Category: YarnLust

Yarn Pron and other stuff

Posted by zyllah – April 13, 2007

First the pron, So I’ve been working on these socks and today I was off by well several stitches so I had to tink back and well lost a whole repeat. However I *love the yarn and its working up beautifully. So that’s the first pron of the week

Our next installment of pron comes from my dyepot. Well I over-dyed it but it’s still quite lovely.

I’m going to save some for next time but our last pron exhibit also comes from my dyepot. I was attempting to figure out Sundara’s overdye technique. Even if its not how she does it I adore it.

In other knitting news I continue to search for spring yarns and patterns. I found one at blue sky alpaca I will probably knit.

I was thinking calmer for this or maybe bamboo. Just depends on where I decide to be weak at. Also I found a freaking awesome freeware knitting program here. I haven’t played with it too much but it should prove useful when doing knitting math.

Updaterie

Posted by zyllah – March 27, 2007

I haven’t posted in far too long. My non-knit blog is even worse. I just don’t feel too compelled to write about the glories of spring cleaning;) Anyway that’s why this post is so long and photo heavy. I also moved the camera and tripod back where they do actual good since putting them away just meant I didn’t post photos.

Finished Socks:


Project: Broadripple Socks in artyarns
Needles: Knit Picks Options in Sz 2
Notes: Nothing to really note. I’m not totally thrilled with how these turned out but they are very comfy. I just wish I had chosen a different pattern for this yarn.

Stash Enhancement: So recently I’ve done more than a small bit of stash enhancement. It all started with buying a present for my friend Mszzzi. She’s never done socks so I bought her some STR in rolling stone to get her addicted. Anyway while I was handling that I asked them about some older colorways. One was possible but the one I really wanted wasn’t. However I might have found a fix for that. Anyway while placing my order I also ended up getting two other skeins. So now behold my lovely new STR. From left to right they are Backstabber, Mustang Sally, and Tanzanite. I also found about the sale at knit happens. I spent way too much. I am almost ashamed to post what I got after that birthday haul. However I couldn’t not get anything at those prices. However I think I’ll wait to talk about that since I haven’t gotten it yet. It’s supposed to arrive tomorrow. I can’t wait to see it.


Fiber Fest: So this weekend we all went to this fiberfest. A good time was had by all. The vendor room was pretty decent but for some reason I was expecting more. However the three people I actually spoke with were quite lovely and interesting. I got two patterns (entrelac bag and felted clogs) and two skeins of sock yarn. The yarn came from a local (nashville) dyer called Knitting Notions. She had some truly glorious stuff but I restricted myself to the sock yarn. From left to right they are called aubergine and stormy seas. It’s funny but all three of us got stormy seas.

The other cool thing was seeing ariann in person. Having seen it in person that is high on my list of things to knit. On the way home we saw this:

So how could we do anything but stop for lunch. The food was shockingly good and the menu had a boobie burger. I still giggle at the thought of it.

WIPS: So I achieved negetive knitting for much of the past couple of weeks. In one week I ripped out three different sock toes using different yarn and had to restart Wicked twice. Once because I decided I didn’t like it in cotton and then when I decided I was being stupid and should make it in the cotton because I had used too large of a needle. It’s coming out beautifully now though I have some sizing concerns. However since cotton grows it should turn out alright in the end. Here it is in all its *cough* glory.

Lady E is plodding along though I have very little desire to knit on it since its already 85 outside. So this week I hope to finish Wicked and get some socks going. Also should add some more to Lady E.

Socks and Sweaters and Stuff

Posted by zyllah – February 17, 2007

Well I finished Socks for the Husband. He loves them. Grandma loved her socks too apparantly she hasn’t wanted to take them off since she got them. Needless to say I am pleased.
Just the basic toe up pattern. I used lambs pride worsted since I had some in the stash. I’ve seen a fair amount of ‘stash wars’ going on over the blogsphere lately. I stash because right now I can. Someday I might not and then I’ll be very happy to have a collection to choose from. In keeping with that theory I had my darling pop buy me a gift certificate to yarnmarket for my birthday. I couldn’t decide between a few different yarn stores but in the end I chose them because they were instant gift certs. I had grown impatient you see. Anyway yesterday my goodies arrived. It was a huge box of fun.

It was filled with this in sweater for me amounts.

So I am pleased. In project news I started some more socks. I’m doing broadripple again but these are for me and I’m using aryarns in some purple and black. I’ll have to take a photo when its more than just a toe. I haven’t done anything on the sweater since I ripped it out. The project lost its allure for me with that. But Lady E is coming along nicely. Two balls down and far too many to go. It’s about 13″ long now. Like I said I am the worlds slowest knitter. But its a holiday weekend and I have MANY audio books so I should get some good work done over the next three days. This picture is not that accurate because it was bad lighting and I didn’t use the tripod so I had to use a flash but it will give an idea. Anyway off to knit.

