Sock Ownership

This week I finished the Rainbow Socks; they were supposed to be for me, but youngest has been admiring them since I started them and apparently my subconscious decided they were meant to be for him.   I'm going by the fact that although they do fit me, they're a touch shorter than I prefer, which means they fit him really well.

Apparently my camera is not too impressed by the colour changes and didn't cope well in night lighting.

I finally got a photo of the Drop Leaf Shawlette on me; selfies are not something that I take to naturally, but at least the scarf looks good!

From my iPad; oh for a real camera to capture the colours, but the DSLR is not good for selfies

As a reminder, this is what the colours really look like:

I'm in the process of warping up my next project using Vintage Purls yarn, here's the warp ready to go

The colour is called Lure

and the colour that's going with is is Faded Romance; I've chosen to go with the same type of yarn instead of the handspun as the handspun isn't superwash and the warp I'm using is.   I'll experiment later, but at this point I want a useable scarf and I'm planning on applying for the Creative Fibre Award for New Weavers so something that looks as I planned it is a good thing.

I think this will work brilliantly with Lure.

This project is my first pattern that's not a basic plain weave or twill; admittedly it's also my third pattern full stop, but I see no reason to keep it safe when there are so many lovely things to try!   This will be a point twill pattern so the threading is reversed in some sections and it should be very pretty when done.

Project Progress:

Test knit is now all together and ready to cast on.  I've made my beading assistant, got the yarn wound and the beads are chosen; might start on that tonight or tomorrow.

Evenstar Shawl is onto the first lace pattern and I've just realised it needs beads too, going to have to go shopping for that as my only pink beads are a blue based pink and will shriek.

Neptune High Socks have been restarted; I was going to do them knee high, but have never done knee highs before and doing that with a colourwork pattern seemed the height of folly.   Now doing my usual calf length

Breakwater is almost at the point of finishing the raglan increases; might turn this into my take-along knitting as it's fairly simple.

18th century gown - the sleeves are pinned in and I've got the extra hooks and eyes ready to go.

And now I need to go and do a little more work in the studio; at least 99% of the stash is now updated (including fibre stash).    Still have the fabric stash to do, but no Ravelry for that and the options I've found online don't fit my needs.   I really need a spreadsheet with photo's so will have to see if Excel can support that.

And to finish off, I have proof of spring here in Christchurch

Pretty tulips at the Botanic Gardens in Hagley Park

The Juki now has a name!

I've decided to name her Jemima, not sure why but it feels right.   She's done well on everything I've thrown at her so far which includes stretch fabric and faux fur (not good quality fur either).    I've done all the machine sewing I can with her on the eighteenth century dress, the rest is hand sewing.

The lumpy bit on the closest side is the sleeve; that's now partially pinned in place.

I have determined that I need more hooks and eyes on the front; there are currently 6 which is how many were on the pattern, but I think I need at least 5 more for a smooth front.   I may also need to shorten the body, but won't know that for certain till I try it on me with my stays etc.   I'll do that once the sleeves are in.
I've also got a new steam station to try out, Spotlight had a deal on a Semco one and considering I dont' much like my current iron I figured it was worth a go.   It's all set up and I'll try it out on the ironing today.

In knitting news I've finished the shawl I was working on, took me 14 days total and I love it!   Downside is it's taking up the studio floor so I can't get to the ironing board to test that new iron till it's dry.

The pattern is the Drop Leaf Shawlette by Tamara Ell and I've called mine Dragon on a Leaf as the colourway is called Dragon's Breath.

So now I need to work on Evenstar and some socks before the pattern and yarn arrive for my test knit.

First bobbin of 4 done, am about 1/3 of the way through the second and hope to finish that next weekend.

In spinning I'm currently working on some Romney that has been in the stash since before the first earthquake.   Once this is finished I should start on some grey to make stockings; I want to work with colour, but do kind of need the grey.
Speaking of spinning and knitting, if anyone reading my blog is in Christchurch and is interested in joining a group of very friendly knitters, spinners, crocheters and weavers do come along to our guild meetings.   We meet at 11 Tanner St on Monday and Saturday from 10am till 2pm and would love to have some new members.   Our fees are (in my opinion) very reasonable and you gain access to an excellent library and a lot of experience!

