Busy week

I was hoping to have some FOs to report this week, but for some reason I had a bunch of other stuff to attend to instead. While waiting on my granddaughter at one of her activities, I intended to weave in some ends on the blue sampler, but the needle container I grabbed on the way out was empty. Grrr!

Knitting: I just measured the Reader's Wrap and came up with 55", less than I reported last week. Maybe I can't count?
Spinning: More red Tunis.
Weaving: I did finish weaving the towels and pulled them off the loom. The expectation is they will shrink in both length and width.

I stopped by the Little Shop of Spinning in Roanoke (INDIANA) today, to pick up a few magazines (Wheel and two issues of Little Looms). The owner Phia and I enjoyed a nice chat which included a description of how she cleans fleece. I won't go into detail until later, but I now see a way forward dealing with the fleece in the garage.

Our governor lifted the mask mandate (too early, in my opinion). Most businesses are still "requiring" them and most customers are cooperating, but today I noted that more people than usual are going maskless. Makes me doubly happy that I am vaccinated.

Last zoom?

Last week the weavers guild had a blended meeting: in-person (masked) AND Zoom. That was the same day I received my second vaccination for Covid-19. I anticipate attending next month's meeting in person. A milestone. The spinning guild will probably continue to meet online, for now.

Knitting: Up to 56" on the Reader's Wrap. In the homestretch!
Spinning: Plugging away on the red Tunis, with much sighing over the VM.
Weaving: I just up and decided I was done with the wall hanging on the frame loom and pulled it off. There is still some finishing work to do. (More sighing.) Added a few more rows to the macrame ends on the blue sampler. And I'm nearing the end of the towels on the rigid heddle loom, although it looks like it will be one towel and a placemat.

The inkle weaving study group provided the program for the weavers guild meeting. We are also having a workshop in September on weaving Krokbragd on an inkle loom. So now I am interested in shifting focus to the inkle loom. One reason I abandoned it a while back was because of my eyesight, but now I have new glasses. I'm hoping it will be easier on my shoulders than the weaving I have been doing lately. We shall see.

Not the weather

This morning I woke up with much shoulder pain. Since it is GORGEOUS outside, I cannot blame the weather. I think it is weaving and folding queen size sheets and doing a bit of exercise with light weights. One problem with arthritis is, on good days, I do too much and pay for it the next.

Knitting: Up to 48" on the Reader's Wrap. I am becoming a bit concerned over the curling of the fabric, however. Others commented on this problem on Ravelry. When I reach 60", I will give it a good block. If it doesn't behave, it will go into time out while I decide how to move forward (or backwards, as the case may be).
Spinning: I *did* start spinning the red tunis. There is a big difference between spinning clean merino top and tunis roving with a fair amount of VM. It will be slow going while I pick out the detritus.
Weaving: Did a bit of work on the wall hanging and the towels. I also started macrameing the warp ends on a sampler piece. Using a book I checked out from the local library via Hoopla, I am doing some simple square knots. It is going very, very slowly. I think it has been over 40 years since I last tried macrameing.

Look at all those ends to weave in! I made this before I learned the "meet and separate" method of tapestry weaving which leaves no ends.

Last Wednesday, when I was scheduled for my second Covid shot, I woke up feeling ill. No fever, but chills and symptoms of perhaps a norovirus. So I rescheduled my shot for this coming week. It's always something, isn't it?

Achy, breaky

Recently someone asked me if my arthritis acts up when the weather is bad. I have good days and bad days, but had not equated them to the weather. However, this past week has been mostly rainy, and boy, do I hurt! Of course, it might be the cortisone shots wearing off and/or because I have been weaving on a frame loom which means holding my arms more horizontal. When some sunshine appears, I will have to pay attention to my pain level.

Knitting: Despite my aches and pains, I am up to 42" on the Reader's Wrap.
Weaving: I finished the first towel on the rigid heddle loom and started the second. But that project has languished a bit as I dragged out an unfinished project that's on a frame loom, unwove some of it, and changed it from a tote bag to a wall hanging. It's a prototype for a possible project for my daughter.

