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28
Aug 2010

Baby Surprise Jacket

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I took a lot of knitting when we went on vacation and had lots of fun knitting and also doing a bit of yarn shopping.  As for knitting, I took several projects but the real project was the EZ Baby Surprise Jacket.  If you’ve never made one, go and run to get the pattern, some needles and some yarn and give it a try.  It’s an addictive pattern and you have to sort of have blind faith that it all work out and turn into an actual garment when you’re done.  and, one row adds after the other and it grows and grows and you just can’t put it down.  It works with all kinds of different yarns but it really is attractive with handspun……… I’m already plotting for several more with one of them that will be made from some handspun that softly shifts from a dark to a light tone of the same colour family.

So, here is my first finished baby surprise jacket and believe me, there will be more.  I don’t think I’ll have the patience to do the adult version but I’m looking forward to other small ones!!

EZ Baby Surprise Jacket - Handspun Yarn

I finished it off with the cutest little heart buttons that I had at home.  I did run out of handspun and I had just shy of 300 yards, knitted on 4mm needles so I’m thinking I need a bit more next time.  I did go out and find the lovely coordinating commercial yarn to finish it off and it actually finished it off so nicely that I might always finish it off with a solid colour…….. don’t you think?

Category: Finished Projects, Knitting, Spinning  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
03
Jun 2010

Lazy Blogger

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I’ve been a lazy blogger over here at the old Creative Corner Blog but that doesn’t mean I’ve been lazy.  I’ve been spending a lot of time getting my Creations by Uli web site for my chainmaille jewelry off the ground.

Go take a peek: Creations by Uli

There’s still lots of work to be done.  I’m slowly building the gallery and some pages of interest to those who like my jewelry and also links for those who want to learn more about creating chainmaille.

Tell me if you like it…… my normal tendencies toward purple have totally shifted (I’m still a purple girl) and I’ve gone for crisp white with bright orange.  I love the look.  I can’t wear orange but it sure feels happy and cheerful to me for the site.

Well, instead of getting ready for Fab Fair which is a show I’m participating in this weekend, I’ve been playing with the template for this blog.  I think I love this template.  I think I’ll feel at home here as I try to write more.  June might be a bit hit and miss though because I think I might have slightly over committed.  Feels like I’ll be running from one thing to the next constantly.

Most interesting in the last little while is a dyeing workshop I’ve been participating in.  I will try to blog more about it this weekend.  We have one more session left to go but the first 2 sessions were fabulous.  Hard work but the results were so worth it.

Tonight I’m leaving off with my most recent handspun – some silky cashmerino from Fluff Fibers on Etsy.

It was a great spin and the result is yummy soft and fluffiness.

Currently on the wheel is some BFL/Silk from AllspunUp and today, I bought a bit more (just a tiny little bit) of the Fishy SAL that Kirsten from AllSpunUp is running.  What an undertaking!!!!  The fibre will all be Polwarth – such yumminess.  I’ve been so good about NOT buying any fibre but this past week has brought me to my knees again.  Let’s just say that there will be a few lovely packages in the mailbox soon.

It’s late and I must go but I’ll be back soon with more details about my dyeing experience!!!  A new hobby you may wonder?  Well, let’s just say I have a whole newfound respect for those who dye up all this gorgeousness for us spinners and knitters.

I’m in a Pro-D day all day tomorrow.  I’m hoping that I can sneak out my sock knitting project and just plug away at my current sock while I listen – all day long…. I MUST knit.

Category: Knitting, Sock Knitting, Spinning, Stash and Supply Shopping  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
05
Apr 2010

I have so much to catch up on

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it’s insane!!!  How could I be so blog lazy for so long???  Did the Ravelympics take everything out of me?  Well, I don’t know but I think part of it is that there is so much going on that the blog always gets the least attention.

I guess I’ll start way back when and go in little spurts untilI catch up……..

