WormSoup

Fast Lace

2008-10-26T15:17:00.004-04:00

I always have many knitting projects going at once. I like being able to pick up a project based on complexity, physical size, whether I need to watch what I'm doing, needle size, etc. As a result, I get nothing done for a long time, then several projects are finished at once. I like knitting this way; my hands don't get tired, and I can always work on the type of project I'm in the mood for at any moment, to say nothing of always having a project around for waiting at appointments, school pickups, etc.

But sometimes I get jealous. Have you noticed how quickly some knitter can bang out a project? If not, look at Shut Up & Knit! or at Wendy Knits . In their worlds projects just crank off the needles one after the other.

So, with this latest project, I decided to try it. I would knit just one project and nothing else until it was done. In addition, I put in more time than usual. I can usually fit in about an hour of knitting time at the end of the day (when I'm no good for anything else), and during this project I put in two, mostly by ignoring things that really shouldn't have been ignored and by sacrificing sleep. All in the name of my little experiment. My goal - knit the small "Shoulderette" size of Laminaria. Well. I knit for eight days, and on the ninth day I blocked. My conclusions? I can do it, but I don't like it! My hand hurt most days, even when I wasn't knitting, and by the end I was desperate to start even more projects! I'll have to leave this method to the big kids, and go start some new projects ;-)

Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman in Knitty Spring 2008.
1 skein of Hand Maiden Mini Maiden in Blackberry, with about 20 cm left over.
4.5mm circular Addi lace needle.
Finished size: 122cm x 63cm

Finished Lace

2008-08-22T18:46:00.005-04:00

Pattern: Honeybee Stole by Anne Hanson

Yarn: Two skeins of Schaefer Yarn Company "Anne". I had 23.8g left over.

Needles: 3.25mm, I used two circulars and knit in both directions section by section.

Final blocked size is 60cm x 190cm.

Cast on: I used the Turkish Cast-On as written by fluffyknitterdeb.

Center seam: I used Anne Hanson's fudge-it system.

Fear

2008-06-22T18:27:00.005-04:00

Like most everyone, I don't feel like I have enough time. Pick a category, and I'm probably behind. Take that fact together with all the beautiful yarns out there, and I'm sure I don't need to learn how to spin. So I went to Rhinebeck with Jen last year with every intention to avoid all spinning-related products. That lasted until those fiber witches sat with us at lunch one day. I can't remember what they said, but the moment we finished eating lunch we made a beeline to Goldings and each bought a "Learn to Spin" kit, consisting of a drop spindle, some roving, and a book. The spindle sat there, tag still on, still safe from the madness, until today. Sigh. Susan's Spinning Bunny had an open house this weekend. I brought my little kit. Vicky, then Susan, showed us how to use a drop spindle. Unfortunately, I think I'm getting the hang of it.

Ouch

2008-05-17T14:48:00.002-04:00

I finished these Jaywalker socks just a little over a year ago. I had not worn them very often. But it's not the fault of the yarn or the knitting. I have sandpaper feet. I'll have to either fix the feet or not wear handknit socks! Don't try to diagnose my feet from these pictures; my daughter is modeling.

I had to make one, too

2008-04-20T19:33:00.004-04:00

After seeing this scarf on numerous blogs, I had to make one, too. To my surprise, no one in the family wants it, so it's probably destined to be a donation.

Pattern: K1 P1 rib, alternate colors every two rows. If you want more details, look for the "Noro Striped Scarf" pattern on Ravelry.
Yarn: Four skeins of Noro Silk Garden. I used two skeins for a base color for the whole scarf, and two different colors for the alternate color on the first and second half.
Needles: 4.5mm

Borrowed Ideas

2008-04-01T20:26:00.005-04:00

This sweater is based primarily on photos at BrooklynTweed of Big Blue. For instructions on the shirt back I used Elizabeth Zimmerman's “Knitting Without Tears”, available at Schoolhouse Press. For the ribbon zipper facing, I winged it. Thanks to my niece for modeling!

