Clothing The New Textile Thread (or What to Wear and How to make it when TSHTF)

[Melodi]

My hands were finally OK today enough to knit and I got a lot done on the heavy socks; I will probably finish them off tomorrow during the SCA meeting - I am about half way down the foot and I'll put some extra yarn in, in case I need to start something else.

It is just a meeting though, not our usual meeting/event (because we have a full event next week) I'm supposed to do a textile corner for that but I got word our kitchen re-do starts Monday the 18th so I'm probably going to have to say "I'll see what if anything I can bring" as reclearing the kitchen outcomes first.

They could do the stove/chimney at the same time but both work crews don't want to be in the same place so the kitchen is fitted first then the stove; if there is a delay getting the plumbing or electrics sorted (they could be, all the professionals are in Dublin all the time with the massive jobs at the children's hospital there) at least I'll have the stove in the drawing room and maybe the one in the kitchen when that is sorted.

It felt really good to get some knitting done, I always feel like such a slug when the Winter cold is bad and my fibro and joints act up and keep me pretty much on the sofa, my husband was even doing the cooking. He likes to cook but usually, I do the everyday stuff
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We are having wild windstorms right now (normal for this time of year even if they named the thing Eric, they never used to name these) but the temperature is back into the upper 40's and low 50's which makes a huge difference in the house.

If you can't match the dye lot on the gansey, in my experience changing the top of the sweater around the armhole is a good place to start - either that or make the arms a different color with cuffs the same color as the body of the sweater if you can.

I know traditional ganseys don't have color work but cable patterns can take one color change and still have it look like "I meant to do that" I've had a number of those experiences myself.

 

[Faroe]

Two new books. I'm still waiting for Women's Work to arrive, but Sabine Dominik's Cables, Diamonds, Herringbone on ganseys did arrive, and also Twisted Stitch Knitting by Maria Erlbacher (English compilation of the three original German (?) texts.

Based on a cursory read, I MUCH prefer BB Reinsel's older edition for instructions, but the Dominik book does shine for beautiful stitch motifs, esp. with a page on Eriksay and the lacier insets. (Gladys Thompson does only a photo on a sweater from the Hebrides, and it isn't a particularly attractive example) Glad I purchased this one.

IMHO, any knitter who doesn't have the Erlbacher Twisted-Stitch book is missing out. I had NO idea. Amazing.

 

[Melodi]

I will look into that book, though mostly I do color work I like to do other things sometimes for a change.

I got the foot of the socks nearly done at the meeting, I probably have two inches to go before I start the toe; I stopped knitting when my yarn started to run out and before I have to add a bit of extra yarn to finish them off.

My handyman is staying here for a few days/weeks until he sorts his living situation out so I may return to the 54-inch sweater next (and start a hat or socks to have as a small project to carry around).

I also have to get together some textile stuff for next weekend; people will also try to bring projects so it won't just be on me because with the kitchen renovations starting on Monday the 18th I can't focus on it.

Two people are bringing raw fleeces and just given them to me, if I can find my carding combs and/or tease some of the wool out (depending on what shape the fleeces are in) I can at least demo HOW to spin a bit even if the stuff isn't useful for newbie spinners.

Then I can put it away until the kitchen project is sorted and start washing fleece out probably next month and start spinning again.

A lot of farmers here give away dark fleeces because the wool board won't buy them and the sheep have to be shorn for animal welfare reasons but you never know what shape the fleeces will be in - they tend not to be "skirted" (have the poopy bits and ragged belly stuff cut off) and sometimes have too many sticks and rocks in them to spin raw but other times they are fine.

The local meat sheep wool tends to make great warm but rough sweaters, lined hats (with something else) but isn't so great for scarves or other things you want next to your skin.

 

[Faroe]

My color work is limited to pairing a light grey with a darker grey. I got brave with the Icelandic shawl, and went with a combo of cream, tan, and brown.

Mostly, it's because I'm just picky. I love Fair Isle in the natural sheep shades, but don't care for most of the dyed harsh colors of the tradition that went into 1950's sweaters (One of the reasons I'm not coveting that new book on Vintage Shetland, even though there IS a hat in there I like - Andrea of FruityKnitting knitted it.), and I really don't care for the jewel tone Fair Isle (spell?? all possible versions look wrong) that came out around the '90's. Looks dated to me.

I esp. like texture in knitting when it reminds me of fine quilting - since the final effect of the quilting generally interests me more than the original patchwork.

Anyway, am 17" up from the cast on, and based on the tape measure, that was the time to split the front and back, and the gussets are a good width, so I started the first row of flat knitting on the back half last night. Big milestone.

It's a shame fleeces are going to waste. I like working with them, but I can knit a sweater in less time than it takes me to spin enough wool for one! I've heard of people using the wool for house insulation.

 

[Melodi]

I love color work and I can make almost any type of color tone group "work" but I very much dislike the modern "screaming" neon dyes of the 1970's era (still popular today in some places) - the exception is sometimes for making "wilder" baby clothing or blankies for neo-hippy Moms; little kids can look cute in just about anything.

