Company

Hi! Sorry for the lack of blogging... My mother- and sister-in-law are visiting this week, so I haven't been on the computer much. I'll certainly have more to tell later on, but I wanted to check in real quick-like and say "Thank You!" to my Sockret Pal, Louise, who knit some great socks for me!

They fit like a dream, and there were some other goodies too: a bar of Hot Chili Pepper chocolate (long gone, sorry there is no evidence... 'twas quite good though!) an adorable little bird notebook, and some rocks from Lake Superior! (I really wasn't kidding, I love rocks for my collections!)

And look what Louise did, she used double yarn for the heel and sole of the foot, so these socks will never wear out! Clever knitter! Thank you, Louise, for all the treats!

Now I'm going to go delve into the new book I bought that just came in the mail... Ahhh, new mitten inspiration...

All for now!

Meet the herd

Tala, you asked about the colorway of the Spunky Eclectic roving several posts ago - it was called "Confused." It was a swap-gift, and I don't see it in Amy's shop right now...

Thank yous to everyone for the congratulations on the house! It's one of the most "grown-up" things I think I've ever been a part of, and I'm really starting to look forward to the move now!

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Sadly, I have very little knitting to report today. I should probably just go join Ann's Slogalong. Things are moving, but veeerrrryyy sloooowwwwlllyy. Ah, well.

Happily, the reason is that I've been preoccupied with a new project that I'm ready to share... Meet my alpaca collection!

Ha! Almost tricked you into thinking I was adopting live beasies, didn't I? Not anytime soon. Rather, I've managed to amass fiber from five different local animals during my stay in Alaska. Moving counter-clockwise from the lightest hank of yarn at the left, we have Chili B., Sandara, Eli, Ghiradelli, and finally a hank of yarn spun from Clover. There seems to be an abundance of alpaca in Alaska for the handspinner to take advantage of. The only obstacle is that much of the fiber is not "prepared" as some of us (the more pampered spinners, like myself) are used to.

Now, I have certainly heard that you can spin alpaca straight "from the lock," but two of the bags of fiber I have were "brushed," so the locks are not very discernable. I tend to prefer a smooth yarn anyway, so I'm combing it using some Dutch wool combs I bought off eBay last July. (They were an excellent price, my mother had given me some money for my birthday, and I figured they might come in handy someday... for once I'm prepared!) Dutch wool combs have one stationary comb that you bolt down onto a (sturdy) table, and one handheld comb that you, well, hold in your hand.

So, this is what I start out with - a fluffy cloud of camelid's finest:

The fleece is speared onto the stationary comb a little at a time, layering the fiber and trying as much as possible to get the "butt end" facing the back side of the tines, with the loose fiber hanging off the front.

The first sweeps with the hand-comb are from one side to the other, and most of the fiber is trasferred to the hand comb.

The fibers that stay on the stationary comb are the shortest or tangled fibers, and they are removed.

Being a "waste not, want not" kind of girl, I save this fiber to be carded and spun into fluffy yarn later. Combing makes a lot of "waste" fiber; there are over 2 ounces in these two bags. After combing side-to-side the hand-comb is full, and the fiber is combed back onto the stationary comb using a downward-sweeping motion, while holding the comb in the same sideways postition.

It's a little awkward at first. I usually flip the hand-comb 180-degrees every few swipes so the tines point in the opposite direction - it seems to help the fiber move to the other comb better. Once the fiber is back on the stationary comb, the two steps are repeated again... and again - first combing side-to-side, then combing the fiber back on to the table-comb, removing the "waste" fibers between each step.

When the fiber is tamed to the desired smoothness (I have a feeling my impatience leads me to acheive a less-than-perfectly-smooth product, but I'm not too worried about it. It spins up just fine.) the fiber is gathered to a point, and pulled off the comb through a diz (which is a small piece of wood, metal, or ceramic, with what seems to be an impossibly small hole through it.)

The end result is a length of fluffy ready-to-spin fiber. (I believe it's called a "sliver," differentiated from roving by its lack of twist.)

