Fiber Musings

Fiber: Rovings Polwarth Export Fine
Colorway: Semi Solid Blue Spruce
Weight: 735 grams
Yardage: 1,544 yards (before fulling)
Plies: 3
WPI: 10-12

This was spun and plied on the Butterfly. I’m still getting used to the eSpinner. The yarn is not as consistent as I would like, and some areas are over twisted. The yarn is destined for a sweater or a vest. Haven’t decided yet.

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Not a whole lot of exciting things happening here. I can’t seem to focus on much lately, and haven’t wanted to commit to a new project with so many unfinished projects around. So, instead of actually picking up one of those UFOs and working on them, I created UFOs.

Huh? Create UFOs yet not start on new projects? How does that work?

Case in point. I mentioned that I would have liked the new vest to be a few inches longer? I had another skein of the pink yarn, so there really wasn’t any reason to rip out the old waist and re-knit.  Now, it’s 2″ longer and my lower back is much happier, thank you.

Another vest on my vest shelf that hasn’t gotten a lot of wear because something was always “off” about it. That’s the Timber Frame vest from 4 years ago.

See all that rippling around the neck and armholes? Barb always said that I should rip them out and re-knit. She’s right. But I’ve never done it. But since I was in a ripping mood, I pulled it out and started to work away at it.

The neck? I reduced the neck ribbing by 1/2″. I probably should have ripped it all the way back and reduce it by a few stitches, but I thought to try this first.

The armholes? I ripped it back and reduced the number of stitches by about 10% (1 stitch for every 10, or there abouts) and knitted a much shorter ribbing.

Here’s what it looks like now. I only finished right armhole (left side on this picture). See how much better it looks already? I really think I can live with the neckline. But the other armhole? I’m thinking that my neck is off centered and I may have to redo that arm steek. But if I cut more, then the arm scythe will be much deeper on one side than the other. Dang. I knew I didn’t like that willy-nilly steek method! Looks like there will be something wonky no matter what.

Hmm. Maybe I can re-cut the neckline wider toward the left, thus centering it. Worth considering.

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Finished.

I finished this over a week ago. It’s the first time we’ve had sunshine for picture taking in weeks.

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As knitters, it’s been drilled into us over and over to get enough of a single dye lot to finish your project. Even buy an extra skein to make sure that you have enough. But when it comes to kettle dyed/hand dyed yarns, you have to be even more diligent.

My mom has been complaining of cold shoulders. I saw a couple of people working on the Truly Tasha’s Shawl at the last guild meeting, and I thought, that would be just the thing for my mom. I consulted Grace about colors. I was thinking a nice red, but Grace mentioned that mom liked Iris’ Golden Braid, but said that she likes a deeper gold. Thus started the search for a good gold.

Grace went to Twist, and found some gorgeous Malabrigo Worsted. After much discussion by phone, we agreed upon Pollen. I happened to be at Uncommon Threads the following day and came across the exact same yarn and panicked. It was the color of butter creme. A very washed out version of what I envisioned by Grace’s description. More phone calls ensued. Grace assured me that it was a deep gold yellow. I had my doubts.

The package from Twist arrived on Boxing Day. I opened the box and came across the most beautiful deep gold. Whew! Grace said that even within the bag containing the same dye lot, the depth of shade varied greatly (see Pollen link to see color variations). Grace and Cathy had carefully selected only the deepest colors within the same dye lot. I am here to say, they did a fabulous job. I am on my third skein right now, and it is barely discernible where I changed skeins.

No pictures right now, but just imagine a big giant-sized diagonal garter stitched washcloth, before you start decreasing. As I said, I just started the 3rd skein. Once I’m done with this skein, I can start the lace border. Whew. I can’t wait.

On the positive side, this yarn is absolutely luscious. The pattern calls for a dense fabric. The yarn in this pattern is soft and squishy. Just the thing for cold shoulders.

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(Today’s post has nothing to do with fibers. So, skip as you wish.)

I smiled when I saw these LunchBots at the health food store today.

Why? They reminded me of the metal bento boxes we had while growing up in Taiwan.

Each evening, leftovers are packed in tight into these metal boxes and tied with string.  There’s usually some sort of tag (think dog tags) tied on with the string. Then they are placed in the refrigerator.

In the morning, we would carry our boxes to school. Once at school, we would toss them in a pile outside of the class room. Yup. Just tossed it in a pile.

After school has started, the janitor would come by and pick up all the bento boxes and they would disappear until lunch time.  At lunch, they would magically reappear, steaming hot.  I’m not sure where he took them, or what kind of device he used, but I imagine that it was some sort of large steamer. All the metal boxes would be tossed in, steamed, and brought back in time for lunch.

As lunch time progresses, our ears are tuned for the sound of the janitor coming by and the clatter of metal boxes. The sound of lunch — better than the bell! And the aroma of steamed food.  It’s an odd, indescribable smell of all sorts of leftovers being heated up together.  Not exactly harmonious, but not unpleasant either. But, perhaps it’s just olfactory memories tied with hunger and the promise of food.

At lunch, there’s the big scramble to find your own lunch box (this is where the dog tags come in), and you would have a nice hot lunch.*

LunchBots would like you to think that they are into something new, but to me, this is old technology at its best. And lots of pleasant memories to go with. I may have to buy one just for that!

* And this is why, to this date, I can’t face a cold sandwich or salad for lunch. To me, lunch is supposed to be hot, darn it!

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