Today the new issue of Knitty came out. You can find it here. I am a devoted Knitty reader of several seasons now. The patterns are free and usually pretty easy to follow. And the magazine covers cool new books and tools in an evenhanded manner.
Most exciting this time was the announcement of the calendar contest for 2009. I am thinking about making a submission. More to come on that one.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Fun with Kool-Aid
How do you like the new picture? It is the first foray I have made into the vast land of dyeing. Those are wonderful hanks of a merino/silk blend in a sport weight that are now trying to decide what they want to be when they grow up. The "wheels" of yarn look a lot different than the dyed hanks. Unfortunately, I did not have the foresight to do a "before" and "after" shot.
For the past few weeks, the knitting circle has been kicking around the idea of dyeing yarn. Knitty.com has a few great articles, but we decided to use the technique described here. Kool-Aid as a dyeing agent -- who knew?
It's safe and relatively inexpensive if you are just trying out dyeing as a test project. Not including the yarn (under $20), I spent around $7 on Kool-Aid in every color that the store had and another $3 on a gallon of white vinegar. We had enough to cover all of the yarn, the carded fluff, the uncarded curls, and probably a stray sheep or two. There is definitely enough to have another go at a later date.
It also causes no permanent damage to your house or cookware. The dye is food grade, so no worries about lingering residues. I do, however, recommend gloves. The dyes did not damage our skin, but my cuticles and nails still had a zombie-esque look after repeated scrubbing with soap and baking soda. Another perk was the fruity sent left behind in the kitchen and the shower (where the skeins drip-dried.)
The only down side was that it took most of an afternoon. We used a handpainting technique that applied the dye to specific parts of the skein using a turkey baster. It put the dye where you want it, but it was tedious. After all the dye went on, the yarn had to be wrapped in plastic wrap and zapped in the microwave for a while to set the colors. This is supposed to keep the finished garment from fading as well.
All in all, it was a successful venture. I am definitely interested in doing it again, but right now I am thinking about knitting a test swatch to see how these work up.
For the past few weeks, the knitting circle has been kicking around the idea of dyeing yarn. Knitty.com has a few great articles, but we decided to use the technique described here. Kool-Aid as a dyeing agent -- who knew?
It's safe and relatively inexpensive if you are just trying out dyeing as a test project. Not including the yarn (under $20), I spent around $7 on Kool-Aid in every color that the store had and another $3 on a gallon of white vinegar. We had enough to cover all of the yarn, the carded fluff, the uncarded curls, and probably a stray sheep or two. There is definitely enough to have another go at a later date.
It also causes no permanent damage to your house or cookware. The dye is food grade, so no worries about lingering residues. I do, however, recommend gloves. The dyes did not damage our skin, but my cuticles and nails still had a zombie-esque look after repeated scrubbing with soap and baking soda. Another perk was the fruity sent left behind in the kitchen and the shower (where the skeins drip-dried.)
The only down side was that it took most of an afternoon. We used a handpainting technique that applied the dye to specific parts of the skein using a turkey baster. It put the dye where you want it, but it was tedious. After all the dye went on, the yarn had to be wrapped in plastic wrap and zapped in the microwave for a while to set the colors. This is supposed to keep the finished garment from fading as well.
All in all, it was a successful venture. I am definitely interested in doing it again, but right now I am thinking about knitting a test swatch to see how these work up.
Friday, May 16, 2008
We're back!!!!
Hi all! The knitting basket is as full as ever and I have stopped long enough to post snippets.
First, the bad news. My favorite LYS in all the world closed. :-( A group of the regulars has formed a support group and we have begun meeting at the local Starbucks every two weeks. There are plans for a resurrection, but capital and location are a challenge. In the meantime, I have cut back on my yarn purchases.
But all is not lost -- I have finished the pinwheel sweater! It made its debut last week at our meeting. I do not have pictures yet, but I am pleased with the way it turned out.
New socks are also on the needles. I am attempting a pattern called 'monkey' by Cookie. It is available in the free patterns on the Knitty.com website. The pattern is a variation of lace that looks like overlapping bamboo shoots. It is labeled under the 'experienced' skill level, but so far, so good. I am turning the heel on the first sock now and have not goofed up the lace pattern yet (knock, knock).
I am also in the middle of a spring sweater experiment. A few months ago, I went to a warehouse sale at a local mill. There was a lot of novelty yarn, but also a few natural fibers. I bought a really soft thick-and-thin cotton yarn in a variegated colorway that I wasn't really sure what to do with. A gauge swatch later on size 13 big fatty needles, and I had a plan. It's a simple plan really, just a front, back and slightly flared sleeves. The front and back are complete, as is about half of one sleeve. Because it is not too fiddly, I hope to have it done in time to wear before the weather gets too hot.
Next up is a dyeing experiment. I ordered a few hanks of natural yarn in preparation for some free time in the next few weekends. There was a really good article on knitty.com about dyeing yarn with KoolAid. I have also seen a few things on TV that look almost simple enough to do in my kitchen. The good thing is 1) KoolAid is relatively cheap as a dyeing agent, 2) it smells pretty good -- lots better than an acid dye, and 3) it will probably come off the counter and the floor.
Hopefully new posts will come more frequently now. Things are settling down and I will have more time for knitting in the near future (and hopefully for pictures. Sorry for the delay.)
