Rogue

Tudor Roses - Mary Tudor

Monday Knitting

We started our Rogue sweaters last night. I got about three inches done. Liz hasn't ever worked from a chart before. A new learning experience. The instructions seem pretty clear to me, but I'm only learning what the new symbols mean.

I like the way this chart is done. I need to find out what software was used and get it. I have some patterns I'd like to do and if I'm going to make charts this would be good software to use. (Like for the Master Knitter level III)

I have a few things to take pictures of and post. Maybe later today I'll get a chance to take care of that.

Why?

So I've been running around the net, wasting perfectly good knitting time, reading knit blogs. I've found some really good ones. (I've also found some scary and crappy ones - but that's the way it is)

Today I stopped by a blog and read a post about news reports of men knitting (and I use the term 'news' in a sardonic manner). All I could think while reading the blog was: Why are people so obsessed with who others are attracted to, having sex with, want to have sex with and so forth? Really - why do you care? Aren't getting enough on your own? Why are you so sure that any male who practices any fiber art is gay? Why the hell do you care?

Of course the feminist in me says that it isn't really about gay men knitting so much as it is about knitting being a less worthy past time because women do it and if men do it then they might have to start giving it respect. But then that sort of implies that the conservative white christian male feels threatened by giving women and their work respect. Even if they did they wouldn't stoop to name calling and stereotyping. Of course not.

So I did the math. I'd have to spin the singles at 250 wraps per inch. That is so not going to happen. I could do it at 80 pretty easy, but 250?

I did skein and wash the green that I spun and plyed at fingering/lace weight. The singles were more than 40 wpi but I'm not sure how much more since my gauge doesn't go smaller than that. I'll have to knit up a guage swatch and then start the socks. I'll attempt to post pictures once the skein is dry and I get it balled up.

I think I'll find a pattern for the mobius scarf/head covers and spin the baby camel/silk for that. Gossamer I'm buying. Enough to make the shawl will cost $25 + shipping, depending on the exchange rate. I have a few other things to finish up first and I want to practice my lace knitting techniques before I start so I've got time to do those things and still not buy any more yarn this year. Maybe I'll convince the spouse to get it for me for my anniversary. :)

I have started my own KAL. Liz, one the ladies in my Monday night fiber enablers get togethers, wants to make the rogue sweater. I already have the pattern and the yarn myself. Thus we decided yesterday to knit it together, but only on Monday nights. We can't work on it any other time. We both have other things to finish and if I can't obsess about it I'm less likely to get bored with it. Plus if I have to work on it every week I will be more likely to finish it in a decent amount of time.

I think I'll take pictures of our progress at the end of every get together and post them here. I'll have to talk to Liz about that. I'm very excited about the whole idea.

Ah-ha!

I bought this beautiful bag of silk/baby camel roving. I had no idea what to do with it. But something light and delicate (I couldn't afford enough for a sweater and it's too lovely for socks).

The problem has beed solved. While reading blogs I found this Shawl http://www.heirloom-knitting.co.uk/projects16.html Vera Nice! So there you have it. I'm going to spin gossamer yarn and knit this shawl.

If you see my mind go by - stop it - I might need it back later.

I think that this project will be easier than thinking up 100 things about me; I have 15.

Well - here is the toe of the sock. It seems rather large but I am assured that it is the right size. I should just bite the bullet and finish it up and then make him try it on. I'm not thrilled with the idea of reknitting it but it isn't like it would be the first time I ever did that.

It is 100% cotton 9.5 sts/in on size 0 (2mm) needles. I am reminded again why I hate knitting with cotton.


I have been reading a lot of blogs lately. Some of them are very fun. I have especially enjoyed reading the '100 things about me' posts. I think I will start one on Saturday. I wonder if I can come up with 100 things?

I've been working on my friends socks. When I get the foot done I'll take a picture.

I started working on the Master Knitter stuff. I'm answering questions and writing book references. I'll start knitting this weekend.