I gently wind the sliver around my hand, making a nest, and then it waits in my spinning basket for its turn on the wheel.

The scary part about all this is that that basket is holding about one hour's worth of combing work, only about 1.5 ounces of fiber. Given that I've got about a pound and a half of alpaca left to play with, the scope of this project is quite staggering. But the yarn is so going to be worth it. It's spinning up to become about a sport-weight two ply.

I'm keeping the colors separated for this part of the spinning, so I can have the "full spectrum" of alpaca colored yarn. I'm hoping for enough combed-and-spun fiber (I guess you'd call it "semi-worsted spun") to knit myself a shawl, or maybe even a sweater. Then I can carry my Alaskan alpaca friends with me everywhere... The waste fiber is a mix of colors and, once carded, will make a soft, fuzzy, fluffy, tweedy or almost-variegated yarn, which I plan to use for hats, mittens, and scarves. As much extra work as it is, I find I'm enjoying getting into every part of the process. Not that I'll start preparing all my wool this way, that would be too much for me...

Hannah says she's exhausted from just watching.

All for now.

Warm fuzzies

As a side note, or perhaps a preface: I was shocked and deeply saddened by the violence at Virginia Tech yesterday. From so far away (geographically) it's hard to place it into the context of my own daily life - there is dinner to be cooked, lunches to pack, bedtimes, homework, and shopping. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the vicitms, the family of the shooter, and to the students who were there. Beyond that, I am left mostly speechless; what can you possibly say about such a thing? Firstly, I want to say thanks for all the "good luck" comments and wishes - I really believe such things help, and in this case, it really did - we got the house!!! (**hoppy happy dance**) I particularly enjoyed the de-lurking of folks who've been reading my blog awhile - Blogger doesn't reveal most email addresses, but I try to visit the blogs of new commenters (and usually add them to my Bloglines list, which, as you can see in the sidebar, is really out of control...) To steal a phrase from Faith, you guys are "my friends I haven't met yet!" To those of you (like Paula, whom I have no link for whatsoever) on the east coast, and especially in New England, I am looking forward to meeting you in person someday - Rhinebeck is absolutely on my to-do list for this coming year. (In fact, I'll go so far as to say it's the reason I'm doing my own version of the Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-thon, which I've stuck to very well so far, thanks...) So yesterday, amongst the flurry of emails and phone calls with Andy (who got stuck in Maine due to that storm) I did no knitting at all. However, I did resurrect an old friend or two to help with a quick project.

No, you're not seeing double; that's TWO "cute doll" costumes for Thing 2's kindergarten class production of "The Little Engine That Could." I used to sew a lot, so I was a natural choice for this part of parental involvement. I got out the sewing machine and serger (simply owning a serger is a sign of how much I really did used to sew) and whipped out a couple dresses and pinafores to match. Cute, they are. And they fit, that's the important part. There are some days when I feel more like a mom than ever - yesterday, as I set in four &*%^%#* puffy sleeves, I knew it for certain...

Now please excuse me, it's my turn to deliver snacks to the Girl Scout Brownies meeting...

Correction, comparison, and explaination...

Lots to report since last Thursday, though there really hasn't been much knitting progress made. I did rip the offensive portion of Rusted Root, and have reknit that section. Several commenters suggested putting in a "life line" thread and dropping the stitches of the lace panel, then knitting them back up correctly. In many cases I would have attempted such a maneuver, but this lace pattern varies in stitch count from row to row (from 15 to 17 stitches) and is a 10-row repeat to boot. Invariably I would have ended up trying to recreate a 17-stitch pattern row with only 15-stitches-worth of yarn, and that just can't go well. So I frogged, and it wasn't so bad. The yarn was even cooperative, and didn't require wetting to get rid of the pre-knit kinks.