Yarn: Vendor at New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, no tags
Needles: 4.5mm
Ribbon: Purchased at M & J Trimming in NYC

Bass Gloves

2008-03-18T18:59:00.005-04:00

	Yes, another pair of fingerless gloves. It seems the more I make, the more my teenagers request them. This pair was requested by my son, especially for when he plays electric bass. The only modification from my usual pattern is that the thumb is much shorter. Pattern: My own distillation of many gloves and mittens. Yarn: Koigu

No Knitting

2008-03-01T14:22:00.002-05:00

Here is a YouTube video I enjoyed, and thought you might, too. It's "Frozen Grand Central" from ImprovEverywhere.

RSC Ferry Wake Socks

2008-02-16T08:24:00.005-05:00

These are from the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club at Blue Moon Fiber Arts, finished in January. This was probably my favorite color from the 2007 club, and a pleasant, easy knit. I think I finished this pair faster than any of the others. Modeled by my daughter. They are just a bit too small for her and for me, so they will be gifted to my mother for her birthday.

Color: Bella Coola

Yarn: Socks That Rock mediumweight

Needles: 2.25mm

Pattern: Salish Sea Socks, design by Cat Bordhi

Leftover: 43.5g

Contest Results

2008-02-04T20:14:00.000-05:00

As it turns out, all of the entries were invalid (not about colleges in the Northeast), which puts all of them on equal footing. Unfortunately, despite thinking long and hard, my daughter could not decide which one was the most helpful, so we're going with Plan B: picking one out of a hat. (drumroll.......) and the winner is: Jen!! Please send email to let me know how you'd like me to send the yarn. Thanks everyone.

More Gloves

2008-02-02T08:13:00.000-05:00

For the past few years I've been knitting fingerless gloves for a few months each Winter. It all started about five years ago at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival. Jen and I took a class on Norwegian Purl from Beth Brown Reinsel. (I love her Knitting Ganseys book.) Anyway, in the course of learning how to do Norwegian Purl (which really comes in handy, especially when you have stitches in your thumb and can't do a regular purl), I also finally learned to be comfortable doing two color stranding. Thank you Beth! For some reason I can't remember, after that class I bought the book Knitting Fair Isle Mittens & Gloves (my favorite glove/mitten book) and with that as my starting point, I started knitting gloves, three pair the first year, and more every year since. Here are the latest two:

		Yarn: Koigu, Black and a multi Construction: My basic glove based on the book above Color pattern from Mostly Mittens
		Yarn: Smooshy in Nightwatch by Dream in Color Construction: A new shaping I was testing

1 Skein Wollmeise = 2 Projects + 1 Contest

2008-01-26T09:09:00.000-05:00

Last summer I bought some Wollmeise. I started with one skein, 150g, of Sockenwolle, and made my daughter a pair of socks. The pattern is the coriolis sock from Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One. Given that they were very short socks, I wasn't too surprised there was yarn left over, so I made my daughter a pair of matching fingerless gloves (my generic pattern).

And now there is still 62g of yarn left! I used about 52g on the socks and 36g on the gloves, so I think there is enough for small socks, gloves, or mittens.

Free Wollmeise Contest

Do you want the remaining 62g? My daughter is in 11th grade and just starting to look at colleges. To enter just leave a comment naming your favorite college/university in the Northeast US, and why. It's not very busy around here at wormsoup, so your chances are excellent! Deadline: Midnight Saturday Feb 2. The winner will be the most helpful comment, and if she can't pick one, it will be random.

Thank you, Ebinla Birks!

2008-01-12T11:07:00.000-05:00

Emily's Dish Rag Tag continues to be full of fun and surprises. For winning "Most Complex Dish Rag Tag Dish Rag" I was given a set of amethyst stitch markers made by Ebinla Birks. Take a look at these beauties! I'm afraid my photography doesn't do them justice. Thank you!!

Fini!

2007-12-12T20:42:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Fiber Trends Cocoon Lace Scarf or Wrap by Evelyn A. Clark Yarn: Wollmeise laceweight in Brombeere Needle: 3.75mm Begun early September, finished early November.

