Stockings are hung

Fini!

Knit for Baby Setsuko for her first holiday season.
Santa - Get busy cuz this bad boy needs fillin'.

Pattern: Classic Socks for the Family, supersized!
Yarn: My own handspun. Bulky CyberCandy and Sterling
Duration: Quick like lightening!
Note: The little i-cord bow sets it off nicely.


Detail.

Merry Merry.


In the midst of everything, Baby Joachim made an early appearance.
(No. He's a baby, not a cookie jar)
So, off to knit.

Pattern: Wee Hat (sorry, only available on Ravelry)
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted
Duration: 2 hours
Note: Buddha looks really great in it

And another, which didn't look as good on Buddha.
A little too long in the noggin.

Pattern: Bamboozle Baby Hat - want to make those booties and sweater too.
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted
Duration: 3 hours
Note: My first project knit continental style. Big plans for learning stranded knitting in 2008 and I think continental may be one of the keys. It does speed things up!

And because I can't seem to stop myself - hand-dyed rovings. A total blast.

"Finch"
2oz Cultivated Silk Top
Dyed with Landscapes Elements Dyes. by preparing the roving and dribbling on the water dilution dye. Then rolled in plastic clingwrap and steamed until set.


"Vineyard"
2 oz Brown cashmere 50/Tussah 50
Used the same dyes but sprinkled the powders directly on the prepared roving lain in the enamel pan of a small electric roasting oven.


This was a freaking disaster.

Yak. And it looks exactly like someone did.

"Matt"
1.9 oz Yak Top
Same dyes. Same process as above HOWEVER when placing the sliver into the initial hot water bath the whole thing went apeshit. Fiber separating and floating everywhere.

Never deterred by abject failure I continued on with the dyeing and luckily...


... was able to fluff the whole thing out again. We'll see how it spins.

Z enjoyed the creation of the Gingie House.

"Mama. Can we eat it now?...


Now?...


Now?..."

You know how it goes.

Pinky, Low, and Frosty

Totally adore this pattern. Super quick and with less than one skein of Koigu KPPM. Had some left after the beret frenzy from earlier this year, which makes me remember how much I appreciate that pattern.

Need to check the Purl Bee blog again.
Never met a pattern of theirs I didn't like.

These are a giftie for my sister-in-law, lovely wife to 10%.
Knit pretty small (they're super snug on my hands) using US2 DPNs. I've tried the magic loop but the DPNs just help me organize myself better.



And more spinning.

Hello Yarn Fiber
"Low Country"
Shetland Wool

316 yards - a significant chunk o'yarn
as a reminder - those are Size 11 clogs.

DK Weight - getting thinner and thinner!!!

Split the roving down the middle to see if I could get the colors to line up. Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Thinking about a top down raglan for Z. I've asked Santa for some Zimmerman books. That should do it.

Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club
November 2007
"Pie for Everyone"
4 oz Falkland Wool
plied with BlueBells from KnittyGritty in her Etsy shop
95% Cormo and 5% Icicle

Wanted to bust out and boldly try something new. Now that I can get pretty thin singles - took the fiber club offering spun as thickly as I could. No longer so easy! Plied with thinly spun sparkly singles.

Can you see the glimmers here?
Now the perpetual question: What to make?
Is it lame to knit up another Urchin?



'Tis the season.

Took Z and Moonpie to visit Santa.

"Sweet Mother of Red Velvet! The Bearded Dude has his hand on my stomach!" (photo left)
followed immediately by the classic "Deer in the Headlights". (photo right)

Z was just giggly.
Later, he was bummed that he forgot to ask Santa where the reindeer where.

Fetching Hat

Dulaan Fetching Hat
As with all hats I knit this was orginally intended for 10%.
Don't think it'll fit him.
Added an extra inch to the overall length and it still barely covers my ears.
May try it again adding more length.


It's really hard to take pics of your own head.

More Cyber Candycane. Brings the grand total to 316 yards. Should get 2+ stockings out of it.


