Casting On and Casting Off: WIPs and fun!

20 02 2012

I love having a day off, especially if I have the day to myself.   For me it’s a time to organize and get my ideas together for projects and that’s what I’ve been doing most of the morning.   I’ve casted on two projects over the weekend and  I’m looking forward to a bit of spinning today.

I casted on a pillow cover using my very own stash of handspun.  I love using handspun as it has a soft, earthy feel and just seems to echo the word “home” and “handmade”.

Project details:   My pillow cover is a simple basketweave stitch pattern that will be covering a 16″ x 16″ throw pillow.    I’ve casted on 75 stitches and working a pattern of k5, p5 for six rows and then p5, k5 for six rows.  This is really showing off the colors in my handspun and if I don’t have enough yardage for the complete project, I have a great piece of fabric I can use as a back to compliment the front.

Yarn:  200 yards of colorway Teddy Bear Picnic  BFL in 2 ply from Dyeing For Ewe.  I purchased this yummy fiber last summer and spun it up during Tour de Fleece.

Needle Size:  US size 11 (8.00 mm) straight needles

The second project that I casted on is Vorticity by Alice Yu, from her book, Socktopus.   I’m knitting this pair of socks for two KALs ,  the Springtree Road KAL and the Socktopus Book KAL.

Project Details:  This project is cuff-down and incorporates a simple lace stitch pattern that gives a slight way to the design.   Alice’s written instructions are very easy to follow, as well as the charted instructions for the pattern stitch.  I knit my socks with two circular needles and so far this pattern has adapted quite well.  I think I will do an anklet to mid-calve length.

Yarn:    1 skein of  Springtree Road Muscandine Sock Yarn  in Tanis, which is 460 yards (420 m) 4-ply fingering weight in a soft blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.

Needles:   2 circular needles 16″ size US  1½ (2.5 mm)

 

I’m very excited about Carina Spencer’s new design, Zuzu’s Petals.  This creative design is perfect to show off my handspun and it’s not a large project, so it should knit up pretty quickly.

All the style of a shawlette without the fuss of trying to keep it around your neck! This easy to wear cowl is designed to mimic the look of a shawl casually draped as a scarf. ~ Carina Spencer

Project Details:  This pattern has excellent written instructions, along with a chart for the lace stitch pattern.  Carina has written the pattern to include two sizes, small and large.  The small calls for approximately 220 yards of sport weight yarn and a size US US 5 or 6 (3.75 or 4mm) 20″ circular needle.  The large calls for approximately 155 yards of worsted weight yarn and a US 8 or 9 (5 or 5.5mm) 20″ circular needle.  Since I’m using my stash of handspun, I will be making the large.

Yarn:  260 yards of handspun blend of 75% BFL and 25% Tussah Silk from Springtree Road in the colorway Tumble.

Needles:  US 8 ( 5.0 mm) 20″ circular needle.

 

 

I’m hoping to have time to do a bit of spinning this week and want to start with a lovely 100% Romney in a dusky rose color.  I’ve never spun Romney fiber before, so this will be a new adventure.  I purchased this fiber last October at the Fiber Factory in Mesa, along with a few other colors.  I’m thinking that combined, they would make a great striped shawl!

Romney Fiber from the Fiber Factory

 

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off, spinning, Wool

The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) comes to Phoenix ~ Part 1

22 01 2012

I had a very rare and unique opportunity to attend the TNNA convention here in Phoenix for one spectacular day.  A very warm and special thank you to Karen Sadow, owner of One Planet Yarn and Fiber, who generously offered to give me a badge so that I could attend this event.  I had a blast tagging along with Karen and Terri, owner of the Fiber Factory of Mesa, all day on Saturday.  I can honestly say I was in pure heaven and cannot believe that I as able to see so many gorgeous skeins of yarn, braids of fiber, needles and accessories all underneath one roof!  It was almost overwhelming.