After the Ravelympics were done, the first thing I did was finish a pair of handspun socks with some gorgeous handspun from Crown Mountain Fibres.  This had been sitting in my stash for a bit but socks seemed like the thing to cast on.  They were a great knit:

Socks and Fingerless Mittens

Knitted on 2.5 mm Hiya Hiya stainless steel needles (my recent most favourite needles) and just my basic top down sock pattern.  The yarn was the gorgoues SW Merino in She’s Like a Rainbow – 3 plied.  I had quite a bit left when I was done so I decided on a quick pair of fingerless mittens.  I love the set!!!

It’s Easter Monday.  We had a lovely long weekend and I’m cherishing that today is another day off for us.  I’m trying to get all kinds of creative things done around here including some chainmailleing, some picture taking, some weaving, some knitting and some spinning.  My current project on the wheel is some super soft baby camel/silk which is a pure pleasure to spin. 

I will try to keep the updates coming over the next few days!!!!

Category: Finished Projects, Knitting, Sock Knitting, Spinning  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
28
Feb 2010

Go Canada…….. Go!!!

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While the Canadian Hockey team was getting ready to go into overtime at today’s fantastic last sports event of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I was sitting at my computer, officially crossing the Ravelympic finish line with my projected.  I finished……… YEAH!!!

Here is the collage of my finished handspun Multnomah – it is such a fabulous pattern.  I know I will knit it again – with handspun or with some of my commercial yarns.  It’s a great little pattern.

Ravelympics 2010 - The The Finish Line - Multnomah Shawl

It was a fabulous 2 weeks.  I wish I had taken in more of the action but it seemed a rather large challenge getting around all the people with the little creatures.

I feel accomplished that I got this project done.  During the week, I have to tell you more about my fun shopping trip to my fave LYS, 88 Stitches

Category: Finished Projects, Ravelympics  Tags: , , , , ,  2 Comments
20
Feb 2010

Drying Time

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I’m in the middle of an olympic break!!!  I stayed up way past my bed time last night to soak the yarn and get it hanging to dry.  I have over 500 yards and I should be able to get my Multnomah knit with that yardage.  I’m a bit behind because I was hoping that while I hang out at the dance studio this morning (over 2 hours), I could make a good start on the shawl but I need to give the yarn some drying time.  Yarn pics later…. and by later tonight or tomorrow I’ll be knitting.  Now I’ve heard of some fabulous knitters getting Multnomah done in just a few days.  I guess my hindrance is that I have a really busy weekend coming up as well as a very busy week at work.  I haven’t had one of those days where I could just cuddle up in a corner on the couch with my knitting all day long in a very, very, very long time.  I’ll be sneaking knitting breaks wherever and whenever I can.

In the mean time, this morning while I hang out and wait, I’ll be working on a sooooper-sekret little shawl project or a pair of handspun socks or maybe both.  Shawl the first hour, socks the second hour.

Category: Ravelympics  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
14
Feb 2010

Ravelympics Progress

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Nothing much to say today.  The weekend went quickly.  Hubby and I went out for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner (by ourselves) last night.  That was nice but in my own selfish way, I was a bit disappointed that I was left out in our little gift exchange.  We always have a little gift for each kid and I had something special for hubby….. but I guess that’s what happened when your birthday is only a week later.  I really should have bought that camera bag that I really wanted last night for a treat.  I’ve also been scouring Etsy all day today searching for fibre but I really don’t need any new fibre and nothing I just “HAD TO HAVE” popped up today.  So, I am just giving up for today.  Going to try and get the kiddies to bed now and then going back to spinning on my Ravelympic project.

Here’s my progress.  First, still on the bobbin and second, first bobbin is done and showing the rest of the fibre to be spun.

Back to work tomorrow.  The weekends are always so short.  Once I’m done the spinning, I can take the knitting on the road so I’ll be able to make some progress at lunch time and other times even though I might not always be at home.

Category: Ravelympics  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
12
Feb 2010

Opening Ceremonies

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The Olympics have officially begun.  I thoroughly enjoyed the ceremonies on TV with the exception that the kidlets were not particularly quiet.  They are in bed now……. yeah!!!  I think I am headed there soon, too.

With the opening ceremonies over, I have just spent the better part of the evening starting my Ravelympics project.  Yes, when I came home tonight, my wheel was empty.  The fibre was sitting in my spinning chair and Bugsie was just waiting.

