Fiber Musings

I’m almost finished with my vest. I’m about 40% finished with the I-cord edgings. Then, it’s just a matter of finding separating zippers of the right color. Yeah, right. I’ll be lucky if I can find something close and approximately the right length.

I also finished spinning the hand dyed wool from Banana Belt I bought earlier this spring. I’ve settled on the Seaweed vest from Sweaters from Camp. I found some dark green Cascade 220 to use as the main color, and knitted up a swatch this weekend. The gauge is very different, since the yarn is worsted weight. But thanks to the excellent write-up on how she arrived at the design, I was able to rework the pattern for Martin with my gauge.

So I have a huge incentive to finish my current vest. But then, I also bought some Jaeger Matchmaker yarn to make the Lavold vest in Knitters. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

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I can’t believe it. I misread my own instructions, not once, but twice. And we are not talking about misreading it the same way twice, but two different ways. Now I need to rip both front panels of the vest back to the start of the neck decreases. (Okay, yes, I also need to rewrite those instructions so that they more idiot-proof.)

I’m finally down to plying the last bobbin of the yarn for Martin’s sweater. This is the handpainted wool that I bought at NwRSA conference back in April or May. I should be able to finish plying it tonight and then set the twist. Now, when that Cascade 220 I ordered to go with this project, I’ll be able to start swatching.

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I’m zipping along on the vest. Part of me is bored with all the stockinette stitch, but the other part of me can’t stop because I can’t wait to see what the finished piece will look like. Will it end up as I envisioned it? So far so good. Actually, almost exactly as I envisioned it.

I’ve modified the pattern a bit from the way I had originally written it. I wasn’t looking forward to all the piecing, since the 2 front pieces are worked as 2 separate pieces each. I decided to work the 2 colors using intarsia, after the top of the pocket. This is my first intarsia work since my “Death by Intarsia” class in spring. I think I did pretty well.

Here’s what the back of the piece looks like. Click on the image to see the front of the piece. (Sorry about the quality of the picture. I’m using the old digital camera, because Martin has the good one up in Seattle.)

The edge stitch on the yellow is a bit loose. I think it’s because I’m not pulling tight enough on the working yarn when I return to it. That first stitch is worked as a purl stitch, and I’m just not getting even tension there. I’ve tried really yanking on the yarn on that stitch, but it still won’t even out. I’ll have to keep practicing.

And yes, that’s an ebony circular kneedle. I needed a new size 6 circular, and I came across the Susanne’s ebony circulars. They were only a few dollars more than the Addis, so I splurged. I can’t resist exotic hardwoods. I think it’s the sailor in me. And yes, I gloated to Martin. Thank goodness he understands. He can’t resist them either. Unfortunately, we had to give up quite a bit of our hardwood collection in the move south. They went to good homes though. Mostly to other wooden boat owners and the boat modeling non-profit organization. Some of the woods included Honduras Rosewood, Purpleheart, teaks, mahogany. For now, I’ll restrict my collection to drop spindles. Satisfies the petting/fondling needs as well as being functional.

Speaking of functional pieces of wood. I got a call from Fiberworks, and they are starting on my drumcarder!!! I should get it around Christmas. I had to decide on a wood on the phone, because I didn’t know what I wanted when I ordered it. While I was on the phone with Erika, she mentioned the Enlish Walnut that they have in the shop right now. I immediately googled the wood, and fell in love. Just check out the grain on this baby. I’ll have to pay a premium for this wood, but the way I figure it, I’m already paying an arm and a leg for this piece of functional art, what’s a few dollars more?

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I just got back from the Black Sheep Handweavers Guild monthly meeting, where I saw lots of wonderful projects that people have worked on over their summer vacation. Now, I have this urge to give weaving another try. Please, please, please, someone stop me. I should just accept that I can appreciate these beauties without having to make them myself. I really did not enjoy my weaving class that much. It was fun while it lasted, but it didn’t inspire me the way spinning and knitting do.

As for knitting, I’m zipping along on the sweater vest. I’m almost finished with the back. I should be able to start the front this weekend. And this is where all the fun begins. I’ll try and take some pictures this weekend of the project. Then again, maybe not.

The weather down here has finally cooled down enough to wear socks again, so I’ll probably get back to knitting socks again. Especially since I’m actually wearing shoes again so that I can ride my scooter safely.

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I yearn for the days when I fall asleep immediately when Arnold’s name come across the big screen at the beginning of a movie. Perhaps when I wake up, I’ll find that this was all a bad dream.

Here’s an email from my brother-in-law last night that says it all.

Ann Dahling: Ve hope dat by tonight you ar very much enjoying your new Gov’ner. Und are ve buying lederhosen to ride to de vork at de Google Platz? De Vespas they are very popoolar in Wein, und I am chur de are going to more popoolar in Kaliyfornia now dat you hav a big strong man as your leeder, one who vill make de gassoline more expensive. Vishing you many congratulations on de new regime govmint.

Ian (or, in Kaliyfornia, Johannes)

Tomorrow, I’ll go back to fiber content. I promise.

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