cosmicpluto knits!

I love yarn

Because it’s sooooo pretty!

Merino Fingering from local dyer Viola, in Sea Storm:

Sliver Moon Farm merino fingering in Smoky Plum:

Colinette Jitterbug in Oyster Blush:

I’m madly in love with all these yarns at the moment. Good thing they don’t expect me to be faithful!

upcoming classes and appearances

I’ve just updated my Classes and Appearances page to reflect all my upcoming events for this spring and summer! Along with classes at lettuce knit, I also have the opportunity to teach at Knit Camp 2010 in Stirling, Scotland this August!

My classes:

SPINNING WITH A WHEEL
This class is for people who have spun a little and want to expand their horizons. Some experience with a wheel or spindle is necessary – you should have some idea of how to spin a single. Learn some new tricks and techniques, including different drafting and plying techniques, mixing different fibres and different colours, and how to spin with control. You will have a variety of different fibres to play with, including some that you may have used before (e.g. merino) and some more unusual fibres (e.g. Bamboo). Laura will talk to you about how to incorporate your newly-spun yarn into different designs.

When: Tuesday, 9.30 – 5.00
Level: Advanced beginner plus
Class Skills: Need some basic spinning experience
Cost: £78 (includes fibre)
Class Length: 6 hours
Bring with you:
Your wheel, if you have one. Wheels can be hired at the cost of £10 for the day.
Notepad and pen

DESIGN YOUR OWN KNEE SOCKS
Venture into the world of design by working up your own custom knee sock pattern from the toe up. We’ll swatch, measure and calculate and you’ll come away with your very own custom pattern. Different toe and heel constructions, as well as incorporating interesting stitch patterns, will also be discussed.

When: Wednesday, 9.30 – 12.30
Level: Intermediate
Class Skills: Experience of knitting socks, comfortable with all knit stitches and a desire to start designing
Cost: £40
Class Length: 3 hours
Bring with you:
fingering weight yarn, appropriate sock-sized needles (2mm – 3mm, US 0-2), notepad, pen, calculator

TWO HANDED COLOURWORK
Stranded colourwork is lots of fun, but easier to manage if you learn to knit with both hands! A simple colourwork hat pattern will be provided to learn this simple technique.

When: Thursday, 9.30 – 12.30
Level: Advanced beginner plus
Class Skills: Comfortable with basic knit stitches
Cost: £39
Class Length: 3 hours
Bring with you:
3.75mm (US 5) double pointed needles, notepad and pen

INTRO TO DROP SPINDLING
For people who have never spun before but are keen to learn! Spinning your own yarns is loads of fun and the ultimate in sheep-to-sweater production. Learn how to spin singles, ply, and finish your yarns, as well as some fibre production methods.
When: Thursday, 2.00 – 5.00
Level: Beginner plus
Class Skills: None required
Cost: £39 (materials provided in class cost)
Class Length: 3 hours
Homework: None

You can sign up on the Knit Camp website. Hope to see you there!

FO: top down sweatercoat

I was re-sewing the buttons onto this sweater when I realized I hadn’t blogged this one either! I finished this one a long time ago, sewed the buttons on rather shoddily (necessitating re-sewing them on!) and wore it a few times before we hit a warm spell. Judging by the weather today though, I might get a few more wears out of it!

(Sorry for the crappy lighting – taken at night!)

Top Down Sweatercoat
Pattern: my own design; hopefully forthcoming in the fall!
Needles: 8mm
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers in 2 colours, held doubled; 8 skeins total

This one is top-down, circular yoked. It went surprisingly fast considering the length, but the bulky gauge made for quick knitting! The front bands are short-rowed so that they’re wider in the skirt portion of the coat.

A better idea of the actual colour:

It’s raining and cool again today, so maybe I’ll wear it out! I need to get to Ikea to buy a new desk chair Any recommendations?

Other new knits on and off the needles…

Socks that Rock Mediumweight in “rose quartz”.

