Saturday, October 27th was National Hug a Sheep Day! I didn't have any sheep around, but did have some merino and BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) that I played with.
Did you hug a sheep this past weekend?
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Trellis and Coin socks
For my fellow Ravelers, I've posted a sock pattern test knit in the Free Pattern Testers forum. I'm looking for 4 testers (or more) for my Trellis and Coin socks (Ravelry link). I'd previously released an informal version of this pattern, but I've updated the instructions and would like to get a few independent testers to give me feedback.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Tips and Tricks - Spinning edition
I have two spinning wheels, a Lendrum and a HansenCrafts miniSpinner. The miniSpinner is an electric spinner - with a motor that spins the flyer for you, eliminating treadling. I like it because it allows you to focus on your drafting and hand movements. The miniSpinner also provides more consistency, since it has a dial that controls the spin speed (ie, the treadling). While doing larger quantities of spinning, you can keep the speed consistent from bobbin to bobbin by keeping the dial in the same position.
But this isn't about my wheels. As with my knitting, startitis is a bit of a problem. You know - that urge to start a new knitting project or start spinning with a new bit of fluffy, pretty roving. I'm constantly tempted to try the next fiber and see how it spins up. This leads to another problem - lack of bobbins. Kind of like lack of the right size needles with knitting startitis. (Which explains why I have about 5 sets of 4mm needles stuck in various WIPs)
One of my missions at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival (aka, Rhinebeck) was to obtain some weaving bobbins to help solve my problem. I've read a few blogs and posts on Ravelry which described using a cocktail stirrer or drill and weaving bobbin to wind the singles off of a spinning wheel bobbin and onto a weaving bobbin.
I was intrigued by the possibilities for freeing up spinning bobbins to enable my startitis! I had to try this. And I was justified in my thoughts after watching Judith MacKenzie's The Gentle Art of Plying video (wait for one of their digital download sales to save money!). She recommends reloading singles onto bobbins to even out the singles and to make for a better plying experience. Plus, this allowed me to save money by not buying more Woolee Winder bobbins for my Lendrum ($45 each!)
So, I thought about it a bit and looked at my 2 spinning wheels with their Woolee Winders. And this is what I came up with:
On the left, I had my "full" Lendrum bobbin. It doesn't matter that this is a Woolee Winder bobbin (except when it comes to cost). I'm calling it full because I'm doing 3 ply sock yarn in this photo and this is one of the 34g singles.
On the right is my jury-rigged winding system. I put some electrical tape around the end of a Bic pen to make it fit snuggly into the orifice of the miniSpinner. Then I slid the weaving bobbin over the end of the Bic pen - an excellent, though not quite perfect fit. Then I took the end of the single from the Lendrum bobbin and tied it around the weaving bobbin. I recommend a bit of tape; it holds the yarn fast once the bobbin starts turning.
Then I turned on the miniSpinner and used my fingers as a guide, moving the yarn from side to side to ensure it wound onto the weaving bobbin evenly. Had I not done so, it would have just piled up in one spot.
I was a bit worried about damaging the motor on the miniSpinner, but I kept the speed lower (around 10:00 on the dial) and ensured it turned freely.
The result? One nicely wound bobbin full of my sock yarn single, waiting to be plied. The weaving bobbins fit nicely over the metal rods of my lazy kates.
Things to keep in mind:
But this isn't about my wheels. As with my knitting, startitis is a bit of a problem. You know - that urge to start a new knitting project or start spinning with a new bit of fluffy, pretty roving. I'm constantly tempted to try the next fiber and see how it spins up. This leads to another problem - lack of bobbins. Kind of like lack of the right size needles with knitting startitis. (Which explains why I have about 5 sets of 4mm needles stuck in various WIPs)
One of my missions at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival (aka, Rhinebeck) was to obtain some weaving bobbins to help solve my problem. I've read a few blogs and posts on Ravelry which described using a cocktail stirrer or drill and weaving bobbin to wind the singles off of a spinning wheel bobbin and onto a weaving bobbin.