I'm actually weaving it upside down (the tapestry, not me)

I started this piece before taking Rebecca Mezoff's online course in tapestry weaving, so the weaving techniques change partway through, including how I do the flossa stitches. Since I am running out of yarn, it is almost done.

Standardized... sorta

At the last spinning guild meeting, I brought up a discussion about control cards and the fact mine came with a WPI chart that differs from the one on my WPI tool.

One member lamented the fact that there was no standard definition for WPI.

But there is. However, it provides a *range* of wraps per yarn weight. (This photo is from Yarnitecture, by Jillian Moreno.)

The lesson here is, no matter what weight you think your yarn is, always, always, always knit a gauge swatch before starting a project.

Knitting: I am at the 33" mark with the Reader's Wrap and have used up nearly a whole 8-oz. skein of fisherman's wool. There are two more skeins in my stash, so no worries about running short. While knitting, I contemplate maybe dyeing the whole thing once it's done, but I'm not sure how the wool will take dye. Like swatching, a test sample is called for.
Spinning: I decided to take a week away from spinning while I plot my next project. I have a lot of Tunis red roving that I spun up a while ago. I didn't like the results, so experimented with mixing in various amounts of white, gray, and black. But now I've decided I *do* like the plain Tunis red, three plied in what feels like an Aran weight yarn. Hopefully, I can duplicate my effort.
Weaving: I am almost done with the first towel on the current warp. I'm toying with the idea of double weaving the second towel, to create a heftier fabric. It's not uncommon to double warp a loom, so I think this will work, or work well enough.

It's been a year since my last outing, which was to the Jay County Fiber Arts Festival. This year's event was cancelled. However, they plan to have a virtual festival on April 24, with virtual classes and the marketplace. There is a class on fiber prep that I just might take, given I have several fleeces in the garage, just waiting to be processed.

Black merino top

A while back I was fretting about plying superwash merino with non-superwash merino. I decided not to, which I think was the right decision, as the superwash came out darker than I expected. Instead, I spun and plied the non-superwash merino to use in conjunction with other colors in either weaving or knitting.

Fiber: DMFibers merino top dyed black
Wheel: Ashford Joy 2
Technique: Nothing special
Spun: worsted, Z-twist at an 8:1 ratio
Plied: 2-ply, S-twist at an 11:1 ratio
WPI: 10
Yardage: 494 yards
Weight: 237g (8.36 oz)

When skeining, I wrap up 50 yards at a time. When weighing each skein, I get an idea of how consistant I am across the whole effort. In this case, I am happy to report that each 50-yard skein was within a few grams of the others. Not bad for an amateur.

There is definitely enough yarn to do *something* with. Black goes with just about any color and helps them pop. While black may be a boring color to spin (and difficult to photograph), I think I will make good use of this yarn.

Art day

Yesterday my 10-year-old granddaughter and I had an "art day". We stopped at United Arts and Education to make a few purchases (including a stuffed penguin I had promised her around xmas and a new jigsaw puzzle for me), then we had a "touchless" visit to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art to see the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards exhibition, followed by a stop at the Allen County Public Library to take a gander at the Three Rivers Gem and Mineral Society display and the Fort Wayne Artists Guild members show. Whew! There were several "paintings" done in needle felting at both the art museum and the guild show, which inspired my granddaughter to create her own after we returned to the house.

Knitting: I've completed 25 out of 60 inches on the Reader's Wrap. Almost halfway done (except for the pockets).
Spinning: The black merino top is finished; separate post to follow.
Weaving: I'm about halfway done with the first kitchen towel.

The local spinning guild includes a member on the west coast who is creating a digital magazine with a colleague in New Zealand. It's called tinyStudio: Creative Life. A free special edition may be found here. Both these talented ladies were able to attend our most recent meeting to describe the magazine and talk about creative fiber arts in general. It was a unique experience for our guild and one that would not have been possible without Zoom and a reason to use Zoom instead of meet in person. Both the fiber guilds I belong to are talking about having hybrid meetings going forward - in person AND via Zoom - as many members do not live in town or may be unable to attend in person for one reason or another. It's a new era.

