During the first few weeks of being engaged, I bought a wedding planner and started reading every wedding blog I could find. Hello, information overload! I thought wedding planning would be hard and scary but it’s only been two months and most of the important things are done. The wedding is still 11 months away so there’s a few  things I can’t do yet but I feel pretty good about everything. I can’t wait till next spring so I can get started on the fun DIY stuff.

Other than wedding planning, I’ve been doing some spinning and knitting. First, spinning:

I bought some very fine Merino fiber from Alafoss when I was in Iceland. I forgot to take a photo of the before but it came in 1 oz strips and was striped with purple, orange and blue. I tried to separate the colors somewhat but it’s still a marled yarn. I thought it would be ugly knit up but I actually love the scarf I made with it:

Next up, a merino/tencel blend from Yarn Chef:

Turned into:

I was able to retain the colors by splitting the braid in half. Now,what to make with it? I only have about 200 yards and was thinking of using white or black yarn to go with it. I may do something like this to showcase the gradual change in color. By the way, tencel is my new favorite thing to spin.

Everyone is having babies which means I get to knit cute baby sweaters like this tiny grandpa cardigan:

Pattern: Baby Sophisticate

Yarn: My Family by Muench Yarns

Needles: US 8

Notes: This is for Conor’s future cousin once removed,  little Liam, who is due in December.  Doesn’t this look like a sweater for someone named Liam? First, let’s talk about this yarn. I went  to the yarn store and asked for a super wash wool or wool blend for a baby sweater but was immediately met with a “We only have acrylic”.  I never use acrylic yarn because acrylic = plastic and plastic = gross and not fun to knit with but not this yarn. I reluctantly went over to feel it and was floored. This is the softest synthetic stuff I’ve ever touched and it was great to knit with. I’m still going nowhere near Red Heart but I’ve learned to feel before I judge.

The construction of the sweater is really simple but it was a fun knit. I love the garter stitch edging and the shawl collar. It usually takes me an hour or more to pick out buttons for a sweater but when I saw these leather buttons, I knew.

I need to figure out how to make one of these for myself. More photos below:

This photo shows the true color of the yarn.

]]> http://brendaiscrafty.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/hello-internet/feed/ 2 fourpeass Handspun Scarf merino/tencel merino/tencel merino/tencel Sophisticate True color http://brendaiscrafty.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/its-been-awhile/ http://brendaiscrafty.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/its-been-awhile/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:55:33 +0000 fourpeass http://brendaiscrafty.wordpress.com/?p=306 ]]>

So, a lot has happened since I last blogged. I got a new job, went to Iceland, purchased a spinning wheel and most importantly:

Got engaged! He proposed right after I purchased my spinning wheel, in the parking lot of WEBS. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

I changed my official start date to May 4th. I’ve also started a new photo blog for goal #14: Post one photo a day that I’ve taken. Will post on new photo blog. Check it out!

I couldn’t make it to Maryland this past weekend because I had to move but I had a great time at CT Sheep and Wool the weekend before. Much tinier than Maryland and Rhinebeck but way less overwhelming. I was able to walk around and see each vendor a couple of times before buying anything. I also got to see some New Haven SnBers! There were sheep, of course:

These guys were running at me and I was a little terrified that they’d run right into me but a sheep dog showed up just in time. I didn’t go crazy with the spending.  I brought $100 in cash and spent probably about $98. I bought some nice Cormo cross:

My goal is to spin it up this week because I need to return my rental wheel. I tried out a ton of spinning wheels and ALMOST bought one. Luckily, Conor was there to talk some sense into me. Right now, I’m leaning towards  a Lendrum because not only was everyone and their mother spinning on them but I felt the most comfortable with it. I heard such great things about Kromski’s but I didn’t like any of the ones I tried. I need to get my hands on more Ashfords before I decide. In the meantime, I can spin using this:

I thought I had given up on spindles but I had a decent time using this Golding spindle so I bought it. So much better than the crappy $5 one I bought in Maryland last year. Maybe I’ll master the spindle while I’m saving up for a wheel. The spindle is resting on some lovely pink/orange Cormo:

I’m a little sad I missed Maryland but there’s still Rhinebeck and Stitches East (in hartford, whoo!). I came home with a good lot and had a great time.  Conor had fun too:

PS. Changing my start date of my 101 in 1001 list to today. This weekend was waaaay to crazy and I forgot all about it. 

