Well, I tried. I really did. I cast on all those 301 stitches, really loosely so it wouldn't be too tight when it was done. I was about halfway through the second row when I realized I was beyond my skill level. So right in the middle of the row, > gasp < , I put it down.
You see, it's kind of dark in my house. I figure if only I could knit outside, where it's nice and bright, I might be able to do this project as planned. The dark makes it very hard to see the black yarn stitches, and the fact that the stitches are so small doesn't help matters.
After thinking about it the rest of the evening, and then again this morning, I have decided on an alternate plan. First, I will wind up the (possibly) Tip it Ewe Lush, and try that for the cob web border. It might be easier to see, and the black can still be used for the body, as it's all stockinette with decreases.
If that doesn't pan out, I do have a plan C. I will forget about the black all together, and use some beautiful natural that I have somewhere, in one of my stashes. I am pretty sure I have more than 1000 yards of it, so it will do.
A wiser knitter than myself pointed out to me that it was brave to try and use black for this project, it turns out I wasn't brave, but foolish. I remember when I bought it, I was planning on making black socks. I doubt that will ever get done either. I will probably crochet something with it, if this plan B doesn't work out.
The stitches are still sitting there, glaring at me on the needles. I can't bring myself to frog them yet.
Showing posts with label atknitsendyarns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atknitsendyarns. Show all posts
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
In Which I Go Stash Diving!
Yup. Today I went stash diving. I was looking for something specific, a pair of crocheted pot holders that I had made for my MIL and that we got back when she passed away. I wanted to show them to Kim, my knitting buddy. I couldn't find them. I've looked all over this house and still can't find the stupid things.
However, while stash diving, I did make a very interesting find! I pulled out a skein of > gasp < black Malabrigo sock yarn! Then a second. Then a third! And OMG there was a fourth! I was in sock yarn heaven! Much to my surprise, I also pulled out a skein of AtKnitsEndYarns sock yarn too! I'm not sure which colorway it is, but as it's dark red and black/brown, I think it might be Tip It Ewe Lush. It's probably a skein she rejected as not "perfect", I am the luckiest minion on the planet, to know a dyer who gives you her "failures"!!
This discovery got me thinking, I could make another Arachno Shawl, by Jennifer Dassau!! A black one! I think I could also work in the Ewe Lush, between the cobweb edging, at the beginning of the main body.
So I got out my swift and ball winder, and started winding. I did two of the Malabrigos for now. If I can get the edging going without any mistakes, I will wind up the Tip It Ewe Lush. So there I was, casting on 301 stitches of sock yarn on a size 7 circular needle. I put stitch markers every fifty stitches, because hanging around with someone who can't count seems to have rubbed off.
As you can see in the above photo, one of the little buggers gave me a harn time while I was winding him. That's why the left one is so small, and why I'm using it first.
I have completed the first row of the cobweb edging. It's a bit difficult working with the black sock yarn, as it's hard to see the stitches because they're so small. This may take a while.
I love going diving in my stash, I never know what goodies I will find! Somewhere in there are the two big hanks of Lace weight, one natural one back, that I bought at Rhinebeck last fall. And who knows what other goodies I've bought and forgotten about!! It really is like Festivus in July! So watch this space for photos of my progress, if I dont' have to frog and start over....
However, while stash diving, I did make a very interesting find! I pulled out a skein of > gasp < black Malabrigo sock yarn! Then a second. Then a third! And OMG there was a fourth! I was in sock yarn heaven! Much to my surprise, I also pulled out a skein of AtKnitsEndYarns sock yarn too! I'm not sure which colorway it is, but as it's dark red and black/brown, I think it might be Tip It Ewe Lush. It's probably a skein she rejected as not "perfect", I am the luckiest minion on the planet, to know a dyer who gives you her "failures"!!
This discovery got me thinking, I could make another Arachno Shawl, by Jennifer Dassau!! A black one! I think I could also work in the Ewe Lush, between the cobweb edging, at the beginning of the main body.
So I got out my swift and ball winder, and started winding. I did two of the Malabrigos for now. If I can get the edging going without any mistakes, I will wind up the Tip It Ewe Lush. So there I was, casting on 301 stitches of sock yarn on a size 7 circular needle. I put stitch markers every fifty stitches, because hanging around with someone who can't count seems to have rubbed off.
As you can see in the above photo, one of the little buggers gave me a harn time while I was winding him. That's why the left one is so small, and why I'm using it first.
I have completed the first row of the cobweb edging. It's a bit difficult working with the black sock yarn, as it's hard to see the stitches because they're so small. This may take a while.
