Wilton Dyeing

'Twas a very dreary, rainy weekend & I had nothing to do. So I headed off to yonder Michaels and procured a quantity of icing dyes. What follows is a pictorial representation of events. :)

Honey stated that this "looks like a tie-dye exploded!"
But in a good way.

Behold the finished skeins!

The skeins are much lovelier when viewed individually, but I thought this post was already a bit picture heavy.

The 2 skeins on the left are worsted weight and were my 1st skeins dyed. I hand-painted them and then tried to set them by simmering them in a pot. The colors ran too much and muddied, so I ended up overdyeing them. They turned out pretty good considering.

The 2 skeins on top right are fingering weight (sock yarn). They are self-striping and were dyed using the same method as my previous kool-aid dye session.

The 3 skeins on bottom right are hand-painted and were set using the microwave.
I'm really pleased with this batch of dyeing. The wilton dyes are easy to use and blend soooo much better than the kool-aid. The colors are more vibrant as well, although they still pale next to professional acid dyes. However, I don't have a dedicated dye-space, so the non-toxic food coloring will work for me for now.

BTW- I will be off for a few days. Honey & I are going to Seattle on Friday to finally meet Declan and hang out with his parents as well as Honey's brother & family. It's a short trip, only for the weekend, but well worth it. I will be sure to give the rundown when I return! :)

If That's What You're Into

Finished the first Gryffindor sock! Whee! 4th time's the charm apparently. I'm very pleased with the pattern and the resulting sock. Seriously loving this yarn too. It's the first time I've knitted with this particular brand, but it definitely won't be the last. Yummy!

In Sockapalooza news, my downstream pal finally received her package! I was so worried that it was held up in customs or lost. Such a relief! And she appears to like her package! Yippie! My upstream pal contacted me last week to let me know that I'm not forgotten and that she is almost done. I hope to have my package within the next week or so.

In other news, Honey & I have been catching up on episodes of Flight of the Conchords On Demand, thanks to the encouragement of Joanne. OMG! This is my favorite show right now (aside from Dr. Who). So incredibly funny! And the song spoofs are brilliant! The stars are a comedy team from New Zealand, and the premise of the show is that they are a band from New Zealand trying to make it in New York City. Honey says that it shows everything about the music business that Spinal Tap missed. The "Bowie" episode is particularly great. Here's a little taste... (Psst, this isn't for the kiddies!)

The Owl Has Landed!

Hallelujah! The new sock yarn has arrived! My poor owl is getting quite a workout with all my indecision on this project! The red isn't as dark as I had hoped, and there is a little bit of orange in the yarn, but I think it will work perfectly with the pattern I have chosen. I just hope my fair Gryffindor pal will be pleased.

Off to knit...

Stardust

Just got back from seeing Stardust. Fantastic! As some of you know, Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and I've been anxiously awaiting this film's release for quite a while now. Unfortunately I had to delay seeing it because Kris was away with the circus last weekend. It was totally worth the wait!

Y'all know I'm not that eloquent when it comes to reviews (or anything for that matter), so bare with me.

The film is remarkably faithful to the novel, I suppose that's because the author wrote the screenplay. The casting was great, wonderful special effects and they managed to squeeze a lot of the plot in with out it feeling rushed (unlike the recent Harry Potter movies). Robert DeNiro was especially good... very different role for him! :)

This is the first of Gaiman's novels to be made into a movie (Neverwhere doesn't count, it was a tv movie before it was a book!) and I couldn't be more thrilled with the result. This is infinitely better than the film representations of his other works, especially MirrorMask. This gives me great hope for Beowulf, for which he co-wrote the screenplay.

This is a great film for the whole family. There is a bit of violence, but it is not at all graphic. I will be dragging my niece off to see this one. Mary, if you're reading this, you must go see it if you haven't already!

Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke

This sweater was actually completed on the 4th but I didn't want to post until Autumn received her present, which she did this evening.
I don't know why the image is showing up grainy on blogger, it's fine on my computer & flicker. (sigh) If you click the image you will be able to see it better! Unfortunately the sweater doesn't photograph well when not being worn.

