Spinning and Winding Wool

It's about time I got back to spinning. On Friday I watched Spinning Wool--Basics & Beyond, an instructional video by Patsy Zawistoski. Then on Saturday afternoon, I spent several hours with Virginia Kromski (my wheel) practicing some of the things I learned from the video. I can see improvement already. Once I got started, it was hard to stop. My goal was to spin up two bobbins worth of yarn, so that I could attempt plying for the first time. I think that was a little ambitious for one sitting, because I got tired before I finished and my spinning became sloppy. I made myself stop and will finish later this week. The roving I'm working with is Medium Coopworth.

I had so much fun spinning on my wheel that as soon as I finished, I pulled out John's green socks and got busy knitting. After all, he was the one that bought the wheel for me and he deserves to have his socks finished before the weather warms up. I think he'll be wearing them by the end of the week.

Later I went to get the mail and was treated to another gift from my husband.

It's a hand turned nostepinde by Thomas Smith of Milledgeville, Georgia. Recently I received an email from Mr. Smith thanking me for purchasing one of his nostepindes. You may remember that I bought one at a yarn shop in Georgia in October and posted a picture of it. It seems one of his friends in Australia came across my blog and let him know about it. It really is a small world, isn't it?

Mr. Smith has recently started a blog of his own that features some of his work. The nostepindes that he makes are similar in style, but no two are alike. My "one of a kind" treasure is made from canary wood from Panama which is often used for ship components, veneer and flooring. It is beautiful! The best work I've seen anywhere.

Click here to learn how to use these low tech "wool winders". And, if you want to order a nostepinde from Mr. Smith, leave a comment on his blog or email me and I'll send you his contact information.

Lacy Gown and Hat

This bereavement set is for the Emmazing Grace Foundation. Candy started this foundation as a way to honor the memory of her daughter Emma Grace. Through this foundation, families that experience the tragedy of the loss of a child are assisted financially to help ease the burden of burial costs. Bereavement clothing is also provided to hospitals and funeral homes.



Some people find it too emotionally difficult to make bereavement clothing for the little ones. For some reason, this is something I can do. I think it's because I have heard the stories of so many who have lost preemies and the challenge they experienced when trying to find clothing to fit their baby. Candy shared why she makes bereavement clothing in her January 9, 2007 post (scroll down the page). Her story inspires me to help others.



Patterns: Jenny's Tiny Knitted Burial Gown and Lacy Hat
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Baby Sport
Needles: US 5
Size: 1-3 lbs

The way the gown pattern is written is confusing in places to me, but it can be figured out. Just be sure to increase the stitches to 72 before beginning the skirt. The stitches will be arranged on the needles as follows:
10 stitches, stitch marker (SM), 16 stitches, SM, 20 stitches, SM, 16 stitches, SM, 10 stitches

Before I send this off, I'll knit a pair of booties to go with it. I will probably use this pattern.

January

Snap a Dozen Days


January Sky Reflected in Hale Lake
Brazos Bend State Park
Needville, Texas

January is a month to reflect on the year just past; a time to set goals for the year to come. There is a sense of renewal and optimism unique to this month. Nothing seems too big to accomplish. Though the weather can be gray and dreary, January always feels new and fresh to me. It's a month I look forward to.

Project Compassion

There are so many good causes to knit for. It is impossible to participate in all of them, but this project really touched my heart and I wanted to make at least one square for the afghan. I thought I would have to go to the yarn shop to buy some washable wool until I remembered I had yarn left over from the Mac Hat. Be sure to check out the requirements for the squares here.

Pattern: Up and Over from 200 Knitted Blocks by Jan Eaton
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool, 100% Merino Superwash
Colors: Raven and Natural
Needles: US 8
Size: 8" x 8"

The challenge in knitting these afghan squares is to figure out how many stitches to cast on to get the required size. I thought I had this one right, but ended up having to pick up stitches along each side to add a little width.

Keeping Warm

Yesterday the local news stations interrupted regular programming all morning to keep us up-to-date on the "Arctic Blast". We aren't used to freezing temperatures here in the Houston area. It's cold, but I'm keeping warm with Steam and Calorimetry.





STEAM
Reversible Cable-Rib Scarf



Pattern: Steam by Diana Gates
Yarn: 2 balls of Nashua Creative Focus Worsted, 75% Wool, 25% Alpaca
Color: CFW2055 Carmin
Needles: US 6

There are two versions of this scarf. I made the one with the garter stitch border. The other omits the border, resulting in a wavy edge.

Blocking this scarf really helped to open up the cable ribs. I love the way it turned out.


CALORIMETRY
Knitted Headscarf



Pattern: Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf
Yarn: Nashua Creative Focus Worsted, 75% Wool, 25% Alpaca
Color: CFW2055 Carmin
Needles: US 6

If you aren't a hat person, then try this pattern. It feels just as warm as a hat to me--a nice alternative.

It is worked using short rows, without the wrap and turn part. Some holes are formed as a result, but they are on the underside of the scarf, so they don't show when worn. One of these holes is used for a buttonhole. Since there are several to choose from, this headscarf is very adjustable in size.

Working Together

It's just one small square...



...but it will join other small squares and become a community afghan for a family in need. This family tragically lost a two year old child in a car accident on New Year's Eve. An effort to make an afghan is underway and if you want to help, you can read about it here.

The squares for this afghan should measure 7"x7" and be made from soft acrylic yarn in blue and/or green. I used Caron Simply Soft in country blue and dark sage.

Today I read about another community afghan in the works for a family experiencing a similar tragedy. This project is the first of many for Project Compassion.

We can accomplish much when we work together.

Green Socks

The Green Sock Knitalong is very informal--no sign ups, no start date, no finish date--just knit a pair of green socks. This is the pair I'm working on. They are for John. He selected the yarn himself (Online superwash wool).

I rarely get in a hurry when I knit socks. I think of socks as my back-up knitting: something to work on when I need a break from my current project. Because of that, it can take me months to complete a pair. This pair was started on December 13, 2006 and measures only 5 1/2 inches. I think it's time to focus on getting them finished.

Kim asked this question recently:
Do you think a new knitter could handle socks? Green is my favorite color, but socks and all those sock needles scare me.

What do you sock knitters out there think? How long had you been knitting before you attempted to knit your first pair of socks?

I think I had been knitting almost a year before I gave it a try, but I'm the cautious type. Like most first time sock knitters, I found double pointed needles extremely awkward to manage at first. In fact, my first attempt was unsuccessful. I couldn't quite understand how to join my stitches in the round, but I didn't know about these helpful videos. I set sock knitting aside for a time and began knitting hats in the round on circulars. Because it is necessary to switch to double points when doing the decreases, this helped me get the feel of managing four needles at once. The next attempt at socks was a success.

Many people find knitting socks on two circular needles a good alternative to knitting with double points. Check out this tutorial. There is some good advice here too.

If you really want to knit socks, then give it a try. It's the only way to learn.