This morning it was so nice that I had to take my spinning wheel and fiber outside for a bit of spinning. On the wheel today is my Funky Carolina Merino Combed Top in the color Haunted. I love this fiber and it is spinning up like a dream! I’m on the down hill stretch of filling bobbins so I can start plying and hopefully start my Less is More cardigan.
Have a wonderful day and happy spinning!
Filed under On and Off the Wheel
As you all know, I have several projects going right at the moment and really more than I should as I’m falling behind on each one of them. This week though I have managed to work on my socks, both of which I love! After reading Jody’s blog posts over at Savannah Chik Knits, I’m quite happy to know that I’m not the only one that has recently casted on or hooked a few projects. Jody has three sock projects going for her cast on mania this month, as well as a shawl, all of which I love… sigh, more enabling from a fellow blogger.
I’ve made decent progress on the Nice Ribbed Sock and really like how the self-striping is taking shape, especially on the heel. Fingers crossed that I can match what I’ve done with this sock with the mate. I highly recommend this pattern for a portable project, especially for lunch time knitting or road trip knitting.
A Nice Ribbed Sock
I have also added a few more repeats to my On Stranger Tides sock and have to say that the yarn I decided upon is perfect for this pattern. I have several more repeats to go before starting the heel, which I hope to accomplish this weekend.
On Stranger Tides
Have you done any sock knitting lately?
Filed under All Knitting, Socks
Hand-wash, machine wash or dry clean, what’s a knitter to do? Taking care of your prized hand knits is quite easy and with a few simple guidelines to follow, you are on your way to insure your garments last for a very long time to come. There are a few options to explore when it comes to cleaning your knitted items. First and foremost, harsh soaps can be damaging to the natural fibers your garments are made of and can cause them to appear dull or lifeless. Knitters still try to figure out what cleaning product is best to use and it really comes down to a personal preference.
For years Woolite was marketed for the care of fine hand-washables, including wool. I personally avoid using this product as it tends to be harsh on hand knits, stripping them of their elasticity. If you choose to use a detergent, try something such as Ivory Soap. It’s very mild, cleans well, rinses well and leaves no residue. A big plus using Ivory Soap, it’s biodegradable and phosphate free, which in turn is good for the environment. One tip I love to share, use a baby shampoo or a shampoo designed for normal everyday use. I would suggest to stay away from shampoos for oily or damaged hair, as they can be a little harsh. Like your hair, follow up with a conditioner for extra softness to those scratchy wools. Conditioner will leave your hand knits smelling wonderful and will improve their luster.
There are a few products designed specifically for wools and the most well known is Eucalan Woolwash. This biodegradable product is specifically a rinse that contains eucalyptus oil, a natural moth repellent, and lanolin, which helps to enhance the natural luster of the wool.
Kookaburra Woolwash, a biodegradable, phosphate free product, is a pure plant based laundry concentrate that can be used as either a rinsed or rinse-free wash. It contains tea tree oil, a natural deodorizing agent, as well as lanolin, to keep your woolens soft and supple.
My favorite is Soak, a biodegradable phosphate free, no rinse wool wash that is gentle enough to use with not only your hand knits, but for your raw fibers, spinning fibers and even felted items.
Last but not least is dry cleaning. Should or should you not dry clean your hand knits? This is a question that many knitters often ask. Dry cleaning, a chemical process, can damage natural fibers, sometimes beyond repair. I would avoid dry cleaning your garments and try using the wool washes mentioned.
Now that you’ve cleaned your garment it’s time to dry. Remember, avoid throwing them in the dryer, this will causing felting, and never wring your garment dry. Instead, place the garment in a towel and roll up to remove excess moisture. You can also place the garment in your washing machine on the spin cycle for ten seconds. This will remove excess water without damaging the structure of your garment. Once excess moisture has been removed, lay flat to dry or place on a sweater rack.
One last tip, don’t go overboard on cleaning when using these products. Remember to use in moderation and that a little will go a long way.
Filed under All Knitting, Tips & Techniques
We’re seeing denim everywhere at the moment, both on the high street and on the catwalk.
This collection is Rowan’s interpretation of what to wear with your denim favorites using Wool Cotton 4ply.