This was comparatively easy for lace, because the yarn was not too fine and the pattern was easy to follow. I especially like that both sides look good. The wrap is a very generous size, and I didn't come close to using a full hank.

Votes for Dishrags

2007-11-29T20:10:00.000-05:00

Yarn Miracle hosted Dish Rag Tag over the summer. It was fun to participate and knit my first dishrag (or two). I wrote about it in August. Anyway, as you'll see on Yarn Miracle's page, my rag is one of the finalists in the "Most Complex Dish Rag Pattern" category. I'm honored!! Thanks, Emily!

Finished!

2007-11-29T20:05:00.001-05:00

This sweater is Modell Nr. 10605 from Dale Baby Collection Nr. 106. I have a lot of Baby Ull in my stash, so I made some minor color substitutions to use yarn I had. I also changed the button band into a band I could fold over to hide my yarn carries. I knit the 24 month size; I almost always pick the largest size available because it becomes a race between the baby growing and my project growing. I sent it off to my cousin Jonas a few weeks ago. I hope it fits!

Finished!

2007-11-20T19:16:00.000-05:00

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Pioneer, two hanks wound into one skein
Pattern: Victorian Lace Today "Scarf with a Wide and Handsome Border for a Mantel Drape form Weldon's, Series 6, Volume 2, 1887"
Needle: 4mm wood circular

I gave the scarf to Mom for her birthday.

Waiting for the Dalai Lama

2007-10-24T19:45:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago we went to a lecture by the Dalai Lama. I bought the tickets months and months ago, and even brought the whole family; I thought it might be the only chance the children would ever have to hear him speak, since his last public lecture here was about twelve years ago.

Over 5000 people attended. Naturally there was a lot of waiting involved; waiting in a line that wrapped around a large building to get through security, waiting in line for the restroom, and waiting for the lecture to start. Security was tighter than at the airport; the rules included no phones, food, or water. Happily, circular knitting needles were fine. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed, so I have no pictures of the event or even of the waiting, but I have lots of knitting proof of waiting:

The lecture was not what I was expecting; I'm not sure what I was expecting! He sat and talked informally, telling stories, his thoughts on some topics, analogies, and joking a bit. He seemed like he would be a very easy person to talk with. Maybe that's why he won the Nobel Peace Prize :-)

Oh, and by the way, here is the first coriolis sock from Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One, knit in Wollmeise:

Mini Shawl

2007-10-02T20:32:00.000-04:00

I knit a mini shawl for an introductory lace class. I knit it in order to help teach, but of course I learned a lot from it myself:

Must resist urge to use a variegated yarn on anything other than the most plain stitch. See how lost the pattern is, and how stripey it looks?
I like my lace on smaller-than-recommended needles. I want only the holes to look like holes, not the entire fabric.
Addi lace needles really do make a difference.
Wet blocking isn't so awful. This was the first time I tried it; I usually steam block.

Details:

Pattern: Fiber Trends Flower Basket Lace Scarf & Shawls, by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: Schaefer Yarn "Andrea", 100% Silk
Needle: 3.25mm

Another WIP

2007-09-23T19:31:00.000-04:00

Yes, I started another project, and I decided I'm ok with that.

I've been trying to finish up some of my many works in progress, but then I slipped and started another one. And I decided it's ok. This is my "fun", so why ruin it by insisting on self-control? There is enough of that in the rest of my life!

So, please let me introduce you to my new WIP:

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Pioneer, two hanks wound into one skein
Pattern: Victorian Lace Today "Scarf with a Wide and Handsome Border for a Mantel Drape form Weldon's, Series 6, Volume 2, 1887"
Needle: 4mm wood circular

Thanks for the yarn, Jen!!

On another topic, I received my invitation to Ravelry about a week ago. Honestly I was a little bit afraid to sign in - after all I've read about it, I feared it would be too much fun and all I need is another time sink in my life!! On my first visit I managed to simply dip my toe in the water. I signed in, made a simple profile page, and looked around. Wow. There sure is a lot there. Not sure which of the many features will become my favorites, but I'll start sampling soon. Any suggestions?

