This little piggy won’t be going to market…

…this week, anyway!

My Pop has generously offered me space on his craft market stall, and this Saturday was the going to be the first time Pierre the Yarn Snob would be appearing in a real marketplace. However, life has interfered somewhat, and my Pop has spent the last couple of days ill in hospital, so the market this weekend has been cancelled. He’ll be going into theatre tomorrow to have a small procedure done under a local anaesthetic, so please send some get well vibes his way – especially tomorrow morning!

This means that I have plenty more time to sort out some sort of inventory – I was going to take along some handspun and handpainted yarns, as well as some stitch markers (ie- the sort of stuff on my etsy site), but will be knitting rather frantically to get some other stock happening as well (I am thinking scarves, hats and mitts may do rather well!) I have also ordered a spindle and will be attempting to ‘spin the old way’ whilst I am at the market. I figured it would be a good way to attract a few people our way and if there is enough interest I may look into adding them to the store too.

Yet another s’n’b!

Last night Gwet (one of the gals from the Black Sheep Café Knitters) and I headed down the coast to Torquay to gatecrash their knitting night at the Pear Tree Café. It was a fantastic night – there is two seating areas in the café, and the knitters completely took the back area. It reminded me very much of SSK at Bermuda café in Sydney – a rather casual affair over coffee (and very yummy bailey mouse chocolate cake) with wide range of knitters (alas, no men though). The Torquay s’n’b is a weekly event, so I am planning to get back there.

Not co-incidently, the home of Pear Tree Yarns is just across the way from the Pear Tree Café, so I had a chance to chat to the owner, Sue, about her company. Pear Tree yarns are rather scarce in the market place and this is because it is a one woman show. Sue is rather passionate about how she does business, and is trying to manufacture ecologically sustainable, luxury natural yarns, entirely processed within Australia (local to Geelong, if possible). She had some of her current stock, and new lines of yarns out last night – and I have to say they are gorgeous! There was a gorgeous yarn that I thought was cria (baby alpaca) but was actually a long staple 13 micron merino (if that doesn’t make any sense, the finest cashmere is usually about 13 microns – so this is wool on a par with that). I hadn’t tried Pear Tree Yarns before because I didn’t realise they were such high quality. Sue is in the process of setting up direct internet and mail-order sales, but in the meantime I think Taryn over at Purl Yarns still has some in stock.

A quick note on vintage hues…

Remember when I did my review on vintage hues I mentioned I wasn’t sure how it would felt (or full, for the pedants out there!) – Queen of the felted bowls, Olivia, has given it a go and said it made a nice but rather thin fabric – she has a solution for coming up with a thicker resulting fabric, so if you are interested pop over to her blog.

knitpicks review... finally!

(Sorry, but this is a photo heavy post - if your on a slow connection please give it a minute or two to load. Also, the skullcandy banner is still awaiting your click over in the sidebar!)

These needles can almost be summed up completely in the two words my favourite 2yo says everytime he sees me using them:-

1. shiney
2. pointy

I'd have to add one other word to that:

• smooth

But these are so good, that I have to use a few more words....

BKP (Before KnitPicks) my favouritest needles were tulip bamboo (circular and DPNs) - so I am using these for comparison...

The Join...

The most important part of circular needles is how the cable joins the needle.

As you can see on the left - the transition between the cable and needle on the tulip bamboo has a rather sudden bump in it. In this size needle (4.5mm) this was not a problem - however, in the smaller sizes, the bump in the cable made it difficult to get stitches past, and in the larger needles, the transition from cable to needles was sometimes too sudden and you had to work to get the stitches back on the needles.

As you can see, there is no bump in the transition from cable to needle, and out to the needle size, is perfectly smooth. I haven't had any problems with the joins coming undone or snagging stitches, provided I used the small wire key to tighten the screw into the needle.

Due to the screw on the end of the cable, the smallest in the interchangeable set is 3.5mm (the exact same size of the screw housing - it couldn't get any smaller). However, there are smaller circulars available. I have not had the need to use these yet, nor purchased any but I assume that they have similar attributes.

