July 12, 2005
In which I spin, knit, and curse
The next step has been taken. This is the swatch for the UM sweater. It's the 2nd bit of yarn I spun, the first one was knit tighter than me in highschool, wait, that's not true at all. I've already spun up 2 balls (hehe, I could throw another highschool joke in here but aren't we all more mature than that?) of the lighter color. I'm spinning on Matilda (ashford traditional) and will ply it on Pablo tomorrow. It's so damned thin! It reminds me of all the girls at my transfer orientation for school today, walking skeletons in sexy little clothes -- my brain was all confused, should I be disgusted, turned on, DIETING? Ouch. I had to go thinner and thinner because this merino really poofs up! I hope to get the first hank finished tomorrow, then this shit'll be ON!
Also in spin-fucking-tastic news, I finished spinning all the roving I dyed up last week. Pretty good, 6 days. Bodes well for the plan to get this sweater yarn done in a week or so, here's hopin'. And to your left, ladies and gents, is one of the last bits of it -- yellow fish, falklands wool, very soft, balanced, pretty smokin even, 200 yards, worsted weight and hot damn pretty.
There's also 100 yards of the what was left of rain. It's the roving I did in thirds, one third short draw, one third long draw, and here's the last third, modified long draw (my default) and plied. I think this is the best use of it but the difference is interesting, no?
In case your wondering, I've not left knitting behind. I'm steadily plugging away at honeymoon cami which is lovely but the first few inches tore my fingers up -- cotton's an evil thing. Finally, at 7 inches, it's getting a bit easier. Also today, during the deathdrone that was orientation, I started tempting, even though I'm not enthralled with knitting it at all. It's not the pattern, I think it's just me and the fact that I like to knit things that contain something I've not done before. I'm sure I'll wear it and tempt all the boys and girls with my bare, bare shoulders plus it's nice and easy for those times I don't want to have to look down for freaking hours. I've got 4 inches or so done. Thrill.
Y'all know you can click on my pics to see them BIGger, right?
Posted by jacey at July 12, 2005 09:28 PMheya!! the yarn looks fabu!! i got my fiber, and i am afraid to dye it, it is so soft and gorgeous. i got some kid mohair, which feels like human hair. it is sooo smooth and nice. hmmm. anyway, i am so scared i will ruin the fiber. i will just dye small amounts at a time, but i haven't found a lot of instruction for these jacquard acid dyes, althoughi have read really great stuff about how vivid the colors are and how non-toxic and easy to work with it is. i have the dyers companion, but it barely says anything about them, and the twisted sister book , which says nothing at all. i guess i will just follow the directions and then use the book directions from there. maybe i just should do one color at a time and blend them, i don't have a drum carder....hmf...why don't you live here??? hm??? anyway, i have work all week, so maybe i can do it after work and make my hubby help me? i have read about doing it in the washing machine on the delicate cycle in a bag, they say it doesn't felt, but...and also they say you can do it in the dishwasher...and where the hell willi rinse it if not in my sink? if i use a basin, i will not have water. you can't use cold water to rinse, right? ok, later...oh, did you check out broadwayknits.typepad.com?
Posted by: natasha fialkov at July 13, 2005 09:42 AMi tried to comment yesterday but i kept getting a message accusing me of spam. WTF?
yellow fish is fierce! i love it! and i want to hear more about orientation! i've been crazy busy, but i called, did you get my message? talk to you soon!
Posted by: kathleen at July 14, 2005 10:51 AM