Sixth time is the charm?

I lost track of how many times I crocheted the border on this baby throw, just to rip it back and try again. Running out of yarn didn't help, either. In the end, I settled for two rounds in the lavender instead of three, but I left the last end to weave in at a later date, just in case I find or buy some more yarn. (Right now I am on a fiber diet.)

Pattern: F870 Shell Flower Baby Throw, by Plymouth Yarn Design Studio
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in lavender
Needle: I for initial chain, H for the rest
Modifications: see above and below

I had to start with a larger hook to meet the blanket dimensions - I guess I chain tight - but then switched to the H hook for the rest. The pattern was fine until it got to the instructions for the border. Once I started fiddling with the edge, the instructions *almost* made sense. Since the bottom edge already had a row of single crochet, I broke the yarn and started on the side following the bottom. For the vertical sides, I worked 3 sc into each shell row. For the top (and then the bottom), I worked 6 sc for each shell. Each corner had 3 sc. I could not get the hang of the suggested reverse sc to finish, so abandoned that idea.

At one point, I crocheted two rounds in white Modo Dea Washable Wool yarn. It's more of an Aran weight than worsted, also is not plied but braided? I later deemed it too heavy for the Cascade 220 Superwash, which seems a bit light for worsted.

So much anguish over a baby blanket! I did enjoy crocheting something for a change, although my shoulders did not find it much different than knitting. Something about the micro movements really irritates. As long as I can crochet and knit, though, I will continue to do so.

Hip hip HOORAY

This past week marked the one year anniversary of my hip replacement surgery. I think about my artificial hip everyday, not because it bothers me but because it doesn't. There's not too many things I want to do that I can't. I'm back to walking the dogs 2-3 miles most days, I can perform most of the PT exercises for my back, and I can even trim my toenails. It's a miracle.

My shoulders are another matter. The back exercises I can't do depend on having stable shoulders and mine are not. They both hurt but for different reasons. I keep exercising them as best I can, which both helps and hurts. Crochet and knitting have to be limited, weaving too. I hope to have them re-evaluated this winter, but don't want surgery until after next year's growing season. Meanwhile, I soldier on, with the help of aspirin and emu oil.

Crochet: The lavender baby blanket sat on the coffee table for a few days while I contemplated the white part of the border. It just looked wrong. So I ripped it out and resorted to having only two rounds of single crochet in the last of the lavender for the border. I didn't weave in the final end, just in case I find or buy more yarn I can use.
Knitting: No progress on the Lithuanian mittens, as I ran out of yarn... sort of. I've been deconstructing a sweater and using that yarn, but more needed to be steamed to get rid of the kinks. (BTW, steaming works a LOT better than soaking to recover used yarn.) I'm in the decrease part of the slouchy hat, but didn't pay attention to the excellent instructions and had to backtrack a bit. Moving forward there now.

My self-imposed quarantine ends Monday. It hasn't been too bad, not a lot different than regular Covid life other than not seeing my SO; we've kept in contact with texting and Duo. I did more of some things like reading, tried new things like listening to classical music via YT, etc. I held off on starting a new jigsaw puzzle - saving that for xmas, which will be just my SO and me, again. My kids and I usually have a major get-together in May, to celebrate their birthdays and Mother's Day. Hopefully, we will be able to do that in 2021.

Happy holidays and stay safe!

Oh, fudge

Occasionally I get on a baking kick and, if I'm lucky, I am able to give away most of what I bake so I don't eat it all by myself. I wasn't quite to lucky with a batch of Russian tea cakes (a.k.a. Mexican wedding cakes). My SO took some, but my granddaughter did not like them, my daughter is doing a round of Whole30, and my son-in-law doesn't care for sweets. Once I recovered from indulging in all that butter and sugar, I made a small batch of fudge. It is actually too rich for me, but I still can't resist. Hiding it in the refrigerator helps.

Crochet: I finally finished the lavender baby blanket. I used (now discontinued) Moda Dea Washable Wool for the border. Despite its description on Ravelry, it is not a plied yarn. It is also considered an Aran weight. I think it will be okay; separate post with more details to follow.
Knitting: Slogging onward and upward with the Lithuanian mittens. After deciphering the instructions for the decreases, I discovered I will not have to do anything creative to implement them. I'm enjoying the knitting of the 'Graham' slouchy hat - quick and easy. I'm past the ribbing and into the body.

Indiana is still living in Crazytown re Covid. My son-in-law tested positive this past week; his fever broke last night, so he is feeling better. He stopped by my house last Tuesday for a few minutes, started showing symptoms Thursday, so I am quarantining, just to be safe. Or rather, to keep others safe. Fortunately, there is nowhere I need to go - my calendar is wide open until the first week of January. Stay safe!

Puzzled

After months of itching to do a jigsaw puzzle, I broke one out a week ago Saturday. At first, I limited working on it to about an hour a day, but after a while that turned into many hours a day, especially the closer I got to having it finished and off the dining room table. It turned out to be more difficult that I expected - all that black! - but I persevered.

So that itch has been satisfied for a while.

Crochet: I'm still struggling with the border of the baby blanket. I ran out of yarn, fetched a toddler sweater I knit for my granddaughter, with the intention of deconstructing it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I decided to do the border in white/cream/natural, but the second yarn, while also superwash, is a little heavier than the main yarn. I am 95% sure I have some white Cascade 220 Superwash around here somewhere, but can't locate it. The vague border instructions in the pattern almost make sense, but there seems to be too few stitches in the border on the sides and too many on the top and bottom. It's just one thing after another.
Knit: I reached a decision point on the Lithuanian mittens. Somehow I ended up with an extra pattern repeat in the body. It's only three stitches, but results in an extra vertical ridge, which means that I have an odd number of vertical ridges, which means I will have to modify the pattern to take this into consideration when I start the decreases. Meanwhile, I received requests for more 'Graham' slouchy hats, in "neutral colors" (black or gray), so started one of those. The good news is I have new glasses and can now see the black stitches more easily.

And that's about all I have accomplished in the past week or so.

I read the NYTimes online. Each day they show the twelve states with the highest number of new Covid cases, per capita, from the day before (today Indiana was number four), and the highest average new Covid cases over the past week, per capita (Indiana is the hottest hot spot in the nation). It's crazy, almost as crazy as several of my neighbors who keep flying their Trump flags. Beam me up, Scotty!

Queen for a Day

I'm dating myself by mentioning an old TV show, Queen for a Day. If I were even older, I would mention the radio program. After watching The Crown, I've come to the conclusion that, like youth being wasted on the young, royalty is wasted on the royals. They have no idea how good they have it. I would not mind being queen, or at least a princess, for a week or three: breakfast in bed everyday, beautiful clothes, exotic travel for which someone else does all the legwork, etc. The nannies alone would be worth the effort of attending fancy balls, ribbon cuttings, and state dinners (which someone else cooks!) While jetting around the world on a private plane, there would be plenty of time for fiber arts, too.

Crochet: Judging by comments on Ravelry, I am not the only hooker perplexed by the instructions for the border of the shell stitch baby blanket. I will just have to make up my own.
Knitting: Still trudging along on the Lithuanian mittens; about halfway up the fingers. I had repaired one of my granddaughter's baby blankets, planned to redo it, but she deemed it adequate (plus I think she just wanted the blanket back).

Needle felting: My granddaughter and I worked on needle felting a snowman ornament. The core is made up of styrofoam balls; all I did was help add white roving. She added all the accouterments. (Oh, for cryin' out loud. I didn't get a pic of the finished project, just one of my bandaged fingers. Erk.)

Spinning: It occurred to me that instead of three-plying the 'Jailhouse Rock' singles, I could two-ply, and also two-ply the black merino top, then weave instead of knit something with them. The idea of spinning 8 oz. of black yarn leaves me a bit cold, though.
Weaving: I'm still working on warping the rigid heddle loom. I'm not ignoring it, I'm really working on it, just not yet satisfied with the results. If the warp isn't up to snuff, the weaving will be torture.

I hope you all had a safe Thanksgiving. It was just my SO and me here; dinner took about half an hour to prepare. My kids stayed home, my brothers stayed home, my neighbors went camping to avoid eating with maskless relatives. The numbers of new Covid cases per capita in Indiana is one of the worst in the nation - last week, the local school system went totally remote because there were not enough healthy bus drivers - although the numbers may be leveling out. We'll see if it stays that way through the holidays. Stay safe!

Copy cat

Last weekend I took my granddaughter on a gem and mineral field trip at a local county park (outside, masks, social distancing). One of the other families were all wearing the same hat that I assumed was hand knit. But then I noticed a tag on one that said "CC". I looked it up online and discovered the CC Beanie. Now I am seeing them everywhere, including in the clothing section of Kroger. There are also copy cat patterns avaible on Ravelry with hundreds made. I will probably make one someday, after I get something else finished first.

Crochet: The body of the lavender baby blanket is complete, but I am a bit flummuxed over the border instructions. I'll figure it out... eventually.
Knitting: The thumb gussets are almost done on the Lithuanian Ribby Knit mittens. Knitting mittens on US1 needles is a bit tedious.

Spinning: No luck finding black dyed superwash merino top. I'm debating on how to move forward: 1) buy undyed superwash merino top and dye it myself, 2) go ahead and use the non-superwash black merino top I already purchased, 3) not include a black ply while also deciding whether to ply the 'Jailhouse Rock' singles into 3a) 2-ply or 3b) 3-ply, etc. I'm open to suggestions.
Weaving: No progress on either the sari yarn runner or the warping of the 8/4 cotton.

Indiana is a Covid hot spot and the county I live in is now "red". My SO and I will enjoy our turkey Manhattans and pumpkin pie while "double bubbling." I'm not much for holidays to begin with, and I'm lucky my kids are close enough I see them with some regularity anyway. As far as I'm concerned, everyday should be one of thanksgiving.

Feels like March

It is wet and wild outside today - rain with high winds - which reminded me of March, until the temperatures started to drop. I am not a fan of wind. It is a good day to stay inside, do laundry, read, knit, crochet, etc.

Crochet: Nineteen inches out of 24 are completed on the lavender baby blanket.
Knitting: The 'Past Peak' mittens are done; details here. I am about halfway through the thumb gussets of the Lithuanian Ribby Knit mittens.
Spinning: I purchased some black merino top from Dharma Trading Company only to realize upon delivery that what I ordered is not superwash. The mistake is entirely mine. I posed a question to my spinning guild about mixing superwash plies with non-superwash plies, but no one had any experience doing that. However, a source (local, no less) was recommended.
Weaving: I sent the sari yarn swatch through the washer and dryer with no mishaps. The cotton warp and weft shrunk a bit, which is what I would expect, to create a denser fabric.

I put on my big girl panties and got halfway through warping the rigid heddle for some cotton towels. I have so much 8/4 and 8/2 carpet warp that I would like to use some of it up.

I read the saddest story in the local paper today, about how some people who are donating to a local charity for xmas want to first know the voting preferences of the adult recipients or don't want to choose a child with an unusual name from the giving tree. I'm astounded and shocked and horrified by these so-called Christians who are being so petty and cruel, especially during the holiday season. I only hope the article spurs others to counteract these mean spirited gestures.

Past Peak mittens

When I purchased the yarn I used for these mittens, I thought the tag read "Past Peach" for the colorway. It was August, peach season, so this sort of made sense to me. More recently, "peach" seemed too long, so I thought maybe it said "Past Pear". That made less sense. With autumn upon us, however, the colorway became obviously "Past Peak" as the green leaves gave way to gold and red and orange, fading to brown. I could not find the designer anywhere online, so I'm guessing she gave up her hand dyed yarn business.

Pattern: Basic Mitten by Ann Budd
Yarn: Vermont Farmhouse Designs worsted in "Past Peak" colorway
Needles: US7
Modifications: Used a ribbed version of a long tail cast on; fiddled with the thumbs to make them less pointy

If I were to knit these again, I would go down a needle size, as the fabric really relaxed after a warm bath (sort of like I do). Apparently, I didn't notice this when swatching, although if I had, I might have adjusted the stitch count up, in which case I would be in the same place.

Zoomless

I intended to attend last week's weavers guild meeting. They have been hybrid meetings: some people show up in person and the rest of us watch from afar. However, the person in charge of the Zoom portion came down with stomach flu (not Covid) and there is no backup. The December meeting would ordinariy be a carry-in (that's Hoosier for potluck), but that ain't happening this year. I'm not sure what they are going to do instead.