Best Laid Plans

I did manage to get my first spinning on Esmerelda finished this week

157.5m Navajo plied merino/silk approx fingering weight

But unfortunately I didn't get many of the other things I'd planned done due to illness in the family.   Monday was youngest who lost his breakfast, luckily before school, but then bounced back fairly quickly.   Tuesday everyone was fine so I got a little work done on the dress and also some more knitting and some cleaning.   Wednesday I got hit with what I thought was my version of youngest's bug, but it just turned out to be that time of the month getting to me more than normal; put me out of action for 2 days though.    Then yesterday youngest wasn't well again.  This time he'd lost his bounce, by halfway through the day he had a nasty cough and today once again no bounce and he's coughing and sneezing and running a slight temperature.    I did get to guild, as Dh looked after him which was good, but he's not a well unit and I think I'll be staying home tomorrow to keep an eye on him.  I can't see him going to school on Monday and the school play is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so not sure if he'll be up to that even if back at school on Tuesday as it's a late night.

I think tomorrow will be doing hand work while keeping an eye on my wee lad, you feel so helpless when they're sick.

One good thing, I've got started on my Evenstar Shawl, I've had to resort to my least favourite needles to get it going, but circulars result in broken yarn (I'm using a very fine cashmere) so DPN's it is even if I do feel like I'm using an angry hedgehog to knit with.  This is part of a shawl challenge at the guild so will continue alongside other projects and will be a long-term one.

Progress, Finishes and Plans

On the progress front I have done a little sewing on the polonaise.   Not a lot, youngest was off sick on Monday and eldest off today, but at least I've sewn another seam.   Hoping to get the bodice lining turned tomorrow and maybe the front side hem done as well. 
I used the Juki a bit more too, did brilliantly on fake fur which is one heck of a test!   So far definitely happy I bought it.

I've finished one rainbow sock and youngest wants a pair for himself too; might have to try dyeing that myself though as another lot is not in the budget!

Fish Lips Kiss heel on plain vanilla sock; colours are off as it's a night shot; it's a true rainbow.

I've also done my first fine spinning on Esmerelda and I enjoyed it so Grace is now up on Trademe along with my E-spinner and my wooden ball winder.   Although I'd love to keep Grace I need the money to get a couple of accessories for Esme as well as some extras for Violet (my loom).   I particularly want to change Violet over to using Texsolv heddles as the string ones are all different which affects the shed.
Here's my first fine spinning on Esme prior to plying; I'll ply it in the next day or so hopefully.

Anna Harris's merino/silk.  There's 50g here and I'll be Navajo plying it.

 I finished plying the neverending white too, used Esme for that as well and she performed just as well as the E-spinner but with more control

A kilometer of DK here; and that gingernut coloured yarn in the corner?   That's the latest Vintage Purls sock yarn club yarn which will be in my next weaving project on Violet.

Speaking of Violet I've cut my second project off her, still awaiting its bath to finish it off but here it is:

8 placemats using 2/2 twill with various twill patterns on the ends.  All in 8/2 cotton.

A close up of the last one I did, the contrast in some linen/cotton blend.

 I'm pretty happy with how it looks pre-bath, won't know how it finishes off till after my next course date on Tuesday as that's when we go into wet finishing.   I've already decided what's next on the loom, but it has to wait till I finish at least one more thing (the dress hopefully).   When I do though I'll be warping up with the gingernut yarn and using some handspun as a weft.   Planning my first point weave with this as a scarf

handspun on top, gingernut below, I think this will be really pretty; gingernut is not showing at its best in this photo though.

I've got at least 2 more projects yet to start in knitting too, aside from the jersey that's been on the go and some colourwork socks that are also getting old.   I've got 2 shawls to do, one is a test knit for Valerie with lots of beads and the other is a handspun shawl.  I need more time, more money and a lot less RSI interfering with everything!

Weaving again

Today I started at the Guild, while Thomas and the boys explored the area around The Tannery.    I managed to get my final bobbin of the neverending white spun so tomorrow I'll ply it on Esmerelda.   All going well I'll then be putting Grace and E-spinner up for sale.

Last night I got some seam trimming done on the 18th century dress and a little knitting done.

