Fiber Musings

Kim was curious about my basic sock recipe, especially how I’m starting my toes these day.

I use 2 circular needles. The cable is flexible enough for the manipulation of the small number of stitches. I’ve tried it on 4 dpn, and drove my self nuts. I just wanted to break those needles from sheer frustration.

Step 1: Make a slip knot and slip it on one of the circular needles, and start wrapping the yarn around both of the needles.

Step 2: Slide the stitches on the bottom needle to the cable. Knit the stitches as they are presented on the top needle with the other end of the top circular needle.

Here’s a picture of the completed first side.

Step 3: Turn the work upside down, so that the newly completed row is on the bottom. Slip the completed row to the cable part of the circular needle. You can see which is the recently worked row because the working yarn is at the end of the row. Slide the cast on stitches on the second needle onto the needle part of the circular needle, with the needle point on the right side, and cable on the left. Start knitting as the stitches are presented.

That’s all there is to it! You start increasing 1 stitch in from the edge, every other round until the sock is of the desired width. What’s the desired width? I find that by the time the knitted toe is deep enough to completely covers my little toe, it’s wide enough. At this point, you can start your desired pattern, if any.

There are several tutorials on Turkish cast ons on the web. There’s even a YouTube video.

Okay. I’m off to drill holes in my boat. In the meantime, Ellie will continue to amuse herself with her sheep toy.

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Done and Done!

Registration opened today, and I’ve completed my registration online. Now, the waiting game begins to see if I get the workshop of my choice. I signed up for Contemporary Cut Pile with Sara Lamb. I’ve wanted to learn to weave cut pile rugs forever. Since I won’t be able to make her session at the Golden Gate Fiber Institute’s Summer Intensive, I’ve signed up for it at SOAR. I’ve admired Sara’s work for a long time, and I also missed out on it when she taught this course at CNCH a few years ago. I can’t wait.

On to other notes, I only just realized last night that April is more than half over, and I haven’t finished a pair of socks yet! That doesn’t mean that I haven’t casted on, just that I don’t have anything finished. I started a pair with some handspun that just wasn’t working out. Eva counseled me wisely and convinced me that the yarn really didn’t want to be socks. Of course, this is after I’ve already turned the heel (toe up). I immediately casted on for another pair. But, those are my “cottage socks.” What happens at the cottage, stays at the cottage. Since I was only up there for a couple of days, I didn’t finish them. So, it’s time to cast on a pair here in California. But I’d better hurry to keep my current pace of 2 pairs per month! Footies, anyone?

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There’s been a dearth of fiber activities here. Why?

Reason #1

I didn’t realize how dirty the deck was until I started to scrub. On the left is the result of winter grime. On the right is what it is supposed to look like. It took me 2 afternoons to scrub the deck. Each evening, my arms were so sore that I couldn’t even think about picking up knitting needles. Everything takes longer when you are doing it all by yourself. I definitely didn’t sign up for that. But still, it’s very gratifying when it’s done.

Reason #2

Last week was the start of the Wednesday evening racing series. I had to go out and make a showing. We came in right in the middle of the pack. I’m happy with that.

Reason #3

My first cruise out of the season. Our club cruised out to South Beach Harbor (See those pointy sticks behind the ball park? It’s my other pointy stick passion.), and watched the Giants lose to St. Louis. Nonetheless, it was a fabulous day, fabulous cruise, fabulous after party on the boats, and fabulous brunch at Delancey Street.

Hopefully, fiber activities will resume soon. But it will have to wait until after South Bay Opening Day this weekend. I haven’t decided if my boat will enter the decorated boat parade, but if you decide to drop by, I’ll be tending bar, starting at 1230!

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The following just came into my inbox last night…

Dear Bohus Knitting Friend,

I have some wonderful news and I wanted all of you, my special Bohus devotees, to be the first to hear, and hopefully mark your calendars:

There will be a Bohus Stickning exhibit in America in 2009! It will be held at the American-Swedish Institute in Minneapolis between January 23rd and March 29th, 2009.

Many things about the exhibit are still undecided but during the opening weekend the Institute is hoping to host celebrity guests and present lectures, expert guidance through the exhibit, and show a brand new Swedish documentary film (with English subtitles) about Bohus Stickning. It is even possible that a special Bohus garment will be re-created and released for sale in conjunction with the exhibit.

I hope that many of you will be able to come – if not for the opening weekend festivities, then at least at some point while the exhibit is showing- to celebrate this great event and ASI’s willingness to provide exhibition space for these wonderful garments. This is something I have been dreaming of for for a long time and I am so very happy that it is now in the works for real!

The last time there was a Bohus exhibit was in conjunction with the World’s Fair in New York in 1964 so it is about time for another one, don’t you think?

Warmly, Susanna

I can’t wait! Although, Minneapolis in winter doesn’t sound all that wonderful… I mean, they are still having blizzard warnings in April, for goodness sake!

Not much on the fiber front. I had to head north to meet with the fireplace insert technician. I extended the stay so I can attend the Whidbey Island Spin In. All I can say is, “WOW!” The event sure has grown since the last time I attended the Spin In! They outgrew Coupeville Elementary School and are now in the Oak Harbor High School. (Although, may I be as bold to suggest that Coupeville’s new high school looks like they might be able to accommodate at least that many people and would be closer to Seattle and the rest of the island?)

Eva spent a couple of nights with me this time around. She didn’t get to go to the Spin In because she had class. Kathleen joined us and we stayed up and talked and drank wine. The Spin In was followed up with dinner at Marcy’s with several Spin In attendees and island regulars. Unfortunately, I was hit by “Island Time” on Sunday and didn’t make it make to the Spin In. My firewood delivery was supposed to be at 9, then noon, then 1:30. They finally arrived around 3 and left at 3:30. Much too late to drive north to Oak Harbor (about 20 minutes north) for an event that ended at 4. Dang.

Even less fiber activities since I returned. I’ve been getting my boat ready for the new racing and cruising season. I spent several hours yesterday afternoon scrubbing the decks (hey, it’s mostly teak colored now!). My arm and wrist feel like they belong to someone else now. The good news is that my boat looks great! It’ll be purdy for the South Bay Opening Day ceremonies next Saturday.

We even performed well during the first Beer Can (Wednesday night racing series) of the year on Wednesday! Tomorrow is my first cruise out of the year, and I’ve got to go back and finish scrubbing the decks and check my provisioning. (And I need to figure out how to replace that broken sail slide, now that I found the correct replacement parts.)

The bummer about this particular cruise out? All my sailing-knitting buds have family commitments and won’t be in attendance. No one to do the wine and knitting needle juggling routine with.

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