After all of my rambling on last week about my wonderful rustic wool...I encountered an issue. My skeins looked pretty well matched so I didn't take the time to compare them in strong natural light. So as I was working in the second skein I noticed it was a bit lighter than the first...I am an old hat at alternating so I happily continued on.
Now the horrible part...I was adding the third skein when it finally hits me that the last 2 are quite a bit darker than the first 2. I was so mad at myself, because I could've probably blended them fine if I had taken the time before I started, but NOOOOOOO...not me! I like to make my life difficult.
Anyway, I was completely crushed...start over >_< ...start over in a different yarn :*( ....or search the stashes in rav :) Oh yeah, I was so lucky to find a wonderful person that had the same color in their stash and was willing to sell me a couple skeins! I ♥ Ravelry!
The yarn should arrive tomorrow and I am hoping that it will either be closer to my lighter skein or be in between the 2 shades so I won't have to rip a lot. Said sweater has both RS and WS 2 stitch twists...not the most fun to rip and redo! Fingers crossed!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
This and That.
Here I am, back again so soon! I just wanted to share a few things that are making me so incredibly happy lately!
1. All the Coastal Hoodie WIPs! I adore going through and looking at all of the wonderful color combinations. It is taking all of my self control not to go through and favorite and comment multiple times on everyone's project. I don't want to scare anyone, but I am stalking and admiring all of your lovely projects. This happened too:
It only stayed at #5 for a few hours, but out of all the patterns and amazingly talented designers on Ravelry, I was in awe. And...I squeed, loud enough that the dogs ran and hid in the other room.
2. Wooly wool. I have been working with a lot of superwash and silk blends lately, so I am psyched to have some really rustic, domestically sourced (and spun!) wool back on the needles. Here is the yarn (no WIP pics yet!):
This is Imperial Stock Ranch's Erin hand-dyed by Madelinetosh. Really lovely stuff with super subtle color variations and wait til you see the stitch definition! I have already separated the sleeves on my prototype sweater in this yarn so I will try to grab some shots soon.
3. Books. I am making myself read more, as knitting and spinning and dyeing and running have taken over every second of free time that I have! So now I am trying to read for at least 45 minutes to an hour everyday. I am starting with Harry Potter, because I started a few times, but then the movies were coming out and well...it was easier to watch than read >_< I also got the new MochiMochi book, abso-freaking-lutely ADORABLE!!! Maybe I should make time to make a teeny-tiny everyday, too!
1. All the Coastal Hoodie WIPs! I adore going through and looking at all of the wonderful color combinations. It is taking all of my self control not to go through and favorite and comment multiple times on everyone's project. I don't want to scare anyone, but I am stalking and admiring all of your lovely projects. This happened too:
2. Wooly wool. I have been working with a lot of superwash and silk blends lately, so I am psyched to have some really rustic, domestically sourced (and spun!) wool back on the needles. Here is the yarn (no WIP pics yet!):
This is Imperial Stock Ranch's Erin hand-dyed by Madelinetosh. Really lovely stuff with super subtle color variations and wait til you see the stitch definition! I have already separated the sleeves on my prototype sweater in this yarn so I will try to grab some shots soon.
3. Books. I am making myself read more, as knitting and spinning and dyeing and running have taken over every second of free time that I have! So now I am trying to read for at least 45 minutes to an hour everyday. I am starting with Harry Potter, because I started a few times, but then the movies were coming out and well...it was easier to watch than read >_< I also got the new MochiMochi book, abso-freaking-lutely ADORABLE!!! Maybe I should make time to make a teeny-tiny everyday, too!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Another New Pattern!
Hey kiddos! I am so sorry that I continue to be horrible about keeping y'all updated. Notice how I try to butter you guys up with a little southern drawl ♥ of course it is finished with that lingering touch of Jersey accent I still have after all these years ;) But...I have been busy! I present Bubbles and Baubles:
This was an amazing experience for me. I came up with the idea of this shawl over a year ago and was just waiting for my brain to be able to execute it. Lots of math (or maths as the Brits say) and lots of charting, sketches and my extra large graph paper tablet helped bring it to life. Of course, not taking the easy way out, the entire shawl is beaded...and yes, that is a looped picot edging!
Enjoy my lovlies and I promise to try to provide more regular updates! I am currently working on a mess of magazine submissions, a contiguous cardi and another eBook (or two)! Oh yeah, I am still marathon training too, so I hope that will be enough to earn your forgiveness...xoxo.
This was an amazing experience for me. I came up with the idea of this shawl over a year ago and was just waiting for my brain to be able to execute it. Lots of math (or maths as the Brits say) and lots of charting, sketches and my extra large graph paper tablet helped bring it to life. Of course, not taking the easy way out, the entire shawl is beaded...and yes, that is a looped picot edging!
Enjoy my lovlies and I promise to try to provide more regular updates! I am currently working on a mess of magazine submissions, a contiguous cardi and another eBook (or two)! Oh yeah, I am still marathon training too, so I hope that will be enough to earn your forgiveness...xoxo.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Coastal Hoodie now Available!
