Here We Go
We’re back from the beach and Johanna and I have officially started our Learn-to-Knit Afghans. She chose Lambs Pride Superwash by Brown Sheep, I chose Knitaly (also a superwash) by Colorado Yarns. She’s using two dark and two light colors that the book recommends. I’m changing it a bit and using only one dark color (41257) throughout and three light colors (3246, 25534, 25388).
I’m using my new needles in US 5 and loving them. POINTY! We started with Square 33: Simple Cables with Moss Stitch. Nothing too challenging with this square. While at Mystic River Yarns waiting for Johanna to choose her colors, I saw Cable Needle Freedom and was inspired to try it on the first square. No problem, I was able to do all of the cables without a cable needle. And I got faster as I went along. I may be done with cable needles.
This was the first time using the moss stitch and I like the nice all over texture. It was difficult to make the columns of twisted stitches not all wonky. But I haven’t blocked the square yet, so some of that may smooth out.
Weaving and Crocheting and Knitting, OH MY!
It’s been one fiber-intensive week–35 hours of learning to weave, a crochet class, knitting for the store, and my regular pleasure knitting on top of that. Yikes! I’m looking forward to our beach trip next week to take a little break from fiber. (Well, not completely, that would be silly.)
I took the week of weaving class at WEBS this week with Scott Norris. The class was as intense as the class description led me to believe. Just about everyone else in the class had woven before, except for me. My background basically was that I had made one belt on an inkle loom in college and then…it stops there. I managed to keep up with everyone and even got to do a third project yesterday. By the last day, I was able to wind a warp and dress a loom all by myself. And with the good class notes and the pictures I took, I might even be able to do it again in a year.
Day 1
Scott had already wound the warps for our first project. So we began by learning how to dress our loom, a Norwood 22″ Workshop loom (4 shaft/6 treadle). Next we began to weave our color gamps, the first being a plain weave. The second was a twill.
Day 2
I was far enough ahead that I could to a second twill gamp. So by the end of the day I had three color gamps finished, tied them and washed them in the evening.
We also got to start our second project, a twill sampler, and picked two colors for it. After staring at those rainbow colors for 1 1/2 days, I wanted something soothing. I chose two colors that reminded me of roasted marshmallows. We learned how to wind a warp which I actually found quit relaxing, unlike anything up to this point. By the end of the day I had started to dress the loom again.
Day 3
We talked a lot about twills today: Straight draw, Point Twill, Rosepath, Gooseye, and Dornik. I finished dressing my loom and began weaving the balanced twill part of my sampler.
Day 4
Today was not a good day for me. I was tired from the weaving and hot room, and my brain just wasn’t working well any more. I did manage to finish weaving the balanced twill and the warp-face twill sections of my sampler, but there was a lot of unweaving today.
Day 5
I was determined to have a much better day and got in early. Within the first hour I had finished the weft-face twill section of my sampler and could go on to the third project, a log cabin pattern using two shuttles. I choose six colors for the project, learned to wind the warp holding two colors at the same time, and dressed the loom by myself.
OK, here are some not very exciting pictures of dressing the loom for the final project. Mostly they will help me decipher my notes months, years from now when I might need to dress a loom again.
Winding and tying the warp
Preparing the loom and warp, attaching the warp loosely to the warp beam
Arranging the warp across the raddle, tying the warp to the warp beam rod
Winding the warp onto the warp beam
Threading the heddles, sleying the reed, tying on
By the end of the day I had finished the log cabin design and could go home and start packing for the beach.
Conclusion: well, I can imagine weaving again, maybe even owning a loom someday. But I would want to take more classes first. There is so much planning and prepping before the actual weaving. It’s completely different than knitting. It could never replace knitting. I could be a knitter that weaves, but never a weaver who knits. Weavers are so serious.
Socks, Candy, & Crochet
I’ve started some socks for Ella. She’s very clear that they are NOT knee-hi’s. Ok, so I’ll call them not knee hi socks. They fit her just right at this point, but by Fall, they may be too small. So I’ll rip out the heel and make them a bit longer. I’m using OnLine Supersocke 100 in color #733. I’ll try to make sure that the stripes won’t line up when I start the second sock since Ella refuses to wear matching socks right now. Oh, that’s so fun for me!
I’m using the magic loop method with Addi Turbos. Unlike last time, the magic loop method is not kicking my ass. I’m still waiting to decide if I like this method more than two circulars for knitting socks. I’ll let you know.
Still moving along on Tempting II. I’ve started the fifth ball of Candy and will soon be able to start the sleeves. You can see where I switched from US 8 to US 6 needles to accommodate my roomy hips. I’m far from tube shaped. What an easy, fun yarn to knit with. I’ve got eight balls total. I wonder how long the sleeves can be? I’m also considering putting in some decreases in the yoke to make the neck not so open. We’ll see what I come up with.
I started taking Crochet I at WEBS on Wednesday. OK, truthfully, I was not expecting to like crochet. But it’s kind of fun, and fast. I was surprised how quickly I got into a rhythm. I still don’t love what crocheted fabric feels like. But as a knitter, I felt I needed to know more than how to make a crocheted chain. It’s a six week class, and I’m sure I’ll get a lot out of it. But what I’m really excited about is the Week of Weaving class I’m taking next week. I’m so clueless when it comes to weaving. This is particularly frustrating when a weaving customer comes into the store. About all I can do is point to the loom room and the wall of cones. That’s about it. I’m sure I’ll be much more helpful after next week. I’m sort of hoping I don’t love weaving. I don’t have room for another hobby. But, I can imagine also falling in love with it.
On an extremely annoying note, I got into something? yesterday. By the time I woke up this morning, my face, neck and arms were covered with a quickly spreading rash. And oh SO itchy. Those pointy sticks are very tempting to use as scratching relief. I’m trying to knit with them instead to keep my hands (and mind) busy in other ways. With all of the calamine I’m using, I have a lovely pink, chalky complexion. I’m sure this will make me even more approachable with customers tomorrow when I’m working. If we weren’t already short employees, I’d call in sick. All for the love of yarn.
I Want Candy
Well I’m well on my way, knitting along on Tempting II. I still love working with Candy. I tried out the tubular cast on for the first time and love it. Just the thing for 1×1 rib. I’m sold.
I was putting out the new Angora by Malabrigo at the store yesterday and was reminded of my allergy to rabbits. I was torn, continue touching the super soft yarn, or breathe? I decided breathing was most important and had to stop stocking the angora. So there will be no angora knitting for me.