I was intrigued by the possibilities for freeing up spinning bobbins to enable my startitis! I had to try this. And I was justified in my thoughts after watching Judith MacKenzie's The Gentle Art of Plying video (wait for one of their digital download sales to save money!). She recommends reloading singles onto bobbins to even out the singles and to make for a better plying experience. Plus, this allowed me to save money by not buying more Woolee Winder bobbins for my Lendrum ($45 each!)
So, I thought about it a bit and looked at my 2 spinning wheels with their Woolee Winders. And this is what I came up with:
On the left, I had my "full" Lendrum bobbin. It doesn't matter that this is a Woolee Winder bobbin (except when it comes to cost). I'm calling it full because I'm doing 3 ply sock yarn in this photo and this is one of the 34g singles.
On the right is my jury-rigged winding system. I put some electrical tape around the end of a Bic pen to make it fit snuggly into the orifice of the miniSpinner. Then I slid the weaving bobbin over the end of the Bic pen - an excellent, though not quite perfect fit. Then I took the end of the single from the Lendrum bobbin and tied it around the weaving bobbin. I recommend a bit of tape; it holds the yarn fast once the bobbin starts turning.
Then I turned on the miniSpinner and used my fingers as a guide, moving the yarn from side to side to ensure it wound onto the weaving bobbin evenly. Had I not done so, it would have just piled up in one spot.
I was a bit worried about damaging the motor on the miniSpinner, but I kept the speed lower (around 10:00 on the dial) and ensured it turned freely.The result? One nicely wound bobbin full of my sock yarn single, waiting to be plied. The weaving bobbins fit nicely over the metal rods of my lazy kates.
Things to keep in mind:
- You don't need to go from wheel to wheel. Just take a full spinning bobbin and put it on a lazy kate if you like.
- You don't need to use a pen - it's just what happened to be handy and close to the right size.
- Anything that spins can be used as the winder. An electric cocktail stirrer. A cordless (or corded) screwdriver or drill. Use whatever you have around the house. Ingenuity is the key.
- Weaving bobbins are pretty inexpensive. I got my 6" Schacht bobbins for $2 each. I bought 15 of them.
- I noticed that the weaving bobbin wobbled a bit at the far end. So I held the tip of a knitting needle in the free end of the bobbin to steady it a bit. So now my left hand guides the yarn evenly onto the bobbin and my right hand holds the knitting needle in the end of the bobbin to stabilize it.
- You can load the bobbins higher than the diameter of the ridges at the end. You'll just have to do it carefully.
- Make sure the weaving bobbins fit on your lazy kate!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
D'oh! Heard in Red Hook
During a visit to Hudson Valley Farms, we saw a ginger kitty cat wandering in the woods. Without thinking (obviously), one of our group said, "She looks like she just had puppies."
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Border Crossing
Not only did we amuse the border guard on our way to Rhinebeck on Thursday (a knitter's festival?), we confuzzled the border guard on the way back into Canada.
The guard went through the standard set of questions:
Guard: "Are you all Canadian citizens?"
Us: "Yes"
Guard: "How much did you spend?"
Us: "$300", "$600", "$650"
Guard: "What's the most expensive item you bought?"
Me: "A Woolee Winder."
Guard: "What's a Woolee Winder?"
Geri (who was driving and thus the designated question answerer): "It's for winding yarn onto a spinning wheel." Really, this is as detailed as you want to get with a non-spinner.
Guard: *tilts head and wonders what to say next* You'd have thought we told him we'd told him we had a three-headed yak in the car.
Guard: "Do you have any alcohol?" He's clearly anxious to put his question and our answer behind him.
Guard: Gives back passports and waves us on. Crazy knitters with their Woolee Winders.
The guard went through the standard set of questions:
Guard: "Are you all Canadian citizens?"
Us: "Yes"
Guard: "How much did you spend?"
Us: "$300", "$600", "$650"
Guard: "What's the most expensive item you bought?"
Me: "A Woolee Winder."
Guard: "What's a Woolee Winder?"
Geri (who was driving and thus the designated question answerer): "It's for winding yarn onto a spinning wheel." Really, this is as detailed as you want to get with a non-spinner.
Guard: *tilts head and wonders what to say next* You'd have thought we told him we'd told him we had a three-headed yak in the car.
