Ice dyed socks

Even though I have plenty of sock yarn, sometimes I buy more. After a weaving guild program on ice dyeing, I had to buy some ice dyed sock yarn I came across at Three Moon Fiberworks. I was afraid it might look "camo" but it turned out fine.

Pattern: Short-row toe and heel basic socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Happy Days Fiber Arts Sock Weight in 'End of Harvest' for foot and leg; Zwerger Garn Opal 4-Fach in 'Natural' for toes, heels, cuffs
Needles: US1
Modifications: None I can think of

Since these were for my SO, I cast on for a 72-stitch round. My go-to recipe is then to knit 72 rounds from toe to heel and 72 rounds from heel to cuff. This ratio seems to work well.

I'm not a fan of merino for sock yarn, as I think it doesn't hold up as well as other wools, but it is very soft. I think I'll enter these in the county fair.

Losing my mind

After the last panel of the buffalo plaid blanket rolled off the SampleIt loom, I thought it might be nice to try something new, something that required two heddles. Before purchasing another heddle, though, I checked to make sure I didn't already have an extra. Well, I do have an extra, two of them, in fact, but they are for my 24" loom. I even have a double heddle kit for that loom. That transaction completely slipped my mind.

While updating projects on Ravelry, I started checking to make sure I had added blog posts to other finished objects. I had not, not for a long time. Why not? I certainly updated the status of each of those projects and created a blog post about them - why not marry the two?

Oh, wait. There is no final post of the Lempi sweater, a project that was near and dear to my heart, one that I am supremely proud of. How did I miss trumpeting the completion of that sweater?

Knitting: Wove in the ends of the simple cowl, so now it is done; see previous post. Finished the ice dyed socks; separate post to follow (really!)
Spinning: I took a sample of the Wensleydale roving to a spin-in yesterday, to get some advice about how to handle it, and now I have a way forward: spritz the fiber with a weak solution of fiber rinse. For some reason, I have over 900g of Romney (why - and where - did I buy this stuff?!?), so I started spinning it (and it is *much* nicer than the Wensleydale).
Weaving: I checked out a book, Compendium of Finishing Techniques, from the library, plus I've done some online research regarding how to join the buffalo plaid blanket panels; I think I have a plan.

I don't have a knitting project on the needles, so I thought I would dig out an unfinished project: the leno curtains I wove so long ago (2022). What stymied me then was the two panels did not match - they still don't - but I've decided that will be an asymetric feature.

If Lenore Tawney can get away with it, why can't I?

Easy ribbed cowl

Lately I have been a little obsessed with using up yarn. Consequently, I was looking for a simple project to finish up the Jamieson and Smith Shetland I used on several other projects. Hence, this cowl.

Pattern: 2x2 Easy Ribbed Cowl, by Rachel Steinbock.
Yarn: Jamieson and Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White', 'Light Grey', and 'Shetland Black'; 94g total
Needles: US8 (cast on and bind off using US9)
Modifications: I used a 2x2 alternating long tail cast on and bound off in pattern; continued until I ran out of yarn, at 8.5"

This yarn is one of those "sheepy" smelling ones. I used some Eucalan Wool Wash when I soaked it before blocking, but not enough. I don't mind the smell, but it's not something everyone likes.

Overly optimistic

This weekend my oldest brother (who turns 80 next month) married for the third(!) time. I thought I would have some down time and be able to finish the simple cowl *and* the socks, but no knitting occurred as there was no down time. A very busy weekend!

Knitting: I finished one cuff on the ice dyed socks (except for the bind off) at my granddaughter's academic bowl competition, but when I picked up the other sock, I discovered I had dropped a stitch several rows back; not the right venue for fixing that at the time, but it is fixed now; maybe I'll finish them this week?
Weaving: All seven panels of the buffalo check blanket are off the loom; time to figure out how to sew them together.

After six panels

Believe it or not, I received a summons for jury duty. Would they let me knit during a trial? It might look like I'm not paying attention when actually the opposite is true - knitting helps me concentrate on what is going on around me - but it may become grounds for an appeal. Legal opinion from any of you?

An accidentally free book

I ordered a copy of Tommye Scanlin's new book Marking Time with Fabric and Thread from Thriftbooks. (Amazon and I had a falling out several years ago.) I chose the free shipping option, which relies on the USPS for transport and delivery. By tracking the book's progress, I saw that it landed in Indianapolis. And that was it. No updates for a week. So I contacted Thriftbooks, they refunded my money AND told me if the book arrived, to not send it back. So of course the book arrived several days later. Whoo-hoo!