In a subtle palette of blues, greys and creams, these pieces can be used to work your denim for any occasion with sloppy joes and granddad style cardigans for lazy Sundays to pretty polka dot cardigans and lace fronts for playsuit cover-ups. – - Rowan Yarns
I just received my review copy of Rowan Studio, Issue Thirty-One Into the Blue and what a fun collection for summer! Inside this booklet is eight brand new designs by Lisa Richardson that have been created using Rowan Wool Cotton 4 Ply, blend of 50% Merino Wool and 50% Cotton that is perfect for summer wear. To those of you new to Wool Cotton, this particular yarn breathes, is cool, is comfortable and perfect for all types of garments.
So, what is inside of Studio 31? From simple, to sophisticated, this collection offers something for all levels of knitters. I have to say that my favorite is Kentucky and I think it would be great paired up with a comfy pair of jeans.
Alabama – Knit this ladies lace front cardigan suitable for beginners.
Carolina – A round neck, cropped cardigan with three-quarter sleeves suitable for the average knitter.
Kentucky – A sleeveless funnel neck top suitable for the average knitter.
Louisiana – A moss stitch v neck sweater suitable for beginners.
Tennessee – A lace cardigan, with fabric pocket detail suitable for the average knitter.
Georgia – A sleeveless, belted cardigan with a zig zag design suitable for the average knitter.
Texas – A short-sleeved polka dot effect cardigan suitable for the average knitter.
Virginia – A long-sleeved sloppy joe sweater suitable for beginners.
Be on the watch over the next few months as Rowan will be adding two FREE patterns to their member website, Arkansas, a textured striped long-sleeved sweater and Mississippi, a short sleeve tee. You can find these patterns online at Rowan and on Ravelry. And to stay informed of the latest designs and yarns, be sure to follow Rowan Yarns online at Facebook.
If you like to chat, share and learn more about Rowan, check out the three groups on Ravelry too!
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Do you love denim and cotton as much as I do?
If you answered yes, please enter for a chance to win my review copy of Issue Thirty-One Into the Blue designed by Lisa Richardson. To enter, simply leave a comment and let me know what your favorite design might be, as well as your favorite yarn to use for summer time knitting.
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on Sunday, May 26th with the winner being selected by Random.org and announced on Monday, May 27th. As an extra bonus for this giveaway, I will also be giving away my review copy of Rowan Studio Issue Thirty, Folk Designed by Sarah Hatton. So who wouldn’t want to add two new booklets to their library!
Disclaimer: This copy has been sent to me by Rowan Yarns for review. Please note that the above opinions are my own.
Filed under All Knitting, Rowan Corner
First and foremost, I have to share that I absolutely love my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn and to be honest, at first I was not quite sure about the color. However, once I caked my yarn and started crocheting, I soon realized the colors are truly fantastic and remind me of berries.
It took me a full day to find just the right pattern for this particular color of yarn. I really didn’t feel like knitting socks, or even a shawl. I wanted something to crochet that would be easy, fairly quick and simple. I personally feel that sometimes the most simple of patterns truly can show off the beauty of a yarn, especially if it’s hand-painted yarn. So with that though in mind, I decided to crochet a Spring Petals Scarf, perfect for beginners and easy to memorize.
The original design calls for worsted weight but it’s perfect for fingering weight too. To compensate for the size, I doubled the stitches for the pattern and went down three hook sizes, opting for a size US E (3.5 mm). I also wanted something to give a bit more interest to the pattern and give a softness to the colors of the yarn. After going through my stash, I found that I had two skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the color Dewberry (#600), a perfect complement to the Raven.
I plan to work on this scarf over the next few weeks, along with a few other projects I’ve got going!
Filed under All Crochet, Rowan Corner
As promised, here are a few photos of my finished Cabazon crocheted tee. I truly love it and look forward to wearing it this summer. I have to share that I should have gone up on size as the waist is a tiny snug, but other than that I really like how it turned out.
As mentioned I substituted Rowan Savannah. For this particular project I used 9 skeins (783.0 yards/716.0m) and only had a very tiny portion left over. The pattern instructions are very well written and easy to follow, a huge plus for me. It was a super fun project, so much so I have decided to hook yet another project! I must keep you in suspense to the pattern but I will say I plan to use my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn in color#304, Raven.
Do you enjoy crochet projects?
Have you ever made any of the Rowan projects?
Filed under All Crochet, Crochet, Rowan Corner
Today I finished my Cabazon crocheted tee and I LOVE it! I really enjoyed the pattern, as well as the Rowan Savannah . I even have to say it was fun to learn a few new crochet techniques too! .
