The last 4 or 5 days have been primarily about finishing off projects. ¬†Partly because it is a new year, but mostly because NYSW is coming up and I need to justify the purchases 😉
Thursday night at SnB, I finished the socks from the Into the Whirled that I apparently bought from Cris at the Clermont festival during the spring.  As a reminder, I spun it on the Victoria over the July 4th holiday.  I just loved working with it!
Full project details are here (Ravelry). ¬†This means I can buy more fiber from her 😉
Saturday, I spent the day with an old hobby that has gotten the short straw. ¬†Every now and again I really get the weaving bug. ¬†Well, I got it again. ¬†Nope, didn’t get the big floor loom out of storage, nor did I use the table top loom I bought last fall. ¬†I did get my Kromski Harp Rigid Heddle out of storage and used that. ¬†As a matter of full disclosure, I’ve placed an order for a 20″ Schacht Flip RH loop with stand that should be delivered tomorrow, but I couldn’t wait. ¬†We’ll also ignore the 16″ Ashford RH that I have still in the box. ¬†I have since sold the Kromski and am debating selling the Ashford. ¬†But I might keep it for the kids to use. ¬†We’ll see.
Anyway, I had picked up at MY from the 50% off shelf a couple of skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton. ¬†I know, Risa bought cotton. ¬† I still won’t knit with it, but weaving is a different story 😉 ¬† I warped up the Kromski using the 10 dent heddle with 160 ends approx 62″ each. ¬†That direct warping method is amazing. ¬†I had it fully dressed and ready to weave in an hour and a half. ¬†AMAZING! ¬†Even more amazing, I finished weaving by dinner time. ¬†I had a miscalculation somewhere and while I was aiming for two kitchen towels, I wound up with one 14.5″ x 25″ (plus fringe) and one that was quite a bit shorter at washcloth length. ¬†I ran it through the sewing machine on Sunday to zigzag the ends in place.
I’m pleased. ¬†Looking forward to the new loom to arrive so I can eat up some more yarn. ¬†I’m thinking this year’s teacher gifts will be woven scarf/shawls. ¬†I saw examples on Ravelry of gorgeous scarves woven from one skein of Noro Sock. ¬†I have a few of them skeins! ¬†Though I figure for teacher gifts that I was thinking a sock yarn that is soft and squooshy and kettle dyed. ¬†Tina, you have anything like that? 🙂
While I had the sewing machine out, I remembered the fair isle cardigan that has been moldering waiting for me to sew the steek.  So I pulled it out and finally did it.  After cleaning up the sewing area of lots of cut yarn (think fringe), I grabbed the button tin and picked out some lovelies for the sweater.  By dinner the bands had been knitted and the buttons sewed on.
I said I had been busy.  Full project details are here.
While I was busy finishing things, there was something else that needed finishing. ¬†Ballerina. ¬†Over the last couple of weeks I’d finished the last short row triangle for the front, picked up and knitted the front band. ¬†The only thing remaining was the white bands at the ends of the sleeves, sewing the arm and weaving in ends. ¬†By 1opm last night, I was done.
Now I have my choice of Rhinebeck sweater 😉 ¬†Project details are here.
This meant I had no active knitting projects. ¬†That just isn’t acceptable! 🙂 ¬†So today while trying to keep my mind off food, I pulled out the border leicester yarn. ¬†I spun this yarn on the Van Eaton wheel and plied a couple of weekends ago on the Womack. ¬†That was ALOT of plying. ¬†Two bumps of roving purchased last year at NYSW translated into 1500 yards of worsted weight yarn.
I pulled out my favorite book, A Fine Fleece, ¬†and cast on for Rhinebeck. ¬† It tickles me no end to be knitting a sweater named that with fiber I bought there. ¬†There’s an outside chance I could finish it FOR Rhinebeck. ¬†Now wouldn’t that be something!
Craft on!
9 responses so far ↓
1 Marcia // Sep 28, 2009 at 11:12 pm
MERCY! You HAVE been busy! I’m intrigued with the weaving….I have the 32″ Harp and just can’t force myself to warp it, but oh the yarn I could get rid of if I ever do! Hope to see that sweater at Rhinebeck!
2 Lea // Sep 29, 2009 at 12:58 am
I am so impressed. You have gotten into the groove I have been trying to slide into for months. Maybe it will rub off?
3 Laurie // Sep 29, 2009 at 7:07 am
I have full faith and confidence that you will finish Rhinebeck for Rhinebeck. (Although I ‘fess up to wanting to see Ballerina in person.)
4 Tina M. // Sep 29, 2009 at 7:33 am
Have I mentioned to you how much I love those socks? Rowwrr! Looks like you’ve been super busy as usual, but I expect nothing less from you. And yes, it would be fantastic to knit Rhinebeck yarn into Rhinebeck to wear at Rhinebeck. There’s that whole circle of life thing going on there. 😛
Why yes, I do have kettle dyed goodness in both masculine and feminine colors! It’s just leftovers for now, but once we know for sure we’re moving into the new house (eta 10/15) I’ll be placing a big order for yarn so that I can get new colors up on the shop. If you have special requests, let me know, and thanks for the link!
5 Ina // Sep 29, 2009 at 10:40 am
When does Ballerina make her debut? I wanna see her modeled.
6 misa // Sep 29, 2009 at 11:21 am
That is just a ridiculous amount of FOs, I hardly know where to comment. I’ll be at Rhinebeck too, I hope I get to meet you and perhaps you’ll be clad in Rhinebeck, no Ballerina, no Fair Isle Cardi….
7 Hillary // Sep 29, 2009 at 11:53 am
Whoa, you aren’t kidding about being busy. So impressive. I hope to see you in whichever sweater you’re wearing at Rhinebeck.
8 JessaLu // Oct 1, 2009 at 10:45 am
So…how far along are you on your Rhinebeck Sweatah?! ;op
Lovely FO’s – yay! to being done with Ballerina!
9 Kris // Oct 1, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Hmmm, work must have cooled off a little to make you so tremendously productive on the crafting front. Well done on all those FOs! I agree with the previous poster, I would love to see the Ballerina modeled!