I'm really excited about the idea of journaling using fiber arts. The book is full of profiles and examples and how-to's. Even the reverse side of the book jacket helps, with its display of prompts.

Now I just need to figure out what I want to journal via fiber. My interest in inkle weaving is perking up again, so maybe that is the path forward. Or my little Mirrix Saffron pocket loom for little tapestries.

Knitting: I started one cuff of the ice dyed socks, then got distracted; however, my granddaughter is participating in the local Academic Bowl this week, which will give me an opportunity to sit and knit. The three-color simple cowl is done except for the weaving in of the ends.
Weaving: I have finished five panels of the buffalo plaid blanket, plan to do seven; started number six today.

I missed another local-ish fiber festival this weekend: the Black Swamp Spinners Guild Market Day, in Bowling Green, OH. I've been there a couple of times, thought I might give it another try, but the past week has been rough. It's a good weekend to just stay home.

That went well

I confess that I took over the programming for the spinning guild because I thought we could do better (and no one objected). The program for this week's meeting was sock knitting. A lot of spinners also knit (gotta use up that yarn somehow), and this topic was well-received.

The person who served as the "main event" went over how to knit top-down socks; the next person presented a one-page "cheat sheet" she has assembled for knitting socks on the go; and I offered up my tips and tricks, as the "Opinionated Sock Knitter". During the Q&A, others added their two cents worth, so it was an interesting and lively time.

The next program will be hands-on chain-plying, for wheels and spindles. I hope it goes as well.

Knitting: Ready to start the cuffs on the ice dyed socks. I decided how to use the three colors for the cowl of leftovers, divided up the yarn, and am ready to proceed.

Weaving: Finished panel number three on the buffalo plaid blanket; started panel four.

The next meeting of the weaving guild is to be about rigid heddle weaving. I'm hoping to have my blanket finished by then, as an example of just what one can do with a simple loom, because multi-shaft loom weavers can be a bit snotty about rigid heddle weaving.

I've been accompanying my daughter while she checks out senior living residences for her dad (I'm the moral support). Not having to cook or clean anymore certainly looks enticing - think of all the fiber stuff I could get done! But it's expensive and I'm not quite ready for that... yet.

Not this time

Due to some family obligations, I did not make it to the Jay County Fiber Arts Fest this weekend. Not that I need any more fiber or fiber tools or yarn bowls. However, I was looking forward to some pie. Oh, well, maybe next year.

Knitting: Finished Cora the Emotional Support Chicken; see previous post. Nearing the cuffs on the ice dyed socks. Started a 2x2 ribbed cowl just to use up the rest of the Jamieson & Smith yarn.

Spinning: I think I did a little spinning, but I am not enjoying the Wensleydale fiber, may abandon it for something more fun.
Weaving: Finished panel #2 of the buffalo plaid blanket and started panel #3.

The program in this past week's weaving guild meeting was about weaving transparencies. My interest in this topic is not great. However, one of the presenters spoke of Norwegian transparency weaving. *That* caught my interest. If it sounds like fun to you, check out Robbie LaFleur's website.

This week's spinning guild program is about sock knitting, which is one reason I paused my current socks, as I want to use them as an example of toe-up, knitted-on-DPNs socks. I'm not the main event, so I'm not too concerned about what I have to say, but I do need to print some handouts.

Cora the Emotional Support Chicken

Cora was abandoned in October, in favor of holiday knitting. With the next spinning guild meeting breathing down my neck, I felt motivated to finish *something* since I've been nagging other guild members to do the same.

Pattern: Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino
Yarn: Cascade 220, naturally dyed with dyers coreopsis and onion skins
Needles: US7
Modifications: none

Cora is knitted, so came out a little smaller than her sister Sunny Tutu. I've toyed with the idea of creating a pattern for a stockinette ESC, but I have plenty of other things to work on.

So the completion of this gal brings my completed UFOs to two for the year. What shall I work on next?

Stuff

I edited my previous post to include the link to the article about Heritage Spinning and Weaving. If you don't want to look back, the link is here.

Which brings me to the topic of the source: Farm & Fiber Knits, another subscription from Long Thread Media. I'm not a subscriber, but if you are interested in local farms, natural fibers, shepherds, and unique designers, this is one source. It's not that I am not interested in those things; I am feeling overwhelmed by email and online information at the present moment. Even fiber can be too much sometimes.

