cosmicpluto knits!

elbow grease

Currently washing fleece (finally…it’s been sitting in my basement, which I know is bad) and it’s actually quite satisfying. Perhaps because the first thing I did was to comb up a wee sliver from the bit I’d washed quite awhile ago, and it actually came out quite nice – great colour, fluffy, fairly soft (which I think will be helped by some eucalan for the final yarn).

I’ve now equipped myself with some BIG mesh bags (one fills the whole sink), a new plastic bowl and plastic basket. It’s taking a lot more than the 2-3 washes that the internets are telling me, but that’s okay. I just keep going until it’s clean. And that first soak…it’s pretty gross. I’ve done one big wash bag and am currently doing another (and I think it’ll be more efficient this time, for some reason). I miiiight do a third tonight. I’ve taken quite a chunk out of the fleece – I’d estimate after tonight’s three bags, maybe two more max.

Once it’s nice or at least tolerable outside, I’ll do all the combing outside – many bits falling out, it’s pretty gross. I know combing produces more waste but it’s so nice and fluffy! I’ll try carding some too, just to see. I’m okay at carding for colour blending, but I haven’t really done much else with it. Any tips? Words of wisdom? This is my first fleece!

Did I mention I’m trying to finish off a paper at the same time? I’m very close to done with it, just trying to see if I can fit in one more bit of argument. It’s not due till Wednesday, either, so I’m a bit ahead!

newly listed

I’ve finally updated my Etsy shop with new skeins. More to come soon. Take a look-see, wouldja?

vogue knitting cabled cardigan errata

I’ve been working on the Cabled Cardigan (#19) from Vogue’s fall 2006 issue, and while it’s going to be a great sweater there’ve been a few problems with the pattern. Somewhat minor ones, but still – irritating.

I’m making the smallest size, and for the sleeve it says to increase every 10th row 72 times. Obviously that’s a mistake! It should read inc every 10th row 6 times. The other sizes look fine.

The other problem I’ve had is with the right front. Up top is the left front, before I ripped it down to the ribbing (I’d made a mistake in the cables *and* forgot to start the neck shaping). It’s now done – quick knits rock! I started the right front yesterday during “heroes” (love that show). The chart for the right front has an error in row 13; the 5-st RC should be a 5-st LC to make it symmetrical to the left side.

I sent that first sleeve correction to Vogue when I encountered it (more than a few weeks ago) and they haven’t updated the errata. There’s also more corrections with the collar, here.

I could forgive a typo or two. But so many? Gah!

How about a happy spinning shot?

I’ve been working on new skeins and will have them up in the shop soon, probably tonight.

simple is enough

I’ve completed the body of the Rhinebeck handspun sweater up to the underarm.

Such a plain, oatmeal-coloured fabric is terribly satisfying.

I’m almost almost done a sleeve to the underarm (really just need like 3 more rounds, then it’s onto a holder so I can knit the second one at SnB tomorrow) so it’s going pretty quickly. I still need to make my charts for the yoke though.

Proof that it happens to everyone -

Oopsie.

yaaaarn

Saturday was the KW Knitters’ Fair and it rocked. I haven’t bought yarn in awhile (the thing was no yarn/fibre till KW, then no yarn till Rhinebeck) so it was really….satisfying? Hm.

Anyway, I went with KnittyAmy, Diane, and Tamarah, absolutely wonderful yarn-fest companions. Amy’s talk went great, I think. Not too much traffic (more coming back), pho (although no veggie pho for me! had to settle for the same ol’ tofu and veg) and yarn = one good time, and four sleepy gals.

The haul…

From left:
Claudia Handpainted from Pickupsticks, a new online yarn shop specializing in handdyed, handspun and otherwise unique yarns, and run by my pal Connie.
Worsted Polwarth and fingering weight Polwarth/Silk from Rovings (sooo yummy)
Briggs and Little – the blue is Regal, the burgundy is Heritage. How do you say no to $3/skein?!

Yes, there are multiples of each of these. Well, not the Polwarth/Silk, actually – there’s enough yardage in there for a good sized shawl.

I also got a wee bit o’ fibre:

Three balls of superwash merino and a couple of batts (loooove ‘em) from Laurie at The Black Lamb in Port Hope. I really got to get out there sometime. I also got a bag of pin-drafted grey alpaca, which is soo very soft.

Car knitting was the plain black alpaca pullover – I’m just about to the sleeve/body division now.

All in all, one very satisfying day. And drinks with the wonderful Sophie at the Rosewater afterward, although I don’t have any photos of that (where’s the photos, Soph?). I actually felt a wee bit of the overwhelm-sion at the show, though – I can’t even image how Rhinebeck will be. At least we’ll have a bit longer to check things out! I can’t wait!

tales of interest

1. I am so busy I don’t think I have ever been this busy in my life.

2. I bought a nice big planner. See #1. I’m making it bend to my will (be the way I want it) by printing out calendars for month at a glance (which it didn’t have) and putting an elastic on it like on my trusty Moleskine.

3. I have been unpacking loads of new yarns at the store. Some of it made easier by my new workmate, Denny!

4. I am so glad that so many of you are interested in the Lucy pattern. I really hope they turn out for everyone! I’m going to be knitting another one soon.

5. I have a pile of commissioned stuff to do, including a garment (wrappy shrug thing that I’m actually terrified will turn out badly and no one will want to hire me ever again) and this:

It’s on its way to becoming a BUNNY RABBIT. Git yer minds outta da gutter.

6. I lost a Bryspun dpn sometime (maybe a week or two ago), somewhere (either at the store or home…I think). Jen, thanks for the dpn-losing mojo, now where’s the finding-it mojo?

7. I have barely knit for myself in the last week. However:

8. The cabled cardi for the store is almost, almost done – just need to bind off tomorrow, and hopefully take photos for the pattern, which will hopefully be ready by next week sometime.

9. The Blueberry Greek Pullover is nearly complete. I sewed the pieces together and fit is PERFECT. Seriously. The neckline’s a bit too open though. I crocheted around it, as per the pattern, but I might do another round to stabilize it. Just need to finish the side vent edges and block and it’ll be a done deal.

10. VBC. Thanks for all your great suggestions on the whole buttonhole thing. I’m definitely going to reinforce the buttonholes, but it seems like such a tedious, careful little task that I’m just really prepared to do right now! Maybe Denny will do it next week in exchange for strongbow?

11. Yarn. I’ve made some, although that was more last week than this one.

Cirque – a merino single, all the colours of the rainbow.

Nightshade: a super soft merino single (success!), mainly charcoal with pops of bright violet! I looooove it!

12. I have some crazy scheme about spinning and knitting a sweater for Rhinebeck. Yeah.

13. School starts on Tuesday. This term I’m taking Evolution, Speech Disorders, Language Diversity, and Conserving Canada’s Forests.

14. I am feeling a wee bit insane.

That is all.