And as far as that smooth transition out to the needle diameter - it is still fantastic for the larger needle sizes. Shown left is an 8mm needle, and you can see that the angle out to the full diameter of the needle is nice and gradual. The needles go up to a chunky 12mm and the taper from cable to needle makes for great knitting.

I have knitted a sleeve and back on the 8mm already, and found the larger needles to be quite comfortable to knit with (and any joins invisible)

The point....

This is where knitpicks holds all the cards - a nice sharp point on the needle which makes it perfect for lace knitting, splitty yarns and cables-san-cable-needle

This is a fairly new bamboo needle, and as you can see it is rather blunt in comparison - fine for most DK yarns, but sometimes it is just a tad bit blunter than I would like. Of course, there are two problems with the points on bamboo needles once the have suffered a bit of use - firstly, the points tend to get blunter with general wear, and secondly, with further use they can begin to split - causing terrible knitting heartache.

But what I did like about the tips of these bamboo needles was the angle from the needle diameter to the tip. This angle is incredibly important when knitting - to sharp and it can be hard to get the needle through a stitch, and two shallow and you may end up knitting with a section of the needle smaller than your desired diameter. Knitpicks has done their research well - take note that the angles of the knitpicks and bamboo are almost identical (there is something magical about this angle, knitpicks uses it as the transition from the cord to needle - if you are thinking of making your own needles you may want to measure this angle!)

The cord...

No pictures for this section - but knitpicks claim that the cord is kinkfree with as little memory as possible... and I fully agree. The only problem I had with the cord is that in the deluxe set I started with I received 60, 80, 120 and 152 cm cords. I would have preferred the 100cm instead of one of the longer cords. However, at less than 5bucks a pop that was a problem quickly rectified.

The DPNs

These come in 15cm lengths for the smaller sizes (2-3.25mm) which I really love. I have stated before, that I am a rather tight knitter - that means that when I have used bamboo and rosewood DPNs previously I could feel a bit of strain in the needle. I haven't had the misfortune of breaking one, but I can understand how it could happen. (however, these don't come without their own hazards - see here and here!)

The also have the same point as the interchangables, so perfect for cables-sans-cable-needle, because, lets face it, you're already juggling 5 needles, why add more into the mix?

These are excellent value, they start at just under $8 for a set of 5 incredibly sturdy needles. (I love that they come in sets of five. I have in the past bought two packets of four DPNs so I could knit with five.)

And slightly off topic - I finally started my phallic sock - I had to buy DPNs in new sizes for the rockin' sock club patterns, and so far am loving the yarn, and this pattern. I will always be smiling when I wear these socks because I will have the thought I am walking over all men!

The feel..

My mum has often had a bit of a laugh at me because I don't like using metal needles on cold days. Indeed, this is one of the reason I preferred bamboo or wooden needles - they are warm to the touch. So was this a problem with the knitpicks???

Surprisingly, no. As the knitpicks needle tips are hollow they are quick to warm up while you knit.

And the other complaint I have heard mention is that the knitpicks maybe too pointy. Did I have this problem... Well, initially yes, but I have developed a useful "knitting callus" on my index finger and thumb. There are a couple of tips I can give you to help while your callus is developing:-

1. for prevention: handcream, often - when your fingers are dry, it is easier to poke between the ridges on your fingertips.
2. for first aid: bandaids, when needed - I'd suggest the kiddie-sized waterproof ones... I prefer the sesame street one, but really, each to their own...

The accessories...

Where to begin! I got so many with the set.

I guess, first of all we will have to talk about the handy organisation system. There is a place for everything in the binder I got with the deluxe set - The needle tips fit nicely into the triple pockets, the cords do well in the double pockets, and the DPNs are at home in the single pockets. (BTW - I am using the packaging for the extra needle tips I bought to hold the DPN sets altogether. It seemed easier than having to fish them out of the pocket one by one)

At the back of the folder there is a pen holder, and room for a notebook or pattern photocopy. In the front, there is a zipper pocket (perfect for PTYS stitchmarkers - couldn't resist a plug) and an expanding pocket which holds your needle sizer/ gauge ruler.