And I’ve got a new mini shawl pattern in the works!

Mmmmm, deep blue Handmaiden Casbah.

frolicking

Saturday was the Downtown Knit Collective’s Knitters Frolic – an annual event that always has me clutching my wallet! This year I drove down (which is an accomplishment if you know me! I hardly ever drive) and worked with megan at our lettuce knit booth.

We actually had a double-booth space because the people next to us cancelled. We had a great time! We had lots of Dream in Color Classy on display along with a great February Lady that Kate knit for us.

We also had lots of Socks that Rock, Malabrigo (and my Ruffles pattern), Dream in Color Smooshy, and the hit of the day – these awesome baskets from Reisenthal!

Once a couple people bought them, they told us that everyone was asking where they came from! We ended up selling out completely – awesome. I didn’t even get one; I’ll have to wait for the next shipment.

Part of what’s so fun about the Frolic for me is seeing so many people I know all in one place! It was super busy first thing in the morning – I guess everyone wanted to get there bright and early. For atmosphere, the view in one direction from our booth. If you’ve never been, this is just one small area – there’s quite a few vendors.

Of course, I did get a bit of a chance to shop once it quieted down a bit. I’m saving my fibre-buying for MDSW (which is next weekend! how did that happen so fast?) but I had a bit of a falling down at the Tanis Fiber Arts booth. I bought a sweater’s worth of the aran weight in “midnight”.

I also picked up a couple skeins of DK weight in “plum” and “sand”.

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

A copy of “Hands-On Rigid Heddle Weaving” and a couple balls of Taiyo rounded things out. Okay, so these push the giant granny square slightly out of stashbusting territory, but in my defense, the Purple Purl had these on special! Should be enough for a couple more rounds of the granny square.

Very last thing was a couple of bobbins – Majacraft bobbins.

…I may have ended up with a new (to me) Majacraft wheel this weekend!

alpaca softness

Oy. The days, they swoop by, and I keep meaning to blog! I guess it’s been a pretty good start to the new year, with exciting happenings and parties and such. In the meanwhile, I’ve been continuing on a roll trying to get old projects off the needles.

This is a worsted-weight version of Charlotte’s Web, done in a super soft and cushy wool/alpaca blend that I bought at Rhinebeck 2006. I had wanted to buy enough for a sweater, but the vendor didn’t take credit cards and it was the end of the day – so I only had enough cash to buy 2 skeins – I think they were 250 yards each.

I think I’m going to give this one as a gift, so I’d better get to blocking it!

WIP roundup

Thanks so much for the great reception of the Rayne pattern! I’m working on the back photos, but it might take a few days…

In the meanwhile, I’m trying very hard to stay on track with stuff that I need to get done, but I must say that the urge to cast on something new is overwhelming – even though I did cast on something new just yesterday!

So, instead of actual progress, how about a current (as in, they still hold my interest) WIP roundup.

- Noro blanket. Xmas present. The panels are all done – they were certainly fast knitting! They’re shown on a double bed, so the blanket’s going to be pretty sizeable once I put the borders in. I’m going to crochet in some black alpaca between the panels and around the whole thing.

- Xmas presents #1, #2, and #3 – Well. #1 is started. Nothing else has been, but I’m hoping one of the other ones that I’ve been planning (a shawl) goes really fast. We’ll see – that’s one I want to cast on for right now!

- Treeline Stripe sweater – I love love love this sweater and really want it to be done so I can wear it! Alas, haven’t really done anything with it lately. The body is done to the underarm and one sleeve is done to the underarm.

- Drops A-line jacket – back and 1.5 fronts done. Quick knitting, but…

Everything’s being overshadowed by a secret project that needs to be done for the end of the month. Which is getting there, now that I’m feeling the crunch (even more) and really trying to knit faster.

Projects I’m tempted by? A cabled sweater based on one Alexis was wearing last week; the Gathered Pullover from the latest Interweave; colourwork mittens; some sort of new winter headgear.

So much to knit, so little time!