Archive for May, 2008
I recently finished this blouse. It’s a Simplicity pattern, #5684. While it looks pretty there’s one problem. It’s too big. I made it in a size 16. Now I’m not a size 16 but my breast size seemed too big for the size 12 and 14.
I’m keeping the blouse. I plan to wear it on those relaxing days where I want to wear loose fitting clothes.
Here’s a picture of Prana helping me put clasps on Arwen. He’s putting his kitty goodness into the sweater-a vital step in any knitting project.
May 26th, 2008
While I was happy with my Arwen sweater I felt it needed tweaked. I didn’t like how it flapped open. But a zipper didn’t seem right. So I went with clasps:
I like it so much better. Now that the sweater stays closed I find I’m wearing it more.
May 24th, 2008
I’m finished with my first car project. I call this my Hippie Tam. This is the first tam I’ve crocheted in years. I used to make them a lot back in my commune days. There were a couple times I had to rip back because I was doing the pattern from memory. But it all came back and now I have a tam for winter.
I did two rows with no increases or decreases to make it roomy enough to tuck up my braids if I want.
Pattern: Hippie Tam
Source: Me
Size: Custom
Yarn: Repurposed wool from a thrifted vest
Needles: H hook
Started: April 2008
Finished: May 2008
Modifications: None
May 13th, 2008
Meredith from Knit Night bought herself a new spinning wheel and gave me her old one. I’m so excited and grateful!
It’s a Louet wheel S15. I love it. It feels so good and so right to be getting into spinning again.
Remember that roving from December? I was supposed to be learning how to spin on a drop spindle. There’s been no blogging about it because there’s been no progress. I tried but had no luck at all.
Though it’s been four years since I’ve spun on a wheel I was able to pick it up without too much trouble.
It’s thin and thick. It’s overspun and underspun. But it’s mine, all mine. Yay!
May 12th, 2008
Abbey and I went to Merce’s place last month to do some felting. Merce showed us how to hand felt. Wow! It was so much fun. There’s something so satisfying about felting with your hands. I like it much better than throwing a piece into a washing machine. Plus I’m off grid so hand felting is something I can do at home.
The three of us went free form and “painted” with raw fleece. Here’s what I made:
It’s the sunrise over Taos Mountain. Since I’m such a night owl the sunrise is one thing I don’t see much. When I manage to get up that early (or more likely to stay up that late) and see the sunrise it feels like a rare treat.
Merce suggested we put uncarded fleece around the edges as trim.
This was a brilliant idea. I love how primal it makes the piece look.
I’m in love with painting with wool. I’ve never been a painter because I like to touch my work. This is why I’m also drawn to sculpture. After the piece is done you can still touch it. I find myself petting my felt piece.
Merce also told us the trick to hanging felt art on the wall. You simply staple a piece of velcro (the grippy side) to the wall:
I’ll definitely be doing more felt work in the future.
May 11th, 2008
This is my first full repeat for Thebes’ Heirloom sweater. I’m using superwash wool and wow are these cables popping. It’s beautiful and I’m loving the pattern.
Near the end of April Sieben and I went on a walk. The weather seemed fine.
But by the time we got back there was a full on snow storm. We got several inches. See, even Sieben looks surprised.
Though his surprise didn’t last long. He loves snow and we ran around playing in it. One of his favorite games is catching snowballs in his mouth.
May 8th, 2008
I finished Samus last month. It fits perfectly and I just love it!
This pattern is so versatile. I can see me remaking this with a different cable pattern at the edges.
Despite my zipper drama the zipper installation turned out fine. Since I couldn’t get a purple on I went with gray. It picks up on the heathered purple/gray of the purple yarn so it worked out perfectly.
Pattern: Samus by Brynne Sutton
Source: Knitty
Size: Medium
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, Amethyst Heather, 11.5 skeins
Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7
Started: January 2008
Finished: April 2008
Modifications: Instead of doing an I-cord edging I did a row of single crochet. Looks fine to me.
May 7th, 2008