I received my first Covid vaccination this past week. It didn't hurt a bit and I experienced no side effects at all other than to feel surprisingly optimistic about the future. My second shot is in several weeks, but even then, precautions must continue to be taken. However, with a little luck, we will return to some semblance of "normal" soon.

Eek!

I have several fleeces in the garage, stored in feed bags. While out there the other evening, I saw the top of one of the bags MOVE. A mouse or vole popped up. Finn, my indoor/outdoor cat, had been wanting out in the garage lately, and now I know why. I let him out there and left the light on for him; hopefully he did his job. The next day, I dumped all three fleeces out, but found no evidence of nests or droppings, so the little bugger must have been just helping himself to some bedding. Ugh.

Knitting: I have knit a total of 18" on the Reader's Wrap; 42" to go.
Spinning: I am halfway through plying the black merino top.
Weaving: I wove a couple more inches on the towels. My 24" rigid heddle is a bit much for my shoulders. I'm experimenting with some mock waffle weave on my Samplet loom.

The waffle weave experiment came about because the waffle weave study group made a presentation at last week's weaving guild meeting. I have not been attending the (Zoom) meetings lately as the programs have all been about harness loom weaving. Most of the waffle weave program was for harness looms, but they included a bit on how to do it on a rigid heddle loom. I've been working from a book and struggling a bit, but at least it has sparked my interest in weaving again. Next month's program will be presented by the inkle weaving study group. Inkle weaving is another technique I enjoy but have neglected.

I am scheduled for my first Covid vaccination this week. My SO has had both doses, had a mild reaction after the first, no reaction after the second, and reports that he feels better, less anxious, than he has for a while. Of course, masks are still necessary, but the vaccine provides an extra layer of protection. I'm psyched!

New tools

In a previous post I commented on how I tend to get the yarn I spin, not the yarn I want. To help alleviate that problem, I purchased a spinning control card from the Woolery. Having never handled a spinning control card in person before, I was not sure what to expect, so I'm also not sure if this is a common design.

It is made from acrylic, which is not pretty like some wooden ones I saw online but completely functional. There are slight grooves for each size; I expected the grooves to be deeper, but again, I don't know if this is common among control cards. The instructions seem to assume one is spinning 3-ply. Do most spinners create 3-ply? I think most of the ones I know stick to 2-ply. I haven't tried out this little tool in real life yet, but will once I am done with the black merino. I'll keep you posted.

Knitting: Still inching along on the Reader's Wrap, literally. My goal is to knit at least an inch each day. I also ordered some sock yarn from a Ravelry member, so I can fix some socks I knit for a friend.
Spinning: About 75% done with spinning the singles from the black merino top.
Weaving: I actually did some weaving on my 24" rigid heddle loom! I am not the towel-weaving type, but I have a lot of 8/4 cotton warp and towels seem like a good way to use it up. I had warped the loom quite some time ago, finally wove a couple of inches of weft the other day.

kay T left an interesting comment last week about experiencing pilling problems with Cascade 220 Superwash. I took a look at items I knit using this yarn and didn't notice any excessive pilling HOWEVER. A sweater I knit with it does pill something awful. I wasn't planning to knit the sweater in superwash, but we were at Webs in Northampton MA (spring 2014) and they were having a sale and this yarn was the only one I could find in the color and weight I wanted.

I saw my hip doctor for a follow-up and all is well with that joint. I come back in five years. Then I saw a shoulder surgeon (they all specialize). After some discussion, the tentative plan is for me to call in July to schedule surgery for the fall; I don't want to miss out on gardening season. Perhaps this impending surgery will compel me to finish a poncho I started long ago, to wear over the sling.

I couldn't resist

More powdery snow fell this week and I could not resist scooting around the backyard on cross country skis despite my hip surgeon nixing that activity. My yard is large but not large enough for it to be much fun for skiing. My hip was okay, but my shoulders did not like it. This week I have my annual follow-up appointment with the hip surgeon and a prelim appointment with a shoulder surgeon.

