musindigo

Feels like a lifetime ago since I last posted.

Summer has flown.  I’ve probably said that other years, too, but I haven’t checked.  Other years I was dyeing so much I hardly had time for anything else, much less a vacation.

This year that sort of schedule was out of the question.  So, knowing as much, in the spring, I decided to plan a vacation.  Planned vacation.  Foreign concept.

It was wonderful.

It wasn’t far from home, but it was on the lake.  We rented a cottage within a nice grove of trees and near enough to the lake to enjoy the breezes and, despite having WiFi access, basically forgot a lot of cares for a week.  I learned some new guitar pieces and worked on the fretboard, because, unlike at home, I had fewer interruptions.  And I did not feel guilty about playing guitar for hours on a lazy afternoon.  I can even play a few riffs of Pink Floyd now (this is quite a thing with the teenager).  Folks napped, in the evenings we puddled in the lake, and spent some of our time out for dinner with friends and in Coffee Culture enjoying the AC and, of course, the coffee.

It was a really good idea.

And since then (that was early July) it’s been sort of the usual whirlwind of activity around here, trying to stay on top of the schedule.  I’m well enough now I can think about getting back into dyeing more regularly (when it cools off - today we are blessed with a humidex somewhere near 40C which makes everything, including us, feel sort of like limp lettuce) and I’ve started a new venture with a friend.

Crazy, maybe.  But Anne and I have spent a lot of time over the last few years discussing various knitting projects, and also contemplated what to use for spinning yarns when we had a specific project in mind.  We came to the realization there really isn’t a lot around the ‘net about such things related to hand-spinning, and in respect, decided to launch a new online magazine, the Ennea Collective (we have a Ravelry group here.  We are very excited!  Very.  Our plan is to launch in October.

And (I can hear all the folks chuckling and rolling their eyes at me, because, well, y’all know how fickle I can be about fibre projects) I am learning to weave.

Yes.  I quite like it so far.  We inherited a LeClerc Fanny, older model, from a resource centre in Victoria.  It’s sat in a closet for nearly 6 years.  I decided it was time to shed some light on it and see if it needed parts (it didn’t, aside from a few new cords for the main roller at the top).  It didn’t have any shuttles so I had to order some of those, and some bobbins and hooks, but really, all told, it was ready to weave right out of the closet.

Above is my first project (now off the loom but not quite finished yet).  It’s a guitar strap.  I thought it was a good way to get a feel for things, and I am.  I decided, since I was warping  anyways, I could make two straps.  So I made one for myself and a second for the teenager and he actually likes it.  The yarn is typcial sock merino, bits of mis-dyed or leftover Oceanwind Knits Merino I found in the stash bins.  I also decided, you know, since I tend to be like that and not just satisfied to go the simplest route, I would like some stripes in the warp.  So it’s striped in indigo and gaia.

Next up:  yeah.  Because I don’t always like to go the simplest route, Noro Sekku.  Most folks who weave are probably slapping their knees right now because they are laughing so hard they might fall off their chairs, since they will know how Noro Sekku will make quite a fussy warp.  And I did, too.  But, I thought, oh heck.  It will be so nice.  And it is.  And it will be.  The warp and I have had a few conversations (not terribly friendly conversations) but we’re getting along better, now.  If I ever use it again as a warp I am going to warp from back to front, and wind it immediately on the the beam before it has time to lie around marrying itself while waiting for the reed and heddles to be threaded.  I swear it waited until I was out of the room and said ‘ok, she’s gone, tangle time!’  Live and learn.  It’s how I get through the day.  ;)  Luckily I had a second set of hands (thanks hubby!) who could wind the beam while I stretched the warp as long and as straight as possible.  Otherwise it just coiled in front of the reed.  Oy.

Pretty, tho, eh?

It’s all plain weave.  I contemplated doing a herringbone sort of thing but with a warp which had a mind of it’s own like that, I decided to just use the KISS principle (you know, since the loom was now threaded and beamed, not KISS principle for the actual choice of warp yarn ;)).

Here’s a shot of the loom itself:

One more thing from this summer:

New shawl pattern!  Isle.  Available on Oceanwind Knits or as a Ravelry Download, knit with one skein of Asherah Laceweight (merino/alpaca).  The pattern includes instructions for a beaded version as well as a traditional version.