Guard: "Do you have any alcohol?" He's clearly anxious to put his question and our answer behind him.
Guard: Gives back passports and waves us on. Crazy knitters with their Woolee Winders.
Rhinebeck Recovery
Where to start? We packed so much into 4 short days that I couldn't possibly share it all. My road trip companions (Geri and Dianne) and I hit the highway early Thursday morning and spent the better part of the day traveling down to Kingston, NY, where we stayed at the Quality Inn.
After settling in, we made a quick trip to Joann Fabrics for some creative inspiration - an appetizer to Rhinebeck, if you will. Then we crossed the Rhinecliff Bridge (toll $1.50) and drove into Rhinebeck proper for an amazing dinner at the Beekman Arms, "America's Oldest Inn", established in 1766. It was dark when we arrived, so I don't have any clear pictures of the Inn itself. But outside the door are some plaques commemorating its long history.
Inside, we enjoyed the most delectable meal accompanied by a robust glass of cabernet sauvignon.
Friday, we three all had classes at the fairgrounds. I took a class with Lily Chin, of Vogue Knitting fame, on customizing patterns to fit. It was essentially a class on designing your own pattern, as she explained each step of the process for creating a custom sweater that matched your exact proportions and is shaped to flatter. I learned so much! If ever you have a chance to take a class with Lily, do it!
PS - most of the techniques we learned are covered in Lily's book Couture Crochet Workshop, Mastering Fit, Fashion and Finesse. Lily stated that even though the book is about crochet, the same techniques apply to knitting. I'll have to check it out at the local library!
Saturday was the big day - the NY Sheep and Wool Festival! As veteran fair goers, we knew to arrive early (8:00am) to avoid the traffic and long lines to cross the bridge, turn at the lights and enter the fairground parking lot. As we waited in line, we chatted with the ladies in front of us who were from Ohio and PA, sharing knitting stories and spotting patterns in the crowd of people around us.
By shortly before 9 the lineup to enter the fairgrounds was immense. But the gates finally opened and we began our Rhinebeck experience.
I can't even begin to describe the sights and sounds of the NY Sheep and Wool Festival. There are at least 20 buildings full of vendors selling everything imaginable that is fiber related.
My first stop was the Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth, where I snapped up 3 braids of Polwarth and silk in a lovely blue, and a scrumptious merino braid - also blue. We made our way through the crowds, stopping at booths to examine their wares. Some yarn bowls joined my purchases, nestling in among my braids of fiber to keep the pottery safe. Next stop was the Woolee Winder booth where I became the proud new owner of a Woolee Winder for my Lendrum spinning wheel. They truly do make spinning so much faster. After some more browsing I completed my wish list of purchases by buying some weaving bobbins to wind my spinning singles onto for plying.
By then it was time for some light refreshment, in the form of a soft pretzel and lemonade. Dianne and I met up with Geri shortly around 11:30 and declared that we were done. Our feet were sore and we'd crossed everything off our wish lists. I had accomplished my mission, purchasing exactly what I'd planned on and handing out a decent number of contact cards with info about my Low Tide Cardigan. I love their designs so much, I wanted everyone to know how great Tin Can Knits designs are.
We decided to spend the afternoon in Rhinebeck itself, examining the shops there, while Geri finished her rounds at the fair. Dianne and I sampled some fantastic olive oils and basalmic vinegars, purchasing a few bottles to take home. Then we wandered around, stopping in at art galleries, ice cream shops and other sundry shops.
Saturday afternoon saw us all back at the hotel, replete and exhausted. We napped, we knit, and we enjoyed another fine meal. Sunday morning it was back on the road, heading home.
All in all, it was another successful Rhinebeck trip. I love hanging out with fibery people and spending time with my two knitting friends. I couldn't wish for better traveling companions.
And really, what more could one ask for in a long weekend than good food, good company, many laughs and a ton of shopping?
 |
| The Beekman Arms |
 |
| Good food and good wine |
Inside, we enjoyed the most delectable meal accompanied by a robust glass of cabernet sauvignon.
