Knitting, With Beads

Condiments?

I crack me up.  I just listed a couple of bead sets, then chuckled at the names.  You see, I pretty much totally suck when it comes to creatively naming my beads.  Mostly I just use the color names.  Today I listed Silvered Mustard  (left) and Seasoned Pepper (rt).

I suppose the next logical name would be Runny Ketchup, or maybe Garlic Powder. 

Oh!  You want to know something cool?  It's so fascinating the way glass reacts.  The mustard beads have a base of mustardy yellow (duh) and are wrapped in silver foil then sprinkled with a frit blend**.   The Seasoned Pepper beads have a base of white, and are decorated with the exact same blend of colors as the mostard beads.

**Frit is the fancy name for crushed glass. 

Socktoberfest Finale

Whups, where did the last month go?

These seriously purple and pink socks were knit with KnitPicks new Bare Fingering Superwash, dyed with acid dyes.  Knit with US size 1 dpns over 60 stitches, with a short-row heel, for my niece.  The yarn took the dye very well; I love the intensity of the colors.  It was nice to knit with, but I have a niggling feeling that it may pill.  Time will tell, eh?

The final pair of Socktoberfest 2006 socks off my needles was this pair of yellow/orange lace panel socks.  The yarn is Kona 2-ply fingering superwash from Wool2Dye4, dyed with acid dyes.  Knit with US size 1 dpns over 64 stitches, using  the faggoted lace panel from the 365 Knitting Stitches calender (January 28th). 

The skein I wound for dyeing was a short one, and thick.  It was sort of an experiment, although I'm not totally sure what I thought would happen.  Obviously the dye didn't penetrate, so now I have a pair of socks that doesn't really look like a pair.  The first wash released a flood of yellow dye, so now they're much more orange-y.  I'm still debating whether or not I'll overdye with red.

Easily Amused

I've admitted more than once to being easily amused.  Here's proof:   This week's completed Socktoberfest socks were knit using a Broken Rib stitch pattern.  Get it?  I'm working on healing a broken rib.  And knitting the Broken Rib.  Hardy-har-har.

Yarn is Kona SuperWash DK weight 100% wool from Wool2Dye4, dyed with acid dyes.    Knit on US size 3 dpns over 50 stitches for the cuff, decreasing to 48 stitches for the foot.  I'm particularly pleased with the way the Eye of Partridge heel came out.  On the right side, I knit through the back loop... I think I read somewhere that accentuates the stitches.  As always, click for a larger view.

Speaking of being easily amused, I just love the magic way glass colors emerge, often reacting in unexpected ways.  For these beads, I used only two different glasses - Copper Green and Clear.  The copper in the green sometimes turns pink, especially when encased in clear.  Cool, eh?  These are on
my JustBeads list this week... go here to see more views.

One of the recent topics of discussion on the Yahoo Socknitter's list is using up leftover sock yarn.  Someone showed pictures of her solution, knitting socks using black striped with the leftover bits.  I really like the way those looked, and have had an idea percolating.  I still need to work out the specifics, but soon I'll be announcing a trade offer of beads and/or buttons for sock yarn.  Stay tuned!

Mystery Solved

Like pretty much everyone else, when I come across a pattern online without a photograph, I skip it.  So the Mystery Sock KAL was an interesting challenge.  I found myself analyzing stitch patterns of some of those pictureless patterns.  There were several I liked the looks of (including this one, this one, and this one), but since I was searching for a fairly simple sock, I settled on the Lacy Sock by jp.  And since it was lace, I decided to dive into my birthday loot from Joan, choosing the solid color Wildfoote in Lilac.  I really liked knitting with this wool, and have added it to my approved sock yarn list.  As always, click on the picture for a larger version.

Sister Jane, Luida and I picked tomatoes and peppers yesterday.  Ruth, Jane's next-door neighbor, has always been generous with her garden bounty, this year especially so.  She told us about a month ago that she was done canning tomatoes, and to feel free to come pick some any time.  I knew there weren't many days left (before freezing weather hit), so we filled several bags.  I didn't bring a whole lot home, but Jane plans to pickle some peppers.  Maybe even a peck.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Welcome to the newest member of my little fambly, Iris the truck.  She's a 2002 Ford Ranger with 5-speed manual transmission.  Isn't she a cutie-pie?  Sister Jane and the girls and I had a very nice visit with Brother Tim, Ian and Katie before I drove the truck home.  Thanks Ian, for spotting such a bargain for your old Auntie Teri!