I am just popping in quickly to let you know that my Coastal Hoodie pattern is now available for pre-order! It is in the final editing stages and will be released at the full price of $6.50 August 16th. Until August 15th at 10pm edt it can be pre-ordered for just $4! You'll receive a preview pdf with the materials list, stripe pattern, notes and the schematic. Then one the 16th, you'll receive the full pattern :)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Coastal Hoodie...done!
Hello my lovely readers! I hope I haven't lost you all with my extended absence! Things have been quite busy with coaching close to 100 marathon trainees, not to mention marathon training myself. Plus I was just a tiny bit burnt out after the last eBook, I wanted a little time to not worry about knitting deadlines. I learned how to spin with a drop spindle, too!
Anyway, after months of fits and starts and redesigns...my Coastal Hoodie is complete and I am in love! I wish it wasn't 100 degrees out so I could wear it all the time. This sweater is a top down, reverse stockinette raglan with a nice roomy hood, pockets (i ♥ pockets) and turned hems/bands with a contrasting facing.
I am trying out a new testing/editing model for this pattern. My editor and I are doing a really thorough editing first, then doing a quick "test" with some knitters to make sure the pattern is easy to follow and then if all goes well it will be ready to release. They'll be reading through and starting the pattern looking for the less tangible things that don't always get caught on the technical side. Like readability and clarity, is there a better way to word it for the average knitter.
Many self-published patterns by indie designers are briefly edited to make sure nothing is glaringly wrong, then test knit to completion to check the numbers (or just test knit without the initial edit for "simpler" patterns), etc and then edited again. This model works well for accessories, but adds at least a month to the editing time on a garment pattern. I have to admit that I am so excited about this pattern and the interest in it so far that I think I would burst if I had to wait a month before publishing!
Publications (books and magazines) often leave out the test knitting step and thoroughly tech edit to get their product out in a timely manner. So I figured it would be interesting to try especially due to the ease of editing and grading a top down raglan. Fingers crossed that all goes well...and if it does, the Coastal Hoodie pattern could be available for download quite soon!
Anyway, after months of fits and starts and redesigns...my Coastal Hoodie is complete and I am in love! I wish it wasn't 100 degrees out so I could wear it all the time. This sweater is a top down, reverse stockinette raglan with a nice roomy hood, pockets (i ♥ pockets) and turned hems/bands with a contrasting facing.
I am trying out a new testing/editing model for this pattern. My editor and I are doing a really thorough editing first, then doing a quick "test" with some knitters to make sure the pattern is easy to follow and then if all goes well it will be ready to release. They'll be reading through and starting the pattern looking for the less tangible things that don't always get caught on the technical side. Like readability and clarity, is there a better way to word it for the average knitter.
Many self-published patterns by indie designers are briefly edited to make sure nothing is glaringly wrong, then test knit to completion to check the numbers (or just test knit without the initial edit for "simpler" patterns), etc and then edited again. This model works well for accessories, but adds at least a month to the editing time on a garment pattern. I have to admit that I am so excited about this pattern and the interest in it so far that I think I would burst if I had to wait a month before publishing!
Publications (books and magazines) often leave out the test knitting step and thoroughly tech edit to get their product out in a timely manner. So I figured it would be interesting to try especially due to the ease of editing and grading a top down raglan. Fingers crossed that all goes well...and if it does, the Coastal Hoodie pattern could be available for download quite soon!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Lollygagging.
I am still taking my sweet time on those Coastal Hoodie sleeves! Luckily I did manage to get one done last night...including all of the ends woven in. It was definitely a pain, but I really love the stripes and the reverse stockinette and there were no easy shortcuts. As soon as I finish this post, it is back to the mines for me.
So I have been dyeing more yarn while avoiding the sleeves. This time I used the leftovers from "B♥MB." I had poured the leftover dye into a mason jar, since after sprinkling the dye powder over the yarn and then spraying it with water there was quite a bit leftover...about 700mL. I used 200gm of Soft Silk yarn, a single ply 50/50 silk/merino blend. For this dye job I used an immersion technique, also called kettle dyeing...my old 10qt turkey roaster came in handy for this.
I filled the roaster most of the way with water and added the leftover dye then turned on the heat. Once it was steaming, after about 20 min, I added the citric acid. It was already looking pretty neat, since the gray and black dyes took up much quicker that the fuchsia. After the dye bath was exhausted, the yarn was pink with some grayish areas.
I decided to darken it up a bit since I already had a commercial yarn that was pretty close in color and texture (Malabrigo Silky Merino in Madre Perla). I used a mixture of blue and purple to deepen the current color and since the water was already hot and acidic...it struck quickly and a little mottled. That was exactly what I was hoping for! Here are some shots of the yarn:
After the leftover dye was exhausted...before the blue/purple overdye.
Soaking in the sink with some Soak.
Dried skeins.
So I have been dyeing more yarn while avoiding the sleeves. This time I used the leftovers from "B♥MB." I had poured the leftover dye into a mason jar, since after sprinkling the dye powder over the yarn and then spraying it with water there was quite a bit leftover...about 700mL. I used 200gm of Soft Silk yarn, a single ply 50/50 silk/merino blend. For this dye job I used an immersion technique, also called kettle dyeing...my old 10qt turkey roaster came in handy for this.