So, I decided to try this 101 in 1001 thing. The idea is to set 101 goals that you can accomplish in 1001 days. I’m being totally realistic about this. I know that I might not accomplish all 101 things and that I might drop out completely half way through but making the list itself was a good exercise. I’m officially starting May 1st and will have until Friday, January 27, 2012 to finish. The end date will be my 27th birthday.  Most of the things are pretty basic because some of my larger goals are a bit too personal to share on the internet. Here are the hobby related goals. The entire list can be seen here.

1.        Knit a full-size afghan.

2.        Knit Conor a sweater.

3.        Knit an intricate lace shawl in actual lace weight yarn.

4.        Complete at least one knitting project a month. (0/33)

5.        Design my own knitting pattern.

6.        Knit a cowichan style sweater aka “the dude” sweater.

7.        Organize my yarn storage…again.

8.        Knit for at least 15 minutes a day. (0/1001)

9.        Buy a spinning wheel.

10.     Once I purchase a spinning wheel, spin for at least 20 minutes a day.

11.     Spin enough yarn for a sweater

12.     Purchase Photoshop and Lightroom.

13.     Learn how to use Photoshop and Lightroom.

14.     Take one photo a day that I like enough to show people. Will put on flickr or my blog. (0/1001)

15.     Sew a vintage style dress that I love enough to wear.

16.     Sew a quilt.

17.     Sew curtains for my bedroom.

18.     Make one skirt that fits me perfectly.

19.     Then make it in multiple colors.

20.     Take a class at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven.

21.     Paint my bedroom green.

22.     Have apartment fully decorated by the end of summer.

23.     Adopt a puppy.

24.     Learn to crochet.

25.     Go record shopping once a month. (0/33)

26.     Listen to a new music once a month. (0/33)

27.     Buy an accordion.

28.     Learn the lyrics to Paul Revere.

29.     Take a cooking class.

30.     Work on my pie crust.

31.     Bake Devon an apple pie.

32.     Make Crème Brule with a blow torch.

33.     Make another roast chicken.

34.     Stop fearing chicken in general.

35.     Put my favorite recipes into one format and complete my first recipe binder.

36.     Buy a nice bottle of tequila.

37.     Host a beer tasting.

Read complete list here. 

You guys. It’s spring! Isn’t it funny how one day you’re grudgingly putting on your winter coat and the next you’re walking around downtown wearing a t-shirt and flip flops? I started riding my bike to work again last Thursday. It was so wonderful, I almost wish we lived farther from my job. We’re moving again, Conor and I, to the East Rock area on May 1st. I am very excited and I’ve already begun mapping different routes to make my bike commute longer in the morning. With some inspiration, I decided to dress up my bicycle a little:

I’ve been wanting a basket since I bought the bike, well over a year ago, but ended buying a rack and attaching a milk crate to it. I was always paranoid things were going to fly out of it though, no matter how many bungees I used to secure things down. The front basket puts my paranoia to rest and it’s visually pleasing especially, with the flowers. I’ve  been meaning to blog about my helmet since I bought it last year. 

I’ll admit it, I hate helmets. I think they’re dorky and they make my head sweat something fierce in the summer. That being said, I value my brains and my life so, I wear a helmet. I searched the Internet far and wide to find one that I wouldn’t mind wearing and ended up on Nutcase Helmets. I love it. My head still sweats but I feel like a cool dork wearing it as opposed to a dorky dork. 

I have been spinning like a mad woman and spending way too much money on fiber! I’m still working on Kaari and hoping to have it done by CT Sheep and Wool on April 25th. I might have to rip back one of the sleeves and re-knit it so if  I give spinning a break for a couple of days, I think I’ll have it done. On to some spinning photos:

This batt was free with the wheel I rented from Mocha’s Fiber Connection. I spun a 2 ply yarn that feels like twine. It’s way overspun and I probably won’t ever knit with it but it was good  practice.

Next, I bought an Alpaca/Corriedale blend from The Yarn Barn. I’m really not crazy about the color at all but they didn’t have much of a selection and I was dying to spin anything!

The yarn has a cool heathered look to it but it’s not something I normally go for. Anyway, here’s some uneven 2 ply. I think I’ve only used about half of of the roving (I bought a pound!). 

So, I finally decided to look at Etsy for some roving and oh boy, there is a ton to choose from. I kind of fell in love with All Spun Up and can’t stop buying from her shop!

Initially, I was hoping to get a decent 2 ply out of this roving to make socks but I couldn’t get a consistently thin single so I decided to leave it as  is. It varies between a light fingering weight and a thick lace weight. I have about 300 yards of it and have no clue what I can make with it.

And again, from All Spun Up, a merino/silk blend. 