Wahoo I am *done*

Posted by zyllah – January 7, 2007

I finished everything I set out to do with my knitting this week. A day early even. Ok I did not dye yet, but tomorrow the husband is off which means it’s still the weekend as far as I am concerned;) Anyway last night I finished the garter rib sock and frog the ill-conceived paintbox bag so I am officially *done* with 2006 knits. I’d show a picture of the socks but they are sitting in some slightly soapy water. However I did manage to take a picture of the socks Judie knit for me out of my hand-dyed. I so love these socks:)

The light today sucks since its grey and rainy. I love days like this but it just makes for piss poor photos. However there is nothing like a day like this, some yarn, some old cure playing. It’s kind of sad how stunted my music tastes are. For the most part I’ve been listening to the exact same bands since I was 13. I blame my adolescent angst. Oh boy was I angsty! It’s weird to me now but then I sure knew how to dwell on such useless crap. So looking into the future I guess I had better pick some new projects. I am thinking three or four depending on what I decide to do. The tentative list is:

  1. Socks. I already picked the yarn and it’s going to be STR med in the Lagoon Colorway. As to pattern…I am thinking just the basic sock toe up. They go quickly and hopefully I can squeeze two pair out of the skein. One for me and one for grandma. Then again I could pick a more complicated pattern…maybe jaywalkers.
  2. Sweater. I swatched for lucy and got stitch gauge. I’m just not sure I *love* the fabric. Might swatch down a needle size and see today.
  3. Something totally mindless for tv knitting and SNB. I might redo the math on the ill-advised paintbox bag. That yarn needs to be felted, too rough for a scarf. Also could do a really simple scarf with that alpaca I dyed before the Christmas.
  4. Lady E or another clap. I want to do a mini clap with this alpaca I picked up last year.

So getting those ironed out and cast on is the goal for this week. Also must dye and take photos. Not a bad line up for the week.

So like a good girl…I knocked off *two* of my knitting short term goals

Posted by zyllah – January 3, 2007

I worked on the sleeve of my sweater. I finally caved and switched needles. How did I ever think I liked the denises? Anyway then I measured..DOH I never had ripped back after I realized I would not have enough yarn. And I have thus accomplished my first FO of the year. Well ok it was a minor FO but an FO nevertheless. That thing is so turning into a house sweater. I’d have to reknit the entire thing for it to be anything else. Liked the pattern but the yarn was a bad choice. I should have just quietly given it to someone else when Husband decided he didn’t want it. But nooo I had to go and be all frugal even though even though I’m not quite sure how frugal translates into buying more yarn, but there it is. Now to finish the sock. I would like to cast on for a new project today but really prudence should mean getting the sock fixed so I can work on it at SNB tonight. But it’s just so tempting. The question of course becomes *what* to cast on. I already know I’m going to use some STR for the next socks since I need to decide on their club. Probably the lagoon colorway for grandma since umm its in colors I don’t especially adore. I mean I do like it but its not like my absolute favorite you know? In other less exciting news I did finish untangling some sock yarn which is pretty cool since its been sitting in my knitting basket for oh you know months. So now just the sock, oh to finish the socks and wooly goodness on my feet. Anyway I think my photography is improving since I got the tripod and I read up a bit on photoshop so I will leave you with yarn I got during my travels. The first is from Unravel in Las Cruces. Nice shop I was a bit amazed it was so nice considering LC isn’t that huge of a city. My inlaws were nice enough to take me there. I tried to keep the visit short and sweet considering the boredom factor of a yarn shop to non-knitters.

It was made by LoneSome Stone and the color is called “Shades of Plum” Absolutely amazing work. The other skein worth seeing is one by Dream in Color, the colorway wasn’t on the ball band but I think its Wisterious. It could also be In vino veritas.

I got this at Knitorious in St. Louis. I also picked up a ball of trekking XXL since they were having a sale. They tend to be the shop I hit the most when I’m visiting my mom. Now there is a decent shop even closer and they were very nice so that may change. But for sheer amount of yarn the best I have seen in STL is the weaving dept at the myers house. Their hand dyed sock yarn selection sucked as in it wasn’t even there but for other stuff wow. They have almost too much its sort of a yarn drunk when you walk out of there.