Tomorrow I'll go to the BMV to complete the ritual necessary to transfer the title and register Iris.  I would love to be able to find out approximately how much that will cost, but the BMV's computer system is down.

Besides adopting Iris, I celebrated Socktober first by completing the Undulating Rib Cashmere Blend socks.  Yarn was gifted to me by Dave, included in my KSKS package.  I love this stuff...  The pictures were taken after the socks had a bath, and the yarn has started to bloom a little. 

Then I cast on a new sock in Kona SuperWash Merino  from Wool2Dye4, dyed way back in June along with the yarn I dyed for Ruth's Dye-O-Rama package.  It tickles me no end to be using a pattern called Broken Rib on this sock.  The yarn on the right is KnitPick's Worsted Weight Bare, dyed with black and turquoise.  It's destined to become a Klein Bottle Hat for Isaac.  Yeah!  I know!  I'm actually planning a non-sock project!!

Love to Love You, Baby

Meet Ewelalie, my most recent version of a glass sheep bead.  The life of an artist is not an easy one.  I've suffered so many decisions; still am not happy about her ears, and just can't decide where to place her tail.  Ewelalie is the first sheep I've made with a blank face, and I like it.  All previous incarnations had cutsie eyes, which are fine but not the look I'm striving for. 

That's a dime in the photo, by the way, to give some perspective on her size.  As always, click for a larger view.

Sheep are not all that's emerging from my kiln the last few days.  I've been busy, busy, busy melting glass.   You can see more of what I've been up to on JustBeads.

As long as I'm hawking goods...  If you're a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, or a cross-stitcher, check out the books I have listed on eBay.  My mom's been busy clearing her bookshelves.  Making room for a sock-yarn stash, Mother?

I Dream of Jeannie

Finished!  My most favorite dye-job socks are complete.  Yarn is Jeannie by Kraemer, a superwash blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon, soon to be available from Sheila at Wool2Dye4.  Knit with 2.5mm bamboo dpns over 64 stitches in a plain vanilla short-row heel sock.  The yarn is a little thicker than Opal or Regia, or even Sheila's Kona Fingering and Supersock , but not as heavy as the Kona Superwash.  Be sure to click the pics for a larger view.

I enjoyed both dyeing and knitting with Jeannie.  With my US size 1.5 needles I got a nice firm fabric, not stiff but sturdy.  The yarn doesn't have the kitten-softness of a pure merino, but is nicer to work with than, say, Opal.  Since completion, I've worn and washed them twice with no noticeable changes.  I plan to keep track by snapping pictures after each 5 (or so) washings.  I rate this yarn as a definite must-have, and plan to get some more once Sheila has it in stock!

I'm a Knitting Geek

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Version:1.1

KER+++    Exp+++    SPM+@    Steel(ou/)    Wood    Bam+++    Pl+++    Cas-    AddiT-    Den--    !Boye?    Syn--    Nov--(//yuk//)    Cot-    Wool+++    Lux+>+    Hemp-(-)    Stash++    Scale(sox)    Fin++(++)    Ent(empty)    FI+(k/oly)    Int--    Tex-    Lace++    Felt+(+)    Flat    Circ++    DPN+++(collect)()    ML--    Swatch-    KIP++    Blog++>++    !SNB    EZ+    FO+++    WIP++=~loads    L    F+++(rocks)    S-    DK-(-)    W-(-)    B--    ALT(lampworking)@    Cr    Q+(+)    X--    Em-    Sw++    !Wv    !Sp@

------END KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Kate has an article over on Knitty about the Knitting Geek's Code.  Get your own here.  I think I need to go back and refine mine a little... hmm, I see that it doesn't mention dyeing anywhere and that definitely needs to be added.