But other than that even in strong colors like reds, blues, greens and purples I prefer the more "natural dye" shades; even though I know from experience there actually are a few "natural" dyes that will send you screaming for the tye dye vat (weld make neon electric green; madder can produce shocking pink on occasion and some lichens even more vivid stuff) I still like "heather" yarns with a multiple of colors blended together when I have a choice.

I like to work Scandinavian patterns and Fair Isle; partly because they are really so very easy to do and yet look so complicated - I tend to do more Scandinavian (not changing background colors mid design) for most things and I try to follow the Elizabeth Zimmerman "no more than five stitches" between color changes though I break that for large designs and just twist my yarns in the back.

I'll look at the Vintage Shetland look - I can ignore color combos I'm not going to use - I had to do that when I had my tablet weaving business 10 years ago; back then almost all the books were used on e-bay from the 1970s and had the most hideous combinations of lurid pinks, sick greens, blasting blues and psychedelic purples you can imagine - often I was thankful when the actual patterns were in black and white.

I like some of the 90's stuff because I like jewel tones but my favorite patterns are mostly basic folk patterns (or their modern versions like seamless yoke sweaters) that I can decorate any way I want.

I have pretty much stopped subscribing to knitting magazines because almost everything (with a few exceptions) seems aimed at "trendy" or "edgy" knitting - which is great in terms of getting a new generation a hobby they can be used in the year 2080 as great-grandparents but bare midriffs with diagonals going sideways hold no interest for me.

If I want "different" I'd rather have a gathered waist or collar; kind of peasant looking variation on the usual knitting theme.

Anyway, socks are almost done - I had to take another break to give my hands a rest but I'm within a half inch of those toes.

At least by knitting two at once they get done at the same time; I really hate having to go back and knit another sock though with complex patterns it is a good idea (color work that is).

You sweater sounds like it is looking great I hope you can get a picture of it when it is done.

 

[Melodi]

dup post

 

[Faroe]

I love traditional Norwegian sweaters. Two colors, I can handle - dark blue and off-white, nearly black and off-white, or a nice grey and off-white. A new book is coming, Traditional Scandinavian Knitting, by Shelia McGregor. Of course, now I want her Fair Isle book, too. Maybe twenty more knitting books, and I won't need any more...

BF is leaving in nine days for almost three weeks, so I hope to have the shoulders joined before he goes. I'd like to have a better idea if it is going to fit, before starting the sleeves.

 

[Melodi]

I just packed Traditional Scandinavian Knitting patterns into my basket for tomorrow's SCA event where I will have a corner with a few knitting supplies and a couple of books - I also have Knitted in the Nordic Tradition and as nearly always Knitting Without Tears.

The Nordic book has pictures of some of the High Middle Ages knitting "Madonnas" as well as some fairly old pieces (slightly out of SCA period at 1600 cut off but close to what people were making in Tudor times).

I have used both the Scandinavian Knitting and the Fair Isle books as my "go too" for decades now, if you can only afford two pattern books these are the ones to get; and a lot of the patterns are almost interchangeable (makes sense as parts of what are now Scotland were part of Denmark for a long time).

If you want Fair Isle you just change background colors mid design and if you want Scandinavian style you usually don't.

Husband and I hit an amazing wool yarn sale at a shop that usually only has acrylic; it is slightly larger than most sock yarn but not quite sports weight either.

Last night I tried to cast on socks and got a mess (happens occasionally) and decided to just cut them off and start over (it was really a mess) I am about to try again today; I think last night I was just "over-tired" as they say here on this side of the water.

I really want to them to work on tomorrow - and if I can't get the long circulars to work I will just use double pointed needles but I prefer knitting two socks at once and I'm not sure I have two sets of double points the right size but I'll look.

I can't find my carding combs anywhere and my niddy noddie is in a stack of things my handyman brought up from clearing the kitchen so I may not take it - the joy and fun of remolding and not being able to find or in this case reach things lol!

 

[Melodi]

Finally a picture of the white and grey socks I finished last week (heavy socks) they were low on entries to the "Arts and Sciences" competition at our local SCA (Middle Ages/pre 1600) club event so I added them in so there would be three entries the picture also shows me knitting a sock.

You can really see it but the sock is laying on the pages about knitting in the Middle Ages from the Knitting in the Nordic Traditions book.

My sock entry didn't win (no surprise) but I was shocked that my last minute "honey what do I do with a bunch of organic carrots about to go off and I need a simple contest entry, what do I do" Andalusian (Moorish Spain) Sweet and Sour Carrots from the 14th century not only won but they want the dish itself to be the cover photo for the upcoming "Baronial Cookbook" - but I will be remaking it for another photo.

No one wants a photo for the cover of a Middle Ages/SCA cookbook showing the main dish in an aluminum foil pan because everything I own (almost) is packed away and the kitchen installers didn't call until last night to say there was a least a week's delay so we could have left somethings unpacked until after the event.

But the recipe is so simple (and so very good) I'm looking forward to not only making it again but of putting some away in the freezer.

The internet (where the husband found the recipe) can be a wonderful thing!

Sock pic

Other textile work (older) I did the trim (tablet weaving/Inkle Weaving) on the hats, the belt is pick up work and the shawl under everything was done on a floor loom.