Here's the first WIP. The foot looks a little too dainty so I'm making another one. May frog this one and redo. Or may leave it be, add the ribbon, and re-evaluate.


Here's Sterling. Spun up for the aforementioned ribbon.

200 yards
Aran Weight
Corriedale
spun from fiber purchased from Hello Yarn


Speaking of Hello Yarn, here's "Toxic" the November club edition.

Also Corriedale but in a Superwash.
Glad I enrolled in the double club.
Recent dreams of top down raglans.


Spunky Club gave us "Pie for Everyone". 4 oz of Falkland Wool which I'm tempted to spin on the beefy side and ply with...


3 oz. Bluebells - 95% Cormo Top with 5% icicle.
Will the lovely icicles get buried or will my vision of frosty berries reign?


Frosty, too, it has become.

Woo Hoo is the sound you would be hearing if you were here.

Stinking Blogger

What is it with my technology recently?!?!
No internet service followed by Blogger's denial of photo uploads.

Drat, drat and double drat.

Seriously.

In the interim - 10% (who has exceptional tech skills) has posted a great Z pic.

Jeez!

Sorry for the silence. Been struggling with internet problems.
Does free up more time for the fiber arts though. :-)

"Idyll"
merino/tussah
146 yards
aran weight/8 wpi
fiber from Hello Yarn

Recently had a spinning wheel epiphany. Modifications to tensioning system and treadle makes for MUCH better spinning. Ahhh. I no longer feel like I'm fighting with the wheel.


"Butter"
Merino
116 yards
2 ply
Worsted weight

This fiber was a gift from Keri (Thanks Keri!!) from whom I've just bought some mini-batts. Check out her Etsy page. How can you resist?
I have one of those little project bags. Gorgeous.


There's also been some knitting. This a Fetching hat.

Last but not least, the whole family came up for Thanksgiving.
Lots of fun and food.
Sad to see them go.

Will post the pie details on Bake Along. You should join us there.
I'll be offering a prize for signups and posts in December and January!
Don't miss it!



Grammie's turning 60 next week.
Held her celebration while everyone was collected.
The Littles helped her open presents.
Miss Snowsuit is "Moonpie", Z's sweet cousin and a total dreamboat.

Happy Birthday Grammie!

xoxo...

Baked Alaska Urchin

Pattern: Urchin
Yarn: Baked Alaska from the Hello Yarn Fiber Club October
Modification: Used size 13 needles and only knit 6 wedges
Duration: 2 evenings
(While watching Talladega Nights. I have a thing for Will Ferrell movies)


Loved knitting this pattern even though I had to frog it a couple times. Took a couple passes to figure out my tracking system for this one. Short rows are my friends now.

Love that it's shaped like a Baked Alaska.

Also love that I feel a little like channeling Faye Dunaway in Bonnie & Clyde while wearing. Her wardrobe and styling in that film are exceptional.

Another FO from my own handspun. Serious satisfaction.

More spinning.

Hello Yarn Fiber Club September 2007 "Maldives" Merino 210 Yards 9 wpi

This brings me all up to date on the fiber clubs. Yeah! Esp. since I just placed another Hello Yarn order. I can't help myself.


Another attempt at Navajo Plying. Soon I may have to try an entire bobbin's worth.


And more spinning. Cybercandycane. 2 Slivers of Corriedale plyed together into 115yds of worsted weight. More on the way. Soon to be knit into a Christmas Stocking. 'Tis the Season. :-)

I joined the local Spinning Guild. Super excited to hang with the gals on the first Saturday of each month at the Osceola, WI Medical Center. Some are knitters, some are spinners. Everyone's welcome so... Come on!

At loose ends

Well, it seemed like a good idea. Now I'm not so sure. Z chose the colors and given his penchance for "stripey" clothing we determined to make him some appropriate mitts.

Man! I like this pattern much more as a solid. So fussy to switch colors and it gets all wonky with the thumb gusset increases.