Crochet: Twelve inches out of 24 are complete on the main part of the lavender baby blanket.
Knitting: I had to take a break from knitting because my shoulders were protesting. So the thumbs on the 'Past Peak' mittens still have to be fiddled with, but I have completed the cuffs for the Lithuanian mittens.
Spinning: I finished the 'Jailhouse Rocks' merino top. Hopefully, I will be able to find some black merino top for the third ply.

Weaving: No progress on the sari yarn table runner. However, I did work up a quick sample to send throught the laundry, so make sure nothing weird will happen when I wash the runner.

I confess to being relieved that the Biden/Harris ticket came out on top; that particular nightmare is over. What really appalls me, though, were the attempts at voter suppression. That is about as un-American as one can get. I am also disturbed over how divided the nation is. Maybe it is time for the United States to split up?

Two degrees of separation

Remember that game with the premise that everyone enjoys six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon? I know a couple of Hollywood actors, so I probably have that covered, but I've come to think of my nearness to Covid cases in terms of degrees of separation. My granddaughter is quarantined because someone in her class tested positive. I consider that one degree of separation for her, two for me. Needless to say, we did not make it to the gem and mineral meeting this past week, although she remains symptom-free.

Crochet: Work continues on the lavender baby blanket. I've completed about 7 out of 24 inches, then there will be several rounds for the border.
Knitting: I am basically done with the 'Past Peak' mittens except I am not satisfied with the thumbs, so will fiddle with those a bit before I consider this project complete. Meanwhile, I started another pair of mittens, Lithuanian Ribby knit mittens, in gray with some red. 'Past Peak' are worsted weight yarn on US7 needles; Lithuanian Ribby are worsted weight on US1, which is making my hands hurt a bit.

Spinning: Almost halfway through the 'Jailhouse Rock' top. Originally, I wanted to create a two-ply worsted weight yarn, but the merino top would not cooperate. Now I would like it to be three-ply, with one ply in black. The only problem is I can't seem to find any black merino superwash top. I may have to buy white and dye it myself.

My son and his girl friend sent me an Instant Pot for my birthday. I've tried several things in it, but am not sold on its usefulness. For one thing, it does not save on labor - you still have to chop those veggies. Sometimes it doesn't save on cooking time. And the results are not going to taste the same. So far, I like it for hard boiled eggs - so easy to peel, everytime! White rice is just as easy (and tastier) cooked on the stove. Yesterday I tried a pot roast - 1 hour of cooking instead of 4 - but I didn't care for the results. Another angle of IP cooking is it takes some of the enjoyment and sensory pleasure out of cooking. I'll keep trying, though. It might be like shopping at Costco - it takes a while to make it work for you. If anyone has any recipes to recommend, please leave them in the comments.

Stash busting plan

I have a LOT of Cascade 220 Superwash in colors that no one wants to wear anymore. My granddaughter used to love pink, but no more. I knit her a sweater in lavender which she found too hot. Then there are bits and bobs that are left over from other projects. What to do with all that yarn? Why, crochet baby blankets!

Crochet: Started (and started and started once again) a baby blanket that uses a shell stitch.

Knitting: Progress continues on the mittens.

Spinning: Started spinning some Blue Moon Sheep-2-Shoe superwash merino top, in 'Jailhouse Rock' (which I would have named 'Tie-dyed Rainbow'). I'm not making socks with it; I learned the hard way that sock yarn has nylon in it for a reason.

My SO and I have one more pottery class next week; we'll be glazing our pieces. I will probably take my granddaughter to her gem and mineral meeting later that same week, primarily because she earned a badge and I think it will be presented then. The city has okay'd Trick or Treating; I plan to put goodie bags on a table in the driveway for the little goblins. After that, I will curtail my already curtailed activities as Covid cases continue to surge, here and elsewhere. I'm not sure what we'll do about the holidays besides wait and see. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home if you can, be safe.

Corriedale Cross

This yarn is from some more of the roving that my fiber blogging friend sent me. The label said "Paradise Fibers Ashland Bay Corriedale Cross". I knew Paradise Fibers is the vendor (and they are still in business), but I thought maybe Ashland Bay was a sheep breed that had been crossed with Corriedale. Not so. Corriedale Cross is a cross between Merino ewes and Leicester or Lincoln rams. Or so the Paradise Fibers website says.

Fiber: Paradise Fibers Ashland Bay Corriedale Cross in ecru
Wheel: Ashford Joy 2
Technique: Nothing special
Spun: worsted, Z-twist at an 8:1 ratio
Plied: 2-ply, S-twist at an 8:1 ratio
WPI: 8-9
Yardage: 304 yards
Weight: 238 grams (8.5 oz)

I started spinning this fiber during a weaving guild zoom meeting and felt a bit flustered. Otherwise, I don't think I would have chosen the ratio I did. The twist is a bit tight, which creates a yarn with high grist. I'm not sure what I'll do with this yarn, but I can almost guarantee that it will get dyed.

Preparing to hibernate

Sometimes I feel bad about how little time I devote to fiber arts these days, but the gorgeous fall weather beckons. There is never a lack of tasks inside or out, but lately I have been out. Soon, though, the garden will be put to bed for the winter. Besides plenty of fiber and potential projects, I have a stack of jigsaw puzzles, a new Instant Pot, and a looming home improvement project to keep me occupied when it turns cold.

Knitting: I am back where I was a week ago, with completed thumb gussets on both mittens.
Spinning: I finished plying the Corriedale cross roving. Separate post to follow.

The spinning guild had another Zoom meeting, with ten in attendance. At the last meeting, I gently campaigned that we meet in-person, but Covid cases in Indiana are surging, so I don't see that happening anytime soon. We are looking for ways to continue in a meaningful way.

Noodles on doorknobs

My granddaughter teased me yesterday about the "noodles" hanging from doorknobs. She was referring to the ecru yarn that I am plying. After steaming the loose skeins to set the twist, I hang them on doorknobs to let them get completely dry before twisting them into a compact skein.

Knitting: Working on fingerless mitts (that may become regular mittens if there is enough yarn). I *was* almost done with the thumb gussets before deciding I was not doing them right (the pattern instructions are a bit vague). So I am back at the beginning of the gussets.
Spinning: About halfway through plying the Corriedale (which I now realize is a Corriedale cross). I was concerned that the twist was too tight, but the result looks balanced.