I filled the roaster most of the way with water and added the leftover dye then turned on the heat. Once it was steaming, after about 20 min, I added the citric acid. It was already looking pretty neat, since the gray and black dyes took up much quicker that the fuchsia. After the dye bath was exhausted, the yarn was pink with some grayish areas.
I decided to darken it up a bit since I already had a commercial yarn that was pretty close in color and texture (Malabrigo Silky Merino in Madre Perla). I used a mixture of blue and purple to deepen the current color and since the water was already hot and acidic...it struck quickly and a little mottled. That was exactly what I was hoping for! Here are some shots of the yarn:
After the leftover dye was exhausted...before the blue/purple overdye.
Soaking in the sink with some Soak.
Dried skeins.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Everything but...
My poor hoodie, the sleeves are still not complete! At least I have finally made it past the elbow on one...progress is progress. Of course I am not helping matters (nor is marathon coaching and training). The past week or so, I have been doing everything I could to avoid working on those sleeves, such as:
I tried out the (♥AMAZING♥) Contiguous sleeve method on a new sweater. Really, you should check this out! It is like top down set in sleeves with the ease of a raglan...here's the Ravelry group with tons of info from the originator of the method.
I made twelve pounds of soap, then went on an ordering binge to restock my soap supplies so I can make more soap. Then I trawled around the soap making forums I used to hang around for more soap making ideas and projects. Here's the soap:
Definitely not as pretty as I used to be able to make, but I haven't soaped in over a year...and I decided to try a new coloring method. Not my best idea.
Finally, I broke out the dyes again! I did end up getting the Kindle version of Hand Dying Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan and I also downloaded the "Gorgeous Hand Dyed Yarn at Home," pdf from Three Irish Girls (I did get the gradient one, too and I do not recommend it...the method is super complicated and time consuming). Both had good tips and featured slightly different methods, but also had a lot of information that I had already gathered online. It is nice though to have the information neat and in either a pdf or in my Kindle app...especially when my interwebs get funky (which is weekly, thanks Comcast).
I did some handpainting, which came out kind of awful, it was my fault for getting a bit overzealous with the acid. Then I tried to do a quick glaze; throwing it into hot, acidy water with a smidge of a darker color to tone it down...I think that just made matters worse. So today we won't be seeing any pictures of that poor skein ;) Hopefully an overdye in a completely different color will save it.
Happily I did have a success yesterday! I used this method of dying...so much fun! I went for a little more order when sprinkling my dye powders...I used a .5 gm scoop of Jacquard Hot Fuchsia for one end of the skeins, then 4 - .5 gm scoops of Jacquard Silver Gray for the middles and a .5 gm scoop of Greener Shades Midnight Black for the other ends. In hindsight I could've used about half of the gray, but I am still in love with this method and the results. Unfortunately, I was having to much fun during, so I forgot to take in progress pics, but here is the finished yarn:
I am calling it "B♥MB," since it is kind of like a crazy fluorescent explosion!
I tried out the (♥AMAZING♥) Contiguous sleeve method on a new sweater. Really, you should check this out! It is like top down set in sleeves with the ease of a raglan...here's the Ravelry group with tons of info from the originator of the method.
I made twelve pounds of soap, then went on an ordering binge to restock my soap supplies so I can make more soap. Then I trawled around the soap making forums I used to hang around for more soap making ideas and projects. Here's the soap:
Definitely not as pretty as I used to be able to make, but I haven't soaped in over a year...and I decided to try a new coloring method. Not my best idea.
Finally, I broke out the dyes again! I did end up getting the Kindle version of Hand Dying Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan and I also downloaded the "Gorgeous Hand Dyed Yarn at Home," pdf from Three Irish Girls (I did get the gradient one, too and I do not recommend it...the method is super complicated and time consuming). Both had good tips and featured slightly different methods, but also had a lot of information that I had already gathered online. It is nice though to have the information neat and in either a pdf or in my Kindle app...especially when my interwebs get funky (which is weekly, thanks Comcast).
I did some handpainting, which came out kind of awful, it was my fault for getting a bit overzealous with the acid. Then I tried to do a quick glaze; throwing it into hot, acidy water with a smidge of a darker color to tone it down...I think that just made matters worse. So today we won't be seeing any pictures of that poor skein ;) Hopefully an overdye in a completely different color will save it.
Happily I did have a success yesterday! I used this method of dying...so much fun! I went for a little more order when sprinkling my dye powders...I used a .5 gm scoop of Jacquard Hot Fuchsia for one end of the skeins, then 4 - .5 gm scoops of Jacquard Silver Gray for the middles and a .5 gm scoop of Greener Shades Midnight Black for the other ends. In hindsight I could've used about half of the gray, but I am still in love with this method and the results. Unfortunately, I was having to much fun during, so I forgot to take in progress pics, but here is the finished yarn:
I am calling it "B♥MB," since it is kind of like a crazy fluorescent explosion!
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