Knitting: Still slogging away on the ice dyed socks.
Spinning: Still working on the Wensleydale top; I've read that this fiber felts well, but it seems very wispy, so I slather up with hand lotion when spinning it, to try to tame it a bit.
Weaving: The first panel of the buffalo plaid blanket is woven; started the second one.

For a while there, I was not feeling the weaving. After finishing the log cabin scarf for my SO, my interest perked up, probably because the scarf turned out so nice. Maybe I just needed a boost in confidence to get going again at a loom. I have several new weaving projects in mind, so stay tuned!

Local (and not so local) fiber stores

I came across an interview with Joan Sheridan, owner of Heritage Spinning and Weaving, somewhere. (Of course, I cannot find the interview now. EDITED: The link is here.) It led me to her store, and I am in love. We were in the neighborhood when we visited the Cranbrook Art Museum; too bad I didn't know about the store at the time. They will be at the Michigan Fiber Festival, though, so now I have an excuse to go to that.

We have several local fiber stores in the Fort Wayne area. One is Simply Socks Yarn Co which does most of its business online, but the storefront is open alternating Saturdays and Tuesdays. Another is Knitting Off Broadway, which of late has few hours, but is full of luscious yarn. And then there is Little Shop of Spinning, which hosts monthly spin-ins that I usually attend. While I have attended classes at all three, post-pandemic not much is happening in that area. Maybe I need to put a bug in someone's ear.

Knitting: Still plugging along on the ice dyed socks.
Spinning: Back to spinning the Wensleydale top; it's... unusual, so I am pre-drafting it.
Weaving: The buffalo plaid blanket is off to a slow start - the yarn is sticky - but I feel like I am on the way.

Now I am feeling dumb. I could not figure out why Joan Sheridan's name sounded so familiar. It's because I took a class from her in 2021 over Zoom; there is even a link to the store on my post. She has published several articles in Little Looms as well. Duh!

Box hat in Shetland

When I saw this pattern on Purl Soho, I had to give it a try. Instead of the usual round top, the hat has a boxy shape. I also liked the deep ribbing.

Pattern: Box Hat by Purl Soho
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White' and 'Light Grey'
Needles: US8
Modifications: None except I didn't use bulky yarn as suggested in the pattern; also, I cast on using the alternating long tail method and US9 needle

This hat is very comfortable and very warm. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do the Kitchener stitch without forming "ears".

If you are looking for an easy and quick hat to knit, I highly recommend this one.

(An aside: Purl Soho started as a brick-and-mortar shop in New York Ciy. I was there once! It was early days of my return to knitting and, even though the shop was relatively tiny, I found it a bit overwhelming and intimidating. Plus I am shy. In 2023, the owners made the decision to go online only, sad for the neighborhood, but their website is amazing. Check them out!)

Why wool?

One online knitting source for me is the Woolly Thistle. They have a blog that frequently flogs one of their products, but a recent post championed wool. I'm a bit of a fiber snob, so yes, I favor wool over other fibers and yarn.

Why wool? you may ask. I'll summarize the blog post (with some commentary by me), then add (more of) my two cents worth.

• Wool and the environment: Wool is biodegradable, renewable, and its processing (usually) has a low-impact on the environment.
• Misconceptions: Yes, some wool is scratchy, but there are many breeds that are not; wool items don't require frequent washing (I wash my handknit socks once a year); wool is warm in winter and cool in summer (I can't vouch for that last bit, as I have not given it a try... yet).
• Wool supports small: small farms, small mills, small businesses (most of the time).

I believe that all yarn has its place, but I favor the more natural fibers over some made from petroleum. And I'm getting pickier all the time. Neither merino nor alpaca are favorites of mine; instead, I gravitate toward fibers like Shetland and Corriedale. I used to favor superwash (and still do for socks and baby items and gifts to those most likely to felt the item), but it's not the same, a little too slick.

Feel free to disagree with me, but keep on practicing your fiber art!

Knitting: I finished the hat I started last week; separate post to follow. The heels have been turned on the ice dyed socks.
Spinning: I uncovered another bobbin of the Tazman comeback I spun, so that is skeined and soaked and hung to dry.
Weaving: Yes, I started a weaving project: a lap blanket from some yarn I purchased in Wisconsin in 2012; the Ashford Sampleit is (almost) warped with the 'Garnet Heather'.

I started this blog in November, 2006, almost twenty(!) years ago. The archive makes it look like I quit for about a year, but what happened was I tried to combine all the blogs I was keeping at the time into one, without success. Sometimes I consider abandoning this blog, but it provides a handy reference for my fiber life. I've been transcribing personal journals, and just may fold these many posts into that missive. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

I said, Be careful!