Doing My Part

2007-09-15T20:12:00.001-04:00

One of my failings is being a little too closed, too private, too quiet, which gets to be, well, too boring. So, in an effort to work on that, I'm going to tell you one topic I feel strongly about. I also believe in taking "baby steps" to go somewhere new, so I'm going to start with something very safe :-) Metric. Why haven't we in the U.S. completely switched to metric yet? I think we all know enough about this already - I won't bore you with the arguments or the links to all the Web sites discussing the topic. I'm going to try to do my part. Here, on WormSoup, going forward, it will be all metric, all the time. Metric yardage, measurements, and needle sizes. Remind me if I forget, ok?? In knitting news, an update on The Rockin' Sock Club. I've finished the 2nd and 3rd pairs. The the first one pictured, in Silkie, I changed the instep to stockinette because I prefer a plain foot. The next picture, in STR Lightweight, I used the pattern's basic shape, but changed the cable into a simple rib, because I felt like doing a simple knit at that time. Both socks were knit on 2.5mm dpns.

Another WIP

2007-09-08T10:09:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it, I have way too many projects in work. Maybe when I get the list under ten I'll describe them all. For now, I want to write about just one.

	Remember the Wollmeise I showed you a few posts ago? Three skeins were for me. Two of them I wound up almost immediately, and both of them are in work. The laceweight in color Brombeere looks like this wound up:
I'm making the Fiber Trends Cocoon Lace Scarf or Wrap by Evelyn A. Clark. This shows how it is knitting up on a US size 5 needle. Since it's not stretched or blocked, it looks like a lumpy mess, as all my lace does before blocking.
	Before I knit on this for months, I wanted some assurance that it will look good after it's blocked. So here it is again, stretched and pinned.

I like the amusement of a non-solid, and I'm glad it is not turning stripey. It's very easy and pleasant to knit, both the yarn and the pattern. It gives me hope that some day this WIP will turn into a FO.

Stitch Markers

2007-09-04T18:07:00.000-04:00

I, too, am enjoying Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I have my first project all planned out. It will be the Coriolis pattern in Wollmeise for my daughter.

I've swatched, so I thought I was ready to go, but then Wendy posted the stitch markers she found on Etsy. Stitch markers?? I can make those. My daughter must have lettered beads, I have quite a collection of fancy beads, put those together with a bit of string or wire, and I should be all set, right?

Wrong, of course. We had lettered beads, but they were too large. Went to the store to buy beads. Right there next to the beads were special wires with stoppers at the end, had to have those, too. At the end of the day, my "simple, free, stitch markers", ended up costing:

$6.50 for lettered beads and special wire;
Used fancy beads from the stash and very small needle nose pliers;
An hour of prep time, hunting down materials at home and at the store;
An hour of time to make the markers.

My conclusion? I really like my little markers, but the stitch markers on Etsy look like a great value now!!

Best Wishes to FurrPurls

2007-08-29T19:47:00.000-04:00

Remember those posts by Jen G on April 24 and Aug 4? Jen has gone and homesteaded her own blog, FurrPurls. All the best in your new online home, Jen!!

Yarn Delivery!

2007-08-26T07:46:00.000-04:00

After despairing of ever finding Wollmeise in a brick or online store (The Loopy Ewe carries it if you're quick!), I decided to order direct. The lovely stuff came on Friday. No, it's not all mine, I ordered with FurrPurls and another friend. Can't wait to try it. Hopefully I'll have pictures of works in progress here soon.

Two hanks of laceweight: "Brombeere" on the left, then "Vergissmichnicht".
All superwash, from left to right: "Krauterbeet" "Krauterbeet" (again) "Veilchen" "Gewitterhimmel" "Am kalten Polar" "Poisen Nr. 5" "Maria's Deepest Purple"

Dish Rag Tag!

