg2mMEr3pq8RE6dZtbLe2d7jjUouwcNnUDX-xB_L45r3Gp3erLWk_qZ8FgkXqb6mrQXEWPy-NSBufemjvzthcfoBy7OZLkokioQgfN8EFhEHDcgwZ1hKjZgV8FsdpBVYr=s2850" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="2850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPCmFATJZoWvSmc9VsccT1gsY0U61wkP3UA9XMwyioG00M9E2fdmt4u2gGg2mMEr3pq8RE6dZtbLe2d7jjUouwcNnUDX-xB_L45r3Gp3erLWk_qZ8FgkXqb6mrQXEWPy-NSBufemjvzthcfoBy7OZLkokioQgfN8EFhEHDcgwZ1hKjZgV8FsdpBVYr=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Boy 2, who is home for spring break, immediately commented on this hat. It reminded me that he requested "a light blue hat with a pom" when he was 5. He doesn't want a pom pom, but he still loves light blue - and it looks very handsome on him. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh61pWZIT6zXghD78762SdDHdAxh4O9dJYAN8zkZ2uxyn8J0PXhMpKCRjaY2W7KPQuCOaSH9vGWIKXrHyng_BJ2Y1AqNYNkWlnbybEYKs-NnmqBTTUgD2JzkrDb9BpQONAYdpNRRFmEP4cH1Bta8gw1wsnC9hmChhDcU9opLwreUj6JyYuW3l8_ZLoV=s290" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="290" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh61pWZIT6zXghD78762SdDHdAxh4O9dJYAN8zkZ2uxyn8J0PXhMpKCRjaY2W7KPQuCOaSH9vGWIKXrHyng_BJ2Y1AqNYNkWlnbybEYKs-NnmqBTTUgD2JzkrDb9BpQONAYdpNRRFmEP4cH1Bta8gw1wsnC9hmChhDcU9opLwreUj6JyYuW3l8_ZLoV" width="290" /></a></div>According to Ravelry, I bought this Julia yarn at 40% off when The Mannings closed in 2015. It is a delicious blend of 50% Wool, 25% Alpaca, and 25% Mohair. I wish they hadn't discontinued this yarn, because it's lovely. It makes great hats! <br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-38836766534689380132022-02-20T15:17:00.000-05:002022-02-20T15:17:29.293-05:00A new lease on life<p>Last weekend I tackled this hat repair project. As a reminder, this is what Patti's adorable dachshund did to her favorite wool hat:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaMxwS8b14RdgRfG0cxylhku5gPFxG4zJ5H6LTvny-sW9O4KxUT0BgiKeUB1phl96BCdMyeggy7-JcAdOa4BHSXmQC_c0Yw9d4KstYwAo_ffp4HXpPr6pbFDlpL9AoaudChI3A7sGAK3eWbklSFDqbD4EsOHtlcY3oqLvOcpT114CAIJ2ebIhZPnWq=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaMxwS8b14RdgRfG0cxylhku5gPFxG4zJ5H6LTvny-sW9O4KxUT0BgiKeUB1phl96BCdMyeggy7-JcAdOa4BHSXmQC_c0Yw9d4KstYwAo_ffp4HXpPr6pbFDlpL9AoaudChI3A7sGAK3eWbklSFDqbD4EsOHtlcY3oqLvOcpT114CAIJ2ebIhZPnWq=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I combed through my stash and found a very promising match. This yarn (the color name is Pampas Heather ) is sport weight and I wish it were worsted, but it worked pretty well: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZl37gOoDFqRlTuWPveuxoqojY3GoD61nikAZkWtr2dl4kx4_3fnwaSePVi5q3L75I9zr2m-zi0-w_WUisYniU-FCWvW3E-J5RuimGagL751Ba0bBW6ygRSbppqZkayUJyWj45Jw436UTVTpGb7t-lCvtzlSFKrpluXVnn6-pvijGDQLzSOPGOB9WS=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZl37gOoDFqRlTuWPveuxoqojY3GoD61nikAZkWtr2dl4kx4_3fnwaSePVi5q3L75I9zr2m-zi0-w_WUisYniU-FCWvW3E-J5RuimGagL751Ba0bBW6ygRSbppqZkayUJyWj45Jw436UTVTpGb7t-lCvtzlSFKrpluXVnn6-pvijGDQLzSOPGOB9WS=s320" width="240" /></a></div>I carefully reviewed the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXD3TdbpDbM" target="_blank">video</a> and started by catching the loose stitches. I decided there were 4 columns missing over 8 rows: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dH1NlL4BnSODpIfJiTYh8Tn9wp0e0ZtvVBXHYu9ViSqc0jXMGXKWkCgdD2Wot3yu9p8icYwUpCnPMHnciq83dqumas5Xhu7wZ8Qs69W-cSJwCqS-fVH1QN6ItBSL_XrmObQEw021W6bM_E1WDOWfpNDxMAuMYA9J41R00JABigZuZxAtYtaHG3eL=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2dH1NlL4BnSODpIfJiTYh8Tn9wp0e0ZtvVBXHYu9ViSqc0jXMGXKWkCgdD2Wot3yu9p8icYwUpCnPMHnciq83dqumas5Xhu7wZ8Qs69W-cSJwCqS-fVH1QN6ItBSL_XrmObQEw021W6bM_E1WDOWfpNDxMAuMYA9J41R00JABigZuZxAtYtaHG3eL=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />I worked some stabilizing stitches to provide some scaffolding over which the repair was worked (this is a super important step - do not skip!): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjklC0EffLmx8imXYddt-CuROrJX8FC6XqGOir9F4Z65qdRLwkzodlJQSyoiNaCEd_4OpuLRAiAUAIDOKhCRysLWaLNTmc4CQiWLwV2n9M5jlUlKhRsp5sspcmzJeo1aX1xKQOdC0DREe3ls-Kl4mtRozuOSX_E7yFgjGfztye0bmPOfB300jv1D3hH=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjklC0EffLmx8imXYddt-CuROrJX8FC6XqGOir9F4Z65qdRLwkzodlJQSyoiNaCEd_4OpuLRAiAUAIDOKhCRysLWaLNTmc4CQiWLwV2n9M5jlUlKhRsp5sspcmzJeo1aX1xKQOdC0DREe3ls-Kl4mtRozuOSX_E7yFgjGfztye0bmPOfB300jv1D3hH=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />Then I got busy working 8 lengths of yarn to replace the 8 missing rows. You start at the bottom, and then use a crochet hook to build each row on top. That part went fairly well, though I had a hard time figuring out how to NOT twist the stitches. Some of the replacement stitches are still twisted. I decided not to sweat it, because Patti won't care and besides, I was already thinking about covering up the mended area. Here is the mended area before I finished weaving in the ends: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpbFdQTDD2_0FUOI-JDEFGosG7xGd9ZliRFtJnP8ef692E_VXgzj83bqcU36xx8F0DJisiRX2lbSLoCZ_S-K2ed1EiM2dRtigPCja_9StBIueABb4jhHzgGR1yHsTN0ZGPaEcXVk8IpD8uVi3jyzNKgn3jynZRRyG8Pqpqw82JtZrM8fRO5TDiomdr=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpbFdQTDD2_0FUOI-JDEFGosG7xGd9ZliRFtJnP8ef692E_VXgzj83bqcU36xx8F0DJisiRX2lbSLoCZ_S-K2ed1EiM2dRtigPCja_9StBIueABb4jhHzgGR1yHsTN0ZGPaEcXVk8IpD8uVi3jyzNKgn3jynZRRyG8Pqpqw82JtZrM8fRO5TDiomdr=s320" width="240" /></a></div>Yikes, so many ends! I thought things would look much better after weaving them in. I guess they look a bit better, but this is still quite rough: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAlOK2536nxiQalnYnAypWAK-NQKtHtzNxjfn8twxKJu9NzLo2Nc9ahj-FZY8oec1Gs9Msd1Md5NVFbZCTq1-WK2F0HVkhWgDK8w9F24WDvkkyZrraRUYlViHpQD0ShCCvMiqEcwMGl5pTPGgC8BwS8iQYc-1IfONfLxHpr0X3Cv9gteYAgcqh7q7G=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAlOK2536nxiQalnYnAypWAK-NQKtHtzNxjfn8twxKJu9NzLo2Nc9ahj-FZY8oec1Gs9Msd1Md5NVFbZCTq1-WK2F0HVkhWgDK8w9F24WDvkkyZrraRUYlViHpQD0ShCCvMiqEcwMGl5pTPGgC8BwS8iQYc-1IfONfLxHpr0X3Cv9gteYAgcqh7q7G=s320" width="240" /></a></div>I have officially requested that if the dog must take another bite, that it be a long, horizontal bite rather than a long vertical one. 8 rows is a lot! <p></p><p>I ended up covering this whole area with an embroidered flower. I didn't have any purple that was as faded as the original colors, but I decided this would do. I also had a harder time with the embroidery than I expected. This hat was made by artisans in Nepal and their skills are superior! Patti okayed the hat, so I tacked the lining down and gave it a bath. This hat repair is DONE!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMJZZlms4zdnJdKeRr8PQglcCzB4LaZXm6u1fYKxi1vRulCf6G-Tz-raUQogXYA4w6TOEJcUek9gu4cUPzS0hdlO9uOzfrHYUl7LlDDO95WXJ4CU_QrpzOdIwhU__UW-DT9S09RsIQ0QOI_3mb-mq8y29P6-RC4QoMFNYRSox2LZ-b097adv3iNnkq=s3311" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3311" data-original-width="2970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMJZZlms4zdnJdKeRr8PQglcCzB4LaZXm6u1fYKxi1vRulCf6G-Tz-raUQogXYA4w6TOEJcUek9gu4cUPzS0hdlO9uOzfrHYUl7LlDDO95WXJ4CU_QrpzOdIwhU__UW-DT9S09RsIQ0QOI_3mb-mq8y29P6-RC4QoMFNYRSox2LZ-b097adv3iNnkq=s320" width="287" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I learned some new things and extended the life of a beloved garment. I'm good with that.<br /><br /> </p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-60805389539066861912022-02-09T19:00:00.002-05:002022-02-09T19:00:37.976-05:00Hats hats hats<p>I'm still on the hat train over here. I recently finished a delightful stranded colorwork design called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hat-and-peak" target="_blank">Hat and Peak</a> (Rav link):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjHqd5iLSGvcwUdQVl0JVTeEYvgbQmGxaCLgAR5Wu3LuFtD5b6lOqUgJeEU63d5TLzD3iN0HUSr2l_L68tSTimLtuvWwLUxiZNc4-brcTD9IS8GAyUEMZLFsuzbmqlt6fBlT66MJ9w6q4O22F5jfDzQrYYcHDB264iN0pkIv5WeXpHiYnG79zy3oqR=s2787" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2787" data-original-width="2787" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjHqd5iLSGvcwUdQVl0JVTeEYvgbQmGxaCLgAR5Wu3LuFtD5b6lOqUgJeEU63d5TLzD3iN0HUSr2l_L68tSTimLtuvWwLUxiZNc4-brcTD9IS8GAyUEMZLFsuzbmqlt6fBlT66MJ9w6q4O22F5jfDzQrYYcHDB264iN0pkIv5WeXpHiYnG79zy3oqR=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I made this for my friend Jeff, whom I was able to visit in Austin in December - a brief, but joyful, visit! Naturally, Steven and I had to go to his LYS, Hill Country Weavers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIGH84B6wAfB2TCt0bzoVa064d5vOmnWgQkjrsUcCIcIhUZZ3lOVqW4X6s7qs2FBof8QXAdfWSoTadXtzLCFi1PayMchrxI-JgF96208qCkH8r596Yl2kj08wdJ4sYvGDkX1xP4Lim2H2snHRsy_0gWi-Pl0JMUygojjtMvLJDrhsrvwVnNvjmdHle=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIGH84B6wAfB2TCt0bzoVa064d5vOmnWgQkjrsUcCIcIhUZZ3lOVqW4X6s7qs2FBof8QXAdfWSoTadXtzLCFi1PayMchrxI-JgF96208qCkH8r596Yl2kj08wdJ4sYvGDkX1xP4Lim2H2snHRsy_0gWi-Pl0JMUygojjtMvLJDrhsrvwVnNvjmdHle=w240-h279" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Before we left for the store, I asked Jeff if he wanted me to knit anything. He seemed interested in a hat, so I showed him some things I had tagged in my favorites. He liked this one. I still need to make and add the pom pom before it is truly done.</p><p>The design uses 4 colors. I have 4 colors, but the two light neutrals (Ash and Bone) are very close and don't work together very well. Here is how the yarns look together in the skein: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibze8yYWkmK1ZJW272Nm6w9HndX1St9x1m7-1U26JpambJCHyQtAY6sXve1XrjRLo4EsCVXx8kA0ZxHB_Dl2hzrIAth3GmjLhQF_6jKdA-2qZxDSt-Klaf9N6UsSQnNYkI6wPN9sN6SAVFJm_kShy00x1o_R95yZ2nj0ckRklHRQRVSEZ4-VWBdGF-=s2780" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2780" data-original-width="2780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibze8yYWkmK1ZJW272Nm6w9HndX1St9x1m7-1U26JpambJCHyQtAY6sXve1XrjRLo4EsCVXx8kA0ZxHB_Dl2hzrIAth3GmjLhQF_6jKdA-2qZxDSt-Klaf9N6UsSQnNYkI6wPN9sN6SAVFJm_kShy00x1o_R95yZ2nj0ckRklHRQRVSEZ4-VWBdGF-=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />The pattern calls for sport weight yarn, which is hard to find! I ended up seeing this Shibui Echo in the sale section. It is 52% silk noil and 48% fine merino, so it will feel very nice on the head. I wasn't sure if I could make the hat with only one skein of the main color (the dark gray, Tar), so I grabbed two. Then I added a third, thinking I could definitely make two hats if I had enough of the main color. I've already cast on for a second one. The beginning is plain ribbing for 5", so it's perfect for social or zoom knitting. <p></p><p>In other hat news, I am going to try for the Woolly Dozen again this year. If I make one Woolly Wormhead design per month, I'll stay on track. I made the Get Garter Beret in January, and I wanted to knit a design with larger yarn this time. I picked <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/mirallat" target="_blank">Mirallat</a>, which is another sideways design ... but with a twist (of course!). The hat starts with a tight U shape and then expands out, like you're adding more and more stripes on the top side of a rainbow. Here are the first few rows - it's a mind bender! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuGxl0wXiyWuwEnHC2ASOo7NF7kQOyiEcLu6t4q4eHX07zXiXGgMRnPphMq5-3KuEMCMzHKsZohzGN8DsrzlXl28mQeQ_2FIleIToBk_YdoMSpDoTAIf1xoZ3qAHX7CGubD2NovB7bFLUMojPO7YiWCmtj2ZVdj6qGBD5iN8DPCskGpZsAprilquwY=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuGxl0wXiyWuwEnHC2ASOo7NF7kQOyiEcLu6t4q4eHX07zXiXGgMRnPphMq5-3KuEMCMzHKsZohzGN8DsrzlXl28mQeQ_2FIleIToBk_YdoMSpDoTAIf1xoZ3qAHX7CGubD2NovB7bFLUMojPO7YiWCmtj2ZVdj6qGBD5iN8DPCskGpZsAprilquwY=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'm using my Silky Wool stash for this. You can see that it's basically a magic loop situation right now... but as the rainbow grows, it will lay flat. Stay tuned for progress shots. <p></p><p>My final hat update is a challenge. My friend Patti's dog had a run-in with her favorite hat, and this is the result:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisBXANwucMmkmw9DxohuP9imQbYcbwk439MIA7ZfwOg-bW411LFv4u_WuX9kQP2iYS0nURJpFdP7pb6dfyd_bBZMpHZpM_hFiIz2D0OI2v3EttlUUtBss-60BjNYhhr2INSdGb9gBC09vNFAZIQHDu2aRyihThqRrXWZD2H22Xuumw1aNM8Ko0vjKR=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisBXANwucMmkmw9DxohuP9imQbYcbwk439MIA7ZfwOg-bW411LFv4u_WuX9kQP2iYS0nURJpFdP7pb6dfyd_bBZMpHZpM_hFiIz2D0OI2v3EttlUUtBss-60BjNYhhr2INSdGb9gBC09vNFAZIQHDu2aRyihThqRrXWZD2H22Xuumw1aNM8Ko0vjKR=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I responded to the Knitwear 911 call. I've watched a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXD3TdbpDbM" target="_blank">video </a>about how to repair a hole in stockinette stitch that looks very smooth. I think I can do it. But first, I need to figure out if I can detach the fleece lining of the hat, as I'll need to access the back side of the knitted part. It is not immediately clear to me how the lining is sewn in, so I need to get some excellent light and explore more. Hopefully I can undo the lining, make the repair to the wool layer, and then resew the lining. It's a challenge for sure, but it's Patti's favorite warm hat and I'm up for it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQuwtnf1tUC0ZKcZtueRSNabvie64EO_d8fwErf3QpEPb1QX-tWztbnaQFCUBp5hlv8O0T7Db-Fe27HspAwXORWq8lCOfmZLAgcntOmztumh5hjFqr22if7FpgEiK5_h6QfPqksNz8Dd8VQGu0bCK-d0ubTbWgm3srSGimN7wHj17V0E3bTG_p9jHe=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQuwtnf1tUC0ZKcZtueRSNabvie64EO_d8fwErf3QpEPb1QX-tWztbnaQFCUBp5hlv8O0T7Db-Fe27HspAwXORWq8lCOfmZLAgcntOmztumh5hjFqr22if7FpgEiK5_h6QfPqksNz8Dd8VQGu0bCK-d0ubTbWgm3srSGimN7wHj17V0E3bTG_p9jHe=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-79017921610048299692022-01-30T13:38:00.001-05:002022-01-30T13:38:20.771-05:00First hat of 2022 - Get Garter Beret<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv4lbfaTutgPC0kQ_BHzD3PKIOqTSGbANLa5tq0jw5z9rnoWyZF5dHhYIkHIzR3T320Vsw4FZU6aBOndcd5IinWfIX5HYXNt6bpXSMdc2F_CVcrkuRv33vOlxsH1iVDQYvpbmxRp0oqtLVhbB-JZy-4ZFeo7Cswgp5QiRIS1otCM6ucPCqIhZ1J_jh=s2724" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2724" data-original-width="2724" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv4lbfaTutgPC0kQ_BHzD3PKIOqTSGbANLa5tq0jw5z9rnoWyZF5dHhYIkHIzR3T320Vsw4FZU6aBOndcd5IinWfIX5HYXNt6bpXSMdc2F_CVcrkuRv33vOlxsH1iVDQYvpbmxRp0oqtLVhbB-JZy-4ZFeo7Cswgp5QiRIS1otCM6ucPCqIhZ1J_jh=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I'm pleased to report that I squeezed one hat across the finish line this month (so close!). This is another Woolly Wormhead design from her <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/get-garter" target="_blank">Get Garter collection</a>, the beret. I actually cast on in November, but I had to set this aside because the yarn was too skinny for me to see it well around my eye surgeries, and then I didn't trust my brain to stay on track in December. Most of this was knit in January.<p></p><p>Like other sideways hats, this one is worked in panels - 6 panels. This photo doesn't show exactly one panel, but you can start to understand the construction. The brim is 13 stitches and then there's a sharp increase that sends the garter ridges off at a diagonal. There are short rows that create a swirl at the top, like on a soft serve ice cream cone. Here is the side view:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLTL9Hedewrb3mHX0RAweq3wdGZLhjtXy6CNwnsdnK1__0cRReVJ2q-2ZDR7jeRlddRvBfbTu50d9fexvmlUqT0xH-lLeAQWFPqW-AOfEQToXD8g60QURiDZM_diY4V9DHf8BJuy3g7aYtrrNde4pwhyXKnnSIUuANdJVlN2KjmjjVyL-nXFvROy6R=s2843" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="2843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLTL9Hedewrb3mHX0RAweq3wdGZLhjtXy6CNwnsdnK1__0cRReVJ2q-2ZDR7jeRlddRvBfbTu50d9fexvmlUqT0xH-lLeAQWFPqW-AOfEQToXD8g60QURiDZM_diY4V9DHf8BJuy3g7aYtrrNde4pwhyXKnnSIUuANdJVlN2KjmjjVyL-nXFvROy6R=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>And here's the bird's eye view:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP6aYSLtAnJSlfgFG2FJD063o7JvFwMFPGc3aszOdIH_49h4t2hA-uVIo7uK_694ZKSkZSXYXrJXoh7i1YyDbZ_e-RSq4v9zSXYQmZN2f4euk1R2Ggau2jA-zyEMpWrJkImbpAIjauD99RqspTjLfb2_clz08DVTBK5i3Cm6TpXJZ5_1QFnRdMCDte=s2836" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="2836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP6aYSLtAnJSlfgFG2FJD063o7JvFwMFPGc3aszOdIH_49h4t2hA-uVIo7uK_694ZKSkZSXYXrJXoh7i1YyDbZ_e-RSq4v9zSXYQmZN2f4euk1R2Ggau2jA-zyEMpWrJkImbpAIjauD99RqspTjLfb2_clz08DVTBK5i3Cm6TpXJZ5_1QFnRdMCDte=s320" width="320" /></a></div>This skein of yarn is fairly aged, as I bought it at Sock Summit in 2009. It was a special show colorway dyed by Wool Candy called "Microbrew," but the skeins in the booth were all superwash merino. The owner kindly offered to dye me one in superwash BFL, so I ordered it. When it arrived in the mail weeks later, the dye job looked less "semi-solid" to me and more "extreme value variation that will result in pooling." So, it sat. I thought maybe the value variation would help accentuate the swirl. I think it does this somewhat, though the effect could be stronger. If you <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/get-garter---beret/people" target="_blank">browse the completed projects on Ravelry</a>, you can see how some yarns obfuscate the swirl while others enhance it. I'd say mine is in the middle somewhere.<br /><p>It's neat to see a hat grow from something that starts like this, with a provisional cast-on, to a three-dimensional hat!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHJcwVH_jtF1huBZot_pERuzl6_WgD8prVcaWcG2pOztBmRxC4reuuAXXikciSbd7GI9x93_nSryb48CtLrpWG7n0JIqvz-tmU4NuhzEVa9OTtMAaGYqCOQ9PEhWgKBKLLIJ_pT4Yxb7fXdowI65l0xFPqtsuiD4EuvAZLsbZMiTbxtRof41pxKiAe=s2329" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2329" data-original-width="2329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHJcwVH_jtF1huBZot_pERuzl6_WgD8prVcaWcG2pOztBmRxC4reuuAXXikciSbd7GI9x93_nSryb48CtLrpWG7n0JIqvz-tmU4NuhzEVa9OTtMAaGYqCOQ9PEhWgKBKLLIJ_pT4Yxb7fXdowI65l0xFPqtsuiD4EuvAZLsbZMiTbxtRof41pxKiAe=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I already have another hat on the needles, but it's not a WW design. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-72883145559816199162022-01-24T20:28:00.001-05:002022-01-24T20:28:37.895-05:0020 hats in 2021<p>Long time no blog. Honestly, fall 2021 was kind of a blur. On top of this endless pandemic, <a href="https://www.wetzelfuneralhome.com/obituary/joan-wertzberger" target="_blank">my mother passed away</a> in December. I'm just starting to come out of the haze in some ways, while simultaneously realizing that this emergence has been and will be anything but linear. </p><p>I had a goal to knit 21 hats in 2021, and I almost made it! I feel certain that I would have if I hadn't had corrective eye surgery (elective, don't worry!) in November. Oh yeah, another thing that made last fall very strange!</p><p>Anyway, I though I'd take you on a tour of the hats of 2021. </p><p>My hat obsession was strongly influenced by <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/" target="_blank">Woolly Wormhead</a>, whose ingenious designs are downright addictive. 12 of my 20 hats are hers, making me a finisher of the annual Woolly Dozen challenge (woo hoo!). I made 3 of the 5 designs in the <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/imperceptions" target="_blank"><i>Imperceptions </i></a>collection, and I definitely plan to make the other 2 this year. They are Daedalus, Circe, and Echo. I was able to make all of these stranded colorwork designs from sock weight yarn in my stash:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6nxyoeFgsNJsLIZzFL0SLLNekmL8GKihsfn8xod9mLI7M6wSG5t7SjOddS3jV9Db9Hqh3siS04l20xhEvH1nQu69-XqkWcsP57VbYC_lKIQMKgh26KVHHOLFRZYgYhvZBJvAmUcELGCPTY5zwfIS_b9isMc_6ta9VpNiusS-Z97rMCPsj3FUnOudP=s2796" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2796" data-original-width="2795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6nxyoeFgsNJsLIZzFL0SLLNekmL8GKihsfn8xod9mLI7M6wSG5t7SjOddS3jV9Db9Hqh3siS04l20xhEvH1nQu69-XqkWcsP57VbYC_lKIQMKgh26KVHHOLFRZYgYhvZBJvAmUcELGCPTY5zwfIS_b9isMc_6ta9VpNiusS-Z97rMCPsj3FUnOudP=s320" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS1_65yf3QEDRdI8vGsNraaY-eDFZpv-uaXW887RakbCzuycyvb9ee4dSETotKRuCMTSk9LMbCiOtvnxn8USb2sGfoPvv776RINdlJtCfZdP5QN3oLLIYlDcYsIgI-esA4hihZ7G2RXBZL3Uqz-DMybF1EkGMWyGZFAMlJLsbVlm5rAcsUrmkvWeiP=s3031" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3031" data-original-width="2843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS1_65yf3QEDRdI8vGsNraaY-eDFZpv-uaXW887RakbCzuycyvb9ee4dSETotKRuCMTSk9LMbCiOtvnxn8USb2sGfoPvv776RINdlJtCfZdP5QN3oLLIYlDcYsIgI-esA4hihZ7G2RXBZL3Uqz-DMybF1EkGMWyGZFAMlJLsbVlm5rAcsUrmkvWeiP=s320" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNhX_3OF_z1h525IhpLP3R8eCbq65zXww42dFEn048qO5cjiuzPT7jqI1qOoTTYjAkSjhSU2MZp2WKfRf7qOq2C9qBqyRHPQlxo65nhq_ICDwwKJF6nYaGSoHMYMPTFNpBR5pZouKtSsVldSuaHCuCSVeqEbERMI9MjXbrflwgZ-gpfqkLXUDBUqGK=s3020" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="3020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNhX_3OF_z1h525IhpLP3R8eCbq65zXww42dFEn048qO5cjiuzPT7jqI1qOoTTYjAkSjhSU2MZp2WKfRf7qOq2C9qBqyRHPQlxo65nhq_ICDwwKJF6nYaGSoHMYMPTFNpBR5pZouKtSsVldSuaHCuCSVeqEbERMI9MjXbrflwgZ-gpfqkLXUDBUqGK=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The collection that really captivated me, though, was <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/elemental" target="_blank"><i>Elemental</i></a>. There are 5 designs in it. I made them all, and worked 3 of them twice, so 8 Elemental hats in all - ! These are worked from DK yarn and are knit sideways, meaning they are knit flat and then grafted at the end. They use short rows for shaping. I love these designs so much. I knit a lot of them from Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, which I think provides excellent drape in the slouch. I also used handspun in a couple of them - handspun FTW!