October 2006 Archives

My first Fest FO! They're both simple -- but very wearable -- and have reved up my knitting momentum.

Pattern: My own (if you can really call them that). See details below

Yarn: 1 hank of Briar Rose Tuscany (80% Wool 20% Flax 245 yards)

Pattern Details

I did a basic hand warmer knit from knuckles to elbow. I wasn't sure if I'd have enough yarn so this way was safer. About halfway down the forearm I added some increases to go with the shape of my arm.

I finished the mitts on Friday night and I still had 40 grams of yarn left. I was surprised since the put-up was only 100 grams. I weighed the leftover yarn and the mitts -- I got 125 grams in my hank!

Since I had approximately 98 yards left I decided to make a scarf too. I'm so glad I did.

I've been coveting those lengthways garter stitch scarves, so I finally made one for myself.

SO. EASY.

Here's what I did:

Gauge: 14 sts per 4 inches
CO approx 250 sts (I used the knitted cast on so I didn't have to fuss with approximating the cast on tail. I just counted as I casted on, and didn't go back to re-count). Love that.

Knit 2 rows in the Briar Rose. After I did that I re-weighed what was left. I only had enough for 6 more rows.

So I rumaged through the stash and found 5 other coordinating yarns. I finished up 2 partial balls from other projects, as well as using some yarn from a couple of single balls I had around when I ordered yarns online to try out their colors.

When I finished the scarf it was very stretchy. So I washed it and tossed it in the dryer for 15 minutes. When I took it out it was less stretchy, a bit denser, and a bit thicker. Perfect.

And the best part? I've completely used up 1 hank from Rhinebeck!

It's not often that I stop to consider the intricacies of the yarn business. I adore yarn. I shop for yarn. I buy yarn.

I'm a happy consumer.

But a couple of issues have arisen lately that have given me pause. Most of you have read (and read) about them. I'll mention them only to avoid being incomplete.

I'm talking about the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Issue (is there cashmere in the yarn, and does it comply with what the label states?) and the Tilli Tomas Sarah's Yarns keystoning issue (keystoning is selling a product at double the wholesale price, and it's typically -- I believe -- what the MSRP is).

Christy and I have been talking about festival knitting. You know, actually knitting the stuff I buy at the festivals.

In years past I've been terrible about this. The stash gets bigger and bigger, and I have less FOs to show for it. I've given this some thought (quite a lot, actually), so you can read the full scoop in the extended entry.

I lied. There was one more purchase I made at Rhinebeck. It's Briar Rose Fibers Sonoma (80% wool 20% flax). I was drawn to the creamy flecks of flax and the gentle gradations of color.

It's just one hank -- enough for a generous pair of mitts (up to the elbow).

I'm doing them fingertip to elbow to try and use up the whole hank (and now that I'm halfway done I think I may still have some leftover).

The other purchase? I finally bought some Knit Picks needles. I got the Options Kit as well as the Classic Circulars in the smaller sock sizes.

A lot of reviews have already been written so I'll be brief:

• I love love love them
• The super-flexy cable is perfect for magic looping
• The join on the Options line is smooth and both a large gauge yarn (3.5 spi) and a very fine gauge yarn (10 spi) slipped over it without a hitch
• The points are amazing and have the Addis beaten hands down
• The needles are very slick. Both yarns I've used with them were wool. I haven't tried them with a sticky cotton-type yarn yet.
• The needle case is well made and holds *a lot* more than just the needles

I have 2 small criticisms:

• The needles have no indication of their size. It's easy enough to check with a needle sizer, but a little stamp at the base would be a nice addition.
• There's no 2.75mm or 2.25mm (there are so few options for these sizes, at least in the US).

So that's my quickie review -- great needles at an even better value. At 40% the price of Addis, with a slick surface, a more flexible cable, and a pointier tip, these are a fabulous choice.

Oh my god what a fabulous time!

This was my favorite girlfriend vacation ever. Not even 600 miles of driving could put a damper on the yarn, girlfriends, drinking and good times that happened all weekend. Christy, Heather and Jody -- thank you for the awesome time and the fabulous company!

I think I saw more bloggers in Rhinebeck than I ever have at Maryland. There was Margene, Claudia (just a wave -- i'm sure she gets plenty of blogger hellos), Johanna, Alison, Carol (of Black Bunny Fiber fame, Kellee, Vicki, Cassie, Laura (who recognized me from behind because of my hair!), Jessica and her mom, and Eklectika.

Then of course there were the many times we saw Katy and her mom (a serious sign that we haven't seen enough of each other lately).

And still with all those people, there were several I was on the lookout for that I never saw. Oh well, something else to look forward to next year.

So, the festival. I only took a few pics. I just wanted to enjoy the festival and not feel like I was on assignment.

There was this fabulous mermaid all done up in felted roving. Isn't she gorgeous? I had a hard time finding the name of the booth. If you know can you leave a comment? She was just a couple booths down from The Fold.