I tried to renew my driver's license today. I have to go and have my eyes checked. It is bad enough that I can't enjoy 3D movies but I can't see in the silly little machines either. The clerks usually give me this look like I'm trying to pull a fast one. At least this gal was aware it happens sometimes. She gave me a form. In North Dakota they just ask you to get a letter and leave it up to you to decide what it needs to say. My appt is tomorrow. Maybe I'll order some green contacts.

It is cold here.

I got my new master knitter instructions this morning.

I finished graphing and planning a pair of socks for a friend. He does historical recreation. The graphs are based on knitted samples found in museums from the appropriate time and place and the sock pattern on other reproductions and period examples. My first foray into designing, other than doodling.

It is very exciting.

A very productive weekend

I finished the mates to two of the socks shown last week (the first two). I still have to graft the toes but I always save up socks until I have several pair and do them all at once. It always takes me so long to get the kitchner stitch down that it only makes sense to have at least two pair I can do after I have figured out what I'm doing. I seem to forget it promptly after I close the book and get up.

I did 12 rows on my Black Water Abbey Sweater. Once I decided that I don't have to watch all the graphs I'm doing better with it. I should find a picture of the pattern to put on here - I'll attempt that later this week. It also helps that I have the base rows done. I'm having some trouble with the outside cable stitches being gappy, but not enough to take it out. I'm probably the only person who will ever notice it and I'm working on making it stop. Every item an act of self improvement.

I did a few rows on a new sock that I'm starting. I still might take it out and go back to the pattern that came with the yarn. I've only got an inch done so I won't have lost much.

I have also sent in my request for updated instructions for the TKGA master knitter program. I'm going to finish it this time. I have now made 6 sets of swatches and done the report twice. I would like to think that I've learned something and I need to stop being such a coward and send it in. I am making new swatches and rewriting my reports, because I'm assuming that I have learned and improved since the last time I did them (two summers ago). But I am going to send them in this time. I will not chicken out!

I think I'm going to join the Black Water Abbey knit along. Here is the sweater I started. How serendipitious to find a KAL.
















Time to knit.

The Camera Strikes

It's here - I have pictures.

Here is the yarn I spun:




















And some socks I finished since Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll get the mates done soon.


































It's amazing how a good camera makes the colors better! WOW!

There are photos in my future!

The new camera was left on my doorstep on Friday. That's right - UPS left a $350 camera sitting on my doorstep. My son was up waiting for it, as requested, and they didn't even knock twice.

I'm going to get a big sign that says "RING THE FUCKING DOORBELL" We live in a rather small house, but the main living area is downstairs and you can't hear someone knocking lightly on the door. If you do hear it you aren't sure it isn't the cats, so you listen to see if it happens again, when it doesn't it was probably the cats and you ignore it.

But it is here and I played with it and I can now take some pictures!

I have successfully not bought any new yarn this week. I even looked at some spiff yarn and managed to not buy it. I also successfully bought no new fabric. I didn't look at any new fabric and thus avoided that temptation. Last night I did wash and iron some fabric that I had purchased previously and will cut it out this evening, or maybe I'll knit.

Completely Random Rambling

I decided yesterday morning to spin a few skeins of the body color. I have one full bobbin and one half full bobbin. This should work out to three skeins. I hope that is a few. I'm going to finish up this bobbin and then spin the lovely green I dyed. Then we'll see if I can remember how to Navajo ply.

Today we are attempting to make soap. Okay - it isn't really so much attempting. I've done it a zillion times before. It'll be fine. I need to get cleaned up and get the downstairs kitchen cleaned up and preped. I'm just being assisted by new people.

My camera has left CA. It is supposed to be here on the 6th! I assume someone will have to sign for it. But no one will be here to do so. I HATE UPS. It was my only shipping option. Did you know that asking them to change your delivery block from 10-2 to the 2-5 is asking for a specific delivery time? Uhm - right! And someone got shot last week in front of the place you have to go to pick it up if you aren't home so that is a pleasing option! Oh well.

Effective Enabling

Yesterday I was a very good enabler. I helped my friend buy a spinning wheel. We then brought it to my house, stained it and put it together. It worked.