<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx_NsVhBxlfSwsqxIBtv01JLMpMN5Ch9NFWTB-xvdX46N8oOD_RPApk74k5BE7jiI1vMEWmfcqUEev3_77lLAd-FknhHyMiMEJ4vGCcHUwcrY5-tm5oI-7RV_BuWJzCsG2RNiwr3_dzox_NhChHXwNBPK9kcK091l1fnZmpbVp-hkLhEdMrvJVtFeS=s2657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2657" data-original-width="2657" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx_NsVhBxlfSwsqxIBtv01JLMpMN5Ch9NFWTB-xvdX46N8oOD_RPApk74k5BE7jiI1vMEWmfcqUEev3_77lLAd-FknhHyMiMEJ4vGCcHUwcrY5-tm5oI-7RV_BuWJzCsG2RNiwr3_dzox_NhChHXwNBPK9kcK091l1fnZmpbVp-hkLhEdMrvJVtFeS=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhar1g4JaM7NHEATF6v16kzOMlydv6P5Iu0mU1hfJtHPB7OrNOAJnSDX84RFpBrNDgVztbDyx2sBdPswv5U50RZ823nXR8woXS-ZKDFwJhRec7BW-0nBcKQFTliKxVjaMRooTC87VPFFAYb2ZUDhooJUPm763Bf0BFxy7JDHBFrvmNolEsdCMsf_M9e=s3242" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="3006" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhar1g4JaM7NHEATF6v16kzOMlydv6P5Iu0mU1hfJtHPB7OrNOAJnSDX84RFpBrNDgVztbDyx2sBdPswv5U50RZ823nXR8woXS-ZKDFwJhRec7BW-0nBcKQFTliKxVjaMRooTC87VPFFAYb2ZUDhooJUPm763Bf0BFxy7JDHBFrvmNolEsdCMsf_M9e=s320" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuaOpJPVsl5ATDWMVYPeBJFy8kJ-GkqVoQ5Raghvhe_YqR5QVy2NhfM9mvDOrNCO5tg6vK8XSC-qsbfbuQ14pKCsCSxfZFQWtXlefR_osC5AD_IgVXxWulGWbC5vT7uM_YolxXAfGrGWMfMA91cEIo3tYG5zsy-CRb6XLehy780qCc1eIOsXx4SZlk=s2589" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2589" data-original-width="2589" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuaOpJPVsl5ATDWMVYPeBJFy8kJ-GkqVoQ5Raghvhe_YqR5QVy2NhfM9mvDOrNCO5tg6vK8XSC-qsbfbuQ14pKCsCSxfZFQWtXlefR_osC5AD_IgVXxWulGWbC5vT7uM_YolxXAfGrGWMfMA91cEIo3tYG5zsy-CRb6XLehy780qCc1eIOsXx4SZlk=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg67fivkCd2VNXBoSQdr7rBeVgp4V438H5c_LKKJUYaIn8Pv8fkPyrdaKnwzPV82yUGwgMit-y4ZVkhutXKRbGbFLqhDgKgtlnIDxsVu_UJXaIqeFgR6pMzA3gQfd18c1COr94I3GVJGAHIWxtKv-zjzADaSUOna3MZ5VV0QgKhrb-L6Xm_0udCnvG=s2728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2728" data-original-width="2728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg67fivkCd2VNXBoSQdr7rBeVgp4V438H5c_LKKJUYaIn8Pv8fkPyrdaKnwzPV82yUGwgMit-y4ZVkhutXKRbGbFLqhDgKgtlnIDxsVu_UJXaIqeFgR6pMzA3gQfd18c1COr94I3GVJGAHIWxtKv-zjzADaSUOna3MZ5VV0QgKhrb-L6Xm_0udCnvG=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQD94oiZS3rT_1168rZKGjPph6RHmlPpZ4ciBvYnbU2tEpD-AevodlKpTkP1akUa0c4CkONMTCwMM6TH_YaHXk4BeRC4XwyFBxxLFwAH6OeQKmhGTC3rng5MF1LERxMD9JXSh6VV14h1_Z0gjLun8xQfaA8i1ughiVPG8vXl4lIFNxtB9f9SVAoQD1=s2728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2728" data-original-width="2728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQD94oiZS3rT_1168rZKGjPph6RHmlPpZ4ciBvYnbU2tEpD-AevodlKpTkP1akUa0c4CkONMTCwMM6TH_YaHXk4BeRC4XwyFBxxLFwAH6OeQKmhGTC3rng5MF1LERxMD9JXSh6VV14h1_Z0gjLun8xQfaA8i1ughiVPG8vXl4lIFNxtB9f9SVAoQD1=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUav2mK28pfecPrNtisvyfcxDYhN4oH4TVQ5RwuwP3NkDa74oAJzDrJ59Xevx48fdkI9aMyKHuUu-YZ-4ESWcECImS6tyJj4pTRb7AhAa5U4Pbxx4xhDKYuKEwycD2QIwEzyYEndJT30pa6OMtuy9ExN29ROsyv3zDAKEM8IkH29g9VdvzZxvaXxnh=s2483" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2281" data-original-width="2483" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUav2mK28pfecPrNtisvyfcxDYhN4oH4TVQ5RwuwP3NkDa74oAJzDrJ59Xevx48fdkI9aMyKHuUu-YZ-4ESWcECImS6tyJj4pTRb7AhAa5U4Pbxx4xhDKYuKEwycD2QIwEzyYEndJT30pa6OMtuy9ExN29ROsyv3zDAKEM8IkH29g9VdvzZxvaXxnh=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw-vKuH3ktVPjwS8I3rKhKF9kjv5oPgkO-zH5_V4VLCUEoP9ZoMBEJaj6kbXMG1CmvKrnlZ322kIj2WFToR5lW_LpvibfD8ngbq9eca-2mzXXGUspLSYxmyjAZvmbLyRaLyH8y_F869kwOtAOqhNf1nQVpK6eInh0gFQ-G5Q7lWHRF8AM_mJ-_qCQf=s2710" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="2710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw-vKuH3ktVPjwS8I3rKhKF9kjv5oPgkO-zH5_V4VLCUEoP9ZoMBEJaj6kbXMG1CmvKrnlZ322kIj2WFToR5lW_LpvibfD8ngbq9eca-2mzXXGUspLSYxmyjAZvmbLyRaLyH8y_F869kwOtAOqhNf1nQVpK6eInh0gFQ-G5Q7lWHRF8AM_mJ-_qCQf=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjJaNb2KAoCXRfeGExJE42SHAMj7K22eSsUPM-IbWMQEgn3844QrTRGwIHk2nyeg2lxMrzY77w2SNWBSuGOo1fjUvczlT2BfffrPYHU6ZR_vJze0KajMYlqg6PDCK1tCEqxiZVtO2GYfO-ImvwCSyIvBlfB6z2uBL_ns67LCrTcGzchnF0SdB1q6IP=s2744" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2744" data-original-width="2744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjJaNb2KAoCXRfeGExJE42SHAMj7K22eSsUPM-IbWMQEgn3844QrTRGwIHk2nyeg2lxMrzY77w2SNWBSuGOo1fjUvczlT2BfffrPYHU6ZR_vJze0KajMYlqg6PDCK1tCEqxiZVtO2GYfO-ImvwCSyIvBlfB6z2uBL_ns67LCrTcGzchnF0SdB1q6IP=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>I made one other Woolly Wormhead hat, the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waffle-slouch" target="_blank">Waffle Slouch</a> (Rav link), which was a very quick project that calls for worsted yarn. I used handspun from my stash, which felt good.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPjWgpR2v77KfGFpDa_fvUWA-JjzJ_AOTa02261Jd0Ngkjm-g7eeLRT94W9ZkgpRHoY9pD4WGWITI33NKQkirsyNjqZqLVORuQAlPit8A2yxdu-EYMpIG7ScYiVeUa7cFRPTb42wLvrlc-z2R2nXFvYjX-Fs23_N7TgsnlW0XCoXUO-TbPMGZoqnkB=s3044" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3044" data-original-width="2581" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPjWgpR2v77KfGFpDa_fvUWA-JjzJ_AOTa02261Jd0Ngkjm-g7eeLRT94W9ZkgpRHoY9pD4WGWITI33NKQkirsyNjqZqLVORuQAlPit8A2yxdu-EYMpIG7ScYiVeUa7cFRPTb42wLvrlc-z2R2nXFvYjX-Fs23_N7TgsnlW0XCoXUO-TbPMGZoqnkB=s320" width="271" /></a></div>I also knit two hats from Shetland yarns. The first is the official 2021 Shetland Wool Week hat, Da Crofters Kep, and I used "real" Shetland yarn from Shetland for it (Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift, to be precise). The next one is the Butterflies and Bees Cap, a design from Sweet Tree Hill Farm in Virginia - it uses their own Shetland farm yarn from domestic sheep. Both hats are for Sharon, who chooses which one to wear based on the current length of her hair and how windy it is. Like the Imperceptions hats, these stranded colorwork designs are worked with fingering weight yarns.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnrDlUex2vFEbPg4hnskk0yiihaLwVVSeuW5t2Ltzc0e7dDtMuKhRpUnbdsRBaPzwmYFJghq5mv8pS6eItuY9_28bX5QdKX1olJrZucEqoOHNomonVDGf98Gh--n66X1Sztd0qe_iMSfAwzB-uPH1Db-IkVna4N9JIlnfIY2e8kgqbTcTlhuOl1ava=s3020" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="3020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnrDlUex2vFEbPg4hnskk0yiihaLwVVSeuW5t2Ltzc0e7dDtMuKhRpUnbdsRBaPzwmYFJghq5mv8pS6eItuY9_28bX5QdKX1olJrZucEqoOHNomonVDGf98Gh--n66X1Sztd0qe_iMSfAwzB-uPH1Db-IkVna4N9JIlnfIY2e8kgqbTcTlhuOl1ava=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf9qLjPN_JNKIsN2aUrGpTsSl9ncm8SoHnbmyxYJPKeAViuNaU6wu9Hhd7RFXEmtsKk3cAGGJZhU3uEBBFf_B7bW18pSO5SqY-211JqvkO3E7oyHr-TmgsavOO4-rSRHXV67HCpQKPEIlNjlCeqW3l2GOiMRiU4r-VMulZhlG-WEz0Vwr1ReEmD1et=s2418" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2417" data-original-width="2418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf9qLjPN_JNKIsN2aUrGpTsSl9ncm8SoHnbmyxYJPKeAViuNaU6wu9Hhd7RFXEmtsKk3cAGGJZhU3uEBBFf_B7bW18pSO5SqY-211JqvkO3E7oyHr-TmgsavOO4-rSRHXV67HCpQKPEIlNjlCeqW3l2GOiMRiU4r-VMulZhlG-WEz0Vwr1ReEmD1et=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /> Finally, I have some "easy" hats that were largely completed in meetings, in the car, during concerts, etc. I started the year making two "Double Felici" hats, which use two different colorways for the inside and outside, making them double thick and reversible. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCZU-3SYLLLewgBzLORcd8pl_pGtlUB6irhFJpcWBrrtpvR2ItVyDcTanlhg0R61BkNF8aDaszW5e60CXY896hJwy5XYsE4YAy7bC0yUs16Q5DjQ1A80y-ws3SmtnMGINj60lJ-8i1EOLlgWYionOWBY5cveep7lLpK4uN0mNgzEVi1PSxyn3BndjP=s3272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3272" data-original-width="2982" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCZU-3SYLLLewgBzLORcd8pl_pGtlUB6irhFJpcWBrrtpvR2ItVyDcTanlhg0R61BkNF8aDaszW5e60CXY896hJwy5XYsE4YAy7bC0yUs16Q5DjQ1A80y-ws3SmtnMGINj60lJ-8i1EOLlgWYionOWBY5cveep7lLpK4uN0mNgzEVi1PSxyn3BndjP=s320" width="292" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikJCKaeV7IaNe7xnPxYy_V-qE9XzmiR7J9_4DUAt2p5R7u3h4dILkEbhN5mD25kKYnPW8nY9VCp43TsYXIwiQ15lnnUiu4oXiNCbNikOdWHh2qoCRrHyxhn00ijRYNp-Ezgoep2mYH9JnmiXLoIQtrOgI55Ehtx9pH23Y0Md0VgOAIReL3mkTGjn8f=s3022" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="3022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikJCKaeV7IaNe7xnPxYy_V-qE9XzmiR7J9_4DUAt2p5R7u3h4dILkEbhN5mD25kKYnPW8nY9VCp43TsYXIwiQ15lnnUiu4oXiNCbNikOdWHh2qoCRrHyxhn00ijRYNp-Ezgoep2mYH9JnmiXLoIQtrOgI55Ehtx9pH23Y0Md0VgOAIReL3mkTGjn8f=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I also cranked out a couple of Sockhead Slouch hats (#10 and #11, if you're counting, which obviously I am). The first is completely garish and I hate it, but the yarn is now out of my stash and I donated the hat. The second is from a special colorway called Fair Fight dyed by Neighborhood Fiber Co in honor of Stacey Abrams. It is for my sister, who lives in Atlanta - we are both huge fans of Stacey.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiw5ySKxIfGwiNQ16k2JJwmI0f_xbHcS-Z5sQJI-geVDt6xzlli_k6hCmk3m-yk2tvlwpzYFCmpmqEiT9P50MWMHEXYTlAIUeD8WgL-nI95-844donM95WdITggtk0ygFwf_bc8mPTXyBxez0WEwVShMc5mX9ZKAORUZemhxzKGPKB2C_Jdnn9l08Z=s2579" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="2579" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiw5ySKxIfGwiNQ16k2JJwmI0f_xbHcS-Z5sQJI-geVDt6xzlli_k6hCmk3m-yk2tvlwpzYFCmpmqEiT9P50MWMHEXYTlAIUeD8WgL-nI95-844donM95WdITggtk0ygFwf_bc8mPTXyBxez0WEwVShMc5mX9ZKAORUZemhxzKGPKB2C_Jdnn9l08Z=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEistTw4BXfHhxkPaJGBeNsm6OOmrg5AvElElDhHZmVxK2nV0wAdXDuSyDZVc7tXIB3JP0V8IcQXKtj_nUzeri0VsdlhLXzQ31YbWghi9KtKgXvVaFY6T1E9Xom9CC8XiQunmq6scmw5rOHb2tgQwllrz2-BVAj9dw57Yubu0KRmI5oXOziNaaTMRlZU=s2750" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2750" data-original-width="2750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEistTw4BXfHhxkPaJGBeNsm6OOmrg5AvElElDhHZmVxK2nV0wAdXDuSyDZVc7tXIB3JP0V8IcQXKtj_nUzeri0VsdlhLXzQ31YbWghi9KtKgXvVaFY6T1E9Xom9CC8XiQunmq6scmw5rOHb2tgQwllrz2-BVAj9dw57Yubu0KRmI5oXOziNaaTMRlZU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />And finally, I got on the Musselburgh bandwagon and banged out a couple of these. The first one is for someone with a really big head and/or really big hair - you can see it's a bit large on my model! I call this one my "low vision hat," because I cast it on between my eye surgeries so I'd have something to work on after eye #2 was done (aran weight yarn was perfect for this situation). And the second one is from a pretty skein of speckled sock yarn - I think it looks like funfetti cake. I put the final stitches into this one on January 1, 2022, but I'm counting it with my 2021 hats. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwMWdeiMcphheSIkc01sxcHRZtovixnOKGsUNOj2nHsCi0-WIYUeihk60cdJv1oN6Fwk2mJDtugZjZw6WujKtdPXJh__9JFuvFnuXUx2qcbT-LqcfJAkoa0_s5vQ0oaYLS1R6dZrRJwXuE9BPHtm3Bn6rDcC3Xz2O0dOzfISj6pAAIYGiz6lTg3s2=s2748" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2748" data-original-width="2747" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGwMWdeiMcphheSIkc01sxcHRZtovixnOKGsUNOj2nHsCi0-WIYUeihk60cdJv1oN6Fwk2mJDtugZjZw6WujKtdPXJh__9JFuvFnuXUx2qcbT-LqcfJAkoa0_s5vQ0oaYLS1R6dZrRJwXuE9BPHtm3Bn6rDcC3Xz2O0dOzfISj6pAAIYGiz6lTg3s2=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSZJJEbkJUI52LG54aReu9ZGy8j4HiHX6rrxvwqRkQotn-eAmv1u3oNJ5b2RlKwYjy5BEB2RkuUOUJdUGBswbR1snMCiNyDUWdQ7o9-6kDHWIPZ4fAgY6GSFQ7w3_9u2uiEj6DU5mPTgTFBY3svilcM8F6Kx13Eg4Maez5OjWETaecC8pdEb0FmlFd=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSZJJEbkJUI52LG54aReu9ZGy8j4HiHX6rrxvwqRkQotn-eAmv1u3oNJ5b2RlKwYjy5BEB2RkuUOUJdUGBswbR1snMCiNyDUWdQ7o9-6kDHWIPZ4fAgY6GSFQ7w3_9u2uiEj6DU5mPTgTFBY3svilcM8F6Kx13Eg4Maez5OjWETaecC8pdEb0FmlFd=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I have really enjoyed my exploration of hats, and I don't see any reason to stop making them now. They are so easy to find owners for. Of the 20 hats, I made only 3 for specific people - and 9 more have already gone to warm someone else's head. I have quite a few in a bag marked "Hats that Need Heads," and I've no doubt that their owners will find them. They always do. <br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-5579313561847597192021-10-18T09:19:00.001-04:002021-10-18T09:19:07.612-04:00Inkle time<p>As I suspected, my interest in band weaving continued to rise as a result of the <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2021/09/colorwork-band.html" target="_blank">last Yarnworker WAL</a>. I finished my colorwork band key fobs, and immediately threw more yarn on the Cricket to make another set. You can see that some progress was made in terms of technique - the teal/yellow-green ones were woven first, and the blue/silver came next:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIesYoKN4ueacQREXjftQHISZi300DVSFfftcl7i2OlniSGzot9tOnGXTQO84FoRXo4Di9DwBjkKEdDG9tQHcvFCt7UOi5LtKgjapLM7XAqb171piWpEJidia3HcgX95-sborQBA3U900/s2048/20210926_184345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIesYoKN4ueacQREXjftQHISZi300DVSFfftcl7i2OlniSGzot9tOnGXTQO84FoRXo4Di9DwBjkKEdDG9tQHcvFCt7UOi5LtKgjapLM7XAqb171piWpEJidia3HcgX95-sborQBA3U900/w300-h400/20210926_184345.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>My biggest takeaway here is that I get better results when I ease up on warp tension a bit, but concentrate on getting really good weft tension. Believe it or not, those bands are all made with the same weight yarn - 3/2 mercerized cotton. <p></p><p>I turned them all into key fobs using hardware and a special pliers that came with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclPuNSqofDm9odEuk15nW7DNu86T-hEfwOEfITgHOtV89JzACBIMWh4zZRy_NilRTI-73WVSwQ3_e1sEQZecvkmhiis1xFjaCmSnqpgENWRHsDkPQKCgqgZSiOmqYwM-EdIimQKghkE/s2048/20210927_080859+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="2048" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTclPuNSqofDm9odEuk15nW7DNu86T-hEfwOEfITgHOtV89JzACBIMWh4zZRy_NilRTI-73WVSwQ3_e1sEQZecvkmhiis1xFjaCmSnqpgENWRHsDkPQKCgqgZSiOmqYwM-EdIimQKghkE/w400-h336/20210927_080859+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These fobs are laid out in the order I wove them. Sharon chose one and, perhaps because I have trained her so well, she picked the one on the right, which is the last one I made and definitely the best of the batch. <p></p><p>After a lively discussion at my knitting group one evening, I was offered an inkle loom that was sitting unused on someone else's shelf! It is an Ashford Inklette, and I happily accepted. I warped it up right away, using the same yarn and pattern. Through the process of weaving this band, I learned a couple of things to improve upon. Look at the arrows: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1iE0YW4IJQt_p-i1m98YhrjXyqK0ShObFCH4o6IDkn_7ucoo-OQreWuENE6LOnpkGPEaP_Pm-BMncXK7Cvaxnfrxg6vaMlpBkMs1p1N4D-Dw-VMSj6cd7wjYsPcRwBQvAvUXh_WFKl0/s1146/inklette.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="1146" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1iE0YW4IJQt_p-i1m98YhrjXyqK0ShObFCH4o6IDkn_7ucoo-OQreWuENE6LOnpkGPEaP_Pm-BMncXK7Cvaxnfrxg6vaMlpBkMs1p1N4D-Dw-VMSj6cd7wjYsPcRwBQvAvUXh_WFKl0/w400-h216/inklette.png" width="400" /></a></div>The left arrow shows that the heddled and unheddled threads don't meet on the same plane - the heddled threads are higher than the unheddled ones. This means that the down shed is nice and big, but the up shed is smaller and more difficult to get a shuttle through. I need shorter heddles.<br /><p></p><p>The right arrow shows how I had the "tension flap" (that bigger block of wood) positioned for warping. The band becomes shorter as it is woven, because the weaving process creates take-up. This means it's helpful to be able to release tension on the warp. I don't have that much tension available to release, because of where I positioned the flap when warping. The upshot is that I wasn't able to weave this entire warp, because there came a point at which I was no longer able to advance the warp. It was just too tight and I couldn't loosen it any more. </p><p>I finally found a way to secure the loom on a table so it wouldn't slide around on me. It works on this little table, placed on a bit of shelf liner, and clamped with one of the many warping peg clamps I have in my kit now: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlRkSroPOdOGVEmbPloAnIWauZu4ShKazGwXse0v2NynwJxC1YXXp2PlUu-ic3zTW1KLVJ-YirQDQsImnWRwVDIJyJJ22u0WbbHF7ti6_9ZClChKqm_9hOmzOhXk1Ax8NqzSyrEAP1rI/s2048/20210929_080240+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlRkSroPOdOGVEmbPloAnIWauZu4ShKazGwXse0v2NynwJxC1YXXp2PlUu-ic3zTW1KLVJ-YirQDQsImnWRwVDIJyJJ22u0WbbHF7ti6_9ZClChKqm_9hOmzOhXk1Ax8NqzSyrEAP1rI/w400-h383/20210929_080240+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> You can see the clamp in the bottom left of the above photo. Here is a lower view of its position: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BJ7RRw8dUlaj-SzIDMoAh69heqjGCn28Cz_XxKlSzFixkyuyeaUsdrnes6k-r0wQFJrwc_3R_jqUXhqorvs058uf5TjZuBMbfzwdNRKdKG4TloDMgNdmzafp5RCtitj3vl9_qVrLrEA/s2048/20210929_080302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BJ7RRw8dUlaj-SzIDMoAh69heqjGCn28Cz_XxKlSzFixkyuyeaUsdrnes6k-r0wQFJrwc_3R_jqUXhqorvs058uf5TjZuBMbfzwdNRKdKG4TloDMgNdmzafp5RCtitj3vl9_qVrLrEA/w300-h400/20210929_080302.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />After this practice project was done, I started again... this time with 5/2 cotton I had left over from a <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-tale-of-five-towels.html" target="_blank">long-ago towel project</a>. I adjusted my heddle-creation approach. What ended up working best was using a coaster as my template. You can see that the heddled and unheddled warp threads are meeting up quite nicely this time! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hyyaOXiHHuB4qVEUHlORP3iDg0eYL3eKpHLHpfa9MMvSFd_gUDO7gs-9afLpCtVF36ce4Q94v2pqIpKmFWih1ak-kFQHZBuaHmwtsobyKWg8B3QkQ2mv9zA2UtVk3u3IDnh_tb8KFiw/s2048/20211005_080739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hyyaOXiHHuB4qVEUHlORP3iDg0eYL3eKpHLHpfa9MMvSFd_gUDO7gs-9afLpCtVF36ce4Q94v2pqIpKmFWih1ak-kFQHZBuaHmwtsobyKWg8B3QkQ2mv9zA2UtVk3u3IDnh_tb8KFiw/w300-h400/20211005_080739.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Also, I started with the tension flap in a more extreme position, which allowed me to weave the entire warp length comfortably. Success! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt5U64oQ1N88o6facoXJBIruuwIE5_jt43mywsJSCdUyYIiIXMoDxt6HHze5ySdRSg9kIj19MSaV2YJ2IeFKrdDBG2sbT95ItsyTzhR0rhrUYJURAUaAFU3BxdROX8ozS6yYbbNf6IWw/s660/tension+flap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="660" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt5U64oQ1N88o6facoXJBIruuwIE5_jt43mywsJSCdUyYIiIXMoDxt6HHze5ySdRSg9kIj19MSaV2YJ2IeFKrdDBG2sbT95ItsyTzhR0rhrUYJURAUaAFU3BxdROX8ozS6yYbbNf6IWw/w400-h361/tension+flap.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />I also tried a different pattern. I found so many on <a href="http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/2015/06/patterns-for-1-wide-bands.html" target="_blank">this blog</a>. Here are my final bands and key fobs: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPO0qDUpDU0B_6AnUa3ZunIFW0OZk9fCvNBc390Jflj9-XW2Wks3QDffySx9wXRhwiAQMj_Dl4ou1r50WjQPzUaEyfq6xJCsg7uIuCvIy113iOrstWeDjlXMUC0xktJDYXfaOs-JP0Hk/s2048/20211011_102043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPO0qDUpDU0B_6AnUa3ZunIFW0OZk9fCvNBc390Jflj9-XW2Wks3QDffySx9wXRhwiAQMj_Dl4ou1r50WjQPzUaEyfq6xJCsg7uIuCvIy113iOrstWeDjlXMUC0xktJDYXfaOs-JP0Hk/w300-h400/20211011_102043.