While testing the yarn from the Window Cat to determine whether it is acrylic (it is), I shook the bit of yarn to put out the flame, as one would do with a match. Bad idea. A drop of the melting fiber landed on my finger, where it stuck and burned. This is why I don't knit baby things from acrylic.

Knitting: The knitting is done for the Window Cat and the pieces are stuffed; I just need to sew the parts together. I made good progress on the ice dyed socks since this past week's weaving guild meeting happened over zoom - almost up to the heels. Started a new hat (maybe because I keep looking for a hat that looks halfway decent on me).

Spinning: The maroon merino is skeined and soaked, the twist is set, and it is hanging from the shower rod to dry.

My SO gets lots of compliments on the log cabin scarf I knit recently. The other day, I left the house without a scarf, so I wore his - it went well with the coat I was wearing. So now I am thinking I need a scarf of similar colors. Alas, there is no more in my natural dyed stash. I may need to dye some more, in walnut, henna, and onion skins.

Sunny Tutu the (crocheted) Emotional Support Chicken

Sunny was abandoned in November to make way for holiday knitting. She is one of my UFO's that is now an FO (per my New Year's resolution). I know she hasn't been a UFO for long, but it made sense to work backwards through my UFO list.

Pattern: Emotional Support Chicken (crochet) by Annette Corsino
Yarn: Mostly Cascade 220 (maybe some Valley Yarn) naturally dyed with sunflower and turmeric (and a little onion skin and dyers coreopsis)
Hook: G
Modifications: The summary page on Ravelry specifies an F hook, but the written pattern calls for a 4.5mm, which is between G and H, so I used G

The bottom makes this softie fairly stable, so she sits pretty just about anywhere she nests.

Turmeric is not very colorfast, so I will not be surprised if Sunny fades a bit. I'll keep her out of the light as much as possible, without hiding her away in a closet.

Winter ponderings

While I have not been weaving, I have been *thinking* about weaving. Tea towels are a popular item for weavers to make. One member bemoaned the fact that she has never woven one, but maybe someday she would. Another member piped up, "Or not." Just because everyone else is weaving something doesn't mean YOU (or I) need to follow the herd. So my thoughts about weaving are going in the direction of what do *I* want to weave.

(For the record, I have woven some hand towels - three different sets - and I think that is all I need to do.)

Crochet: I finished the crocheted Emotional Support Chickens; separate post to follow.
Knitting: The Window Cat is almost done. I made a little progress on the ice dyed socks while waiting in the pick-up line at my granddaughter's school.

Spinning: The maroon merino is all plied; now I just need to skein it and set the twist on all of it.

Yesterday I wore the many-colored "coatigan" to a spin-in. I think I have not posted a pic of it on me. So here it is, in all its glory.

I plan to wear it to this week's weaving guild meeting and next week's spinning guild. Before you know it, spring will be here and the winter woolens will have to be put away for another season.

Kittyville hat (without kitty ears)

Once upon a time, I knit a couple of Kittyville hats, one in black and one in pink, for others. I tried one on and thought it looked pretty good. Now that "bonnets" are in, I thought I'd knit myself one. Meh - not a good look on me, but maybe on someone else.

Pattern: Kittyville (listed as Adults-Only Devil Hat on Ravelry), by Kitty Schmidt (published in Stitch n Bitch)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in black
Needles: US7
Modifications: Left off the kitty ears

I would still like a hat with earflaps. Maybe I can modify a pattern that suits me better, although I don't look good in hats in general.

Listening and fiber

Do you listen to audio books while knitting or spinning or whatever? Sometimes I do, as long as I'm not at a tricky part of the project that involves thinking (counting is usually okay). Lately I've been marching though the George Smiley series of novels by John Le Carre. I've tried reading this author before (without success), but listening is another matter. Thank goodness for Hoopla (check your local library apps).

Knitting: I started a Window Cat, in what I think is acrylic; I'll have to give it the "burn test".

Spinning: The yarn I skeined last week was the Tasman comeback, and yes, some was three-plied, some chain-plied. This week I started chain-plying the maroon merino top.

You may be wondering what the "burn test" is. Light a small piece of mystery yarn on fire (CAREFULLY!) If it burns slowly and smells like burnt hair, it is wool; if it melts and smells like burnt plastic, it is acrylic.

