musindigo

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

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

So it’s nearly the end of March.

Yup, occurs to me today.

I guess time flies when you’re busy. I should know that by now!

OK. So, since last time, I’ve (obviously) been rebuilding websites but, what else? When I try to analyze, it’s all a blur so it’s hard to say, specifically.

We’ve had our share of bugs (again - I think working from home has lowered our resistance to some bugs now that Sam is in JK - poor Sammy had pneumonia + ear infection a little while back).

Boys finished hockey last weekend. It wasn’t a stellar year for Ben’s Bantam team but I guess every year is different.

But I do know there was a usual flurry of dyeing and designing and knitting and spinning.

This is the first skein off the Ladybug, hand-dyed merino, 2-ply, about fingering weight.

It’s fairly even but there are a few spots where it’s a little oddly plied since I am still getting used to the wheel.  But, getting used to it is fun.  :)

This is the first (still unfinished) skein of 50/30/20 alpaca/mohair/wool from Wellington Fibres, spun on the Victoria.  It comes pin-drafted so it practically spins itself!  It’s awesome.  I love it.  188 yds/70g, light fingering.  I have a lot of it.  I am pretty sure I will have enough for a large lace project once it’s all spun up.

Then there is this stuff (which is as amazing as it looks, believe me)- Australian Merino, intense deep colours, soft and smooth.  Just perfect (really).  It’s from Spiraldyed by Jacinta Leishman.

It doesn’t really show up well in this photo, but spun up, it’s just gorgeous.  I have one skein plied, 320 yds/96gs.  I’m hoping to knit a rectangular wrap of some sort from it.

So, how are all those sweaters coming, you ask?  Believe it or not, I have buttons in hand for the Tangled.  I do not know what the hold-up is, other than I like to be in a certain mood (calm is always good!) to place and sew on buttons and I haven’t felt that lately.  But, one of these days, there will be buttons.

I’ve finished the body of Wisteria and am working on the sleeves.

And, I’ve managed to sneak in a Noro sweater (in soothing stockinette) which is nearly off the needles.  With any luck it won’t take me too long to finish off the bands and sew on buttons.  ;)

I am working on a few new designs, too:

This one, above, is nearly off the needles already.  I may actually get it published before my deadline (which is the DKC Frolic in Toronto, the last week of April).  In any event, I hope to have them both debuting at the Frolic with kits available, along with a few other goodies.

Hopefully I will have at least one shop update before then, too.

Hope everyone is well.  Happy spring!

Tags: dyeing, finished, knit design, knitting, lace, oceanwind knits, patterns, projects, roving, spinning, sweater, wool, work in progress, yarn

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