All together the folder can be a bit bulky, but I intend to leave this at home and just take the needles in use with my when I go a-travelling with my knitting.

Now, I have to talk about the needle sizer/ gauge ruler.

Knitpicks were incredibly smart when then designed the set - not only did they recognised that the US system of needle sizing wasn't standardised, but they decided they could count to ten, and use the metric system to get exact needle sizes.

This was quite a bold move - and to try and integrate their system into the US market, they made this great needle sizer that has both US and metric needle sizes on it (and also show just how inexact the US system is - just what does a US 1 or 2 convert to?) Okay, so I hear you say 'so what!' - after all, myself, I already had 2 needle sizers with metric, english or US system on them. But what makes this really cool is the magnified gauge ruler incorporated into the same tool.

And this also utilises the metric system - it is a 15cm ruler, label in both cm and inches - and the magnified part has a red line marking out both 10cm and 4". Quite useful to use as gauge is usually referred to in inches, while tension is usually in cm. Yes, I know they are the same thing, but 10cm is not quite 4" - and perhaps that half stitch may make a big difference. (And yes, that is my holey argyle - growing oh so slowly!)

Of course, there is one other reason knitpicks had to make this tool...

Unlike the nifty tulip bamboo needles that have the size printed on them, knitpicks don't. Quite a problem if your DPNs are all floating in the same plastic pocket, or you mix the tips up a bit. Luckily this comes with the set.

Also included with the set are the needle size ID tags and cable end caps. It is understandable that, if you are not a monogamous knitter like me, you may have more than one project on the go at once, and may need the same tips you have on another cord. The idea is that you take off the needle tips, slip an ID tag on the cord (preferably one that correlates to the size needles you were using) and then put the stoppers on. The needle ID tags have the US sizes on one side and the metric on the other, and currently, I use each tag in the pocket with the relevant size needle tip.

I find the end caps very useful to convert the cables into stitchmarkers. In the picture to the left, I am actually trying my hardest to force the stitches off the cable, but the end caps work very well!

The Price...(this is in AUD - please ignore this if you are not purchasing in Australia)

The RRP for the deluxe set is $129, but because I pre-ordered my set through Tapestry Craft I was lucky to get it for $99 (although this is a moot point - someone else paid for the set as a birthday present). If you can't afford to by the big set all at once - don't worry. You are really only saving about 70 cents over buying the pieces separately (YES - I worked it out!)

However - DO NOT bother buying either the Entry or Chunky set. These work out more expensive than buying the pieces separately (by about 10 bucks!) and they vinyl case you get with it is not worth it. I'd suggest using the extra 10 bucks to by a couple of sets of plastic pockets so you can start building up your own 'deluxe set'. I haven't tested this, but I am pretty sure that the pockets will fit into a filofax system, so if you can't afford a knitpicks folder this may be a good storage alternative.

I found it useful to buy the 4 size needle tips I didn't get with the set (3.75, 9, 10 & 12mm) so I would have the full system available, as well as a couple of extra cords in the shorter lengths and extra pockets so I could store it all easily. As mentioned, I also bought the full range of 15cm DPNs (2 - 3.5mm with increments of .25mm) - mainly because I wanted to be ready for whatever the rockin' sock club gave me this year in any gauge. I aim to get the complete set with the classic circulars in smaller diameters, and the 20cm DPNs - but that will be a long time work in progress, as I will only buy those sizes as I require them.

As previously mentioned, I bought mine at Tapestry Craft, but I have also heard that Doni has come through with the goods. Prestige Yarns is the distributor and will have the info if you require a stockist closer to home. There is also a full price list on their site.

And now for something completely different...
This is my secret knitting - I am sharing here because I doubt my Pop (maternal grandpa) will read the blog, and am hoping that Mum won't show him until after I have finished them.