If memory serves (a BIG if), the yarn I am using for the fingerless mitts was hand dyed using mason jars and a microwave. Being curious, I googled to see how that is done and found a plethora of methods, some using Easter egg dyes, some KoolAid, some acid dyes, etc. There are so many ways to dye yarn, don't let anyone tell you their way the the only way.

My granddaughter is making her Halloween costume - a snowy owl. She is becoming proficient with a glue gun. (Photo courtesy of her mom.)

Don't forget to vote!

Wool hat weather

On today's dog walk, I wore a handknit wool hat for this first time this season. Temps below 40, no wind, perfect for rosy cheeks. I'm looking forward to wearing more wool as fall moves into winter.

Knitting: I picked out some yarn for the fingerless mitts that dates back to the Vermont Yarn Crawl of 2009. It's a bit coarse (Corriedale) and feels like there is still lanolin in it. I knit up a swatch to test gauge.

Spinning: Still working on the Corriedale roving.
Weaving: The sari yarn table runner came off the loom this week. It's quite colorful. I'm still working on finishing the ends (black warp yarn - looks great against the bright colors, but a pain to finish).

This morning I was saddened to read of the passing of Cat Bordhi. She rated an obituary in the NYTimes, which is saying something of the impact she had on the knitting world. I never mastered knitting socks on circular needles, but maybe I should give it another try, in her honor.

Aumtumnal

Sorry for the silence. The passing of RBG left me figuratively curled up in a fetal position. Regarding the rapid naming of her successor, I dissent.

My son and his girl friend came for a visit - a real spirit lifter, as I had not seen them since xmas when she cooked dinner for us as I was still recovering from hip surgery. We masked and social distanced, important since they both work with the public, and visited the mural art downtown for an excursion. Of course, in anticipation of their visit, I did more housecleaning than I usually do, but then we barely spent any time inside, as the weather was gorgeous. More housework means less fiber arts, so not a lot to report.

Knitting: My SO, who has much better color sense than I do, helped me pick out naturally dyed yarn from my collection, to knit a cuff-to-cuff sweater. I have a couple of patterns to guide me, plus some Interweave articles. My primary concern is to limit the vertical stretching.

Spinning: I took my wheel out to the deck for a little spinning al fresco. Still working on the Corriedale roving, almost halfway through the 8 oz. I confess I miss spinning with others, so I hope our next guild meeting is in person.
Weaving: Worked a bit on the sari table runner, but not much.

After spinning on the deck, I tried tinking the perfumey socks I knit for a friend. (She perfumed them, not me.) My plan was to unravel the feet, then make fingerless mitts with them. While struggling with the yarn, which is a bit felted, I decided it would be easier to just knit her some mitts from scratch, using worsted weight yarn instead of fingering. At some point, one has to cut one's losses.

Zooming

My son-in-law built/gave me a cable to connect my laptop to the router and it worked perfectly for this week's Zoom meeting. This one was with the spinning guild. Only a half dozen or so of us showed up - more than last time, I hear - so I encouraged the officers to investigate when we can return to our usual space. I think it would be safe with masks and social distancing, but we also discussed whether we could hold hybrid meetings, in-person AND Zoom. We'll see how that works out.

The weaving guild met this past week as well, in person but in a park pavillion. By the end of the meeting, almost everyone had removed their masks, which I found disappointing. Yes, we were outdoors but groups of people were sitting together at picnic tables. The next meeting is indoors, in a space larger than usual to allow for social distancing. I paid my dues and picked up a program booklet for the year - another disappointment, as there is only one program I am interested in. Maybe this is not the fiber group for me?

Spinning: I spun some Corriedale cross during the Zoom meeting, the first spinning I have done in a while. One of the members talked about a dye project she completed, so now I have the itch to do some dyeing myself.
Weaving: The sari bag project has morphed into a coffee table runner project. I'm not much of a sewist and bags usually need linings. Runners require very little finishing compared to bags. I also started another Agnes Martin inspired piece on the pocket loom.

My eyes look better, almost clear of purple. No weird green or yellow. Once I got the okay from my doctor, I headed back into the yard to move more plants. Today I am resting my weary gardener muscles, though.

You should see the other guy!

No, I didn't get into a bar fight. As I was hustling around the living room, preparing to go to the local farmers market, my feet got tangled up in the dog hammock. I flew into the dining room and bonked my head on the dining room table. My SO came and took me to the ER for a CT scan (all ok), but then the fluids and blood from the goose egg on my forehead migrated to the soft tissue around my (raccoon) eyes. Looks horrible, but no pain. I've been taking it easy since then, until my PCP gives me the okay to resume (ab)normal activities.

Mug shot

Weaving: Although I have been out of commission, before the incident I continued to make progress on the sari yarn bags. Almost done with the first one. I *think* there is enough warp for two. At least, that was my intention.

Thanks for the comments about troubleshooting Zoom. Because I was in the ER literally having my head examined, I did not attend the weaving guild Zoom meeting. My son-in-law thought he had a cable for me, or could make one for me (he's handy that way), but I'm still waiting on it. Maybe I will have it in time for the spinning guild Zoom meeting?

Summertime blues

It happens every August: I am DONE with summer. We had a week of hot, humid weather before it finally broke along with some storms. I hope that is the last of the heat. When the temps cool, I hope I can still fit into my jeans.

Knitting: I've been trying to fix my granddaughter's blanket. She checked out what I have done so far and declared it "too fat" - in other words, the patch is bulky. I have some ideas for reducing the bulk, though.
Weaving: Work continues on the sari yarn bags. In the past, I eschewed using a temple, thinking that it was cheating. However, I am now a convert. It not only helps maintain the width of the fabric, it's a nifty design. Just watch out for the VERY sharp teeth!

The fiber arts guilds I belong to are trying to meet up again. There have been Zoom meetings for the spinning guild; I attended one but kept dropping out. Since the weaving guild wants to try Zoom meetings as well, I'll have to figure out a solution. Perhaps I should use a cable between my laptop and router instead of wifi? If anyone has any experience with Zoom and ideas for solutions for me to try, leave a comment please!

Dog days

Clio is laying in the shade of the arborvitae - she looks dead - while Watson is hunkered down in his favorite spot under some shrubs. I spend a couple of hours on the yard most days, but am feeling a bit discouraged at the slow progress. Eventually, the temps will drop and it will rain. Right?

