The Bucket…

I think I've explained before just how much of my organizational scheme depends on buckets.  When I start a new book, it gets three buckets.  As yarn comes in, it goes in bucket one.  Once I've swatched it, the swatches and tags go in bucket two (while the yarn itself usually goes out to Super Stunt Knitters for the actual knitting).  When the pieces are finished, they go in bucket three.  Once bucket three is full and bucket one empty, it's photo shoot time! I have a similar situation for individual patterns, just a bit less structured.  That less structured [...]

November 15, 2017|

And also done!

It's been a productive couple of days.  The mitts are done too! Don't worry, they'll uncurl when they hit the water.  The cowl did (and it has longer stretches of stockinette), because the yarn is clearly magic! And again, in need of some end management and a good blocking.  But also done and rather grand!

November 29, 2016|

Easily distracted

What can I say, I'm easily distracted.  The swatch leapt onto my needles...who was I to fight it. Some fingerless mitts (to match the cowl from earlier this year) seemed in order.  I'm sure you understand, right? I mean who can be expected to say no to that. But don't worry, they're quick.  I'll be back to the slipper some time soon!

November 19, 2016|

Before and after (or why you block your swatches)

So we talked about this before with this yarn, but it really does something magic when it gets wet.  Take a look at the differences between this shot before and after I soaked it. Before: And after: And yes, I know it can be a bit hard to see in pictures (it's more dramatic in person).  But look especially at the stretches of stockinette at the broadest part of the leaf.  See how it's filled in?  And the spaces between each leg of the stitches are much smaller?  And the holes made by the yarnovers are more distinct (because the [...]

November 14, 2016|

Magic

So the cowl grew and grew and grew. And then at some point, it was done.  Bound off, flippy as all get out (as you'd expect from stockinette), and ready for a soak. And here's where the magic happened.  I soaked it, squeezed it out, and flopped it on my desk.  No pins.  No wires.  No tension at all.  Just soak and plop (it will get a more formal blocking later, I was just testing a theory).  And look at that. It laid down flat.  Not a bit less flippy, not more or less ok, but flat.   Now part [...]

May 19, 2016|

Yes please

Well that's just unreasonably lovely. And yes, yes it's simple.  It's just leaves, and leaves are easy to knit.  But there's something rather delightful about these.  I can't quite decide if I want to hurry up and be done (so I can block it and pet it and generally admire it) or if I want to take my time (so I can have the pleasure of knitting it for a while longer).

May 13, 2016|

You’ll just have to trust me

So some things are awfully hard to photograph.  The difference in texture between the pre & post blocking version of this yarn is one of them.  Part of that's my fault (I didn't take a picture of the actual swatch before I soaked it, so you can't quite compare like with like just yet), but part of it is just yarn magic and not to be questioned.It looks like this before blocking.  Pay special attention to the stretches of stockinette.  See how there is a good bit of space between the stitches and between the legs of each stitch? But [...]

May 10, 2016|

Faith

We're in the 'wait, what's going on here? Are you sure this is right?' stage of the project.  But if my swatches can be trusted (and they usually can), this is going to be marvelous in a few more rounds. We're going to have to talk about yarn floofiness soon (that thing some magic yarns do where they puff up and become even more cohesive after blocking).  This yarn has exceptional floofiness, and it's a topic that needs to be explored.  But first, a few more rounds... Oh, and if you're wondering, the yarn is Blend 1 from Ysolda.  Which [...]

May 6, 2016|
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