A bit about Rowan Savannah . I found the more I worked with it, the softer it became. I also like how it holds it’s shape and doesn’t stretch out like most cotton yarns seem to do. One word of caution, it does bleed when washed, so make sure to hand wash separately. I do recommended it for any style garment, knitted or crocheted. Once my project is dry, I will take a photo for you all!
Since I truly enjoyed this crochet project, I decided to use my stash of Elsebeth Lavold Cable Cotton in the color putty and will be starting a very unique and beautiful design called Abigail by Jenny King. Jenny’s design give instructions for both a vest and a cardigan, and I’ve chosen to make a vest.
For a size medium/large vest, this project will require approximately 1,360 yards of worsted weight yarn and an US size G crochet hook. I will have enough yarn and may consider adding short sleeves.
Back view – courtesy of Jenny King
Front View – Courtesy of Jenny King
What are you working on?
Current Projects on the Needles and Hooks:
Filed under All Crochet, Crochet
I’ve been trying to catch up on my spinning so I can start my Less is More cardigan and I’m afraid my spinning partner in England is way ahead of me in this adventure. The bright side, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
So to keep me motivated with spinning, my friend Elseline sent me a package containing 8 oz of a gorgeous BFL blend (Blue Faced Leicster and Tussah Silk) by Adelaide Walker that she picked up when she went to Wonderwool 2013 in Wales. Oh goodness this fiber is soft!!!
Of course I too have to keep myself motivated to finish spinning so I can not only spin the fiber Elseline sent to me, but fiber I just bought from Mary Ann of Three Waters Farm. I love BFL, it’s so soft and yummy to spin, and this 8 oz in the colorway called Rags and Bones will be perfect for a shawl!
What have you been spinning lately?
Filed under All Knitting, spinning, Wool, Yarn & Fiber
I’ve just received my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn in color#304, Raven, along with the Fine Art Collection booklet to review for Rowan Yarns. My very first impression, gorgeous yarn, my second impression, oh my, it’s so soft!
Measuring at 437 yards (400m), one skein of Rowan Fine Art is perfect for a pair of socks, a scarf, an infinity cowl, a shawlette and more. Now to decide what my skein will become, such a challenge for a knitter!
Do you have a favorite so far from the Fine Art Collection ? If yes, which pattern do you love the most?
Here’s your chance to give Rowan’s Fine Art yarn a try with this FREE pattern for a stunning lace scarf, designed exclusively for the Rowan website by Lisa Richardson. This stylish scarf shows off the beauty of this yarn perfectly and the pattern is suitable for beginners.
- Courtesy of Rowan Yarn
Be sure to login, then just click the link to download your FREE pattern: http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/patterns/robin-scarf
You can pre-order Fine Art online at Webs and Jimmy Beans Wool. Better yet, you can pre-order the entire eight color collection at Simply Socks Yarn Company. Be sure to ask your local shop if they will be carrying Rowan Fine Art too, I know mine will be!
Filed under All Knitting, Knitting Patterns, Rowan Corner, Yarn & Fiber
Today was perfect! We started our day by going out to our favorite breakfast spot, then to a store to pick up an early birthday present for my husband. We decided it would be a great day to do a bit of antiquing, so we went to both of our Brass Armadillo antique malls and came home with a few new treasures.
I have to share that I’m very excited with a beautiful Delft plate I found that portrays a shepherdess knitting among her flock of sheep. The transfer was from an original painting entitled La Bergere and I am trying to decide where to hang my new find!
My second find, a vintage set of circular needles that are brand new and still in the original box. The needles were manufactured by P.G. Roberts Co. and are called “Countess”. I have searched the web and cannot find out when these needles were made. I can tell you that the tips are metal, sizes US 5 to 16, and that the four cables screw into the tips. I have to say too that this set rather reminds me of the Denise interchangeables and if anyone has an idea of their age or when they could have possibly been manufactured, I would appreciate it. I’m thinking the early 60′s, what do you think?
Now it’s time to relax a bit and enjoy some crocheting! I’ve just finished one side of my Cabazon crocheted tee and I will be starting the second side. I can’t wait to finish so I can wear it!
Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!
Filed under All Knitting, Crochet, Stuff, The Vintage Corner
I love knitting, crocheting, spinning and all things pertaining to the fiber arts, including needlework and embroidery.