Knitting: Inching along on the Reader's Wrap. I had been alternating stockinette with reverse stockinette, but decided that might be problematic when I add the patch pockets. I ripped back and am just now almost caught up.
Spinning: I'm almost halfway done with the black merino top. It's not very interesting to spin, but I still try to put in 20 minutes a day.
Weaving: My SO was telling me about how many compliments he has received recently on a log cabin scarf I wove for him. I glanced at it and saw a broken warp. While fixing that, I found a couple of other broken threads, plus I straightened out some snags. Once it gets a restorative bath, he can have it back. In the meantime, he will just have to use his alpaca knit one.

Isolating the broken warp

Ends to weave in

This scarf is woven with Cascade 220 Superwash because a previous scarf that should have been handwashed met its demise after machine washing. The fabric feels a bit flimsy to me. The areas I fixed now have extra threads where I wove in the ends, and they feel more substantial. If I decide to weave another scarf in Cascade 220 Superwash, I may double the warp and/or weft. But first, I should make a test swatch.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My SO and I don't do anything special for Valentine's Day since (for us) everyday is Valentine's Day. We make a point of appreciating each other in real time, like when his car needs a jump or I need to visit the ER. We both have a bit of a problem asking for help - gotta be strong and independent - but it sure is nice to have someone to rely on, for everyday things and not-so-everyday things.

Knitting: Still plugging away on the Reader's Wrap. I also discovered a hole in the Lopi mittens I knit in 2007. A recent issue of Ply Magazine described one way to fix holey socks, which helped me figure out how to fix these mittens: remove the top of the thumb and reknit it. Fortunately, I found some leftover yarn in my stash.

Spinning: I started spinning the black merino top I ordered by mistake. (Idle question: Do you ever return fiber (roving, yarn, etc>) ordered online but not quite what you expected?) I contemplated leaving the yarn in singles, to ply with other colors, but right now I am leaning toward two-plying it and using it as a contrasting color for weaving.

Lately I have been watching Star Trek: Voyager. The most recent episode touched on aspects of Vulcan philosophy that resonate with me, perhaps because they have a lot in common with Stoicism. For example, instead of allowing one's emotions to rule one's mind, strive for the mind to control one's emotions. In these trying times, it is easy to get cranked up emotionally when we need to keep our cool. I am finding this concept to be calming. Live long and prosper!

Lithuanian Ribby Mittens

This pattern is the result of Robin Hansen reverse engineering a pair of mittens found in a museum shop in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Her personal contacts reveal that this is a common style of mitten among Lithuanian knitters. They are knit from worsted weight yarn using size US1 needles to achieve a gauge of 7-9 stitches per inch despite the textured fabric. I found knitting this needle/yarn combination more difficult than I expected; it was hard on my hands and shoulders as well. At least the weather is still wintery here, so I can enjoy wearing them in the snow.

Pattern: Lithuanian Ribby Mittens, from Ultimate Mittens by Robin Hansen
Yarn: Cascade 220, in gray (MC) and red (CC)
Needles: US1
Modifications: see below.

I did not intend to modify the pattern, but I found the instructions difficult to follow and somehow wound up with three extra stitches after the thumb gore. The mitten top and thumb turned out too long and pointy for my taste, so I flattened them by knitting a round of k2tog, a round of k, another round of k2tog, another round of k before pulling the remaining stitches together. I also offset the thumbs enough to create right and left mittens.

They fit perfectly but felt stiff and bulky. After a warm bath, they softened up but also grew a bit, so now feel too large. I wore them to shovel snow and despite the tight stitching, they did not seem to be warmer than other mittens I have knit. Through regular use, they should felt a bit, which will tighten them up.

Graham in Karabella

After knitting three Graham hats in a row, I think I am done with this pattern for a while. It's easy, it's (relatively) quick, it garners compliments, but enough is enough. The pix of all three look alike, but there are subtle differences.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Karabella Yarns Aurora 8, in 'Anthracite' (dark gray)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: Made the hat longer, 8" total

For some reason, hats don't look good on me. Making this one longer helped, though. I meant to weigh it before distribution, but it is still under 100g. The yarn is very soft, but like the Lion Brand Cashmere Blend, it feels like it won't hold up well.

