I casted on for Aberlady last week while sitting at KH. There were quite a few F words thrown out as I casted on 384 STITCHES. Before the cast on, I did a swatch and got about 8.5 stitches per inch, which is not what it should be, but I will live (cover your ears Elspeth). I figured knitting in the round will generate tighter stitches than knitting flat, and there’s always blocking to fix issues. I will also check my gauge after the band and see if I need to drop a needle size.

Which brings me to my next gripe. WTF is wrong with needlemakers? Why do they all have to create their own version of US 2s? For example, here’s what the major needlemakers consider a US 2 in mm:

- Crystal Palace - US 2, no mm stamp or specification ANYWHERE. I measured mine and it’s 2.75mm.

- Skacel Addis (site is not working) - US 2=3.00 mm, sigh.

- KnitPicks, fixed circulars - US 2=2.75mm AND 3.00mm. Yup. You get to pick your version of US 2s.

- Inox circulars - US 2=2.75mm. Inox make this clear and obvious on their package.

** Of course, this is not a complete list of makers. But, this does show the most common needles one can find at your LYS. So, what is the correct answer? What is a US 2 needle? Well, according to Wikipedia, a US2 is 2.75 mm NOT 3mm. I know there are differences between US and Britain, and other countries but please people just pick one system and stick to it. I vote for metric only.

Happy Times

Moving on to happier times. Here’s the beginning of Aberlady:

I’m using a thrifted sweater’s yarn. I picked up a charcoal merino sweater from Goodwill for $5, and got loads of yarn! The photo doesn’t really pick up the color accurately but believe me when I say it’s a pretty heathery black.

The fun continued this weekend as I tinkered with my new old sewing machine! I got a Kenmore 1030 off Freecycle and it’s a beauty! I just need to pick up bobbins and a bobbin case, and hopefully I’ll be set. I can’t wait to start sewing up some projects. Oh and for you sewing mavens, this is a 1976 model, made in Japan! SWEET.

Now for some laughs. I’m spinning up some roving that I’ve had in my stash for the last year or so. Before I started spinning, I predrafted my roving and put it in a plastic bag by the spinning wheel. What follows is evidence of my cats’ crazy condition. I call it fiber love. My cats have a thing for roving, they love all of it. They will lie on top of it, knead on it, jump into the bag with it, eat it, and attack it. All of it in the name of fun and love.

Lobo sniffing the roving

Lobo licking her paw after touching the roving

The bag can surely fit the two of them

Pikachu loves just sitting on top of it

Oh boy, how fun! Rhinebeck 2007 was everything a girl could wish for and more! The setting was magical, the vendors delightful, the food absolutely delicious and the company stupendous! I’ve posted my pics for you all.

And now for the purchases rundown..Check out ravelry for more yarn details.

1. Buttons from Autumn House Farms:

2. Dark brown skeins from Foxhill Farm (Cormo cross), and 2ply sport skeins from Ginger Hill

3. 2ply sport cone from Ginger Hill, and yummy browns from Brooks Farm

4. Two 4 ounce bags of yummy Cormo/Alpaca/Angora mix from Foxhill Farm

5. 4 ounces of delicious carded Angora:

6. Drop spindle from Hatchtown Farm

7. Fiber tops from Abi’s Farm: Pink merino top and natural colored opossum/merino blend

On and off the needles

So much! Well, not really. I’ve finished some wonderful projects but can’t for the life of me remember to take pics. You will just have to trust me when I say I’ve done them.

Project: Grandma’s stole
Pattern: Print O’ Wave Stole
Yarn: my own handspun laceweight, aka cursed yarn. This yarn was knitted up several times, and ripped several times, but it survived! Fiber came from the Silkworker, and it was a wool/silk blend.
Needles: US4 circular
Modifications: I didn’t calculate the yardage very well and ran out of yarn. The border was not done.
Thoughts: Pattern directions are AWFUL. I love Eunny’s work but this pattern lacks editing. I suggest reading this great post ahead of casting on, and find some patience.

