Socks

Just showing of how well the fpdc and bpdc is coming along.  Slowly but well.

Summery Updates

I ended up giving up on spinning for the hat, a few days in the 90s and I wanted to have a hat to wear, so.. I picked up some cotton/alpaca worsted weight.  I'm still going to spin some flax to make myself another hat in the same style, but.. this means that I have a summer hat in the meantime.  Upside? It turned out *adorable* if I say so myself. :D



The knitting experiment is going well, I ripped out the first stretch of it because it was wrong, but the second batch is going really well. Counting my rows is *definitely* helping.  (yeah, yeah, funny that!) :D

Trying to Knit

I am apparently insane.

Like I don't have enough on my plate right now, I've decided I'm going to try knitting again.  So my travel not-spinning project is Wisp.  Though I'm only doing it as a shawl, not putting the buttons or button holes on it.  I've already had to rip it out once though, so I'm a tiny bit nervous, but I think it will be okay.

I'm using the last of the silk/merino lace-weight I bought for Christmas projects last year from BlackSheep DyeWorks in the lovely Chestnut Multi.  I like working with lace-weight for crochet, so I'm hoping that lace-weight will be more successful with knitting too...

I feel like an 8 year old holding one of those fat pencils with no clue what the hell you're doing.  My fingers just don't have that muscle memory yet and it's not coming quickly... I am hoping with time, that will change.  But, for someone who is usually pretty proficient with string, it's horrible feeling so graceless!

Someday I desperately want to own a shetland ring shawl, and that requires knitting, so I need to learn. *nods*

FPDC/BPDC

The last time I tried to do front and back post double crochet, it just went weird, the stitches themselves were very very easy, but the next row didn't line up right and I couldn't get the stitches to work right after the first row, so I frogged the project.  This time, the front and back post stitches are going much easier, and they look really awesome, this makes me incredibly happy, since it means that things with cables are no longer past my ability..  

I need to post a pic of the status of the socks, but they're looking really good.. Course, I'm still just working on the calves, the scary part will be when I reach the heel. (meep!!!)

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-frontpost-doublecrochet-stitches.html

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-backpost-doublecrochet-stitches.html

Summer Planning

Sat down over the last few days and narrowed down my projects for the summer.. Need to focus on a few things that I would like to get done before the fall.. Also, I've realized that learning to crochet has taken over my brain and I have put nowhere near as much time or energy into my spinning, so I want to shift that.  Spinning is amazing for my mental state, and although crochet is fun, it's not as good at keeping me sane (yeah, yeah, such as it is). :D

- the CALs (definitely need to finish May, we'll see what is on the dock for June, July & August)
- spin linen for summer hat, crochet it
- spin wool for Wēland's garters
- spin wool for Wēland's sweater
- finish Wēland's socks

Current status of all this..

May CAL - Blooming Flower Cushion from Attic 24 in Carons Simply Soft- Sticks and Stones (none of the pics on the web actually do the yarn justice, so I'm not linking)..  The complicated part is almost done, I just need to finish the last petal round, then start the back, which is just a bunch of dc in circles.  It will drive me insane, but shouldn't have any problems finishing it by the end of the month. :)

Summer Cloche - Shell Brimmed Cloche in handspun linen.  I need a summer cloche and have been lusting after this one, and cannot find one to purchase that I like as much, so.. clearly that means I make one of my own. :D

Garters - Wēland and I are involved in re-enacting, and it was traditional for a woman to present her love with garters, they were a small present that were regularly given (garters in this case being a narrow band used to hold up wool or linen stockings).  The wool is 100% Shetland (Kentswold Shetlands for the win), dyed with onion skin.  It's a lovely yellow.  My made-of-awesome EvilTwinSister is lending me her box loom until mine is done for this project. :D

Sweater - This one is also for Wēland (seeing a trend this summer?)   I'm spinning up yarn for his Mom to knit him a sweater out of our lovely gray ewe, Sen (more Kentswold Shetlands for the win!).  Not dyed, just lovely luscious heathery wool.  She's got a sort of light weight double coat, and I left the heavier black in to create some texture.  Thankfully this is not intended to be worn next to the skin, or I would absolutely have to separate out the less soft fibers! :D

Socks - Annnd another one for Wēland.  I'm working on a pair of socks for him, which I've already posted about. :D


OH!  And I haven't talked about the stinky project.. Have been collecting first morning urine from Wēland for the last few days, I'm dying with indigo this summer!  :)  Obviously I will be posting pics of that as it happens. :D


Last update, I swear.. I was totally weak today (payday)..  Bought some goodies from Sirensong Fiber, because she's evil and posted two things that I had to have...  One is a cloud of merino silk mohair and alapaca (there are still 3 ounces of Stella Luna left for those so inclined) and the other was an "impulse" buy of cochineal and saffron died silk in the most amazing orange.  Sadly there was only .8 ounce (why it was an impulse, have no idea what I'm doing with it.. lol), but the color was irresistible!