Of course, I did buy some yarn...

Starting at 2 o'clock there's 3 hanks of Socks That Rock (Rocktoberfest, Rhodonite, and Bleeding Heart), a hank of sock yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm, 2 hanks of purple heathered Shelridge Farms sock yarn, a huge hank of very fine sock yarn from Sliver Moon Farm (it's over a 1,000 yards and will be for very thin knee highs)*, and a hank of Soxie (Antique colorway) from the Great Adirondack Yarn Company.

Now that I've finished the sweater I'm really in the mood for some sock knitting. I was looking for a few other things that I just didn't find (100% cormo sock yarn -- maybe from the cormo booth at MDSW?, enough of a hand-dyed laceweight for a sweater knit on larger needles, and barberpole in a weight thin enough for socks). Maple Creek Farm had a great DK weight barberpole but I didn't snatch it up fast enough. Oh well, there's always next year.

So, my goal for this yarn is to knit all of it before MDSW. That's really very reasonable. I didn't buy that much (probably less than the last 2 MDSWs) and if I don't knit it all up then there's no reason to buy much at Maryland.

And we all know that ain't happening.

* half of it is already wound up, the hank was really huge

Alright, a quickie last post before I pack it up. As I type this, Jody is on a plane headed for me Rhinebeck!!!!!

This has been one long week. A beta deliverable at work, finishing up the Rhinebeck sweater (oh I have a story for you, but it'll have to wait), cleaning (is the house ever clean enough for an overnight guest?), and a 2+ hour commute home one night because of the torrential rainstorm that caused a 7 car pileup.

But the good stuff...the sweater is done really really close to being done, the beta review went really well, I was safely tucked in my car when the 7 car pileup happened, and the best part...

By this time tomorrow I'll be in the stylin rental car* driving up to Rhinebeck with 3 of my favorite ladies.

If you see me, be sure to say hi. I should mention that I've decided not to wear the sweater at the festival. Cashmere, silk, and lacey bell sleeves just don't feel like the right thing for walking around a festival. You can bet your bippy that I'll have it on at night though.

Hell, I may even sleep in it.

*Hertz decided to change it from a Grand Prix to a Taurus. It's still better than 4 girls in a Jeep. But a Taurus? Why?!?

This pic indicates:

1. I'm desperately behind on my pedicure.


2. I need to buy more towels.


3. It's sure to rain all weekend at Rhinebeck.


4. It's 11:30 PM and I spent most of the weekend frogging finishing the sweater*.

* it was 11:30 Sunday night when I wrote this, but I was so tired I never actually published it!

   

I've always planned on a bell sleeve, but I wanted something more than just a widening sleeve at the edge.

After trying a few different edges, I decided on the lacey one you see here. It's a messy lace, in a good way.

I've been dying to use beads so I picked up a few varieties this weekend. I crocheted a couple of edges on the lace, and I'm leaning toward option B (on the right). They've both similar but I like B because it's sturdier. I think it'll be fun to wear with the weight of the beads and the strength of the crochet.

There's this nagging part of me that wonders if it's too much. I'm keeping things as is for now, and I'll see what I think after the second sleeve is done. It's so easy to rip crochet that I'm not too worried about it if I do want to remove it.

The way I figure it, I have about a week left to finish. If I can finish the cap this week I should be safe. That'll leave the arm, the crocheted edging, and about 50 more ends to weave in over the weekend.

OK, this deserves its own blog entry. I was over at Karma's blog and read that Cotton Ease is coming back.

So I went to the source -- the Yahoo Cotton Ease group -- and it looks like it's really true. Lion Brand responded to someone's email with:

We are a few months away but we will be introducing a beautiful new color range. We'll let people know when we have a date.

Nice! So not only are they bringing back a great yarn, but they're improving the color palette.

While they're at it, maybe they can even spell the color names correctly ;) I know there's popsical blue, but I think there's at least one more, no?

  

I started these socks almost exactly 2 years ago. It was the first sock I made in DK weight yarn and I ended up sizing it a little bit too small. So the almost-finished sock that I posted about in 2004 has been hanging around since then.

With the start of Octoberfest I got my motivation back. I started on it this morning and I'm already past the heel. Damn, DK-weight socks knit up fast!

Last time around I used a plain st st foot and a k3 p1tbl leg. Now, after several projects with variegated yarn done in rev st st, I decided to try it on the sock as well.

It's certainly busy, but the yarn was busy already. I think it's fun and I'm keeping it.

I just started the leg and I'm doing a simple slip stitch rib. It won't roll but it also won't cinch in much, which was what I was hoping for.

The yarn is nice -- Regia Crazy Colors -- but the yardage is a little light. Each 50 gram ball has just 125 meters. After knitting about 2 inches of the leg I have just 18 grams left. So the leg won't even be as long as my foot.

On the plus side though, the sparse yardage will make for a really quick FO.