I received the Addi Turbo Lace needles in the mail on Friday, and gave them a quick test knit (two rows on Starlight.) So far, I love them! I'm really not one to jump on the bandwagon of a new product just because it's new, but in this case I'm of the opinion that Skacell knows their stuff and did a great job with these new needles, all around. The joins are utterly flawless, no snagging whatsoever; the cable is pliable and let go of its package-induced coil almost immediately (I often dip my circular needle cords in hot water for 10-30 seconds, then straighten them vigorously to get rid of the curlicues...) And the points? Ah yes, the reason for the purchase in the first place. Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, let me be succinct: Mmm, nice eh? Of course, the new Addis cost over three times as much as my dear Susan Bates Quicksilvers, but for use with very, very fine and delicate yarns, I believe the Addis are worth it. The Quicksilvers will still see plenty of use with yarns fingering weight and thicker.

I also have some new handspun to show off. Here is the "Blueberry Patch" targhee wool, from Susan's Spinning Bunny. I got just over 400 yards of near-worsted-weight two-ply from four ounces.

It surprises me to see how differently the various breeds of wool spin up. I'm used to working with merinos, and find that I usually spin very thin singles from them. Though I was spinning this yarn at my "comfort" weight, the singles poduced a much fluffier yarn, worsted-ish rather than fingering weight. Not that I'm complaining. :)

I had the spinning bug when I finished the targhee, so I started some BFL I handpainted at the end of the summer. I combined two colorways that were hanging around, and was very pleased with the result, which I'm calling "Cactus Flower." (Not coincidentally, the same name was painted on the side of my very first bicycle, which had a similar color scheme. Don't ask me how I remember these things.)

There were 6 ounces of roving, which spun up into 400 yards of definite worsted weight two-ply.

For good measure, I had to start a new knitting project while I watched a movie this weekend (because I was not going to have to frog Rusted Root again!) This is the first of a pair of socks for Thing 2, wooly springtime socks to wear with her skirts. Love the little picot cuff.

There, I've successfully made it look like I've been productive, fiber-wise, so I can share the Big News I've been sitting on for awhile. In a few short months the Wool Room will be getting a very different view (hopefully this one!)

I've mentioned that my husband is in the U.S. Coast Guard; it's his career, not mine, so I don't tend to make a fuss about it. Happily though, I enjoy the travelling we get to do - my first move with him was from my little home island off coastal North Carolina to Alaska, a place which I have grown to love and even come to call Home. But the time has come for us to depart, so this summer we will be transferring across the country to.... northern coastal Maine! (Nothing like bouncing from one coast to another...) Loads of preparations to make, but the biggest change of all is what Andy's been working on this past week while he was out of town: we're looking to buy our own house, our FIRST house! House hunting has proven fruitful, and we've found the one we want, a big old refurbished Colonial originally built in 1841. We are working on its acquisition... so keep your fingers crossed for us, send good karma our way - 'cause the wool wants that house!!! :)

Three more pictures...

Still awaiting the new lace needle, I got some more spinning done, and I've been working away at Rusted Root. Things seem to be going so well, I'm just about to the decreases for waist shaping. Wait. Uh-oh. Did you see it? Now can you see it?

(Second leaf from the left...)

AAARRRGGGHH!!!! **headdesk-thump**

You know, it's entirely possible that this wasn't the best project to work on while intently watching "Lost" Wednesday night. Tomorrow morning the frogs shall sing, "Rip-it, rip-it... rip-it, rip-it..."

My day so far (in three portraits)

(Moonset, 7:06 am; cat in repose, 11:18 am; handspun hung to dry, 1:54 pm; all for now.)

Justification of Startitis

Anyone who knits lace knows that the needles are important. I should say, anyone who knits lace with real laceweight yarn, possibly even more than once, will eventually learn the importance of needles, all their quirks, and develop some opinions on the subject. Case in point: the first lacy project I knit was the "Branching Out" scarf from Knitty. It was the perfect first lace project; I learned to read a chart, I got over my fear of "holes" in my knitting, and enjoyed the pattern enough that I actually knit two of them, back to back, as Christmas gifts. That was a year and a half ago. I knit with dk weight yarn, on straight bamboo needles, and it was just fine. The next month I started Adamas, using some laceweight from Knitpicks. (Pre-blogging days - I'll drag it out to photograph one day when it's not raining...) I bought some 3.75mm/US 5 circular Addi Turbos specifically for the job, which produced an airier fabric than I would have wanted (I hadn't yet realized the extreme looseness of my purling) but the tips of the needles were not something I had to put much thought into. Lace is supposed to be hard, right? It came out well for a first shawl, and I was very proud. Fast forward to this past summrer, when I started my EZ Pi Shawl. I wanted a more solid fabric, I had more of an idea how to make this work, so I went down a couple needle sizes. The only 3.25mm/US3 needles I had were these:

Not sharp at all.