Bugsie waiting for the Workout

As it was time, I used the scale and started dividing up the fibre, trying to get close to having equal halves as much as possible.  It always takes a bit of juggling.

Capri - Ravelympics Fibre

The lighting in my house does not make for great evening photographs but you get the idea.  This is gorgeous fluffiness.  Over the cours eof the evening, I have spun about 1/2 of the first bobbin.  I’m not sure how far I’ll get this weekend with the spinning.  It’s a busy day tomorrow with our regular activities plus hubby and I are going out for a bit of shopping and a nice Valentine’s dinner.  The way the day tomorrow is shaping up, I won’t be home much.  Unfortunately, I also had to bring home some work so I will have to do some of that on Sunday.  Ideally, I’d like to be done with the spinning by about next Wednesday, ready to cast on for the knitting portion of the project around Thursday or so.

Let the Games begin!!!

Category: Ravelympics  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
08
Feb 2010

The Torch

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No matter who people around her may feel about the Winter Olympics and whether you approve or disapprove, the show is going to happen.   There are things I don’t necessarily agree with but in the end, it’s here and I think it’s pretty exciting and now that it’s here, all the effort might as well be enjoyed.

Today, the torch relay came through our work complex.  Our local weater man happened to be the torch bearer and I was right at the torch switch off point.

Olympic Torch Relay

It was a pretty cool experience and I was so pleased that we had such great weather and that it was as easy as stepping out of the office for just a short little while.

I finished a pair of gloves this weekend.  I love them!!!  The pattern is called Knotty Gloves and I enjoyed knitting them very, very much.

I used a fabulous SW Merino/Alpaca blend handspun.  I think this handspun was my very first 3-ply.  It’s not cold enough for gloves and I have the feeling that we might not get cold enough weather any more to wear gloves but as long as I keep them safe from Sam, I’ll have a fabulous, toasty pair of gloves for next winter.  I could highly recommend this pattern.  I love my handspun gloves but I also might make a pair with the few skeins of STR that I have kicking around.

Knotty Gloves

Having some Fun

Ravelympics Update!!!  After seeing the torch today, I am so ready.  I am trying to estimate how long my 5 oz bump of merino/bamboo/nylon will take me to spin.  I’m planning to spin the singles so I end up with a nice 2-ply heavy fingering weight yarn.  Not too heavy because I want the yardage for Multnomah but not so fine that I’ll be spinning forever.  Time is of the essence.  To get ready, I am just finishing up some Finn from Crown Mountain Farm’s February Fibre club shipment.  Once I finish that, I will leave the wheel empty until it’s Olympic ceremony time on Friday.  I might give Bugsie a good oiling before then and off we go.  I think if I can have all the spinning done by early the next week, I have a fighting chance to get it done!!!  GO TEAM Manicpurl GO!!!

Off to spin away at the Finn now.  I had tap tonight and my legs are screaming.  Even the treadling hurts………. ouch……. but it was oh so much fun!!!

Category: Just Babbling, Knitting, Ravelympics, Spinning  Tags: , , , , ,  3 Comments
17
Jan 2010

Knitting with Handspun

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It feels so good……. I’ve been finishing some stuff!!!

I finished knitting my handspun Lacy Baktus scarf.  I really truly enjoyed this pattern.  It’s a quick knit and although, it looks fabulous in commercial yarn, I loved the fact that it looks equally fabulous in handspun yarn.  The yarn I used was my first ever low twist single ply yarn.  I had my doubts whether it was even a knittable yarn once I had soaked and slightly felted it but alas……. the pattern lent itself perfectly to this yarn.

Here are some finished object shots.  I didn’t measure the dimensions but it worked out very nicely.  I think I had around 400 yards or handspun, maybe a little bit more.

Handspun Lacy Baktus

Lacy Baktus in a Bush

And in a fit of finishing, I finally finished this gorgeous pair of handspun ribbed socks made from a fabulous merino/bamboo/nylon blend.  They were a super quick knit because I knit them on 3 mm needles as my navajo plied yarn came out a bit thicker than fingering – probably a heavier sportweight.  I love the colours and how they turned out.  The fibre came from Fat Cat Knits.