Project: Socks for moi and then gave away to Luxecraft
Pattern: Crusoe
Yarn: From Luxecraft, purchased in Colorado
Needles: US1 circular
Thoughts: No modifications needed. I followed the pattern 100% and got beautiful socks. The socks almost exactly like the Knitty pics!

Project: Stole for moi
Pattern: Simple feather and fan
Yarn: My own handspun laceweight, from this gorgeous fiber!!
Needles: US 7 circular
Thoughts: I blocked this too long and got more of a scarf than a stole! As I told the ladies I will be ripping this back (I know the horror!), and starting all over again with more stitches and less length. I am determined to have a PERFECT cashmere/merino stole.

Those are my finished projects and now for what’s on the needles:

1. Spiral boot socks using Regia Silk

2. Lady Eleanor using Noro Silk Garden

3. Aberlady. This is my first Starmore pattern and I’m so excited! Right now I’m trying to figure out which yarn to use. The pattern calls for a 4ply such as Rowan 4ply Soft, and I’m hoping to use my School Products Lace Merino. Here’s the catch, while both yarns have the same gauge (28sts over 4in on 3.25mm needles), they don’t share the same weight. The lace merino is 3,400 yards in one pound and the Rowan 4ply Soft is 1,730 yards in one pound. If I stick with the School Products my sweater will be thinner and won’t have the same look. What to do? Double up the yarn and change the pattern? Thoughts, anyone?

Or I should say oohh Cookie! Cookie A has launched a new site dedicated to selling her sock patterns. Yipppee!…Now this is old news considering I started this post over a week ago and never got around to pushing it live.

Fast forward to today. I’ve finally recovered from our NYC trip! After two nights of no sleep, and two days of running ALL OVER the big apple, I crashed *hard* Friday night and slept away Saturday. The gals and I went up to NYC to hear the Yarn Harlot speak at FIT in support of her book launch. Of course, the excuse was to hear her speak but we all knew we were there to shop, and shop we did!

—> click on image for more photos at Flickr
1. Our room at the Edison, 2. Elspeth in our room, 3. Erin’s tonsils, 4. Elspeth and Maeve strutting into FIT auditorium

Thursday was spent trolling the Garment district checking out the numerous fabric stores. We also hit some knitting stores in Upper East Side (Knitty City) and Upper West Side. On the Upper West Side we checked out String, home of cashmere delux. Their selection of cashmere is wonderful and the staff was equally fabulous. They have some wonderful patterns that they will modify for you, but you have to purchase along with the yarn. Foooey! After hitting String we needed a little sugar pick up and headed to La Maison du Chocolat. Can you say deadly?!!! The evening ended with the Yarn Harlot speaking, and us heading to Lombardi’s for dinner.

And then came Friday. Oh Friday how I love thee. First up breakfast at Grey Dog, yummy yummy food. And so the yarn crawl began…

1. The Point - Not much to say about this place. The atmosphere, or lack thereof, didn’t do it for me.

2. Purl - Love, love, love! Amazing how small could be and still retain the wonderful sense of excitement! Their yarn selection is large and beautifully organized. I couldn’t bring myself to buy any but I’m sure in the future I’ll be captured by their Lobster Pot cashmere.

3. Purl Patchwork — oh my god! The fabrics! I came home with some Japanese prints. Lovely.

4. Downtown Yarns -lovely staff, and cute doggie! Small and quaint.

5. School Products - the legendary store never lets me down. I got 1lb of merino lace for $26 with over 3400 yards. Yup.

6. Habu Textiles - ohhh if only I was rich I would shop here each time. I’ll have to wait until they have their yearly sale again.

Project update

Remember the merino/cashmere handdyed top? Well, it’s all plied and ready to be knit. Wanna see? This is about 760 yards of laceweight yarn.

I need to get the WPI and update.

I’ve also started my next spinning project, but I can’t tell you much about it. It’s a secret! I can, however, show you a sample. This is the CVM/Rambouillet I bought last year at the MSWF from Robin Nistock at the fleece sale.

I’ll leave you with some cuteness…Lobo hiding behind my spinning wheel and Pikachu protecting the wheel.