They are the only needles readily available in my town, Clover bamboo circulars. I used them anyway. I cursed the joins when my laceweight merino snagged. I kept using them. The k2togs were unreasonably difficult, and k3tog was nearly impossible. I plodded onward. I wondered at the masochism of knitters who churn out lace, wondered what I was doing wrong, and finally called the darned thing finished and knit the border. Becasue of my frustration, the shawl is perhaps a few inches short of the desired diameter, and doesn't get much wear. Makes a nice antimacassar on the rocking chair; not that there's much macassar used around here. When I decideded to knit my handspun shawl, I looked for a pointier needle. I found one I liked in a tangle of second-hand circulars I bought off eBay when I first started knitting. It was grey, pointy-tipped, and the right size, so I used it. Some internet research informed me that what I had in hand was a Susan Bates Quicksilver needle, that they are still produced and dirt-cheap. I bought a few, and I've found them quite adequate. Until now. For the Starlight wrap, I started out using my trusty SBQ 3.25mm/US3 and quickly found I'm not satisfied. This pattern is good and hard. My yarn is teeny-teeny-tiny, and suddenly the slightly-rounded tips of my dear needles are no longer sufficient.

Not sharp enough.

You know what I am lusting after. Addi lace needles... Of course I heard about them when they first came out (I was one who sent an email reqesting their development!) but I wanted to hear the reviews before I shelled out the money. Now, when I feel in desperate need, they are sold out all over the internet. Sold. Out. Not shipping until May. So this morning I called around yarn shops in Anchorage, where my darling husband happens to be at the moment, and located a 24" 3.25mm Addi Lace Needle (at the Yarn Branch, for anyone who needs to know.) After ascertaining that they would indeed hold it until Andy came to pick it up, I called him and begged the favor. He agreed readily, but asked why I didn't simply request the shop to mail it down to me, since he's to be out of town until next week. I called back the shop. My needle will be in the post today. Should be in my anxious little paws in a couple short days. *Huge sigh of relief...*

So why the rambling monologue? Well I had to justify this:

Hmmm, yes... Spring Startitis has struck me hard. In my defense, it was sunny yesterday, and wool socks seemed a little... confining? I have had this yarn in the stash for a very long time (Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Barn Red) and decided yesterday afternoon to make a summery top from it. So Rusted Root it is. The pattern is basically a top-down raglan, with a simple lace pattern off-set on the front (the ol' Addi Turbo #5s are at it again...) so it's going quickly, I'm already to the sleeve shaping. Should keep me occupied until the new lace needle gets here anyway...

Knit by the light of the moon...

So I sat up far too late last night, finally working on the beginnings of the Starlight Evening Wrap. I had a little trouble at the start figuring out how to do a provisional cast-on, but got the hang of it on my second try, and I now have two finished repeats of the 16-row central chart.

I finished up the merino from the Spunky Eclectic roving, which I was spinning for a friend who wants to use it in a sweater. The colors came out a bit more muted than I'd expected, which is good as it needs to go with some brown handspun already purchased for the project. I hope she likes it.

With space for rent on the bobbins, I've started spinning another top.

This is targhee roving from Susan's Spinning Bunny, dyed in the "Blueberry Patch" colorway. It's the first time I've worked with targhee wool, and so far it is spinning up into a very bouncy yarn. It's soft, but seems as though it will wear better than merino. Perhaps mittens? Or more socks? Perhaps I should just enjoy spinning it first

Finally, I have proof that spring has reached even Alaska. Here is the yard:

Last week there was a foot of semi-frozen snow-ish ice; the kids went sledding. Today, there is green grass. Honestly, Alaskan grass seems to be the hardiest stuff I've ever seen - I can't say that it turned brown even under all that snow!

