musindigo

I know.  That’s what I thought, too, when I first started making these little nests for carding.

It’s really a nice soft yummy rich brown alpaca.

It’s part of my latest spinning project, which is, again, to spin enough for a sweater.  The red mix from the last posting is working out very well -

(That’s a shot of the unblocked right front of Kelmscott).  I’ve knitted both fronts, actually.  Back next, then sleeves.

Anyways, digressing.

The alpaca above, plus this -

-DT Crafts kid mohair locks, which I’m hand-carding in the evenings (quite therapeutic, actually), and

from left to right around the clock:  green cotswold, light gray shetland (I find it’s just dandy with just about anything to add a little earthiness to a yarn), the brown alpaca and blue corriedale.  I’ve divided up all the fibre into its requesite amounts, into twelve sections, to make 24 batts.

So far, it looks like this (the mohair hasn’t been added, yet) -

All told, it should work out to about 24 oz.  Which should be more than enough for a sweater in worsted in my size.  I’m aiming to spin a 3ply worsted weight-this time.

It’s good timing, too.  I need a distraction.  My dad is lined up for open-heart surgery later this week or early next.

And, I’ve got about 6 weeks to kill before a CNS appointment at a neuromuscular clinic (but I’m thrilled to have that appointment booked).

In other news (good news) - Oceanwind Knits is finally on Facebook.  I feel like I’m a little late to the party.  But, I’m happy to finally have time to enjoy the fun interactions on Facebook.  I’ve really not taken time to participate in before now.  I’ll be posting updates as new things are added to the shop (a few new yarns went up the other day, by the way).

So, pop by, if you’re on Facebook, and say hello.  :)

Tags: life, oceanwind knits, projects, spinning, sweater, wip, wool, yarn

I know it probably seems remarkable.  I probably have more projects on the needles than most folks.

I am a fickle knitter.  I know it, and I probably should feel guilty but I don’t.  About once per year I do a wander through the UFOs and decide if any of them still have a future or not.  The ones I decide not to frog are still waiting for me, someday, sometime.  Each one of them fulfilled some idea of something at one time or another and will possibly do so again.

I think part of the reason I am so whimful when it comes to beginning new projects is the time and energy invested in clearing through designs leaves me wanting a fresh something (anything!) after working through the technicalities of designing (and sometimes as a break during).  No matter how much hope and inspiration I have for a new design, a lot of putting it all together is not terribly fun (even though I do quite enjoy the visuals of building lace charts and having the numbers come together makes me want to dance, sometimes).  So, even though I am ‘work’ knitting, I still like to have ‘fun’ knitting going on on the side.  It does become a little strange sometimes, having work and relaxation based on the same activity.

Anyhow, without digressing too far into the emotional yin-yang of why I knit what I knit, I am happy to share an FO with you.  :)

It’s mostly stockinette, which is probably why it made it to the finish line a little more quickly than some things do.  It’s actually been complete since late April but I am not always quick on the ball to get proper photos together.

This is the ‘basic fitted cardigan’ by Jane Ellison, from Knitting Noro, in Noro Silk Garden. Sometimes a little stockinette takes the edge off.  And at the end of it all, you have a sweater (which is much better than a project on the needles that is still a twinkle in your eye - I have many of those lol).

It was great hockey knitting, I must say.

As for future FOs?  These are the current darlings:

Sylvi, from Twist Collective.

And these very cool wristlets, by Katherine Matthews.  I have plans for more of these (beads are a’waiting already!).

Who knows, they might actually make it to the finish line.  Or perhaps I will digress and delve into the UFO piles instead and surprise us all.  ;)

Tags: finished, knits, knitting, life, projects, sweater

After finishing the Solstice-themed shawl for Anne’s club (and it was a feat - nearly 700 sts to bind off at the end) I was finally in for a treat which had been sitting beside my desk staring at me innocently (seductively is more like it but I say ‘innocently’ because it was just helplessly amazing yarn in skeins which have no real physical power - how would they know what kind of an affect they were having on me?) for some time.  I resisted winding the yarn until the last stitch was bound off and the shawl was blocked to perfection.  I petted it regularly but I resisted winding.  I am pretty proud of myself, considering, this Celestial (Ravelry link) is the type of yarn you want to take to bed with you (and I am also probably the worst knitter around for constantly starting new things when I have no business doing so, so I am extra proud of myself).

See?

This is the type of yarn which comes into your life only rarely - mill-spun limited edition 50/30/20 alpaca/wool/silk, 400 yds, 3.5 oz, fingering to light sportweight.  Yummy.

Anne mentioned something (innocently?) about wanting to make a Tangled Yoke with it and well, I fell.  Hard.  I had to have enough for a sweater.

So, here it is as a Tangled Yoke sleeve:

Knits like butter.  It will have enough definition to show the yoke cabling but is lightweight and divine next to the skin…  I can’t wait for it to be finished.

As it is, however, knowing how my knitting goes, I doubt it will be ready in time for holiday wearing, so I decided to get back into the swing with my one-armed Kauni as a back-up - doable for the holidays if I want it to be (and although not quite as heavenly as the Tangled will be, still a fun and festive addition to a holiday wardrobe).  Here’s a shot of the one-armed version, steeked and hanging about on my dummy lady:

I haven’t quite decided how I will do the button band or the neck but I’m thinking probably a bit of a collar.

My track record for finishing sweaters is not great but I have high hopes with these two.

In other news, a selection of some new things in the shop (although the top one, laceweight, is gone already, sorry):

A lot of things in the shop are on sale until the end of Dec, so it’s not a bad time to pick up anything you may have your eye on.

And coming soon:

Isn’t it cool?  Tweedy Sock yarn (coming soon to Oceanwind Knits), Vinnland sock pattern.  I love it so far.  :)

I have some FOs, too (remarkable lol) - I will post those to Ravelry.

If you have snow, blame me.  I wished for snow to grace the photos of the Solistice shawl for publishing and, well, I got my wish.  Over and over again.  In November, no less.  We have about 2 1/2 feet accumulated (and it’s not stopping… urgh).

Tags: knits, knitting, life, millspun, oceanwind knits, socks, sweater