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2hHoLXwu7vaj43BXnEn6LPesP5xjreRR6k7sup0PZ2bts40BjcuSY2YXkPtLh0Yzio3lORfVWgqqBKKr4OPbfqpuZa0Ts3FBmiwyLQNfdpMdU9oVCdi2w6cbp2SW0-uoQcKxguKovOw/s2048/20211011_104542+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="2048" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2hHoLXwu7vaj43BXnEn6LPesP5xjreRR6k7sup0PZ2bts40BjcuSY2YXkPtLh0Yzio3lORfVWgqqBKKr4OPbfqpuZa0Ts3FBmiwyLQNfdpMdU9oVCdi2w6cbp2SW0-uoQcKxguKovOw/w400-h380/20211011_104542+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>For my next band, I'm going to work on getting a tighter weft at the very beginning of the weaving. Only one of these three bands was easy to get into the hardware. I could also reduce the width of the pattern - this project had 37 ends, so maybe try 35 or 33. </p><p>Weaving colorful little bands is so much fun!<br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-39233786122429116662021-10-11T13:56:00.000-04:002021-10-11T13:56:40.144-04:00A good day to dye<p>Last fall, my friend Annette invited me over to do some natural dyeing. I was intrigued, and that visit really sparked my interest. I liked the idea of using foraged or repurposed materials to dye my yarn, and I also liked the idea of turning my pile of white handspun into something more appealing (the Breed School 2.0 experience was too monochromatic for me!). So yesterday, I started with this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9xyAABL09J5QsEIwvA2UITQvpfzRjKcPhUF2GqGYfcJeihKmnqw5lBecIRVV6uWMUdFJSaKecP94rA5h4brzZ2IOwy3SlI8ugf-oQVg-kptKnZrYkLrKBzHRJCmspdvuNU2u3mbYJ00/s2048/20211009_085042+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9xyAABL09J5QsEIwvA2UITQvpfzRjKcPhUF2GqGYfcJeihKmnqw5lBecIRVV6uWMUdFJSaKecP94rA5h4brzZ2IOwy3SlI8ugf-oQVg-kptKnZrYkLrKBzHRJCmspdvuNU2u3mbYJ00/s320/20211009_085042+%25283%2529.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>That's about two pounds of undyed yarn, all handspun except for one skein I picked up from the half-price pile at HipStrings a couple weeks ago (at SVFF). <p></p><p>Natural dyes can be quite muted, and I knew I wanted to get colors as intense as possible. So this year, I took the time to mordant my yarn in advance. I used the most commonly used mordant, alum, which helps dye bond to the fiber. It also helps improve colorfastness. Most of the mordanting instructions say to heat the yarn in the mordant solution, but I chose to use the cold mordant method. It takes longer, but requires less monitoring...just the ticket for my life! On Saturday morning, I put all my yarn to soak in water. Saturday evening, I moved it into another bucket with dissolved alum, dissolved cream of tartar (which serves as an "assistant" and increases the amount of alum absorbed by the wool), and cool water. I used 12% alum and 6% cream of tartar. That sat overnight. I rinsed it Sunday morning, and took the wet skeins to Annette's, along with the plant material I had collected over the summer. I had bags of dandelion flowers and marigold flowers from my freezer, as well as some onion skins from the kitchen.</p><p>Annette had a variety of naturally-dyed skeins on display for inspiration as we got started. Aren't these lovely?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X5q7f0T3FGnLZtusndyQ3mckH3KCFZqPmjm92zCmI_vCTjocRE1cjZ07XP-0xHLAw6cqJo2A-5UBSpafh7l6yPPE8nbrMTvyXNwNZp21wtCfAbsywJrFpNQkBAgvVmFFE-vclTM9SBg/s2048/20211010_142424+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X5q7f0T3FGnLZtusndyQ3mckH3KCFZqPmjm92zCmI_vCTjocRE1cjZ07XP-0xHLAw6cqJo2A-5UBSpafh7l6yPPE8nbrMTvyXNwNZp21wtCfAbsywJrFpNQkBAgvVmFFE-vclTM9SBg/w371-h400/20211010_142424+%25282%2529.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>The first thing we did was build a "rainbow dye pot," which is a technique we read about in the Spring 2021 issue of Spin-Off magazine. With this technique, you build a layered casserole of dyestuff and fiber in the dyepot, and add minimal water (so that the fiber doesn't float or swim around). Rather than mixing the dyestuffs, we piled them in the pot so there would be distinct areas of color. We used black walnut, madder, annatto, marigold, onion skin, and dandelion in this pot. Between each layer of dyestuff is a layer of fiber encased in cheesecloth. Somehow I neglected to photograph the pot as we were building it, but here's what it looked like in the end: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QsvD-3gdIVczf6GLJnGksrMb7e1vq8YzzRBKCvF6q-RS1mUqTjfv-o1oWS90IBME4z00jUgmVxfXbKd3RcyvsY5opnyNOTC73ebaM8eHBPqWlGRmCHhPVGPaxKp1oCmWuUYFtLSBRIs/s2048/20211010_153230+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="2048" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QsvD-3gdIVczf6GLJnGksrMb7e1vq8YzzRBKCvF6q-RS1mUqTjfv-o1oWS90IBME4z00jUgmVxfXbKd3RcyvsY5opnyNOTC73ebaM8eHBPqWlGRmCHhPVGPaxKp1oCmWuUYFtLSBRIs/w400-h379/20211010_153230+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here's how it looked after removing the top layer of dyestuff. Annette put some washed (but otherwise unprocessed) fiber into those little mesh bags, while my contribution to this pot was a variety of mini skeins. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkAhG6K2MAC0e8NQyVbBEXWCxeGwYF08lD9WE5tDDVC_KXbwKnz2PNiEI0waRan13AEG9pFfguuhTNWfYPj4FcY4bJi3V6VbgSRkqFfJAn1N57_W1QKhyphenhyphenHw50YeIemhothB6JOGYcOQ0/s2048/20211010_153400+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkAhG6K2MAC0e8NQyVbBEXWCxeGwYF08lD9WE5tDDVC_KXbwKnz2PNiEI0waRan13AEG9pFfguuhTNWfYPj4FcY4bJi3V6VbgSRkqFfJAn1N57_W1QKhyphenhyphenHw50YeIemhothB6JOGYcOQ0/w400-h400/20211010_153400+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The deeper we went into the pot, the hotter it got. These heat-proof gloves became important. Here's an action shot of the unpacking:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3y621R15BNCSGr6qV86FRGMG2mBcnChpLijhFoDSLdhIUDOyQPHwnJRwD8x1n13BafdNPEk5N9FVq8XxgsvLAitD_7D8mbZCmxZak5AzNjkioi26r6rVYW_R_QUyL8iFuIqpsmWJ5WQ/s2048/20211010_153947+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3y621R15BNCSGr6qV86FRGMG2mBcnChpLijhFoDSLdhIUDOyQPHwnJRwD8x1n13BafdNPEk5N9FVq8XxgsvLAitD_7D8mbZCmxZak5AzNjkioi26r6rVYW_R_QUyL8iFuIqpsmWJ5WQ/w279-h400/20211010_153947+%25282%2529.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br />And here is how my little skeins look after drying. They are pleasingly variegated! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sbL1CcPJHhAg7qI5uBzCvEAkfVmUNvmy13h2AZ641rZbTgRRXzg7RRhFfBjrSTnYo3eYmmTnbn9WQ-rtXi9UACb7mWApKgJs3aEKZ2M0pTZxGD-e4eHIqjWPHSaHYe10oRxU5Y15zFI/s2048/20211011_093542+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="2048" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sbL1CcPJHhAg7qI5uBzCvEAkfVmUNvmy13h2AZ641rZbTgRRXzg7RRhFfBjrSTnYo3eYmmTnbn9WQ-rtXi9UACb7mWApKgJs3aEKZ2M0pTZxGD-e4eHIqjWPHSaHYe10oRxU5Y15zFI/w400-h354/20211011_093542+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />With this method, you can sometimes tell exactly what dyestuff was where. This dark brown spot was certainly touching a black walnut:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvPLHk3IOi9RkCxi60DoknXr8ONs95nZfXesENiZmRTPdAQhamweB0p6DKk4PgPhSa9hPcD5Id1KnQ_T0OPSLEhF4DjFYDlSCfo-PfNxJzcjQLcCwuHuu_GCpu43HCuHnebHE6SPX9y8/s1808/20211011_093611+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1808" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvPLHk3IOi9RkCxi60DoknXr8ONs95nZfXesENiZmRTPdAQhamweB0p6DKk4PgPhSa9hPcD5Id1KnQ_T0OPSLEhF4DjFYDlSCfo-PfNxJzcjQLcCwuHuu_GCpu43HCuHnebHE6SPX9y8/w400-h358/20211011_093611+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We couldn't help but notice that the water in the dyepot was still quite deeply colored, so we threw some more fiber in for a second round. In this round, everything was mixed and more water was added, so there isn't much variegation. I got a pleasingly orange skein, though! This is Rambouillet:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYiV49OlFaZ4tVeiQU6TXtJbPkmCNcvWSNyw0iuspE-knSi1p0bLmiE7qc8seNGJZDAo7XRjKtV1cFMp2syHjVEYVqV-_6I-ziEVTl74b5Nua1dcbRiIB-d2Yh0-qAFnu2KD-qcidfA/s2048/20211011_093358+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYiV49OlFaZ4tVeiQU6TXtJbPkmCNcvWSNyw0iuspE-knSi1p0bLmiE7qc8seNGJZDAo7XRjKtV1cFMp2syHjVEYVqV-_6I-ziEVTl74b5Nua1dcbRiIB-d2Yh0-qAFnu2KD-qcidfA/w400-h400/20211011_093358+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We dyed some skeins with black walnut, too. I know most people find the fallen husks to be a nuisance, but if you soak them for a few days, they make a really nice dye. The top skein is just black walnut dye, while the next one has some iron added to shift the color to a lovely gray with an olive undertone:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0fxznLz2L597xkyFl0CJpmkpCPbZGaSw6sDJyCXCZm5g7GRndZHvByj44K3EW9yieM-pyTfiNrKDF-fdR88B6VrjDK8a6fLlFth0HPJ0YJx5E9XqVPwUpCbM3z7Qv-q5k6I-eWtzgtE/s2048/20211011_093424+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0fxznLz2L597xkyFl0CJpmkpCPbZGaSw6sDJyCXCZm5g7GRndZHvByj44K3EW9yieM-pyTfiNrKDF-fdR88B6VrjDK8a6fLlFth0HPJ0YJx5E9XqVPwUpCbM3z7Qv-q5k6I-eWtzgtE/w400-h400/20211011_093424+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOkrufIiSc-3d_iRSgUQO7MxmrRQj3QJXLnjlPhgAshhe4k-d5ECtwB77NcL2gfKbcwUoM16KDu0nYa9RemnA8TFZFDGM9v5cSt51eZ0xRt4aXG3JF7mt915z0wjSJXPWtpgoC_ck_Ss/s2048/20211011_093434+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOkrufIiSc-3d_iRSgUQO7MxmrRQj3QJXLnjlPhgAshhe4k-d5ECtwB77NcL2gfKbcwUoM16KDu0nYa9RemnA8TFZFDGM9v5cSt51eZ0xRt4aXG3JF7mt915z0wjSJXPWtpgoC_ck_Ss/w400-h400/20211011_093434+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Finally, the flower pots. The dandelions weren't very intense on their own (I could have used more flowers, or added a modifier to shift the color). Still, it's a pleasant light yellow:<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCayeUec00XNNfh4IPzwpYLynGFPgcxuK-mBnpSEzIea96mHm_gczyDwId88N10ZtXa64QQG22QXWEWPRbWh7crUwQusbL9wQUMbUAKqOenfZEKlb3yPrf4Gni7eyz8xc9SpUvKZY4Uyc/s2048/20211011_093344+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCayeUec00XNNfh4IPzwpYLynGFPgcxuK-mBnpSEzIea96mHm_gczyDwId88N10ZtXa64QQG22QXWEWPRbWh7crUwQusbL9wQUMbUAKqOenfZEKlb3yPrf4Gni7eyz8xc9SpUvKZY4Uyc/w400-h400/20211011_093344+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And here is my favorite skein, the marigold one. This had quite a lot of flowers in it and also a bit of tin to shift the color. It is a glorious, glowing orange! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2tFvVhLX95M7GFj4NtSQ_epYsHR5KYTVV42ZHdD8WBM9jY53_9UzBGEBg7ZLS8sU6Iv8RyLeVde-5q98M7jNivawN3TRvBccu11XrxgUOpHpYoua935e5VGDpm5RsterHbcKu7Xavxg/s2048/20211011_093444+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2tFvVhLX95M7GFj4NtSQ_epYsHR5KYTVV42ZHdD8WBM9jY53_9UzBGEBg7ZLS8sU6Iv8RyLeVde-5q98M7jNivawN3TRvBccu11XrxgUOpHpYoua935e5VGDpm5RsterHbcKu7Xavxg/w400-h400/20211011_093444+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We had a lovely day, slowly moving dyes and yarns around, and chatting about all things fiber. Here are my 5 finished big skeins all together. They look harmonious, don't they?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQb02yi2q0gXmbyCBCrkocnb_0DfDTiTmnIbIx-i3TYnUViKCKUv_k8gQN1uJBbZrAcgzrFAJUVXORaVq99D6Hd-e5nS_RWUL8a44uMwuYP_WRRsiWEbFusISf_uQNULo1Gdl197sBak/s2048/20211011_093316+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2048" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQb02yi2q0gXmbyCBCrkocnb_0DfDTiTmnIbIx-i3TYnUViKCKUv_k8gQN1uJBbZrAcgzrFAJUVXORaVq99D6Hd-e5nS_RWUL8a44uMwuYP_WRRsiWEbFusISf_uQNULo1Gdl197sBak/w400-h366/20211011_093316+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'm already thinking about what to do next time. I still have some undyed skeins, and I've been collecting avocado pits and peels. I also have a bag of black walnuts in the garage. So there will be more of this! <br /><br />Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-83942420085880634822021-09-28T19:38:00.003-04:002021-09-28T19:38:57.684-04:00FINALLY an in-person fiber festival!<p>It's been a while since I've been to an in-person fiber festival. I think the last one was MDSW in 2019. Regular readers will remember the <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2020/05/mdsw-20-missing-year.html" target="_blank">temper tantrum I had about missing 2020</a>. I was more resigned in May 2021 (though that didn't stop me from taking online classes). But friends, the dry spell is over - the <a href="https://www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfestival.com/" target="_blank">Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival</a> was live this month and WE WENT! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVd5AzEGw-d8C2FKxLDPFxxPcXsX8MEjJANR1fnUrlNgNWAGaA0lDGhS53_C-LwjIAVQxMEAwXzs7eebwy_QhoEE5nuXUtcwm0A-DQOGvro_A5bpmLYDIfAcSIbkCTSjiDyVxbyra8Bo/s1825/20210925_100447+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="1825" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVd5AzEGw-d8C2FKxLDPFxxPcXsX8MEjJANR1fnUrlNgNWAGaA0lDGhS53_C-LwjIAVQxMEAwXzs7eebwy_QhoEE5nuXUtcwm0A-DQOGvro_A5bpmLYDIfAcSIbkCTSjiDyVxbyra8Bo/w400-h359/20210925_100447+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Masks were expected indoors, regardless of vaccination status, and we were happy to comply. This is Alison, Kris, and me just after entering the first building. You can tell the yarn fumes are already making us a little giddy. <p></p><p>I'd almost forgotten how to work a fiber festival. I feel that I didn't take the right pictures and I was kind of bleary-eyed from over-stimulation the entire day. But oh, what fun it was to be back in our natural habitat!</p><p>At least two vendors had a special show colorway, and I fell hard for the one at <a href="https://dancingleaffarm.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Dancing Leaf</a>. It's called "Shenandoah River," and I think you can see that the other color name they were probably considering was "Janelle." I get why they went with "Shenandoah River," though (and I snagged a skein on their sock yarn base).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian5ZiXfbEHVTVdeimlQAuGLoh2KtdOzdwhmtHPsFUWJuM9CK3mTJbiJJEIM-pXw2NvjgW_3dWwuQzFqPVHQ-Afu7mBNvxX3N9q8USMLiOWH6lRHXH6YGLFv2kTNYpa9PBUUFoH6fePvA/s2048/20210925_104914+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian5ZiXfbEHVTVdeimlQAuGLoh2KtdOzdwhmtHPsFUWJuM9CK3mTJbiJJEIM-pXw2NvjgW_3dWwuQzFqPVHQ-Afu7mBNvxX3N9q8USMLiOWH6lRHXH6YGLFv2kTNYpa9PBUUFoH6fePvA/w338-h400/20210925_104914+%25282%2529.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>None of us went into this festival with a shopping list. We were open to whatever moved us, which is normally a pretty dangerous state when entering a fiber festival. I'll admit that I bought a bit more yarn than expected... but in my defense, there were some good sales! <p></p><p>There was also some inspiration. I visited the <a href="http://sweettreehillfarm.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Tree Hill Farm </a>booth twice because I was so taken by this Butterflies and Bees hat. The yarn is milled from their Shetland sheep, and it's worked in stranded colorwork which is an iconic Shetland style. I texted a photo to S1, who also quite liked it, so I got the kit. There should be enough yarn in these mini-skeins to make TWO hats. As much as I love my Shetland yarn from Shetland, it's nice to have some grown a lot closer to home.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwozyDJKhRxofNJjkX0LYK0tEoSv58d8iiwhXod38pmrs_IxirhFyOKdmoBNRahsHvs0K27gMyLW0eDRrZtXt_fLMOF6Ew7vDEUTHA2P_smJKB6j-YFG7bCVkkDGY3ITDmABWJQf2DtI/s2048/20210925_114835+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1695" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwozyDJKhRxofNJjkX0LYK0tEoSv58d8iiwhXod38pmrs_IxirhFyOKdmoBNRahsHvs0K27gMyLW0eDRrZtXt_fLMOF6Ew7vDEUTHA2P_smJKB6j-YFG7bCVkkDGY3ITDmABWJQf2DtI/w331-h400/20210925_114835+%25282%2529.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>Lately I seem to be into a minty aqua color, so naturally I gravitated toward these bundles of roving from <a href="https://www.tworootsfibermill.com/mill/index.php" target="_blank">Two Roots Fiber Mill</a>. The blend is 52% Huacaya Alpaca, 17% Suri Alpaca, 25% Merino, and 6% Silk Noils. They had some bulky yarn spun up from it, too, but I bought the roving so I can spin it myself (those bumps are 4 oz each). I took a picture of their yarn for inspiration: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmpt8PiWODjUTCrd8sGWtNYLdH8ZczD26-hApTboshT62hcf_9Dh02Ku0fhSzw91v5kiVLqeUq729BD7plmAZLbtJXSZZ9FESoXz11_ZcqlCYkQgcjHSKUB-fc5lGtwIn1XY5Z-C07YE/s2048/20210926_184315+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmpt8PiWODjUTCrd8sGWtNYLdH8ZczD26-hApTboshT62hcf_9Dh02Ku0fhSzw91v5kiVLqeUq729BD7plmAZLbtJXSZZ9FESoXz11_ZcqlCYkQgcjHSKUB-fc5lGtwIn1XY5Z-C07YE/w400-h328/20210926_184315+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFqDLhbjkXVvUCnYV9mV7csB_KNZYA3jRLuaf60RmYQEKHHQqHsWB0Pr3s06S0ACVQtmuZVqBWgHYCOHyVL1X2pKGnUKU7VRZJPlHPdrqcbJdiUgWNXaqvkPuKbvKxLtSkHcSm8SF8IQ/s2048/20210925_120240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFqDLhbjkXVvUCnYV9mV7csB_KNZYA3jRLuaf60RmYQEKHHQqHsWB0Pr3s06S0ACVQtmuZVqBWgHYCOHyVL1X2pKGnUKU7VRZJPlHPdrqcbJdiUgWNXaqvkPuKbvKxLtSkHcSm8SF8IQ/w300-h400/20210925_120240.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I hope mine comes out as well.</p><p>I also got some needle tips and cables to supplement what came in my ChiaoGoo set... and a skein or two of random sock yarn... and some sale yarn for hats... and a new project bag made from Harris tweed. And I finally got to see everything <a href="https://www.adknits.com/" target="_blank">adKnits</a> makes in person. I just love her stickers! She has a series of knitting/national park designs, and I bought one for every national park I've actually been to. Starting from the top left, these are for Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Shenandoah, Acadia, and Great Smoky Mountains. I think they're so cool. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQeg4J9yHBFqKb7pZqkzYE9hrZ0sSkuIH8yzkj8CJAXfN9xAkcRzwAee7QroGp1yXCLXl_jIEkWsgs7e8nRwZNNruInbwhnNUhVwLxTyxn1WMuC_V6SCQ3gaFrDSLTc4dQiNzASIdeME/s2048/20210926_184949+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="2048" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQeg4J9yHBFqKb7pZqkzYE9hrZ0sSkuIH8yzkj8CJAXfN9xAkcRzwAee7QroGp1yXCLXl_jIEkWsgs7e8nRwZNNruInbwhnNUhVwLxTyxn1WMuC_V6SCQ3gaFrDSLTc4dQiNzASIdeME/w400-h271/20210926_184949+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is the third time I've been to this festival. It's a lot smaller (and hence, more manageable) than Maryland, and we typically have gorgeous fall weather. It's great. The first time I came, I was happy to enjoy my first slice of pumpkin pie for the season (I love pumpkin pie). They had it this year, too, so I just had to have a piece: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqtL6ZdqNPfmmh9_XidByexVROmyqyhFE2Xjnd3GO8tcRNHYvOnhVZQQykILr1aOQOwqrg8YE9yRGe2l7ErUTrT6P08rvU8x0RsDnby0iEbKlGA_DIKAdJryfcXcuRKGEte5l41bXeeE/s2048/20210925_124330+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1659" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqtL6ZdqNPfmmh9_XidByexVROmyqyhFE2Xjnd3GO8tcRNHYvOnhVZQQykILr1aOQOwqrg8YE9yRGe2l7ErUTrT6P08rvU8x0RsDnby0iEbKlGA_DIKAdJryfcXcuRKGEte5l41bXeeE/w324-h400/20210925_124330+%25282%2529.jpg" width="324" /></a></div>You can see that a little wasp is happy about it, too. I didn't even mind sharing a bit because the day was so perfect. Friends, fiber, and fellowship = my happy place.<br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-10160664768194760732021-09-17T17:57:00.001-04:002021-09-17T17:57:54.214-04:00Colorwork Band!<p>The (late) Summer 2021 Weave-Along with Yarnworker is <a href="https://yarnworker.thinkific.com/courses/summer-2021-weave-along-colorwork-bands" target="_blank">Colorwork Bands</a>. I've been wanting to weave bands for a while now, so I was happy when this project appeared on the WAL schedule!