Crochet: The colors in the hat I was crocheting were pooling so badly, the garment was taking on a camo look. I showed it to my granddaughter - the look on her face confirmed just how hideous the results were. When I tried to coach a comment from her, all I got was "I'm not wearing that!" So I frogged it.
Knitting: A pair of socks I knit for a friend developed a hole. I hoped to be able to mend it, but decided to turn the socks into some fingerless mitts instead. The problem? My friend must wear perfume on her feet. I'm sensative to fragrances and could barely stand to work on these. I even tried washing them, to no avail. Maybe I can work on them outside? When it cools down a bit?
Weaving: YES, I actually sat down at my 24" rigid heddle loom and attempted to continue with the sari yarn bag I had started. This is the project I purchased a temple for, so I tried to get that working. Alas, it revealed that I had lost an entire INCH from the width of the weaving from the get-go. That's what happens when one simply eyeballs dimensions instead of measuring them. So I started the project over AGAIN - probably for the third or fourth time. My self talk is along the lines of "Well, now you know...."

A few days ago, my SO and I planned to visit the Decatur (Indiana) Sculpture Tour, which is outside and goes on all year round, with fresh sculptures installed in the early summer. I even dressed up! But just before we left, I suddenly felt unwell. We ended up on his front porch, chatting away. Just as well, as in today's paper I read about a spike in Covid cases in Decatur. Meanwhile, the work can be viewed online.

Royally blue cowl

After crocheting a swatch to prepare for repairing the Taupe Beast, I looked for a simple crochet project. Unable to find something simple enough, I chose to make a cowl using the same stitch pattern as the Taupe Beast. I actually crocheted this cowl at least twice, as I was struggling with getting the turns at the ends of the rows correct. I also struggled a bit with stitching the ends together, using good ol' mattress stitch.

Pattern: Stitch pattern from "Ivory Elegance" in A Year of Afghans Book 5, a Leisure Arts book.
Yarn: Big Twist (acrylic), in 'Royal Blue'
Hook: USG
Modifications: Cast on 101 stitches, executed only two pattern repeats.

I'm not a fan of acrylic, but it is better than it used to be. And it's machine washable/dryable. However, I no longer use it for baby items, since it melts when exposed to a flame whereas wool, even superwash, is naturally fire resistant.

Clean up

I'm so proud of myself for tackling the studio. Not only can I walk across the room, I was able to vacuum and dust in there. The table still needs to be cleared off, but should I feel the urge, I can spin and weave in there again. And having it mostly in order is generating that urge again.

Crochet: I wanted to crochet a simple project, so started a hat that is single crochet in a spiral. Something, either crochet or gardening or something, messed up my shoulder and upper arm, to the point that for a few days I could not crochet a single stitch without experiencing pain. It's better now, but I am not pleased with this latest sign of aging.
Knitting: A blanket I knit for my granddaughter in 2011 tore a bit near one corner. The online pattern is long gone, but it's a simple feather-and-fan stitch with garter borders, so I am working on a patch.

In pottery class, I actually threw a couple of pieces on the wheel. My ortho surgeon did not think crouching over a pottery wheel would be a good thing for my new hip, but the new instructor dug out a countertop wheel for us to try. Two of my hand built projects are not turning out well, so I'm glad to have something to show for my efforts.

Latest Blogger glitch: I thought some of the labels were missing from my list, but it turns out they are in two groups, one where the labels are capitalized (like for yarn brands), one where they are not. Very odd.

Agnes Martin swatch

Agnes Martin was an abstract artist whose work frequently featured grids. When I view these paintings (in books or online, alas), I can't help but think, I could weave that. I wasn't sure how, so I made a swatch as a practice piece.

There is more than one way to weave a grid in tapestry. The horizontal lines are easy - two passes with one color of the weft - but vertical lines are created by alternating colors with each pass. It is not so much a vertical line as a vertical line of dots. In this grid, the vertical lines are spaced apart, so I carried the line color across the back. Some weavers want the back of their tapestry to be as tidy as the front, but that is impossible using this technique.

Another way to create a vertical line in tapestry is to use a particular soumak stitch, so I may try that next, although I fear that will create vertical slits that I may have to sew up. Ugh. I'll have to meditate on that for a while.

(I pretty much HATE the new Blogger interface, but at least I figured out how to resize the photos so that they fit on my template.)

Focus on finishing

I have a bad habit of starting projects with great enthusiasm, powering through them to a certain point, then abandoning them, often just inches from being complete. Then I feel bad about myself and the state of my house because it is cluttered with these almost finished objects. So this past week, I spent an afternoon actually wrapping up a couple three things.

Crochet: I had to start the cowl over from stitch one because of that row-turning thing I mentioned before - the fabric was growing - but now the cowl is complete, even the mattress stitching. Separate post to follow. I also finished the repairs to the Taupe Beast. They are not pretty but hopefully will hold together at least as long as the rest of the afghan does.

Weaving: I hemmed and steamed the latest pocket weaving; separate post to follow.

There are more repairs/finishes to do, of course, plus other projects at a standstill (for example, those old family letters). At some point, I would like to rescue the fiber studio, because once again, I can barely cross the room. However, the weather continues to be amenable to gardening, so I have been expending a lot of energy on that. Rain is in the forecast, so maybe, just maybe, a few more things will get done around here.

(Blogger has a new interface, one that I have yet to master, especially the sizing of photos. Please bear with me while I adjust.)

Behind the times

My new found interest in crochet led me to Ravelry. OMG! The interface is completely new! I stumbled on some broken links - as a ex-software developer, I know there are always bugs to fix - but I am (sort of) eager to explore and see what else is new. One issue I have is photos - mine are in Flickr but they raised their "professional" rates. I'm not a pro by any means, but it was an easy and (formerly) economical way to store photos online, plus I linked my Ravelry projects to those photos. I'll have to see what the alternatives are now.

I cruised around the crochet patterns for something small and easy to make. That provided a second jolt - there are new (to me) stitches with new acronyms. I decided to make a cowl using the stitch pattern from the Taupe Beast I am repairing, since I already know how to do that. I also checked out The Happy Hooker from the local library's online collection - I always have trouble with turning and starting a new row in the right place. This book has great drawings and helpful hints. (I used to own a copy but it disappeared during a round of decluttering.)