And there you are.  Summer synopsis.  And, as usual, I hope to be back more regularly.  This year, the little dude will be in Grade 1 and in school every day.  *thud*

Whatever will I do with myself?  Hm.

Tags: boys, finished, knit design, life, loom, oceanwind knits, projects, ravelry, weaving, work in progress, yarn

I invested in a new camera.

The one I was using did the job but it’s five years old and a little shaky and flaky at times.

So, as luck would have it (but these days, it’s not terribly hard to find some suitable deal, I find), a company I like to deal with had a deal on the camera brand I like (Fujifilm) when I started looking for a new one.  I’ve had it for a little while and really appreciate some of the features like the anti-shake and fairly decent video capabilities, as well as its ability to to function in lower light situations than my old camera which did its best work in natural light.

I first bought my previous digital to capture still life shots, mostly of florals, and because we were expecting the little guy.  I used to do watercolours back then, and coloured pencil work, but I haven’t really done any at all since the birth of Sam.  However, he is going to be in school full time this fall so I’m hoping I can put my typical knitting startitis aside every once in a while and maybe sit still long enough to produce a few watercolours or other paintings now and again.  Having the new camera  has also woken up a little spark in me sort of aiming in such a direction as well.

So while I haven’t taken gardening shots, really, for years (it’s hard to think about photography when you have your eyeballs thinking about different colourways of hand-dyed yarn every waking minute), today and recently I’ve captured a few shots from the garden which some day might become some sort of floral still-life paintings.

But even if they don’t, I’m sure I will quite enjoy the photos on their own.  I haven’t really done photography seriously since university when my old Pentax ME was still working.  I like how the shots come out nicely clear and detailed and I really like the brilliant colour.

And, I’m pretty impressed with my garden this year, and what I’ve managed, considering I’m not always feeling like gardening but it really has come together nicely enough.   Sometimes I think gardening is more about have time to really think about it than anything.  And with this year being a little on the tough side at times, the little crisp spots of colour go a long way.

I’m happy to report some knitting has made it off the needles.

A little lacey shoulder shawl I’m pleased to have knitted out of one skein of the Asherah alpaca-merino lace.  I’m working on a beaded version and a pattern will be available soon.

Back to gardening…

The roses are nearly finished.  They took a beating the other day when we had downpours, but a few are still showing off nice punchy colour:

I didn’t count the blossoms but I’m betting on around a hundred or so.

And, the Silver Lace is going absolutely nuts this year:

I know vines are not everyone’s cup of tea but I really appreciate the extra shade this one allows.

And, my prized white hydrangea.  A few weeks back, it looked like this:

Today it looks like this, slightly mangled.  Yesterday it was sprawled all over the steps to the right due to heavy rain.  :(  It’s now held in place by a little netting at the bottom and I hope it’s enough to help it stay upright.

Unfortunately, there were a few broken stems.  Several blossoms have come into the house with me where I can enjoy them.

This one resides in a anniversary glass gifted in honour of my parents’ silver anniversary.  I thought it was a pretty combination.

And, no, it’s not my anniversary (that was last month).  But, it’s June.  It’s bound to be someone’s anniversary.  Happy Anniversary.

Tags: finished, gallery, knitting, lace, life, patterns

It is.  In May.

And I know other folks in different parts of the continent are guffawing about SNOW in May.  (Bad word, snow).  So I’m trying very hard to enjoy our heatwave here even though it slogs me out and makes me feel about as energetic as a snail.

However.  It has been too long since I’ve last typed so despite the heat I am typing.  And I also dyed today because it’s about time I do some of that too.  Especially since it’s nummy new limited edition mill-spun alpaca-merino laceweight I just retrieved very recently from a local mill.  They did a fabulous job and I can’t wait to get it up in the shop.  50/50 alpaca merino.

It’s gorgeous to knit with (I’m working on a pattern in it) and wonderfully soft.  Great for next-to the skin wear.  And it will be very pretty for lace knitting.