2007 and some Yarn

Posted by zyllah – December 31, 2006

So looking back over the last year I feel like I kinda cheesed out. I mean yes I did conquer my fear of the sweater but I have yet to finish fixing it or to make another. Then again I still want to finish losing weight before I do since I am so not into shapeless bags. Also less yarn= cheaper to make and all that. However I did increase the number of items made which is a good thing. I also attempted some lace and socks. I fell in love with socks. Odd since I don’t tend to wear them very often. I also took up dying. I am still vastly in the process of learning my craft but its really pleasant to play with color again since it was my favorite part of painting. It was such a great feeling *selling* my first skein too. I mean its such a validation of my work. So in honor of that I will be launching an etsy store and website. It’s more of a hobby but I hope to at least cover my dying habit. I have to admit I’m going to try for richer colorways. Think more mountain colors rather than the candy bright dyeing so many people favor. It’s just not my thing. Anyway in honor of that below is a sock knitted by a friend of mine out of yarn I dyed!

So my knitting goals for the year include doing larger projects and harder projects. Also making time for knitting. I’ve realized by the time I finish cleaning up from dinner I am frequently too worn out to work on anything hard so I’m going to make time during the day. Anyway I suppose I should list goals, cause goals are a good thing. I also started a page listed on the left so I can remember projects I want to make.

Goals:

  1. A sock a week. Totally doable. Socks will be the mindless knitting in the evening project. Besides I have to work through some of this ridiculous sock stash I’ve got. Its really almost embarrassing.
  2. Always have a more complicated project going. Spend an hour a day on it.
  3. Finish Fixing my sweater.
  4. Knit from my stash as much as I possibly can.
  5. Only buy yarn on sale unless needed for something specific. Sock yarn being an obvious exception.
  6. Blog More and better. I realize I have very few readers and mostly am blogging to see myself think but I want a blog that is more than me whining about stuff. Take better pictures so when I am an old granny I can remember what I did.
  7. Get Mosaic Up and going.
  8. Knit Selfishly.
  9. Take another lace plunge.
  10. Experiment with more advanced techniques. Though to be fair…most stranded work sort of leaves me cold.
  11. Design things for myself.

Holy Bad Photography, it's a dying extravaganza!

Posted by zyllah – December 1, 2006

So this past week I decided to break into the acid dyes I bought a while back. If there is one thing knitting has taught me, its that using crap usually makes the job that much harder and less enjoyable. Anyway…it was late afternoon when I finished my chores and could reasonably expect a block of time where I could do all this. So I dumped all the powder in the containers I bought to hold my dye stock and labeled and mixed away. This part wasn’t so fun and seemed to take forever.
table of dye

Then I soaked the yarn in some warmish water and synthrapol.

yarn draining

This is when the fun started. First thing I did was dye the house brand from Knaughty Knitter a shade of lilac.

Lilac

This part was so freaking cool cause the dye would get sucked up without any additional heat. I think I did another go with the lilac to make it slightly more uniform. I was trying to achieve a sundara-like overdye. Basically my attempts to dye involve recreating what other people do or what I think they do. Its not enough in my opinion to dye yarn pretty colors. I want to know how the thing will knit up, so I can dye for specific results. *And* I want to have pretty colors. There is always in almost every handpaint I see, some wtf color. I want to never have one of those. Noro has tons of it. Also when I made my socks out of lornas laces I was so disappointed at the pooling/half striping thing that went on. Also the baby poo color was kinda gross. Anyway after the lilac I applied vermilion 3 times. I just kind of swirled the dye into the bath and shoved the yarn in. Not very scientific I’m afraid. But this is what I got.

You can see some of the purple still in there. For some reason when I brought it to my SNB this is the one people wanted to buy. I keep thinking of selling it. At least I could hope to make enough to support my dying habit. You’ll get to see it all re-skeined at the end. Till then you have to suffer;)

Anyway on to sock pair #2:

This pair I tried to recreate the short repeats of the Claudia’s Handpainted I’ve been using. I did of course switch colors to all purples. This one was fun but man I used way too much dye. I should totally have diluted it. It took forever to wash out. However I really like how it turned out. I used Louet Gems as a base yarn. Anyway on to the picture

I think this is fairly accurate for the purple but the reddish one has a lot more lilac. This next one though shows what it looks like after I reskeined it. Also I so need a tripod! Look at that bad photography in action:)

On the knitting front I finished my first sock for grandma and I am still working on the garter rib socks. Knitting time has been taken up with doing other things.

Is it dyed or did I kill it?

Posted by zyllah – September 15, 2006

So Wednesday is our knitting coven. This week was fun as usual, I worked on the toe of the new socks. My god I can not get over how much I love this yarn. It does what I think a variegated yarn should do…a nicely mottled effect. It also is so much softer than the Lorna’s from the last socks. So after I finished the toe I realized I did not want to have just plain stockinette socks so I decided to try a garter rib. I think it looks great but what do you all think.