Friday, we three all had classes at the fairgrounds. I took a class with Lily Chin, of Vogue Knitting fame, on customizing patterns to fit. It was essentially a class on designing your own pattern, as she explained each step of the process for creating a custom sweater that matched your exact proportions and is shaped to flatter. I learned so much! If ever you have a chance to take a class with Lily, do it!
PS - most of the techniques we learned are covered in Lily's book Couture Crochet Workshop, Mastering Fit, Fashion and Finesse. Lily stated that even though the book is about crochet, the same techniques apply to knitting. I'll have to check it out at the local library!
 |
| Me (wearing my Low Tide cardigan), Dianne, and Geri. |
Saturday was the big day - the NY Sheep and Wool Festival! As veteran fair goers, we knew to arrive early (8:00am) to avoid the traffic and long lines to cross the bridge, turn at the lights and enter the fairground parking lot. As we waited in line, we chatted with the ladies in front of us who were from Ohio and PA, sharing knitting stories and spotting patterns in the crowd of people around us.By shortly before 9 the lineup to enter the fairgrounds was immense. But the gates finally opened and we began our Rhinebeck experience.
I can't even begin to describe the sights and sounds of the NY Sheep and Wool Festival. There are at least 20 buildings full of vendors selling everything imaginable that is fiber related.
My first stop was the Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth, where I snapped up 3 braids of Polwarth and silk in a lovely blue, and a scrumptious merino braid - also blue. We made our way through the crowds, stopping at booths to examine their wares. Some yarn bowls joined my purchases, nestling in among my braids of fiber to keep the pottery safe. Next stop was the Woolee Winder booth where I became the proud new owner of a Woolee Winder for my Lendrum spinning wheel. They truly do make spinning so much faster. After some more browsing I completed my wish list of purchases by buying some weaving bobbins to wind my spinning singles onto for plying.
By then it was time for some light refreshment, in the form of a soft pretzel and lemonade. Dianne and I met up with Geri shortly around 11:30 and declared that we were done. Our feet were sore and we'd crossed everything off our wish lists. I had accomplished my mission, purchasing exactly what I'd planned on and handing out a decent number of contact cards with info about my Low Tide Cardigan. I love their designs so much, I wanted everyone to know how great Tin Can Knits designs are.
We decided to spend the afternoon in Rhinebeck itself, examining the shops there, while Geri finished her rounds at the fair. Dianne and I sampled some fantastic olive oils and basalmic vinegars, purchasing a few bottles to take home. Then we wandered around, stopping in at art galleries, ice cream shops and other sundry shops.
Saturday afternoon saw us all back at the hotel, replete and exhausted. We napped, we knit, and we enjoyed another fine meal. Sunday morning it was back on the road, heading home.
All in all, it was another successful Rhinebeck trip. I love hanging out with fibery people and spending time with my two knitting friends. I couldn't wish for better traveling companions.
And really, what more could one ask for in a long weekend than good food, good company, many laughs and a ton of shopping?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Fabulous Pacific Knits
 |
| All photos credited to, and courtesy of, Alexa Ludeman, Tin Can Knits |
I was prepared to bookmark two or three of their designs for future knitting. Boy, was I surprised! Aside from one or two designs (I look awful in toques!), I'd knit them all.
Alexa and Emily have carefully crafted 18 must-have designs, inspired by the landscape, lifestyle and people of Canada's Pacific Coast. Wild and pretty, urban and rustic, Pacific Knits features five garments and a wide range of accessories: socks, mittens, hats, shawls, and a blanket. The knits are sized from newborn to grandpa, so there truly is something here for everyone.
My eye was immediately caught by the Torrent sock pattern. I've never learned how to resist the perfect sock pattern.
 |
| Torrent |
 |
| University |
All of the knits in this collection are virtually seamless. All but one are knit from the bottom up, in the round where possible. Alexa and Emily have taken great care in explaining the techniques used in their patterns as well as providing suggestions for modifying the garments to suit your preferred fit.
 |
| Campfire |
Campfire, a matching father/son sweater, is adorable without being too saccharine. Whether you knit one or both, you'll end up with a sweater that is a timeless classic.
PS. My daughter has asked me many times why I knit so many shawls when I don't really wear them. "Because they're so pretty," is my response. And looking at Rosebud, can you blame me for casting on another one?
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| Rosebud |
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