The Award Winning Carrots but this will NOT be the photo on the cookbook cover lol

 

[Faroe]

The socks look warm, and sounds like a fun day. I like that pic of you with the carrot dish. Maybe someone could photo-shop out the foil?

That Viking clothing book is in my shopping cart, but it'll have to wait - Feb. fun money is spent.

 

[Melodi]

That Viking Clothing book isn't my favorite (I have one but those are my housemate's book stash - give me a couple of days and I try to get some other recommendations - the book is good but the male author has some ideas that make me very frustrated because he gives them as fact; like suggesting that most Norse men had short hair because some did - and he obviously like it.

Ditto the open vs. closed apron dress theory I suspect it varies by location and time period.

I think about the photoshop or I'm going to check to see if they want just the dish (new picture) or SCA cover (then the foil is fine Creative Anachronism).

 

[Faroe]

That Viking Clothing book isn't my favorite (I have one but those are my housemate's book stash - give me a couple of days and I try to get some other recommendations - the book is good but the male author has some ideas that make me very frustrated because he gives them as fact; like suggesting that most Norse men had short hair because some did - and he obviously like it.

Ditto the open vs. closed apron dress theory I suspect it varies by location and time period.

I think about the photoshop or I'm going to check to see if they want just the dish (new picture) or SCA cover (then the foil is fine Creative Anachronism).

The 20,000 years of textiles book discusses the front and back apron to closed apron development. That's about where I am now in the book, so don't know what her final conclusions will be. I did like the fringe skirt explanation she had earlier. Didn't know that trousers were invented for hose back riding. Makes sense.

Seems to me that fasteners (pins and clasps - basically jewelry) are essential to the discussion - maybe they come up later in the book. I want a turtle broach (yeah, you are supposed to have two, but I'd probably just use one to close a Nordic style sweater.) Etsy has a lot of reproduction viking ornaments, and I recently purchased one from a Czech jeweler. Not completely sure that it is sterling, as advertised, although it is stamped 925. Some back and forth over e-mail... I finally took an emery board to the back side, and no copper or other metal is showing through. My only conclusion is that they put an odd clear coating on the piece to keep it from tarnishing???. The scraped area does look like silver. I'll ask my local rock shop guy for his professional opinion. The site has many gorgeous pieces, and I was planning to eventually order a few other items.

Are you familiar with this book? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8779342981/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Medieval Garments Reconstructed, Nordtorp-Madson, et al.
Thanks.

 

[Melodi]

Housemate owns that book, it is fantastic but more of a historical work than a how-to; really cool to study but a tad pricy (I think housemate got her copy used in the SCA).

I LOVE 20,000 years of Textiles but when it was written they had yet to discover ANY Norse over-dresses/apron dresses - now they have a good chunk of one (and proved that the Norse could do pretty serious tailoring).

Another has come to light with both trim across the front and gathering (not the entire piece but enough to know what the top looks like and it is gathered - the other one is not).

There have been bits and pieces of others were found and/or recognized when going through older collections in museum basements and the like.

So while I think Women's work the first 20,000 years and her "must have" Academic work on "Prehistoric Textiles" (must have if you want to get into early textiles in depth) it is over 20 years old now and especially with Norse women's clothing things are changing fast.

In fact, when the book was written there were pretty much NO larger articles of clothing found for women at all (several men's graves with tunics, even full outfits but not anything like that for the ladies) - we have hints on what the clothing looked like from statues, pendants, one tapestry (with lots of stylized ladies in heavy and complexed pattern shawls and long dresses from about 800) a few rock carvings etc but Norse are if very stylized and can be hard to sort out what something really looked like.

Grave good studies have done a lot, but when 20,000 years was written it was all we had; mostly guesses based on pins, belts, bags and metal fastenings with bits of fabric still left unrotted on the back (but the garments pretty much have gone).

A number of the pendants have been discovered since the book was written (or tiny statues) that show some interesting drapes (including one that looks like an apron dress with a bottom cut across at a diagonal similar to a modern designer ball gown going from one knee down to the ankle on the other leg.

I think it would look stunning on a taller woman; I keep threatening to make one for myself anyway because they look so cool!

Of course, not everyone accepts it is an apron dress but that is what it looks like to me - again the art just isn't clear.

I need to make some new Norse garb anyway so I will be looking at some of the recent stuff pretty soon.

 

[Faroe]

Watched a Nature (?) video the other night about the Caucasion mummies found in the desert of China. Some were est. to be a few thousand years old, many had clothing, but unfortunately, the narrative didn't comment much on that. The best was a description of a twill woven woolen tartan-like plaid. Don't remember the est. age of the mummy wearing that fabric. IIRC, another was, a woman with a long blonde braid was dressed in a bright red robe. (I really need to watch the whole thing again, and take some notes.) The level of preservation of several of these bodies and their clothing was amazing.

It seems to me, once a culture figures out fiber prep, spinning, and weaving - the rest follows fairly quickly.

 

[Melodi]

Watched a Nature (?) video the other night about the Caucasion mummies found in the desert of China. Some were est. to be a few thousand years old, many had clothing, but unfortunately, the narrative didn't comment much on that. The best was a description of a twill woven woolen tartan-like plaid. Don't remember the est. age of the mummy wearing that fabric. IIRC, another was, a woman with a long blonde braid was dressed in a bright red robe. (I really need to watch the whole thing again, and take some notes.) The level of preservation of several of these bodies and their clothing was amazing.