</p><p>I had to lay in some new stash for it, as the pattern calls for 3/2 mercerized cotton. I think this is sometimes called perle cotton, but honestly, there might be a subtle difference between them. (On a related note, I recently learned that 8/4 carpet warp and 8/4 cotton from Brassard aren't exactly the same - the twist is much tighter on carpet warp.) I really don't know. </p><p>Anyway, the pattern requires a very small amount of yarn (under 50 yards total across two colors), and most retailers sell this yarn in large, 1-pound cones that cost about $30 each. Luckily, I figured out that <a href="https://lunaticfringeyarns.com/product/3and5tubularspectrum/" target="_blank">Lunatic Fringe sells mini-cones</a> (1.5 oz) for a much lower price point, and they stock all the colors of the rainbow! I got 4 mini-cones so I could play with two different color combinations. I also got a belt shuttle, which is needed to press the weft very tightly and create a warp-faced fabric. It has one beveled edge that can really pack that weft yarn in. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv02bHDKllDWADjrq_FjoEANVlTceBDFVkGtrOzfCU06YHIeHUNZ6xGS73AsUqKKjZk-wwHiYaHwOb4pOhIyWc2ay2EChTwDG8Mx3DBsFmgpUsG_rEFf2t7AfyVNNld0ljUB5kSMZM7w/s2048/20210820_180022+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv02bHDKllDWADjrq_FjoEANVlTceBDFVkGtrOzfCU06YHIeHUNZ6xGS73AsUqKKjZk-wwHiYaHwOb4pOhIyWc2ay2EChTwDG8Mx3DBsFmgpUsG_rEFf2t7AfyVNNld0ljUB5kSMZM7w/w400-h400/20210820_180022+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Liz provided instructions for both direct and indirect warping. It would have been a breeze for me to direct warp this project, but precisely for that reason, I chose to try indirect warping. I've only done that a couple of times, and I don't have good muscle memory for it yet. This medium-sized warping board seemed like overkill for such a small project, though! The warp is only 57" long.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjztkrnFwtc0TMh2FGGhJ7e2qKDDk3HNnwHAhtbcAMbxfL4ba5ANFFU5S7ev06rc9cV-ZkZaTmUakjt-Q5Yg0fMrAPIdiy_5fVMm6npfQQoj4pSJkiE_nVkIBLYS6ateSgqldC-2k7fE/s2048/20210912_094117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjztkrnFwtc0TMh2FGGhJ7e2qKDDk3HNnwHAhtbcAMbxfL4ba5ANFFU5S7ev06rc9cV-ZkZaTmUakjt-Q5Yg0fMrAPIdiy_5fVMm6npfQQoj4pSJkiE_nVkIBLYS6ateSgqldC-2k7fE/w300-h400/20210912_094117.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Soon enough, the warp was on the loom. Notice that warp is 2" wide in the 12-dent heddle. The finished band will likely be 1" wide, or less. We need to smoosh the warp threads together in order to achieve a warp-faced fabric. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziRv0Y0wGdag96L1UDfTlOGSjsw4Mp4pFv9Og0kVLMHdhFxwZujFOKVa2uWT8aqL-Qu9kIvqS-nMu_9xhs9v2eIrSplCLG0SnT2S_1KVN9G6xiKwLKrdD4ziLd0J1mo-7roUlo5-4bIM/s2048/20210912_111215+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziRv0Y0wGdag96L1UDfTlOGSjsw4Mp4pFv9Og0kVLMHdhFxwZujFOKVa2uWT8aqL-Qu9kIvqS-nMu_9xhs9v2eIrSplCLG0SnT2S_1KVN9G6xiKwLKrdD4ziLd0J1mo-7roUlo5-4bIM/w274-h400/20210912_111215+%25282%2529.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>I got started with the actual weaving last night. It goes fast and is a lot of fun. You can see how much narrower it is now: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrM9maXKpDVlHBo4PNG-V4r-qwi1occy9IL6o1Qclw-BEl-HrwhjBk6i-cPe1zB4iihyphenhyphenZ959nnxkddFLmORQsAkuujvvjqr4XfcEjyl5HzNz9EQy0ZEpp6BKXxlNDS5izQjGep9LOMfM/s2048/20210917_080950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrM9maXKpDVlHBo4PNG-V4r-qwi1occy9IL6o1Qclw-BEl-HrwhjBk6i-cPe1zB4iihyphenhyphenZ959nnxkddFLmORQsAkuujvvjqr4XfcEjyl5HzNz9EQy0ZEpp6BKXxlNDS5izQjGep9LOMfM/w300-h400/20210917_080950.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />The project is a key fob, so we're only weaving about 12" of cloth, which will be doubled over in the fob hardware. 2021 might be a year in which everyone gets key fobs for Christmas!<p></p><p>This is so fun that I might need to learn band weaving on an inkle loom next. STAY TUNED...<br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-55647796105103604682021-09-12T15:21:00.000-04:002021-09-12T15:21:34.832-04:00Tricky gloves<p>I started knitting these fancy Sanquhar gloves back in early May, and I got all the way to the part where you divide for the fingers before setting them aside. At the time, my biggest question was whether to modify the pattern and stagger the finger openings, rather than starting them all on the same row. Life somehow intervened (I've been through two family member hospitalizations since then) and I didn't have the mental bandwidth to look at these. </p><p>When I returned to them and started searching online for pointers, I ran across an online <a href="https://www.interweave.com/product/sanquhar-gloves-video-download/" target="_blank">Sanquhar glove knitting class with teacher Beth Brown-Reinsel</a> (video download, not an interactive class). I decided to get it to look for answers. Also, the class comes with a pattern, which I hoped would be easier to understand than the one that came with the kit I got in Scotland: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77DP2DBXi0x49ir8-6CZLorN5vXCTPO4m4g6vE9WPIHhlsh4_hvyhcEnQcgFvTR42r04eYj8kTzD9_tyrDp3-hCZdD_14TsNcd1q5y-rUQA5o7yuQgeZCKIQyIQn38tTNv3CiT8Drmd8/s2048/20210503_184911+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1910" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77DP2DBXi0x49ir8-6CZLorN5vXCTPO4m4g6vE9WPIHhlsh4_hvyhcEnQcgFvTR42r04eYj8kTzD9_tyrDp3-hCZdD_14TsNcd1q5y-rUQA5o7yuQgeZCKIQyIQn38tTNv3CiT8Drmd8/w373-h400/20210503_184911+%25282%2529.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>Beth's class includes all sorts of interesting history and show-and-tell, but it gets started with an earnest look at stitch gauge. She recommends making a swatch - in the round and in pattern - using 3 different needle sizes. Only then does she suggest casting on.<p></p><p>I looked again at what I had knit so far and had to admit that it was too big. Can you see it? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG6AdejzzvBy2TyVwCJd5znZgQ7bdEAosMgC04feUaGUn6UiszMtj91clO2j18LbRJ5-u5rt2ZS_XUa_5fl38HS05Xb6W5RyI19ySBdr4Z7RTAyok55pa1vei2JWuK4cWCdF8po6bNtI/s2048/20210912_114059+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG6AdejzzvBy2TyVwCJd5znZgQ7bdEAosMgC04feUaGUn6UiszMtj91clO2j18LbRJ5-u5rt2ZS_XUa_5fl38HS05Xb6W5RyI19ySBdr4Z7RTAyok55pa1vei2JWuK4cWCdF8po6bNtI/w343-h400/20210912_114059+%25282%2529.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br />There are a couple of things going on. First, I've already worked way past the point where my fingers begin. And more importantly, the gloves are just way too wide. Look at all the extra fabric along the left side of my hand. When I try to tuck it under, it looks more like this:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnZQ3enSgGPdbxMAAoVV0dSyAVKbuia-HdJAH_RvUWBBqi-zyFS1052V_w0j8Ics40CsbaKMhN9tjeWPHtmXQoLIfK67IupEbqGyIU_07y3GOnHmQbRi98On_UCsDrD19q8FCJ4iLx2k/s2048/20210912_114158+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1494" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnZQ3enSgGPdbxMAAoVV0dSyAVKbuia-HdJAH_RvUWBBqi-zyFS1052V_w0j8Ics40CsbaKMhN9tjeWPHtmXQoLIfK67IupEbqGyIU_07y3GOnHmQbRi98On_UCsDrD19q8FCJ4iLx2k/w291-h400/20210912_114158+%25282%2529.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br />Gloves should be snug, not baggy, so these are way too big for me. I worked this on 1.75 mm needles. I'm a loose-ish knitter, though. So I buckled down and ordered some 1.5 mm needles - these are U.S. 000! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkocq-OsLITM0q2xG0uboGsAEO0nsfIHeI-cuao4Nbxweaj2GlqC_YtufUYhD9ESWFbqJrXS_XHgVmHJ3OpN-U335oKKWD-_t_UUImIDuKWDngtGA9-fuSguNwQZzYlk4H8yJjeuSeQYM/s2048/20210912_114242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkocq-OsLITM0q2xG0uboGsAEO0nsfIHeI-cuao4Nbxweaj2GlqC_YtufUYhD9ESWFbqJrXS_XHgVmHJ3OpN-U335oKKWD-_t_UUImIDuKWDngtGA9-fuSguNwQZzYlk4H8yJjeuSeQYM/w300-h400/20210912_114242.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />If this doesn't work, I may just have to make these for someone with larger hands. The pattern is such that no one ever modifies the basic structure. Each column becomes a finger, so you can't just remove one of those blocky elements. I've been meaning to cast on my NEW gauge swatch with 1.5mm needles for a few weeks now, and today might just be the day it happens.<br /><br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-36983980976811903002021-09-07T19:52:00.002-04:002021-09-07T19:52:26.017-04:00Fifteen, Sixteen<p>I'm on track to knit 21 hats in 2021 - fifteen and sixteen have come off the needles! They are both very simple hats.</p><p>Hat #15 is yet another Sockhead Slouch (my eleventh one). Nothing special about the pattern, but the yarn is super special! This is a limited colorway from Neighborhood Fiber Co. called Fair Fight. It was dyed by color master Karida Collins to honor Stacey Abrams' amazing organization in Georgia. My sister lives in Atlanta and has worked on a bunch of "get out the vote" campaigns over the past 4 years. I sent her a picture of the yarn and she loved it, so I bought it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFHZOJC7hxDA4WJVtT4m-8u2FSn8Ld69cWlD4MEor3mVjM7sdKtCgZf_M4E2rnpX8cc8Zm8G3m7Vo0tetHDLcP21FRX4ONzkw9dSIiFX1gpbYBI7RE6MPfgCtBfxoHX3M-EshY5oIBB8/s2048/20210116_114059+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFHZOJC7hxDA4WJVtT4m-8u2FSn8Ld69cWlD4MEor3mVjM7sdKtCgZf_M4E2rnpX8cc8Zm8G3m7Vo0tetHDLcP21FRX4ONzkw9dSIiFX1gpbYBI7RE6MPfgCtBfxoHX3M-EshY5oIBB8/w400-h400/20210116_114059+crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />You could get this colorway on any base, but I chose Organic Studio Sock. Atlanta isn't known for its cold weather, so a thin hat seemed to be in order. My sister wanted something simple, so Sockhead Slouch it was (though this isn't her in the photo):<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR939F-fR6WepTf6hqSJn1N8UE2OAFpnKO4-sILk9lRZFkH3Px3naNilbu-KmMgxZukNQXmUvKr4rdu92XihRysKSJqh9Dbw4Slsi_4YULbGOfbiyZSx1DddsIlzWuO6w4JRSGJkyQG0/s2048/20210830_183801+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFR939F-fR6WepTf6hqSJn1N8UE2OAFpnKO4-sILk9lRZFkH3Px3naNilbu-KmMgxZukNQXmUvKr4rdu92XihRysKSJqh9Dbw4Slsi_4YULbGOfbiyZSx1DddsIlzWuO6w4JRSGJkyQG0/w400-h400/20210830_183801+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I loved knitting every stitch of this. The yarn felt great in my hands, and the tonal variation of all the blues, with some purple speckles, was entertaining. Plus, I thought a lot about the impact Stacey Abrams has had on all our lives. For my Pennsylvania readers, have you heard about the <a href="https://www.newpaproject.org/" target="_blank">New Pennsylvania Project</a>, which is modeled after Abrams' New Georgia Project and Fair Fight? Something to watch!<br /><p></p><p>Hat #16 is another design by Woolly Wormhead. She had a sale this summer, so I bought a couple of patterns after matching them with yarn in stash. The first one is this Waffle Slouch, worked in worsted weight yarn. I still had some handspun, undyed BFL left over from <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JLWinPA/katara-2" target="_blank">Katara #2</a> (Rav link), and it worked perfectly for this. The pattern is a grid (like waffles), but it's an open grid (like a screen). It reminds me of those old-fashioned snoods. I finished knitting this hat during a meeting at work, and I slipped it onto my head to see if it fit. My colleague exclaimed over it, and I immediately handed it over - I didn't even block it! She is one of two friends who adores any shade of brown, so it was fitting that these two individuals are now the owners of Katara #2 and Waffle Slouch. I could not be happier to have the yarn out of stash and out of my house. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Gsg9w_JAkoxcZ-LPQix1AOR5_sLum9g6LGK4fd1PuJtWFI_ZJS-dw5YN4UAMe2bgFTJVuPt2kxLiu2DCnxj2evs_CYrHqfYFqkJPIadQhk4t3vjU4o5hAKWwxLkQEXfocGUpgYWtxNk/s2048/20210903_102555+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Gsg9w_JAkoxcZ-LPQix1AOR5_sLum9g6LGK4fd1PuJtWFI_ZJS-dw5YN4UAMe2bgFTJVuPt2kxLiu2DCnxj2evs_CYrHqfYFqkJPIadQhk4t3vjU4o5hAKWwxLkQEXfocGUpgYWtxNk/w339-h400/20210903_102555+%25282%2529.jpg" width="339" /></a></div>I've now knit 12 of Woolly Wormhead's hat designs, and I have two more patterns waiting in the wings. The other pattern I bought at her summer sale is the <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/get-garter-beret" target="_blank">Get Garter Beret </a>(which sounds a lot more simple than it looks) - it's made with fingering yarn. Just today, she released the <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/square-cubed" target="_blank">Square Cubed</a> design with a discount for newsletter subscribers, and I scooped that up, too. It is a stranded design, also made with fingering yarn.<p></p><p>Even as I explore other Woolly Wormhead patterns, I keep returning to the <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/elemental" target="_blank">Elemental collection</a>. The 3 hats I made with Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool had excellent drape and softness. I decided that Silky Wool is the ideal yarn for these designs, so I bought more. I got 11 skeins in 5 colors. This isn't the best photo I've ever taken, but it gives you an idea of the range. The colors are: Medium Gray, Oxblood, Wasabi, Larkspur, and Blue Spruce.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRlXBi-olVIgbPpfQA-6rRpEyspOoAX_IVCRl48bRaNddjdmkod-tCDllXJoctkCHpQYPcg8lHR6tbCz5h-Uh6WV3Dd2Wka2rVJLeQ4Ahvd0nHuDie3pFedOeVRwqTps4wlrmCPktzmc/s2048/20210907_185203+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRlXBi-olVIgbPpfQA-6rRpEyspOoAX_IVCRl48bRaNddjdmkod-tCDllXJoctkCHpQYPcg8lHR6tbCz5h-Uh6WV3Dd2Wka2rVJLeQ4Ahvd0nHuDie3pFedOeVRwqTps4wlrmCPktzmc/w400-h400/20210907_185203+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And I still have some in Blackcurrant and Verdigris!<p></p><p>Yeah, I don't think it will be any trouble to get to 21 hats in 2021...<br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-84007522297342074662021-08-20T19:46:00.002-04:002021-08-20T19:46:52.149-04:00Four Looks Towels<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5c9FC5HanCto6P4Dzg22ddLwbp-_L9o6d1O9CEYP-4k13_sDQVSl5fOMwyT4EvaV9VO4pJQom7Pk1s7U_wTqbiH3hZlxQYYPMQtQjL4pBz8TUYbwOk3Qpk7qe7Uh60E_ihKY39pmoLo/s2048/20210813_190052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5c9FC5HanCto6P4Dzg22ddLwbp-_L9o6d1O9CEYP-4k13_sDQVSl5fOMwyT4EvaV9VO4pJQom7Pk1s7U_wTqbiH3hZlxQYYPMQtQjL4pBz8TUYbwOk3Qpk7qe7Uh60E_ihKY39pmoLo/w400-h300/20210813_190052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This was a long, slow project, but it well and truly done now that it's finished and photographed! I started warping my Flip loom for the Yarnworker Spring WAL (weaver's choice of any project from the catalog) back in mid-May. I didn't start weaving until late June, and the towels were finally all hemmed on August 1. Then it took a while to get photos. So many steps! Here is my intrepid clothesline pole (the other end is tied to a tree): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsaBSykyB3W85emucQHedvxJF1mS-Ekv35XWRahCj84UhHntE0uYpb1LLoPPSxlVJNzV9lz9Q5vBQsVD5_C_kYYxyRfcjDJFbe4x-SSQqs8Q0YqqUj_leXfn2V2n42UtGOtlGnfWtzg0/s2048/20210813_190058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsaBSykyB3W85emucQHedvxJF1mS-Ekv35XWRahCj84UhHntE0uYpb1LLoPPSxlVJNzV9lz9Q5vBQsVD5_C_kYYxyRfcjDJFbe4x-SSQqs8Q0YqqUj_leXfn2V2n42UtGOtlGnfWtzg0/w400-h300/20210813_190058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love that I was able to make these entirely from stash. I used Brassard 8/2 cotton in white, vieux bleu Y94, bleu pale Y756, and limette pale Y4269. The warp yarn was doubled in a 10-dent heddle and also doubled in the weft. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdz0T-zJ2FYzxPj5JKHIpMLYRpP5WtgSmIZ_0SerxFF32xTopYOUTF7vBiGjcWhxkiF8m73O49iTqEOr8-dqzSyejq8gYG-juII7XWG0lVXPfioKhokDhOaMum42VAKkBq0dJZyVJou0/s2048/20210808_075942+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdz0T-zJ2FYzxPj5JKHIpMLYRpP5WtgSmIZ_0SerxFF32xTopYOUTF7vBiGjcWhxkiF8m73O49iTqEOr8-dqzSyejq8gYG-juII7XWG0lVXPfioKhokDhOaMum42VAKkBq0dJZyVJou0/w400-h400/20210808_075942+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I also love that these are clearly a "family," but they aren't matchy-matchy. Stripes in the warp create so many possibilities! <p></p><p>My finished towels are about 18.75-19" wide. The length varies more (24-25.5") because I sometimes ended a bit early in order to center a stripe pattern. I didn't quite realize that the design had a hem built in, and I added my own which I wove with 16/2 cotton (thinner, to minimize bulk). </p><p>Another thing that isn't perfect about these towels is their shape - they are all a bit trapezoidal! I think this is because I found it very hard to wind this warp evenly. The threads on the left side were always a bit "softer" than the others, and I think this created more length in the finished fabric on one side. I need to think about this and maybe consult Liz. I think you can see that in this photo (despite the slight angle of the clothesline):<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJhlrsu6cFt7GQRQE0LyQ0TL4JGieyoMg42P0mTCRVtIEHR6AwXFUB-_rW7GR2b7BlOPElFvhUjkk7gB2ZMaWWUPngNhGE9pYNZAt2iGMXfc9jNd6cZKokCAT2Xy8RjYSDDMy9xYRowI/s2048/20210813_185817+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJhlrsu6cFt7GQRQE0LyQ0TL4JGieyoMg42P0mTCRVtIEHR6AwXFUB-_rW7GR2b7BlOPElFvhUjkk7gB2ZMaWWUPngNhGE9pYNZAt2iGMXfc9jNd6cZKokCAT2Xy8RjYSDDMy9xYRowI/w343-h400/20210813_185817+%25282%2529.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>Overall, I'm pleased with these towels and especially proud of how good the plaid looks.<p></p><p>The <a href="https://yarnworker.thinkific.com/pages/summer-2021-weave-along-colorwork-bands">summer WAL</a> is about to start, and we will be weaving warp-faced bands. I've wanted to do this for a while, so I'm excited. <br /><br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-88807898690441875382021-08-15T19:40:00.000-04:002021-08-15T19:40:02.573-04:00Da Crofter's Kep - finished<p> The kep is done! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu0SeYWVoTzoBOUnOnH9ZctmlL0ag1YAbAc2oFpzfa0CiEoiq4nlx4CX5yYTPTiNuesY_QBvCVK76WDZ25sjyYOkwqdbV5A-0QMXT4HTJZDGZRx8lMQrIZa_8ggzYivYA5A4JKiG8dIM/s2048/20210813_184612+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu0SeYWVoTzoBOUnOnH9ZctmlL0ag1YAbAc2oFpzfa0CiEoiq4nlx4CX5yYTPTiNuesY_QBvCVK76WDZ25sjyYOkwqdbV5A-0QMXT4HTJZDGZRx8lMQrIZa_8ggzYivYA5A4JKiG8dIM/w400-h400/20210813_184612+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is a beanie-style hat that fits close to the head. I was a little worried about fit, but it turned out fine. I added two additional rounds in the ribbing section. <p></p><p>This is worked on a 2.5 mm needle. If I make another hat like this for my son, I will definitely have to move up to a 2.75 mm needle. </p><p>I'm in love with the crown! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78NdoaDn0c7LuiAYVTLzYFaKWe26gr7GqRwWlQVm4QkqTHrQhKGYBKwhmu5fZUylx5Bnm2aQH0WANvuHO6KfVvKqVNfxP0aQTPCUOZ1P6QDLVMD7k_kkGID2mUHLnMfP5MDCwCM1HJqQ/s2048/20210813_184600+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78NdoaDn0c7LuiAYVTLzYFaKWe26gr7GqRwWlQVm4QkqTHrQhKGYBKwhmu5fZUylx5Bnm2aQH0WANvuHO6KfVvKqVNfxP0aQTPCUOZ1P6QDLVMD7k_kkGID2mUHLnMfP5MDCwCM1HJqQ/w400-h400/20210813_184600+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This little hat is light as a feather. Okay, not really... it weighs 42.4 grams. It's just a wee thing! I have between 21 and 24 grams of each ball remaining. This is a LOT out of balls that started with 25 g each. I had 2 balls of the main color (the deepest brown), used up one of them, and have 24.3 grams left. So by acquiring one more ball of deep brown, I could easily make another hat. HMMM.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGkomBo6ClEC20a_db7BHa5kz65r9buG7DWw6bRGidNlUOZYdmseXNNA4o7poA9R9lvMnpr9MrvoDGvPCSzodHaXkoj5qErz17SPlRT-qJF2Kb3ytsUoLYX5mF0-MqKu3l9izsAYlJ28/s2048/20210813_184724+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGkomBo6ClEC20a_db7BHa5kz65r9buG7DWw6bRGidNlUOZYdmseXNNA4o7poA9R9lvMnpr9MrvoDGvPCSzodHaXkoj5qErz17SPlRT-qJF2Kb3ytsUoLYX5mF0-MqKu3l9izsAYlJ28/w400-h400/20210813_184724+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In other news, I finished yet another pair of plain vanilla socks. I started these while spending time visiting someone in the hospital. I didn't have an easy, portable project on the needles when this hospital event started, but I knew I needed one - so I just threw a ball of Regia yarn and my 2.0mm needles into a bag. By the time I was nearing the toe of the first sock, I offered them up to the universe (if by "universe" you mean my limited Instagram following) and identified a recipient. These will be delivered this week: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rxtAL51ZyFjgQd9DpSoIHGvM8VsU7yzGjLbTdUPUXlOKEf5CaNK5yXiEsJF9g9kgRb5bO7Gp8FQ1LkK-fVLcaFB-QHLyKDf1h_Kqffc8kt-pEKiU-WYPP5Uv2f0wm9OnU2tzkBf4jiU/s2048/20210813_184817+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1671" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rxtAL51ZyFjgQd9DpSoIHGvM8VsU7yzGjLbTdUPUXlOKEf5CaNK5yXiEsJF9g9kgRb5bO7Gp8FQ1LkK-fVLcaFB-QHLyKDf1h_Kqffc8kt-pEKiU-WYPP5Uv2f0wm9OnU2tzkBf4jiU/w326-h400/20210813_184817+%25283%2529.