Just the Facts, Ma'am / Photo Lagniappe

My son (aka “the black hole of need”) came into my room last night to ask me for lunch money and I hissed at him. I was on row 190 of my mystery stole, and like a horse smelling the barn at feeding time, I was undistractable.

Never has a bind off seemed so long. I felt like I lived a whole alternative life while binding off this stole. Cool bind-off, though. Will definitely use it again.

Finally! The Last stitch was bound off and soon the ends were woven in. I soaked the rascal in Eucalan for 15 minutes or so, wrapped him snuggly in a towel, and dragged out my “blocking towel” – a huge beach towel that I like to block on because it is printed with large squares that make blocking easier – as well as blocking wires, pins, yard sticks, etc.

The ugly, though useful, blocking towel

For those of you who like all the details, here is how my stole measured up in the end:

Length: 70.5”
Width: 22.5”
Section #1 length: 40.5”
Wing length: 30”
Wing curve length: 41”
Depth of wing (at midpoint): 26”

Other details:

Yarn: Malabrigo “Velvet Grapes” lace weight – a dream to knit. I used 2 skeins, and have approximately 150 yards (15 grams) left. So I used about 790 yards for this stole.

Finished Weight:
Total weight: 114 grams (about 4 ounces)
Yarn weight: 85 grams (3 ounces)
Bead weight: 29 grams (1 ounce)

*I made all of today’s photos clickable for those who want close-up views.

And looking at my MS3 now, I’m pretty tickled. The merino is so soft, and I love the variegations that run throughout. The weight of the beads helps it stay on. I used 2 different kinds of beads, and that combined with the variegated yarn makes the stole feel a little gypsy-ish. Maybe a little more Carmen than Swan Lake, but that’s fine, too. There are definitely mistakes here, but they aren’t bothering me.

Right now I’m sitting in bed wearing the thing. With the air conditioning on. Feeling a wee bit princess-ish, in my luxury stole – even though I haven’t yet changed out of my pajamas or brushed my hair or teeth. Life is good.

Thanks, Melanie! (Times 100, at least. What a good, generous heart she has.)

And for those of you feeling sorry for the kid whose mother hissed at him: Don't. The kid is 16, and is more effective than the IRS at getting money out of the 'rents. Plus he has a job, and has more money in his checking account than I do in mine. (Of course, HE doesn't have a spinning/knitting jones.) And yet I still feel guilty . . . where is that wallet ?

beading close-up, straight section


Beading close-up, wing

Fetching rear view

The Wing is Flapping / Clue 6 Done

Shows the join -- a little funky, but not too bad.

(clickable for detail)

I love how the variegated yarn camouflages my mistakes! (also clickable)

The wing looking -- well -- wing-like.

One pleasant surprise of working this clue was how the variegated yarn co-operated with the pattern. I started my second ball right before the join, and the new ball was ever-so-slightly more vibrant than the old one. Those "feathers" really pop. My stitch count was off at the end, so something will have to be fudged in the future.

Hopefully, when clue 7 is released I'll figure out how to deal with the stitch weirdness. I'm hoping clue 7 is heavy on the beadwork. If not, I might have to do some wee pattern alterations. Love doing the beading, and love the elan they give this stole.

Off I go to spin some nice blended top.

Clapotis Reminiscing

click for close-up view

I knit this Clapotis Shawl last summer -- the (much simpler) equivalent to MS3. It really is a fun knit, once you get used to the pattern. Very modern and un-fangled, but still lacy. I used almost every bit of one skein of Brooks Farm Yarns Riata for this. If you don't know Brooks Farm, click here to visit them -- some of the nicest yarn I've ever knit with.

The pattern is a free download from knitty.com. If you are craving more lace, but want something simpler, have a look at this pattern. It's a great way to show off a variegated yarn in lace.

More Info: Hanne Falkenberg

Hanne Falkenberg "Mermaid" --

If Ballerina goes well, this one might be next!