It seems to me, once a culture figures out fiber prep, spinning, and weaving - the rest follows fairly quickly.

The Same author wrote: The Mummies of Umachi - I have the book and it is fantastic! Again about 18 years old bit worth the read and the pictures are amazing!

 

[Faroe]

The Same author wrote: The Mummies of Umachi - I have the book and it is fantastic! Again about 18 years old bit worth the read and the pictures are amazing!

Umachi mummies was available for 7 bucks +/-..something like that. Ordered yesterday with two nearly new Ann Budd knitting books.

I am still on the back panel, but only 1/2 inch to go. I'll get a LOT more knitting done over the next couple of weeks - BF is leaving for OZ, staying with some internet friends, and meeting with a native shaman. No more constant interruptions. Hope to have the sweater finished when he returns. By then, I'll be ready to make something for myself. It is also much easier to knit w/o earbuds and the cord tethered to the computer - very aggravating. When alone, I can unplug, of course and turn up the volume.

If Ben Davidson of Suspicious Observers is correct, our world could go dark within a few years. (I posted the link today in Von kohler's thread). I want to have at least the knitting covered. A loom, a spinning wheel, and more books on both would be good too, but there may not be time. Anyway, that hour long interview was a night and day contrast to SGT's recent release - Flat Earth. I've listened to Shawn for years, and now this. SMH. Yahoos. I've had it with people.

 

[Faroe]

I have about 6" more of the front to knit, and then I can join the shoulders. I ordered three pair of fixed ChiaoGoo in US0 (2mm) to finish this. It is just easier to keep cables in, and work off them, rather than adding holders. Also, Amazon had numerous bad reviews for the Chiao's in the Mini sizes, so I thought fixed would be less problematic. I really like the Chiao cable...used to, that is. Part of the order came today, and the cable's clear coat is nicked in numerous places. It will snag the yarn. (The Hiya tips are perfect, but I don't care for their join to the nylon cable - it just isn't a good design.)

PISSED! The mfr. couldn't have dropped that needle pair in the Second's pile, they Just HAD to sell it??? It is getting harder and harder to find a decent needle. I'll probably try Sharon's shop on Etsy, Heirloom knitting. Fine Shetland lace knitters like her needles, but they are NOT cheap!

An Ann Budd book came too. When choosing used, I always order Very Good, or Good, and go with a vendor that gives a reasonable description. The book came with a torn and taped page, and one page that had been torn completely out, and re-taped out of order. WTH?

Hope you all are having a better day.

 

[Melodi]

Well, it has been an interesting week but the results are better - not a lot of knitting - I'm on the toe of the first sock and need to finish and start the second for the SCA day tomorrow.

Usually these days I knit two pair at once but these were started at the event (the one I'm knitting in the photo) on five wooden needles as one lady said on Facebook "as God intended" lol

I am sorry you are having so many needle problems that really is unfortunate, and I would complain if I bought a book listed in "good" condition that had a page torn out.

I did once get a copy of Recipies for a Small Planet that had a plastic ring binding (to make it easier to open) that had some loose pages but those bindings are not strong and the book was 40 years old - everything else was OK.

I'd complain and leave some bad feedback if the company doesn't respond with a refund or another copy of the book.

My kitchen turf/wood stove is now working! Thanks to my father-in-law stepping in and covering the costs of the chimney repairs so that was good - having so much dust in the house we will be cleaning it for weeks wasn't so wonderful but worth it in the long run.

My kitchen is total chaos and everything is in limbo until it is replaced, maybe next week?

I will be so glad when all this is over and I can start taking my house back a really major project for a number of reasons.

I have to keep reminding myself it took a number of years to get this way and it will probably take at least a year to sort it all but it still bugs me.

Still the next step is the kitchen (and we have heat, glorious heat and hot water yeah!)

 

[Faroe]

Well, it has been an interesting week but the results are better - not a lot of knitting - I'm on the toe of the first sock and need to finish and start the second for the SCA day tomorrow.

Usually these days I knit two pair at once but these were started at the event (the one I'm knitting in the photo) on five wooden needles as one lady said on Facebook "as God intended" lol

I am sorry you are having so many needle problems that really is unfortunate, and I would complain if I bought a book listed in "good" condition that had a page torn out.

I did once get a copy of Recipies for a Small Planet that had a plastic ring binding (to make it easier to open) that had some loose pages but those bindings are not strong and the book was 40 years old - everything else was OK.

I'd complain and leave some bad feedback if the company doesn't respond with a refund or another copy of the book.

My kitchen turf/wood stove is now working! Thanks to my father-in-law stepping in and covering the costs of the chimney repairs so that was good - having so much dust in the house we will be cleaning it for weeks wasn't so wonderful but worth it in the long run.

My kitchen is total chaos and everything is in limbo until it is replaced, maybe next week?

I will be so glad when all this is over and I can start taking my house back a really major project for a number of reasons.

I have to keep reminding myself it took a number of years to get this way and it will probably take at least a year to sort it all but it still bugs me.