Pattern: Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke by Pam Allen
Yarn: 5 skeins of Plymouth Yarns Baby Alpaca D.K. in Lilac (Color #1720)
Needles: size 4, 5 & 6.

Notes: The only modification I made was to use smaller needles, the pattern calls for size 6, 7 & 8. By dropping down 2 needle sizes I was able to size down the sweater to a 25" chest following the directions for the smallest size. I knit the sweater to the length called for in the pattern as well.

I really like this pattern. It was a quick knit and the cables added enough interest to keep it from getting boring. I'm very pleased with the results. And it fits her perfectly!

Drats! Foiled Again!

Ok. These Gryffindor socks are out to get me! I worked the leg on both socks, turned the heel & started the foot on one. It was looking kinda small so I tried it on. Well... I attempted to try it on. I couldn't get the dang thing over my heel. Now, Avada's feet are a little smaller than mine but not much. If I can't get it over my heel, the likelihood is that she won't be able to either.

Now I have a dilemma. I really like this pattern...
but the number of stitches is not adaptable. The yarn I have needs to be knit on size 1 needles or smaller. In order to use this pattern I will need to find a different yarn that can work on size 2+ needles. I actually have some Lorna's Laces that would be perfect but they were picked out by Autumn especially to be knit into socks for her. I think she would hurt me if the yarn was misappropriated.

So, do I search for a different yarn? Or do I go on yet another pattern search in order to use the yarn I already have? Input is desired and the cats are no help!

UPDATE: I have just purchased yarn that I think will do quite nicely for this project and should allow me to up the needle size! Now I just need to wait for it to arrive! I guess I will just have to cast-on something else to knit in the meantime.

Why I Love Joss Whedon

Can't believe it took me a year to find this.

Equality Now

btw- if you're wondering who the heck he is, among other things, he's the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly/Serenity... and he wrote the screenplay for Toy Story.

Tagged Again

I've been tagged for another meme. This one comes via Mary.
A Harmless Meme . . .
10 Firsts
First best friend - Kristi
First screen name - midnightangel
First pet name - Dusty, a wonderful mutt who lived 18yrs.
First piercing - earlobes
First crush - Oh, I can't remember.. probably Micky from the Monkees, Mark Hamil or Parker Stevenson (loved them Hardy Boys!).
First CD - The White Album by the Beatles. First album? Probably the Robin Hood soundtrack.
First school - Henry Ruff
First house location - On Alvin in Garden City, MI
First kiss - oh, I can't remember his name... Glen somebody? Couldn't of been that good, didn't make a lasting impression. Now, if we're talking first time.. that I remember. XD
First car - 1979 Mercury Capri hatchback. Loved that car. It threw a rod whilst doing 70mph down I-75.

9 Lasts
Last time you smoked - Smoked briefly as a teenager. Quit when I was 19 or 20.
Last food you ate - Masala Dosa (just had dinner at an Indian restaurant!)
Last car ride - Home from Borders & Indian Restaurant
Last movie you watched - The Simpsons Movie yesterday with my niece.
Last phone call - Kris
Last CD you listened to - Nineteeneighties by Grant Lee Phillips
Last bubble bath you took - Can't remember.. at least 2 years ago
Last song you listened to - Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me by Grant Lee Phillips (see above)
Last words you said - Kris, let the dog in please.

8 Have You Evers
Dated a best friend - yep, married him. :)
Been arrested - no
Been on TV - Not that I'm aware of
Eaten sushi - no thank you.. I don't even like cooked fish. bleck.
Cheated on your b/f or g/f - nope
Been on a blind date - yes
Been out of the country - yes, Canada
Been in love - definitely

7 Things You Are Wearing
Glasses, t-shirt, jeans, socks, shoes, bra, panties

6 Things You've Done Today
1. Fed the animals
2. Went to work
3. Blog surfed
4. Bought a new book
5. Played with puppy
6. Kissed my hubby

5 Favorite Things (not in any order)
1. Knitting
2. Reading
3. Music
4. Movies
5. Spinning

4 People You Most Trust
1. Kris
2. Dawn
3. Joanne
4. Brian

3 Things You Want to Do Before You Die
1. Travel Abroad
2. Move to another state
3. Make a living doing something creative.