4 by 2 Ribbed Handspun Socks - Spring is Calling

There’s something to be said about socks that are a little bit heavier weight.  They are not great in shoes but they sure knit up super quickly.  I did those toe-up on two circs.  You may teach and old dog new tricks, yet.  I do admit though that even in a toe-up sock, I’d rather knit a gusset style heel.

That brings me to spinning and knitting and the upcoming Ravelympics.  Having the Olympics so close to home, inspires me too make sure I participate in the Ravelympics.  The idea of the Ravelympics is to pick a project that will challenge you.  I know I could easily knit a Multnomah during the duration of the Games but I figured my challenge would be to spin for and then knit this beautiful little shawl.  I have now made a decision on the fibre and it will be this gorgeous blue SW Merino/Bamboo/Nylon blend that I just received from the lovely Julie of Julie Spins.

The official day to start is during the opening ceremonies of the Games.  I can’t do much until then but train.  As my training I’m thinking I might try and take a similar fibre and see if I could succeed at a low twist single because if I can, that’s what I’d like to spin for this shawl.  If not, I’ll go to my standard 2-ply because I know i can do that, almost in my sleep.  Mind you, having talked about training, there are a lot of other fibres I’d like to spin like my Crown Mountain Farms January and February fibre club shipments and some other beauties.

But anyways, come back and watch my progress during the Olympics.  As a preview, here’s the fibre I have chosen:

Ravelympics Fibre - SW Merino/Bamboo/Nylon

Today was JR’s forth birthday.  If you’ve been around for a while, reading my blog, back in its old,old home, you’ll remember the stresses around his preemie arrival and then 2 years later his surgery and difficult recovery.  Now, he’s my big 4-year old boy….. it’s hard to believe how fast time flies!!!

Lipstick Boy - Happy Birthday Bud!!!

Category: Kidlets, Knitting, Ravelympics, Sock Knitting, Spinning  Tags: , , , , ,  2 Comments
29
Dec 2009

Singles…… the Single Ply Yarn Kind

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I’ve been wanting to spin up a skein of singly ply yarn in some time.  I’ve not quite had the guts to try it though.  I would grab some fibre from my extensive stash and say – “this time I’ll try” – and then I’d go take a look at the fibre and I’d love it so much that I just didn’t want to use it as an experiment.  I didn’t want to use this particular braid of fibre as an experiment either but I decided that I’d never learn if I didn’t just jump in.

Here is my result of my first attempt:

My first attempt at a singly ply yarn

Detail of the Yarn

All Wound Up

In the end, I still have a bit of a curly yarn so I must have added a bit too much twist.  I used my slowest ratio on the ladybug and set it for a fairly aggressive uptake and tried to go slowly.  When it had its bath, I was quite aggressive with it and I (on purpose) fulled it slightly.  At first I was worried that the strands felted together so that I wouldn’t be able to skein it but, as you see in the bottom picture, I got a fairly nice looking centre pull ball out of it.  Well, what to do now???  All I can do is try to see how it knits up so that’s the perfect excuse for starting something new and I’m going to cast on for a Lacy Baktus shortly.  Stay tuned………. I will evaluate this spinning result once I get a few inches knitted.

Now, I’m trying to decide whether this was it into my foray of exploring spinning single ply yarns or if I should give it another chance.  I’m not disappointed in my result but I know it’s not perfect.  I’m wondering if spinning something like a tencel blend into a single might work well?  I’d love to see how it would work with the sheen in the yarn.  But then, maybe it might fall apart too easily??  Hmm…. I guess I can only try, eh?

The other thing I took off the drying rack today was some gorgeous Falkland from All Sun Up.  It was the November/December spin-along fibre and I love the result.  This was a typical spin for me.  2-ply – nice and thick and squooshy soft.  I love to spin the thinner fingering/sport weight yarns but there certainly is some satisfaction in spinning up a more bulky yarn.  This one is destined for a gorgeous hat of sorts.  I think I have a pattern in mind….. we’ll see.

Category: Spinning  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
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