twistedloops

I’ve decided to take part in the Ravelympics this year.  My primary project is a pair of self-designed, knee-high colorwork socks.  They’re being entered in three events:  Nordic Colorwork Combined, Sock Hockey and Designer Original Dance. 

I’ve been swatching ideas for this pair of scoks for a few weeks now.  I had the chart for the main pattern and heel flap completed prior to the opening ceremonies, but hadn’t actually thought about the ribbing or how the decreases would work for the wider calf-area of the sock.   I managed to swatch through those issues on Friday night and Saturday morning, and am now progressing my way down the leg of the sock. 

I’m using the green (Lime) and purple (Mulberry) Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn that I got at Sock Summit.  Jim doesn’t really like the color combination, but for some reason I love the super bright contrast of the two colors together.  There’s no way this patterning will be lost in photographs.  Plus for those of you who know me, wearing super-bright socks with my primarily black wardrobe is a pretty common thing since I became a knitter.

I’m concerned with my overall pace.  At the rate I’m going, I don’t think I’ll finish both socks by the closing ceremonies.  Being sick for the last few days hasn’t helped my progress, but I’ve got to find a way to step it up.  I’m feeling a little better today, so perhaps I’ll spend the day sitting and kntting.  I’d love to be all the way to the heel flap before I head off to bed tonight.

 I’d like to do a wrap-up each month here on the blog on my progress on my ten for 10 goals.

1. Knit a large square/rectangle shawl (like one from from Heirloom Knitting or Knitted Lace of Estonia)
   No progress on this one. This is still the one that worries me most for 2010.
    
2.  Knit a sweater for me
   I’ve been thinking about this one, and I’m leaning towards the Asymmetrical Cardigan from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. I thought about challenging myself and knitting this sweater for the Ravelympics, but I’m now leaning towards one of the designer events.
    
3. Knit a pair of colorwork socks
   See the super secret swatching project listed “On my Needles” and the reference above to the designer Ravelypics event? That’s all I’m saying for now.
    
4. Clean and prep the baby alpaca (cria) fleece I purchased (which will be much easier since I got combs and hand cards for Christmas)
5. Spin the above mentioned fleece
   I spent some time this past weekend testing out my new hand combs and cards. I think I need more practice with them before I tackle the fleece. I made a mess out of the commerical top that I tried to card, and I’m not sure it’s even spinnable anymore. Definitely not what I want to do with the lovely fleece.
    
6. Spin at least an hour per week to improve my overall spinning technique and consistency
   I didn’t spin an hour a week in January, but I did spin about 8 hours total in the month. I’d like to work towards spinning a little each week rather than in burst once or twice a month.
    
7. Reduce the overall stash -I must knit/destash more than I purchase (by weight, since I want to include the fiber and yarn)
   This one isn’t going so well. I’ve got another 8 ounces of roving coming to me that I ordered in January. All I used up in January was about 3 ounces of yarn for my Citron (which just finished blocking).
    
8. Design and release at least 2 patterns
   This is well underway and should easily be met this year. More details to come!
    
9. Post more regularly to this blog
   I managed to get in five posts in January. I’d still like to post more, but it’s a definite improvement over most of 2009.
    
10. Attend my local knitting or spinning groups more often (which shouldn’t be hard – I hardly went at all in 2009)
    I only made it once in January, but it’s a start. I am planning on attending tonight.

Overall, I feel that I made fairly good progress in January and have some fairly high hopes for what I can accomplish in February.

I finally knit my first pair of handspun socks.  I finished knitting them in December, but I just finished up weaving in the ends and blocking them.

The yarn was spun from a Dicentra Designs 80% Merino / 20% Tussah Silk roving in the Margartiaville colorway that I received for my birthday.  I started spinning it on Labor Day and finished the spinning in early November.  The yarn is my first true 3-ply yarn.  I managed to spin about 350 yards from the four ounces of roving.

The yarn had a lot of color changes, so I decided to keep it simple with a simple 60-stitch stockinette pattern.  I used the Welsh Heel from Knitting Vintage Socks with an eye of partridge pattern on the heel flap.  For the toe, I use a variation on the Flat Toe from Knitting Vintage Socks.   The toe calls for decreasing four stitches every other row until there are 24 stitches remain and then finishing the toe.  I prefer to continue decreasing four stitches every round until eight stitches remain.  I then use kitchener stitch to finish the toe.

I haven’t worn the socks yet, but I’m excited about them because they are so soft.

Project: 60-stitch handspun socks
Designer: Me!
Yarn: Handspun Dicentra Designs Merino/Tussah Silk
Quantity: 350 yards
Color: Margaritaville
Needles: US1.5 (2.5mm)

Started: November 12, 2009
Completed: December 9, 2009

The thread plied yarn I posted about before is finally finished.

I began by winding it off the bobbin and on to my niddy-noddy.

You can see how much twist is still in the yarn as I took it off of the niddy-noddy.  I’m used to the yarn twisting on itself lightly, but this was a bit more than I usually see.

I soaked the yarn for about an hour in hot water in the sink. It then hung to dry for several days (it’s damp here in Oregon). I didn’t get a photo of it hanging after it soaked and dried, but the twist seen in the photo above was gone. It hangs straight in a nice loop.

Overall, I’m pleased with the yarn. There are areas that are still somewhat tightly spun and areas where the fiber is nearly unspun and looks as if it could come apart with the slightest tug.  I feel like it was a good attempt at a new technique, and I’ll definitely try it again.

Warning!  Cuteness Ahead

Yesterday I spent a few hours at a local farm owned by a friend.  It’s the same one I visited last spring to see the sheep and lambs.  From that visit, I had photos of the lambs when they were a few months old.  It’s lambing season at that farm now, so all of the lambs are less than two weeks old.  My words can’t compete with the cuteness of these lambs, so I’ll just leave you with photos.