So much for "No, I really don't need any more roving... WEAK IN THE FACE OF FIBER!!!!!

First Socks!

So I'm working on my first pair of socks, which are intended to be worn as "under socks" under wool when my husband is out hunting, 100% silk to wick the sweat away from his feet while still helping him stay warm in our upstate NY winters.

This has been interesting because the "top" size in the pattern is 66 rows around, which didn't get past his ankle.  So this is my first ever sock, and I'm having to mess with the size.  Wēland is not a small man, but he has hobbits feet. :D  I'm a little nervous about how it will go once I get down to the ankle, but I'll be here to share. :D

Also? I found some old hooks at a local antique store recently, a set of size 1, 2, 3 and 4 steel hooks, wtih a beautiful patina.  I think some are size repeats, but.. they were $1, and needed someone who would love them. :)

New Project: 

• Pattern: Top Down Socks modified to fit Wēland's feet (I hope)
• Yarn: VillageSpinWeave's 30/2 spun silk (doubled)
• Hook: 2.75

Finished Neptune's Tears!

Put the last row of stitches in last night, then set it out to block.  Ended up getting too worried about the amount of yarn left, so only used about 3 1/2-3 3/4 of the 4 total ounces of homespun, but.. I'd rather finish it a tiny bit early than run out, so... I'm calling it good. 

I was debating selling it, but that is so not going to happen.. Love it! :)

Picture 1 is wet, pre-blocking, picture 2 is blocked (and a better shot of the colors).

Academics Gets in the Way of Fiber, who knew..

I have had very minimal time the last few weeks to do anything fiber-y, which sucks, but my grades have been good, so I guess that's something.

While sick as a dog over the weekend, whipped out this silly bit of stuffy-blanket.  It's the Crochet-Along project for  April, for the Google+ Crochet-Along.

silly, but it was nice to finish a project.  :)

Still working my way through Neptune's Tears, well and truly into the 3rd ball of yarn, and it is going to be beautiful!  I keep meaning to get a newer picture of it to post.

Snuggles Fit for an Empress

I've started the first rows of the Hinterland throw, based on the tiny ball of yarn that I started.  I need to get better pictures where the gold POPS better, but for now, this is the best I have.

Luxurious doesn't even begin to describe the yarn or the start of the throw. I am so in love with this fiber and the finished product that it starting to show. :)

Quick Update

First off, my apologies for the silence.  It's been a rough week for my sinuses and thus general ability to function.

Still working on Neptune's Tears, haven't been spinning (because it's been making me dizzy, see comments about sinuses above, I hate my sinuses).

Also, I will be a little quieter until the end of May, in addition to being a fiber junkie I have goals involving academics, and classes started up this past week, so much of the time that I would have been spending with fiber in my hands was instead spent with a book (or journal article as the case may be). 

But I will be updating projects as they go. :)

Two colors!

Okay this sounds totally silly, but one of the things I have never done, whether it's with knitting (I tried, briefly, to be a knitter) or now with crochet, is color changes.  Any color changes were the result of variation in the yarn color.

Last night I spent some time looking at methods to do two-strand crochet, and said "I can do this." 

And I did.  It's not perfect, in fact it is sort of wobbly on the edges, but.. I did it. :D

(I will add a pic to this post later).

I know this is a very little thing, but it's very exciting to me. :D

The muga silk is being spun up on my Ann Grout Turnip, and it's spinning up beautifully.  The color and softness of it are AMAZING.  It's going to take a while, but I'm REALLY looking forward to how it's going to work out.  I am seriously tempted to see about dying the center of it CRIMSON red in a way that will create a hombre style effect, going from crimson red in the very center to the soft shining gold on the outside, but.. I am not sure that I want to run the risk of messing up the amazing gold.. we'll see. :)

I plied up a small sample of the yarn over the weekend (yeah I need pics) and thus, I need to do the official... new project comments.. :D

Pattern: Hinterland Throw
Yarn: Handspun Muga Silk from FiberDyet (roving from FiberDyet, I'm doing the spinning)
Hook: 3.5mm

Four Roses

It's all done and I am so very proud of it.  :)

Busy Bee!

Neptune's Tears: Just started the last third of the solid repeat, then back to lace, I'm technically at the half-way point in terms of number of rows, but of course as the later rows are the long ones, that doesn't count for much. :D  It's looking lovely, and has been my travel project, which means lots of work on the bus.  :)

Four Roses: At the 75% mark for the whole doily, 4-5 rows into the last two roses.. I should be done by Monday, depending on how much I work on it over the weekend (as we will have guests, that will likely be less than it would be normally.. :))

Muga: It arrived, and is more ridiculously beautiful than I could have possibly believed.  But Wēland and I have decided that quite frankly it is far too beautiful a fiber to be used on something that will go into the kitchen, so I bought more (also from FiberDyet), and I think that it will be used instead for the Hinterland Throw.  I have been told that making a throw out of a silk that was once reserved for emperors is horrifying and insane.  I think making a snuggle throw for my family out of an amazing and beautiful fiber that begs to be touched is the only sensible thing to do.  But my concept of sensible has long been warped.. :D

2 and Some Change Roses

As promised, a photo.

Love filet!!!!

I need to upload a new photo this afternoon, but I wanted to take a moment and just say how much I've been enjoying the Four Roses Doily.  Filet is so much fun!

Neptune's Tears has taken something of a backseat (though it's still making good time), but I'm enjoying the Four Roses so much that when I get home, I want to work on it.  I should be done with that by next week sometime, I started it Sunday and am already at the half-way mark.   :)

Filet is fun, because at first it really looks like there is nothing there, but as you start to make progress, and then you step back, all of a sudden, there's a flower, or a vine, or whathaveyou.

It's sort of magical.

Though I feel bad, I know that I will not be working on it as much once the Muga arrives.. but maybe I can finish it in advance. :D *fingers crossed*


Also? I've decided I need this t-shirt: http://www.zazzle.com/clotho_shirt-235716924362333274

Needed a change

Okay, so the solid rows of Neptune's Tears getting kind of boring after a while, so I took a break to start a new project that is destined for my office.  The co-worker that I work closest with and I share a hallway window, that we have taken to decorating for various holidays, and she mentioned the other day that it was a shame that we didn't have anything to decorate the space with (we're going to do Valentine's day, but Christmas JUST came down, so it's a little early still). 

Obviously I took this as a sign from on high that I should do as I had been threatening to do for some time, and do a doily/fillet crochet project..

New project!

Pattern: Four Roses Doily
Yarn: Camilla Valley Farms 2/20 Irish Linen
Hook: 1.5mm

:)  It's coming along swimmingly and surprisingly fast, I'm already on the fourth row (first actual "pattern" row).. Can't wait until this one is done..  I admit that there is a part of me sort of hoping it will end up too big for the space alotted for it (the 2/20 is larger than the #20 thread called for), so it can stay home, but..  Either way I'll get to see it every day, so.. :)

Ready for it's Close-Up

I finally got a picture that really does the yarn justice, so wanted to post that.  The colors of this yarn are just gorgeous, and I am bummed that Spun Right Round doesn't have it in her web shop now... I need to call the store (thank GOD they're sort of local) and see if they have more of that colorway/roving.  I want to make something in a heavier weight yarn for Wēland* in the same colors.

*Much as MB is the nickname for the daughter on here, Wēland is the hubby. :)

Spinning Junkie

So I realized that as I was setting this up, Neptunes Tears has been my big thought, because it was SUCH a pain in the butt in the start, but.. It is just one piece of what I wanted to set this blog up for (afterall, Clotho is not a hooker, she's a spinner, and that's my first craft).

I have finally accepted that the bus is NOT the place to spin cobweb silk.  As much as I pretend that I can spin cobweb anywhere anytime, the bus is a ROYAL pain in the ass to deal with fine silk.. Which is extra stinky since it delays the silk embers scarf spinning which was the next scarf I wanted to make a priority, and will delay the spinning for the Daisy Table Runner with the Muga (the bus is a surprisingly useful time for spinning, since there is no 8 year old, or dogs or cats to interrupt me).

The Muga is mostly why I wanted to post today though, I finally broke down and picked up 3 oz of Muga Silk from Fiber Dyet and I cannot wait until it arrives.  Muga is a very specific variety of silk that is the most amazing golden color, and is incredibly strong and lustrous.  I've heard all sorts of wonderful legends that only the Mughal of India was allowed to wear this style of silk, though I haven't done the historical research to confirm this as truth or not. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam_silk#Muga_silk).. I hadn't bought it years ago when I saw it at $7 per ounce, and have been kicking myself ever since, so when I saw that it was available for $8.25 at Fiber Dyet I had to have it... Now I just have to be patient until it arrives.  Yeah, patience, HAHAHAHAHAHA, whatever.  I WANT MY SILK! :D

But for the bus? I'll stick to the panda roving for the MB's scarf (merino/silk/bamboo in the Gummy Rainbow colorway from Spinner's Candy, pattern it will be for is: Monika)

note: MB is my daughter, no those are not her initials, they are the initials of her nickname, which to preserve her eventually realization that it's a horrible nickname even if it was given in love, I will not give here..

Making good progress

1st big lace panel done, moving on to the first solid panel... I admit I've stopped counting stitches, which I hope doesn't come back and bite me in the ass.. I figure as long as the center stitch falls in the right place and I am not dropping stitches constantly (which I don't tend to do) and I'm aware of what was tripping me up in the early rounds (hyper-aware even at this point) that it will be okay... Also, there are now enough stitches that counting them is a pain in the butt, so...

*fingers crossed*

This feels less like I'm losing my mind or out of my depth, which is a nice feeling.

Though it is amusing how much faster the first few rows go.. :D  Hehehehe

Smarter than the pattern

Annnnd I am on the third repeat of the lace panel, about halfway through the first skein of the yarn.  I am apparently neither crazy nor stupid, and am making good progress.
I have decided that I am doing 3 lace panels, 1 solid, 2 lace, 1 solid, 1 lace, then the edging.  I think this will be lovely and use the yarn I have well.  I am also treating 3 repeats of the solid as one panel (since it is only 2 rows).
I do have to laugh, shawls are amusing, every row goes slower than the last, psychologically and literally.  But I am loving this and cannot wait until it is done, blocked and wearable.  :)

Feeling insane

The pattern for this thing looks incredibly simple.

The reality is that I am having an INTENSELY difficult time keeping the sides balanced, and I don't know why.

I think I need to walk away from this for a day or two and then go back to it, but I finally managed to finish the solid section, and have it balanced, and I started the first lace section and it's gone wonky.

BLEAH

Note to Self

Do not start projects when tired and unhappy, you tend to make stupid mistakes.

Just saying.

I ripped out the stupid thing no less than 5 more times after that first post, finally figured out what I was doing wrong (putting the dc in the base of the ch3, then putting a dc in the top of the stitch next to it, as though it were not the base stitch of the ch3, so I kept ending up with too many stitches on the starting side of each row.

ugh.

I know better than that, but for some reason? Brain was not functioning last night.

Starting Neptune's Tears

Pattern: Neptune's Tears
Yarn: Hand spun merino/silk/bamboo blend, on a 1 oz bottom whorl spindle. 
           Colorway is "Ocean's Swell"
           Roving purchased at: Spun Right Round in Cortland, NY.

First off, starting this reminded me that I am still just an advanced beginner when it comes to crochet.  I had to rip it out a good 5 times before I really was able to start this.

My immediate thoughts:

Do not start row 1 in the 4th from the hook, start in the 5th from the hook.  If it looks like 3 dc / 2 ch / 2dc / 2 ch / 1 dc, you've got to bump it one.  It's 1 dc / 2 ch / 2 dc / 2ch / 2 dc / 2 ch / 1 dc.

For the first few rows, make sure to watch those double stitches at the start and end of each row, it's very easy to double in the wrong base.

All that being said, once I stopped being stupid and making stupid mistakes, the solid panel got well going. I do have to say that the colors are beautiful, and I can't wait to see this all done.  It will look like one big iridescent abalone wrapped around my shoulders. :)

Introduction

My name is Pei (peithecelt on ravelry) and I am first and foremost a spinner.  But I am becoming a fairly proficient hooker, and found that I wanted to have a spot to record my fiber work in more detail than the notes on ravelry's project pages need, including more emotional responses to the status of things.

That is what I am doing here. :) 

There will be updates on projects, rants about issues, and if I find something doesn't make sense in the pattern, I will make my notes here so that I can find them later. :)