Still the next step is the kitchen (and we have heat, glorious heat and hot water yeah!)

Glad you have the heat fixed. Just in time for Spring! Well, I'm sure it is still chilly there. We had basically no winter, and yesterday I was knitting out side... and the heat/intense sun drove me back in the house. Yeah, it's February! Gah. I don't care for Summer in the South West. We'll be moving in May, and I still can't figure out the logistics of getting all the animals over and safely stowed there, and keeping the rabbits cool. It is going to be a mess, and I expect BF to drag the whole thing out indefinitely (we approach things VERY differently).. I don't know, I might have to bail. I am not going to spending another summer in this drug/crime infested Shit Hole of a town. (anyway, a bunch of personal crap that no one needs to hear, and should't be on a public forum.)

I miss straight needles, but the circs. can be more convenient, at least when they are properly made. The modern long DPN's I have are not rigid enough in size 1.5, never mind 0 at 2mm, and won't support the strain and weight of a larger gansey. I experienced that first hand when knitting the small gansey for BF's grand daughter. A modern 14" needle supported in knitting belt at the back end, and in your hand at the front, sags in the middle with most of a sweater hanging off it. As far as I can tell, almost all modern needles are hollow. I'll order some long solid steel DPN's from Frangipani in a few months. I want them more to have as a few permanent sets, rather than needles to knit with now. I don't expect cable needles to last indefinitely.

I'll probably knit a pair of fun Nordic mittens (on short wooden DPN's ) once this sweater is finished - just to relax a bit.

Enjoy your stove, and have fun fixing up the kitchen.

 

[Melodi]

The matching sock is nearly done; I'm partway through the foot; my housemate and I pretty much bagged up what was left of the 100 percent superwash wool sale - I put the last bit on layaway for next week; she agreed we would both have about 3 years of hats, socks, mittens etc out of it and she just got paid.

I just wish I'd gotten more of the natural/white when it was first in, but honestly that is the easiest color to order in a cone if we need it, I'd also love to get some yellow or gold to set off the reds, blues, greens and grey yarns we got but just on their own the effects are very Scandinavian.

In theory, all going well work on the kitchen really will start by mid-week; as soon as everything is in working I'll have the magic tap with constant hot water and I can start washing the fleece out that was given to me.

Since it is a year old from a breed that tends to felt (I don't know what it is by my friend warned me about that part) I'm going to start by washing bits by hand rather than my usual bits in bags on the wool cycle - I may try some that way just to see if it works but I suspect having the actual "boiling/lukewarm/cold" choice on the nifty sink will make doing it a tub a bit easier than it is now.

Pretty much you put the wool to soak in almost boiling water - don't touch it except to very gently move it a bit, let it sit a few hours; repeat a couple of times the last one without soap and then dry it.

I hope my carder is still working as hand carding is not my favorite tasks but we will see how things go when things get that far.

Meanwhile, I'm mostly sticking to knitting for this week.

 

[Melodi]

Socks from the new soft wool are done (15 inches of knee sock) and I don't have a photo because hubby loves them so much he's not taking them off. I warned him they won't last if he keeps wearing them without slippers but I suspect I just have to reconcile myself to knitting a lot of soft socks lol

That will be easier after the kitchen is finished and we get the knitting machines up and running; I mean I love knitting with this wool (and we got a lot of it on the sale table between me and my German housemate) but I think I will be doing some "quick socks" on the machines once I get used to them enough to do so.

Meanwhile I've started another pair (this time also on double pointed needles) I'm doing one sock at a time so I do the "fancy" patterns that Elizabeth Zimmerman designed to use for her leg warmers or "art socks" but I discovered years ago also work with a heal and toe; because the entire sock except for the very top has two colors in the fabric is a lot stronger.

I'm also experimenting because most of the socks I made years ago shrank in on themselves after a few months of wear (even washed by hand) so I'm making this first set large and one at a time; I can use it as an experiment and then decided on my final pattern in terms of stitch counts etc.

When I have that I can post it here with links to the pattern sources since a lot of people either have Knitting Around or the first edition of Homespun/Hand Knit that has variations of the actual patterns in them.

I did reinforce the toe and heal with polyester sewing thread on the pair he's busy destroying er..a.wearing so we will see how long those last.

That is a great trick for anyone knitting socks especially with pure wool (not a mixed sock yarn) or handspun wools and cotton that may not be as tight as commercial spun wool.

The kitchen really is on their calendar for Monday/Tuesday start and one of my first projects when it is all sorted it to start washing the wool in batches, I found out my housemate nicely ordered an electronic spinner for me as well as for herself when she downed a crowdfunding project.

That was really funny because when I was a young woman and first learning to spin in the 1980s I used to see adverts for those and think, "pretty useless unless you are old or something," and when my ankle went out a month ago I was already thinking "I guess I'm old now, an electronic spinner sounds wonderful!"

That's when my housemate told me not to bother with ordering one but to wait and see if the crowdfunding gets both of ours made up first.

I know the North West Coast ladies often use old sewing machines as electronic spinners but a dedicated spinner is probably going to be easier to use although I keep the sewing machine idea in mind for prepping (either treddle or electrical).

Anyway, that is the fiber update from here...