As of late it’s sort of been touch and go.  Physically, things are a little better due to new meds.  The trick is finding balance between meds and activity.  Sometimes the meds are the culprit keeping me from moving about and sometimes I overdo it and the meds don’t do as good of a job.  I’m getting there!  Just being able to get into the dyeroom is thrilling.  And I am quite happy to not have to deal with negative temps (again, my sympathies to those of you who are still stuck with frost and other bad words).

Otherwise, I’ve kept myself busy with my usual round of weekly startitis projects (see flyby photos below).  I did manage to finish a few things (or halves of pairs of socks, that sort of thing).  And one shawl is finished.

I don’t have pretty pretty pics of it yet - but here are a few pics:

Specs:  Daybreak by Stephen West.  Medium size, yarn is Oceanwind Knits Merino in various shades.  I think I used 3.75mm needles.  It’s gotten a lot of wear already.

Other bits of recent fibre-y activity (in no apparent order - just pretty fibre pictures :)):

hand-spun merino (Lakehouse Loft) - Wanida sock (Cookie A)

Sylvi

hand-spun corriedale (Lakehouse Loft)

wensleydale roving - potential spinning

wensleydale roving (more) - spinning in progress

Traveling Woman (in hand-spun corriedale from above)

And, due to aforementioned heatwave, plants are coming alive and blooming and just generally growing like mad.

I totally love poppies, don’t you?  This is a shot of the first one to open.

This last photo is Sam’s magic bean plant, which grew from ‘just popped out of the seed pod’ to about 4 inches, as you see, overnight.  Magic, indeed.  :)

So, there we are.  A sort of fly-by update but a blog post, nonetheless.

Hoping to post the new yarn by the end of this week.  :)

Tags: Canada, dyeing, finished, knitting, life, millspun, oceanwind knits, projects, roving, snow, wip, wool, work in progress, yarn

Any of you who have read this blog for a while know that I tend to have a lot of ideas and only two hands.  I’m betting you roll your eyes with some regularity when I announce a new project, especially ones involving the knitting of sweaters.  Never mind how you must chuckle when I announce I am spinning the wool for said sweater.

So, I am delighted to show you this:

I’m betting you thought it was languishing in the UFO pile.  In actuality, I’ve been wearing it since last October.  My tardiness in posting any FO photos was the result of not having the photos taken until a few days ago.  I happened to be wearing it when a friend came to visit, the weather was perfect, and hubby had a few moments to take the camera.

No, I’ve not completed a hand-spun sweater just yet.  But, I will.  Someday.

For now, I have this one to enjoy.  :)

Pattern:  The infamous Tangled Yoke Cardigan, Eunny Jang.  Yarn: Celestial millspun alpaca/wool/silk by Wooly Wonka Fibres.

So, there you have it.  A finished sweater, knit by myself.  :)  Total love.

99 (or so) to go.  ;)

Tags: finished, knits, knitting, millspun, projects, sweater, wool

Why, quite a bit, actually.  Spinning has gone very well lately; quite a few FOs coming off the bobbins.

Like this - Freckleface ‘Gypsy’, 80/20 merino/silk roving

spun into

this 3-ply light fingering weight, 104g / 415 yards (I also wound up with 69 yds of 2-ply laceweight).  Isn’t it interesting sometimes how the yarn really isn’t at all like the original roving?  I did deliberately attempt to break up the colour runs in this, however, splitting each third of roving into quarters before spinning.  I am quite tickled with it, actually.  The plan is to knit a simple lace scarf (like the Raha Scarf by Nancy Bush) which would leave me enough left for a cowl or some fingerless mittens.

And then, I decided to spin up a little batt leftover from a show in the fall.  It had a mixture of fibres, alpaca, merino and silk.  I typically forgot to take a photo pre-spinning since it was one of those sort of impulsive projects started on a whim one evening.  I plied it with a single of gorgeous Wooly Wonka  Silverback Roving - alpaca, bamboo + angelina (just absolutely divine stuff - too nice to spin, almost).

It turned out quite sweet, if I say so myself:

I spun it so it would transition from a rich seaglass blue to a gray blue to golden (72g / 283 yds), light fingering laceweight, plied looser than normal for lots of drape.  Currently it’s being knit into a lacey cowl.  I had the project in mind while spinning and it’s proving to be a perfect match.