Pure delight. I need to learn how dye yarn that swank.

And on that note…Behold my dying adventure.

I am responsible for the one on the left and the dark one in the middle. Claire did the green tinted ones and the orange/red one was done by Judie. Anyway I decided to dye the yarn sort of spur of the moment so we used Wilton dyes. I want to try real dying next. It was a lot of fun but I think it will be better when we have a true red to work with. At anyrate it was a valid learning experience. I should probably start my clap. Maybe I’ll knit up a quick bag this weekend out of the grey based yarn.

A yarning I went…

Posted by zyllah – September 13, 2006

I want to rant but I’ll wait till the next post since I’m still digesting what I need to rant about. Anyway…recently I bought a fantastic dress to greet my fabulous husband when he comes home and since he doesn’t read this blog I feel perfectly comfortable showing you my few and dear readers.


Anyway since I’ll be wearing it later in the year I obviously need something to stay warm so I had to go yarn hunting. I had a few ideas mostly worsted at the heaviest and a natural warm fiber. It didn’t count against my no yarn rule since well it was for my husband. So since I had a knitting group to go to I figured I’d start there and then head down to Nashville. Shockingly I actually found something at the first store. Its my most local ys. Well ok there is another store but we’ve decided they suck. Anyway I found an almost perfect match but it was 100% wool and I really felt something with some drape would be much better. But since I wasn’t sure I would find anything else and it was on sale I picked up 1000 yards. I’ll probably pick up a few more skeins so I have enough for a sweater. Its a fantastic color for me, but for this project I really wanted something with drape.  So now I could have just left it at that but since it wasn’t perfect further hunting was necessary. So onto Nashville Store #1, I did find the perfect freaking match but it was in chunky. I wasn’t willing to shell out for another chunky so I picked up a lace pattern and left. I was a bit annoyed there too because they kept trying to push me into things I just wasn’t interested in. But really their CS is always hit or miss. And onto the next shop…They didn’t have anything that was what I needed but I had fantastic CS and I managed to get some so amazing koigu. (Sock yarn doesn’t count) and then I went to threadedbliss. Of course I had fantastic CS and they had something that will work. I got some worsted weight alpaca in pretty much the exact shade. Now there was just the what the f*&^ do I knit with it question. I really wanted to make some sort of wrap sweater. They’re flattering and it would be warm and toasty. I only got 800 yards since I had pretty much decided to make some sort of stole. Claire thinks I should make the oh so common clap. Its not quite as retro as I would like but it will work. I’ve been meaning to make it anyway so why the hell not. I swatched today and I’m still undecided on needles. I also had a stunning sock failure last night. I swear this yarn was felting as I knit it almost. Needless to say it will become something other than socks.

Two Fo's in a week

Posted by zyllah – February 19, 2006

When I last wrote (which was way too long ago) I had just started branching out. As I have mentioned it is not tv knitting so progress has been slow. I’ve also been distracted by a need for tv knitting due to house guests and adopting a puppy that requires special watching lest she destroy my house even more. But in that time I finished another bag and a scarf (for me even) I must be getting faster since I switched to continental since I have made this scarf before and I know it took me much longer than 3 days. I might keep this one it depends on how short it looks once its done blocking. If its too short I’m going to send it to my step mom. She’s short much like my mom so it will be less notice I hope. I am going to attempt to knock out branching out by weds since that is my next snb night. I also have to start the booga bag for missy. I do love making them since they are such a quick knit. I ended up getting more Noro for hers since the stripes are fun. I had been pretty good about my fiber addiction until I took my mom to nashville. Just a skein here and there for her bag but then as I said we went to Nashville. I ended up getting some noro for her bag, 3 hanks of manos for my so called scarf but I’m not 100% sure of the colorway it was more the best they had then my ideal. Oh well I’m sure I could make it as a gift if I don’t love it. I also got some angora on sale for a boring sweater for me but it was more than ten dollars off a ball and 4 balls of k1c2 paintbox for umm a bag I guess? Anyway now there are two local nights to go knit. Claire and I still want to do a night that’s not centered on a store. Since not everyone shops at lys and it would be kickass if we found other younger people. Not that the women we knit with now are awful I quite like most of them but you know…I think we both want to meet people closer to our age. Anyway more photo torture! As soon as it finishes blocking I’ll get a photo of my new scarf.
feb 005.jpg My branching out.

Booga Bag My booga Bag.

Big Bag My mom’s bag.