Oh boy, I tell you, sometimes life grabs you and shakes you around and makes a mess of things. It seems that the universe has turned against our dearly loved elderly family members. Erin’s grandmother suffered a heart attack, Lolly’s grandfather passed away, and then my grandmother landed at the emergency room, and then went in for open heart surgery. As soon as I heard about this I jumped on a plane and headed to Miami. All is well now, as much as it can be…

Project updates

Before I left for Miami, I finished two projects! Yes, two! I know it’s shocking to hear. I finally finished Kepler and DH’s socks.

Project: Kepler sweater

Pattern: Kepler by Emily aka Fathom Harvill

Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery, Double Twist in Blueberry Aquamarine, about 5 skeins

Gauge: 4.25 stitches to the inch in stst

Needles: US 8s addi turbos, and US 6s for i-cord

Notes: Awesome pattern! Very easy to follow and a wonderful design. I’m extremely happy with the fit and no modifications were made.

Here’s an upclose shot of the band:

For DH’s socks…no finished pics cause they are boring. Just picture another of these but for the other foot.

Project: DH’s steel blue socks

Pattern: Gentleman’s sock in railway stitch from Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Boot, not sure of colorway

Needles: US 1s and 0s for cuff

Notes: Loads of modifications! I didn’t follow the pattern just used the railway stitch for the body and plain stockinette for foot. I knit this toe up with 32 cast on, but the second was 30 sts cast on, and the heel is short row.

New projects and distractions

On my trip to Miami I started a new sock project. I’m knitting Dalarna from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush. I’m using Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4ply in red and US 3s. Let’s see…I’ve also resurrected Tendrils (Knitty Spring 06) which was put aside last August. I’m using my own handspun with beads and I’m hoping I will have enough yarn. This has been ripped once before and may need it again. I think I will have to weigh the yarn and see if I can determine the number of yards I have.

…switching gears here. Has anybody noticed that the Sheepie festival has updated their site? Registration opens April 3rd for the classes. I’m trying to figure out if I’ll be able to take the 3 day spinning class and get down in DC in time for the Arcade Fire show, who by the way rocks!

Speaking of rocking I’ve been consumed lately by Lime & Violet’s podcast.  These ladies crack me up. I love their sense of humor and ability to laugh out loud with such energy. Best of all is their weekly yarn pr0n update where they share their recent findings.  Another obsession of mine has been Prison Break not on TV but on DVD. The suspense, action and writing is quite good. Oh, and of course Michael’s tattoos are gorgeous!

I present you two green feet. My Pomatomus feet.

click image for larger pic

and upclose shot

————-
Pattern: Pomatomus from Knitty Winter 05 by Cookie A.

Yarn: Socks that Rock, “County Clare”, lightweight

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm), one circular

Notes: This is a stretchy pattern that should be swatched but who has time! I started with 1s and went up to 2s. The first sock was knit top down as per pattern. The second was knit toe up with one less repeat and no pattern on foot. I loved the pattern! Very easy to memorize and loads of fun to knit. I highly recommend it.

Spinning news

I’ve finished about 3 ounces of the merino/cashmere blend I dyed in November. Here’s the beautiful bobbin:

I’ve been spinning this quite thin so I could have enough for a shawl. I will eventually have two bobbins full and then ply the two together.

Next project

I’ve started Kepler and have two arm bands, and the front band done. Wanna see?

Here’s the front band

And a close up

I’m using Green Mountain Spinnery’s Double Twist in Blueberry. I’m going to focus on this project and try to not get tempted into another sock. BUT. I tell ya my latest purchase (during holidays) of Schaefer Anne is calling my name. I. MUST. RESIST.

Up Next…possibly

After this sweater is done I’m thinking of knitting up some yummy baby camel yarn from School Products. I got enough for a long sleeve sweater. Here’s pic from their site:

I’m thinking of doing this pattern from Karabella. I just learned that the owner of School Products is also the Karabella founder.

Pattern: KK409

I leave you with the devil, aka Pikachu, sitting on our present from the MIL. She made a quilt depicting a photo we took on our last trip to Chile. The quilt is gorgeous! and I’m sure she would not find this funny but this is sooo Pikachu. Look at that face of defiance.