2007-08-23T17:34:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Emily at Yarn Miracle for Dish Rag Tag! If you are new to Dish Rag Tag, I suggest you go here http://yarnmiracle.com/2007/06/12/dish-rag-tag/ and read all about it. I am part of team "Wannabe Racin'". My package came yesterday, and looked like this. Thanks, Gina! I started knitting at 5:30 and finished at midnight, with a few breaks for food and laundry. I had prepared by deciding on garter stitch, making a gauge swatch, and sketching a design. Luckily the time pressure to finish quickly kept me from ripping and replanning the whole thing. It turned out, well, different. The striped and mitered section was inspired by Mason Dixon Knitting and the wavy section by nonaSwatches, especially January and February.

Heads and Toes

2007-08-04T15:50:00.000-04:00

My recent completions are all hats and socks, with everything for the in-between body parts moving along slowly.

Here are two more colorways for the modified Beach Beanie shown with the green one I posted in April. All fit and are comfortable although I've actually been covering my bare head with bandanas more frequently. Very pirate-like and Carribean pirates are definitely "in" this Summer!

I'm sorry to admit that my other finished projects also lack originality, (but I'm happy with them all the same). Here are the latest Socks that Rock: Grasshoppers, knit to pattern, and Summer Solstice, with a rib added at the top.

Here's a sneak peak at things to come... a "candid" shot of my work area showing an unbelievable four projects cooking at once! Pyramids fair isle with a Guinness Book quantity of ends to be tucked, Coming and Going cardigan paused at the start of its sleeves, Playing with Fire cardigan which epitomizes my current color madness, and Mermaid Fingerless Gloves with a really cool thumb gusset, (doesn't show in this picture). More detail on those designs as they finish.

Also lurking with my active projects are four skeins of Lornas Lace, one of Fiesta and one of Cherry Tree Hill, all recently purchased. They're living in my sofa-based work space while I enjoy their newness and fantasize about possibilities... the usual mental activities that follow an episode of uncontrolled stash-building. They'll probably stay there until they get bumped by that Wollmeise order from last week. (I did use the word "uncontrolled"!)

Hats On!

2007-05-12T19:58:00.000-04:00

The hat on the left is Shedir, by Jenna Wilson for Knitty Breast Cancer Awareness Month Printable issue '04. It was knit in Stahl Wolle Morea. The only modification is that I did one less repeat of the main cable pattern. The hat on the right started out as pattern #18 in Knit.1 Spring 2007, but I made a lot of modifications, including no cables, retained the ribbing for the crown, knit in one piece, and let the brim curl. Knit in elsebeth lavold Silky Wool.

Silent Partner Finally Posts!

2007-04-24T19:13:00.000-04:00

I'm playing catch up, so here are the projects so far for 2007.

Shy Sheep Vest by Shelridge Farms (sold as a kit):

For any one who hasn't witnessed the magic of shadow knitting, these photos tell the tale!

Now ya don't see 'em...

Now ya do!

Next up was the Beach Beanie from "Hats, A Knitter's Dozen", XRX Press. The beanie was designed in one color, but of course I couldn't leave well enough alone.

There were also modifications to improve fit for me, such as some added length. It's knit with Filatura Di Crosa on US#6 needles. I will be knitting this again in other colors if it works out well for a chemo-head.

Next I celebrated my acceptance into that highly exclusive organization of notorious sock knitters known as the Rocking Sock Club. (Actually they're only exclusive if you miss the

membership sign up!)

Here are my Rockin' Monsoon Socks, my first experience with the amazing Rockin' Sock wool. I opted to follow the kit pattern to the leg, then added some stitches over the heel and designed in a smaller cable pattern than what was called out.

And lastly I'm showing off my first pair of mittens. These are Lucy Neatby's Paradoxical Mittens knit with US#1 needles from Shelridge Farms Ultra Merino.