This afternoon though I got the first of 6 placemats woven:

At this point I had about 1" left to go; have since done that and added a bread with another colour so I can see where this one ends and another starts.

This is the right side; will still be a few days before I get the rest done and cut this off the loom.

My socks are looking good, not sure on the fit yet, but this is my first Fish Lips Kiss Heel

Rainbow socks!

Changing Dreams - a ramble

I was just thinking about dreams, what we wish for and how that changes as we change.

When I was young I wished for fame and fortune; eventually I realised that I didn't want fame, just fortune.   I'd still like fortune, but have extended it from fortune in money to also include fortune in family and health.    When I was 18 I wanted a Toyota Supra and a mansion.   Now, I want a family hatchback with good storage, excellent fuel economy, reliable and with a high wheel base.    I actually want the house we have now with some extras.   Double glazing, solar hot water and power, a decent fire and a heat pump, a shed for the bikes and another to store yarn/fibre out of the studio and a vege garden that doesn't get away on me.

Then I wanted a top of the line sewing machine that could do everything except wash the dishes, now I want a machine that does a great straight stitch and a darned good buttonhole.    I have what I want now on that one too, it's TOL for a basic computerised machine and it doesn't do embroidery, just some fancy stitches and an alphabet.

I want good health for my family, a cleaner so I can spend more time making stuff and the money to not have to work.    I don't want to be a billionaire anymore; maybe a millionaire, enough to do the above and for us both to stop work and be able to spend more time as a family, enough to be able to help out family and friends and the guild.

Dreams change and I think as we get older for most of us they become better.

In the meantime I'll do what I can to spend time crafting to keep me happy, to spend time with my family to keep us all happy and to do as little housework as I can get away with!

I did some crafting today, not for me though, school asked me to make snake hoods for the school play; here's what I came up with:

These took a fair bit of the week, one day to find the fabric, one to sort the pattern (I used part of an Ottobre pattern), another to prewash and cut out the fabric and today was sewing them all together and using eldest to test that they weren't too big/small.

Tonight I am going to spin and maybe knit as well.   I will trim the seams on the gown so I can turn the bodice the right way out so it's ready for sleeves.

My New Toys

I now have my new sewing machine - a Juki HZL-F600; I've only done a wee bit with it so far.   Tested it on stretch fabric, some straight stitching on my eighteenth century dress, a test buttonhole etc and I'm happy with ease of use and stitch quality.   I'll do a proper review once she and I have had a chance to get properly acquainted.    I do like her size and weight though, she's got a good solid feel to her and she comes with a great hard case which many machines now don't and a good range of feet too.  
I've had to take some time out to test my old Elna SE Air Electronic and list her on Trademe.   She has a name; Ellie.   Once the Juki and I have had some time together she'll get a name too; most of my tools do.  Some come with them of course like Grace my spinning wheel, but Ellie, Bernie (my Bernina) and Bonnie (my dress form) have all earned theirs.

Without further ado, here she is:

Also joining the family is Rose who comes with her name, but may get renamed if she wants that; we'll see.  Once again I've not had time to do much with her yet, had a wee go and I know that it'll take a bit for us to get used to eachother.   She didn't come with an orifice hook so I'll have to sort something out for that; can't steal Grace's as hers will probably be finding a new home as I don't have room for 2 wheels.   She's beautiful though and I love my custom design on her.

Just finished assembling her.

My lovely morepork; I actually drew this myself from a photo; really happy with him.

There's certainly no lack of things to spin on her; picked up my processed fibre today.   I really need another 24 hours in each day I think, and a cleaner cos that's what I spent half of today doing was cleaning the dining/kitchen area.   I still need to finish the neverending white on Grace and then ply it on Rose to see how that goes.   If it goes well then I'll be selling the E-spinner (with Woollee Winder); fingers crossed as I need the money and space from that.

Tomorrow I need to spend some time with both these ladies.   18th century gown needs a little seaming on the skirt and to have the lining applied to the bodice, so the Juki will get a play with that.   I need to do some basic worsted spinning on Rose to see how that goes; my test run was with carded alpaca and I did long draw which went well, but I normally spin worsted so that's my next test and if it goes well she'll come to the guild on Saturday to meet all my friends.