2 Choices
Vanilla or chocolate - chocolate
Hugs or Kisses - Kisses

1 Person You Want to See Right Now
Declan; I'm dying to meet the little guy. :)

BTW- I finished the Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke Sweater. I will post pics after Autumn's birthday. :)

August Yarn Of The Month

It's that time of the month. I received my August sampling yesterday.




First off is Tara By GGH. This is 72% cotton/28% nylon. The yarn is a bit fuzzy and very springy! While fondling it I kept thinking this would make a super comfy robe, and at $7.35 a skein that isn't an unreasonable project.



Next is Organic Worsted Weight Columbia by Nature's Palette. This is 90% Organic Columbia Wool/10% Mohair. This is a very rough, scratchy yarn. Not suitable for garments, but I believe it would felt well. Although, at $20 a skein you are better off sticking with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for your felting project.

I saw this review of the yarn that is of an entirely different opinion from mine, but I can't help think the reviewer was swayed by her liking for the manufacturer. I love that it's made with organic yarn and natural dyes. The color is beautiful, but I don't think the product justifies the cost.

Lana D'Oro By Cascade Yarns. 50% Alpaca/50% Wool. When I saw the Alpaca content I thought this would be softer than it is. I would say it's slightly rougher than merino. It has a nice luster and I believe would give excellent stitch definition. At $6 a skein, this is a good buy and would be great for a man's sweater.

Lastly, Ty-Dy By Knit One Crochet Too. 100% Cotton Yarn. Very soft, smooth yarn. Lovely colors. Nice twist, so there shouldn't be too much splitting. The $12.85 price tag is a little high for my taste, but it definitely is a high-quality yarn and I don't think the price is outrageous.

Oy!

Kris flew out to NY on Wednesday to do sound at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival for the Circus. He was supposed to fly home last night but his flights were canceled due to weather. They were supposed to get him out today. He just called, his flights were canceled AGAIN! Grr.. the best they can do is get him on stand-by for a 6am flight tomorrow morning, so he extended the rental on his car and is driving home. He should be home by early afternoon tomorrow at the latest. (sigh)

I did finally block the Not-Quite-Straight Scarf and I'm very pleased with the results...

before blocking

after
detail photo

As biased-knit scarves go I prefer the snowy triangle scarf, but this is still quite lovely and certainly very easy to do. I really like knitting on the bias with variegated yarns.

I'm also making good progress on the Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke sweater for Autumn. I've finished the front & back (up to the join)and am about 1/4 way through the sleeves (knitting both at the same time). Gotta get this finished by the 13th for her birthday!

And, the second batch of yarn arrived today for the Hogwarts Sock Swap. I went with the Scarlet that is stated in the books rather than the burgundy that was used in the movies and most used when knitting Gryffindor items.
Avada, what do you think? This is a pretty good representation of the color (on my screen at least; it's definitely scarlet). If it's too bright for you I have no problems sending it back and getting the darker color. :)

Oh! I also got my downstream pal's Sockapalooza package shipped off to Germany on Saturday! Domestic packages are supposed to go out this coming weekend, so I should receive my package sometime next week! Squee!

HP Swap Update

I just received the most adorable stitch-markers for my Gryffindor pal from an Etsy shop! Hee! Since this isn't a secret swap, I'm not going to show you yet. You will all have to be patient & wait until the swap is over!

I also received the first set of Gryffindor colored yarn I ordered, which is beautiful, but I think I'm going to hold that for my sister since there isn't enough to make tall socks with and I doubt I would get the same dye-lot if I ordered another skein. Therefore a new order has been sent off to Diagon Alley and I am eagerly awaiting my return owl so that I may get knitting!

Powerful

This is the most effective PSA I've ever seen.

Amnesty International

Finished!

I finished the final Harry Potter book around 1:30 this afternoon. I think it was a fitting ending to the series. For those who have not read, or have not finished, this book yet fear not, I will not give anything away.