Since I was there for only one day, but took so many photos and met so many wonderful people, I’m going to do a four-part series of my experience at TNNA.  This is for a couple of reasons, one, there is some much to tell you about and two, there are a few folks that just need a post dedicated to them.

It was very exciting to be able to finally see and even touch a few of the fibers I have heard about and that have received great reviews.  There were also fabulous hand-knits that had been knitted up for samples to show case these wonderful fibers, and many were simply amazing.

Each photo that follow will have the company name and simply click the photo to be taken directly to their website.

Are you ready for a fiber adventure?  If so, here we go!!!

Hand Painted Knitting Yarns

Mountain Colors Hand Painted Yarn - By the way, that's Cat Bordhi wearing the shawl

Be Sweet Yarns - Karen of One Planet Yarn & Fiber and Terri of the Fiber Factory

Jade Sapphire Yarns - Gorgeous Knitted Samples

The Fibre Company - In the back is Hannah Fettig co-author of Coastal Knits

Anzula Luxury Fibers - Yarn and Fiber for spinning

Imperial Yarn - American Grown Wool Yarn Company

Alchemy Yarn - Alchemy Tweedy ... this was stunning!

Beautiful display by Kollage Yarns

Lorna's Laces Hand Dyed Yarns

Red Barn Yarn

A beautiful shawl display by Manos del Uruguay Yarn

Aurora Yarns

Berroco Yarn - A yarn bar hosted by designer Norah Gaughan

Norah Gaughan was hosting a fun event, a knitting bar where you could sample the new lines by Berroco Yarn.  After you knitted a bit, you could take one of the containers that contained samples.  Norah was a lot of fun and was enjoying all the knitters that were gathering around.  She was also a good sport when I asked her if I could take a photo.

There are many more photos to share but I will save those for another day.  Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off, Review, Yarn & Fiber

Casting On and Casting Off: WIPs!

18 11 2011

I love this time of year in Phoenix.  The sky is crystal clear, very blue and there’s a crispness in the air, all which means I want to knit even more.   When you work full-time, it’s often hard to find time to knit and do all the other things you want to do in between.  I’ve started thinking about this in-depth as I’m notorious for taking on way to many KALs throughout the year and then feel very guilty that I could not participate as much as I wanted to.  So, with that being said, I’m not going to cast on too many new projects between now and the first of the year.  Instead,  I want to finish up my WIPs that are in my work basket before starting anything else (yes, I know that I’m a knitter and there will be restraints on my part).

Still on the needles:

  • Maritime Wool Socks – casted on the second sock and should be done over the weekend.
  • Dynamic Cardi – this will be a long WIP as the needle is small and the yarn in fine.  I’m just about ready to start the yoke of the cardi though.
  • Potted Button Trees – Yikes I’ve only got the pots completed and I haven’t started knitting the trees!!!!

Once I get two of these WIPs done, I want to cast on a lovely lace scarf that I found online that I think will be perfect for my stash of Madelinetosh Wren in Silver Fox.  I’m even thinking about incorporating beads on the edge for a bit of spark!

The pattern I’ve decided upon is the Lace Knit Lengthwise Scarf by Christina Consiglio of Olives and Mermaids.

Courtesy of Christina Consiglio

I also plan to participate in the December Year of Stash Socks and knit a pair of  Nutkin socks.  This sock pattern has been in my Raverly favorites for a very long time and I have the perfect stash yarn for this project.

I mentioned earlier that I’ve also joined a new Ravelry Group,  Dozen shawls in 20dozen.   I’m very excited about the January choices and hope to do both projects if I have the time.   The beginner shawl for January is 198 Yards of Heaven , which I knitted last year using my handspun, and the advance shawl is the Seaside Shawlette.  I think this will be a lot of fun to start the new year off with a bang!

I think I will be very busy starting in 2012, but that’s ok.  Once a knitter, always a knitter!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off, Knitting Patterns

Casting On and Casting Off: Socks, etc….