This is definitely my favorite so far. I think it’s mostly sport weight. The WPI varies between 11 – 13. I wish I had more but I only have about 250 yards.

There is a subtle sheen from the silk that you can’t really see in the photo. I’m thinking of knitting up something like this Silk Kerchief and hoping I have enough to get a triangle scarf. 

I’m going to have to return the wheel in a few weeks. I have no idea when I’ll be able to afford my own but I’m definitely going to try a bunch out at upcoming sheep and wool festivals. I’m going to Iceland in June so I definitely won’t be purchasing a wheel until after the trip. Maybe I’ll spin more on my drop spindle…maybe not. 

I took a spinning class on Saturday and it was awesome! We started out by sitting at different wheels and treadling. After feeling the differences between a double and single treadle wheel, I decided to stick with the double. I forgot what type of wool we started spinning with. I know Corriedale was one of them, you can see some in my first skein:

I wish I could remember what the tan wool is. Maybe Romney? I was getting pretty used to drafting and adjusting the tension of the wheel so by the end of that little skein, it started  to somewhat resemble yarn. The instructor must have thought I had a decent handle on it because she let me spin some of the softest merino I’ve ever felt. Boy, was that a mistake. The merino was so fine, it kept pulling apart. Look how much I spun before I went back to the tan stuff:

One person in the class was amazing from the beginning. She normally spins using a drop spindle so she was already good at drafting and getting an evenly spun yarn:

The shot is in motion but you can get a pretty good idea of how even the yarn is. She was spinning alpaca by the end of the class. I think I understand the basic mechanics of it, now I just need to fine tune everything I learned. Luckily, I brought home of these:

You can rent wheels at Mocha’s Fiber Connection for $15/week so I went for it. I spun a little on Sunday and ended up with my 2nd skein of yarn. It’s definitely over spun in some spots but overall, I’m happy with it. 

So, what’s really annoying is that after finishing that skein, I tried to practice more but I could not get the yarn to wind onto the bobbin so I gave up and decided I’d try again later. I took yesterday off and tried to spin a bit today but the same thing kept happening. What am I doing wrong? It’s incredibly frustrating. The yarn just spins and coils up on me. I’m considering paying for a private lesson because I’ve wasted so much fiber at this point. The funny thing is, I picked up my drop spindle and was able to spin a nice thin yarn for for the first time. I guess I’m happy about that but still annoyed about not being able to spin on the wheel. After a bit more practice, I’m hoping to spin some usable yarn out of this:

Any spinners have tips for me?

I’ve been dying to make baby clothes but no one around me is anywhere near ready to have any babies…until now! My friend Sara and her husband, Eric, are expecting a baby girl in April. As soon as I heard it was girl, I knew I was going to make Helena. When the Fall issue of Knitty came out, I considered knitting Helena just to have as a back up. Eventually, everyone is going to start having babies. Maybe I should just have an arsenal of baby knits ready. Anyway, here’s the sweater:

Pattern: Helena from Knitty in the 12 month size

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK

Needles: US 6 and US 2

Notes: Great, straightforward pattern. I didn’t do a gauge swatch because I figured at some point in the baby’s life it would fit her. It turns out my measurements were spot on for the 12 month size with the exception of the body being .5 inches longer. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t do gauge swatches in general. I find them very helpful most of the time but if I’m going to be knitting something where gauge isn’t crital or if it’s something that is easy to modify as I go, I won’t do a swatch. Anyway, check out the buttons (they’re kind of a pain to get through the buttholes but I didn’t tell Sara that…shhh):

The baby shower was great. No silly games or over the top decorations but plenty of good food and drink. I ended up chatting with another knitter who made the cutest baby sweater and booties. I want to knit more baby things. Seriously folks, get to it!

Pattern: Maddox the Mischievous Monster by Rebecca Danger

Yarn: Malabrigo

Needles: US 5

Notes: Made this for my friend Jenny for her birthday.  I really enjoyed making him and I’m actually kind of sad we had to part.  Jenny loves him though, so I know he’s in a good home. I’ll make another for myself eventually. Toys are a nice break from functional knits though, you could argue that his function is  to bring joy into my  life.

In other news, I just signed up for a spinning (yarn-spinning, not bike-spinning) class at Mocha’s Fiber Connection. It’s all the way out in Colchester but I’m dying to learn! Not that I can afford a wheel anytime soon but at least I’ll know if it’s for me.  They also rent out wheels for 15 bucks a week. I really like the idea of completing a project from total start to finish. From spinning the fiber into yarn to knitting it up into a wearable garment.