I love going diving in my stash, I never know what goodies I will find! Somewhere in there are the two big hanks of Lace weight, one natural one back, that I bought at Rhinebeck last fall. And who knows what other goodies I've bought and forgotten about!! It really is like Festivus in July! So watch this space for photos of my progress, if I dont' have to frog and start over....
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
How Lucky am I? (it's good to be a minion!)
I have a very good friend, who hand dyes with kool-aid, spins like a pro, and knits better than anyone I have yet to meet. We became friends about 2 years ago, after a (former) mutual friend introduced us, and I was invited to join their little knitting group. She and I hit it off nearly right away.
Unfortunately, the mutual friend became a former friend. I sometimes can't help but think I somehow contributed to the rift. At a very large Woolly function, I kept referring to myself and the friend as minions of the special friend. After all, we were in her area of expertise. She is the nearly famous hand dyer, great spinner and superior knitter. I certainly meant no insult to the friend. In her areas of expertise, we would have been her minions.
Anyway, now that I'm done explaining. My friend has been trying to get a decent, repeatable black color on her yarns and fibers. She has finally succeeded! I am sworn to secrecy as to how it was achieved, and I'm not really sure I know anyway. But my point is, that I get the not-quite-right yarns given to me; as she is very ethical, and refuses to sell a colorway unless it is perfect, and up to her exacting standards. They are certainly sellable, but she won't sell them. So I get to have them! They are really lovely, and I can't wait for inspiration to hit me, so I can make something gorgeous.
This latest one is the second colorway I was gifted. The first has gone into a shawl, as one stripe of three. I hope it will be finished soon, it's one of the projects I have mentioned that is in my dead-seagull bag. That's what I call it; I bought it in Oregon, at a fancy chain store. The design looked to me like the outline around a dead body at a crime scene. It's in the shape of a seagull. So it has become my "dead seagull" bag.
Her is a photo of the most recent progress of the shawl, the multi-colored stripe is the yarn given to me by my friend.
Man, am I embarrassed. This photo is really old, I have actually finished that stripe and started on the solid pink one. I will take another, truly more up to date photo tomorrow, if the weather is still warm and nice. Promise.
So, in conclusion, I am a humble minion, and very proud to be one. Hey! I have a photo of my friend! I tried to sneak one, and somehow, her hand just got in the way. She seems to have superior, ninja-like reflexes.
Notice the color of the offending finger, around the nail. She had been dyeing that day! And just so you all know, her name is Kim Hartmann, and she has an etsy show where she sells he yarn and fiber. atknitsendyarns.etsy.com. Check out her gorgeous stuff! She does amazing colorways, all done with kool-aid.
THE END
Unfortunately, the mutual friend became a former friend. I sometimes can't help but think I somehow contributed to the rift. At a very large Woolly function, I kept referring to myself and the friend as minions of the special friend. After all, we were in her area of expertise. She is the nearly famous hand dyer, great spinner and superior knitter. I certainly meant no insult to the friend. In her areas of expertise, we would have been her minions.
Anyway, now that I'm done explaining. My friend has been trying to get a decent, repeatable black color on her yarns and fibers. She has finally succeeded! I am sworn to secrecy as to how it was achieved, and I'm not really sure I know anyway. But my point is, that I get the not-quite-right yarns given to me; as she is very ethical, and refuses to sell a colorway unless it is perfect, and up to her exacting standards. They are certainly sellable, but she won't sell them. So I get to have them! They are really lovely, and I can't wait for inspiration to hit me, so I can make something gorgeous.
This latest one is the second colorway I was gifted. The first has gone into a shawl, as one stripe of three. I hope it will be finished soon, it's one of the projects I have mentioned that is in my dead-seagull bag. That's what I call it; I bought it in Oregon, at a fancy chain store. The design looked to me like the outline around a dead body at a crime scene. It's in the shape of a seagull. So it has become my "dead seagull" bag.
Her is a photo of the most recent progress of the shawl, the multi-colored stripe is the yarn given to me by my friend.
Man, am I embarrassed. This photo is really old, I have actually finished that stripe and started on the solid pink one. I will take another, truly more up to date photo tomorrow, if the weather is still warm and nice. Promise.
So, in conclusion, I am a humble minion, and very proud to be one. Hey! I have a photo of my friend! I tried to sneak one, and somehow, her hand just got in the way. She seems to have superior, ninja-like reflexes.
Notice the color of the offending finger, around the nail. She had been dyeing that day! And just so you all know, her name is Kim Hartmann, and she has an etsy show where she sells he yarn and fiber. atknitsendyarns.etsy.com. Check out her gorgeous stuff! She does amazing colorways, all done with kool-aid.
THE END
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