I've done a few more rows on my rainbow socks and decided I'm going to use the Fish Lips Kiss Heel pattern on it to test it out.    Need to get back onto the loom and if I do sell the things I'm hoping to then she'll be getting new heddles as I have decided I don't like string heddles very much.   Texsolv would be better, but only if I've got some money.
There will be no more yarn or fabric or fibre, I have tonnes and I need to start creating space by using what I have.   I may even consider reducing some stash, this is however a thought I need to work on as it's not something I find it easy to do.

Unexpected Knitting

Tonight I haven't slept; instead I spent several hours in our emergency department getting something checked out.   Luckily all is well, and instead of sleep I got to listen to a lot of very unwell people and I got to knit a rainbow.

I had done about 2 rows on the ribbing when I left; now over halfway down the foot!

There were a couple of people who were very interested; probably a change for the doctors and nurses to the usual books and cellphones.    It also meant I didn't ask how long the wait would be, I just waited and knit instead.

Today was originally going to be spent working and sewing etc, but I think I'm just going to vege and look forward to an early night instead.   And no doubt later this week there will be a bill from the ambulance service to add to the taxi I took home, but I don't begrudge it.   I do feel they need more taxi's though; took a good 30 minutes for them to arrive from when I called and from what I saw on TV3 a little while back it's not due to them being too busy, but due to there being less taxi's on the roads since the earthquakes.    I suspect a lot stopped due to the horrible roads and the continuous bills to fix the cars after driving on them.

Ready to Go!

12" of 8-10 cotton warped up to make 6 table mats.   I'll be using the same colour for most of the weft and a mix of pink and brown for a 2" band on each end of each mat.   On Tuesday I'll be winding my weft onto the bobbins ready to go and hopefully also checking my tie up before getting started on the actual weaving.

I've also finished Thomas's socks

The colour is much richer in real life and they fit T better than they do me

We've been busy here, getting prices for retro-fitting double glazing.   We don't have the pricing yet, but depending on how much depends on whether we're going for the whole house or just the lounge and bedrooms; either way we won't be doing the conservatory; that'll just stay cold in winter I think.   I knew this house was cold in winter, but the new studio rooms on the garage have made it more obvious just how bad the house is.   The walls and roof are insulated, but the windows are really big so we lose a huge amount of heat out of them despite having thermal curtains.   We're only looking at real glass options, no nylon or DIY as although they're cheaper they're also more prone to failing.

Now it's time for me to unpick some seams on the eighteenth century dress to get it ready to re-fit and test on my new machine in the next couple of days.   I'm also going to wind a ball of yarn for my next shawl and do some ironing (oh joy).    Then I can do some spinning of more white and work on my 2 year old jersey for spring (Breakwater is the pattern)

A Week Off Work

I really need this, getting horribly stale and having it affect my RSI as well which is not helping.
Today was the first day and I spent part of it putting stuff away in my studio, getting my measurements sorted to warp up the loom on Tuesday and spinning which doesn't tend to affect the RSI if I'm sensible as it's a different action from hand sewing.

I've got a reasonable amount of spinning done in the Tour de Fleece; not as much as some, but 2 skeins completed and a bobbin spun for the next skein

Left is the Heavenly Wools Dragon's Breath in merino.  This is fractally spun in a 2-ply and will be a Drop Leaf Shawlette once I've got a couple of other items off the needles.  Approx 850m

 The second skein is a 3-ply in white and pastel blue and pink corriedale of unknown origin; the corriedale is an educated guess.   I got 447m for the first skein.

This is the first bobbin of the second skein; hoping I get a similar amount and I have no idea what I'm going to make with it at this point.

I've got some knitting done, past the heel turn of the second Scott Base sock which is for Dh; hoping to get that finished before the end of the month as part of a KAL hosted by Sarah Ronchetti (the designer) and also as part of the Ravelwealth Games.    Dh will be glad to get it too, it'll be another pair suitable to wear to work

I love this colourway now, it's the third attempt to find it a pattern it likes and this time it's been successful!

