10.31.2007

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!

10.26.2007


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.

10.22.2007

Dragonscale Mitts


Pattern: Dragon Scale Mitts
Yarn: Frog Tree Alpaca - Sport Weight
Needles: US 3 DPNs
Duration: 4 days

See more details including a helpful hint for knitting at the Fingerless Mitts for Fall KAL blog.
I'm really groovin' on this mitts thing.


The garden is still turning out the hits. Beets here.
A completely underappreciated vegetable.

Knock off the big chunks of dirt, put in a pyrex with a little water, cover with foil and roast em in the oven at 350 for about an hour. Slip off the skins, slice and toss with a honey mustard vinaigrette and toasted sesame seeds.
Yummy yumkins.


Z will be a Power Ranger for Halloween. In fact, Z has not stopped being a Power Ranger since the Power Ranger suit was acquired. Perhaps Z was born a Power Ranger but BPRS (Before Power Ranger Suit) we just didn't know it.

:: awards given for maximum use of the word "Power Ranger"::


Demonstrating "The Communicator."

Yes, that's Duct Tape.

Yes, this is EXACTLY how he wanted it.


This is what Power Rangers do when they're not saving the world. Wait... with current events as they are perhaps playing with playdo DOES save the world. The boy's a genius.

Lastly (but not leastly) join Jessicah and me for Bake Along! Yeah!!!

10.17.2007


Just back from a glorious trip to my home state where I got to hang with my bro and sister-in-law - SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) - for most of the weekend. Super fun. Sushi and wine.

Glad I'll get to see them again in about a month when La Familia visits nuttncasa (aka the Nutt House) for Thanksgiving!

Knit this pair of Fetching for him.

Pattern: Fetching
Needles: US 6 DPN
Yarn: Lavish Bulky 100% Superfine Alpaca
Duration: 2 days

This yarn was a gift from 10% and I was happy to transform and return. Every once in a while he'll call to say "Hey, the Alpaca Fairy left a package for you."
I love my brother!
**and not just b/c he gives great presents**
:-)

Check the Fingerless Mitts for Fall KAL for more pics and info.


Another Herringbone Scarf. This from the Treat Merino I spun from the Hello Yarn Fiber. Lovely stuff.
Destined as a gift for my office United Way Campaign drawing. Next time I knit one of these I'm slipping the first stitch on each row for a nicer edge.

Enrolled in the next batch of Hello Yarn Fiber Club. I'm greedy so I supersized. Open enrollment starts today. You know you want to.

Loving those color progressions.


Another gift from 10%. Man - I'm spoiled.

Dyed silk. NOT dachshund hair - as I first imagined based on the enclosed card announcing the sale of "Home Raised" longhaired miniature dachshunds (as opposed to Factory Farmed, I guess). My disappointment tempered only by the beauty of this fiber.

As soon as my bobbins are cleared of their current contents I'll spin this. Never spun silk before and really looking forward to trying it. May be a good opportunity to try Navajo Plying.



Had a bunch of the Colinette Jitterbug left over so made another pair of Mini Mitts.
Score another point for the Fingerless Mitts for Fall KAL.

10.07.2007

Aspen ribbed scarf


Spunky Club September. Sumptuous Superwash Merino and Tencel. Predrafted with gold clogs to provide scale (plus a stellar fashion sense :-) and to complement the luminosity of this fiber.


Spun into singles. Photo doesn't do it justice. It shines as if illuminated from within. The slubby knitting as testament to my learning on this yarn. This stuff was sticky and slippery at the same time. And I love it.

And knit into a ribbed scarf. When held it drapes like wool-water.


A detail. You can clearly see the slubs here.


And here to ask for you help. Leave as is or block expanded to show those ribs and almost lacy quality. I'm tempted to block. In fact would have already if we weren't having a houseguest tonight who needs to sleep on the bed I use for blocking. :-)

You thoughts please: Block or leave as is
.

A modeled shot of "as is." Still super warm here. Thus the tank top.



But Autumn has definitely arrived. To be honest - this pic is weeks old and these sugar maples are totally naked. (Capello - what kind of hits do you think that will bring?!?)

:-)

10.02.2007

Mini Mitts



More for the Fingerless Mitts for Fall KAL.

Pattern: Mini Mitts
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Gaugin
Needles: Size 3
Duration: Over 3 days
Location: While camping in the hills of West Virginia

Really enjoyed this pattern and knitting with this yarn. Bought it a while back while visiting 10%. 100g per hank so have enough for another pair. A little bit of color pooling in mitt no. two but nothing tragic.


My first edition of Spunky Club. Aspen. This is pure madness. It glistens. Currently in the midst of spinning up the grand fiber that Jessicah sent my way. Then I'm on to this bad boy. Superwash Merino and Tencel. Anticipation.


Upcoming is this loverly item. Smoke ring hoodie. You can buy it here as a pattern or here as a kit. I was inspired to to do by Keri's yummy FO and hope to finish for a b-day gift for my oldest friend's 40th. Anyone who'll stand by you after a year of highschool freshman PE class (and the many subsequent years) needs something super nice. :-)


Z taking some refreshing sustenance following his stellar performance as ringbearer in his cousin Scott's wedding. How cute is he?!?!?

We spent a long weekend in West Virginia at Cacapon State Park. Supreme rustic cabins.
The wedding was smashing. Kind of a replay from that of nuttnhubby and myself. Gotta love a salsa band!! We might have to start thinking of a dramatic re-enactment for our 10 year anniversary. :-)

And now for Pay it Forward.
Back a while I promised to join. Join I have.

  • First I used a random number generator to pick 3 commenters. Circled the corresponding folks from my list and...
  • Then - realized I missed a commenter in the middle...
  • So - Did it again BUT - only a few of you agreed to "Pay it Forward" yourselves...
  • So again - Went back to the list and added all the folks who said they'd play.
Whew!
After all, it is my blog and I'm the nuttnmama so I make the rules. I vow to "Pay it Forward" to each of you in the next year.

Thus... (listed by blogging identity):
Thanks to you all for enriching my world so lavishly.

Email me with your mailing address (nuttnbunny at hotmail dot com) or message via Ravelry and let the paying begin :-)