cosmicpluto knits!

twelve more sleeps?!

Yikes, I didn’t realize it was SO close until I counted! Rhiiiiiiinebeck!

I’ve made pretty good progress on that second Rhinebeck sweater, though -

I’m past the yoke divide and I’m about halfway through the waist decreases. I’m pretty happy with how it’s turning out – the yarn is so pretty, and it knits up fast because it’s aran weight! The other one, well, it’s still quite a blob. We shall see how much knitting I get in the next 2 weeks…there’s so much else I have to do!

I’m also working on a pair of Rhinebeck socks, not for me but for my fella – they’re out of Dream in Color Classy, so they’ll be cozy and warm for wearing while hanging out at the house we’re renting.

They’re really, really long too. How long?

13″ from the top of the cuff to the bottom of the heel flap. It’s a good thing these are worsted weight, they’re still going pretty quickly! I might need to use a bit of a second skein of yarn though, because they’re so long.

Also! I’m having a destash sale to make room for Rhinebeck purchases, so if you’re in the market for some awesome yarn, take a look and email me at cosmicpluto at cosmicpluto dot com if you’re interested in taking anything off my hands.

more stash sale

I’m moving house! I was given notice a few weeks ago by my new landlords (they’re doing renovations, blah) and I managed to find a pretty awesome apartment pretty quickly – I’m moving August 1. So you know what that means?

Getting rid of stuff! Organizing! and Stash Sale!

Click through to see details – and stay tuned, because there might be more to come. Eeek, moving!

fluevogs need new homes!

A bit random for this knitting blog, but since I know some of you are sure to be as into shoes as I am, I’ve got a couple of pairs of Fluevogs that I’d love to see go to loving homes!

Soprano Katia in Teal/Olive, size 8 – these shoes are discontinued! Heel height is 3″. Gorgeous and comfortable with nice rubbery soles and sturdy stacked heel. Strap is elastic (doesn’t open). Worn only a couple of times. I actually LOVE these shoes but they’re too big SOLD!

Mini Zaza, in brown and green, size 7.5. Heel height 2.5″. Gorgeous and comfortable shoes with the signature Mini heel (hourglass shape) which is super sturdy! Sadly a touch too big for me. Worn only a couple of times, with an insole (so no wear inside the footbed). Excellent condition.SOLD!

If you’re interested drop me a line for prices (negotiable!) and any other info you might need!

destashing part 3: wearables

Last bit of destashing for just now – stuff that’s ready to wear!

Prices are in USD and include shipping to the US and Canada.

Peacock Squared Scarf

A light and fun woven scarf featuring super soft, high quality hand-dyed yarns. Turquoise with just a bit of fuchsia in narrow accent lines.

Plain weave using Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Ultra (100% superwash merino wool) and Blue moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock (100% superwash merino wool). This scarf is machine washable, but for best results hand wash, dry flat.

12 inches wide by 84 inches long, including 7 inch turquoise knotted fringe.

Was $95, now just $55 USD.

Milk and Cream Scarf – handwoven by me!
A light and fun woven scarf/wrap featuring Noro Silk Garden yarn.

Whites, creams and beiges shimmer in this wide wrap that scrunches up to wear as a scarf. This self-striping yarn produces subtle, skinny vertical stripes! Plain weave using Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn (40% Lamb’s Wool, 25% silk, 25% nylon, 10% kid mohair). Hand wash, dry flat for best results.

15 inches wide by 80 inches long, including a 6 inch knotted fringe.
was $105, now $75 USD.

Galli Tweed Scarf – A long silk tweed scarf featuring high-quality silk yarn.
Charcoal with multicoloured tweedy bits. Plain weave using Muench Sir Galli (100% silk tweed). Hand wash, dry flat for best results.

8 inches wide by 80 inches long, including 7 inch brown knotted fringe.
was $75, now $50 USD.

“Cotton Raglan” from Melissa Leapman’s “Cables Untangled”, knit from 8 skeins of O-Wool worsted merino. Worn once or twice, but I made it too big for me! I can’t bear to rip it out.