Thanks to those who left comments or e-mailed me directly! A couple of things:

Hanne Falkenberg is Danish, not Dutch. (Sorry, Hanne.) I corrected this in the original post to avoid confusion. Thanks to Ellen for letting me know.

Her kits are generally sold in America for about $260, but you can get them for half of that on e-bay. I bought mine from ecclescakes on e-bay, and my total with shipping from England was $147.50. Prices are similar on ecclescakes' web site here and in this Danish site, which ships to America, here (site is in Danish, but can be figured out. Thanks to Gail for this link).

You can see all the colorways offered for HF kits here. The colorway I wanted (#1) was not listed on e-bay, but Jane at Cucumber Patch (mother ship of ecclescakes) listed it promptly when I e-mailed my request to her.

Finally, there is a very helpful HF KAL group here. Someone in this group has actually gone to the trouble of creating line-by-line spreadsheets of a couple of HF patterns! Now that is dedication. Yep, I'm already signed up. But the rule is: No starting on the Ballerina until the swan bites the dust. Right? --

-- (sigh) Right.

Reason I Must Finish MS3

Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina Coat (see below)

Many thanks to those of you who sent words of encouragement regarding my MS3 project. Perhaps I am too close to the actual item to be objective. Yesterday I noticed that those last few stitches on the right-hand needle -- the ones we aren't working -- are actually starting to felt. grrr.

On to other matters. I have been looking for a new winter coat for 2 years now. I live in Colorado, in an area with (generally) pretty mild winters, so I wanted something:

1. lightweight
2. stylish but not trendy
3. preferably black
4. light-to-medium in warmth (I overheat easily)
5. packable.

For two years I've been after this thing like it's the holy grail. I refused to buy something that wasn't quite right, so kept wearing my old coat, which I loathe. I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it. Probably that it was cheap and didn't itch.

Also, for at least two years, I have been coveting kits by Danish designer Hanne Falkenberg. Specifically this coat: On the one hand, many people on the net have "horror stories" of working on HF kits. They are knit on itty bitty needles in garter stitch. Sitting down to knit a Hanne Falkenberg kit is like sitting down to read Moby Dick -- something not to be done lightly. Something which requires serious commitment, fortitude, and possible eye strain.

On the other hand, I love this coat. Everything about it. And knitting lace has made me more comfortable with knitting on 2's and 3's. These kits are expensive -- but can be found for half price on ebay. And I really do need a winter jacket.

So it is ordered. And I have made the commitment to try and have it finished by October 1. (A couple of family birthdays in September will require some of my knitting time. but I can still try . . .)

This week I am getting my resume together and beginning a job search. Something to help support a tiny little knitting habit, and a nascent spinning jones. My ideal job: One in which I get paid to write, travel, knit, spin, and supply half-baked opinions. Yeah, right. I just hope I don't end up in a funny hat asking "Do you want fries with that?"

Update-A-Palooza!!

I wish I could say that crappy cropping

makes all the difference in this photo.

Truth is it is an accurate representation of a big mess 'o yarn.

Click if you want to see the gory details.

I'm trying to play catch up today, but catch up does not play fair. As soon as I think I'm getting somewhere, I remember ONE MORE THING that should have been on my to-do list. On the list: Blog update. Here goes:

Mystery Stole Update:

I have been fighting with my mystery stole. Mistakes, rip-backs, etc., plus I'm having a hard time visualizing how this will block. And my join looks like crap.

Finally, do you remember how at the beginning of this little dance number, someone on the MS3 board specifically said (Lord, I hope it wasn't Melanie) "Don't slip the first stitch of every row. It will make the blocking too tight."

(Insert whiny font here): But I always slip the first stitch of every row. It makes that nice little chain stitch on the edge . . .

So: Guess who is now worried about the edge of her shawl not being stretchy enough to withstand a vigorous blocking. (Excuse me while I apply fist to forehead, with vigor and conviction.)

