First attempt ever at hand dyeing yarn!
Before: 35g cashmere soaking in vinegar bath.
After: hand painted with grape, fruit punch and orange Kool-Aid. Check out this excellent color chart link: http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/koolaid/images/colorchart-max.jpg Am very pleased with the range of color I got. Was expecting just purple, red and orange but I got lots of violets, pinks and yellows too. Process is very engrossing. Will do it again! I'm not sure what I'll do with this yarn. Smells really lovely like a popsicle. Is enough for child's socks or maybe cuff of adult socks. Maybe a headband? 8/13/07
Cashmere Baby Socks. Infant size 4 shoe. Approx 9 mo age. Size 5 sts/in gauge, 30 sts CO, size 7US needles, slipped stitch rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks book. I love that book! approx 25g total. Smoother knitting when reclaimed yarn is rinsed and hung to dry. 8/9/07
Boot socks again with baby socks.
Here's the first completed project! Size 48 sts CO, gauge 5.5 sts/in, size 8US needles? Can't remember! *scoff* (size 6 actually!) Pretty much a worsted weight boot sock. Tho not sure anyone would wear a 100% cashmere sock on a hike. Pattern is Open Cable with Twisted Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. Very warm, soft and squishy..definitely for lounging! approx 90g total. 8/6/07
Step 2! I have a new appreciation for people who assemble sweaters! This one was very well done! I felt kinda guilty taking it apart. But here's the haul: 452g of 10-ply appears to be approx. worsted weight, 27g 8-ply appears to be approx. sock yarn and 7g 6-ply which was what was used to seam the parts together. I imagine I can get at least 3 pairs of socks from it...maybe some mittens or baby booties. 7/11/07.
I just got this sweater on Super Clearance at TJMaxx. Is 100% 8-ply cashmere. Would have cost me a fortune to buy this yarn at a yarn store. My crazy idea is to rip it out and reknit it into what else? wait for it...SOCKS! The cashier even said "wow that is a soft sweater!" (Sweater doesn't fit...otherwise I'd just wear it! My fingers end at the start of the sleeve detail and it looks dorky folded up. I suspect sizing was the reason it was on Super Clearance. So wish me luck! 2/21/07.
Totally impressed by service from www.morethanyarn.com Not only did I get the gorgeous Louet Gems I've been wanting for so long...in Lilac no less!...but I also got a tiny bamboo crochet hook to pick up dropped stitches and a nail file with pictures of sheep all over it for free! Folk Socks book from Amazon.com after much research was put into looking for sock book I don't already have that I'd like! Thanks Rich! :-D
Based mostly on the Flores pattern in Knitscene Magazine Fall 2006 http://www.knitscene.com/photos/2006/project02.aspI made mine with left over sock yarn (of course!) instead tho. I thought the worsted size of the original flowers was a bit big for me. Headband is made from Jaeger Matchmaker 4-ply doubled. Flowers are made out of Regia Color, Lanett, Opal Lollipop, Jaeger Matchmaker and Froehlich Wolle. Vine is made with Sidar Wool Rich 4-ply. I really liked learning new crochet stitches to make this!
Handschuhe off
Handschuhe on
Whilst searching the innernet looking for things to do with sock yarn I found a great pair of gloves on someone's site from Germany. I was inspired by these: http://homes.sz-online.de/katrin/handschuhe.jpgThey're so cool! Mine are made from 6 different kinds of sock yarn (handspun, Online, Regia, Lanett, Luna Park and Froehlich Wolle) and the "Uncommon Gardening Gloves" pattern from Interweave Knits Spring 2004 (minus the purl lace rib). They were really fun to make as long as I kept up with the weaving in ends along the way.
Homemade trail mix. Dehydrated strawberries, cranberries, raisins, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and chunks of Lindt chocolate!
Bluebell Lace Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks. Toe up with round toe so I wouldn't run out of yarn. Heel with flap which I'm not crazy about but I still like better than short row heel or afterthought heel. Yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Cabin Fever color. Size 2 DPNs 72 sts. Cast off cuff with size 8 DPN so it is nice and stretchy. Yarn is from going out of business sale at Needleworks in Newington, CT. :-(( I wish I bought more...is lovely and squishy to work with.
I got a little over eager on the lenght of the leg (8") so by the time I got to the toe was running very low on yarn (less than 5" left now)...so I alternated it with some leftover Opal, Regia reinforcing thread and even some Shetland cobweb lace wool. I think it looks a bit dorky...but seems a waste of time to rip back just because of toe. The perfectionist in me cringes. Original yarn is Austermann Step no. 16 Jeans. Can't say I feel the Aloe and Jojoba...but they do smell a bit rancid. :D 72 sts on size 1 needles...lets not talk about how I broke my set of Swallow casein DPNs while trying to knit these socks. I thought they were supposed to be flexible!
Pattern is crossover rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.Next socks are going to be MUCH SHORTER!!!...say 4"? These were a difficult birth.
Socks are based on harebell lace pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. Only problem is bells are upside-down! Made with Cleckheaton Country 8-ply DK weight Color 2190 accented with Classic Elite Inca Marl Color 1195 on the picot edge, heel and toe. 4mm US 6 DPNs, 42 st CO. I know the ribbon is a bit over the top but I couldn't resist...actually the entire sock is a bit OTT!
Made with ON line (a rather confusing name for a company) Supersocke 100 Tropic Color Farbe 929. 60 st CO, k2p2 rib for 2", 6" st st cuff, Eye of Partridge Heel and Star Toe of Three Points. 2.75mm Size 2 DPNs. From Stitch DC Store, Capitol Hill location. Lovely to work with. No knots or breaks and I still have quite a bit left over.
Ankle socks made with Plassard Tahiti 100% Coton Couleur 105. 60 sts CO with 2.75mm size 2 DPNs. Reinforced at cuff with Stretchrite elastic sewing thread and at heels and toes with non elastic sewing thread. Welsh Heel and Star Toe of Three Points. Yarn from store in Woodbridge, CT.
Gotta include a knitting shot. Here I am sitting on a bench on Jubilee Walk on Moel Lus in Penmaenmawr. In the distance is Great Orme. I still have yet to see anyone else knitting in Wales even tho there are sheep all over the place and according to historical accounts of knitting everyone used to knit socks around here! The only evidence I've managed to find are old needles and remnants of yarn in charity shops.
This is one of my favorite places in Wales. It's near the Druids' Circle in Penmaenmawr. There are lots of sheep (of course) and wild horses! I think that is just so neat! If you look closely you can see mama and baby grazing above the rocks and papa looking on from the right side of the picture. Or at least that's who I think they are.
OMG Aren't they just so cute! They look so soft and snuggly! I wish I knew which breed they are. Would like to know what their wool is like to knit with.