Fingerless mits, in manly olive green and brown - they are massively big for me, so I am hoping they will therefore fit him. These will be for his birthday next weekend - which I will hopefully make it down to Geelong for.

And this is the beginning of a noggin warmer for Dilby... I love the way flash photography makes you want to reach for your sunglasses..

And here is Pierre - wanting to know why I have been blogging for 3 hours and if I am ready to go to bed yet. Didn't realise I would take so long to write this up!

boobrocks in the wild

boobrocks in their intended habitat can be found on Kylie's blog - she won them as a door prize for Canberra's Harlot Happening!

There are still some tan ones available at my etsy shop - and due to a request I will be doing another run of pink boobies - but that may not be until after I relocate...

DVD Winners...

are listed in this post....

But first - meet 'Shadow'
Shadow was a serendipitous mistake! While playing with dye last week, I tipped over my bottle of black, and used the skein of yarn I was dying to mop it up.

I was trying to get some great forest greens and navy blues - but after cleaning up the spill, thought I was only getting black and green.

As the yarn was drying, I realised that I must have spilt some pink dye a little earlier on (I was dying on a black marble bench - so the pink spill wasn't visible!) and ended up with these fantastic maroons and mauves in the skein.

I put Shadow (and its twin) on my esty site last week, and, if you pop over there now, you will see that it has gone missing - neither for sale or sold. Because Sally wants to take it (and it's twin) off my hands. So this fantastic mistake yarn , that I probably will never be able to re-create - is my first yarn sale!

YAY ME (oh, and YAY Sally!)

...and now the winners...

Bells, Ape-Hap, ChocolateTrudi, TangelledAngel, Jejune, Taph, and Carrie...

Send you address to ginger_nut(at)bigpond(dot)com - you have Tropfest DVDs coming your way!

Shadow Tweed - yarn review!

BUT FIRST...

ETSY UPDATE!

I got around to taking some pics of my dyed yarns today, and they are all up in my Etsy shop. At the moment I have five colourways, 2 skeins of each. I am really happy with how they worked out, and if I find some free needles, may indeed take them down and start knitting with them myself!

TROPFEST GIVE-AWAY!

I have seven (7) Tropfest DVDs at my disposal, and so far, I think I have had seven (7) commenters since Monday. If you want to make it at least a little bit of a competition, leave a comment. (Yes, I realise that freebies from the newspaper may not make for exciting - I know next time I want comments I should cough up some yarn...)

AND NOW...

SHADOW TWEED REVIEW

Here is the Shadow Tweed review I have been promising - the text in italics is straight from the Patons website and is what they are using to market the yarn. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are taken by me.

Book 1263 – Shadow Tweed (picture from Patons.biz)

Patons Australia introduces Shadow Tweed – a beautifully soft ‘roving’ type yarn with multi-colour neps and a unique colour shading (have a look at all the shades click here), with a repeat occurring approximately every 60 grams. Patons Shadow Tweed is a blend of Wool with Acrylic and Viscose and available in a palette of 5 shades. Using 6.50mm needles with a suggested tension of 14.5 stitches and 20 rows to 10cm, Patons Shadow Tweed is quick to knit.

The specifics of the blend is 56% wool, 40% acrylic, 4% Viscose. This creates a lovely soft yarn, and when I purchase it, was told there was no risk of it felting. However, the label still says 'hand wash only' and 'dry flat in shade' - so I won't be throwing it in the washer and dryer without a second thought....

What Patons calls a 'roving' type yarn, I would describe as a loosely spun single ply. It is possible, by holding the yarn approx 20cm from the end with one hand, and using a 'pinching tug' to separate the yarn as one would when drawing fleece for spinning. This means the yarn can sometimes 'grab' onto itself causing a bit of a tangle, and also can be split if you use pointy needles - I'm using clover bamboo needles and not having any problems (bamboo needles generally being rather blunt)

The main overall effect of the yarn is very "noro-esque". It has long graduated colour repeats, with small "tweedy" flecks in contrasting colours. And as I have already said it is "Pierre Endorsed" I will add that it is soft enough for the pup to sleep on...