 

[Melodi]

Woops the patterns for the socks are in The Opinionated Knitter page 90 as well as in Homespun Handknit (which I can't get up for the page number because the forest cat on my lap would complain lol).

If you have made socks before you either just add feet (opinionated knitter) or a normal toe and heal - Homespun Handknit and presto a fancy sock that wears really well, as long as you continue both colors and the heal and toe (or use double yarn) and make it large enough to fit well but have some shrinkage and felting over time.

 

[Faroe]

Have fun with the wool. I always comb rather than card. Never got the hang of carding.

Haven't picked up my needles for over a week. Been too busy with the house and yard.

 

[Melodi]

Back to this thread after a very long, stressful and complicated couple of weeks...

First, the kitchen is almost done, the water is still an issue and we may have a leak in the yard (so no hot water yet at all except by boiling the kettle) but the majority of work is done.

I haven't done much of any knitting because just as the builders arrived last Tuesday my sister's partner sent me a message that my sister had died in her sleep and was found by their teenager daughter.

I didn't say anything on the main or community because we were not that close (I went off to college when she was four) and she had been ill for some time though the timing was a shock (she could live to be 80 or in fact pass away in her late 40s which is what happened).

I am not going out to California right now for a variety of reasons but there has still been a lot of distraction and paperwork etc.

But it has been a week now and we are getting back into the swing of things a bit; I've got the socks to work on as well as setting up the kitchen (I baked bread last night for the first time since it was installed) and I wanted to get back to posting and at least let the folks here in this room know what was happening.

Here is a photo of the new kitchen Island and I will try to take a photo of the socks in process sometime in the next day or two.

I also just got the final proofs of The Happy Barn Cat book (inspired by TB2K) so I'm busy going over that as well, I will post links when it can be pre-ordered for anyone interested.

 

[Faroe]

Your kitchen is looking beautiful! I've been planting and doing yard work for weeks, no knitting. Now, I probably can't for a while - one of the goats just about pulled my arm into two pieces this morning. It even hurts to type.

Sorry to hear about your sister. My older brother left for college when I was five, so I can relate to distant siblings.

 

[Melodi]

I am just starting to get back to seriously knitting now that the kitchen is pretty much operational; we still have an outside water leak to sort but as long as we don't use too much at once we can do most things (including bathe) which is a vast improvement.

So while I am getting back to doing other things, I realized I had never figure out a way to post the "Hippie Shawl" I made for the Halloween costume (and then it was too hot to wear it).

I am happy to report it kept me quite warm this Winter and I am very happy with it - the pattern was very easy and I've made previous ones in a homespun yarn which also turned out well.

The "grey" is actually a hether green.

Here it is (or most of it) in a photo on the back of a chair.

 

[Melodi]

Just stopping by to see if anyone is getting a chance to knit, spin, sew, quilt, etc in between all the gardening and other tasks that tend to take up this part of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway),

These days my husband does most of the gardening but the last few days have seen high winds and pelting rain so he's working on organizing the kitchen (and I'm letting him) and I've gotten some knitting down when my hands are not too cold.

That was in between getting the final edits on the Barn Cat book into the publisher last week.

I've somehow managed to get on a color-work theme, with a fair isle sweater going for my husband and some ski-type socks for me.

I'll probably need to start a third small something like a hat as a carry around Project that does not require a brain for meetings and the like but at the moment I am focusing on the sweater.

It was originally going to be an "easy" sweater but we couldn't find the grey yarn and by the time we did, my husband loved these patterns so I'll just keep going.

Here is the bottom of the sweater - this looks hard but is really very easy (my favorite sort of pattern)

 

[summerthyme]

Oh, how lovely! I really like the subtle colorwork...

I've been playing with oils, and elderberry, and colloidal silver.. even got my seeds started way too late, but that project ended up a lot bigger than I thought it would.

I NEED to get the 4 corner blocks set in on the king sized quilt I'm making for my daughter (supposed to be a wedding present...er.. 15 years ago! They just moved into their dream house, so I'm calling it a housewarming gift now!) I have an Amish lady all lined up to hand quilt it, so once all the boxes are shipped (this morning, assuming I can get my legs to work... I woke up to check a couple of cows who are close to calving, and discovered my back is out so bad I can barely use my legs. NOT good timing!), I can reclaim the table and get those last few seams done.

Our weather is warming up fast, so we're being pushed to get the outdoor stuff done. I'm afraid the apple trees are going to skip a year being pruned.. i did get the cherries, peach, plum and blueberries done, but ran out of weather and time. I need to get the grapevines done this week yet... last year, i picked over 2 bushels of Concords off 2, 3 year old vines, and hubby has raved about the juice I canned all winter. Definitely worth the time and effort, especially if you price organic grape juice in tbe store!

Aside from the quilt, the olnl thing on my "must sew" list is a raincoat for my toddler granddaughter. She follows her daddy everywhere on their farm, and needs some protection from the rain, because she refuses to stay inside, no matter what the weather. I found a free pattern a couple years ago at www.connectingthreads.com (they have quite a few nice freebies, including a pillowcase that sews up really fast and works great, as well as many quilting projects) and I have some polyurethane laminate fabric which should work perfectly.

Looking forward to sering your book!

