Spinning My Wheels

"Thank you for your SOAR 2008 registration. Confirmations will be sent the week of June 9th." I was able to go to the 2004 SOAR retreat - the last time it was held at Pocono Manor. This year I was able to talk my principal into going to bat for me with the superintendent so that I will be allowed to attend the entire event. So why does it have to be this year that SOAR received so many registrations during the first week that everyone is being put into the lottery? Okay, I'll stop whining and think positively.



To increase my chances in the lottery I decided I needed a little spinning karma. I finished the Vermont Maples from Anne. This is 40% brown alpaca, 50% dyed wool in magenta, pink, yellow and burgudy, and and 8% yellow silk noil, 2% bronze angelina. I'm usually not a fan of slubby yarns but the photo doesn't do the yarn justice. It will be a nice partner for the chocolate Humble Hills Romney X that has been patiently waiting for an accent yarn. Once plied I started on Oberon, again from Anne, a lovely pale lavender roving - 40% gray alpaca, 30% gray angora bunny and purple/blue dyed angora, and 18% purple/blue dyed silk, 2% purple angelina



All of my weekend spinning reminded me of my last project, all washed, skeined, and ready for action. I've got about 2400 yards of this squishy 3 ply corrie. So now the question is what do I make? I had planned on a cabled cardigan but now I'm thinking maybe I'll add some other natural colored yarn and make a patterned yoke instead.



Next up? Since I didn't get a chance to go to MDSW again this year, I treated myself to some Hog Island roving. I heard about this breed after Vee showed her Hog Island yarn and told about the historical background of these sheep. Very cool!

Oh, if you tried to post a comment in the last week or two, I realized that in my zeal to block spam I blocked all comments! Doh!

Tangled Yoke

I seem to be having the same blog paralysis that's plagueing Sue. I've taken lots of pictures and I have lots of ideas, the problem is being at a keyboard when the thoughts come together!

So here's a shot of the Tangled Web cardigan finished sans buttons. It's quite warm so I have a while to find the perfect ones. It's a little big (so say my daughters) but I like the wider neckline. It will be perfect for school because I never know what temperature my room will be.



After the buttons are on I will block the cables a little better.



I absolutely LOVE the Sailor's Rib vest. However I started last spring and thought I was making a smaller enough size. Once it was done I thought it would still look good, and it would if I wear it over a heavier sweater but I would be more likely to wear it over a blouse or turtleneck.



A bit big, no?



I loved working on this pattern. I knit this all sitting on the sofa at my mother's. I'm so happy Claudia suggested the 220 Superwash. I'm not a fan of superwash but on her suggestion I tried it. This is lovely. Soft, but not artificial feeling. Definitely a yarn that will becoome a favorite for Jackson knitting.

You can be assured that I will be posting soon. If for no other reason than to get my mug off the top of my blog!

Back to Knitting

I'm an evening away from finishing my Tangled Yoke cardigan. You might remember that I wasn't happy with the folded neckband. I didn't bother blocking - I knew I wouldn't like it, so I ripped back and bound off and I was much happier.



Then I followed the directions for the front band and despite my concern that there were too many stitches I blindly picked up the stated number of stitches and ribbed away. Once I started binding off I could see I was going to get ruffles.



I ripped out and picked up 2 stitches for every three rows and that did the trick. It looks quite puckered but after weaving in a few loose ends I'll give it a good soak and block. I still haven't found the right buttons but I've got plenty of time. I don't think I'll be wearing it until next fall - especially after today's 82° temps.



I found this almost finished cardigan in one of the bags I used to take to my mom's. I worked on it last summer and it only needs the front bands and a zipper but I don't think it will fit Jackson now. Guess it will go in the box for the next grandchild.

No Sausage Now!

After ripping out the old Fixation sweater (you might remember Jackson as an Oscar Meyer look-a-like) I knit it again in a larger size with a larger needle.



While he is, of course, cute as a button, the variegated yarn doesn't quite flatter his cute little Buddha belly.



It popped over his head like a charm and will probably fit him for a year or two as there is plenty of length in the arms and body. If he's like his daddy the middle will slim down as soon as he gets his running legs.

Now it's time to get back to the rest of the knitting projects. I must have six sweaters that I started during the time I spent with my mother. I was a little surprised at how difficult it was to pick them up at first. So many memories in those stitches.

Finally, I remembered! I've been meaning to post this recipe for awhile now. Someone passed it on to me a few months ago and I loved it so much I went out and bought the book - Eat, Drink & Be Vegan.