One fact not mentioned (that I could not find with a fairly thorough search) at Patons or its parent company, Australian Country Spinners, site was that this yarn is clearly labeled on the ball band as "Made in Italy. This doesn't worry me, but Australian Country Spinners seems to be promoting Australian fibres manufactured at locally at the Wangaratta Woollen Mill and it would be very easy to think this was a product of Australia, which may rub the wrong way with some patriotic knitters.

Book 1263 features 19 styles including Sweaters, a Vest, Jackets and Coats. Although contemporary in design, there is something for all ages and skill levels.

I didn't purchase this Book because I felt the designs were all cardigans or high-necked sweaters. I am making up a pattern as I go along, but if you aren't that confident (or crazy) you could probably use the yarn as a substitute for any worsted weight yarn pattern.

The latest hand knitting fashion trend of textured stitches, cables and lace are reflected throughout this book. Knitters looking for an unusual technique for a sweater should look at Style 19 on the back cover, which is created by knitting squares, forming a colour block effect.

Shadow Tweed seems to suit textured stitches, such as moss, seed and reverse stockinette, really well. The cables seem to "pop" off the fabric in a way I couldn't quite capture with my camera and flash photography. I have chosen to complete a basic v-neck sweater, with raglan shaping with the yarn I bought. To use this yarn to what I think is its best advantage, I am completing the majority of the sweater in reverse stockinette, with a gorgeous Celtic-like braid cable running up the front. The picture on the right is not a true representation of colour, however, as it was taken without flash, it shows off the cables well.

As mentioned above, style 19 is completed using mitred (magic) squares. It is very similar to Jane Slicer-Smith's designs - and creates a very striking effect.

Patons recommends knitting from 2 balls with most multi-coloured yarns. This helps avoid obvious patches of colour in your knitting. Patons Shadow Tweed has unique colour shading with a repeat occurring approximately each 60grams. Due to this long repeat, each ball will vary in the outside appearance.

I am not sure why Patons has suggested knitting with two balls, as this is something you would do to prevent pooling with variegated yarns, while shadow tweed is more a self-striping yarn - and you want colour pooling with the graduated colour changes and knitting with two balls would disrupt this effect.

Because the colour repeat occurs every 60g, Shadow Tweed is sold in 100g balls. I think this is a great idea - when I have been knitting with Jet and Inca (also marketed by Patons) I found it frustrating that with 50g balls, the yardage ran out quickly and I was forever weaving in ends where I had joined yarn. The yardage on Shadow Tweed is quoted as 133metres.

Each of the balls in the left picture is not only the same shade, but the same dye-lot.


Some garments in this book have been knitted beginning each new panel at a similar point of the colour repeat at the hem. Others have been knitted beginning each new panel at a different point of the colour repeat at the hem. Beginning each panel at different points of the colour repeat at the hem will result with a more individual and unique garment. Neither method is ‘correct’ – it is entirely up to your preference.

I'm going with the flow and knitting with the first ball I can grab when I run out of yarn. This is the same sort of problem you run into with Noro and any other graduated yarn with long repeats - you get to figure out what you do yourself!

Patons suggests knitting from the outside of each ball, so you can more easily determine the colour point you are using. When joining in a new ball in a panel, Patons recommends selecting the next ball beginning with the same colour as just completed from the last ball. This will result with a more even ‘flow’ of the colour shading in each panel. However, in Book 1263, Style 17 has been knitted beginning new balls with a different colour from the just completed ball. You will notice more contrasting striping occurring, which we also think looks fabulous!

Also - I would recommend knitting from the outside of the ball as you get tangles from the yarn "grabbing" when you start from the centre of the ball.

Note – When joining in a new ball, be sure to always join yarn at the side edge. Where knitters decide to begin panels with specific colours, Patons suggests purchasing an extra ball, to ensure you have enough yarn for this method.