15 11 2011

I finished my shawlette over the weekend and love how it turned out.  I’m waiting patiently for my hubby to take a photo but meantime, here’s a photo of my “Black Pearl” blocking.   I enjoyed knitting Amy’s pattern Asking for Roses and loved Lorna’s Laces – wonderful yarn to knit with!

I’m a bit behind on one of my KALs.  I’ve been participating in Simone’s Sand and Sky Creations Raverly Group and started a pair of Maritime Wool Socks back in October.  Originally this pair of socks was destined for my hubby but I’ve decided to give them to my Dad.  I finished sock#1 last night and now working on sock#2.   I have lots of motivation to finish due to the fact my Dad’s birthday is only two weeks away!

_________________________________________________

I want to give a quick shout out for my fiber friend Meghan Jackson of Meghan Jackson Knits.  Meghan has a lovely  design in the winter issue of Twist Collective called Verve .  This design can be created as a scarf or as a shawl, which is perfect for a versatile accessory piece.

The facts:  This design is created in one piece from the neck down, provides both written and charted instructions, and is perfect for an intermediate to advanced knitter.

The materials:  If making the scarf version, this project will require one skein  of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Sport, 324 yards (296 m) per skein  or any sport weight yarn to match gauge, and a Size 6 US (4.0 mm) circular needle that is 32″ (80 cm) long or longer.

If making the shawl, this project will require two skeins  Blue Moon Fiber Arts Marine Silk Fingering,  487 yards (445 m)  per skein or any fingering weight to match gauge, and a Size 4 US (3.5 mm) circular needle that is 32″ (80 cm)  long or longer.

Photo courtesy of Jane Heller and Twist Collective

You can find more of Meghan’s designs online at Raverly or on her website, ButterflyKnit.  You can also find her online at Twitter and be sure to join her group, Friends of Meghan Jackson.

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

 


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Categories : All Knitting, Casting On and Casting Off, Socks

Happy Veteran’s Day ….

11 11 2011

My sincere gratitude and many thanks to all Veterans who are currently serving for our country and who have served.  If it was not for the likes of men and women like you, I can only imagine what would happen to our country.  May God keep you, may God bless and may God bring you home safe from harm.

I especially want to say thank you to my wonderful husband Don, who proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.

“This We’ll Defend”

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

For more information on our Veterans, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

 


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off

Casting On and Casting Off: Asking for Roses and Cladonia

6 11 2011

I have officially finished knitting Autumn Cladonia and while I could not knit a full lace border due to yardage restraints, I’m very pleased on how my finished shawl turned out.  This is the quickest shawlette project I’ve ever knitted too.  I casted on October 29th and finished yesterday, November 5th.

For the body of the shawl, I had to modify a bit so I could use every bit of yarn and end up with the needed stitches needed to start the lace border.  Instead of doing the extra knit and purl row after the increase, when I hit 25 sts in between the markers, I worked the pattern increase row and the purl row until I achieved 28 sts.  You can’t really tell I did this slight modification, so I’m pleased.

For the lace border, well, I ran out of yarn at the very last part of the design.   So, I did not do rows 13 – 17 of the “lace border”. I only did row 1 of the “prepare for edging” and had to bind off in row 2. I ended up with 12” of yarn left over. Whew, that was close and even though I did not finish the full lace border or edging, I think it turned out pretty good.

My next project is Asking for Roses designed by Amy Swenson, a.k.a. IndiGirl.  I purchased this kit from Jimmy Beans Wool and can’t wait to knit with my lovely Lorna’s Laces ~ first time doing so.   Should be a fun project and I look forward to casting on very soon!

Project Details:  Crescent shaped shawl that is created by using short rows .  This design begins by knitting the lace edging along the long curved edge and then the body is worked across the length of the lace edge.   Finished size after blocking, 68″ long and 18″ deep.