Crochet: Still wrestling with the Taupe Beast repairs, although I think I have a strategy. It won't be pretty but it should work. I'm either a third or a half done with the cowl, depending on how tall I decide to make it.

My interest in pottery is growing in fits and starts. The instructor for the class I am enrolled in is ill (not Covid), and so far the substitute has not been able to make it to class, either. Hopefully, tomorrow. Meanwhile, I purchased some "Mexican pottery clay" (made by AMACO) to play with at home. I'm not sure what it is made of, but it feels very clay-like. Instead of firing pieces, one just lets them air dry, after which they can be painted and decorated or left as is. No kiln needed, nor a wheel as I prefer hand building. I bought a couple of scrapers too, but otherwise am using homemade tools like a fat dowel to roll slabs, a paper clip to cut, etc. I have invested so much money in equipment and tools for fabric arts that I feel like I don't make full use of, I am a little leery of making a similar investment in what may be a passing fancy.

Finally!

The number of new Covid cases is climbing in Indiana, so tomorrow (Monday) masks become mandatory indoors. It's about time. When I see non-wearers of masks out and about, I almost feel assaulted, as though they are pointing at me and saying, I don't care about YOU! What a selfish culture we have cultivated.

I am a little embarrassed to say I did nothing fiber related this past week except try to repair the Taupe Beast. It took me a while to find a copy of the pattern (thank you, Inter Library Loan!) Then I had to learn how to crochet again; fortunately, that is like riding a bike, one never really forgets. I worked up a sample of the pattern, then spent HOURS trying to actually repair the afghan. Talk about a cognitive test! I will keep at it, though, as this thing is a favorite winter warmer for my daughter, her family, and her dogs. (No wonder it needs repair!)

One happy result of my efforts was coming to the conclusion that I kind of miss crochet. My mother taught me how when I was about 14 (I wonder what happened to that vest?) I inundated friends and family with afghans and baby blankets, then got bitten by the knitting bug. Lately, knitting has taken a toll on my shoulders, so maybe I'll return to my hooking roots, at least for a while.

Four suns tapestry

Reminder to self: Do not weave in black or dark blue because your eyes are too old to see what you are doing.

That is not completely true. With pocket weaving, one can create four-selvage pieces. The problem is that once one is in the homestretch, it is really difficult to keep the warp covered with weft. An argument for matching the color of the warp to the color of the end weaving.

I really like "kindergarten colors" - primary and secondary on the color wheel. Hatching comes in handy for blending the colors. Cartoons (what weavers call the paper guides behind the weaving) help with shapes and such. I'm still perfecting my circles.

I kind of pooped out by the time I reached the fourth sun. Then I struggled with the final rows. Then this piece sat around for a long time, waiting to be hemmed. What should have been a quickie project languished quite a bit.

I consider my pocket weaving to be samples or swatches, a way to try out an idea or some colors. And when I'm done, I have a nice rug mug to add to the pile.

Pink and purple and some sparkle

I had this grand plan to blend half the angelina into half the purple merino, blend the rest of the angelina into half the pink merino, spin those into singles, then spin the rest of the purple and pink into singles, finishing up with a 4-ply yarn. I think I could have skipped all the fooling around. Were I to do this again, I would mix all the angelina with all the purple merino and two-ply it with the pink.

Fiber: merino in purple and pink, angelina in sapphire(?)
Wheel: Ashford Joy 2
Technique: nothing special
Spun: worsted, Z-twist at an 8:1 ratio
Plied: 4-plied, S-twist at an 11:1 ratio

I used a drum carder to blend the merino and angelina. Fiber that starts out as top turns into roving on the drum carder. After a few trips through the carder, it turns into roving with nupps. It took me a while to figure out I did not need to send each batch through the carder three times, once was enough. I think I was hung up on the number three because if I had been blending colors, yes, three or more trips would be required. (Some people blend angelina into fiber as they spin, but I'm too anal to risk running out of one or the other before I was done.)

Spinning the blend was a challenge. Merino top spins up so easily! Merino blended with angelina - not so much. The angelina doesn't slip like wool; it stiffens the fiber and removes some of the bounce that merino is known for. I found it more difficult to keep the singles thin, too.

As would be expected, when 4-plying, I ran out of one ply before the others. So I 3-plied until I ran out another spool, then 2-plied the rest, ending up with one sample that was not a mixture.

4-ply: 1 ply purple merino, 1 ply purple merino/angelina blend, 1 ply pink merino, 1 ply pink merino/angelina blend
WPI: 8-9 (between Aran and worsted weights)
Amount: 286 yards, 204 grams

3-ply: 1 ply purple merino/anglina blend, 1 ply purple merino, 1 ply pink merino
WPI: 10
Amount: 5.5 yards, 7 grams

2-ply: 1 ply purple merino/angelina blend, 1 ply purple merino
WPI: 12
Amount: 24 yards, 8 grams

2-ply: both plies purple merino/angelina blend
WPI: 12
Amount: 38 yards, 13 grams

I like the color combination of pink and purple, but I have no idea what I will make with this. Suggestions welcome!

Schedule change

My usual MO is to work in the garden early and late in the day because, OMG, the heat! The humidity! Ugh! However, I also like to relax with a couple of hours of TV each day. Watching in the evening was interfering with the gardening, so I switched to matinee viewing - I watch in the afternoon, in the heat of the day, when I am feeling rather sluggish anyway. Fiber fits in here and there.

Needle felting: I forgot that the week before this past one I spent some time repairing Dill. Poor thing.
Spinning: I finished plying the merino/angelina blend. Separate post to follow on that effort.
Weaving: The 4-sun piece that languished for many weeks is hemmed. I'm almost done with the piece that is currently on the pocket loom.

I'm taking a pottery class at the community center. One project is a bunch of bone-shaped items. The plan is to only bisque them, not glaze them. When I am dyeing yarn, I'll throw some in the dye pot, then wrap some yarn samples around them to display in a print tray that hangs in my dining room. Another project is to weave something in clay. Toward that end, today I practiced with pie dough.

Not too shabby!

Second verse, same as the first

Like last week's report, I am trying to get something, anything done in the yard. The heat is giving us a brief reprieve, but the ground is still bone dry. Occasionally, a pop up storm drops a few sprinkles, but nothing significant. I'm still wading through the old letters, too, ruminating on what to do with some of them that lack a "next of kin". Maybe a historical society would be interested? Reading them is like traveling back in time, which is distracting.

