Thursday, October 7, 2010

Random Thursday...

I have not updated my blog for some time so today is RANDOM THURSDAY!  My husband has returned from Singapore so life has once again become busy (weird how when I am a single parent I am less busy - maybe it is because I let the kiddo's get away with murder).  So, while Clint was gone for 3 weeks some progress was made on a few projects.
Qiviut Fair Isle Softness (not the real name but...)
Here are the details!
Needles:  Size 4 Knit Picks Options
Yarn:  100% Qiviut from the Anchorage Museum - 
this yarn is not labeled in a way that I can tell you where to purchase it EXCEPT at the Anchorage Museum.  What I have been told is that the yarn is part of an educational project through UAF or it comes from Canada.  It is lace weight.  The green skein was 220 yards and I have a bunch left even though my dog kept eating it.  The purple skein is 110 yards and I have just a tiny smidgen of this left so I would plan for at least 110 yards of each color.
I will plan on doing a photo shoot while wearing this hat (someday).  The timing just has not been right.
Hand Dyed Silk Single Everglade Tam
This photo is blurry.  I apologize.  Again, photo shoots have been challenging...
Here are the details...
Pattern:  Everglades (via Ravelry)
Needles:  Size 6 Knit Picks Options
Yarn:  Hand Dyed Silk Single (company unknown)
After blocking the HECK out of this hat I wish I had added one repeat to make it a bit more slouchy.  I was really, really not sure what to do and decided to close up to quickly.  This hat fits more like and ummmm.... hat but it is still really cute and I think it wears nicely fitted to the scalp!
BIG FAT FAIL...
I purchased a wonderful skein of cashmere in Italy.  I blogged about it here.
I had a fantastic idea of using some of this cashmere for a woven scarf.  My husband really, really wants a woven scarf, so, plan put into action. I borrowed my friend Cathy's ridgid heddle loom.  It looked fun.  It sat and sat and sat because you know, this cashmere is special.  What if I make a total mess of it.  I have never weaved before...  Well, I got a bug, followed the instructions and got it all set up, PIECE OF CAKE.  Moving right along, I cut the ends, made my surgical knots, and started to weave.  Here in lies the problem.  I was making gauze.  Not at all what I wanted.  I needed something different.  So I took the project up the road to the local weaving wizard, Pamela of Far North Fibers.  The result of my visit is sad but good to know, after all, you don't want to spend a bunch of time doing something that you don't want.  We ended up un-warping the loom and bunching up all of those cut ends.  I guess I will have to figure out what pretty lace project this yarn was destined for.  Something with fringe would be nice since I have a bunch of cut ends.  They will knit up too but I will have lots and lots of ends to weave in.  Long story short, do a little more research BEFORE you begin a project.  There were some other options but we decided that the yarn itself is to loosely spun to weave with.  It will make a horrible mess with fuzz!
PRESENTS IN THE MAIL...
You know what I love.  When a package is in your mailbox and it is something that you didn't order for yourself.  Total surprise gifts from friends ROCK!  I had one week (2 weeks ago) that 2 GIFTS arrived in the mail.  I was also surprised with one thing that I did order and that week is what I call a fantastically fiberous week!
FIRST - FIBER
This fiber was sent to me by Gina Vincent.  I have actually never met Gina but we are fiber friends on facebook because she went to school with my hubby!  We happen to have fiber in common so we keep in touch and share projects that way!  How fun is this fiber.  Gina carded these up and thought I might enjoy spinning them.  
THANK YOU GINA!
SECOND - STORAGE...
My BFF Farrah sent me this CUTE Owl Knitting Bag.  I love, love, love it!  I am sure she used her super duper swapping powers to gift this to me since it came from the maker!  It is awesome and is big enough to fit a sweater project in!  REALLY!
THANK YOU FARRAH!
THIRD - INSPIRATION...
I am so excited to start knitting designs from this book.  I ordered it used off of amazon and by doing that I got a copy with a fantastic binding on the edge that allows the books to lay flat.  I became interested in this book because of a fellow bloggers knitting.  I can't wait to dig into it and pull a fantastic design.  I hope mine turns out as good as this one...
THANKS PAT FOR THE INSPIRATION!

5 comments:

  1. That's such a bummer about the cashmere!! Now you need to find something else to weave.

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  2. First - the qiviut hat is gorgeous! Nice work. :) Second - bummer about the weaving, but I am so impressed at how many fiber arts you tackle and Third - CAN'T wait to see some of those mittens! What is it about fall and mittens? I have such a mitten bug right now. :)

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  3. Oh no! Your beautiful cashmere! Good to know now instead of later though.........

    check out the Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf by Churchmouse....it would be a good project for this yarn......

    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/koigu-linen-stitch-scarf

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  4. Your new qiviut hat is gorgeous (that dog has good taste in yarn :-)
    Selbuvotter is full of inspiration - have fun!

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  5. I thought of a wonderful giveaway for your blog! Yes your quivut hat!! ok.. maybe not... :-(

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