Summerthyme

 

[Faroe]

Well, I had a quilt post too.
This site eats posts, and disappears them. Yes, I should have saved it prior, but I know the drill (or thought I did, and was very careful). Whatever.

Beautiful work, Melodi.

 

[Faroe]

I spent some time today trying to repair a charming old quilt someone gave me, but I think it's hopeless.

Back to knitting the gansey. Glad I keep row-by-row meticulous notes, because I had little clue on how to proceed when I picked it up. It has been sitting in a heap since mid-March). The stitches are so tiny, it is hard to count rows - keeping track on paper is the only way to be sure when to cross the cables, etc.. I am on the shoulders now, and deviated from the pattern for better fit...we'll see. The sweater will have a corrugated extension. The horizontal 3X3 rib won't add much length, but will add some stretch. Not entirely sure what I'm doing here; seems as if the back shoulder will need a short corrogated section added too, so it can be grafted in one of the knit rows. Hope to get done with this tricky extension part in two days. (I suppose I could just graft in pearl, but never done it. Kitchner stitch drives me nuts as it is.

BF is off with a tour group, so I can't measure him (and am not sure that would help much here anyway, since the arm'y eye is more about how one moves). He is visiting pyramids - yes, in that part of the world. Yikes. I'll know much more about fit after this one is completed.

 

[summerthyme]

Repairing quilts can be more time consuming (and MUCH more frustrating) than making one from scratch. Ive got one my son and I made together when i was home schooling him when he was 10 years old. I backed it with fleece and we tied it... definitely not heirloom quality, but it was beautiful (a combination of shades of teal and turquoise combined with purple and lavender, that somehow worked) and it was a favorite all through his college and young adult yesrs. But the fleece wasn't top quality, so it pilled from many washings, and one of the fabrics must have been junk... it is deteriorating badly. But just one!

I finally got the binding off and snipped all the yarn ties without causing any more damage, but I'm going to have to replace every patch made from that one crappy fabric... and I just haven't been up to the job mentally. I'm thinking I may sew a muslin backing onto the top to reinforce it, and then probably hand sew new patches in, using hand applique techniques, rather than ripping out the seams to remove the weak patches. He wants it backed with fleece and tied again (it was wonderfully snuggly and warm that way) and this time i do have some wonderful high quality Malden Milks Polar Fleece that should hold up to the washing, etc, although it will be cared for better this time!

It's only because if it's sentimental value I'm willing to do it, but it's one of those projects you really have to be in the right mood to tackle!

It sounds like the gansey you're working on is a similar type project! I'll bet it's going to be gorgeous when it's done, though!

Summerthyme

 

[Melodi]

Both the sweater and the quilts (everyone) sound lovely and I hope the repairs go well, I often find myself just knitting new sweaters for my husband because he lets them get so damaged that by the time I get my mitts on them fixing them is not only tedious but also just never looks right.

The fair ilse sweater was originally going to be a quickie but now it's not going to be now, I did find the grey yarn I can make a quick sweater out of but I'm not going to start that right now; any new projects are likely to be small, simple and fit in a purse or bag for traveling.

Husband is doing a lot of the gardening and the kitchen is coming along, my publisher said the book is at the printers so it should not be long now -there will be a video coming out about it (made by the publisher) and I'll put up a link when I have it.

I really am hoping to get some more knitting now that it is getting warmer, we were hit with the same high winds and cold that whipped the fire up in Notre Dame the next day, but it is supposed to be in the 70s by Easter Sunday.

Warm enough that small knitting or sewing projects are easier than big ones.

 

[Faroe]

Shoulder joins are done. I'm concerned the arm openings might be a bit too large, but am going to have to work with what I have. Not willing to rip out half a sweater just to raise the gusset increases up higher on the body.

Started the Pick-up and Knit for the first sleeve. Gladys Thomson actually directs that the sleeve be knitted from the cuff up, and sewn in. Seems problematic to me - how do you ensure you get the correct opening? I can't recall BBR mentioning any such thing, either. I've only done that with Norwegian sweaters where the space for the sleeve can be cut to size. The sleeve will have the same pattern that the body has, I'll chart it to fit once I count how many sleeve stitches were picked up. I mostly did a pick up three/skip one pick-up. hope that lays flat... seems like the proportions are about that for stitches per inch, vs. rows per inch; stitches being usually wider than they are tall.

There has been a lot of "winging it" for this one. So far, so good....I think (?).
Very glad I made the two in child sizes earlier.

 

[Melodi]

I am debating knitting from the top of the sleeve down on the Fair Isle to that or making a yoke/Ragland on it but I'm pretty much winging it in a similar way.

 

[Faroe]

It is always nice to have just a sleeve of knitting on the lap. Gets tiresome once the sweater starts to feel as big as an afghan. Simply maneuvering it takes extra time. Yoke sweaters are pretty, but I've never knitted one. It just bugs me that the cone shape is so unlike a human body. I KNOW the stitches stretch where they need to, but... must be the seamstress in me.

I am two inches into the first knitted on sleeve. Seems like slow progress, but I've been spending most of the days working outside. Ordered two fixed Chiagoo size zero circs in 24" for this. The chisel like Hiya points were piercing my finger tips, and getting stitches over the cable/ferrule join is a constant fight. Hiyas aren't bad needles, but I MUCH prefer the Chiaos. I just treat the whole thing as if it were on a set of DPN's but working with soft cables.