Spinning: I finished spinning the pink merino/angelina blend singles and started 4-plying everything. I'm beginning to think my efforts will not produce anything all that interesting. Also, I don't seem to have enough fingers for 4-plying.

Indiana is experiencing an uptick in Covid cases. I see more people wearing masks, although still not all unless the store (like Barnes & Noble) requires it. Kroger now "recommends" masks. I feel like getting a t-shirt made that says, "If you want your children to go back to school this fall, WEAR A MASK."

Shifting priorities

Not much fiber activity occurred this past week. For one thing, despite the heat, the yard calls. I spend some time out there every morning before it gets too hot, then do some watering in the evening because it is not only hot but dry. Also, after the death of a cousin of my mother's a few weeks ago (not from covid), I feel a pressing need to go through all the old letters and photographs I've been sitting on for far too long.

Spinning: I finished spinning the purple merino/angelina blend singles and am halfway through the pink merino/angelina blend.

Today is Independence Day, a holiday I'm not too fond of. The dogs are even less fond of it, especially Clio. In Indiana, personal fireworks are legal. In our municipality, their use is limited to certain times of the year, like the week leading up to today. This constraint is ignored by a few, but to my knowledge, no one is ever caught, let alone fined. I've had to move the dog crates into my bedroom, as Clio is relatively calm if I am nearby. I have also been sitting out in the yard with them in the late evening, hopefully to inure them to the noise. My efforts help but I will be glad when this holiday is over.

Do you Pomodoro?

I recently learned of a time management technique known as Pomodoro, which is Italian for tomato. (The inventer is Italian and originally used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer.) Basically, one works for 25 minutes, rests for 5, then repeats three more times, rests for 30 minutes, then starts all over again. There are lots of apps to help with the timing, but I have found that for me, the work/rest ratio depends on what I'm doing, how much sleep I got the night before, how hot it is (for outside labors), etc. The most important lesson learned, though, is I need to sit less and do more. Once I sit, I tend to stay seated for much longer than necessary. I also need to pay attention to my energy level. On day one, I overdid it in the morning, then spent the afternoon in recovery mode. I am getting more done, though, mostly outside.

Spinning: I am almost finished spinning the purple merino/angelina blend into singles. The pink and remaining angelina is all blended. It took me until the last ounce to figure out how best to do the blending.
Weaving: I'm almost done with the experimental grid on the pocket loom.

I took my granddaughter to her gem and mineral society meeting last week. It was outside, in an open park pavilion, but I still wore a mask and maintained as much distance as was reasonable, as did most adults. The granddaughter - not so much but not too bad. There were a few other kids there, so a certain amount of firefly catching went on. The meeting was my first group encounter since March. So far, Indiana is holding steady with new Covid cases, so there is a balance between public health and the economy... so far.

Pick and choose

In early August, after summer events and activities are over but before school starts, many people in this city leave town, a lot of them for "the lake". (There isn't one big lake here that everyone visits but many small ones that are referred to collectively as "the lake".) Traffic lightens, crowds lessen, noise diminishes. That what it feels like right now, in mid June. Businesses are opening, groups are meeting, but there just aren't a lot of folks around to enjoy them. My SO and I went to the local art museum and were the only ones there. We stopped at a DQ for sundaes and were one of only two couples there. My granddaughter is taking tennis lessons and has only one other classmate; the class previous to theirs also has only two students. I'm still being careful about where I go - I skipped last week's weaving guild meeting even though it was outdoors, politely declined a luncheon and a (masks optional) wedding - and I always wear a mask, but some think masks are now unnecessary. We'll see how that goes.

Spinning: I finished blending the purple merino with angelina on my drum carder and learned a few things about how that works. I'm about halfway through spinning it, which is another learning experience.
Weaving: I added the row of soumak to the previous piece but have yet to do the finishing work. Meanwhile, I started another piece on the pocket loom, to test out how to make a grid when weaving tapestry.

If you are interested in resilience during these trying times, the NY Times is running a series on this topic. I think there will be five articles in all; so far, two have been published.

Discomfort

I've been thinking about discomfort recently. Buddhism and Stoicism (and probably other philosphies and religions) suggest we develop resilience by exposing ourselves to discomfort, starting with little things and working our way up. I find it difficult to manufacture uncomfortable situations, be they physical or mental or emotional. For one thing, everyday life seems to offer up plenty of opportunities for experiencing discomfort, especially lately. How we respond to those opportunities reveals our character. Being reactive or fearful rarely helps; having empathy for others and listening does. Not only must we learn to sit with our own pain but with the pain of others as well. I need more practice at that.

Knitting: I finished the Ivy socks. Time for a break from knitting.
Spinning: I blended some of the purple merino with the angelina, using a drum carder. I plan to spin it up before continuing, in case I don't like how it spins.
Weaving: I took the current piece off the pocket loom but could not figure out why there was a ridge near the bottom. A day later it occurred to me that that was a row of soumak, to aid in turning the edge. Duh. Now I need to repeat that at the top.

This past week I participated in my first Zoom meeting, with the spinning guild. Or tried to participate. There was something lacking in my connection - it kept cutting out with the message that the connection was unstable. It was particularly bad when I said anything. So I just sat there and listened to everyone else. Not a bad practice. ;-)

The Ivy socks are finished!

Once upon a time, I would try to knit a pair of socks in a month. One year, I think I knit a pair almost every month. I started this pair March 20 and despite being (mostly) diligent, I didn't finish them until yesterday.

Pattern: Short-row Toe and Heel Basic Socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Simply Socks Yarn Co Poste Yarn Striping, colorway 'Ivy, VA' and Simply Socks Yarn Co Simply Sock, colorway 'Golden'
Needles: US1
Modifications: Not enough 'Golden' yarn for the cuffs, so I used the self-striping yarn until the last five rows or so

If you read this blog regularly, you might have noticed that I knit most socks in yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Co. Although SSYC is mostly an online business, it is local to me. Also, the Poste Yarn is made with Corriedale instead of Merino, which I think lasts longer.

It's not the knitting that bothers my shoulders but the purling. I must do something hinky with the purl stitch. I am going to take a break from knitting altogether for a while - plenty of other stuff to do - but I still have a fair amount of sock yarn in my stash that I don't want to abandon.