And, most recently,   this -

-showing 3 of 8 skeins spun over the holidays (finished on Jan.3rd).  This is an ultimate achievement for me.  I’ve always wanted to spin enough yarn for a sweater.  This is the first time I’ve managed to do so.  It’s quite a mix:  about 50% red fibre (alpaca, border leicester and tunis) + 40% shetland + 10% green, blue, rust and black corridale which I carded together.  I spun it sportweight, softly with a deliberately drapey yet stretchy hand.  I’ve got about 520gs and close to 1400 yds.

Because I want to knit

Kelmscott, which I’ve been totally enamoured by since it first showed up on my screen in the Winter’09 Twist Collective.  I’m not sure I will knit the collar since it’s quite formal that way.  But, we’ll see.  Currently, what you see above is total progress on the sweater (2″ of one front).

The red roving project, as it came to be known, was quite an undertaking but a nice quiet focus amidst the crazy holiday activity, which was a good thing, given the need for deliberate focus has become imperative as of late.  It is nice to be able to find the time to focus on such large-scale projects  because in recent years I’ve been far too busy to really allow for such things.  (And, of course, I’m a fickle knitter and spinner, prone to startitis to begin with).  But, not these days.

Late 2009 brought some changes (as every year does for most of us) which are going to carry on into 2010.  In a recent post I mentioned about seeking medical advice for some unexplainable oddities.  Hence the required focus and balance.

For a while, I thought it was related to the stress of having a busy schedule and not quite enough downtime.  I expected, given some time, things would just sort of clear up and I would wake up one morning feeling just fine (has not yet happened).  I thought a weekend away would work wonders (it didn’t).  It became loud and clear over a period of short months I would need to change my expectations of what I generally was used to business-wise and how I conducted daily activities.  Time to face facts.  I’m told it’s likely fibromyalgia + something.  Or it could just be something. The ’something’ is proving to be difficult to nail down and receiving specialist treatment is proving to be a time-consuming process (that is, getting to see a specialist is taking long).

Because all of this is happening behind the scenes, so to speak, and because I’ve received requests, I just wanted to let folks know I will not be offering clubs this year (as far as I know); I have also elected to not reserve booth space at any shows.  This is quite disappointing since I very much enjoy meeting folks, never mind it’s fun seeing other vendors who I’ve become friendly with (and never mind the enjoyment of adding goodies to my stash - but perhaps I will be able attend some shows and just enjoy the shopping side for once).

I will, however, be continuing to dye in small batches, fill small wholesale orders and I will also continue to publish designs.  Although some things will take longer to put together than they have in the past, other things may come together more quickly with the schedule being less jam-packed.

It has all been rather eye-opening.  I am quite used to walking miles with the dog and working 10-14 hours in a day if required, filling gaps with personal activities.  This, at the moment, is a thing of the past.  A balanced schedule is a requirement.  No more willy nilly.

I am grateful to family and friends who have stepped in to help me to continue working.  I am grateful I’ve been working from home for years which has enabled me to jiggle things a bit, rather than forcing an abrupt career malfunction.

And, the major upside is more time to spin and knit since I’m being forced to slow things down (ironic, isn’t it?  getting more by slowing down?).  This is something I’ve wanted (what fibre addict wouldn’t?).  So, I’m taking it.  I’ve always believed in being opportunistic.  And, IMO, the therapeutic value is priceless.  :)

And, I am expecting with some time, some sort of treatment may become available.  All of this could, at some point, become a non-issue.

So, in a nutshell, this is how 2010 begins.  C’est la vie, as they say.  Onwards and upwards.  Knit (spin, dye) on.

Happy New Year to you and yours.  I’m looking forward to the Olympics.  Are you?

Tags: finished, knitting, life, oceanwind knits, projects, spinning, wip, work in progress

I’m sure you agree.

Too bad my youngest has some sort of aversion to them and refuses to wear them for more than a few seconds.   We’re working on him (bribing with doughnuts and other goodies).  He might come around.  Otherwise, they are cute all on their own, even if they’re not attached to a pair of five-year-old footsies.