ONE WILD CHICK SOUP
1 tbsp olive oil
1 � cups red onion, diced
1 � cups celery, diced
� cup carrots, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
� cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed
� tsp sea salt
freshly ground pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
1 � tsp dried thyme
1 � tsp dried oregano
� tsp dried marjoram
3 � cups cooked chickpeas (I used canned)
4 cups vegetable stock (I used chicken)
3 cups water
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp fresh sage, minced (or � tsp dried)
1 tbsp fresh thyme, minced (or � tsp dried)

In a large pot on medium heat, add oil, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, wild rice, salt, pepper, dry mustard, dried thyme, oregano, and marjoram and stir to combine. Cover and let cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add 2 � cups chickpeas, stock, water, and bay leaves and stir to combine. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-55 minutes, until rice is fully cooked and inner white of grain is exposed. With a hand blender, briefly pulse soup to add some body and creaminess if desired. Stir in the reserved 1 cup chickpeas, nutritional yeast, sage, and fresh thyme, and cook 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, and serve. (I put all the chickpeas in at the beginning and don�t blend)

Ms and Os Finished

I finally cut off the Ms and Os and started the finishing process. This is the alabaster weft, before washing.



And here, after washing. Would have been nice if I had the same orientation.



And again, after pressing.



The baked clay weft, which will be a dresser scarf for the guest room:



and my sampling with thicker wefts. The variegated is 4/4 cotton, the brown and gold is 5/2 perle.



I like Dixon's suggestion of using a thicker weft. The 4/4 gives great coverage without making a stiff fabric.



These towels will be used but they would be even better with a thicker weft. I'd use the 5/2 for towels, go with 10/2 for the warp. A few years ago I used a structure similar to this and was not happy with the way the weft filled in. I never did finish that baby blanket. The 4/4 weft would make a nice baby blanket or pillow fabric. I'm sewing the hems by hand because there's no tabby header and machine stitching would be too visible.

Final thoughts? I can definitely see more Ms and Os in my future for table linens, blankets, and upholstery fabrics.

More M's and O's

The last two towels were with some 8/2 mill ends in Pecan. I have several cones of this and I use it often. It's a nice neutral taupe which works well with a wide range of colors.



Like many other weavers I've experimented with many types of hems and this is what works for me when I'm making towels. I use 100% cotton sewing thread for just under 1/2", then I begin using the pattern weft and weave for just over 1/2". I throw two picks in the same shed when starting my pattern just because I like the way it looks at the fold.



I'm always thrilled when I see the cloth beam filling up with new fabric but alas - it's coming to an end!



I used Davison's M's and O's Three by Three Plaid (p. 64), inspired by Leigh's work. I love reading about the history of each structure. Just as I reached the end of the warp I started looking through Anne Dixon's the Handweaver's Pattern Directory. Dixon recommends a weft thread which is thicker than the warp. Dixon also warns that floating selvedges must used and she recommends setting the selvedges as follows:

left selvedge: float,4,2,3,1,44,33,22,11
right selvedge: 44,33,22,11,4,2,3,1,float

I think I'll try that the next time so I can make some comparisons. Unfortunately there wasn't much warp left to experiment with a thicker weft but I did throw a few inches of 5/2 (brown and gold) and 4/4 (the variegated).



I'm teaching this weekend but hopefully I'll have enough energy tomorrow night to stitch between the towels and throw them in the wash. I like the look of the 5/2 on the loom. I'll be interested in seeing how they all wash up.

Spring Break Weaving

The skies are gray, there's a nip in the air - but it's Spring Break and I'm off! Too cold to do any of the outside work I usually do over spring break. I already painted the guest room so no big painting project. Guess I'll just have to play!

So, back to my Ms & Os. I had planned on trying the suggestions of a floating selvedge or temple. Peg mentioned trying a plain weave selvedge. Being a lazy weaver (and also forgetful) weaver I went for the quick fix first.



I attached one pound weights with an S hook to the four end threads and that did the trick!



The selvedges are MUCH better.



I completed two dish towels with the Alabaster weft and started on a runner for the guest room using more Eight/Two, this time in Baked Clay.



Listening to the end of Haven Kimmel's Something Rising (Light and Swift) I wove 40" inches before I left to pick up Jackson.



Really, even after tossing his cookies and getting a quick wash up the kid is gorgeous! His eyes get me every time!