$85 USD, or make me an offer (I won’t be offended if you rip it out for the yarn or something).

Bust: 38 inches
Upper Arm: 14 inches
Length from Underarm: 14 inches

“Lace Nightie” from an old Interweave, knit out of Alchemy Silken Straw (100% silk). Not at all a nightie but a cute layering piece, more of a cami! (Sorry for the old photos – there’s a front view here.) Worn maybe once or twice.

The size is a little tricky, it measures 29 inches across the middle but it’s a halter. Shown on me, 36″ bust. I think it’ll fit from about 32-36 inch bust. $50 USD, or make me an offer!

Roundabout Tank from Knitting Nature. Knit from Nashua Natural Focus Ecologie Cotton. Worn once or twice. Would make a great vest in the fall! Bust is 34 inches. $40 USD or make me an offer!

destashing part 2: handspun

Prices are in USD and include shipping to the US and Canada.

Top Row:
L: Lilies. 80% merino, 20% silk; 140 yards, 110 g; bulky/chunky; $20 includes shipping
R: Bubblegum. 100% merino wool; 196 yards, 110 g; bulky; $20 includes shipping

Middle Row:
L: Local Alpaca. 100% Ontario alpaca (not super soft); 205 yards, 100g; worsted/variable; $16 includes shipping
R: Megan. 100% corriedale wool; 160 yards; worsted/chunky; $16 includes shipping

Bottom Row:
L: Cornsilk. 100% ingeo fiber from corn; 110 yards, 85g; worsted/variable; $15 includes shipping
R: Corriedale singles. 100% corriedale wool; 275 yards; worsted/variable; $14 includes shipping

Email me at cosmicpluto at cosmicpluto dot com!

I’ve started assessing and packing up some stuff – I’m planning on doing a slow move, with most of the important stuff (yarn) in plastic bins and some baskets. I’ve got the spinning stuff down to a single bin plus the wheels, fabric is all in one bin as well (plus the serger). Yarn? That’s more than one bin! Um, way more. But I’ve packed up pretty much all the loose skeins now so all of it can really just be put in the car and moved.

And I’ve been knitting a bit, but not much – this little cardigan needs just about an inch of sleeve ribbing. Sheesh! I love the smocked ribbing around the body.

now featuring sock yarn

As I went through my sock yarn bin, I realized that I don’t have as much sock yarn now as I used to – at least, not in sock quantities! I’ve been stashing a lot more sock yarn in sweater quantities, as it turns out! Lots of sock yarn being used to make scarves, too.

Nevertheless, I did dig up some that I’m just not in love with anymore – time to move on.

More info on Flickr and Ravelry.

It’s not allll re-organizing around here, I have been doing just a wee bit of knitting – man, I just don’t know where the time goes, but I don’t think I’ve been using it very effectively.

My grandfather’s vest has been getting a little time in, but it still just looks like a blob:

I need to seam the shoulders and do the button and armhole bands and then I’ll be done! That’s on tap for today – I hope.

And because I can never leave well enough alone with the on-the-needles list, I started something for myself, too. I’m bypassing a lot of winter this year by going on my trip – that’s prime knitting season! So I thought I’d try to get at least one more sweater in before I go. It’ll be my trip sweater, to be worn basically every day anywhere it’s cooler (Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Edinburgh).

It’s another Lucy sweater (it’s been over two years since I released that pattern? crikey), a bit bigger this time, and will be longer too. I’m thinking of re-releasing a new version of the pattern with a couple bigger sizes and a new layout, but I’m not sure – I certainly wouldn’t be able to get to it before my trip, but maybe during it.

I’m using Dream in Color Classy in Black Parade. I love this yarn (I’ve got 2 sweaters out of it!) but this colour is rubbing off on my hands all over the place, and that sucks. I can’t decide whether I should try setting the dye on the other skeins before I knit with them, or just on the whole thing once it’s done. The second option will leave me with black fingertips a lot, though. Hmmmm.