Overall, I would recommend this yarn for anyone who wanted a quick knit. It retails for about $8 to $9 for a 100g ball - and although it doesn't quite have the luxury fibre content of Noro, you get a similar effect for approximately 25% of the price. The colour range is still fairly limited (5 shades) but I fell in love with most of them and, even though there wasn't my usual green, gladly stepped outside my usual palate to play with the fantastic autumnal red. I'd suggest looking at the pattern book to get a better idea of the shades, as the swatches on the Patons site don't go through the full colour repeat and may be a bit misleading.

"Summers - you drive like a spaaaaz!"

After I get home from work I like to spend time in front of the telly, watching DVDs, completing mindless tasks. (Yes, I am weak and need to develop a bit of endurance, stamina, whatever to have enough energy to get through a whole day!)

Such as sock knitting. Or skeining yarn I have dyed....

Like this:-
Inspired by last nights viewing whilst skeining this purdy self-striping yarn I present PTYS colourway...

"BAND CANDY"

Band candy and its buddies (pictured below)will be appearing in my etsy shop over the next couple of days - as soon as I get some decent light for pictures. These are machine washable fingering / sock weight Australian merino wool in 100g skeins.
REAL YARN CANDY - minus the fibre ;)

I also was sent this cute picture from "Shoobie" - my bestest friend from high school. She made this confection for her daughter's 3rd birthday - and I think it is such a masterpiece that I have to share it with the knitblogging world. Kitten-purr-purr! (in the words of Little Miss Shoobie)

Of course, Pierre, not wanting to be outdone curled up in the yarn valley on the couch last night. He was actually sleeping with his head on the yarn, but as soon as I turned the camera on he wanted to know what was going on!

Giveaway update...

Any comment made on any post this week will count as an entry (so comment on every post and get more than one entry) - but only one entry per person per day.

Yes - I will be happy to pay the postage to send the DVDs overseas! Foreigners comment now!

Tropfest is a short-film festival held in Sydney each year. Each film has to contain a central theme - this year it was a SNEEZE. More info on Tropfest is here!

go buy some boobies

Here.

What are you waiting for?

boobies Mach II

Yay!

All the boobrocks have sold, so Miss V has $100 US to help with her medical costs.

Currently I have mach II of the boobrock beads baking in the oven. The ones have a bit of a tan, so if, unlike me, you aren't a pasty pink colour - these might appeal to you more.

I'll have another dozen up in the etsy shop on friday, and again, if they go within a week I'll chip in extra to the insurance sucks fund.

THANKS FOR HELPING MISS VIOLET!

final sp9 goodies!

So, funky arty sideways picture... but these are the goodies I got from Raquel, my SP9 pal.



Kinda hard to see if you can't turn your monitor on its side - so here are the details:-

• 2 skeins of yummy sunshine yarns - one with matching stitch markers (you know how much I love stitch-markers)


• heaps of kool-aid (in the mesh pouch) to help in my dying adventures - just like I asked for.


• Yummy cookies!


• Some chardonnay salt truffles!


• some buttered popcorn flavoured lip gloss


• and lots more American candy (the "Take 5" disappeared very quickly - why don't Australians mix pretzels, nuts, peanut butter, caramel and chocolate? its soooo delish!)

Mucho enjoyment from this no-longer secret pal of mine.

And completely unrelated - first day of real work today. At the cafe. With real customers. And real orders. Went well, but I my feet are feeling the 8 hour shift - guess the last job, sitting behind the computer all day has made me a little wussy.

Miss V boobrock fund update - $US75. Only 2 boobrock stitchmarker sets left, and 3 days for them to go before I have to cough up bonus funds! I think I may have to make another batch!

And just in case you were worrying - I haven't been too busy to look after Pierre. He had to have a bath a couple of days ago - and didn't enjoy it very much!

What a weekend!

sorry, but all in dot points for the moment - hope to flesh it out over the next couple of days or so!

****Miss Violets boobrock fund :-

• so far $US60 has been raised for Miss V from the boobrock stitchmarkers in my etsy shop.
• There are four pairs left - get in quick if you wanted some!
• Thanks to Taph, ChocTrudi, Wendy, Kate, David and anyone else who has linked to the shop or publicised the fundraiser.
• All orders received by the time this post is published have been packaged and will be taken to post office tomorrow to begin their various trips around the world!