I laughed, I cried (a lot), and was greatly satisfied to see some of my theories pan out.

I can't believe this is the last book. I will sorely miss the anticipation of a new chapter, but cherish every word she has written.

J.K. Rowling, you have my profoundest thanks!

Incommunicado

I've got my wrist band & will be one of the first 100 people at Borders to get my book. HEE!

Until I've finished, I will sequester myself away from all radio, television & internet lest some detail be inadvertently gleaned.

Now I just have to hope there won't be some idiot who gets their copy & starts shouting out details while I'm in line!

And, just for fun an HP meme...

You scored as Hermione Granger, You are Hermione. You are academic, intelligent, and reasonable. On top of this, you are highly concerned with justice, scorn the small-minded prejudices of others and work hard to defend the under dog. Many times you may find that your heart and mind are constantly at war with each other. Hermione Granger 72% Bellatrix Lestrange 66% Luna Lovegood 63% Harry Potter 56% Neville Longbottom 56% Severus Snape 50% Albus Dumbledore 47% Draco Malfoy 44% Oliver Wood 44% Percy Weasley 44% Sirius Black 38% Lord Voldemort 34% Ron Weasley 31% Remus Lupin 31% Harry Potter Character Combatibility Test created with QuizFarm.com

Happy reading! :)

Breezey Socks

2nd pair of sockapalooza 4 socks finished! :)

Pattern: Breeze by Jennifer L. Appleby
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in Rose.
Needles: #1 dpns

Notes: I dropped the needle size down from the recommended #2s to #1s & am very glad I did. It would have been far to open otherwise. No other modifications were made.

Thoughts: Fun pattern, although I'm not very fond of the lace work in this.. it's just uninteresting. LOVE the cabled heel and will have to start incorporating that idea into other patterns!

I liked the yarn & will probably use it again. Its a little splity, but no more so than I expected based on the fiber content. I think it works very well with the pattern.

Overall I'm very happy with the results. I hope my sp likes them as well. Now I just need to pick up a few goodies for her package & get it ready for mailing. I'm going to try and get it out next week, before the Aug. 2nd ship date, since she lives overseas.

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

I have joined another exchange. This one is great fun! You are sorted into a Hogwarts house and are assigned a secret pal based on what year you are in (I'm a first year). You then knit a pair of socks for your pal in their house colors! Hee! If you want to join in the fun, go to Hogwarts Sock Swap Two and follow the instructions. Sign-ups started on July 14th and will end once there are 150 participants!

Now here is my completed questionnaire...

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw!

2. Shoe size? 8 1/2

3. Foot Length? 9"

4. Foot Circumference? 8.5" at ball of foot

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.

1. Brittany
2. Empress
3. Lantern Moon

I prefer longer rather than shorter needles. I'm most in need of size 0, 1 & 2 needles.

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? I'm always up for new needles! I prefer wooden or bamboo, don't like the feel of plastic and metal needles tend to hurt my hands. As for specifics, surprise me!

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? I prefer the movie colors (blue & silver).

8. Allergies? Do you have any? Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No fiber & food allergies. I have cats & a dog, but my house is smoke free.

9. Are you an international participant (outside US)? Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? I am in the US & am willing to have an international partner.

FOs, WIPS & Yarn Porn - Oh My!

Things are finally settling down a bit. We were away for the 3rd weekend in a row and I'm really worn out. However, I've done a fair bit o'knittin.
Behold!
The first Breeze sock for my sockapalooza 4 pal. I'm nearly finished with the second sock and hope to have it completed within the next few days. I really like the way these are knitting up. :)

This is the Not-Quite-Straight Scarf. It's knit on the bias and I started it while in Cold Spring. I completed it yesterday and will post the final pic once it's been blocked.

This is the yarn used for the above scarf. It was obtained by a swap on ravelry. It's a handspun/handpainted yarn that was originally purchased on ebay. Lovely pastel colors, that are surprisingly vibrant.

Finished socks made with Calmer. The pattern was self-designed using a Shetland Feather lace panel on the sides. The socks are very stretchy, which is a necessity in any socks knit for my mom. However, I'm not entirely thrilled with the design. Oh well, mom loves them.. and I highly recommend using Calmer for socks.. sooo comfy!