The picture that came with the pattern shows a sane and stunning combination of black and white with a touch of red. I chose a somewhat loony combination of dark purple, near chartreuse, and a touch of lavender. Sanity is definitely over-rated. I'm very happy with the crazy outcome. It is worth mentioning that attention to dominant color was critical in this project. (That means that once I messed it up I had a lot of ripping to do!)

Hope you enjoyed that long awaited tour of my recent knits! Now I'll fade back into anonymity until some other magnificent creation comes off the needles. Onward...

Warm someone else's ribs

2007-04-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

This is the ribwarmer vest from Debbie New's Unexpected Knitting. Directions were great, it came out just my size, but it is just not my style! I need to find a recipient for this one...

Monsoon Socks Rock!

2007-04-11T19:13:00.000-04:00

Finished my first Rockin' Sock Club socks!

Stained Glass Update

2007-03-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

Pattern: Green Mountain Spinnery Yarn: Shelridge Farm. The pictures are

The main body, about 8 or 9 inches to go.
An armhole steek.
The buttonband steek.

Jaywalker Socks

2007-03-01T20:33:00.000-05:00

I read so many compliments about Grumperina's Jaywalker socks, I had to make a pair. And then another pair. If you want the pattern, it's on Magknits.

Fingerless Gloves

2007-02-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

Both pairs of gloves are made from Koigu on size 3 (US) needles. The pattern on the two color pair was inspired by a picture I saw. One pair has a k2 p2 rib cuff, the other has k1p1 rib, then k2tog yo fold, then k1 color a k2 color b on the portion that shows.

20 Years Older

2007-02-27T18:46:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed planning and making this sweater. Often I showed it to my dh and ds; for some reason they were very reserved about it. When it was almost finished I tried it on. I was horrified - the colors are all wrong on me and made me look 20 years older. Happily, I found a friend who looks well in these colors, and gave it away. Pattern: Mostly from two different Wool Gathering patterns.

Glass Slipper Socks

2007-02-27T18:38:00.000-05:00

I called these "glass slipper socks" because while I was making them I decided to give them to someone who liked them with the right size feet. My son liked them, pronounced the fit "perfect", and has been wearing them ever since.

Pattern: basic sock pattern from the Stahl booklets

Felted Bowl/ Earring Holder

2007-02-26T20:55:00.000-05:00

This bowl was knit in a free-form bowl shape, felted, then the heart was needle-felted into the base. It's an earring holder; you can either fasten them around the edges, or throw them into the bowl. I used Ultra Alpaca.

K's Gloves

2007-02-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

I made these gloves for my daughter for Christmas. She liked the design. Unfortunately I had the size all wrong. The original pair was given to my neice, and this pair was checked at every step to be exactly the right size for my daughter. Back/thumb pattern from Mostly Mittens: Traditional Knitting Patterns from Russia's Komi People by Charlene Schurch Size 3 needles Koigu, black and variegated

Bingo!

2006-11-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

I won Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo! Thank you Stitchy McYarnPants for dreaming up and running the game, and to Little Barn for donating the gift card I won.

Ladybugs for Lucy

2006-09-26T18:35:00.000-04:00

Torri's Four Alpacas

2006-09-03T16:44:00.000-04:00

Swimming Shawl

2006-09-02T11:01:00.000-04:00

The pattern is "Litla Hyrna Huldu"; the translation book calls it "Small Triangular Shawl", from Three-Cornered & Long Shawls. The shawl was made from one ball of Baby Kid Extra from Filatura D'Crosa, 25g, 245m. I called it Swimming Shawl because I wanted to find some way to build donations to Hospicare for Women Swimmin'. Ideas, anyone?

Fingerless Gloves

2006-07-16T16:47:00.000-04:00

Finished the fingerless gloves last weekend. Made with Koigu on size 2 needles.

Linda's Shawl

2006-07-02T16:56:00.000-04:00

Finished Linda's shawl this morning. It was meant to be a wedding present, so I'm happy to have it finished by their first anniversary ;-)

Pattern: Diamond Fantasy Scarf or Shawl from Sivia Harding Knit Design.

Yarn: supercashmere fine from Karabella yarns

Needle: US 6