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Monday, March 3, 2014

Racing To Catch Up - Part One

Part Two will be silly sheeps jumping and playing and chasing cats - for those who "ain't so much into knitting pics" even if it did snow last night so they look super Iditarod-y ;-).


I expected a slow start, but wasn't expecting THIS slow of a start.  However, in the more important part of the program, I've learned a new cast on - garter tab - which for several hours I thought I was just completely stupid and should give up knitting, but in googling to see if the designer had an instructional video by any chance, I found that LOTS of people struggle with this.  Whew!

Once I figured out what it was called, I was then able to google how to do it and found several helpful video tutorials and I can pretty safely say I've got it down.  Then I struggled with how tight the edge was coming out and re-knit that a few times and I'm still a bit concerned about that, but at this point I think the edge is okay, it's the sloppy stockinette stitches inside that are the problem.  I've tightened that up a little and hopefully I'm okay knitting on. 


It's definitely going to be a challenge, but pretty so far I think.  The yarn bowl is from Flat Creek Wool and Pottery.


On to the catching up part.  Yep, this was Saturday.  Sunny, in the 50s.  I'd spun late into Friday night to get my singles done so they could rest on the bobbins before plying on Saturday.  I had my usual plying problems, but finally got it figured out.  Thin white yarn is hard to see.  I'm moderately happy with my spinning, but definitely need to spin more to get better.

I guessed at the yardage and hoped I'd have enough.  Even though I can obviously spin more as needed, in my head I like to have all my yarn spun up front.  This probably stems from worry about inconsistency, also a situation where spending more time spinning would help.  Anyway, as I wound off my skein, I had 430 yards.  The pattern called for 420.  I'm taking that as good Iknitarod juju :-D.


Look how Keebler's curls reappeared after washing.  Wool is so neat.  Oh, and for those of you who are thinking "I thought she said she was knitting a Buddy shawl." I decided that if I'm knitting something fiddly and complicated, that would be Keebler, not Buddy.  And, I have to say, if Buddy and I were trying to battle that cast on, we'd have both ended up sitting on the couch with our tissue box and a big bag of Rolos ;-).


Ready to go...I thought. The pattern is Boo Knits Sweet Dreams.


I should have worked that 2 stitch (yes, 2 stitches...sigh) cast on before I left the Wool House Saturday night so 20 could have helped.  kbdoolin probably wishes I had as well ;-).



14 comments:

Mt Devon Meanderings said...

Luv the yarn bowl. I almost picked one of those up last fall in KY.

Alice said...

Oh my! The white yarn shimmers so!!
It all looks marvelous so far.
I'm not certain what it is you are making? Did you show us the pattern yet?

Wol 'n Draad said...

What absolutely wonderfully spun yarn! (And don't kid yourself otherwise, you hear! :-)) ) I love the sheen and the curls.
Also love your yarn bowl. Such lovely ceramics!
Love, Ineke

thecrazysheeplady said...

Good catch, Alice.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-dreams-17

The yarn bowl is from Flat Creek Wool and Pottery. I'll link that above as well. Her stuff is awesome!

Lori Skoog said...

There you go, speaking Greek again!

I need orange said...

That is totally spectacular yarn!!!!

Wow. :-)


(still smiling at the idea of you and Buddy on the couch with the Rollos....)

Anonymous said...

Keebler seems to love being spun up into lovely lacy thin yarn. When I want a great yarn that sells right off the bat I make it from the Keebler fleece I got from you. It doesn't seem to matter if it is all or just a blend. He is lovely. Don't tell him that though. ;) He'll get a big head. And your spinning is pretty darn nice. Don't sell yourself short.

karen said...

Beautiful yarn you spin lovely fluffy stuff :) I bet you have enough yardage-just my guess as well!!

Tombstone Livestock said...

Sara, your yarn is beautiful, you rock girl, can't wait to see finished product.

Andee said...

Your yarn looks heavenly. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Lady Locust said...

That yarn is sooo beautiful! My spinning is improving, but I have a ton to learn - need more practice time spinning(wink, wink.)
You are such an inspiration.
Thank you

Susan said...

Good grief woman....picked a nice easy pattern didn't you??? Guess it's like me, every time I feed 10 people (once a month) I never make the same thing twice :) Would like to make a comment re your plying.
Nothing wrong with it, looks gorgeous but why wait to let it 'set'. I don't get that. I ply as soon as I spin and then I know exactly how tight or loose to ply and I Never have a twist in my skeins. Not because I am great haha but because I know at the outset what the twist is and most times do not 'block/wash' the yarn before knitting. Do you think those Shetlanders had time or soap and water to wash their spun yarn? I think not. but that is just me........saves a step and time.
Your yarn is absolutely lovely!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Wow that pattern is lovely..how could you chose as they are all wonderful! I am anxious to see it finished! :)

Anonymous said...

Okay, so I just looked up Iknitarod, because I didn't know what it was. Very cool idea! I'm going to do that next year. Too many projects going for me to jump in now. And Sweet Dreams!!! That is gorgeous! I can't wait to see it finished!

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