Wanted: a few rainy days

If the weather weren't so nice, I would have accomplished more fiber things this week. Instead, I have been out in the yard, trying to make up for all that remained undone last summer. Some of that make-up work involves sitting on the deck, listening to the birds while I read or draw. Not very productive but definitely enjoyable. Some rainy weather would force me back inside, where fiber projects await.

Knitting: It seems like I am never going to finish those socks. I'm about a third of the way up the cuff. One problem is that with the temps in the house higher than usual (trying to reduce the electric bill), my hands get a little sweaty, which does not work well with wool.
Spinning: I finished spinning one 2-oz. ball of pink. Next up is to blend the angelina into the the remaining balls. Most of it is going into the purple, a lighter amount into the pink. I hope my plan works.
Weaving: The temple arrived on Monday, I read up on how to use it on Tuesday, and that is all the farther I have gotten.

I've been reading At the Center of All Beauty: Solitude and the Creative Life, by Fenton Johnson. Part memoir, part survey of some famous solitaries from Thoreau and Emily Dickinson to Nina Simone and Bill Cunningham, this book gives voice to something I had no vocabulary for before now. With the pandemic, solitude is a hot topic. There is a difference between being lonely and being alone. Some of us crave the latter, need it to recharge and to dig deep. Being solitary does not mean being a hermit, either, although some days I may act like one. Reading about solitude feels like finally getting a diagnosis that validates my reality.

Hell in a handbasket

I try to keep politics and social issues out of my blogs - that is not why I write - but there are times when I wonder just what the hell is going on, and why, and how to fix things. I try to stay optimistic - something will save us from ourselves, a new leader, a technology breakthrough, SOMETHING - but instead things just seem to get worse. It's not just here in the US, either, but worldwide. We've reached some kind of tipping point. Where do we go from here? Where is Elizabeth McCord when we need her?

Knitting: My sock-knitting MO is to knit toes, heels, and cuffs in a contrasting color, but after completing about six rounds of the cuff in 'Golden', I could tell there would not be enough yarn to finish. Instead of 2" cuffs, do I resign myself to less than 1"? Do I purchase a whole new skein of yarn? Oops, the colorway is not available and the store is currently online only, no curbside pickup, so I'd have to pay for shipping too even though Simply Socks is less than ten miles away. I decided to knit the cuff in the self-striping yarn, which meant tinking back.
Spinning: I finished spinning one 2-oz ball of the purple merino and started the pink. The current plan is to blend the angelina into the remaining two balls, then FOUR-ply the finished yarn.
Weaving: I am still struggling with the rigid heddle weaving. The temple should arrive tomorrow, so maybe that will help. Re the pocket loom weaving, I stopped one night because I was tired and getting confused about the colors, then blithely carried on a few days later, continuing the confusion. I had to unweave, then reweave the thprird sun (which is hard to see in this pic).

On an almost-unrelated topic, I have been trying my hand at drawing with colored pencils. For one thing, it is a MUCH simpler method for creating art than weaving is.

Drawings can provide inspiration for weaving and other fiber arts. It is also surprisingly engaging. For example, how does one make a sphere look three dimensional? What color are shadows? How can there be so many shades of white? And who stole my Prisma colored pencils?

Becoming a germaphobe

Indiana has been slowly emerging from the shelter-in-place order, leaving me a bit confused over what is allowed now and what is not. I'm also concerned about scofflaws, people who think they can do whatever, wherever, regardless of the circumstances. I don't like crowds in the best of times, but now I have a legitimate reason to avoid all those germ-ridden people - I'm over 65, supposedly in a high risk group (although no underlying health issues). I also don't want to become a second-wave statistic, so thanks, but no thanks, I'm wearing my mask.

Knitting: I did reach my goal of completing the legs on the Ivy socks. Tomorrow I start the cuffs.
Spinning: I finished plying the navy blue and burnt orange merino (see post here) and started spinning some more Timbre Ridge merino, in purple and pink. There is also a package of angelina with this batch, something I have played with before. Not sure how I am going to use that. BTW, visit this link to see where the Timbre Ridge merino came from.
Weaving: I finally made some forward progress on the latest pocket loom weaving:

I also started, then completely unwove a piece on my 24" rigid heddle loom. It's warped in black 8/4 carpet warp, which is fine, but despite all my care, by the time I had woven 3" the sides had pulled in 1/2". And it was just beginning! I decided to start over. I also decided to invest in a temple, to see if that will help me maintain even selveges.

I grew up in houses without central air, something I would never consider these days - I like my comfort. My electric company sends out a monthly energy usage report. In the past, I consistantly used less than the most efficient homes in my area, but since I retired, my summer usage runs high. That's because I am home all day, so the thermostat never gets reset. The most recent report pointed out that ceiling fans consume less energy than AC units, so I am experimenting with using them more this year. This is going to be a warmish week, so we'll see how that works. Wish my shade trees were bigger.

River Queen

It seems to me that the results of search engines (ahem, GOOGLE) are getting worse and worse. They are mostly ads and those ads rarely are even close to what one is looking for. Of course, maybe what I am looking for no longer exists? I'm talking about Timbre (or Timber?) Ridge Farms, the vendor of this merino fiber that was labeled "River Queen". I'd like to give credit where credit is due, but the source of this fine fiber will have to remain unknown.

Fiber: merino (superwash? top? we'll never know) in 'River Queen' - navy blue and burnt orange
Wheel: Ashford Joy2
Technique: nothing special
Spun: worsted, Z-twist at an 8:1 ratio
Plied: 2-ply, S-twist at an 11:1 ratio
WPI: 8-9 (between Aran and worsted weights)
Amount: 406 yards, 236 grams

I don't consider myself to be a master spinner by any means, but I am quite pleased with how this yarn turned out. The diameter is more uniform than I usually spin, and using two different ratios for the spinning and plying resulted in a perfectly balanced yarn. Woohoo!

I have to admit I became a little bored with spinning a generous 4 oz of navy, then another generous 4 oz of orange, but when I plied them together - WOW.

If there is a county fair this summer, I plan to enter a skein of this yarn, that is how proud I am of these results. I can't wait to knit up a swatch, as I think this would make a lovely hat/mitten/scarf combo. There should be enough, right?