At our last weaving guild meeting (which was by Zoom), I showed off my ice dyed yarn that is becoming socks. A member asked how to prevent laddering when knitting with double-pointed needles. What I learned from Stitch n Bitch is this: Knit the first stitch on a needle, insert the needle to knit the second stitch but before completing it, give the yarn a little tug; this tightens up the first stitch and helps prevent laddering.

TUG!

And that's all I have for today.

Double crochet cowl

While looking for an easy project for my granddaughter to crochet, I happened upon this pattern. I tested it, then paused while I finished the log cabin scarf, as both used the same yarn and I wanted to make sure I had enough for the scarf. Consequently, the cowl is not as long as specified in the pattern, but long enough for me.

Pattern: Long Double Crochet Cowl, by Stephanie Jessica Lau
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, naturally dyed with henna
Hook: H (5.0 mm)
Modifications: The pattern calls for super chunky yarn and a hook size of N/P, but I ignored all that.

This cowl is worked in turned rows. I chose to seam the two ends together using a slip stitch, which worked well but is obvious.

Knit cowls are usually worked in the round, and I found myself wondering about how one would do that with crochet. Well, while I used the free version of this pattern, the $5 version includes instructions for crocheting one in the round.

Lamb's Pride is a very warm wool, thanks to the mohair in it, but I'm not sure this cowl would provide much protections from the cold due to the open fabric. A polar vortex is on its way, so maybe I'll give it a try.

Bigfoot socks

Believe it or not, I am still wrapping up posts about xmas knitting projects. I have only one photo of the pair of socks I knit for my son because I forgot to take any beforehand. He kindly sent this one post-holiday:

Pattern: Short row toe and heel basic socks, by Wendy D. Johnson
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit, colorway 4720, and Opal Uni Solid, colorway 3081 (natural) for the toes, heels, and cuffs
Needles: US1
Modifications: I knit these from the top down, so the toe is a 'wedge' toe, not the short row

I used an alternating 2x2 longtail cast on, casting on 80 stitches. The 20 rows of 2x2 ribbing felt a bit much, but ended up matching the toe length well. The foot is about 80 rounds and the leg is about 80 rounds. They fit my son's size 13 feet well.

While I love my son and love knitting him socks, the 80-stitch rounds get to be a bit much. For the next pair, I may use a DK weight sock yarn, just to give myself a break.

I pledged

My first spinning wheel was an Ashford Kiwi 2.0. I chose it primarily because of the double treadle (and I didn't know enough to make a more refined decision). It has two ratios (3.0 has been upgraded to three) and I added a super flyer to it for bulky or "art" yarns. It doesn't get used very much.

That version of the Kiwi was not portable, so I purchased an Ashford Joy 2.0. It has the double treadle, plus four ratios ( I rarely deviate from whatever I am currently using), and is portable... or luggable. Schlepping it around is a bit awkward despite the carrying bag.

This past week, Knitty.com sent out an email about a new e-spinner that is relying on Kickstarter for funding. This one is called the EEW Fold. Not only does the e-spinner fold for easy transport, the bobbins fold as well. And it weighs about two pounds.

Photo borrowed from Kickstarter

After watching the video, I debated with myself over whether a needed a THIRD spinning wheel. Several of my fiber friends have e-spinners and *love* them. An advantage of a motor-driven wheel (with an rpm display) is consistency, plus there are unlimited speeds. Since I would not need to treadle, I would not have to quarter-twist my back when plying, either.

So I pledged. And then I worried that I would need a traveling table to set it on, but the inventor is publishing (for free!) files for 3-D printing a platform that can be attached to a tripod (which I already have).

The Kickstarter goal was $20k and already over $300k has been pledged, so the product looks like a GO. The deadline for pledging is February 5, 2025, if you are interested. They expect to be shipping in May. With over 1300 backers, it may be a while before I get mine.

Crochet: For my UFO-to-FO project this month, I wrapped up the double crochet cowl; separate post to follow.
Knitting: I started and finished a Kittyville hat; separate post to follow. Now besides the ice dyed socks, I'm knitting a "window cat".
Spinning: I emptied two bobbins of some tan yarn; I think one bobbin was three-plied, the other chain-plied (I'll have to comb my blog to figure out exactly what is what).

The other day I saw a woman in the grocery store who was wearing thigh-high leg warmers over her leggings. Is that a new style? Many years ago, I knit leg warmers, but got rid of them because they would not stay up. Over leggings, however....