Wool weather

Baby, it's cold outside! Temps in the single digits at night, the teens during the day. Perfect for layering the handknits while staying inside and reading on the couch. I just started Craft: An American History, by Glenn Adamson. It's very readable and very interesting.

Knitting: I finished another 'Graham' hat; post to follow. I think I am done with that pattern for a while. I also finished the Lithuanian mittens; yes, a seperate post to follow. No progress on the Reader's Wrap.

And that is about all I have to report. This past week I had my kitchen cabinets refaced and the vanities in the two baths replaced, which meant emptying cabinets (which went fast) and cleaning, reorganizing, and refilling them (which is taking a LOT longer). I also started another jigsaw puzzle, to help me make it through February. And I am scheduled to get my first Covid vaccination in March. Things are looking up!

Jailhouse Rock

The instructions that came with this Sheep 2 Shoe kit were for making 3-ply sock yarn. I have given up on knitting socks with yarn that lacks nylon, as they wear out too fast. I've also given up on using merino, as it too does not last. (Simply Socks produces a sock yarn made from Corriedale and nylon, and that is now my go-to sock yarn.) Then I agonized over finding some superwash merino in black, to ply with this yarn, but that search was fruitless. So I finally just created a two-ply, which I really, really like.

Fiber: Blue Moon Fiber Arts superwash merino top in 'Jailhouse Rock'
Wheel: Ashford Joy 2
Technique: Nothing special
Spun: worsted, Z-twist at an 11:1 ratio
Plied: 2-ply, S-twist at an 11:1 ratio
WPI: 9
Yardage: 387 yards
Weight: 237g (8.3 oz)

I really wanted this yarn to be DK weight after the fact. In other words, I spun and plied it, and THEN decided it should be DK. Wishful thinking. Still, I crammed it into my wpi counter before admitting that it really is worsted.

Another so-called plan was to knit or weave the yarn with as-yet-to-be-spun black yarn, but I'm thinking it is dark enough just as it is. One skein, the last one, has a lot of joins in it, so I will use it to work up some swatches while I decide what to use this for.

This roving was gifted to me by Qutecowgirl who just released a hat pattern on Ravelry called Pascal. It's free and looks like a fun knit, so check it out!

Design ideas

My SO and I sometimes walk the mall, and I noticed this sweater in one of the store windows. I looks like it is mostly garter stitch with an i-cord chain on the button band. I've never seen that before.

I also encourage you to check out the patterns on the recent Knitty release. There is one for a sweater (Halmstad) that is knit in the round, like a capelet, with steeks to separate the arms from the body. Very clever!

Knitting: Last week I forgot to mention progress on the Lithuanian mittens. The body of each mitten is complete and I have started the thumbs. I have just reached the start of the crown on another 'Graham' slouchy hat. AND I'm marching along on the Reader's Wrap.
Spinning: I finished plying the 'Jailhouse Rock' yarn; separate post to follow.

Despite mask wearing and hand sanitizing, both my SO and I managed to catch little colds this past week. My granddaughter experienced the same the week before, so it must be one more thing going around. My SO received his first Covid shot just before. He said sign up was easy, the actual experience went smoothly, and he has an appointment for his second shot in three weeks; he felt a bit punky the next day but otherwise no reaction. I know some areas are really struggling to administer the Covid vaccine, but locally they have all their ducks in a row.

'Graham' in LB Cashmere Blend

This hat looks like the last one although I knit it on the larger needles specified in the pattern. An easy, satisfying knit, with great instructions, especially for the decreases on the crown.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Lion Brand Cashmere Blend, in black (75g)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: none

This is not one of my favorite yarns. I purchased it about ten years ago to knit a pair of Mary Jane booties for my granddaughter. I never finished them - booties are so fiddly - and I discovered tinking them is just as fiddly. The yarn is soft and springy, but I don't think it will hold up well.