Next I need to finish the colourwork mitts from Vintage Purls' latest sock club, then a jersey that's been on the needles for a while before I can cast on the shawl and possibly a sock for me; Pirate Danger is calling my name and I've already wound the yarn for it.   My ball winder needed to be tested and videoed now that the drive band has been replaced; unfortunately it's not playing nice now so have sent a link to the video to the makers of the winder in the hopes they can diagnose the problem.   I've got a new one now, but would like to be able to sell the old one as a working concern.

I'm also really close to ordering my new sewing machine; 1st day of August I'll be paying for it and getting it sent down; it's on trial but going by reviews I'm expecting to love it!    If all works out I'll do a review myself.   I'm getting the Juki HZL-F600 Exceed down from Auckland.

Don't have a date for the new spinning wheel yet, once it arrives all going well I'll be selling my current one as I don't have space for both, and possibly the E-spinner as well.  I'll need the money from that to get a couple of things for my loom and some more accesssories for the sewing machine and the spinning wheel!      Unfortunately although I'd saved enough for the wheel and machine I don't have enough for the extra's till I sell those.

Tour de Fleece and Kitty Cats

I'm going to start off with the kitty cat mention.   A few weeks ago I finally decided to change our kitty's diet.   Star is overweight, both have dandruff and Ray always seemed to want to sleep.   I'd done some research and the fact that the kibble we had them on was partly made from grains which are not something any cat in the wild would eat, and the fact that the food has been cooked also concerned me as many of the good things in fresh meat are destroyed by cooking and it can make digestion harder for cats.    It took about 2 weeks for the girls to be prepared to eat fresh meat, but they now seem mostly ok with it and the only kibble in the house now is the emergency earthquake feed.
Things I've noticed as a result of this is that both girls have a lot more energy; they've been behaving like kittens again (my lounge suite is not impressed), this includes Ray who I now rarely find asleep on a bed somewhere.    Also both of them have much softer fur; the dandruff is still there at the moment, but I think there's less of it.
The only real problem is remembering to thaw food for them each day, can't nuke it to thaw it as that partially cooks it, but if you have cats you know patience is not their strong suit.

Ray kitty says "I like this new food"

My cotton yarn for weaving arrived today, so I can start thinking about warping up again, am thinking about waiting a little longer though as I'm doing another weaving course over the next few months so might warp up for that once the first class has been done later this month.    
I will have plenty to choose from now, Fran the lady who gave me the loom has now given me most of her yarn as she has shifted to tapestry weaving and no longer has any need for the fine weaving yarns she had taking up space.   I need to put some more shelves up and then I can go through what she's given me and see if it'll work for the project I want to do for my course.   I'm thinking curtains for the studio.

In spinning news I've been starting on the Tour de Fleece and have spun 100g of Merino from Heavenly Wools in the colourway Dragon's Breath.   This is being spun in the fractal method; I've done the stripped down bump already and am just starting on the bump I'm spinning from end to end.

It's even prettier in real life.

No knitting, the spinning and school holidays have taken over my knitting time; plus I've been helping Dh build stuff in the garage too.

The First, But Not The Last

Cowl that is.  Still needs blocking, but it's10.24pm so that can wait.   Instead here is the appalling selfie taken in our lounge with the cellphone

Colour isn't right, it's more green and brighter; my top is actually peacock blue, not navy to give some idea of just how off it is.

It's from my handspun Fibre2Go on a base of 50% merino, 30% alpaca and 20% silk in the colourway Mediterranean.   I still have some left, but was running out of crappy beads (ranged in height from 0.5mm to 2mm, holes varied in size and the colour on the inside of the hole came off as I put the beads on), also my hands are complaining, mainly due to the fight to get some of the beads one.

This is closer to the colour and you can see the beads clearly; the real colour is more vibrant though.

It's sitting on my current reading material "Madam Will You Talk" by Mary Stewart; I'm currently resurrecting some of my old books and re-reading them.

I will definitely make another cowl, I've got some merino there that's aching to be one, but it's worsted weight and will not be beaded!    I do want to cast on my jersey too, but thinking the cowl might be more use right now when I'm feeling the cold and already have a good selection of jerseys to choose from.

On the weaving side nothing is happening yet, I've been trying to source the Cottolin I need for the next project without any luck at all.   The NZ supplier is overseas for another month, the Aussie one's website won't let me order (tried 3 browsers on this PC and 1 on Dh's PC)  and I even tried a Swedish website, but they were out of stock!   In the end I've ordered 8/2 cotton from Webs and will use that when it arrives.   I'll order Cottolin once Agnes is back in NZ.