Thanks to the weather, our recent spinners guild meeting was held virtually, which worked out okay except it was difficult to see the show-and-tell projects. The "theme" was using leftovers, so now I am collecting links to the patterns so they can be shared with everyone, including those who declined to attend (Luddites).

Fisherman's balaclava

I keep getting balaclava and baklava mixed up. The words, that is, not the objects. When it is cold and windy out, the former may be more useful than the latter.

Pattern: A combination of Hunter's Orange by Kaeleigh Geddes and Copy Cat C.C. Beanie by Emily Ingrid
Yarn: Lion's Brand Fisherman's Wool, in natural
Needles: US7 and US8
Modifications: Quite a few - see below

Starting with the Hunter's Orange pattern, I increased the needle sizes, as my head is big. Then I cast on 88 stitches using the alternating long-tail cast on. I followed the instructions until the cast on for the top of the face opening, where I used the slip knot cast on (which as very tricky to get tight enough). Then I continued with the instructions until I reached the "Head" section, where I switched to the Copy Cat C.C. Beanie instructions, starting above the ribbing. After two pattern repeats (using 2x2 ribbing instead of 1x1), I followed the instructions to finish off the crown (for which 88 stitches worked better than the 86 stitches in the C.C. pattern).

I was a little nervous about how it would turn out, but one of the great things about knitting is anything knit can be unknit. But I like it, despite the fact it reminds me of one of several one-eyed cartoon characters.

Bring on the windy cold weather!

Mended

That damaged gray sock I displayed a week or so ago is all fixed. It helps that I not only had notes in Ravelry about these socks, but also a blog post. While not exactly a twin to its sibling, certainly functional.

One issue was this pair of socks was knit from the toe up, using a Turkish cast on. The repaired toe had to be done in the opposite direction. I supposed I could have worked harder to make the toe rounder, but after some use, I'm sure my SO won't be able to feel the difference.

While I was able to duplicate the colors on the toe, I didn't make the effort on the cuff, as it would have meant breaking up the remaining yarn to get at the correct shade of gray. Anyway, challenge met!

Knitting: Besides fixing the above socks, I finished the balaclava; separate post to follow. The ice dyed socks continue to be my portable project.

When I arrived at last week's spin-in, I asked how many handknits one could wear at one time. I had on a sweater, a scarf, a hat, mittens, and socks, all made by me. I guess I won.

More

After last week's post, I thought of yet another sweater I want to knit: a cuff-to-cuff one (pattern in Ashford's Wheel publication) using handspun. Then this colorful one showed up in my FB feed and looks like one that would use up a lot of this and that.

I don't want to buy this sweater, I want to knit it!

Suddenly granny squares are in, so now I am also looking at crocheted sweaters. A fiber friend created the following (she called it a "hexagon" sweater):

Photo courtesy Lorinda Browning

When I shared the above photo with another fiber friend, she responded with this one:

Borrowed from FB

As if that is not enough, Knitty featured a cuff-to-cuff crocheted sweater recently. There are a LOT of possibilies out there for handknit sweaters!

Knitting: It's cold outside, so I started knitting a balaclava to protect my (facial) cheeks. Still working on the ice dyed socks.

My SO presented me with a handknit sock that had become damaged.

Challenge accepted!

Gisella hat

I noticed that my son's girl friend had a hat that allowed her to pull her pony tail through the top. Then I recalled that one of my fiber friends had made such a hat. It turns out the pattern is from another of my fiber friends. So I knit one.

Pattern: Gisella, by Lorinda Browning
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White', 'Light Grey', and 'Shetland Black'
Needles: US8
Modifications: Old Norwegian caston, Icelandic bindoff, down one needle size, mimicked colors in photo instead of instructions

The result is something that can be worn as a cowl or a hat or an earband. I'm not very adept at stranded colorwork, so the non-stranded bits are snugger (almost too snug) than the stranded middle (hence the shape). Were I to knit this pattern again, I would try to rectify that.

I offered up the hat at xmas, but no takers. Today was rather windy, so I wore it - the brim kept slipping down until it rested on my glasses, which was actually a good thing. Coupled with a stand-up cowl, I almost felt like I was wearing a balaclava. Almost. My cheeks still stung from the cold.

The pattern calls for "chunky" yarn, although its summary page on Ravelry says "aran", which is what I used. The three colors in the pattern photo don't match the two-color instructions. "Cast on loosely" and "bind off loosely" are two phrases I have come to dislike in knitting patterns, since there are so many better alternatives. I'm not sure how I feel about rolled brims, either. It is very warm, though.