And, I have a new hat for the holidays:

Knit in the aforementioned Kandinsky hand-spun.  It is a little wild.  But, I love it.  And the hat looks pretty good on, too (considering I’m not really a hat person, this is quite a compliment to myself ;)).

Pattern is a variation of the It All Comes Together beret.  Photos are pre-blocking.  It has smoothed out with blocking and the colours really seem to pop.

Wishing everyone a merry holiday!  Be safe and warm.

Tags: finished, knits, knitting, projects, spinning, wool, yarn

Yes.  This is how it came out:

I like it.  Nice bursts of colour.

Specs:  2-ply, spun worsted at 12.5:1; plied at 14:1; wheel:  Ladybug.  98g / 267 yds.

I’m planning to knit it up into a Woodland Trails Cowl. (It’s a little thin but if it doesn’t work for this pattern, it will work for another cowl, I’m sure).  Right after I knit up some of these.  (Go see, they are too cute for words).

By the way - new yarn available at Oceanwind Knits:  Superwash Bluefaced Leicester sockweight (among other things).  :)  It is super super soft, with a litte nylon for extra durability.

If you’re like me, you’re stuck in the middle of endless snow squalls.  Great knitting/spinning weather.  (It has to be good for something).  Drive safely!

Tags: finished, oceanwind knits, spinning, wool, yarn

Sometimes, as mentioned in the last post, you get what you wish for.  Sometimes, in strange ways.

One of the things I am most often lamenting about is a lack of ‘personal’ knitting time due to other obligations (like work and boys needing their mother’s support and a need for sleep).

I knew coming into this fall, things were going to be walking a fairly thin line between meeting obligations and commitments and going off the rails at breakneck speed.  I managed to experience both.  Sometimes simultaneously.  However, there was not much to be done about it other than work through it.  I really did not have much control over the timing of so many things and I really became quite disappointed as to how I was unable to keep things rolling along at a more reasonable pace.

Thankfully most folks have been understanding and I truly appreciate everyone’s consideration and patience over the last few months.

My fall came on blasting.  Aside from trying (sometimes in vain due to a majorly wet  September and October which increased drying time substantially making dyeing quite problematic) to fill orders for wholesale, clubs and retail, I was dyeing to prepare for two shows only weeks apart.  In between the shows I managed, like I do most falls, to pick up a flu bug which knocked me out for days on end.  Our youngest was diagnosed with asthma in late September after a scary abrupt respiratory illness, probably related to the same bug.  In mid-October, it became pretty clear to me that the ‘little things’ irking me physically were not so little anymore and I should probably take note and get checked over.   This evolved into attending multiple medical appointments and tests, some hours away, which really take their toll on a work schedule.  I am still working through the medical system to really define what’s going on in this department.  A few weeks ago, my dad had heart surgery (he is doing excellent).

So, after feeling quite over-extended, finally things have settled down to a point where I feel I am once again in control and I’ve worked diligently to get to such a point.  This, after everything, is quite a blessing.

The other blessing (aside from my incredible family who step in when needed and the support of friends), amongst all the chaos of September and October and early November, was a sudden surge of ‘personal’ knitting time (hence, what I often wish for, I now had);  I found myself in the passenger seat on long car trips, in waiting rooms and just generally unable to work due to many factors, leaving me with time on (in?) my hands.  So, out came the spinning wheel and the needles.  An oasis which I could focus on when I wasn’t forced to be resting.  And, glee, because, not being very prolific in the FO department - I tend to be a process knitter and lose focus with other obligations - I actually had things flying off the needles.  :)  Yay!

So, this (Waterloo Wools South African Wool, purchased at the KW Knitter’s Fair) -

became this:

Which became these (Whistlpea Knits Basic Cabled Mittens) -

I also managed to churn out two of these -

in four different colourways of Noro Silk Garden Sock (two colourways each).  The pattern is Dianna.  It is a rare thing for me to knit something twice, but I loved how this pattern works up and the process was rather soothing.  (The border on the first one is the border from the Half Square Shawl, Victorian Lace Today).

This one has gone to live with Anne, who I’m sure has sore email ears (eyes?) a lot of days due to someone’s harping on a regular basis (I wonder who? ;)).  I also finished up quite a few bobbins of handspun (as of yet unphoto-ed) and managed to sort of figure out the workings of my new-to-me CSM (this one is going to require quite the learning curve but I’m starting to get it).