Spinning has been temporarily on hold, I wanted to finish the cowl first, hoping to do some on Saturday though.   I did drop off a heap of fibre to be processed today though; will have to wait a couple of months, but that's no hardship with my stash!

I Am Now a Weaver!

My first ever woven project, straight off the loom!

I don't know all the lingo properly yet, but the yarn is DK set at 8 EPI, or at any rate, the reed is 8 slots per inch done in plain weave.   The ends are a knotted fringe.  I definitely want to do more!

I also finished and sent off the hot water bottle covers

All wool with lace embellishment.   I kept the one on the left as it uses some of the lace from my wedding dress and has sentimental value.

 I might have had some recent yarny purchases, they all have a reason though, so here goes.

John Q Earthwise sock yarn from the Knitworld sale; I love this stuff!

Earthwise in grey, especially for socks for Dh that he will be able to wear to work

More Earthwise in my favourite ever colour!   This is for me

This was sold as "grey", it's more of a slate blue and is a heavy laceweight merino/angora with a smooth spin.   This was my only true impulse purchase

Vintage Purls in purple, bought to make a Nightingale cardigan adapted from a sock pattern; the original one I saw was done by Jettshin on Ravelry and is stunning.   My contrast will be a lagoon blue.

I sent in a photo for a facebook yarn gradient thing and my photo was picked!   This is a worsted weight and will be a quick cowl fairly soon I think.

This is for a weaving project from Anne Field's book

and so is this one

One of my favouite sock yarns, this is Casbah by Handmaiden

more Casbah in the Sangria colourway.

Hopefully that's it for a bit on the yarn front, it's now time to use some yarn and some fabric.   I need to get some sewing done; my next weaving project if I go by Anne's book uses Cottolin and I'm not sure if I've got any of that and I can't afford any right now (see above for the reason why).   I've got something in a bag, fingers crossed it might be that.   If not I'll come up with something to make, maybe I might try making something in yardage or a table runner.

Finally Finished!

It took a while, but I've finally finished my Riverrun socks for Dh and they look really good, it's a pity his feet are so much bigger than mine really.

Ravelled here

I'll now take Dh's Scott Base socks for my travel project and I'll soon cast on a cowl with the handspun I blogged about a few posts back.   It'll beaded with lace stitches and the pattern is Abstract leaves Cowl.  In the teal it'll look amazing.   If it turns out how I imagine I'll put it in for the guild's display later this year.

Before I can start that though I have some hot water bottle covers to make from some pink wool blanketing for the Hottie Project and some lace from stash.   I'll get started on that in the next few days, probably after Ian's birthday party.   Tomorrow I might get some pinning done, but that'll be it I suspect.  I have to go out and get some gel snakes and a Cadbury Flake to make the snake cake he asked for and probably do some more baking and of course clean the bathroom area.

I'm also working on a sketch for the spinning wheel I want to order; I want either a Kea or a Morepork on it, but the Kea I like isn't mine, and I'm not comfortable with stealing someone elses work,  so I'm trying to do a Morepork from a photo using a sketch program and Paint.    My drawing skills are getting a workout, even with the computer generated sketch I'm working from.

Re-upholstering

Todays job was originally to warp, but my helpful friend wasn't available so instead I decided to re-upholster my sewing room chair.    It's an office chair, but the old upholstery was starting to shred so it was time to redo the whole thing.

I forgot to take a photo of the whole chair, but this is the back of it to give you an idea of the "before" look.

As you can see it's a fairly non-descript sage green.

And the reveal after 3 hours of hard work

Not quiet perfect, but a huge improvement!

I couldn't get the bottom of the chair off completely, so had to work around that, but despite that I think I did a really good job and I will do it again for the boy's chair too.  Not in this fabric though, not enough left and I think something that won't show the dirt is called for.

The fabric is cotton canvas from Wholeport, I also used a Stanley staplegun to secure the fabric before trimming and reassembling the chair.   I figure it probably saved me a good $100 as it meant I didn't have to buy a new chair and it also kept this one out of landfill; win/win.