Yarn:  Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Black Purl

Yardage:  2 skeins – 400 yards (365.8m)

Needle Size:   US 7 (4.5 mm)

I’ve also joined a new Ravelry Group,  Dozen shawls in 20dozen.  This group will be offering a beginner and an advanced shawl/shawlette project every month, as well as focusing on free patterns available as Raverly downloads.  If you love to knit shawls, this is a great group to join!


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off

On and Off the Wheel: By handspun shawl

3 11 2011

I’ve been enjoying a bit of spinning lately and posted a few weeks ago that I was spinning for a shawl as part of the  Spin a Shawl group online at Raverly.

Originally I was spinning for the Crow Waltz Shawl designed by Juju Vail of Loop knit lounge but after I finished spinning, I changed my mind and decided to knit Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur.

I started by spinning  3 oz of Corridale in the colorway Peanut Butter by Hi Fiber Kits  and then spun the 4 oz of Corridale in the colorway Stetsons are Cool by Woolen Mill St Yarns .

I ended up with 136 yards of 2 ply in a light worsted weight in Peanut Butter and 208 yards of 2-ply in worsted weight in Stetsons are Cool.

Here’s a progress photo from over the weekend.  After a very slight modification to Kirsten’s pattern,  I have finished the body of the shawl and ended up with about 8″ of my Stetsons are Cool yarn.  The modification allowed me to obtain the number of stitches needed to start the lace border.

This photo is from two days ago -

This photo was taken this morning and I’ve just started the lace border in the Peanut Butter.  I really love how the colors are working together.

I will be posting a  photo of the my completed shawl soon!


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Categories : All Knitting, Casting On and Casting Off, KAL, On and Off the Wheel, spinning

On the Bookshelf: Knit Local by Tanis Gray

1 11 2011

Knit Local showcases 30 beautiful fashion, accessory, and home décor projects made with yarns manufactured and sold right here in North America. Expert knitter Tanis Gray stresses the wisdom of preserving local businesses, protecting the environment, and treating livestock humanely while tracing the journey of her yarns “from sheep to skein.” As informative as it is inspiring, this book is above all a stunning fashion source, with gorgeous projects that will leave you feeling good and looking even better.

Knit Local by Tanis Gray is a beautifully photographed collection of designs that showcases, and even celebrates,  yarns used from across the United States.  We often comment that we need to support and promote more American based companies, and this book is a wonderful reminder of how when can accomplish this, especially from the fiber side of things.

This book is broken into four sections, the Northeast, the South, the Midwest and the West, where Tanis not only focuses on American mills, but the small farms and ranches that raise sheep, alpaca and bison for fiber.  The concept of this book is inspiring and I would also venture to say it’s perfect for those knitters who are environmentally conscious and want to know where their yarns come from and even how they are produced.

For me personally, I truly enjoyed reading each business owner’s philosophy,  how they got started and loved the photos that depict their lives and their animals.   I also enjoyed learning about new Indy Dyers that use base yarns from the U.S. and Canada to produce their lovely dyed yarns and fibers.  While I feel this book is one I will cherish and use often, and even recommend for fiber lovers to own, it is geared more to the experienced knitter with projects ranging from intermediate to advanced.

Inside you will also find:

  • More than 30 designs for women, men, children and the home
  • Gorgeous photographs that truly capture the essence of the American farms and ranches
  • A comprehensive list of fiber events and festivals across the U.S.
  • A complete listing of companies presented in this book, along with website information

I think Tanis has done a very good job in giving us sources of American based companies that provide yarn and fiber to those of us who want to support the small business owner, rancher and farmer.  I can honestly say I did not realize a few of these companies existed and I’m very excited to give these independent yarn companies a try!