I am currently 30 rows into Clue 6, and am in "head down knitting mode." No longer attempting to "read" my knitting or do the Vulcan mind meld with my knitting or even be friends with my knitting. I am just trying to get the dang thing done.

I'm not sure why I'm surprised that the honeymoon is over with this project. Any time I work on a project this size and/or difficulty, I go through a faze where I just want to put on my fuzzy slippers, drive up to the nearest Goodwill collection bin, and pitch the whole thing in without even slowing down. A drive-by abandonment of wayward knit goods.

But I am determined to finish MS3, and finish in a reasonably timely manner. I'll keep you posted -- and if (when! not if!) -- ummm - when I finish clue #6, I will post better photos.

Dyeing/ Spinning Update/ Questions for Readers:

Recent purchases: Cashmere from Sarah's yarn. I'm stocking up for Christmas presents. Buy 8 skeins and you get a price break!

400 yards each
Anyone out there have any ideas for scarf patterns

that take 400 yards? Let me know!

Bought some silk cocoons. Seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

Could someone please tell me what the heck to do with these?

I have already de-bugged them, which was pretty gross.

What now?

Dyed some yarn for the Padded Footlet pattern (In Interweave Press' Favorite Socks). Dark purple for the foot, screamin' green for the accent.

. . .and spun some wonderfully soft Blue Face Leicester (pronounced "lester" -- go figure) roving. I have about 225 yards, and will probably make a scarf with it:

Bailey was much help, as usual.

(Here he is stalking the elusive row counter, under cover of shawl.)

Tomorrow:

My next major knitting project is on its way from across the pond. Check back tomorrow for details!

Mystery Stole Woes and . . . Joy In-a-Box Arrives!

I ran amok with my mystery shawl last night. I must have knit row 51 5 times before finally giving up and going to bed.

This morning I thought "surely I will sort this out quickly." And the gods laughed. I counted, recounted, and parsed 2 rows -- stitch-by-stitch -- to the chart. Still couldn't figure out where I went wrong (still one extra stitch). Ripped back 2 rows. Still screwy. Ripped back 4 rows and inserted a little colorful midwestern patois for good measure.

All the while I was sitting in my living room, glaring out at the street, wondering where the heck my UPS lady was. This morning I checked UPS tracking on the 'net, and next to my spinning wheel were the wonderful words: OUT FOR DELIVERY.

I needed more than this. I needed a turn-by-turn report as to the UPS lady's exact where-abouts. GPS coordinates would be good. Maybe I could intercept --er-- meet her somewhere, and she could fling my wheel in my general direction. It would save her a stop.

Finally, I got to row 52 on my stole. Relief! I am having such a hard time with clue 5! I think I need to seriously tweak my system. I stomped around the house and ate too much cake and growled at my messy son. Then I took him to his dermatologist appointment.

Got home. Still no wheel. Decided that doing laundry might take my mind off of things. It didn't. Stomped around some more. In desperation, I vacuumed (shudder).

While checking my e-mail for the 18th time, I heard the unmistakable sweet dulcet tones of a UPS truck. And, next thing I knew, the UPS lady (delightful woman that she is) was handing me a smallish box. Light, even.

Within a matter of minutes, my Joy (that's the actual model name) was set up and looking, as my sister says, fab-oo:

Profile shot

Fetching rear view

Bailey fails to see the attraction of any of this.

Birds at the bird feeder, however . . .

Joy and I are still making each other's acquaintance, but so far I am very happy. She treadles like silk, and her pared-down design appeals to me. And -- yes! We have yarn! (Or at least a ply!)

Woo-hoo!

Update-Spinning, Dyeing, etc. & Very Cute Stitch Markers

(see below for info on these Hide and Sheep markers)

Had another spinning lesson today. Sandy, bless her heart, tried to teach me how to "navajo ply." As I understand it, navajo plying is done with a single strand of yarn when you want to ply it back on itself. It strengthens and thickens the yarn.