So, with any luck, and hopefully not at the same expense and stress level of the past several months, the FOs will continue.  We will see.

Tags: finished, knits, knitting, life, projects, roving, spinning, wool, yarn

Woolen Rabbit merino+angora.  (Roving gifted from Anne.)  It feels like velvet.  2ply fingering weight.

Spiral-dyed Austrailian Merino - 2ply worsted weight, from two different colourways.  I still have more of this to spin.  Love.

Shunklies Jacob Humbug.  I have another 3oz to spin.  3ply (not navajo) worsted.

and this:

2ply, light fingering-weight, 800+ yards of hand-dyed merino roving.  These made it into the Oceanwind Knits shop, my first hand-spun for sale.  :)

… some of the fruits of my mini-staycations over the summer.  Unfortunately, it just did not time out to actually get away at any point.  I still have hopes it might happen over the fall before the weather cools off too much.

First off, however, I am dyeing like a little mad bunny these days for the Waterloo County Knitters Fair, next Saturday, Sept.12th.

Hope to see you there!  Sure to be a wonderful time.  I always look forward to it.

Tags: finished, oceanwind knits, roving, spinning, wool, yarn

I’m not really sure how it got to be August, but it is.  It happened.

Lately the days just fill up and flow together.

This is not necessarily a bad thing (I can be heard remarking that one of my biggest fears in life is being bored;  I certainly don’t need to be concerned about it at all these days).

And, I quite like when there is concrete physical evidence of productivity.  As of late, it’s been pretty good around here on that level.

A few notables:

For the past year, we’ve been anticipating some sort of diagnosis for the youngest, given his development is not typical for his age level and hasn’t been for some time.  In July, we received a diagnosis of high level autism.  This is good.  It allows all of us to move forward with confidence we’ve been practicing activities and setting up programs which are going to be helpful for him and have been helpful.  We are on the right track.

In the knitting arena, I’ve gotten a few things off the needles in good time (I can’t show you one of them because it’s the design for the September installment of the ETL Club via Woolgirl).  I am also dyeing the yarn (still a work in progress) for the same installment.  This has been a little challenging this summer (as has been dyeing in general) with our weather patterns in southwestern Ontario leaning towards high humidity and more rain than normal.  But, we’re managing.

This, however, I can show you, now that it’s in the hands of its intended:

Earlier in the year, I was invited to participate in this year’s Handspun Scarf Exchange.  Basically, the premise is to entice spinners to knit with their handspun.  This was good incentive for me; it is the first FO knitted out of my handspun.  I have dabbled and dreamed and prospected with my handspun but have never achieved and full, in the flesh, completed knitted item.

I think it came out fairly well.

I really enjoyed the whole process, as well.  You receive fibre to spin from the intended owner, and likewise, someone else in the group receives your fibre.  You have no idea who you’re spinning/knitting for until the end of the alotted timeframe.

So, I’m not sure who dyed this fibre; I know only it is a merino silk.  Very nice to work with.  It was spun on the Ladybug at 9:1.  My intention was laceweight/light fingering, but with a little bit of bounce, not too drapey but with some ability to show lace patterning.  Larkin requested a wider scarf, and not too long and skinny.  I found Anne’s Butternut Scarf pattern and it seemed to fit the bill.  I think I was also attracted to that pattern in particular because the Anne’s sample was knitted with handspun as well.

Other yarn specs:

Plied 9:1; the roving was divided into 32 smaller ‘nests’ before spinning to spread the colouring around and shorten some of the longer colour runs.  Resulting yardage:  skein #1 - 2.8 oz/80g/405 yds; skein #2 - 1.3 oz/38g/195 yds.  I was hoping for around 600 yds and in the end, that’s exactly what I wound up with.

It really all came together perfectly.

Of course, now I would like one just like this for myself.  :)

Anyhow, finally got around to blogging!  I have more knitting/spinning to share but my hopes are I will be able to squeeze in another blog post fairly soon.

Tags: finished, knitting, lace, life, projects, spinning, yarn