About:  A graduate of RISD, Tanis Gray lives in Washington, DC. Having worked at Martha Stewart, HBO, Focus Features, in the art department in the film and television industries, and after a 4-year career as the Yarn Editor at Vogue Knitting and co-editor of Knit.1, she has been working in the creative field for many years. Tanis has over 150 published knitting designs, and her work has been featured in many major publications and books. Her website is Tanis Knits.

Disclaimer:  This copy has been sent to me by Sixth & Spring Books for review.   Please note that the  above opinions are my own.


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off

And the winner is ….

29 10 2011

Thank you all for entering for a chance to win a copy of  How To Sell Your Crafts Online by Etsy seller Derrick Sutton.   This guide is one to consider if you are thinking about opening an Etsy shop to sell your fiber, yarn, crafts and more, and it’s also good for  a review for those of you who already have a store.

The winner is entry #6,  Theresa…..

  Congratulations on winning your new book!

I have three more reviews coming, two of which will include a giveaway, so be sure to check back!

 

 


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off

Casting On and Casting Off: A shawl, an online workshop and fun!

22 10 2011

Wow, this week has flown and I can’t believe that there is only one week left in this month!   I haven’t gotten much knitting done this week either, but I have managed to finish up a bit of spinning for a project I mentioned in a September blog post.

I was planning to spin for the Crow Waltz Shawl designed by Juju Vail of Loop knit lounge but after I finished my lovely 4 oz of Corridale in the colorway Stetsons are Cool, I’ve changed my mind and plan to knit Cladonia by Kirsten Kapur.

Project Details:

4 oz of Corridale in the colorway Stetsons are Cool by Woolen Mill St Yarns :

  • 208 yards
  •  2-ply
  •  worsted weight

3 oz of Corridale in the colorway Peanut Butter by Hi Fiber Kits

  • 136 yards
  • 2 ply
  • worsted weight

Pattern:   This pattern calls for 420 skeins each in two colors for a total of 840 and a size US 7.  I plan to knit the body in my Stetson’s are Cool colorway and use my Peanut Butter for the lace.  I’m hoping I can squeeze enough out of my handspun for my first spin a shawl KAL.  (Spin a Shawl Group)

This week I also joined a wonderful online workshop taught by knitwear designer Stefanie Japel.   The One Skein Knit Shrug Workshop provides an excellent tutorial to create a quick and easy shrug that is seamless, worked top down and requires only one skein of Cascade 220 yarn.

Now you can learn a new project with experts and friends! Craftsy Workshops are illustrated tutorials that include all the patterns and templates you need to make your own project – plus a community sharing tips and expert advice!

I really love this online format and it provides knitters wonderful  step-by-step written instructions that are clear, easy to follow and understand.   I also must say I really like how this workshop flows.  You start with an introduction that provides a list of all the materials you will need for the project,  followed by notes, that includes a glossary, and sections of each part of the project.  The first section starts with the main body of the shrug, followed by separating the sleeves, picking up stitches for the neckline,  creating the neckline trim, creating the sleeves and then finishing the shrug.

All instructions are accompanied by  step-by-step photographs that depict each step or what the design should like at during a certain point in your knitting.  The online interaction between the other members and Stefanie is a great way to learn, ask questions, share, learn new tips and get quick responses.

So, if you are a new knitter looking for an easy project that you can follow and understand,  or a seasoned knitter that would like to have a bit of fun, this is a great workshop that I would recommend you check out.   For a limited time, Stefanie’s  One Skein Knit Shrug Workshop is  free and all you need to do is click the “get started” button to join in the fun!

Here’s what I’ve knitted so far and I hope to have it finished my tomorrow afternoon!

I end my adventure today with a photo from the patio.  My hubby and I have really been enjoying the cool Arizona mornings these past few weeks.  Our back yard is now in full bloom and buzzing not only with honey bees, but finches and hummingbirds.   The weekends are perfect to enjoy time together over coffee, conversation and of course for me, knitting!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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Categories : Casting On and Casting Off, KAL, spinning, Wool

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