From this lovely little yarn shop in Chicago, the following were purchased...

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
in Bittersweet

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
in Mineshaft

Frog notions holder by Clover
(too cute to be resisted)

The yarns will be used for socks for Autumn & Kris, since they picked out the colors. Can't decide if I will be hanging on to the frog or if I will be gifting it in one of my sp exchanges.

Yarn Of The Month Club

I recently joined the Yarn of the Month Club and received my first package on Friday.

The samples are all linen blends and not yarns that I would typically knit with.

This is Cinnabar by Louisa Harding, 30% Viscose/25% Cotton/15% Acrylic/10% Silk/10% Linen.
Very rich colors on this yarn, but definitely not a yarn I would ever buy. It looks like the type of yarn they make tassels out of for very expensive, very stuffy draperies. (bleck!)

This is Damask by Rowan, 57% Viscose/22% Linen/21% Acrylic. I have to say I like this one & am anxious to knit up a swatch. The colors are very rich & jewel-like. The viscose content makes the yarn somewhat silky. It's a very pretty yarn that I probably would have never picked up otherwise.

This is Kidlin by Louet, 53% Kid Mohair/24% Linen/23% Nylon. Very soft yarn. However, the plys are not holding together well. I think it would be a nightmare to knit with, although the finished product would probably be quite lovely. I am reserving judgment on this one until after swatching.



This is Korella by Gedifra, 53% Linen/47% Acrylic. This yarn is quite lovely. The acrylic content tones down the roughness you get with some linens. First impressions are that it would give very nice stitch definition.

All in all my first batch of samples is somewhat a mixed bag, but I guess that's the point! I'm really looking forward to future deliveries! :)

WIP, FOs & other Yarn porn will be up in the next few days.

Running Off With The Circus

That's what I did this week. Saturday morning I flew into Laguardia Airport, honey picked me up and then we drove down to Bethlehem, PA for the Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams concert at Godfrey Daniels. It's a neat little venue (only seats about 100) that reminds me a lot of the old Ark. The show was great! Unfortunately, their AC wasn't working so it was hotter than hell in there! (sigh)

After we finished packing up honey's gear, we drove 3 hrs to Cold Spring, NY (the circus' hometown), which was the actual destination of this trip. You see, the circus was putting on a free show in their town gazebo on Sunday that honey really wanted me to come out for. I'm so glad I did! Here are some pics from Sunday (click for big)...

This is our room. We stayed at the Hudson House Inn. Absolutely lovely inn! Highly recommend to anyone who is going to the area. The food is delicious and the beds are super comfy!

The view from said room. That's the gazebo where the concert took place. Nice location, huh?

A couple shots of the stage before the show.

The fire department fife & drum corps started the concert off. Here's a shot of them playing with the circus.
These are the views from the square in front of the gazebo. The water you see is the Hudson river. The town is located in an area called the Hudson Highlands (which is the same region as Rhinebeck!)

This show was amazing! Such a lovely setting & the crowd was really appreciative!

We spent Monday leisurely exploring the town & hanging out with Tink, Joziah, Sharkey & Tony. Absolutely wonderful people! This is the first time I've really had to spend with them. I've gone to a few shows & have exchanged a few pleasantries, but never really had the opportunity to talk with any of them. The are just lovely, sweet people. The genuinely care for each other & about what they are doing. I'm so thrilled that they've adopted Kris into their tribe. I sincerely hope things work out so that he can do sound for them full time & not have to work a day job.

Oh, and yes we checked out the real estate market for the area... :)

I was going to post some knitting content, but I think this post is long enough. I will save it for later. Besides, we're off to Chicago this weekend to meet our niece Sofia & my mil at the train station (they are riding in from Seattle).

I'll Be Back

I'm heading out tomorrow morning for the east coast, but I will be back by Thursday.

When I return I will have much progress to report on the Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke Sweater, an FO to show & lots of pics of the trip.

In the meantime, Happy Independence Day!