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><br />They are just basic socks, with an eye-of-partridge heel that I favor. It's hard to see the stitch structure in such a busy yarn, but it's there, lending strength to a high-wear area of the sock: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqtR8zhJ1J_9P07pyAXk_0Y_1clxdRiHaU_F7YGiwYCv2Kk-rqV93J7x-E7SISWkUSl_fwsLwV4jtXJHTEC7MwRcNXwi5OuGryxTU7JN0NLKK70he05p4y_l9UhyphenhyphenV9ska-gxhxedJjVQ/s2048/20210813_184827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqtR8zhJ1J_9P07pyAXk_0Y_1clxdRiHaU_F7YGiwYCv2Kk-rqV93J7x-E7SISWkUSl_fwsLwV4jtXJHTEC7MwRcNXwi5OuGryxTU7JN0NLKK70he05p4y_l9UhyphenhyphenV9ska-gxhxedJjVQ/w300-h400/20210813_184827.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I'm happy to have had this ball in stash, and equally happy that it's now out of stash. <br /><br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-8846764934640601172021-07-25T19:25:00.003-04:002021-07-25T19:25:43.522-04:00Da Crofter's Kep<p>My fourteenth hat of 2021 is a special one - it's the official 2021 <a href="https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/">Shetland Wool Week</a> hat pattern. I've been wanting to make one of these iconic fair isle projects for a while now. When S1 asked me for ideas for a 7th anniversary gift (the traditional gift is "wool" - !), I decided to ask for yarn to make one of the Shetland Wool Week hats. They are all beanie-style hats, which look terrible on me, so I asked her to pick a design and a colorway that would suit her. I would have the fun of making the hat, and also be able to look forward to seeing her wear it in Scotland someday when we travel there together.</p><p>She chose the <a href="https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com/free-knitting-pattern/">2021 design, Da Crofter's Kep</a>. This is the main pattern photo: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXNGQLHG05BXjL2lNjxXkShiVD5MVlW220Lw4SDoFlu76xhurg6ITgN3QROgfjPgHc4JuZaSSQ3ACEdR1D7iZfra2yopCR3fdnyeZBq8tl6NQL-MQ65snpccjqSfCvZRiGYreUmc_Pmg/s591/Da-Crofters-Kep-591x400-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="591" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXNGQLHG05BXjL2lNjxXkShiVD5MVlW220Lw4SDoFlu76xhurg6ITgN3QROgfjPgHc4JuZaSSQ3ACEdR1D7iZfra2yopCR3fdnyeZBq8tl6NQL-MQ65snpccjqSfCvZRiGYreUmc_Pmg/w400-h271/Da-Crofters-Kep-591x400-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The hat uses six colors. The designer, Wilma Malcolmson, thoughtfully created five different color combinations using five different sources of Shetland wool. Of course, you could choose your own colors, too! S1 really gravitated toward the hat made with all natural shades from <a href="https://www.foulawool.co.uk/">Foula Wool</a>, a farm on Foula island west of the Shetland isles. Unsurprisingly, this yarn was unavailable to me in the U.S. in late May. I managed to find a <a href="https://www.foryarnssake.com/shetland-wool-week-2021-da-crofters-kep-kit-colour-39074262.html">U.S. yarn shop selling a kit</a> with Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift in similar shades. That was my anniversary gift - seven balls for seven years. (Actually, we've been together 7+20 years, but it only became legal to marry in Pennsylvania in 2014, so that's when we got an official anniversary date and commenced the fun gift exchange.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgRgJJbzQ9-qRh5dsNXHInvz84iLDqUm5uzfKnTBHOT8pk230lhd6KFKmlfsgTQpTh8gikExGaXBW-gK6ub_boUPAXc0vLO3YnDIvlktKYQCzNZ7vnXV0WBVMIxZ9xd1524t6tv76tY0/s2048/20210527_103015+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2020" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgRgJJbzQ9-qRh5dsNXHInvz84iLDqUm5uzfKnTBHOT8pk230lhd6KFKmlfsgTQpTh8gikExGaXBW-gK6ub_boUPAXc0vLO3YnDIvlktKYQCzNZ7vnXV0WBVMIxZ9xd1524t6tv76tY0/w395-h400/20210527_103015+%25282%2529.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>Luckily, a conversion chart was also provided, so I didn't have to figure out the difference between mooskit, mogit, and moorit. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkFBXknE4gUFZVnrjqhuSKEsqhue1ddVtYv7h3cg4O4tTglWccmmmjl_ihScTnBX7m794L8EepNRXR_U-3dLgzFUHuM2hyphenhyphenodB38B5vdBhFM2rusgT65GKFnNeDZDqycfe5NwVJr8SPZo/s2048/20210527_103247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkFBXknE4gUFZVnrjqhuSKEsqhue1ddVtYv7h3cg4O4tTglWccmmmjl_ihScTnBX7m794L8EepNRXR_U-3dLgzFUHuM2hyphenhyphenodB38B5vdBhFM2rusgT65GKFnNeDZDqycfe5NwVJr8SPZo/w300-h400/20210527_103247.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I dutifully swatched. Here's my swatch pinned out to block. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3EM5noRwhpuFhbLbTaPZi-pJQZ7u6mlLCOn9TN9D841TZJpk4y9-2E3G1X9IU9zen7n37fjwgLb9ezEsj4HGSBUeee4D2ud41XwXug6bRtHh0NgWWVNOrT8v2fBV_zebnhyphenhyphenl3bU-BlA/s2048/20210706_183754+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2009" data-original-width="2048" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3EM5noRwhpuFhbLbTaPZi-pJQZ7u6mlLCOn9TN9D841TZJpk4y9-2E3G1X9IU9zen7n37fjwgLb9ezEsj4HGSBUeee4D2ud41XwXug6bRtHh0NgWWVNOrT8v2fBV_zebnhyphenhyphenl3bU-BlA/w400-h393/20210706_183754+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I did not get gauge, and confusingly, my row and stitch gauge were off in different directions. I decided to throw caution to the wind and just knit the hat. I was already using the needle size (2.5 mm) specified for the smallest size hat and didn't want to go down any further.<p></p><p>I just adore these little 25 gram balls of Shetland yarn. Here they are all organized in my project bin: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVy66ruwWqXwl1rie-UHyqHqkDKh6FxGwJVjixhyphenhyphenZzxzc1xxeUl15ERec1rlJ1tz0PAA9PkHfBYseKlBN9HFKNcGw3E0Q4zCd3sSxURdSmPaJopveEcl5UuQIn7tjxUyVERHiziSjNeE/s2048/20210725_163242+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="2048" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVy66ruwWqXwl1rie-UHyqHqkDKh6FxGwJVjixhyphenhyphenZzxzc1xxeUl15ERec1rlJ1tz0PAA9PkHfBYseKlBN9HFKNcGw3E0Q4zCd3sSxURdSmPaJopveEcl5UuQIn7tjxUyVERHiziSjNeE/w400-h291/20210725_163242+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm making decent progress on the hat. The shades are mesmerizing. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiafQ1BwYdSY6EDyZeSqrdnstAqHUx5qcrjpqvXxwe0svjmJNLOkM5VWSvCVM3LV0H8IF3BusHcnfTlQNK6Atkj4ZOtYzJozLnkM71WZrcZDfVy7Kl4e_7po7mEEptEeLM98H2MYTzJA/s2048/20210725_163316+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiafQ1BwYdSY6EDyZeSqrdnstAqHUx5qcrjpqvXxwe0svjmJNLOkM5VWSvCVM3LV0H8IF3BusHcnfTlQNK6Atkj4ZOtYzJozLnkM71WZrcZDfVy7Kl4e_7po7mEEptEeLM98H2MYTzJA/w400-h400/20210725_163316+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />When I passed the washed swatch around at Knit Night last week, everyone was surprised at how soft it is. This hat is going to be dreamy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygtmmes9BeVmWBa7pWyf1NcrRV9w572JvfAAk6_dAQkufZp5VWtQQvdDobwsrDhjjsd6I8IItFGitRFW2GC4sPUV5GeG-d0AVOXDBhiw8i77QvuHA18_8bz_4MDWSMYn_yBgJi2JNaRU/s2048/20210725_163338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygtmmes9BeVmWBa7pWyf1NcrRV9w572JvfAAk6_dAQkufZp5VWtQQvdDobwsrDhjjsd6I8IItFGitRFW2GC4sPUV5GeG-d0AVOXDBhiw8i77QvuHA18_8bz_4MDWSMYn_yBgJi2JNaRU/w400-h300/20210725_163338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I can understand how knitters develop a stash of Shetland fingering wool for stranded colorwork. It has an addictive quality, and little bits and bobs are useful as accent colors. This will definitely not be the last time I work with Shetland yarn. I've been enjoying the <a href="https://jamiesonandsmith.wordpress.com/2021/07/24/wirsit-inspo-may-june-july/">color combinations inspired by Shetland photos</a> on the Jamieson & Smith blog - take a look if you're interested. <p></p><p>I once heard <a href="https://ithoughtiknewhow.familypodcasts.com/episode-017-shetland-wool-week-part-i/">a podcast episode</a> in which the host talked extensively about knitting ALL of the Shetland Wool Week hat designs. She even included a recommendation about the best order in which to knit them. The idea of making all eight of them (<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/shetland-wool-week-website/patterns?show=&view=medium&sort=created_">Ravelry link to the entire collection</a>) is intriguing! <br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-69072927927294957532021-07-07T14:33:00.003-04:002021-07-07T14:33:59.692-04:00Summer WAL<p>The Yarnworker Summer WAL (weavealong) is any project from the WAL catalog! I've been wanting to get another set of towels on the loom, so I knew I would be doing towels. I also wanted to use yarn from stash, so I got out my entire collection of 8/2 cotton to see what I have on hand: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvKoVsChD2_dre04t0pmvLjetKcUL-d9y_vTXxMtxEsgyHbe-IT8N45FrcYbI_DeuocGLqrR3ZvM6mWxu7uPR5mxwPNXNQT4L9pTfKtLcJKFz0Dk-RPhnmNnCqrTu42ayP1DDaqf0keE/s2048/20210515_180615+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvKoVsChD2_dre04t0pmvLjetKcUL-d9y_vTXxMtxEsgyHbe-IT8N45FrcYbI_DeuocGLqrR3ZvM6mWxu7uPR5mxwPNXNQT4L9pTfKtLcJKFz0Dk-RPhnmNnCqrTu42ayP1DDaqf0keE/w400-h272/20210515_180615+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My initial idea was to rework the <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2017/07/color-and-weave-towels.html">Color-and-Weave Towels</a> in a larger size. I made these in 2017 in my 15" Cricket loom. After washing, the finished towels are a bit over 13" in width. But I like BIG kitchen towels - my target size is always 17.5" x 25". I wanted to try these again. As you can see, they are worked in two colors:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVtrvAVjWAnbl-zArziBtgzSlAEWIsvGNwTXJQFp3wPhv-MMEm1AAVnIqBlrwIvBu56UtsAaquU3iZtr9nnQr7cIgS8D3RSHv0zNay4M0oFsHeY-0QSDqHBB6n6Qjgny1rQjkNWDLNmg/s2048/36077073636_484f0208c7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="2048" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVtrvAVjWAnbl-zArziBtgzSlAEWIsvGNwTXJQFp3wPhv-MMEm1AAVnIqBlrwIvBu56UtsAaquU3iZtr9nnQr7cIgS8D3RSHv0zNay4M0oFsHeY-0QSDqHBB6n6Qjgny1rQjkNWDLNmg/w400-h271/36077073636_484f0208c7_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I sat down and did a bunch of math to figure out how much yarn I would need for my upsized version. Then I returned to my stash and realized the only color I had enough of in the main color yardage is white. I didn't want to use white, because it is likely to look dirty and dingy much faster. So I changed gears and looked at the pattern for Four Looks Towels, from <a href="https://yarnworker.com/shop/handwoven-home-by-liz-gipson/"><i>Handwoven Home</i></a>. They use four colors, so you need less yardage in any one color. By changing the weft on each towel, you get a significantly different look. Here's the page from the book: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf85YtcRNDuxFkgri5vaq334wxlDJ9lU7_kkAUqRiTqtec3Kl13P7njtQegN_2VUqeA1OuT8F7TBFTjKaqrrI6LbPlumFdMNSe0vPlCCD6GqVuOJPIt4FhI6pJ83HJUkSaQYCfGINKUaY/s2048/20210707_135414+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf85YtcRNDuxFkgri5vaq334wxlDJ9lU7_kkAUqRiTqtec3Kl13P7njtQegN_2VUqeA1OuT8F7TBFTjKaqrrI6LbPlumFdMNSe0vPlCCD6GqVuOJPIt4FhI6pJ83HJUkSaQYCfGINKUaY/w268-h400/20210707_135414+%25282%2529.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />My color scheme is not that different from Liz's - we both use two shades of blue, plus white, and a green accent color. I usually get a kick out of using very different colors than a pattern calls for, but my stash would not allow it this time - oh, well! <p></p><p>I decided to warp using a new-to-me technique which combines elements of direct and indirect warping. It's mostly a direct method, but one uses a warping board to wind the yarn rather than walking back and forth across the room between the loom and the peg(s). It took me a few tries to get my winding pattern and length worked out, but here is a bird's eye view: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEm_F13JDPKORcJlWcdSF3-PLcEWNqB4rztycGjDfsmWHhN3C97p_C0rWjMLprr8mMJbMs_MEUWjBeG2epfDyC7woCs9T5bDGBuhIqY9hidkjBTMJWbqAjU9k9c49Ed7tz9UupwgGpFs/s2048/20210522_132855+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2048" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEm_F13JDPKORcJlWcdSF3-PLcEWNqB4rztycGjDfsmWHhN3C97p_C0rWjMLprr8mMJbMs_MEUWjBeG2epfDyC7woCs9T5bDGBuhIqY9hidkjBTMJWbqAjU9k9c49Ed7tz9UupwgGpFs/w400-h221/20210522_132855+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is quite a long warp, and it was helpful to me to work on it intermittently, with breaks. This is where this warping method really shines. Its footprint is much more compact than the usual direct warping method, so I could leave this set up in the living room over a few days. My normal setup usually has to be set up and taken down between meals. Here's another view:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihikGq6eiDVSuFPTSDG0YH-77z3ELUpJyz2_mGYNoqJiS0DrTUsa-Ql0CVMb85BgE-k8oC4KOkcXOkf78JFhtivJr_lHiHDwaGdzxs4kLmcobWE1deMslL5XAnz7ewfahQ44IwhGCyDhg/s2048/20210522_132928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihikGq6eiDVSuFPTSDG0YH-77z3ELUpJyz2_mGYNoqJiS0DrTUsa-Ql0CVMb85BgE-k8oC4KOkcXOkf78JFhtivJr_lHiHDwaGdzxs4kLmcobWE1deMslL5XAnz7ewfahQ44IwhGCyDhg/w300-h400/20210522_132928.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I discovered a mistake pretty early in my process - can you see it? I should have taken a slightly different path on the left. The warp threads on the far left travel a much further distance than the ones in the middle. This meant my warp was "foreshortened," or "not the same length throughout." Once I packed the beam, this is how crooked my warp threads were! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkBRn9MAm4Nu1PW5ZaWMsrY41RWIpoGeewVt_7fGV2s6a00QqtGWsKjDbq9tVfKe7lMxu1FXBhObSW6cYaiQOSI5661K2CRTlJAFZhjFK_Qj8R3IO2y4wAyk1JkG_GGmz7axi9iCE7cw/s2048/20210522_151341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkBRn9MAm4Nu1PW5ZaWMsrY41RWIpoGeewVt_7fGV2s6a00QqtGWsKjDbq9tVfKe7lMxu1FXBhObSW6cYaiQOSI5661K2CRTlJAFZhjFK_Qj8R3IO2y4wAyk1JkG_GGmz7axi9iCE7cw/w300-h400/20210522_151341.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>No worries, nothing a little trim can't even up: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PDPmOnPrW9TMIrevJ2hvsqjHYeLsQR9YnilqNWnG_AGL2G37AGUaxmSf2lFgRQKZQvUX-VmyQ8bECozjStqZITQGFKu1hYoN44T4kniHjxn3GJ6L8CUwOtvFN7vJUA-GcnMYisIMeew/s2048/20210522_151856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PDPmOnPrW9TMIrevJ2hvsqjHYeLsQR9YnilqNWnG_AGL2G37AGUaxmSf2lFgRQKZQvUX-VmyQ8bECozjStqZITQGFKu1hYoN44T4kniHjxn3GJ6L8CUwOtvFN7vJUA-GcnMYisIMeew/w300-h400/20210522_151856.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />I spread the warp and got ready to weave. All of this was done in late May, and then I got distracted by some other projects and didn't really get back to the loom for over a month! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4TYXyX3v5SOA2nC3XSIUHpEYhhNy2hDqvKiS2Flo0q5SllVyWa9eefUKhQ7pIIdVG8mbefT7BY2dZbU2xLhqWCsNoh6a3d33LnK8DOPRZTAkKzY-8laIyQMnRIT4LZZT8-Om8sInz-g/s2048/20210523_090340+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1855" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4TYXyX3v5SOA2nC3XSIUHpEYhhNy2hDqvKiS2Flo0q5SllVyWa9eefUKhQ7pIIdVG8mbefT7BY2dZbU2xLhqWCsNoh6a3d33LnK8DOPRZTAkKzY-8laIyQMnRIT4LZZT8-Om8sInz-g/w363-h400/20210523_090340+%25282%2529.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><br />In June, I finally got moving again (it only took a 21-hour power loss and 3-day internet loss, ha!). Towel #1 is "tromp as writ," which means the weft pattern is exactly the same as the warp pattern. It results in a very pleasing plaid. Here's the beginning of towel #1: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojGUZVGRIkXN-EM7LTA963O6ur3kmCKrOYYVZBnDmDRyVczrVMqUVkH4pvCJg9dHeZPcMkWalagOu6rS1ha0gHhwjHBFeTZ-d5BWcTmzlqfOY8q51LRinwtjaETxaJfZV35KI2Pd24WA/s2048/20210623_170915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojGUZVGRIkXN-EM7LTA963O6ur3kmCKrOYYVZBnDmDRyVczrVMqUVkH4pvCJg9dHeZPcMkWalagOu6rS1ha0gHhwjHBFeTZ-d5BWcTmzlqfOY8q51LRinwtjaETxaJfZV35KI2Pd24WA/w300-h400/20210623_170915.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I got my weaving cart all organized to support this project. You can see the four shuttles all wound and ready to go. I've copied the weft instructions from the book and hung them over the top basket edge. My waste bowl for all the snipped threads is in the top basket, as are my T-pins and the 16/2 cotton I use for the hem area. The book and my notes are on the bottom shelf. The whole thing rolls easily to where I need it, and then can roll back in a corner when I don't. I love this little cart I got at Michael's! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAkj7jTOAFbfsWVirKqwBNfpDBgHhHYqYqjOIYkCv1rfTOwMg_azYd-ziauHr7sty34nRXCZ6xhqEWFXszQ518INkikE2Vv63fCzDjrdAaKnA6yf0v4aIKvsHiGPbVLxfElYrCVU47OA/s2048/20210623_191532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAkj7jTOAFbfsWVirKqwBNfpDBgHhHYqYqjOIYkCv1rfTOwMg_azYd-ziauHr7sty34nRXCZ6xhqEWFXszQ518INkikE2Vv63fCzDjrdAaKnA6yf0v4aIKvsHiGPbVLxfElYrCVU47OA/w300-h400/20210623_191532.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm on to Towel #2 now. It is also a plaid pattern, but it only uses 3 colors. In my scheme, this will mean more of the dark blue. Here's the start of it: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQmR7uiQt47N_UDt0UNjo7hBobvqSEZNOcSV9uWgj0LsjciEvH9SCP2u114fRuD8gsniBhzHul7D8VVbkm4WQTfLkFmX2PKA2eO1AWl8tB0wI8gr6oZkN8VRJFSUucEWCEtJd1Yoj2TU/s2048/20210707_135351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQmR7uiQt47N_UDt0UNjo7hBobvqSEZNOcSV9uWgj0LsjciEvH9SCP2u114fRuD8gsniBhzHul7D8VVbkm4WQTfLkFmX2PKA2eO1AWl8tB0wI8gr6oZkN8VRJFSUucEWCEtJd1Yoj2TU/w300-h400/20210707_135351.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Even though there is a lot of stopping and starting with the frequent color changes, there is still a soothing rhythm to the work that I really enjoy. I think these will be a lovely set, and I've already done the math for my next set in the future!<br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-16628055837895026712021-07-03T19:40:00.002-04:002021-07-03T19:40:27.971-04:00Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen<p>Friends, June got away from me. It's already July! Somehow I only posted twice last month. However, the knitting continued and I now have three more hats to show for it. These are the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth hats I've made in 2021. Maybe I should go for 21 hats in 2021?</p><p>First up, I finished the Katara hat in natural shades for my friend Heidi. This is the second time I've knit this Woolly Wormhead design, which represents the element of water. The mushroom-y yarn is BFL, and the cream is Rambouillet - both are handspun: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6lu6szohrNgikkUR7-T6VbIlMZOqTbRL_nPBpwL4rbT5B2lYeNNc0ksbthLB6mzV4NS-ymwr0SdmB_VkmDe3SmKZ8wGVP7w0FfriKhC2Sf8oLM5Q-NGPaDIuZhR9Y4NigUbYeSTnoA0/s2048/20210617_194434+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6lu6szohrNgikkUR7-T6VbIlMZOqTbRL_nPBpwL4rbT5B2lYeNNc0ksbthLB6mzV4NS-ymwr0SdmB_VkmDe3SmKZ8wGVP7w0FfriKhC2Sf8oLM5Q-NGPaDIuZhR9Y4NigUbYeSTnoA0/w400-h400/20210617_194434+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm a huge fan of these sideways-knit hats from Woolly Wormhead. She has a new collection of sideways-knit hats called <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/convergence">Convergence</a>. These designs incorporate mosaic knitting, which I haven't done before, so maybe I'll try those next? <p></p><p>My next hat is kind of vivid - you may want to shield your eyes. When going out to eat dinner for the first time post-vaccination, I needed an easy project. I grabbed a skein of super old sock yarn and printed off the one-page cheat sheet for the Sockhead Hat. Frankly, I find this yarn to be UGLY. It looks like IKEA, but in the very worst way. It pools and splashes, but not even in a regular way, and I just find the dye job to be amateurish. I hate it, but my hope is that someone else will love it. It will be a donation! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcQvO2x1EIgK10_gvwMzCIb9CcL-2FgDkIYCgAyQ80SorYByN6XwV4hLS2tj1VYZdj8aaz_4cSEktx9BhnLgvFkjDNzNg-lK_DAXb8dA05jYO6nRLQN8dLg7LJtDPC0ORAwD1uyqN8sA/s2048/20210702_110523+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcQvO2x1EIgK10_gvwMzCIb9CcL-2FgDkIYCgAyQ80SorYByN6XwV4hLS2tj1VYZdj8aaz_4cSEktx9BhnLgvFkjDNzNg-lK_DAXb8dA05jYO6nRLQN8dLg7LJtDPC0ORAwD1uyqN8sA/w400-h400/20210702_110523+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This yarn came to me in a sock club shipment way back in 2007. I started to knit the pattern it came with, but it was clear that the circumference was too big, so I quit. I've actually had this yarn marked "to trade or sell" on Ravelry for well over a decade, with no takers. It is a merino/nylon/bamboo blend, so it's really slinky. Here's what it looked like when I started making the sock in 2007 - in addition to bad sizing, I felt the lace pattern was completely obscured by the loud yarn. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZuWT9rp4_oW402gdjyeomwJxPk2R9grZp-SR7pk5onK4bjO_7e-bjxquVcIXTrkCRM-VQh7GhwDoN_RagEoWOF_xtowsKLc0AhLaW7tz4sbykVF-zLyCXoAn-ecLoo0nI6zdkyqyQJ4/s477/1294708843_99dfb0fc9c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="477" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZuWT9rp4_oW402gdjyeomwJxPk2R9grZp-SR7pk5onK4bjO_7e-bjxquVcIXTrkCRM-VQh7GhwDoN_RagEoWOF_xtowsKLc0AhLaW7tz4sbykVF-zLyCXoAn-ecLoo0nI6zdkyqyQJ4/w400-h296/1294708843_99dfb0fc9c_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>While I still have 45 grams of this eye-searing yarn, I am considering it to be "all gone." In fact, I might just toss the remaining ball in the trash can. I wouldn't even want to use it in another future sock yarn blanket. <br /><p></p><p>Hat #13 is much more my style. This one might look familiar, because it is another Woolly Wormhead design that I've knit before. This is Korra, representing the element of balance: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQH4Ekv9t2YTVC8Fvt6m23RjzQ-gRhKsjKZca7T8wI_B2ZrnvhiGruaD1xH8nh4glcXZsQp6oCap5vKRymEeF3D64Di4gopPhk3Tds8MiHR3o-1FYuOEFfSq-G8SfMxts4PpseYoP-7s/s2048/20210702_110449+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQH4Ekv9t2YTVC8Fvt6m23RjzQ-gRhKsjKZca7T8wI_B2ZrnvhiGruaD1xH8nh4glcXZsQp6oCap5vKRymEeF3D64Di4gopPhk3Tds8MiHR3o-1FYuOEFfSq-G8SfMxts4PpseYoP-7s/w400-h400/20210702_110449+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I donated Korra #1 to the <a href="https://www.gettysburg-leon.org/">Project Gettysburg-Leon</a> annual auction, which was held online this spring due to COVID. I was thrilled that it went for $55. I recognized the name of the family who bought it, and learned that the couple have been fighting over whose hat it is. I offered to make another one, since I still had yarn, and I reversed the color placement this time. Now they can have coordinating his-and-hers hats! <p></p><p>One thing I appreciate about these Imperceptions hat designs is that you can make them with different weights of yarn. The pattern calls for DK, but honestly, I think DK results in a pretty thick hat. Perhaps if I were using superwash merino DK, the drape would still be there. The Silky Wool I used for Korra is coded "DK" in Ravelry, but I disagree (I think it's skinnier). Here are hats #11 and #13 side by side - you can see a pretty big difference. They are both knit on a 3.0 mm needle: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwESLJX-sY57q_lND7LBpbz-B2I4yJF5JEreeY9jtviW_0y5UeXXWRIigCOOR4pCjmyO9dGW80OHF4BVLLaXkBxxF4rpeMjkPvQxV0ZfYnTzSeGm9uVhODSTJFOqIYp1h2HmkQr7Ug97A/s2048/20210702_110813+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2048" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwESLJX-sY57q_lND7LBpbz-B2I4yJF5JEreeY9jtviW_0y5UeXXWRIigCOOR4pCjmyO9dGW80OHF4BVLLaXkBxxF4rpeMjkPvQxV0ZfYnTzSeGm9uVhODSTJFOqIYp1h2HmkQr7Ug97A/w400-h249/20210702_110813+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />All this is to say that I would not hesitate to use sportweight yarn in these patterns. It would probably be fine. Light worsted would probably work, too, as long as it was super drapey. <p></p><p>I have started Hat #14, but it is not simple or easy. More on that next time, perhaps.<br /><br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-61084599458062970302021-06-19T19:56:00.002-04:002021-06-19T19:56:39.917-04:00Crochet curious<p>I learned to knit because I love the aesthetic of knitted fabric. Crochet never attracted me in my early knitting years. But over the past few years, I've seen some crochet projects that make me say "HMMMM, maybe I'd like to make that." I guess you could say I'm crochet-curious. </p><p>Recently I was poking around the <a href="https://www.creativebug.com/">Creativebug </a>learning platform (I have a free trial) and noticed that they have some classes called "daily practice." They are skill building classes, and there is one for crochet. The instructor teaches you one stitch per day, and you make lots of little 4" squares. I thought it was worth a try. And here is the result! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7kxjMdBNuhfg_sjs3eEwHNhiF32MXTynJgAngtwgIkKZOFE276Hsjsb82QP4qsnl9bKeGCzDEo9ZHQ30IiXl74uM9bfTlyYRzMSIEk4gDfAD1vNuDHGdRWT09rkMlVMsaCTeYNPRkek/s2048/20210619_192659+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7kxjMdBNuhfg_sjs3eEwHNhiF32MXTynJgAngtwgIkKZOFE276Hsjsb82QP4qsnl9bKeGCzDEo9ZHQ30IiXl74uM9bfTlyYRzMSIEk4gDfAD1vNuDHGdRWT09rkMlVMsaCTeYNPRkek/w350-h400/20210619_192659+%25282%2529.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>This piece is more rectangular than it looks here.. the breeze picked up just as I took the shot. I used yarn that may look familiar, as I purchased it to weave this <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2021/03/doubleweave-colorwork-ruana.html">ruana </a>and then used leftovers to make these <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2021/05/just-felt-it.html">felted coasters</a>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP44DR8iVNY2K33B_2Xzmgic77emsCEfcC17qEyl8786MyCTk_1M6UIhKPaNh6QmZVVBE7xAn8MlDbxdqSS5yZsYw-uTUcA73vYXXXBqvZJwQlpahwWAYKFtSE-AGjJZhsWG-a6sw2Ug/s2048/finished+ruana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP44DR8iVNY2K33B_2Xzmgic77emsCEfcC17qEyl8786MyCTk_1M6UIhKPaNh6QmZVVBE7xAn8MlDbxdqSS5yZsYw-uTUcA73vYXXXBqvZJwQlpahwWAYKFtSE-AGjJZhsWG-a6sw2Ug/w300-h400/finished+ruana.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLDxghCPlhA4W0g3CWHtyOjFFLEajvvMmsDFCrT9-RIudh0g9vd1MHeKpSBgq_yZry7JpryjWGNh1zReoR09W3KZ6eUGq8RS9_MMSZmV5RGa_zZ9GtQuNtjn_z3fTp8qBVJTg0x_tZ_M/s2048/20210510_174609+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLDxghCPlhA4W0g3CWHtyOjFFLEajvvMmsDFCrT9-RIudh0g9vd1MHeKpSBgq_yZry7JpryjWGNh1zReoR09W3KZ6eUGq8RS9_MMSZmV5RGa_zZ9GtQuNtjn_z3fTp8qBVJTg0x_tZ_M/w395-h400/20210510_174609+%25282%2529.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>I have really and truly used up the yarn now, though - all I have left is 22 grams in tiny little balls! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGJCZPbi-PaobApNbQ_BR9NdvBo1QAPqTY6jrCAx5XhGLO7bMgsPTux4vjcYEeuqniHJtiqGCSS-e-PF0kSaBKVicb4WH80px0J6HsfQ9_gGWttpqnIqZdlLF7po2fO0b4lgZ13f_K6U/s2048/20210619_161535+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGJCZPbi-PaobApNbQ_BR9NdvBo1QAPqTY6jrCAx5XhGLO7bMgsPTux4vjcYEeuqniHJtiqGCSS-e-PF0kSaBKVicb4WH80px0J6HsfQ9_gGWttpqnIqZdlLF7po2fO0b4lgZ13f_K6U/w400-h400/20210619_161535+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here is a legend that has all the stitch names on it: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQUn7SWX-SrcMHrLN21q3LrUsv70CHpHkKdCYY5ijXmjwu1AXoLGfX2aW4KQfXz5zHc8Bm4GDPxK_N98s88TwOptJTV27IFOHaQjNeKlGl54d6KQ7T5e2Lju0zX7b-jBjZHm0qP3Gch4/s449/legend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="444" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQUn7SWX-SrcMHrLN21q3LrUsv70CHpHkKdCYY5ijXmjwu1AXoLGfX2aW4KQfXz5zHc8Bm4GDPxK_N98s88TwOptJTV27IFOHaQjNeKlGl54d6KQ7T5e2Lju0zX7b-jBjZHm0qP3Gch4/w395-h400/legend.png" width="395" /></a></div><p>The instructor used Red Heart Super Saver for the project, but because I used 100% wool (Brown Sheep Prairie Spun DK), I blocked my squares. It really helped.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvHFf9B_TFBrGKHyDV62tHhgN7-CxFRpl8sOgCQHPRJI4-Sip7s9Zd4jA0nltFIP4JjpZbdC8Vpv396nqUIggSpNALhXf2U8ved55D0eeClcgqGTTxbijng-9CAxDg1ResOxqXm30FYU/s2048/20210614_091641+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1806" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvHFf9B_TFBrGKHyDV62tHhgN7-CxFRpl8sOgCQHPRJI4-Sip7s9Zd4jA0nltFIP4JjpZbdC8Vpv396nqUIggSpNALhXf2U8ved55D0eeClcgqGTTxbijng-9CAxDg1ResOxqXm30FYU/w353-h400/20210614_091641+%25282%2529.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>I connected all the squares with single crochet, which creates a windowpane effect. <p></p><p>This is a nifty little wall hanging that will add some different vibes to our studio at home. I'm glad I made it! </p><p>Take a look at the <a href="https://www.lillabjorncrochet.com/2019/04/stained-glass-crochet-wonder-blanket.html">Stained Glass Wonder Blanket</a> and tell me if it doesn't make you just a bit crochet-curious, too! I am also partial to all the mandala patterns that seem to abound in crochet. </p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-3713454699018176502021-06-10T18:14:00.001-04:002021-06-10T18:14:37.584-04:00Taking it slow<p>I've been working on various fiber-y pursuits, but they all seem to be progressing quite slowly. Here are a couple of updates involving handspun yarn.</p><p>First, I took Sasha Torres's Blending Board class at the end of May. Her technique is completely different than Heavenly Bresser's (and faster, too). I decided to play with some shades of green. This is another "split complementary" - the greens and yellow and yellow-greens are analogous, and the red-purple is the complementary: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIlnvFz9RhRUJvYsU2iHtO9hxYWpCyrr3hduFwikz8aXHp2lQCfkQ2QqwuUMF-VQoLaJ2pNRRlc5Wq0nXwvGIE2KQ0BjP1vkGP9zbBMVTirib__u4_uh51Y2cx2eqsPbQzRWimYL-9oc/s2048/20210529_152440+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1592" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIlnvFz9RhRUJvYsU2iHtO9hxYWpCyrr3hduFwikz8aXHp2lQCfkQ2QqwuUMF-VQoLaJ2pNRRlc5Wq0nXwvGIE2KQ0BjP1vkGP9zbBMVTirib__u4_uh51Y2cx2eqsPbQzRWimYL-9oc/w311-h400/20210529_152440+%25282%2529.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br />Most of that fiber is wool, but the bag contains silk. I made two blending boards full of these delicious rolags! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxNaikV7drJ0YG79odUnx8Pd_0PgbeYrjESm2Ibm_WvlFTChfAGguwcswoBqt4jcdo3PuJLTSxcwuNPCNbFMmoG3FJ_6fyQs3ef7ube6r2_CE6eRT6VyN-aj1EHCSJOgt5TLQ7iKcSLs/s2048/20210529_160435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxNaikV7drJ0YG79odUnx8Pd_0PgbeYrjESm2Ibm_WvlFTChfAGguwcswoBqt4jcdo3PuJLTSxcwuNPCNbFMmoG3FJ_6fyQs3ef7ube6r2_CE6eRT6VyN-aj1EHCSJOgt5TLQ7iKcSLs/w300-h400/20210529_160435.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Sasha says they look like Kermit the Frog, in wool form, and I agree. I spun these on my Ladybug and made a 2-ply yarn. I think it's awfully nice. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ML1VTF0s4VsqyAv3OmHqu4l4Idlr-mVYimLDyKxJh64jpP5Vjqx8lAYJoANe0paT6OASLIsw6G5bi1n2lkiX-Rxhq-tTEsrbozWxmTpPpyt9X7hXk5Vko6y5xhj1a8PbwlqNZe09vw8/s2048/20210610_095152+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ML1VTF0s4VsqyAv3OmHqu4l4Idlr-mVYimLDyKxJh64jpP5Vjqx8lAYJoANe0paT6OASLIsw6G5bi1n2lkiX-Rxhq-tTEsrbozWxmTpPpyt9X7hXk5Vko6y5xhj1a8PbwlqNZe09vw8/w400-h400/20210610_095152+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The singles are perhaps spun a little too tightly, so that's something I need to work on. Still, this is very soft and will be great in a scarf or cowl or hat.<p></p><p></p><p>Speaking of hats, the handspun Katara hat I started last month is slowly growing. The brown yarn is BFL, and the white is Rambouillet. I've completed 5 repeats (plus a little) out of 8 total. It's looking good! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtuAd9hsm1WDUdASgwJ5iIoqthaT4FIuM15QyQE7OHBS8W1M-LLrKJ2_d2H7an0D2v0tPPbodsJ86jRNen-9SP0uu0k_T_3nSqgiKBi_p2vCiPOKQSp25LyEZV9y13flBc9JBRE_GxJ0/s2048/20210610_180224+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtuAd9hsm1WDUdASgwJ5iIoqthaT4FIuM15QyQE7OHBS8W1M-LLrKJ2_d2H7an0D2v0tPPbodsJ86jRNen-9SP0uu0k_T_3nSqgiKBi_p2vCiPOKQSp25LyEZV9y13flBc9JBRE_GxJ0/w400-h386/20210610_180224+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At first this color combination seemed really muted to me, but I'm appreciating the natural colors as I work with them.<br /><br /><br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-23991318648469445232021-05-24T14:21:00.001-04:002021-05-24T14:21:29.604-04:00The old is new again<p>Last month, I felt that old, familiar urge to cast on for a simple sock. The kind of sock you can take anywhere. The kind of sock I would normally knit at a conference. Suddenly, it clicked: my big national (but virtual) conference started the next day, and I felt the absence of that sock!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMEc8wrWNF4fw1cg0A5y_exuPAOw9Ik1vzO9AD73yf0v7LGVrHFNX_soKQtTRW0NS5-8O67UTMaUfk6Hp4L8fnPnI1IQ3MpIGcpK9G_8CxfCgi6ULdA_CT1SL6TA-yExnzj-bmU8JUQY/s2048/20210413_101510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMEc8wrWNF4fw1cg0A5y_exuPAOw9Ik1vzO9AD73yf0v7LGVrHFNX_soKQtTRW0NS5-8O67UTMaUfk6Hp4L8fnPnI1IQ3MpIGcpK9G_8CxfCgi6ULdA_CT1SL6TA-yExnzj-bmU8JUQY/w300-h400/20210413_101510.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I was so discombobulated that I wrote the wrong year in my notebook... clearly wishing it was 2019 and we were gathering in person.<p></p><p>Those socks got worked on bit by bit, and now they're done:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvwGvTq1sN74shYWSfZgAl6xNDoa0oC3okSmeJ8JsHlYQ-CzzsJKKFCWU7tWjqmMPbp-AzOhZxBDoxAf8gESLXYe40MAZ6K4c5uBLV67ZlQCQNGXn46lrs72R1jHFO31LAjo86HrsGwI/s2048/20210523_083607+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1823" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvwGvTq1sN74shYWSfZgAl6xNDoa0oC3okSmeJ8JsHlYQ-CzzsJKKFCWU7tWjqmMPbp-AzOhZxBDoxAf8gESLXYe40MAZ6K4c5uBLV67ZlQCQNGXn46lrs72R1jHFO31LAjo86HrsGwI/w356-h400/20210523_083607+%25282%2529.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>They fit Sharon's feet and are my standard, top-down sock with 3x3 ribbing on the leg and top of foot. The heel flap is worked in eye-of-partridge stitch: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGcskJCLdHam-uTcOS7jWMGSDq17FA_Q-0F_aZ6spcvcczH0lYRFdkw9pg1anIpZvoOy9OXMbuJ6nxbK-IYNQbONmRfu_yTsBeztRykrlrHN5BbeQD1tmvElSNpeGKJLZBpite2t5g7A/s2048/20210523_083617+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1751" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGcskJCLdHam-uTcOS7jWMGSDq17FA_Q-0F_aZ6spcvcczH0lYRFdkw9pg1anIpZvoOy9OXMbuJ6nxbK-IYNQbONmRfu_yTsBeztRykrlrHN5BbeQD1tmvElSNpeGKJLZBpite2t5g7A/w343-h400/20210523_083617+%25282%2529.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><p>I think this ball of sock yarn may be the <i>oldest </i>sock yarn in my stash, and now it is a new pair of socks. I entered it in Ravelry in August, 2007, when I first got my account, so it predates that. It's nice to have finally used it. These will seem perfectly seasonal when the autumn rolls around.</p><p>I've also been making some progress on my Sanquhar gloves (old design, new gloves). I've reached the point where it's time to divide for the fingers:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH29nXstHa1obBJn7DngyYtw_7W6k1TGx9DYrIReKeelzHc8sRv95gDwaWGeGrasaaTbEk5zidU2Y-bX3QRcf1xzf6irswKBhrxawg5evad2DZLYd2qwI0PCG4GhtvcWEG6K0ESuDkUk/s2048/20210520_160038+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH29nXstHa1obBJn7DngyYtw_7W6k1TGx9DYrIReKeelzHc8sRv95gDwaWGeGrasaaTbEk5zidU2Y-bX3QRcf1xzf6irswKBhrxawg5evad2DZLYd2qwI0PCG4GhtvcWEG6K0ESuDkUk/w326-h400/20210520_160038+%25282%2529.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>The pattern directs me to start all the fingers at the same time, but I've read that many knitters stagger them. This makes sense to me, because when I look at my hand, my fingers don't all begin at the same "latitude" (so to speak). I need to think about how this is achieved, especially because these gloves feature tiny gussets at the base of each finger. This seems difficult, so I've put these aside until a day when I feel really clever. <p></p><p>Of course, that means I need another easy knitting project. I've started another of the Elemental hats. You'll recall that I've made all 5 designs in the collection (making this an "old" pattern for me), but my friend Heidi admired them all, and I'm making her one - the Katara design. Her favorite colors are gray and "mushroom" (as she calls it), and I have some beautiful handspun mushroom-y BFL in my stash that I'd love to use for something. The cream-colored yarn is handspun Rambouillet. (The green is waste yarn in the provisional CO.)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp_ek6CKCnb6WNKUK7DZ62Ip8pXiL5zOV5xWQR5RcyRUXpAy-i5J3TXxMITz8QzzcXpe0w4j4aug9h3BERUZKTPMa01Q4hOEKPM_vH6P-4yD37WgOkX-c-ZDN_-FOG8e2Od-pMT5A58M/s2048/20210524_135409%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp_ek6CKCnb6WNKUK7DZ62Ip8pXiL5zOV5xWQR5RcyRUXpAy-i5J3TXxMITz8QzzcXpe0w4j4aug9h3BERUZKTPMa01Q4hOEKPM_vH6P-4yD37WgOkX-c-ZDN_-FOG8e2Od-pMT5A58M/w300-h400/20210524_135409%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>That should keep me occupied through social knitting. And I need some suitable knitting for social occasions - I'm thrilled to report that later this week, my local knitting group is meeting <i>in person</i> and <i>indoors </i>for the first time in over a year. We gathered outdoors on occasion last year, when the weather wasn't too hot or too cold, too rainy or too windy. We are now all fully vaccinated and this meeting is sure to be a memorable one, with lots of hugs and probably champagne. The old will seem new yet again! I CAN'T WAIT.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-38574083726578428652021-05-16T15:03:00.004-04:002021-05-16T15:03:40.697-04:00Fun with rolags<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXkjqekcSp8SBePct2rAgWupW2h2XKo_2wNg9Gk2OOoZ4A1DVjN8OZQIncuwDw8S60FtNB_ovfZi0B4pqnGDZLknViNhzjTYXpsSMw7PElrDdrVeDsi-3qyZwwOH5jcLQjMykSMXtKkQ/s2048/20210513_132656+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXkjqekcSp8SBePct2rAgWupW2h2XKo_2wNg9Gk2OOoZ4A1DVjN8OZQIncuwDw8S60FtNB_ovfZi0B4pqnGDZLknViNhzjTYXpsSMw7PElrDdrVeDsi-3qyZwwOH5jcLQjMykSMXtKkQ/w346-h400/20210513_132656+%25282%2529.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>I've been playing with my blending board, practicing the techniques I learned from Heavenly Bresser in a class a few weeks ago. Want to see?<p></p><p>To recap where we left off before... Here is a color combination known as a "square," where the four main colors are fairly equidistant from each other on the color wheel. I also have a bit of silk (the undyed fiber on the bottom left), and a very colorful bit of recycled sari silk (bottom right): </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHR739UT8H-B8oCKX78ybahJhoDfmdF7qMtZdDl8AsxbEpYZaAmgxys9_PNsBQW2QgqaDMDpl_X4G_HuNg0ipXQQ7_PTjCMvMGfSi2R5x96VXa_TcztTiemYF6EYXwye-rCNtILepVYg/s2048/20210427_153938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHR739UT8H-B8oCKX78ybahJhoDfmdF7qMtZdDl8AsxbEpYZaAmgxys9_PNsBQW2QgqaDMDpl_X4G_HuNg0ipXQQ7_PTjCMvMGfSi2R5x96VXa_TcztTiemYF6EYXwye-rCNtILepVYg/w400-h300/20210427_153938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I filled the blending board and pulled these rolags off (one was a little thin in the middle and became two shorter rolags): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBXxwzPBMc2umRjKNUos2x4YJADoK5owowDdndrXN3N_YAtKBMgGkYInCjEY4VjNJUikAHF3Jn5BqsJpUYLJyij6BR4HOcRzkbZgWYhwPA4rXo5KMslN5WNVVsuLzDsAWYG3PLf6iHZ0/s2048/20210427_161717+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="2048" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBXxwzPBMc2umRjKNUos2x4YJADoK5owowDdndrXN3N_YAtKBMgGkYInCjEY4VjNJUikAHF3Jn5BqsJpUYLJyij6BR4HOcRzkbZgWYhwPA4rXo5KMslN5WNVVsuLzDsAWYG3PLf6iHZ0/w400-h364/20210427_161717+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I spun these on my new Electric Eel Wheel (the espinner):<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GSP-Dqfcm83_GScCSB0mKQCXIDVjIh1_1y-71fUYUr4s8jX5a8CiRvXbRXVP6_2AYY1XOPomYlNfK_2PAVti7stL_krisi9HoFWFcsTsucErY11Moa_O9RL5JocVASPrOmq-hhVT1aY/s2048/20210502_115508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GSP-Dqfcm83_GScCSB0mKQCXIDVjIh1_1y-71fUYUr4s8jX5a8CiRvXbRXVP6_2AYY1XOPomYlNfK_2PAVti7stL_krisi9HoFWFcsTsucErY11Moa_O9RL5JocVASPrOmq-hhVT1aY/w300-h400/20210502_115508.