I bought a bunch of roving. I would post pictures - but the camera is in the mail (it will be here sometime next week!) My favorite to drool over is the Baby Camel/Tussah Silk. I can't wait to spin it. But I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but it is beautiful and soft.

I have finished spinning the orange and the green for my sweater. I have left - the main body color, navy blue and the lavender. The end is near. I think I'm going to start working on the main body color. The navy and lavender I can do in an evening. The body color is going to take a week (I think)

And yet - another

I take it back; the second piece of roving is not very green. I'm thinking it will stay the color it is though. I'm not sure it will survive another session of boiling. I'm a little bummed.

I ordered my camera. I'm so EXCITED!

I also ordered one last bit of yarn. Silk for this garment. Silk is a nice fiber and I think it will make a nice dressy summer top.

Off to sit and spin.

The end approaches

Three more days of 2005. I have been working on my list of Resolutions. Starting off the new year on the right foot. What, you ask, does this have to do with knitting? Well - my first resolution is to pay off bills, which means NO MORE YARN. It isn't like I don't already have enough to knit for a couple years without buying anything new. I'm going to keep the Sock of the Month membership, because I enjoy it. But other than that NO MORE YARN. :) We'll see how that goes.

This will probably also require a decrease in the fabric purchases area as well. But then it isn't like I NEED more fabric. Pretty much the same shape as the yarn.

This one resolution will assist in a couple of other annoying things. The overstuffed crafting room. If I knit up and sew up what I already have I just might be able to get in and out of that room without killing myself. So - first resolution - paying off bills.

The other item on my list is to lose that 20 pounds. I got my legs fixed so I should, in theory, be able to start running in May, when the snow is gone. I have since high school gained 40 pounds. I'd like to keep some of that because weighing in at 103 is not something I look forward to and lets be honest - it isn't attractive to be that thin. So 20 pounds, in a year. That's two pounds a month with time off next holiday season. This will also allow me to wear some of the nice things I have in my closet and thus avoid buying new bigger clothes, and thereby assisting with Resolution #1.

So - 2 Resolutions and that is enough for anybody. Two goals which will make a lot of other things better. Two manageable goals.

P.S. The redyeing of the green wool went swimmingly. I now have one chunk of lovely deep green and another chunk of an equally lovely but not so deep green. I will spin them together and they will make lovely socks. I only have 8 oz so that is pretty much the maximum output, two pairs of socks. (100gms = 1 pair, 8oz = 250 grams)

After the holidays attacked

- two entries in one day! Yikes

So I redyed half the wool. It is still cooling. I think there is enough dye to redye the remainder so I will do my best to save the bath and do that. Cross your fingers.

My brother and his wife sent me an Amazon gift certificate for the holidays. I bought books. :) They were shipped today. I can hardly wait.

I bought myself Sweaters from Camp by Meg Swanson for my upcoming birthday. I now have a new list of sweaters to contemplate.

I also bought the Alice Starmore Zauber Flaute kit. It is beautiful and I've wanted it for a couple years. I don't know when I think I'm going to find the time.

I'm also getting a new camera courtesy of my mother and my spouse. I'm pretty excited about that. I'm hoping it takes decent pictures. Then I can post them here.

The red wool is all spun. I'm off to finish spinning the sage wool for the sweater. Then Orange!

Dyeing to know

I dyed some nice Alpaca/Merino/Silk last night. It was suppose to be GREEN. When I looked at it this morning, after it is mostly dry, it is green. I don't know if I should attempt to dye it again and hope for more color or not. There was still dye left in the pot so the dye solution didn't exhaust. Does that mean that the fiber took all the color it could? Will it not take more?

What to do what to do. I need a dyeing book with some trouble shooting tips. I suppose I could spin it up and then over dye the yarn. Would that work? Hmmm. So many questions so few answers.

I am getting a digital camera for Winter Holiday. My mother sent us Winter Holiday money and this is what we decided to do with it. I hope that I will get better pictures with it then I did with the old one.

In knitting news: I have spun another two skeins of the wool for the Spinner's Sweater. I have finished the light blue, I am nearly finished with the red wool. I have left the dark blue, orange, green and the main body color. I will post pictures soon.