It Doesn't <i>Really</i> Go Away

If you're anything like me you have this ability to believe that if you wish really, really hard that the little flaw you noticed just might go away! WRONG!!



I should have taken a picture right away and then there would be no doubting the fact that you can see this and it's not acceptable. Oh well, at least it's pretty high up the sleeve, a 3/4 sleeve to boot! Ripping won't be that painful.

Apart from the obvious problem the Minimalist Cardigan is coming along very nicely. I'm using Cascade 220 in Bluestone (7920) with size 6 US needles. It's a lovely greenish blue, although you wouldn't know that from my washed out photo. Here's a better better view.

If you didn't read the comments on my M's and O's post Christine suggested floating selvages and Marie suggested a temple. I'll try both later this week.

M's and O's

Yesterday's snow day gave me the time I needed to get the warp threaded and sleyed.



This is the first time I used the threading chart that comes with Fiberworks. It was very easy to follow. Although I was a bit blown away when I got to the end and had 18 threads instead of 8!



I checked and there were no threading errors so I guess it was a counting error.


This is one repeat of the treadling. I'm using WEBS' Eight-Two Alabaster for the weft.



It looks like the sides are sort of wavy. (If you click you can see the curve on the edges of the warp dominant blocks.) It seems like the 3-4 end warp threads get sort of twisted during the weaving of one block but not the other. I slid my finger in and opened the shed right to the fell but I don't know if that's a good thing or not. If I don't the weft won't pack all the way down on the first shot of the block. I might cut off after the first towel to see if washing tightens it up.

I love the fabric and am already thinking of other design possibilities. Leigh played with bright colors for her towels. Kristin wove several scarves using a turned Ms and Os. I'm thinking of a wrap using a handpainted warp with some sheen, maybe rayon or silk, with a cotton weft.

M's and O's

Yesterday's snow day gave me the time I needed to get the warp threaded and sleyed.



This is the first time I used the threading chart that comes with Fiberworks. It was very easy to follow. Although I was a bit blown away when I got to the end and had 18 threads instead of 8!



I checked and there were no threading errors so I guess it was a counting error.


This is one repeat of the treadling. I'm using WEBS' Eight-Two Alabaster for the weft.



It looks like the sides are sort of wavy. (If you click you can see the curve on the edges of the warp dominant blocks.) It seems like the 3-4 end warp threads get sort of twisted during the weaving of one block but not the other. I slid my finger in and opened the shed right to the fell but I don't know if that's a good thing or not. If I don't the weft won't pack all the way down on the first shot of the block. I might cut off after the first towel to see if washing tightens it up.

I love the fabric and am already thinking of other design possibilities. Leigh played with bright colors for her towels. Kristin wove several scarves using a turned Ms and Os. I'm thinking of a wrap using a handpainted warp with some sheen, maybe rayon or silk, with a cotton weft.

Out With the Old

Rip, rip, rip! It's out with the old and in with the new!



You might remember Jackson in his sausage sweater. I was just going to give this to a younger baby but I realized it wasn't proportional. The arms are too short and the body too tight and long. I started this at a very stressful time last fall and I now realize that along with my gauge being off I was following several different sizes in the instructions. Doh! While looking for something else I found another ball of the Fixation so knowing I'll have enough for a size 2 I started ripping. I started over, going up a needle size and have progressed through the neck ribbing and short row shaping and am now doing the raglan increasing through the shoulders. In case you need a dose of cute, here's Jackson getting ready to watch the Super Bowl!

Inspired by Leigh's lovely M's and O's I starting winding a warp for some more towels using one of my favorites - WEB's Eight-Two in willow green.



It's a 128 end repeat and I have three repeats wound. Now I have to figure out my sett and decide if I need to play with the pattern a bit. That's wrapped pretty tightly and it's 36 wpi. I could have sworn I used 20 epi before with this yarn. You'd think I'd have records somewhere but apparently only pictures!



I'll mull it over while I rip up carpet. Yes, I'm doing another room makeover!

For those of you who are lucky enough to have a three day weekend, enjoy! And take some time to read Syne's new endeavor WeaveZine. Bonnie has a great Turned Weft Ikat article. Tonight it's back to the table of contents for more information and ideas.

Out With the Old

Rip, rip, rip! It's out with the old and in with the new!



You might remember Jackson in his sausage sweater. I was just going to give this to a younger baby but I realized it wasn't proportional. The arms are too short and the body too tight and long. I started this at a very stressful time last fall and I now realize that along with my gauge being off I was following several different sizes in the instructions. Doh! While looking for something else I found another ball of the Fixation so knowing I'll have enough for a size 2 I started ripping. I started over, going up a needle size and have progressed through the neck ribbing and short row shaping and am now doing the raglan increasing through the shoulders. In case you need a dose of cute, here's Jackson getting ready to watch the Super Bowl!

Inspired by Leigh's lovely M's and O's I starting winding a warp for some more towels using one of my favorites - WEB's Eight-Two in willow green.



It's a 128 end repeat and I have three repeats wound. Now I have to figure out my sett and decide if I need to play with the pattern a bit. That's wrapped pretty tightly and it's 36 wpi. I could have sworn I used 20 epi before with this yarn. You'd think I'd have records somewhere but apparently only pictures!



I'll mull it over while I rip up carpet. Yes, I'm doing another room makeover!

For those of you who are lucky enough to have a three day weekend, enjoy! And take some time to read Syne's new endeavor WeaveZine. Bonnie has a great Turned Weft Ikat article. Tonight it's back to the table of contents for more information and ideas.

Tangled Yoke

My Tangled Yoke Cardigan is coming down to the wire. Some of the modifications I made were knitting the ribbing on the sleeves and body a more traditional length and forgoing the waist shaping.



I've never done a neckband in this way. It's knit in a garter rib for 18 rows. Then you use a much smaller needle (I used US1) to pick up stitches from the base of the neckband and do a 3 needle bind off.



I'm tempted to graft the underarm stitches and block this puppy before knitting the button bands because I'm not sure I like the neckband. It looks a little thick but it might just need a good blocking. I know the cables will look a lot better!

I'm a little behind in my posting, but I wanted to thank Cathy for nominating me for a "you make my day" award. I really appreciate it. While the last year has been rather hit or miss, I've gained so much from my 4.5 years of blogging. I've been thinking about the 150 or so feeds on my Bloglines and realized that they are all my favorites! So I will have to pass on my personal list and just say

You ALL make my day!

Pollyanna has now left the room......

Tangled Yoke

My Tangled Yoke Cardigan is coming down to the wire. Some of the modifications I made were knitting the ribbing on the sleeves and body a more traditional length and forgoing the waist shaping.



I've never done a neckband in this way. It's knit in a garter rib for 18 rows. Then you use a much smaller needle (I used US1) to pick up stitches from the base of the neckband and do a 3 needle bind off.



I'm tempted to graft the underarm stitches and block this puppy before knitting the button bands because I'm not sure I like the neckband. It looks a little thick but it might just need a good blocking. I know the cables will look a lot better!

I'm a little behind in my posting, but I wanted to thank Cathy for nominating me for a "you make my day" award. I really appreciate it. While the last year has been rather hit or miss, I've gained so much from my 4.5 years of blogging. I've been thinking about the 150 or so feeds on my Bloglines and realized that they are all my favorites! So I will have to pass on my personal list and just say

You ALL make my day!

Pollyanna has now left the room......