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Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Yarn Along - The Iknitarod Is Underway



Gotta love an Amelia and Kate photobomb :-).


So I'm one ball into the Stories From Snoqualmie Valley/Equinox Farm shawl.  At this point I'm almost to the end of the fourth repeat.  I thought about trying to do the math to see if that seems about right, but that's a whole 'nother hole to drop into, so I'm just going to "knit on with confidence".

Here's an interesting technique you can use with wool yarn.  Most knitters are familiar with the "spit splice", but for anyone following along that doesn't know what that is, it's an invisible way to join two pieces of (wool) yarn together.  

You can do this on any project, but it's most handy for lace (knitting with holes in it) where it would be hard to weave in (secure and hide) the loose ends of the two strands.  

Disclaimer:  This is the redneck method that I use.  There is probably a more correct way to do this ;-).


I like to untwist the ends of both yarns, but I don't think you have to do that.  One of these ends has a thick spot due to inconsistent spinning.  Normally I'd move up the strand to find a thinner spot, but I got carried away by picture taking...


To try to keep the doubled/joined yarn pretty similar to the individual yarns I just pulled that thick fuzzy end off.  Now, instead of four loose ends there are only three.  That will be fine.


Next you take the two ends and stick them in your mouth to soak them with...spit.  Bet you didn't think you'd be reading that today, eh?  ;-D


You then roll the spitty spot back and forth between your hands and it felts together and you are ready to knit on.  Wool rocks :-).

Some scenes from the trail:


I originally set up on the Grahaminator, but it was pretty breezy so I moved down to the yard.


Sitting under one of me and Liddy's favorite knitting trees (the grammar here is killing me - my and Liddy's?).  I wish she was sitting there all curled up next to me, chewing on my needles.  I could see her out in the field though.  The next best thing.  Or, as Farside posted in comments, why not let her out in the yard with me?  Duh...  

I think it's important to get babies out on the grass as much as possible so they have as normal a life as they can ;-).

I am 8 rows shy of finishing two repeats today.  I am super tired and bleary, but I think I can do it. I'm going to do the night check and walk the dogs and hopefully that will wake me up a little.  It's a mental game at this point.  Those eight rows could wait until morning...but I'll feel better knowing I did it and it feels a little like the real Iditarod.

I listened to a good book while I was spinning last week, but I can't think of the title right now.  

If you are looking for interesting information and updates about the Iditarod, Alaskan Public Radio has a podcast called Iditapod and it's really good.  I'll try to come back in the morning and insert a link. I tried to find a computer link to the Iditapod, but am challenged.  I found it going to podcasts on my iPhone...

Yaaaaaawn :-o  Still yawning.  I did finish the 8 rows...and it feels like it :-o.

9 comments:

Alice said...

You are spit spot on when in comes to splicing yarn together!! So happy to see Amelia and Kate keeping you company!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Great hint about the spit! :0 Perhaps you should have Liddy join you on the lawn one day. We had horrid wind and dirt and snow and now it is cold. It might be headed your way :(

Jo said...

See, I'm always motivated when I read your blog. I now learned to spit splice and I'm only 64. Yesterday I bought knitting needles to knit the Noro Worsted Wool Scarf you posted recently. I forgot the name of the wool so will have to go back! I love seeing your animals too...

sophy0075 said...

I love all your animals, but Amelia makes me laugh. Perhaps if she molts, you could insert one of her pretty orange feathers in a knitted cap. I think she would like that.

Mush on!

I need orange said...

Love your splice. :-) One of the things I love about wool is how cooperative and eager it is to help us make it into stuff. :-)

thecrazysheeplady said...

It is :-(. Glad we haven't sheared yet. Too hot earlier and going to be cold for the next 7 days...or so. Not sure why I didn't think to have Liddy come out in the yard with me. Duh. She'd love that.

Peacecat said...

I haven't been here for a time, but it's good to see your beautiful photos once again and read your delightful commentary. (Waving from Alaska, where it's currently 4 degrees)

karen said...

beautiful knitting and such a pretty day for photographing. That is one awesome splice :)

T.L. Merrybard said...

Sweet Liddy. She is my favorite. Re the grammar issue, my mum, a teacher, taught me that you use the word for yourself that would be the correct word if the other person wasn't there, so in this case since it would be, "My favorite knitting tree," then it would be "My and Liddy's favorite knitting tree," or if you want to be polite and defer to Liddy as more important, put, "Liddy's and my favorite knitting tree."

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