Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A Day Off

Today I am taking a day off... Well a bit of laundry some vacuuming, but no work.  We are having FIL over for dinner.  I will be knitting on the remainder of yarn from SIL gloves.  I am hoping to have enough for a buttoned very small scarf.  Still at the same point on the socks for DD #1 and the sleeves are still needing to be sewn on. Guess I am having finishers remorse on that sweater.  I finished Multnomah in 5 days and got it blocked and photo graphed last night and today.  I love it.  DD's want to wear it as camouflage.  Yeah a nice lace shawl in the woods...NOT!

I am pleased at how soft the yarn is all washed.  I am really loving this shawl.  I hope to wear it soon.

We are headed to SIL's this weekend to help her celebrate her birthday.  Can't wait.  Maybe even a trip to the Erie Mall for some Shopping!!!
Well off to meander and switch loads...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Starting New

Well I have decided that Yvaine is just not working for the Cloudlover Haunted Vineyard Yarn.  So I frogged it  today and began the Multnomah by Kate Ray.  I think Yvaine's stitch patterns were just lost with the yarn colors.
I have received some fiber from Three Waters Farm.  It is 4oz of BFL top in the Couture colorway.  I think this may be a bit later in my spinning career as it doesn't draft super easily.  I am sure it is just me, but I love the colors and i would like to make some pretty yarn and not the thick and thin coiled mess I just recently made.
I also received 3 4oz bumps of Merino Wool Top from WCMercantile.  I got the Merlot, Pickle, and Patina colorways.  It is very soft and it may be the next thing on the wheel following my education with my sampler of fiber from Woolgatherings.
In the Woolgatherings sampler I got 1 oz of each of 16 breeds.  They are Romeldale, Polworth, Wensleydale, Black Jacob, Falkland, Brown Merino, Corriedale Cross, Grey Gotland, Shetland, Finnish, Icelandic, Grey Masham, Devon, Black Welsh, Cheviot, and Cormo.  I think I am going to start with the more scratchy stuff so if it doesn't work out, I won't be to disappointed.
Still working on the Socks and the sleeves are still not sewn in.  Oh well...  Off to do the laundry and more knitting on Multnomah

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Spinning, Knitting, and Remembering

Well I have made my first yarn and knitted a scarf for my DS dog Wiley.  He is a nut and absolutely loves it.  It is one of the ugliest things I have ever seen.  Lotsa thick and thin, a few over spun wiggly parts sticking out but all in all.... oh who am I kidding it is hideous.  LOL
I am still working on the sweater still have to sew in the sleeves.  I finished the gloves for my sister in law, at least I will make her birthday.  Still knitting on Yvaine.  I have finished a pair of socks for DD #2 and I have cast on a Pair for DD #1.  We call it Dragon's Tongue and it is done in Red hand painted Cascade Heritage.   The pattern is "Gush" by Yarnissima Marjan Hammink.  It is up on my Rav project page.

My big thing this post is I have figured out my Grandma Genevieve's Mile-a-Minute Afghan. Every one in the family has one in all its acrylic glory.  Mine is pink, Mom's was teal, and DS's is dark blue(I think).
And here it is for any one who wants one too.
Just a warning  I am not a pattern writer nor do I play one on TV.  This pattern is for personal use ONLY!

So here it goes...
                                     (C6B)                               (C6F)

Pattern repeat is 18 stitches
You can use any yarn and any size needles. This is an example of unknown yarn type in about a sport or DK weight  I cast on 37 stitches with the center stitch being a purl stitch.
When Gma knit the pattern she made strips and then sewed them together and added fringe to the cast on and off edges.  I don't like seaming so I added a purl stitch between pattern repeats.  In order the carry all the weight, you will need a large cable needle to work back and forth without doing damage to the carpal tunnel all knitters tend to aggravate.

Strip Instructions

Cast on 18 stitches
Row 1 (RS): K4, P2, K6, P2, K4
Row 2: (WS): K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2
Row 3-6: Repeat Rows 1 and 2
Row 7: K4, P2, C6F, P2, K4 (you can also C6B if you prefer)
Row 8: K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2

Abbreviations
K=Knit
P=Purl
C6F=Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in front.  Knit next 3 stitches, then knit 3 stitches from cable needle.
C6B=Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in back.  Knit next 3 stitches, then knit 3 stitches from cable needle.

If you want to do all the strips at once Cast on a multiple of 18 stitches plus an extra stitch minus 1 for each repeat.  i.e. 2 repeats you would cast on 37 sts, 3 repeats 56 sts, 4 repeats 75 sts (I hope).

I am  not sure if this pattern is published anywhere, this is what my Gma taught me through her swatches that were left to me.