Two Big Projects Done

I finished the baby blankets!
This is one of those projects for which I decided that since I needed four blankies, I'd warp for eight. Then, babies started coming early. I could have cut the first blankets off of the loom and tied the warp back on, but I didn't want to waste any of the yarn. So, every free minute for the last many days was spent weaving. I'll have to ask my trainer how many calories marathon weaving burns...?

The pattern is a summer and winter from A Weaver's Book of 8-Shaft Patterns, page 149, #532 and 534. Joanne Hall at Glimakra was a Big Help with figuring out the tie-up on Sophia, my standard countermarch. This is the first time I've attempted a skeleton tie-up on her. Have I said lately how much I LOVE this loom?!   

I ordered the cotton from my semi-LYS in Solvang. Since I have two whole cones of the bleached left, someone's going to have to go back and check her math.

I also finished spinning the cotton I've been playing with on my Suzie Pro. I did this with the stylus. I'd like to weave some yardage with the singles in both warp and weft. I'm not concerned about how fine it is once it's on the loom, it's just getting it there. I have to find some way to keep it under tension so that the yarn doesn't twist up on itself. Maybe I'll try steaming it beforehand. Hmm. Perhaps I should attempt that with some sample yarn, first. I'd hate to end up with a huge tangle and have to toss it all. 

Keeping busy

Of course, I've been keeping busy before, during and after our trip.

I climbed inside Sophia (and doesn't that sound strange) to dress her for some baby blankets.

Knitting daily on t.v. and away I go!

For eight blankets, this is over 900 ends (threads) at 13 yards each.

I knitted up an infinity scarf for my niece. This is just a simple garter stitch with a reversible ribbed cable. And it's a de-stash project! This is every bit of what I had left after I made my Fuse Cardigan.

And what fun this sweater was to knit up! It's knit top down with not a single seam! The design is engineered by Vera Sanon.

It's called the Sara Lace Cardi.

"Must I have my picture taken?"

Dobby and Winky now have Weasley sweaters of their own! This is a free pattern from Ravelry.

And the baby blankets are coming along. They're a pattern from page 149 of A Weaver's Book of 8-Shaft Patterns. Summer and winter is one of my favorite weaves. Look how the one side is a "negative" of the other!

Getting stuff done...and started.

So, until I finish my stash of sock yarn, you'll keep seeing more of socks. These are made from Schachenmayr, Catania Fine Color. 100% cotton. Now, I'm seriously Not a fan of self striping, but I really like these colors. And since each skein is 50g, about 165m, I figured I'd knit them both toe up. That way, I could make them as long as they allowed or as short as I wanted. Easy, peasy. ...NOT.                                 I started the first sock by finding the end in the center of the skein. Then, having two sets of double pointed size 2's, I prepared to start the second sock at the same time. I looked and hunted and dug for the center of the other skein. No go. So, I set up my ball winder and wound a skein from the outside, twice. That way both socks would have the same color progression just like the factory makes them, right? Sigh. Nope. Guess what I did? Yep. I tore it out and wound the skein. Again.                                          When I was part way up the second foot, I realized that the stripes didn't match. But if I ripped out and re-knit the toes starting an inch along the yarn, "top" down, they would be perfect. You guessed it! I ripped them out backwards. In case you wondered, it comes out easily on the stocking stitch, but the ribbing needs to be picked out. Good times. I do like the resulting socks, though.

These place mats have been on Sophie for Ever. I couldn't figure out the pattern I wanted and finally realized that I didn't know how to make the yarns move the way I wanted without finding another pattern and altering it. Besides, this yarn is another example of using what's in the stash instead of what I'd like to see. The thick weft is eight strands of the 5/2 and the thin is one. Anyway, 5/2 cotton. Warp rep. Eh. They'll do.

And while I was busy hemming placemats, I figured I might as well hem this, too. It's a plaited twill from 8 Shaft Patterns, p. 104, #374, 12 epi. You can see the front and back of this pretty 3/2 cotton (from my stash) baby blanket  I wove it on my Gilly (Gilmore). Anyone having a girl?

And finally (well not really---there's always something more), my hubby and I made another trip to Solvang where I got this canvas on sale. The colors the company chose do Not make me happy, so you can see that I've started playing with color. The water no longer looks like a swamp. I love to see the picture come to life as I work/play.                                         And just so you don't worry that that "finally" was real, I'll admit that I have another pair of socks over half done in my purse. Sophie's getting dressed in a mohair scarf. Suzie, my Majacraft spinning wheel, is in the midst of repairs on her drive belt, but she's wearing some pretty cotton. And there are the early signs of more napkins on Julia. Poor Gilly is naked, though. Okay. Go ahead and worry.