First, the bad news. My favorite LYS in all the world closed. :-( A group of the regulars has formed a support group and we have begun meeting at the local Starbucks every two weeks. There are plans for a resurrection, but capital and location are a challenge. In the meantime, I have cut back on my yarn purchases.
But all is not lost -- I have finished the pinwheel sweater! It made its debut last week at our meeting. I do not have pictures yet, but I am pleased with the way it turned out.
New socks are also on the needles. I am attempting a pattern called 'monkey' by Cookie. It is available in the free patterns on the Knitty.com website. The pattern is a variation of lace that looks like overlapping bamboo shoots. It is labeled under the 'experienced' skill level, but so far, so good. I am turning the heel on the first sock now and have not goofed up the lace pattern yet (knock, knock).
I am also in the middle of a spring sweater experiment. A few months ago, I went to a warehouse sale at a local mill. There was a lot of novelty yarn, but also a few natural fibers. I bought a really soft thick-and-thin cotton yarn in a variegated colorway that I wasn't really sure what to do with. A gauge swatch later on size 13 big fatty needles, and I had a plan. It's a simple plan really, just a front, back and slightly flared sleeves. The front and back are complete, as is about half of one sleeve. Because it is not too fiddly, I hope to have it done in time to wear before the weather gets too hot.
Next up is a dyeing experiment. I ordered a few hanks of natural yarn in preparation for some free time in the next few weekends. There was a really good article on knitty.com about dyeing yarn with KoolAid. I have also seen a few things on TV that look almost simple enough to do in my kitchen. The good thing is 1) KoolAid is relatively cheap as a dyeing agent, 2) it smells pretty good -- lots better than an acid dye, and 3) it will probably come off the counter and the floor.
Hopefully new posts will come more frequently now. Things are settling down and I will have more time for knitting in the near future (and hopefully for pictures. Sorry for the delay.)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The wild ones plus one.....
My house has become a puppy hostel for the next two weeks. My husband's friend and coworker is travelling and has entrusted his itty-bitty beagle yearling to our care. She's a beauty and a little bit of a troublemaker, but I think that is mostly youthful exuberance.
Our last puppy experience was when we took on the wayward Uma. She's the one in basic black. Grey lady Azure, at a mature seven years, was not quite sure what to make of the new arrival.
Our last puppy experience was when we took on the wayward Uma. She's the one in basic black. Grey lady Azure, at a mature seven years, was not quite sure what to make of the new arrival.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Hats off!
Two pictures are languishing on my camera. One is of a camoflage hat/facewarmer that was supposed to be a Christmas present, but was "reappropriated" for my husband's hunting gear -- not entierely a bad thing. The other is of a hat for me(!), which is currently in suspense as to whether or not it will have a complete set of matching fingerless mitts. (We seem to be having a bit of a matching fiber shortage, so a pattern deviation is imminent.....) More to come.
And the pinwheel? It is coming along nicely. It now has a "sle", which is almost 1/3 of A sleeve. Yay!
And the pinwheel? It is coming along nicely. It now has a "sle", which is almost 1/3 of A sleeve. Yay!
Monday, December 24, 2007
The Nutcracker and such....
It has been a delightfully dreary day outdoors today, and therefore perfect for knitting.
The rain this afternoon was a great counterpoint to The Nutcracker Suite and the clicking of the needles. I think I have watched it about a hundred times. Baryshnikov is amazing.
Today also turned out to be somewhat cultural, as I watched Amadeus afterwards. The Ovation channel managed to turn that film into a four hour event (with an encore following. Go figure.) I think this is the first biography that I experienced where the subject was not beatified by the author. Sort of a different contrast -- Mozart's heavenly music came from a man steeped in earthly pleasures and problems. And the story is told from the viewpoint of a rival, which makes it even more interesting. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
The Christmas present is finished. The pinwheel sweater is still sans sleeves, but the body is complete and the edging is in progress.
The rain this afternoon was a great counterpoint to The Nutcracker Suite and the clicking of the needles. I think I have watched it about a hundred times. Baryshnikov is amazing.
Today also turned out to be somewhat cultural, as I watched Amadeus afterwards. The Ovation channel managed to turn that film into a four hour event (with an encore following. Go figure.) I think this is the first biography that I experienced where the subject was not beatified by the author. Sort of a different contrast -- Mozart's heavenly music came from a man steeped in earthly pleasures and problems. And the story is told from the viewpoint of a rival, which makes it even more interesting. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
The Christmas present is finished. The pinwheel sweater is still sans sleeves, but the body is complete and the edging is in progress.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Little lights on the tree...
And I am listening to one of the dogs ripping a squeaker from a toy, so it's not quite a 'silent night.' If she has her way, that pesky little bugger will be out in a little bit.
The dining room is a wreck with wrapping paper all over, so I spent a little time on Sunday ignoring the cleaning and knitting in the living room. It looks pretty festive with the tree twinkling in the corner. Peaceful even. Much progress occurred on the Christmas present (still in progress.) I will post a picture after the holiday, because I don't want to spoil the surprise.
The dining room is a wreck with wrapping paper all over, so I spent a little time on Sunday ignoring the cleaning and knitting in the living room. It looks pretty festive with the tree twinkling in the corner. Peaceful even. Much progress occurred on the Christmas present (still in progress.) I will post a picture after the holiday, because I don't want to spoil the surprise.
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