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I wound the singles into a center pull ball and plied directly from it, using both ends to make a 2-ply yarn: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHo-DpFqAkUPeIX0WtuzJQJM1aiUwKNkhKCZfhhEpS8fqaIYxwrsJSX-9ghkFNTvwA9AEZHNZ8qPQL-BN9HoRdSSDm-5RLZyJhmN-5lE56fOkZ3D9IG47Gi1pfhhbuMhdyJBJ5zUYUTw/s2048/20210503_091634+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="2048" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHo-DpFqAkUPeIX0WtuzJQJM1aiUwKNkhKCZfhhEpS8fqaIYxwrsJSX-9ghkFNTvwA9AEZHNZ8qPQL-BN9HoRdSSDm-5RLZyJhmN-5lE56fOkZ3D9IG47Gi1pfhhbuMhdyJBJ5zUYUTw/w400-h398/20210503_091634+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I ended up with a little 30 gram skein of yarn. It's so soft and cute! My mom says this yarn looks like a fiesta: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1Pj7fl-N13wkq7xl8Qi1kOE1-6T0DcCCJksuMz7KhVtPNrgKwGOfN5Si0VRDrbgR2iDC08AlFDNyNTSs4z90WpY8xHSVZCfEi5ojGkuyhG-Fx7eorOVRYliPG4NoQR_9Ly574oI_X1Y/s2048/20210508_174426+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1611" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1Pj7fl-N13wkq7xl8Qi1kOE1-6T0DcCCJksuMz7KhVtPNrgKwGOfN5Si0VRDrbgR2iDC08AlFDNyNTSs4z90WpY8xHSVZCfEi5ojGkuyhG-Fx7eorOVRYliPG4NoQR_9Ly574oI_X1Y/w315-h400/20210508_174426+%25282%2529.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />For my next batch, I returned to the idea of a split-complementary. The blues and greens are analogous colors, and the orange is the complementary on the opposite side of the color wheel. The sari silk is just for texture, additional pops of color, and fun:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XOJnx3u9XskMilHGquHxotMCaBRvuL3KTqbfzZuJvyacK5UjmweVJ6tRyle5OMo3ROZlnDpakswTwSkxV4xNEK7R9XZRogm_r47XW9OJeG_AFIfeCRlSYtC8YgUtq57QTvMtOY2nIwA/s2048/20210502_181738+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XOJnx3u9XskMilHGquHxotMCaBRvuL3KTqbfzZuJvyacK5UjmweVJ6tRyle5OMo3ROZlnDpakswTwSkxV4xNEK7R9XZRogm_r47XW9OJeG_AFIfeCRlSYtC8YgUtq57QTvMtOY2nIwA/w328-h400/20210502_181738+%25282%2529.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>This is what the rolags looked like after blending: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE-E8QKrzfcqrF6HFZqHxeNF1bYCJIb8ZDFMto1GeiEsluzeIQVcJ71mN8lLBBHJEagb0M2__KGEKQXZs2w5gA1aeqpxack3YsyGOGT3iQ5BwscSaYcnmWZC_ITl9wvmjVolNfyoxu0Q/s2048/20210502_185934+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="2048" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE-E8QKrzfcqrF6HFZqHxeNF1bYCJIb8ZDFMto1GeiEsluzeIQVcJ71mN8lLBBHJEagb0M2__KGEKQXZs2w5gA1aeqpxack3YsyGOGT3iQ5BwscSaYcnmWZC_ITl9wvmjVolNfyoxu0Q/w400-h363/20210502_185934+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I made a center-pull ball out of the singles, just like with the last batch: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRAXf5CJO2jd-PscYpAwMey2LLPG5UEk8F_R-4-kFKvr7yp71fTrQlV4VE9VMC7Ui04pA1bxGX8N_7gpKOLo9Q5nmzDTmHSfbH_el64mg1y5kPy1Tt5Yf3R0MGlq-Si7CrfT7ljKA2WM/s2048/20210515_194223+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2035" data-original-width="2048" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRAXf5CJO2jd-PscYpAwMey2LLPG5UEk8F_R-4-kFKvr7yp71fTrQlV4VE9VMC7Ui04pA1bxGX8N_7gpKOLo9Q5nmzDTmHSfbH_el64mg1y5kPy1Tt5Yf3R0MGlq-Si7CrfT7ljKA2WM/w400-h398/20210515_194223+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And here is the resulting skein, just a little one at 16.3 grams. I spun this one on my Ladybug: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7_aVuIz3w4ceLj9oH7_MWag0ZuFjLLJNBrguPghigpTLDPic81kCII1C2KX9ESgb7SVaUGK-jPi8YitvTu3C52Hp_iQWJKYaJs7qZpJLsofrarIRqYe0OnJdOkNa2FB-G9ZawamF8dU/s2048/20210516_142242+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7_aVuIz3w4ceLj9oH7_MWag0ZuFjLLJNBrguPghigpTLDPic81kCII1C2KX9ESgb7SVaUGK-jPi8YitvTu3C52Hp_iQWJKYaJs7qZpJLsofrarIRqYe0OnJdOkNa2FB-G9ZawamF8dU/w335-h400/20210516_142242+%25282%2529.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />Finally, I decided to make a larger skein. I know I can easily fit about 30 grams of fiber on the blending board at one time, so I collected colors and amounts to total double that. These are the colors (but not the amounts) - I was going for another split complementary with blue-purple as the analogous colors, and gold-yellow as the complementary. I also have some gray to tone things down, and some camel down for texture and color muting: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7px2SGUfan0jQHWXJvJ2VmXj0gQ2KBTXZrk5hvVY_xPt4F5a6QyHRCxQHfP_Qix4B3uh4_zHfsngC5_ntKd3zlMJf-xU_EmCmmjGrcJ40FkicMPtyfTW5BRjHyLWGegdb7-mFbztpMio/s2048/20210505_101549+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1730" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7px2SGUfan0jQHWXJvJ2VmXj0gQ2KBTXZrk5hvVY_xPt4F5a6QyHRCxQHfP_Qix4B3uh4_zHfsngC5_ntKd3zlMJf-xU_EmCmmjGrcJ40FkicMPtyfTW5BRjHyLWGegdb7-mFbztpMio/w400-h338/20210505_101549+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I weighed each color and split it in half, separating the halves into baskets (the sari silk add-ins aren't worth weighing): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLXVy-LCNYP2NLfqMhrC4bJYQs9zjGQO-8BkMxTCN4pXgOrWaPI3E8YUI1EMYYZWYp12rtrUFFMZxi2Oc0UX-zOxrJGo2rb3R0ZIJwnq3LZkuDxHY4kOZMHLQgXZE8h0xAz8h2ecRrT0/s2048/20210505_102321+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2011" data-original-width="2048" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLXVy-LCNYP2NLfqMhrC4bJYQs9zjGQO-8BkMxTCN4pXgOrWaPI3E8YUI1EMYYZWYp12rtrUFFMZxi2Oc0UX-zOxrJGo2rb3R0ZIJwnq3LZkuDxHY4kOZMHLQgXZE8h0xAz8h2ecRrT0/w400-h393/20210505_102321+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This time, I kept notes on what I added in each layer, so I could roughly duplicate it in the next batch. In the end, I had two trios: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9ABuJCM3RDyiNUWeenHJPgE4OxTlM8QXWJhxs6gwyqU_KbsckxVK52y8FYqd0nC5loIV5_cEyXD6J6-Oxa_f2eyCHmT_Myf_q0aBOKv5wIioHwUEm-UdNjAtdhwvT0-dzBEpRnt7EMI/s2048/20210509_104415+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9ABuJCM3RDyiNUWeenHJPgE4OxTlM8QXWJhxs6gwyqU_KbsckxVK52y8FYqd0nC5loIV5_cEyXD6J6-Oxa_f2eyCHmT_Myf_q0aBOKv5wIioHwUEm-UdNjAtdhwvT0-dzBEpRnt7EMI/w400-h251/20210509_104415+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I spun the singles on the EEW, spinning some plain white fiber between sets so I would know where the dividing point was. I transferred those singles to storage bobbins, and plied from them: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHp_mOiwsrpTW20D5VgOMURpAJ6XNJvqwypdNJlxM7hiSp-K4_DeMmi8c0acHi7r8LIWW2JmYQ_xRSbtkJbxwOAHURh3miGt7yyAg5nwxWJRsMP3wEEk_le66D4VDX1d05XAyKjScd_34/s2048/20210511_133236+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="2048" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHp_mOiwsrpTW20D5VgOMURpAJ6XNJvqwypdNJlxM7hiSp-K4_DeMmi8c0acHi7r8LIWW2JmYQ_xRSbtkJbxwOAHURh3miGt7yyAg5nwxWJRsMP3wEEk_le66D4VDX1d05XAyKjScd_34/w400-h389/20210511_133236+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And here is what I got! This skein is 51.5 grams... less than I planned, but that's because I realized that I couldn't incorporate larger amounts of the camel down in the blend as I originally thought. It's still a soft and pretty skein! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v6dfoXIdaG5ty0QU_ICVR_BO7hl5x9p_q-P1i9ae6B5fDkgyX16Mb0TPdcU-AXjINqdCDXa7BakzyfNSzzCxC8bUkfCQkOhOwhT0EG9IglyPScT7O9IhjL_fsCIIBdMi6PC27vGttmY/s2048/20210513_132642+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v6dfoXIdaG5ty0QU_ICVR_BO7hl5x9p_q-P1i9ae6B5fDkgyX16Mb0TPdcU-AXjINqdCDXa7BakzyfNSzzCxC8bUkfCQkOhOwhT0EG9IglyPScT7O9IhjL_fsCIIBdMi6PC27vGttmY/w353-h400/20210513_132642+%25282%2529.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>The blending possibilities are truly endless. I've signed up for another (online) blending board class later this month, with Sheepspot teacher Sasha Torres. I can tell from her Instagram reels that she uses a very different technique for blending and rolling. It's always helpful to learn from many teachers, and I know I'll learn something new. One thing I need to work on it keeping the rolags light and airy, so they don't strain my hands to spin long draw. <br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-61229750487714448802021-05-13T17:05:00.000-04:002021-05-13T17:05:49.307-04:00Stranded - Echo hat, Sanquhar Gloves<p>To continue the streak of Woolly Wormhead hats I've knit in 2021, here is Echo:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MiCb43lu_RCu9XZLDJiFaUehme0aiGPRczCOs_0__H8zO_iufxxw-S6UBmRFnPo1OkAriB-_t3TU9h0wnRcVCpdvtsXMz7oxCoiuxp4UAJWPM6D2xyrrUDyLyhfEaG-Ir3FFVhC_sH8/s2048/20210504_145554+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MiCb43lu_RCu9XZLDJiFaUehme0aiGPRczCOs_0__H8zO_iufxxw-S6UBmRFnPo1OkAriB-_t3TU9h0wnRcVCpdvtsXMz7oxCoiuxp4UAJWPM6D2xyrrUDyLyhfEaG-Ir3FFVhC_sH8/w400-h400/20210504_145554+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's from the <a href="https://www.woollywormhead.com/imperceptions">Imperceptions </a>collection, which is full of delightfully labyrinthine designs. They all use fingering weight yarn, so I can easily dive into my sock yarn cabinet to find suitable skeins. The only trick is to select colors with high contrast. Here I'm using some green that's left over from <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2019/01/thinking-about-socks.html">Dave's 50th birthday sheepy socks</a> (and now that green is gone, for all practical purposes...except for a small ball I can use to make blanket squares if I ever do <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2018/10/epic-sock-yarn-blanket-is-done.html">that </a>again), along with a rich brown from an unbroken skein. I originally purchased the brown with two other coordinating colors to make the popular <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2012/07/perfect-timing.html">Color Affection shawl</a>, but then I won a kit from Miss Babs with 3 skeins for the same pattern, so I used those. Over the years I've reassigned the other skeins to other projects, and this brown was the last one. Those colors really did look nice together back in 2012 when I bought them! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1au3wM-vJKxq59m4Os0U_aeQ6BwE-AqT-bbeA-APenL0cLF50pvCo6po3rxvLXWC5GBrLludd6I491I01n3R2S8pn-DsCIQGckaiwMYNvJMtkdIWuO0U1hiG0qVClnx28EdZaWR-UPA/s2048/7152803599_e779b341ae_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1au3wM-vJKxq59m4Os0U_aeQ6BwE-AqT-bbeA-APenL0cLF50pvCo6po3rxvLXWC5GBrLludd6I491I01n3R2S8pn-DsCIQGckaiwMYNvJMtkdIWuO0U1hiG0qVClnx28EdZaWR-UPA/w300-h400/7152803599_e779b341ae_k.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Like the <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2021/02/definitely-year-of-hat.html">Circe </a>hat (from the same collection), Echo includes a lateral braid between the corrugated ribbing and the main body: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtzUknxoslsekB21qmvqKYn3xyA4RoQaGRQfgTjLAoUG32BicTcnYfKTefcp7XuvA84z5Brv40m1HjCJMgnA1Zyxfx7r-tDS4WJiqFFzfbVv14nZYAWGGukGywVNWSduzvK5xakQ8bKQ/s2048/20210419_130408+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="2048" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtzUknxoslsekB21qmvqKYn3xyA4RoQaGRQfgTjLAoUG32BicTcnYfKTefcp7XuvA84z5Brv40m1HjCJMgnA1Zyxfx7r-tDS4WJiqFFzfbVv14nZYAWGGukGywVNWSduzvK5xakQ8bKQ/w400-h291/20210419_130408+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I really enjoy this fancy little detail. The final hat is a bit slouchy, which some people like and others don't. Here is my hat model: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJazVnaHJiCj-KK148ZrA-8FgPCxsWD51gRQ59LhkhJq3HTVj_utExzReTG6GHYv1fcCXcsOTRk6_nTbRo0PuYqK6igCRrX_7-xAB0KD9OYkjRicEcP71IHrqRUMrdSzOMXLNzAQBjZmI/s2048/20210510_171200+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJazVnaHJiCj-KK148ZrA-8FgPCxsWD51gRQ59LhkhJq3HTVj_utExzReTG6GHYv1fcCXcsOTRk6_nTbRo0PuYqK6igCRrX_7-xAB0KD9OYkjRicEcP71IHrqRUMrdSzOMXLNzAQBjZmI/w400-h400/20210510_171200+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This had doesn't have an owner yet, but it went into my handknit hat stash and will patiently await its destiny. <p></p><p>There are still two designs from this collection that I haven't made yet. But rather than start another hat, I decided to shake things up and knit colorwork gloves. This is a kit I got at <a href="https://atheairts.org.uk/">A' the Airts</a> in Scotland on my big 2019 trip (<i>boy am I glad that happened before COVID</i>): </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZxx8KXhxg0px5vJHGYJYoSf_8fokVaXZ1lt4w7u8q5uiQ0Rilo_fRcq8bkqJ5dll96eQOSIzWhV_sO8UV7jEFeni28tP_mXIQVqVb6ZrE6bR6prCDW5gzwv7Mz7mmws7ytGlG3GGz74/s2048/20210503_184911+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1910" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZxx8KXhxg0px5vJHGYJYoSf_8fokVaXZ1lt4w7u8q5uiQ0Rilo_fRcq8bkqJ5dll96eQOSIzWhV_sO8UV7jEFeni28tP_mXIQVqVb6ZrE6bR6prCDW5gzwv7Mz7mmws7ytGlG3GGz74/w373-h400/20210503_184911+%25282%2529.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>Take a minute and google "sanquhar gloves" - you'll see some amazing designs. This is a special, fancy glove made in the 19th century. It was traditional to knit the name or initials of the wearer into the cuff. This yarn is labelled "3ply," which is a "weight" of yarn in the UK system. For comparison, what we call "fingering" is called "4ply" in the UK. 3ply is, well, 1 ply less, so it's 25% skinnier than fingering. Is it laceweight? Maybe. Maybe heavy laceweight. Anyway, that is what they use, and the gloves are usually worked on 1.75mm needles. The kit came with a set of Addi 1.75 mm dpns. They are 20 cm in length, which is a bit long by U.S. standards. I tried to start the gloves using those needles and it was super difficult, so I started over on two sets of circulars (my preferred mode of knitting socks). Luckily, I had 1.75mm circs on hand.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUzyjOVrFiGlMbzSl6FIHErW-wNEUyjxVW_PG_yLYgTZQV6goNVLs52e9YfcNTcEWVtjkN4isgv4LYjP3MKdNL_hZNlJkwfhyphenhyphendhyomKKfu514sb5k-uXNJFtdfpczRcPakkGtIY3SssI/s2048/20210508_184929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUzyjOVrFiGlMbzSl6FIHErW-wNEUyjxVW_PG_yLYgTZQV6goNVLs52e9YfcNTcEWVtjkN4isgv4LYjP3MKdNL_hZNlJkwfhyphenhyphendhyomKKfu514sb5k-uXNJFtdfpczRcPakkGtIY3SssI/w300-h400/20210508_184929.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I decided not to use my middle initial here for a practical reason. If the gloves came out too small for my hands, I could give them to my mom! Our first and last initials are the same, but not the middle. In hindsight, I should have narrowed the white field on which the initials lie, thus eliminating the need to catch long black floats that show through to the front side a little bit. Live and learn. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurdwvNH6ZxA5v5TF9hE8ze2uHOqLkCw_A_3uVc_0h9Pq6GVF5gJoziDyGhukjL2CNsMhAL3-J5jBRL00HeWTkf-Dy21_IoEIlBFPDn4d-LrWoxDqY720nW5xH8FqxVTPL-cUo_45uw88/s2048/20210513_130533+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurdwvNH6ZxA5v5TF9hE8ze2uHOqLkCw_A_3uVc_0h9Pq6GVF5gJoziDyGhukjL2CNsMhAL3-J5jBRL00HeWTkf-Dy21_IoEIlBFPDn4d-LrWoxDqY720nW5xH8FqxVTPL-cUo_45uw88/w339-h400/20210513_130533+%25282%2529.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><br />Here is the front of the left glove as of today. The main pattern is the most popular one and is called "the Duke" - you'll see it a lot if you look at Sanquhar gloves. I've pinned it out so it doesn't roll. Here is the back, where you can see the thumb stitches being held on waste yarn: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiCOoGmRrQJYJ_OxlrAHVUW-FiPhkumW8xlP4cQCFs0oJJu4kR_lBvK6eSukem9qqsVZMinGkBaxVLNwEVkOBPAyLg0WPFz5r9GkdgHxc1kPm8IUYOrWfAQiIGilEYBi5lEfrPB1d_E8/s2048/20210513_130629+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1807" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiCOoGmRrQJYJ_OxlrAHVUW-FiPhkumW8xlP4cQCFs0oJJu4kR_lBvK6eSukem9qqsVZMinGkBaxVLNwEVkOBPAyLg0WPFz5r9GkdgHxc1kPm8IUYOrWfAQiIGilEYBi5lEfrPB1d_E8/w353-h400/20210513_130629+%25282%2529.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><br />My thumb gusset increases are not perfect, but I decided not to try to tink back. They are very fiddly, especially at the beginning. I bet the next glove will be better.<p></p><p>I'm coming up on the point at which the fingers each need to be worked separately. The pattern shows every finger starting on the same row, but I've read that many knitters stagger them. A quick glance at your own hand will show why - our fingers do not all start on a straight line! I will think about that a little as I approach that point. </p><p>My (extensive) sock knitting experience and my increasing competency with stranded colorwork are coming together perfectly in this project. What fun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-51526289732895391732021-05-10T18:17:00.004-04:002021-05-10T18:17:44.806-04:00Just felt it<p>Back in my early knitting days, I felted a lot of things - bags, boxes, slippers, and whimsical objects like pumpkins... and a very colorful fish!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnpZDPrD5HlTzrhqPdbWmkS4PyAqYjVF6oUEZDgk_EarZw3moZNC4SKmoPkmBV7hG0M5c5V95zwJQ41s56eDP3QAW8RhPfWV_X99zh02fd9pez01Vx9rV8Jlha7s25G2gJ1p7MIqoyLE/s2048/fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnpZDPrD5HlTzrhqPdbWmkS4PyAqYjVF6oUEZDgk_EarZw3moZNC4SKmoPkmBV7hG0M5c5V95zwJQ41s56eDP3QAW8RhPfWV_X99zh02fd9pez01Vx9rV8Jlha7s25G2gJ1p7MIqoyLE/w400-h300/fish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Felting knits was definitely a trend in the early-to-mid aughts. But I never felted my weaving. UNTIL NOW.<p></p><p>The <a href="https://yarnworker.com/shop/full-on-coasters-spring-2021-weave-along/">Spring 2021 Yarnworker WA</a>L is a project called Full On Coasters. Because I had yarn in stash, I decided to felt along. I used leftover Nature Spun Prairie DK (from the <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2021/03/doubleweave-colorwork-ruana.html">ruana </a>project). These colors seemed to have enough contrast to work: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsInWmXSmgD03-QjwzaEazLZ1e2UqqI60i3W7ra3MHWFC8N2Q-u6L-_Adp87TcgoSpqLDYEFcfCiaDKb76fbccOvyvYbV2jZ2Izk8m8rBxCCYv0WFAh2FCN7opaFB8M5ETM9X61PooyOE/s2048/20210425_150753+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1940" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsInWmXSmgD03-QjwzaEazLZ1e2UqqI60i3W7ra3MHWFC8N2Q-u6L-_Adp87TcgoSpqLDYEFcfCiaDKb76fbccOvyvYbV2jZ2Izk8m8rBxCCYv0WFAh2FCN7opaFB8M5ETM9X61PooyOE/w379-h400/20210425_150753+%25282%2529.jpg" width="379" /></a></div>It took no time to warp up the Cricket with alternating colors. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn5b31xWao9LyWLhCz5BnVx4wiaO_5Irv04VEiSMqRRMrFhM9H6Cj5Zj3C12lawsb8d0nIasp2eSOe8eLJVn-QyWfzdGgNeAw76K5aKqmaY9ZiyjL1jhyTe-pXiIOTtLnYww4p9_LI3I/s2048/20210425_154522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJn5b31xWao9LyWLhCz5BnVx4wiaO_5Irv04VEiSMqRRMrFhM9H6Cj5Zj3C12lawsb8d0nIasp2eSOe8eLJVn-QyWfzdGgNeAw76K5aKqmaY9ZiyjL1jhyTe-pXiIOTtLnYww4p9_LI3I/w300-h400/20210425_154522.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I did a little sampling at the beginning, and then worked four colorwork patterns:<p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>3 picks lost lake (the darkest color), 1 pick misty mountain (the dusty teal)</li><li>3 picks misty mountain, 1 pick lost lake</li><li>1 pick misty mountain, 1 pick half and half (white)</li><li>1 pick lost lake, 1 pick half and half</li></ol><p>I didn't realize until later that I wasn't supposed to hemstitch both ends of each coaster, but that's what I did (just like I make towels) ... so this is what my piece looked like when it came off the loom. The sampling is at the bottom left corner of this photo:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfWIRmkjN75z4sarVoAEDlqCZKjXRYIfpkjAtm3olpYJr6sws0HgFyloOxDN8erFukuX76KfFk7AFX3_UsaGeMOZpdU-Bk1pOTNzwFqtR8IL_l8G_Qu9p_YgpOB1F0_jWhGStUFMpng/s2048/20210502_165956+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1870" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfWIRmkjN75z4sarVoAEDlqCZKjXRYIfpkjAtm3olpYJr6sws0HgFyloOxDN8erFukuX76KfFk7AFX3_UsaGeMOZpdU-Bk1pOTNzwFqtR8IL_l8G_Qu9p_YgpOB1F0_jWhGStUFMpng/w365-h400/20210502_165956+%25282%2529.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>This warp is only 8 or so inches wide, so these are little things. I cut them apart and threw them in the washing machine.<p></p><p>Here is how they looked when they came out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqsf0pKhKr2zS1tgW-5NaMshPbMlUeuEmZrR3zaibeZKvfbjebEQvtZ0Ja9xio-oGpAmODekmJDthOr9-2pFTn1zuMJn34mOGu0MQ-x1YN4394x6d-wtZvBsnJQNc-Nf3PEdaI4iKjY/s2048/20210510_173957+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2048" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqsf0pKhKr2zS1tgW-5NaMshPbMlUeuEmZrR3zaibeZKvfbjebEQvtZ0Ja9xio-oGpAmODekmJDthOr9-2pFTn1zuMJn34mOGu0MQ-x1YN4394x6d-wtZvBsnJQNc-Nf3PEdaI4iKjY/w400-h344/20210510_173957+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I let them sit that way for about a week. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to cut them. But in the end, I did. It's kind of cool to be able to safely see the cross-section of the woven fabric:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mP8k7h2Mh9FhCYxA_IMkUZS301ZCLN2yAsNDRWBxwECJGHOkwtUjiPuu-5B2Y_DVk5Ot0UbCX19Wt7UPzyQ-a4hkXrnrZokSzQZoJtmI4RSTOrnflLOUUdDL0mVqUM1POrcqnBwrOs/s2048/20210510_174201+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1902" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95mP8k7h2Mh9FhCYxA_IMkUZS301ZCLN2yAsNDRWBxwECJGHOkwtUjiPuu-5B2Y_DVk5Ot0UbCX19Wt7UPzyQ-a4hkXrnrZokSzQZoJtmI4RSTOrnflLOUUdDL0mVqUM1POrcqnBwrOs/w371-h400/20210510_174201+%25282%2529.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>You can see that the side edges of these coasters (the selvedge edges) did not always felt at the same rate as the ends where I worked the hemstitch. MY BAD. But I just cut all four sides until I had something squarish. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcVChA2yAGBR82G2DFf8JIy7ySm6GW1UA-pBN5K6rKx2NuDuwuJFB4WmeWyX8GUV6uzcZnXRDMABrHiww9WZM1mX3LVWWdYy8f3G-K9rlnz-z-ZU30UrY2StY_5nm_K71xPT_1Z9btn4/s2048/20210510_174451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcVChA2yAGBR82G2DFf8JIy7ySm6GW1UA-pBN5K6rKx2NuDuwuJFB4WmeWyX8GUV6uzcZnXRDMABrHiww9WZM1mX3LVWWdYy8f3G-K9rlnz-z-ZU30UrY2StY_5nm_K71xPT_1Z9btn4/w300-h400/20210510_174451.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here they are after they're trimmed: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWTw7lmbk28f1evninX3Sq3wR4JVQA5GvG9U_RhwmC3acf6cvy-EMOf1KSpXBpr_77_aejcttoeyvwJ96hvRFE1PdZRXFll5nFH3pynbZijinsmMBWXuYNR_mkFg1DLpn6jIhZi8aGL8/s2048/20210510_174609+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWTw7lmbk28f1evninX3Sq3wR4JVQA5GvG9U_RhwmC3acf6cvy-EMOf1KSpXBpr_77_aejcttoeyvwJ96hvRFE1PdZRXFll5nFH3pynbZijinsmMBWXuYNR_mkFg1DLpn6jIhZi8aGL8/w395-h400/20210510_174609+%25282%2529.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br />I definitely have a favorite design - it's the one on the bottom right, which was pattern #4: one pick lost lake, one pick half and half. It looks so delightfully tweedy! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe8JXGfQaDvsnwoUfTFBCvpv8D5cqWxpTvkjq-ud1OV37eED44ZelOqgjVne5a__GFCsa_e4UtNo3t6zjsAkiOZv-tF_3Kqk4FjFmvlg91M9rsdUE_SjCzsJuwmJootmK6FPsfBGLkek/s2048/20210510_174614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe8JXGfQaDvsnwoUfTFBCvpv8D5cqWxpTvkjq-ud1OV37eED44ZelOqgjVne5a__GFCsa_e4UtNo3t6zjsAkiOZv-tF_3Kqk4FjFmvlg91M9rsdUE_SjCzsJuwmJootmK6FPsfBGLkek/w300-h400/20210510_174614.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />I wouldn't mind making an entire set of these... but I don't have enough of the darkest color, lost lake, to do that. So for now, these will just be a fun experiment. I'm reminded that just like in felted knits, felting one's weaving hides a lot of weaving mistakes. <br /><p></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-80169789649837554092021-05-06T17:43:00.000-04:002021-05-06T17:43:04.606-04:00Tweed and Columbia<p>In addition to the super fun and useful class on blending boards that I took at (virtual) MDSW this year, I also took two classes from Judith MacKenzie: one on spinning tweed yarns, and one on spinning the Columbia breed.</p><p>The timing ended up not being great for me. The classes were both 7-9 pm, and the Tweed class fell on the day after my second COVID vaccine shot. I was not feeling well and my brain was definitely not operating at 100%. Fortunately, the class was recorded and I can re-watch it! I can tell I wasn't feeling well because I took no photos during the class (very unusual for me). But here is the class kit that arrived in the mail beforehand. What a wonderful collection of fibers to play with! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbH5yK9qJ-dligV-wkxxvsMLzpL4oEWnAs3qE2fjG9WrN9vYz18qT8SV-EiBdYh1qvP_jkdiaYhgqXJeqRNQ9hmcJ_wHeMIjDBUfZNUyKyH32l8MxuC9Ef1-PfEfFJ7WoPX562RUlKp0/s2048/20210426_174057+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="2048" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbH5yK9qJ-dligV-wkxxvsMLzpL4oEWnAs3qE2fjG9WrN9vYz18qT8SV-EiBdYh1qvP_jkdiaYhgqXJeqRNQ9hmcJ_wHeMIjDBUfZNUyKyH32l8MxuC9Ef1-PfEfFJ7WoPX562RUlKp0/w400-h272/20210426_174057+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Tweed is yarn made from leftover and recycled fibers, and that is what some of this material is. If you look closely, you'll see a bag of yarn snippets, a bag of woven fabric strips, and a bag with pieces of a cashmere sweater in it (one piece is unraveled so it looks like ramen). Tweed fabric is named after the River Tweed, on which the mill that wove this fabric was located. <p></p><p>The bag of fiber on the left side of the photo is Judith's own tweed roving, made from alpaca, Shetland, and silk waste. She has this carded specifically for handspinning. I can't wait to dive into it.<br /></p><p>During the class, we endeavored to card our own blends for spinning tweed. Judith (or "Mother MacKenzie," as I think of her often) recommended using an old, battered, pair of handcards that can really take a beating. But I don't have an old pair of handcards - I only have the one pair, which I don't want to mess up. My carded preps didn't spin terribly well. Here are the samples I spun during class:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDJxIizwHWtwcd-WreiDY4Xfw2jJP3hQ9W_-1j1IGZCDH52TyFAc5p_fVva710jsJ4NgOpPlwCQTvWExJVIrmlEKZyHl7-Qr1ynI4hXKuNi_0vTMhHvpwk4tdusCn_dD8Oe8RLNy3Bo8/s3343/20210506_171249+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="3343" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDJxIizwHWtwcd-WreiDY4Xfw2jJP3hQ9W_-1j1IGZCDH52TyFAc5p_fVva710jsJ4NgOpPlwCQTvWExJVIrmlEKZyHl7-Qr1ynI4hXKuNi_0vTMhHvpwk4tdusCn_dD8Oe8RLNy3Bo8/w400-h113/20210506_171249+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I really love the idea of tweedy yarn made with leftover bits. In fact, that is essentially what I bought to make my <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2016/01/over-greynbow.html">Greynbow </a>yarn with many years ago ... the mill that carded it couldn't even tell me what was in it, because it was recycled leftovers. But I think if I am going to make more tweed yarns, I might do best with a drum carder (which I don't own). Perhaps I can experiment with the blending board. <p></p><p>The next evening, I had the class on spinning Columbia, which is the first American sheep breed. It's a cross between Rambouillet (a fine wool) and Lincoln (a long wool with great luster), and it really is lovely. Here is the kit that arrived for this class: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYwxOnXQBlRTNYzrfIlwB0Jqz30wKKSXmIsXx54u6uP36tZ-6SPNxmImaxK9dGIpTAn9umkIei7yW70Fun12F7q6tNEXW-XAEaE0Gl-dxz8ooRnnxF7aQeMkLPjGOIBUkl2_LLRu6Rak/s2048/20210426_174244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYwxOnXQBlRTNYzrfIlwB0Jqz30wKKSXmIsXx54u6uP36tZ-6SPNxmImaxK9dGIpTAn9umkIei7yW70Fun12F7q6tNEXW-XAEaE0Gl-dxz8ooRnnxF7aQeMkLPjGOIBUkl2_LLRu6Rak/w400-h300/20210426_174244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This fiber is all from the same fleece... and so was the fiber that all my classmates received. Columbia fleeces can be large (Judith said this one was about 15 pounds) and she still had more to spare! The fluffy roll on the left is a small batt (carded prep). In the middle is a collection of cleaned locks - these were folded and rolled in a bit of fabric in order to preserve the lock structure. The bag at the top right is raw fiber which I need to wash (note how dark it is compared to the clean fiber). And the small bag on the bottom right is silk, for blending. <p></p><p>During the class, I worked with the clean locks in the middle. I flicked them with my flick carder to prepare them for spinning. This is a classic worsted prep, and I planned to spin the locks with a worsted style (short forward draft)... so I took care to keep the tips facing the same direction so I could spin from the tips. Here you can see a lock before and after flicking: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LlvPkonhFOh8hnDxFBweOiwwpLQrCql70KCNOPSJOj69QzoafSIINW1ZPRzyu__UQ4u8fwVZm8u3yx3ZO0v0J9Dc87oy3e4Q77HDlt9qQpZNsFB5wB5CH3Rp5dZ9ag7Pj5IHbh7zF_I/s2048/20210430_171737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LlvPkonhFOh8hnDxFBweOiwwpLQrCql70KCNOPSJOj69QzoafSIINW1ZPRzyu__UQ4u8fwVZm8u3yx3ZO0v0J9Dc87oy3e4Q77HDlt9qQpZNsFB5wB5CH3Rp5dZ9ag7Pj5IHbh7zF_I/w400-h300/20210430_171737.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I acquired another new tool last week: a hairbrush cleaner. This was recommended as the best way to clean stray fibers out of the blending board, and as it was easily obtainable online, I ordered it. I LOVE THIS THING. It is so easy to get the waste fiber out of anything with carding cloth on it, including my flick carder!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrVbFqJwH239C5QQUo87_3zXCuSimfK52TA4OD3kIQzEbiTpeRIAhnd6_9xcBaEuKCHdNlJw27FqX1rAOoCNINHJPADSq1a-6rTkjX5vuDOEJWSB5B2fAFE4TMaDLqTLBwp0VIrc0Aww/s2048/20210430_173700+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1619" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrVbFqJwH239C5QQUo87_3zXCuSimfK52TA4OD3kIQzEbiTpeRIAhnd6_9xcBaEuKCHdNlJw27FqX1rAOoCNINHJPADSq1a-6rTkjX5vuDOEJWSB5B2fAFE4TMaDLqTLBwp0VIrc0Aww/w316-h400/20210430_173700+%25282%2529.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>I also cleaned my hairbrush.<p></p><p>I spun all those beautiful locks, and made this small skein of 2-ply yarn. It's so white and shiny - the Lincoln part of the breed really comes through:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NhP4Az6XePvjmVruuYaYOI2Wbio-UR_wq331KEc-2x1djVY8wQoeTpASZjVTRrO7r6o8flh93vflZZudhiPmROlbcxAjxLY8GAIhCMGH4idT1Go__P_lsCsNwVPTrEhlbrPW1vs9jgc/s2048/20210503_125833+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1851" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NhP4Az6XePvjmVruuYaYOI2Wbio-UR_wq331KEc-2x1djVY8wQoeTpASZjVTRrO7r6o8flh93vflZZudhiPmROlbcxAjxLY8GAIhCMGH4idT1Go__P_lsCsNwVPTrEhlbrPW1vs9jgc/w361-h400/20210503_125833+%25282%2529.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br />Judith says there are "lots of dye sites" on Columbia, and the bright, blue-white color indicates this. I haven't heard anyone talk about dye sites before, but if Mother MacKenzie says it, then it's true. <p></p><p>I really enjoyed flicking and spinning this skein. Alternating between flicking and spinning strikes me as an excellent way to avoid repetitive stress injuries. And it's fun. I could see doing a big spin this way, with the right fleece! </p><p>The students in this class crowd-sourced a list of our favorite places to buy fleeces. Of course, the BEST place to buy fleeces is the MDSW Fleece Barn (Judith said it took her breath away the first time she saw it), but that's not always possible. I'll share the list here in case it's helpful to anyone else:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Maryland Sheep Breeders Association - check their directory<br /></li><li>Individual Breed registry/associations - they will list fleece sellers<br /></li><li>Shepherd's Hey Farm, MD- Lee Langstaff - <a href="https://tt820.blogspot.com/2018/05/achievement-unlocked-mdsw-2018.html">this is where I got my first fleeces</a> - you cannot go wrong with a Shepherd's Hey fleece - <a href="http://www.jillianmoreno.com/journal/2021/5/5/a-new-way-to-look-at-fleece">Jillian Moreno agrees!</a><br /></li><li>Ruppert's Corriedales</li><li>Peggy Howell, MD</li><li>Kate Bostek, Roclans Farm, PA</li><li>Solitude Farm, Roundhill VA – Gretchen Frederick</li><li>Steitzhof Merino, Genopalette in MO.</li><li>Fiber First Farm, Washington State – Romeldale, Corriedale and some other crosses</li><li>Nistock farm in NY.</li><li>Sheep show winners lists!</li><li>Black Sheep Gathering, Oregon. Small but excellent quality!</li><li>At
MDSW the Fleece Show winners for the current year are always posted at
the front of the Fleece Show and Sale Barn near the silent auction prize
winning fleeces</li><li>Alice Field, Foxhill Farm in Lee Mass has outstanding Cormo</li></ul><p>I really miss attending this festival in person, but I'm glad I got to take these classes. Next year is going to be a blowout festival. I can't wait. <br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501874405097071831.post-53762462540159009852021-05-03T14:12:00.000-04:002021-05-03T14:12:17.242-04:00Blending Boards: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly <p>I was so happy to be able to take a class about using my blending board at this year's (virtual) Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I signed up for this class last year, but everything was cancelled due to COVID. The cancellation happened after I ordered a new blending board. I tried to use it a couple times over the summer, but my results were very poor. </p><p>The class, titled Blending Boards: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, was taught by Heavenly Bresser. She created class kits, and I was super excited to open mine. Doesn't this look like so much fun?!?? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslq7QDpsf4BMWrUPIIjLeBADfB_aQmjKojA7SQ7vxpMURxcN4BIjCzUzB4SESg0K2MtGuk5ntFjVZoYDv_Y2y4xxp0XQOUFKXkrM79dBDpV8UfysPciltAB51K27yRzGCWToyXaMdUv0/s2048/20210407_145052+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslq7QDpsf4BMWrUPIIjLeBADfB_aQmjKojA7SQ7vxpMURxcN4BIjCzUzB4SESg0K2MtGuk5ntFjVZoYDv_Y2y4xxp0XQOUFKXkrM79dBDpV8UfysPciltAB51K27yRzGCWToyXaMdUv0/w400-h400/20210407_145052+crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The big pieces of fiber are merino top. There are also a bunch of add-ins, including tussah silk, eri silk, sari silk waste, tencel, comber's silk, alpaca, angelina, and firestar (the latter two are sparkly). <p></p><p>Heavenly taught us two different methods of applying the fiber to the board. Here is my very first attempt. I forgot to take pictures as I loaded the fiber on the board, so you see here the first rolag I pulled off, as well as the remaining fiber which will become the second rolag:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU7TO5SoV-SB-U3oBCLDGQYjxb1uZP0mFZMKl3MvJzJFSqW4Mi3PUnC_AfTEHIdBZsdmQelghRkfgoa8WVe0zyg_P3WMVQ0LyIMOHBr4sKbdu4kLnFRPJkcD5DNnXUP15oL1LmLV92bk/s2048/20210427_112620+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1662" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU7TO5SoV-SB-U3oBCLDGQYjxb1uZP0mFZMKl3MvJzJFSqW4Mi3PUnC_AfTEHIdBZsdmQelghRkfgoa8WVe0zyg_P3WMVQ0LyIMOHBr4sKbdu4kLnFRPJkcD5DNnXUP15oL1LmLV92bk/w325-h400/20210427_112620+%25282%2529.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>It is so fun to "paint" these fibers onto the board. Heavenly pointed out that we're not technically blending fiber on the board - rather, we're layering it. Here are my first two rolags: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTbW7TsfUYxq9i3V1NNBNPfifs17MLh0Sf2HCxZij6qPWsQIPH3aR_aqjdQosX1u9FGAQjd6A1YxDX86ou7-3Z16PpbwjcmWIVw10pNJARn3QW1LX6NYbx8Y2f9QqCJR06Q9cbrLWj6s/s2048/20210427_113705+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2048" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTbW7TsfUYxq9i3V1NNBNPfifs17MLh0Sf2HCxZij6qPWsQIPH3aR_aqjdQosX1u9FGAQjd6A1YxDX86ou7-3Z16PpbwjcmWIVw10pNJARn3QW1LX6NYbx8Y2f9QqCJR06Q9cbrLWj6s/w400-h261/20210427_113705+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I spun one of them up really quickly to sample it - you can get a little sense of how the colors look in a finished yarn. The finer the yarn, the more blended it will look (because the spots of color are smaller): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4HGnJCHCxfojhP_YWfEPZ7rpmp6e-ELi479j2hSutJaJj0CEBZUkf7UMdTCmig0aEo2SgP4_Gt6OW2td99xYingoTX-_ZMtLheEqWY3JwpAGznQ-VZfxJ0gTZXMrTxO5CZjADMf6cBY/s2048/20210427_135619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4HGnJCHCxfojhP_YWfEPZ7rpmp6e-ELi479j2hSutJaJj0CEBZUkf7UMdTCmig0aEo2SgP4_Gt6OW2td99xYingoTX-_ZMtLheEqWY3JwpAGznQ-VZfxJ0gTZXMrTxO5CZjADMf6cBY/w300-h400/20210427_135619.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />For our next rolag, we all tried to work from the same "recipe." We began with these colors but applied them in different amounts. I have more navy blue than purple, and more purple than pink, and only a tiny amount of green (a complementary color): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WBp_OXIDoI5x-60zdPZFnIt3VWKDocjl2DcNhebM4ebQxjxUDxk0Q3Uof-cwmggFVPd3BxYPApb7gUleN2Y0U2oWimICMz_v6_S8llCCT60RWnzsVb2pIRuoB4Z8-94zFj2luYmeSVY/s2048/20210427_141625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WBp_OXIDoI5x-60zdPZFnIt3VWKDocjl2DcNhebM4ebQxjxUDxk0Q3Uof-cwmggFVPd3BxYPApb7gUleN2Y0U2oWimICMz_v6_S8llCCT60RWnzsVb2pIRuoB4Z8-94zFj2luYmeSVY/w400-h300/20210427_141625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here I've started to layer the colors on the board. I'm only using the bottom section because this is just a sample rolag:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaKSk5Uv13lkIMHeFlvnXN7AGe3kMzbia_BaYgqkycT__0fv1jsqWI-8cVNX5vun1SnvGzZqEYV-o-4JB6C1kM-os8dXRh98hn9l9IOrMHa546GoXLZPMwRcc3DpzGt-YHEKVKzJY6ns/s2048/20210427_144943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaKSk5Uv13lkIMHeFlvnXN7AGe3kMzbia_BaYgqkycT__0fv1jsqWI-8cVNX5vun1SnvGzZqEYV-o-4JB6C1kM-os8dXRh98hn9l9IOrMHa546GoXLZPMwRcc3DpzGt-YHEKVKzJY6ns/w300-h400/20210427_144943.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Here is the final (wee!) rolag, and also the yarn I spun from it (just a little sample): <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9dOcjdM3P8WZ0CSSn6hDRDVW5aAqO0qdBaKGnESaqHd6ppRdOpJ0QX3MO0bx2oKGMM5ogSq72ZjwNbIhszXQnxBrt3TmNkNKwcWvT-Swe1NzqZBzZqFii5H4uDRoU1sSYHXWueLLurE/s2048/20210427_145423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9dOcjdM3P8WZ0CSSn6hDRDVW5aAqO0qdBaKGnESaqHd6ppRdOpJ0QX3MO0bx2oKGMM5ogSq72ZjwNbIhszXQnxBrt3TmNkNKwcWvT-Swe1NzqZBzZqFii5H4uDRoU1sSYHXWueLLurE/w300-h400/20210427_145423.jpg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjuJ8KR9UoIbb9q3j_JN0AwEqS-JALGZtpqUsESNYDuWAi25hCyEjINO0Jg4pI7fCaqPcTqgAov02kxhtp0_Ovldr00DzjgxQaux1tS1T3V092-_VVRDe8WHX_qRsk1Zp-V6WyOASq14/s2048/20210427_152523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjuJ8KR9UoIbb9q3j_JN0AwEqS-JALGZtpqUsESNYDuWAi25hCyEjINO0Jg4pI7fCaqPcTqgAov02kxhtp0_Ovldr00DzjgxQaux1tS1T3V092-_VVRDe8WHX_qRsk1Zp-V6WyOASq14/w300-h400/20210427_152523.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div>The yarn is really fascinating to spin, because you never know what chunk of color is going to predominate. <p></p><p>At the end of the 4-hour class, I decided to explore a more wild colorway. Here are the raw materials I started with (sometimes I add other stuff once I'm into the process): </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3JIG8gdMoNLJhGVl3u1dztEoMlLLlO5_Gn-ssqNwxVVnqzjL9FIRMyliSnDRrYmPJ3Pm35jB40C7hInFfT3vn7O7fkCPEZxh-lNWTt-eUo_nz8uZLAMEQ2R9weTJpvx12p2wyADvV4M/s2048/20210427_153938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3JIG8gdMoNLJhGVl3u1dztEoMlLLlO5_Gn-ssqNwxVVnqzjL9FIRMyliSnDRrYmPJ3Pm35jB40C7hInFfT3vn7O7fkCPEZxh-lNWTt-eUo_nz8uZLAMEQ2R9weTJpvx12p2wyADvV4M/w400-h300/20210427_153938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These four colors are fairly equidistant from each other on the color wheel, sometimes described as a "square" arrangement. If I were to blend them in equal amounts, I would get a muddy mess. The trick is to let one color dominate and another recede. I filled the entire board this time, and ended up with these beauties:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrkSS8Moo_X2M_H9NE5Jk5p1tmTA5IwBbNMOeN0mIYce2utlujC7b3FzIA0riApaBFRU-GfY35v9Nh38bL7erKDCA3rzWZXbAHelZip1kgY8IfgLdlFo1SX90a7L9LcDvTvR7izxfnjA/s2048/20210427_161717+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="2048" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrkSS8Moo_X2M_H9NE5Jk5p1tmTA5IwBbNMOeN0mIYce2utlujC7b3FzIA0riApaBFRU-GfY35v9Nh38bL7erKDCA3rzWZXbAHelZip1kgY8IfgLdlFo1SX90a7L9LcDvTvR7izxfnjA/w400-h364/20210427_161717+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I started and ended with the oranges and yellows. The blues and greens are sandwiched in the middle. Stay tuned to see how they spin up!<p></p><p>I'm still a beginning blender, but the process is so instantly gratifying and fun. Who wouldn't want to spin these colorful rolls of air?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Janellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428803651280506435noreply@blogger.com3