****Blue Mountains knitters guild roadtrip

• There is a loverly pic on Kate's blog, and a cool debrief on Lara's blog about our adventure up to the mountains.
• We stopped at the Wool Inn in Penrith along the way. There are pics lurking on my camera waiting for me to do an LYS review! Never fear, Penrith locals - although we all boughts lots of loverly knitterly things and yarn, we came nowhere near to emptying the shop (thou not for lack of trying!)
• I succumbed to the beauty of new Paton's Shadow Tweed in autumnal reds. Because this is a new yarn I plan to write a review of the product (so far V yummy!)

****Canberra Knitters!

• A Harlot inspired Knit-in-public is being organised by the Canberra s'n'b. Details are on taph's blog . Don't forget your socks-in-progress
• I'll be in Canberra this weekend - I'd like to spend an hour or so meeting up with some of the cool Canberra knitters - is there a s'n'b on this weekend? or can we have an impromptu one?
• drop me a line ginger_nut(at)bigpond(dot)com if your keen and we will sort something out!

****post goodies!

• I recieved my final package from SP9 - Raquel, you're fantastic. Go check out her blog, and her WIP ink artwork!
• I won a competition on the Shopping Sherpa's blog - and was send a great satchel bag full of goodies. TSS is selling these on ebay- i recommend checking them out.
• I plan to elaborate on both of these (complete with pictures) soon too!

sorry for the slackness, but I want to post and am to busy to sit and do it properly!

is it a bit nipply in here?

Boobrock stitch markers to raise funds for Miss Violet are up on my etsy shop. If they all sell
Miss V gets $US100 towards medical costs.... Go get some nudity for your knitting...

busy busy...

I have been busy starting out at work this week - the only way I could have more caffiene in my system is if I had it administered interveinously!

Apart from running off to catch buses into the city, I have been updating my etsy shop - I want to have a full range up because it seems a couple of podcasters are going to be featuring me on their show. Below is a peek of what is in stock! Listen to this weeks show to learn how to get a bonus.
I have also been sending a few emails back and forth with Miss Lime - and will be doing my bit to help out with the fundraising efforts. Here is a peek - I should get them into the shop on Monday.

Here is a progress shot of the polo shirt I am designing. It's glarey, but I am using some cotton I got off ebay to sort out the design stage. If the pattern works I will get some colours that compliment me a little better for a more refined version.

And here is my primary colour yarn, all knitted up in a funky swatch that will probably become a cushion. I have recieved good feedback about this colourway, so it will be in the shop - eventually.... probably when I start doing decent shifts at work and not annoying half-shift training sessions where I am being taught stuff I know better than the instructors (yes - I know, just a tad bit glib there, but I am sooo bored. I need the coffee to keep me awake during class!)And finally - here is a picture of Pierre, looking sweet, innocent and like he hasn't chewed the crap out of my headphones or the nose of my meerkat soft toy!

adventures of unemployed gal...

I got up to all sorts of fibre fun today...
First of all, this is the merino silk roving I am spinning up

As you can see, it is a loverly green colour with some silver and deep blue stripes that spin up to a gorgeous effectI split this in half before I started spinning (50g in each bundle) so hopefully I will be able to ply it and not lose 25-odd grams like I did with the green merino (that's why it is a 74g skein - did you think it was a funny number?) I haven't figured out exactly how to get the Navajo plying to work yet.....

Now, onto other unspun wool...

When I first got my spinning wheel, I called up a friend (herein after referred to as Friend A) whose parent's own a farm and sheepies. I asked him if it would be possible to get a fleece from them after the next shearing (of course, I was willing to pay)

It just so happens that Friend A is doing a PhD (in carbon fibre, not quite the stuff you can knit with) and his office is in a building where lots of technical stuff gets done. In this building, a lot of textiles research is conducted. Friend A was chatting to another guy (herein referred to a Friend B) who does all this research, and mentioned that I was getting into the-spinning-and-weaving-and-making-my-own-yarn-and-fabric-thing...