Socks for the soldier

Andy and I have been watching HBO television series on dvd lately; we finished "Deadwood" a couple weeks ago (anxiously awaiting the release of the next season!) He's gone so sporadically that it's hard to wait for him to watch newly released movies, or serial shows in "real time," but with a series on disc I can wait till he is home to watch. We've been enjoying "Rome" this week, and I finished my brother's socks during a 'Rome Date Night' last evening.

Socks for Dave Paton's Kroy 3-ply, olive green, two balls worth Leg knit on 70 st., foot on 68 st., using 2mm (US0) dpns. Started 1 April, completed 5 April.

Just as he requested: plain, green, and wool. They'll be heading overseas with some other goodies soon. I haven't worked much on the Pomatomus, but they will be getting some attention in the coming week. First though, I am very excited to start using this: Approximately 1500 yards of cashmere laceweight, which I snagged during Cookie and Kristi's stash-busting fund raiser for MSF. This stuff is sooooo soft, when I first received it in the mail I could only pet it and rub it against my cheek... soft... caaaashmeeere.... sooooofffttttt..... *ahem* Hello! For what is this yarn destined, you may ask? I am going to knit it into the Starlight Wrap that Anne just finished designing. It just happens to be the right yardage (so I'm sticking to my stash,) I adore the color, and I really love the pattern. Stay tuned for updates... For the curious (and I know there are some of you out there) both wood pieces in the photos, the dolphin and the dish the yarn (oh, soft cashmere...) is resting in, are part of Andy's new hobby. No, he didn't make them (though given time and practice I do not doubt his ability), but he spent part of last weekend staining and finishing the stocks of his vintage black-powder rifles. (They turned out very nicely, by the way, and I may have to post some brag photos...) When he was done, he found himself struck by the Finishing Bug, and went around the house looking for anything wood to refurbish... These two pieces were his "victims," and he did a very nice job on them, no? (I hear rumors that my yarn cabinet and work table are next...)

All for now.

Great idea!

Teaandcakes (also one of the hostesses of the "Knitter's Treat Exchange") left me a very interesting idea in the comments of my last post. She mentioned something called "socks glue"that is used in Japan, particularly among schoolgirls participating in the "loose socks" fad. Hmm, I'm not so into huge, slouchy socks, but this stuff sounds like it could be a knee-sock-knitter's dream product... Boringly enough, I don't have much else to write. Life has been rather involving this week, and though there is much progress on brother Dave's socks, they're not much to photograph right now. So forgive my brevity, and I'll post again when there is more to share.

A day late

Events did not conspire to allow me proper blogging time yesterday, so I'm a day late wishing my little brother a happy birthday (Happy Birthday Dave!) My brother Dave is just over three years younger than me, and is currently serving in the U.S. Army (82nd Airborne Division.) He's a few months into a tour in Afghanistan, so I don't hear from him much, but I was flattered when he requested a pair of handknit socks (army green, of course.) I know he reads the blog occasionally, so Dave, here are your socks so far: (Don't worry, bro' - I'm a fast knitter; they should be in the mail to you by the end of the week.) I started another sock this weekend, my first Pomatomus, which I won't even link to, since I am certainly the last person in Knitblog Land to knit this pattern. EDIT: here is the link to the Pomatomus socks, and thanks to everyone who let me know I'm not alone... :) I'm using some of my hand dyed sock yarn; the pattern makes the most of its very uneven pooling tendencies. When I first looked at this pattern, I thought it would be impossibly hard. It is easier than I'd expected, and surprisingly addictive. We got a shot of a recent visitor to the yard. This fellow is commonly called a "button" moose, because of his teensy-cute little antler stubs. By next year he won't be so "cute" and will likely have an admirable spread sprouting from his brow. You can also see in the photo that spring is coming on fast, as everything previously frozen begins to melt. Ah, Mud Season, how I love thee...