One hand is pulling, one hand is pushing, one hand is throwing the yarn around -- yikes. I only have two hands, and they are currently not on speaking terms. To make a long story short, I am now doing what I've come to think of as the " 'ho ply" -- it's a third of a navajo ply, but easier and much less attractive. I will have to work on it on my . . . new spinning wheel.

Gulp.

I am having some serious buyer's remorse, but I found an Ashford Joy on e-bay that was a very, very good deal. Spinning wheels do hold their value, so I could sell it for what I paid for it. If necessary. You can see that my justification strategy is still a little wobbly. Anyway, it is supposed to be here tomorrow, but here's a picture:

How could I not buy this??

_______________________

Here are some updates on recent dying / spinning / knitting projects:

I over-dyed the lettuce-y green silk/cashmere blend. I'm much happier with the new color:

What color is this? Basil? Oregano?
Sour cream found at the back of the fridge with a 2006 "best if bought by date" ?

Spun some bea -u- tiful plum colored Blue Face Leicester roving, then plied it with a multi-color merino single:

I like this. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. Don't have a yarn meter, so have no idea what the yardage is. Enough to make a hat, maybe.

Here's the 2-ply I made with the roving I dyed. I like the yarn more than I liked the roving:

Not a color I'd normally wear, but several in my family would like it. Hmmm.

And I'm 50 rows into the first chart of clue five for MS3. I **love** the new direction the design is taking. It is so unexpected and fresh. However, I am knitting at the speed of an arthritic sloth. Hopefully I will speed up as I get accustomed to the new pattern/design.

__________

Got another one of those lumpy bags in the mail today. Just love those. Inside were some of the prettiest stitch markers I've ever seen. I treated myself to these because, since I've started knitting lace, most of my stitch markers are way too big (see photo below -- the yellow ring is one of my old stitch markers).

I chanced upon an Etsy company that makes these rings. I love the minimalistic design -- nothing to catch your yarn because the metal "join" is under the bead. Prices are reasonable (I paid $10 for both sets of markers, including shipping). Some rings are funky, some traditional, and each set comes in its own little tin:

Based on what I've seen (haven't used them yet), I am giving Hide and Sheep lace stitch markers five tinks on the tink-o-meter!

Diet Shmiet.

Wow -- there are a fair amount of you out there who feel the same way I do about coconut AND raspberry AND cake all in the same mouthful. So I had to make one today . . . so that I could give all of you pictures of the cake . . . yeah, that's the reason.

Crockpot Dyeing

I got a new crockpot at Wal-Mart the other day, one that can be used exclusively for dyeing. So of course I had to trot right home and try it out.

I had bought a pound of corriedale from an e-bay seller last week, so I decided to divide that up into 4-ounce bundles and dye one of them. So this was the setup:


Using the instruction in Teach Yourself Visually: Handspinning (see book review, below), as well as some miscellaneous tips I'd found on the 'net, I began to play with color. I was thinking salmon, plum, and green:

Even looking at this now, I'm thinking: That green is too bright. But apparently the night I dyed this batch, I thought algae-chartreuse was a ducky color. I pre-soaked my yarn in the crock pot, and turned up the heat. It took about 25 minutes or so before the water was good and hot.

I began plopping dye in the water, using a little more green and a little less plum and salmon:

"Dinner!"

Using my handy, dandy, blue plastic dye spoon, I poked at the yarn so the dye would strike deeper. I tried not to mess with it too much, as I know this can lead to disaster. I let it cook for about 40 minutes, then dumped it in the sink:

huh.

This was not exactly what I intended, but I could live with it. I rinsed it, dried it between two towels, and hung it to dry. The next day:

Well, I am moderately satisfied. I'm not over the moon with joy over this roving, but neither am I gnashing my teeth in disappointment. I think it might have potential. Maybe. Tonight I'm spinning -- I will post photos later this week of the resulting yarn. Hopefully.