So, speaking of dyeing, the socks I'm currently knitting (okay, okay, one of the pairs of many I have in progress) are knit with Jeannie, a superwash blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon.  Sheila at Wool2Dye4 has had a number of requests for just such a blend; up until now all her sock yarn has been 100% wool.  As much as I love her Supersock (Dave compares it to a lighter-weight Koigu or Cherry Tree Hill) and the Kona Fingering, I was tickled pink to try the new yarn. 

The yarn was barely free of the mailing envelope before I had it soaking.  I gave it a kettle-dyed base of hot pink, then spread it out on Saran Wrap to do my sprinkle-thing.  I used loads of color (as you can certainly tell), and am thrilled with the results.  The yarn took the dye extremely well, and is very rich-looking.

Because I did use so much dye, there was a lot of run-off.  I gave it a shampoo wash/rinse probably six or seven times before the water ran clear.  As a result, it bloomed into the delicious yarn pictured.  I cast on and knit the ribbing using US1 / 2.25mm double-points, then switched to 1 1/2 -- 2.50mm dpns for the stockinette body.  I've turned the heel on sock number one, and am about three inches into the cuff of sock number two.  I'm getting 8.5 sts and 11.5 rows per inch with the 2.50mm needles, and the fabric is firm without being too stiff.  I'm hoping to finish this pair of socks within a week so I can give them a good wash/wear test.  So far, so good!

My Newest Neighbor

I snapped this picture last night after taking all my bead pictures.   Spiders are amazing, aren't they?

Thank you to everyone who has expressed concern in the aftermath of my accident.  I'm getting around much better now, and actually spent some time at the torch yesterday.  I am getting twinges down my left arm, but application of ice packs is helping.

So the sock knitting continues.  I've turned the heel on both the Mystery lacy sock as well as the plain vanilla Opal sock.  Also nearly to the toe decreases on a sock I'm test-knitting for Chrissy.  The sock I have on the needles for Socks for Soldiers hasn't seen the light of day since a week ago Wednesday.  It's the sock that was in my project bag I took to Daddy's, and traveled with me to the concrete barrier wall on the Columbus overpass, then to the hospital.  It's sorta weird, but I can't bring myself to clean the safety glass out of the bag and get to knitting on that sock.  It will need some attention soon, since my (self-imposed) deadline is the end of the month. 

Thunder (Still) Possible

By popular demand (okay, one person), I'm re-posting this from my old blog. 

The other evening, weather.com's forecast read "thunder possible."  I think that's a great phrase, don't you?  Very majestic, and full of promise.

Look at this cute little guy. He jumped onto my ankle while I was sitting on the ground pulling out a bee sting from my toe.  Sister Jane tried to kiss the frog, but when I moved my hand closer to her face the frog startled and jumped away. We were at Daddy's, you know, before my fateful drive home.

My accident happened on the I-65 overpass at Columbus (IN), near where Rob and Matt's ThreadBear shop used to be.   My thanks to the FedEx driver and to Chris the truck driver/paramedic who were the first on the scene. So I'm still pretty sore, and have this incredible set of seatbelt-shaped bruises. If you are squeamish, or don't want to see some bruising, don't click here or here.   The bad news is that I can't sit at my torch to make beads.  The good news is that I *can* knit.

I completed two pair of socks, meeting my September SAM2 goal.   First are the anklets I made with the wool Ruth dyed for me for Dye-O-Rama.  I love the way these turned out!

Second pair is the anklets made using Wool2Dye4 Supersock, dyed using my patent-pending kettle/sprinkle/microwave-steam method. I like it because there's no pattern, just lots of lovely random yellow, red, and orange-ness. I used the same method for Dave's KSKS yarn as well as for Jill's August Birthday Swap yarn, so I'm looking forward to seeing how their socks turn out. Of course, Dave can't start his until he takes a *proper* photograph of the yarn. I wonder, will it count if he uses the photo he took when he received the yarn?

Also over the weekend I finished the first Undulating Rib Cashmere blend sock, using some of the yarn I got from Dave in my KS Kit. This sock feels incredible on, and will be a very welcome addition to my sock wardrobe.

Finally, I started my socks for the Mystery Sock KAL.   I'm using the Lavender Wildfoote from my birthday package from Joan, and the lacysocks pattern posted to the KnitList in 1997 by JP.  It's a simple lace pattern, but quite nice.