Found, Part II

I remember what else I lost but now have found: the ball of white Cascade 220 Superwash. It got shunted aside during a quick tidying up episode, but turned up on its own. I'm glad to know I am not completely crazy.

Knitting: I finished another 'Graham' slouchy hat; post to follow. And I started another one. Such an easy knit! I also started a Reader's Wrap, after seeing one made by Phia at Little Shop of Spinning. There is something about winter that makes me want to knit and knit and knit.
Spinning: Almost done plying the Socks that Rock yarn. So pretty!

Yes, I actually left the city limits to visit the Little Shop of Spinning in Roanoke, IN. One purpose of the trip was to return a borrowed album of photos from a natural dyeing workshop. Another reason was to deliver an old non-functional spinning wheel I had been using as decor. I decided I was done with it and posted a pic on FB in case any of my spinning friends wanted it. Phia's husband Mark is going to use it on a separate project he is working on; his only requirement was that the wheel spin, which it does. I managed to get out of the shop without any fiber but I did pick up the latest issue of Ply magazine.

Almost out the door. Say bye-bye, Beau!

Indiana is out of the red Covid-wise. I'm too young to qualify for the vaccine yet, so I got my second Shingrix shot instead. The day after the first shot, I felt a little punky. This one really knocked me on my keister the next day: low grade fever, chills, body aches, etc. I spent the day on the couch, dozing off and on, then slept 10 hours that night. I kept telling myself that my discomfort meant the serum was working.

On a brighter note, the cortisone shots in my shoulders definitely help. I hadn't realized how that constant discomfort was affecting me. And we have a new president! More discomfort relieved! We can all breathe a sigh of relief.

Found

One reason I have not posted much lately is I decided to do some household and fiber rearranging. I'm still not done, but in the process of moving a cupboard of spun and/or dyed yarn from one room to another, I found the samples I dyed using various parts of my false indigo plant. I have yet to dye with the roots, so once spring makes an appearance, I'll add that to the bunch. (I found something else, but now can't remember what it was because I suffer from CRS - Can't Remember Shit.)

Knitting: I visited one of my ortho doctors this past week and received cortisone shots in each shoulder to tide me over until I can schedule surgery (which will be after I get both doses of the Covid vaccine). While it takes a week or so for the cortisone to do its thing, a numbing agent in the serum gives a couple of days respite. So I picked up my knitting and overdid it. Now I can barely move my arms without pain. Ouch.
Spinning: I started two-plying the Socks that Rock singles. I gave up the idea of three-ply with one ply being black. I'm about halfway done, although I might run it through the wheel again, to tighten up the ply a bit.
Weaving: Now that I have new glasses, I laid out the sari yarn runner and started fiddling with the finishing. That will take a while.

Another reason I have not posted much lately is I fell down the jigsaw puzzle hole again. I thought this puzzle would not be all that difficult. I was wrong. The puzzle pieces were not cut in standard shapes.

ANOTHER reason I have not posted much lately is I have been feeling a bit broken. The pandemic and politics were bad enough, but then a college friend passed away from Covid, my ex-sister-in-law died from a stroke, and when I went online to find her obituary, I found her husband's, from this past November. The domestic terrorists trying to destroy democracy was the final straw. If we can just hang on for a while longer, the grown-ups will be in charge again and hopefully at least some things will get better. Stay safe!

Graham in black Superwash

I've knit this pattern a couple of times before (here and here). My daughter said she gets a lot of compliments on the gray one and would like more, in neutral colors. I dug through my stash, looking for yarn to use up, preferably a washable yarn because I know her. Here is the first of several.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in black (72g)
Needles: US5 and US7 circs and DPNs
Modifications: used 1x1 ribbed long tail cast on

The reason my daughter needs extra hats

I knit the medium size, which fits a small to medium adult head. The (free!) instructions are excellent, very detailed. This unisex hat is knit on the wrong side, so that the waffle effect can be achieved with knit rounds between the rib rounds instead of purl rounds. Quick, easy, and fun to knit!