Friend B then recalled some top, used for previous experimentation, that was excess and no longer required. He gifted this to Friend A to pass to me...

May I present my giant ball of wool...

(Pierre quite possibly is included for scale, but m ore likely is contemplating whether this would be fun to play with, or his imminent death - until today this was securely wrapped up in the garbage bag... but he is now acutely aware of the sheepilicious goodies hiding inside)

Yes - this is 15 kg of top. Scoured, washed, carded and combed merino fleece, of the highest quality that happened to have fallen off the back of some-one's truck.

As you can see... it is a tad bit white...

So I decided to play around in the kitchen for a bit... with a product I am sure has no nutritional value.... (The creative Celia passed these onto me after she decided she could no longer stand the smell. Yes, they are a little sweet, fake, candy, grape smelling - but not so bad. Perhaps they affected her badly whilst she was pregnant?)

I did a quick search on the Internet and found some instruction for kool-aid dying. I had seven packets, and I read that you should use one packet per oz of wool, so measured out 7oz on my fantastic metric/imperial kitchen scales.


This is what it looked like before it went into the oven - and on the right, how it came out an hour or so later... If I was clever, I would have read the packets a little more carefully and noted that the yellow packet says - ice white crystals, ice white drink - ie, will not have an effect on white top...

Inspired by this, I pulled out food-dyes and vinegar I bought last year during a very boring Easter long weekend. I pulled out three more oz of yarn, split it into three and had a bit of fun with the microwave. No pictures of this process - camera battery needed recharging, but here are the spoils of the day... drying on our verandah.

The three food-dyes are on the left, and the kool-aid on the right. I had no idea that the food-dyes would be so vibrant on wool. I will definitely be doing this again. There is a lot of white roving to be played with.... and perhaps it may lead to new additions in the etsy shop??

Oh - and that sheep fleece I asked for - Ness's parent's (who also have a farm and sheepies) came through for me. I have the fleece from the black sheep of their flock. Which leads me to my next request - I need some hand carders, and don't want to buy them new. I have been lurking on ebay, but nothing much has come up there. If you can help me out, let me know...

And thanks to Kate for her mention about the stitch markers she bought at my shop. Yay, my first satisfied customer.

PS - I won't be unemployed for long. My part time contract arrived today via express post. I start next Monday. Hopefully by then my fingers will no longer be blue - I may have to find gloves for future dyeing experiments

beading fun...

I got my bulk order of findings today, so lots of beading was done and the store has been updated with a whole bunch of new stitch markers. (I have broken nails and sore fingertips - I am glad knitting doesn't cause these superficial but annoying injuries)


Big thank-you to Kate for being my first customer (yay!) She gets a little something extra in her order for being a milestone customer :)

The evening has been devoted to knitting - just started the sleeve cap, so should have another piece of the loopy mohair trim sweater complete and on show tomorrow.

i heart -

*$$ (starbucks-get it?) ! and Tuffers.... I forgot to mention that he got me this cute little bear-ista as an 'after-thought' xmas present. The traveller mug I picked up in Canberra for a steal just after new year - even though it is obviously xmas themed, I think I will use it all year round because it suits a recently converted sock maniac like myself. (and its the hidden short size, which means smaller, cheaper coffees when I use it at *$$ - even though not advertised on the menu board you can order the short at any time if you want a smaller coffee - it may just take the partners a while to find the right size cup)

And speaking of *$$ in Canberra, it appears I will not be a regular at the s&b's down that way. Due to a last minute change with Tuffers' work, the move has been postponed at least 12
months. However, I will try to make it to a session or too - just to meet a few of the bloggers I check in with on a regular basis.

And at the risk of sounding redundant - more markers on ETSY - including twins to my 'i heart 2 knit' markers I chatted about here. That will be the last addition for about a week - I am awaiting a bulk delivery of findings to make some more.