Not to mention the ends. The ends!

Oh ye of much knowledge. Suggestions please. Pattern? Technique?

I have SERIOUS second mitt syndrome. This is a problem because, as you will see, it's getting a little chilly up here.


Goblin Eyes. 4 oz. of Spunky Club Romney spun into 130 yds of worsted weight 2 ply. Loving those color comboes. Maybe I'll give some mittens a chance.

The vibrancy died down a bit in setting the twist. Lots of dye on my fingers and in the rinse too. Hmmm...


Here's the Maldives from Hello Yarn Club September. Three stages of prep and ready to spin. Don't those colors look SMASHING against the red couch?!?!?


It snowed quite a bit yesterday but nothing stuck. Above is Z's snow pic.

Note: lower right corner - "When Good Pumpkins go Bad!"

Silky Neckerchief

From the yarn from the roving from 10%.
(Begat, begat, begat. Or something like that.)

Knit in stockinette on US9 needles to highlight the glossiness of the fibers.


It's a rectangle so when folded gives two nice little points on the back. The top of one shows knit-side and the other purl. So pleased with those contrasting textures.


So happy with the drape of the fabric.
This must be some mutant antigravity yarn because it weighs less than nothing.


Here's the blocking shot. The whole thing's about 16x21".

Really intrigued by the color progression. Love how those ochre and purple bands just occur once.

Thanks 10%! I'm keeping this one. My warm neck will be my reminder of you all winter long. :-)


October's Edition of Spunky Club is Goblin Eyes - 4oz. of Romney Wool. Mwah-ha-ha.


More spinning. This fiber was a gift from Jessicah. Thanks! What a yield. 280 yards of Worsted Weight Wool!! I can make something BIG!


Took the last remaining bobbin for another pass at Navajo Plying. Progress. The key?
must.treadle.slowly.


Hit The Fiber Studio today. me = beside + self + joy
Go visit Pam. You will not be sorry.


Your pocket will also thank you if it's goal is to be relieved of all it's money.
Cashmere/Tussah Blend, Cultivated Silk, and Yak Top. That plus Dyes.
For Halloween I'm going as a Mad Scientist.


Inspired, I fear, by the mass retailers, Z has released his Xmas list pre-Halloween this year. His scribe was a 1st-grader friend. Suspiciously, item #10 appears in the hand of nuttnhubby. Who's list is this? :-)

Hope everyone has great tricks and treats tonight!

Seriously, I don't know what I did before the Hello Yarn Fiber Club.
The October 2007 offering - Baked Alaska.

Gorgeous colors and such nice, soft wool. All during the spin I kept drifting off, dreaming of fluffy meringues.

She's a Bulky yarn, perhaps destined to become a hat. It's back on the Fingerless Mitts bus after this (have 3 pairs cast on at this moment) so I'll have to wait a bit.


There was a tiny bit left on the bobbin after plying so I gave Navajo Plying a stab. Please, be gentle with me.


Also spun the silk that 10% gifted whilst visiting Tejas. He was in NYC for a conference and I had to call him as soon as the spinning was spun. This is madness. SO soft, So ephemeral. Now cast on for a delicate little scarfy wisp.

Check out Plum Crazy Ranch and get yourself some of this goodness.

The skein of singles.


Can you see the sheen? The drape?

When it was wound into a little yarn cake I wanted to take it home and feed it graham crackers before tucking it gently into bed.
Too bad all the yarn cake pics were blurry.


My first Cascade 220 arrived.
Z picked the colors for new mittens.
A pair each for the cousins too.

Last year he asked for a pair of "snow white mittens" like Nicky gets in The Mitten. They were white for about 3.5 seconds. This year we're starting with deep colors.
.

'Tis the season for the orange masses of glowing glory. In turns each pumpkin claimed by nuttnhubby, Z, and myself.


Tomorrow is PxTx! Spent a good part of today with Miss Julie shopping and prepping. Full rundown next post.