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.
Pattern? I loosely based it on Vogue Knitting’s Ribbed Cap, except I knitted it in the round instead of flat. 104 sts instead of 106, and the shaping had to change to accommodate the new stitch count and working in the round.
I made it 8″ long instead of 6″ before starting the crown, so I can have enough length to turn a cuff. I have a big head and I’m not that fond of the beanie look. But because I have such a big head and so much hair, I barely have enough to turn. Sigh. 9″ or even 10″ would have been better.
Size 6 needles instead of the size 8 because I’m such a loose knitter.
Yarn? 2 oz of a 2 ply handspun rambouillet (purchased the roving at SOAR) instead of Noro. Much softer on the ears. I like the soft lavender blue variegated color. Very much like a well worn pair of jeans.
So, I guess it wasn’t really much like the original pattern.
A little about the yarn. I arrived at SOAR with plenty of vests, scarves and shawls, but absolutely nothing to cover my head with. It rained. It snowed. It was frigid. As soon as the market opened, I went in search of something that could be spun up quickly and turned into head coverings. I bought 4oz of Rambouillet rovings (I can’t remember which vendor). How long could it take to spin a hundred yards of yarn for a quick hat?
I didn’t factor in all the distractions. Nor the fact that I decided to use a drop spindle (Forrester, also purchased at SOAR) instead of one of the 2 spinning wheels. I didn’t finish spinning and plying the yarn until the week after SOAR.
It wasn’t until the weather turned arctic in California that my mind went back to the hat. Of course, now that the hat is finished, the weather has turned a nice balmy 60F…
I have 2 oz left. I think there’s enough for a neck scarf or a pair of fingerless mitts to keep me warm while walking.
So much to say yet so little to show for it on my cameras. At least, that I’m willing to share on the blog. After all, I need to hold back something for blackmailing. Karaoke with Velma & Nancy Roberts, anyone? Samba line dancing? (Thank goodness no one took pictures of me doing that!) Stetson and Sarah trying for the longest draw with cotton and a spinning wheel (with Denny and Stephenie doing the limbo under it).
What’s best about SOAR? Hanging out with old friends, some you only see a few times a year, or once a year at SOAR. Getting to know some of them better. Getting under the covers and learning the thought and design process of the mentors for their various projects: Sara Lamb, Deb Menz, Stephenie Gaustad, Sarah Swett to name a few. (Go ahead, click through to their site and tell me you aren’t inspired.) Meeting new best friends. Seeing all the fabulous projects that everyone has been working on during the past year. Creative juices are flowing.
Unfortunately, creative juices aren’t the only juices that are flowing. I arrived still recovering from the ravages of a 2 week old cold (just sinusitis and bronchitis at this point, and cleared by my doctor as not contagious), there were others who arrive while contagious. Sorry, people, cold/flu while you are contagious and in small hotel meeting rooms/suites and lots of other people is just not a good idea. Several of the mentors came down with the crud after the 3 day workshop and had to suffer through the remainder of the week feverish and loss of voice. Not cool. Some think that the SOAR crud is the price of admission; I’d rather not.
The cold dry air of the Oregon High Desert triggered a severe asthma attack for me. That on top of weakened lungs from the bronchitis made it ugly. Very ugly. So ugly that I barely made it to Whidbey Island. So ugly that my doctor put me on a course of prednisone. So ugly that I’ve decided to stay put until this is fully under control instead of returning back to the bay area and some commitments I have down there.
Now that the asthma is better controlled, I have the sniffles. Damn! And a winter storm is now scheduled to arrive tomorrow and stay through the window I am thinking I’ll be able to head south again.
On the positive side, I love a good winter storm when I tucked in the cottage with a fire blazing. Plenty of hot tea and my spinning wheel. I might even break out the Cricket and weave a scarf!
And even better, I will be able to go to the Whidbey Weaver’s Guild‘s Annual Sale on Friday!
I leave you with some images of the week. Click through for full size.
31-Aug-2014: Sorry, I have removed the photo gallery because I have been getting a lot of comment spam through a loop hole in the WordPress Galleries created before a patch.
23 Dec, 2009: Edited to use YouTube instead of the local QuickTime movie for improved page loading and throughput.
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén