February Crafting List

My 2017 word is Home. Keeping it simple but open to lots of interpretation. 

SSK KALs have started, so most of my focus will be on these until July. You might get bored with my Crafting List, since it will be all Ann Budd and Lee Meredith designs.  Fortunately, they both have hundreds of patterns. My Ravelry queue is quite full. 

With my own added criteria of using stash for all the KAL projects.  I am trying to use up, give away or toss as much as I can to make the house easier to care for. (See, it’s still part of my Home theme.)

I past the first gauntlet of acquisition temptation. 

The Oxford Fiber Festival in Mississippi was last Saturday. It was wonderful day seeing friends, checking out spinning wheels, and looking at fiber. Nothing was an irresistible impulse buy. 

No pictures. 

Spinning:

I’m close to having a default spin. The first project, 2 Guys BFL in Royals, is beautiful. So I got the color right. And it is a 3 ply fingering. But there’s a bit too much twist somewhere. It’s just a bit ropey. And even more disappointing a lot less yardage than expected.  I expected another 50-75 yards than what I got at 264.  The ultimate goal would be 400 yards. 

2 Guys BFL in Royals 3 ply

Singles Stats: 

• Fiber split as many times as possible for as maximum short color repeats (for a tonal look) Definitely achieved the color tonality.  
• 35 Twist angle (next time 25/30 Twist angle)

• 35 Wraps per inch (next time 45 -50 WPI)

3 Ply stats:

• 35 wraps per inch (next time 40)
• Balanced

Need to swatch a lower twist thinner singles with higher twist ply. Hopefully that will be it. If not, the next sample will be woolen spin single plied 2 or 3. 
I’m looking for a balance between sturdy, less pilling with loftiness and softness. It’s not an easy task.

Still in a quandary and stuck about technique for Gale’s Arts BFL in Iris. I blended the green and gray with no significant difference. I was hoping to tone done the brightness of the green. It needs more work. 

I’ll use natural BFL or Polwarth for more sampling. 

Gale’s Arts BFL in Iris (green & gray removed)

Iris colorway green & gray blended

Knitting:

Everything is SSK KAL. 

Except finishing the kimono for a friend’s granddaughter. 

A New Thing: 
A sketch a day with a new to me tool. Pentel Aquwash brush. Started with water in the reservoir. Then filled it with India ink. Makes sketching very easy. 

I’m posting these daily on instagram. @slantedstitches

Calligraphy practicing the alphabet in a new to me font (www.surelysimple.com challenge). Brush is harder than I expected. But I did finish this project. All were posted on instagram.

Copperplate calligraphy font

Home: 

• Storage buckets for yarn & fiber
• ✔Finish project bags already cut (save for gifts) only thing left are sewing on the buttons. 
• Finish hand stitching for Alabama Chanin A-line dress (on the next road trip)
• Home: Decluttering & Organizing
• Taxes

Garden: 

• Veggies are growing (They all look the same!) 

Etsy Shop Ending/ Other Things Starting

Checking this off my December to-do list. 
I finally decided to close my Etsy shop. 

Officially closed the business account with the state, put the Etsy shop on permanent vacation mode, but still need to close with the county. 

• I LOVED the creative process and problem solving. 
• I never seriously did the stuff needed to make a successful business. 
• Started jeopardizing my health. The last few weeks were rough & a bit scary repeat of an old worker comp injury that took 5-8 years of recovery.  
• Other family priorities are more important. 
• Time to move on to things I still want to do.

I will continue posting to the blog about the creative process. 

Just found this in an old box of art supplies. Printmaking is one of the things I want to start again. 

Swedish Dalarna horse, 1994 woodcut print by us

Merry Christmas Y’all

Slow Crafting Week

My arms were better. Not back to 100%. So I’m crafting a little bit more. 

About 30% done hand embellishing the last panel of the A-line dress. It looks the same as the other panels. 

Making progress on the baby kimono gift. Finished all the pieces, blocked and seamed. Only thing left to do is the garter and pivot neckline edging. The pattern is Harvey girl’s kimono from the Natural Knits for Babies and Moms book by Louisa Harding. 

Baby kimono & sock progress

Started the baby socks. 

Only a few more rows done on the Ketterdam shawl. It’s a great easy knit. 

I did visit the WONDERFUL Fiber Optic Yarn shop in a Cincinnati suburb. Kimber let me practice spinning on some travel wheels.  I still can’t decide on which wheel to get next. I like both the Schacht Sidekick and the Ashford Joy.  

Half of the sock yarns

Fireplace in the shop

Of the LYSs I have visited so far, she has the best selection of breed specific fibers and plant based fibers. I forgot to take a picture of the plant/silk cubes and all her handdyed fibers and yarns. 

Wool breed specific top

Camelids top

Polwarth and Bluefaced Leister top

I did drop my fiber/yarn diet while there. 

All of which will fill a shortage in planning. 

• 5 oz each of Polwarth and BFL top to have enough for the first sweater I attempt. (Already have 12 oz) 
• Extra bobbins for the Ashford, a dark BFL braid called Once Upon A Time to work with the braids I got at SSK
• 2 oz Red top for the Wool n’ Spinning fiber club 
• 5 oz Gray BFL/silk to accompany the paintbox gradient I have. 
• The only ‘splurge’ was the purple sock yarn. 

See…easily justified. 

Break from fiber diet

Enjoy this time of year. 

Crafty Retreat Wish List

Cooperative Press send a survey request last week to their newsletter subscribers. 

One question has been mulling around in my head since taking the survey. 

“If money were no obstacle, what retreat would I want to attend?”

It was funny that they hinted Iceland is the answer. No thanks. I have other ideas. 
I thought you might like to know what’s out there beyond the knitting world. 

My instant answer was to tour Japan for indigo dyeing, ikat weaving and shibori dyeing. 

But my old back-of-the-mind wish list came to the front.

If I had unlimited resources, I’d go to one to two workshops at each of these schools. And try all the things, (pottery, weaving, basketmaking, dyeing, printmaking, enamel,  glassblowing, and everything else). 

But if I did that in a year’s time, I would also feel a bit bonkers and scatter brained by the end. Remember, this is my dream, so let’s revise it to one workshop from one school a year. And let’s prioritize direction to printmaking, dyeing, spinning & maybe weaving. I need some focus. Right??

These are schools I have wanted to attend since college days and they are still going strong. 

• Penland School of Craft in North Carolina
• Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine
• John Campbell Folk school in North Carolina 

I discovered these retreats since I started knitting:

• Super Summer Knit Together (SSK) in Nashville, Tennessee
• Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat in Tacoma, Washington
• India Flint in Australia
• Maiwa School of Textiles in Vancouver, BC
• Yarn School in Missouri

All except for SSK, I would go once to these retreats. Rhinebeck (New York Sheep and Wool Festival) is probably on every knitters list. It’s not something I could manage. Too many people. 

Lots to day dream about and look forward to…

Can you tell, I’m not cooking or hosting the Thanksgiving feast this year. I have time to daydream about things besides turkey, side dishes and dessert. 

I hope y’all have a wonderful time with family and friends. 

November Crafty List

Wow, I actually got a lot done in October. So excited about how this list is helping me stay ‘focused.’ 

Update on November 14.

Spinning:

• ✔️spin a 4 ply from problem yarn stash
  

  Practicing 4 ply with deep stash

• ✔️Continue reading/researching more about spinning techniques
• ✔️Wool n’ Spinning Patreon workshop technique 
• Wool n’ Spinning Patreon Fibre Club project
• Wool n’ Spinning Color Theory project
• ✔️Go through the Craftsy class, Spinning Dyed Yarn. 

Knitting:

• Start Baby kimono for friend’s granddaughter 
  

  Sleeve as swatch

• ✔️Ketterdam shawl by Laura Linneman in the 3 ply red handplied yarn. Knitting with Director’s Cut, Soliliquy, by Leading Men Fiber Arts instead. 
• Swatch cardigan  (not even thinking about it)
• ✔️ Done: Finish SSK socks, use Susan B Anderson’s SOS pattern 
• Hat & cowl with Problem yarn (overdyed Swish DK) moving to December list

Hand sewing:

If you are on Instagram there’s a tag #slowfashion you might find interesting. 

• ✔️ Done: 2 back panels finished of hand stitching the Magdalene stencil
• 1/2 ✔️Handstitch 1 front panels, 1 finished. 
• Move to December: stitch seams, & facings 
  

  Handstitching second panel of A line dress

• ✔️Choice next project to start in January. (grey) (new leaf)(long fitted skirt/tank top)

Slanted Stitches Etsy shop:

❌ Momentum has turned into inertia

• Fortune cookie bag – blue
• Purple take-out bags
• Turquoise Japanese knot bags
• Forest take-out bags

Gardening:

• Rake leaves (still haven’t fallen)
• Finish mulching
• ✔️ Done: Sow more veggie seeds

Wishing These Magically Get Done:

• Marbling more fabric for Japanese bento bags. (make wire holders & order Orvis soap) 
• Create practice Alabama Chanin jacket from Craftsy class. (Grey woven linen) Rethinking this whole project. 
• Triptych painting in hall way (start sketches)
• Paint dining room walls & ceiling Step 1: pick colors (Dover white & Sedate gray) 
  

  New colors on top row, old colors below

   
• Every month declutter and organize one area. November is the master closet & kitchen. Started the garage. 
  

  1 kitchen cabinet & my closet Goodwill pile

• Studio (straighten fabric, thread, patterns) SO NEEDED! I did sort and organize 1-2 drawers of snaps and rivets. 

 

Been Sick, Just a Cold

Just a plain old cold, which might actually be allergies. 

Lots of elderberry lozenges, teas, & vitamin C seem to be making a difference.

A trip to Costco for more facial tissues. 

I’ll chat with you next week. 

Knitting Progress for SSK KAL

First:

I apologize for haphazard posts. I’ve been dealing with sleep deprivation for the last 4-5 months. Enough brain fog that I had nothing to chat about with you. Last night was short but better quality sleep in a long time. 

My week’s sleep pattern

For a month I woke several times with mild to severe leg cramps.  Last week was fewer & fewer cramps but a weird twitchy feeling.  If I moved my foot or leg just the wrong way, it would spasm. See the shortest night’s sleep. It was a nasty spasm.  

The cause is probably a double whammy, my CLL and the ketogenic diet. And I’ve tried every remedy I could find on the Internet. 

In past month, a combination of an electrolyte drink* and electrolyte supplements during the day, and of all things, milk of magnesia just before bed gave the best nights. 

Last night, short but no cramps and no twitching. It’s finally getting better. 

* Adapted recipe from Pinterest. 

Electrolyte drink 

• 1/2 tsp No Salt (potassium)
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 1 oz apple cider vinegar
• 2 quarts water

Now for knitting:

I am happily knitting socks!

Two pairs

Up and Out by Laura Linneman in Block Head sock blank Gale’s Art

Detail, Up and Out by Laura Linneman in Block Head sock blank Gale’s Art

Up and Out pattern by Laura Linneman in Gale’s Art sock blank, Block Head on double points size 000. I haven’t worked in double points for quite a while. It’s nice. 

Wish I had the Lace Repair workshop already. I could have used it for some mistakes. Instead, I had to frog a whole pattern repeat. 

Socks On A Plane by Laura Linneman in The Cyborgs Craft Room Assockilate colorway Northern Lights

Detail, Socks On A Plane by Laura Linneman in The Cyborgs Craft Room Assockilate colorway Northern Lights

Another pattern by Laura Linneman, Socks On A Plane in The Cyborg Craft Room Assockilate, Northern Lights. This is knit with Addy Lace 000. This patten I modified. Used the round toe pattern from Sock Architecture just for something different. And changed the cable to 10 row because I wanted more plain knitting between cable rows. 

Both projects are tucked away in the newest version of my Japanese knit bags.

Newly finished Japanese knot bag, medium

Fiber Push Pull Talk Therapy

Oh bother….

I didn’t unfollow enough fiber folk on Instagram last week. Too many pictures were posted from Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. Even though it was clearly muddy wet, too much exposure to pretty fiber and spinning wheels and more angst for me. 

Not going to succumb. But it still has such a strong pull for me. Which I really don’t understand. 

Ok I REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND THIS PULL. 

I need to use this blog post as a therapy session to resolve this crazy thinking. 

I AM a practical person. At the moment, I am feeling far from practical. Hmmm, Time (Money) just posted 4 Ways Your Brain Tricks You into Spending. 

I don’t even understand two of the ways. The ones I think affecting me are Anchoring Bias and Bandwagon Effect.  Follow the above link if you want to learn more. 

Talk Therapy begins now: 

❌ I don’t need any more yarn. I have enough for several years of contented knitting.  Certainly enough yarn to accomplish the all my current ‘needs.’

Yarn stash 2016

❌I am finally knitting with my very first handspun yarn from 2014. It’s not pretty. Very inconsistent lace to DK weight. But I’m happy  it’s no longer an albatross around my neck. 

Best part of the first spindle spun yarn

Worse of first handspun yarn

Openwork Triangle shawl nearly done.

❌I am now sad that I gave away my first wheel spun yarn at the local guild’s retreat as a door prize. I just needed a year apart to realize how pretty it is. Of course, it would be sitting in my craft closet for another few years before it was no longer too precious to knit.  Ok, it would have become another albatross around my neck. 

First wheel spun yarn 2015

So what is it about spinning?  

• 🚫: Is it about having the wheel? The other accessories like a counter, nittynotty, the lazy Kate, the swift?
• ❌: Is it about buying fiber? 
• ❌‼️ Is it about processing fleece into fiber? (More equipment, more time)
• ✅: Is it about the process?
• ✅: Is it about the yarns produced?
• 🚫: Is it about knitting with handspun yarns?
• 🚫⁉️: Is this a social activity?
• 🚫: Will this make shoulder & arm injuries worse?

Ok, too much red and not enough green checks. This could easily become one of the many hobbies I am consumed by and then abandon in a few years. Sigh…Maybe once a year, I will scratch the spinning itch with a spindle project or rent a wheel. But not now, first I have more SSK KALs before July. But I am dreaming of spindle spinning some purples & blues. Several fiber folk are doing a simple 15minutes a day (#spin15aday).  Can I do this?  Will find out after SSK.  

Oh, a friend asked me to knit a girl’s cardigan. Sounds like fun. And probably this first project to knit after July. 

Ok, I’m feeling a little better. Plenty to do without adding yet another fiber craft. I think I just needed to have a plan for my knitting. 

Thanks for letting me indulge in some talk therapy. 

Tempted to Spin

I MUST have an ADD problem. 

I have a huge sewing & knitting to do list. 

I have an neglected etsy business I’m convienently ignoring. 

I just started marbling fabric, paper & scarves for fun. 

I was obsessed with pattern making on fabric (shibori and block printing) on Pinterest & Instagram. Fortunately, that obsession has played out. In the process of unfollowing those feeds. 

But STILL, I want to get a spinning wheel and make yarn. Not because I need yarn. Just because it looks like fun. 

M U S T not follow through….

I’m TRYING to downsize. 

Not add yet another rabbit hole. 

What is wrong with me?

I’ll try unfollowing spinners in my Instagram feed and podcasters, except for The Knitgirllls. 

My small spinning stash

Small Projects Turn Into Bigger

Remember that little Easter egg 1 particle skein of yarn dyeing experiment success? 

 

Overdyed with Easter egg dyes, Nebbiolo cowl pattern by Thea Coleman

 Well. I thought I’d do a bigger project, a sweater’s worth of yarn. And a few more scraps of the first yarn to make a matching hat.

 

Yarns prepped for overdying

 
I thought I’d just multiply and duplicated what I did the first time. What could possibly go wrong? 
Well. A lot. For one thing, I wanted a dark teal color from that bright green. OK, use all of the turquoise & blue dye pills & every other possible blue food dye in the house & maybe some black. 

 

Every blue & turquoise food dye in the house

 
This is where math would have been a good idea. And doing more research and learn for other experienced dyers, like this one: http://www.dyeyouryarn.com

Mistakes:

• I used too much vinegar in the soaking bath. 
• I used too hot a soaking water. 
• I mixed all the dyes together before pouring them over the soaking yarn.
• I poured them all at once into the soaking water

That dye stuck to the yarn exactly where it was poured. 

Blotchy ugly yarn dyeing

 And the reason I didn’t post anything last week:

• I was exhausted & defeated by simple Easter egg dyeing. 
• I have to figure out what I did wrong. 
• I hate wasting good yarn. 

It took a second whole day of driveling small batches of very diluted turqoise, blue & black food coloring to get closer to what I originally wanted. Repeated over & over again. (Cool soaking water and no extra vinegar)

I’m thrilled with the final results. It’s not going to work for the sweater. It will make a beautiful hat, figureless mitts, & big shawl set.  I’ll save that project for later. 

 

Over over overdyed yarn

 
Now, I have to find another yarn in stash to make the original sweater. 

Here’s the finished cowl & ‘matching’ hat. Buck hat & Nebbiolo cowl both designed by Thea Coleman. 

 

‘Matching’ hat & cowl, Buck hat designed by Thea Coleman

 
Chat with you next week. 

I did another ‘bigger’ project: recovered kitchen bar chairs.