 

[Melodi]

OK my sweaters usually have a cone shape because both my husband and I have unusually shaped bodies; but the nice part is if I compromise a bit we can wear each other's sweaters which since he tends to destroy the art sweaters accidentally in there to five years; it means I can do things like "steel" one and wear it on the tour of Germany where I was on film a lot.

I avoid knitting things for him that are actually that difficult (for me) they just look really cool but for me, two-handed color knitting is really easy, not as easy as just knitting plain in the round but still pretty quick.

My husband for years was a weight lifting fan, on a body that is about 5'6" tall and whose shoulders can get massive with a very tiny waist.

I used to make his sweaters with a very tiny waist and then gradually increase the stitches on either side; I still do this but with a somewhat larger waist so I can wear them.

I have fairly large breasts, not as huge as before I had to have surgery (DD down to D or C) but still large enough that I take up in front what he uses in the shoulders.

So I go from like a 38 to the 40-inch waist for both of us to something that poofs out for 48 inches of me (used to be 54) to his massive shoulders of about 54 inches depending on the time of year and if he is working out.

He doesn't like the T Sweater patterns much although he has a couple, I made them with large sleeves to include his shoulders; and lately I'm using gussets more (I probably will do that with the current sweater) because the "balloon effect" is comfortable but I think the gussets look better especially on him.

These days I have to deal with my "thyroid medicine" roll of fat at my waistline, which isn't too bad but enough that I can't wear a sweater with a 32-inch waistband either.

Now I do look good in long-tunic sized "bell" shaped sweaters but I've never made one, I have bought them before and they looked good, but I think my husband would hate them.

I probably will make one for me eventually but for modern clothing, it doesn't look great on guys; though he's used it in 14th and 15th century clothing for men to show off his tiny waist.

 

[Faroe]

Fruity knitting recently featured a tunic length bell shaped sweater with a shawl collar that also had a very pretty lace motif. I'm assuming Andrea is knitting it for herself, and they will show more of it as she progresses in future episodes. (I usually fast forward over their own knitting projects, to get to the interviews.) If I catch it again, I'll post a link - she will have the pattern info on her site.

I am TIRED of knitting this gansey! I donno, I don't think the sleeves are working out, and the gussets are probably too low. BF gets home tomorrow night, and after he tries it on, I'll make a decision about whether to scrap it, or keep going.

Watched an excellent series of how-to videos from Very Pink Knits on log cabin knitting (looks like the quilt patch), and was tempted to just start a new and simple project. Unfortunately, I don't have much of a scrap stash (or any stash, really), so finding a few colors of the same weight and fiber content content isn't happening right now. I would love to do a blanket like that in hand dyed indigoes. The Oberle shawl book I like has a pretty Irish cable inspired blanket in worsted or maybe Aran wt. that is tempting. I want big, bold, fluffy, no size issues, and something I can actually finish.

 

[Melodi]

I am sorry the gansey is not fun! My advice is to put the thing aside for a couple of weeks and do something small, fun and that you are likely to enjoy knitting and to finish - even if it is a plain scarf you don't need and can give away.

There is the infamous (in my UFO's) Sweater of "way too many cables" I started about five years ago that is still sitting in a mothproof box waiting for me to decide what to do with it; it was from some book on "knitting for men" and I had just downloaded an on-line tutorial on cable knitting without cable needles.

I got some lovely Irish Aran yarn (a full cone) and I got up to the neck of the main piece and just quit, my hands were sore, I was bored out of my skull and I hated the thing.

Since hubby really needs new sweaters (most of the older ones having disintegrated) I MAY pull it out after I finish this one or later in the Summer, finish the dang full neck that didn't have very good instructions (a V neck no less) going back and forth instead of in the round (as I prefer).

Then I plan to knit sleeves with ONE cable down the top, rather than 20 cables or however many the pattern calls for.

Or I may just pull the whole thing out and reuse the yarn, probably not because real Irish yarn tends to felt easy (at least the stuff from the two revied mills) and it might not be usable after all this time stuck in the cables.

Plan B makes it into a vest, which is another possibility; but my point is that when you really hate a project putting it away to think about it can be more productive in the long run than just finding other things to do rather than knit (not that there are not plenty of other things to do but you get the idea).

Anyway, I figured out a way (I think) to suddenly expand the gusset on hubby's Fair Isle since otherwise it was likely to be too small, I think it will look good on him (I hope) even if the shape looks a bit funny as a pattern; but then patterns for him always look a bit funny, most people don't have 32 inch waists and 48 to 54 inch shoulders (depending on how much he is working out).

I put the socks aside for a bit because he needed the sweater and they were also a complicated pattern, I may start something simple to carry around with me; I need more hats so that is a possibility.

With the water now working (finally) I need to find and wash anything wool and see what can be repaired and what is designated for the outdoor cat beds.

I know this time of year most of us are doing more outside and less inside stuff, which is why I think small projects are better for Summer and less heat on your lap if you live where it is really hot.

Meanwhile, I'm back to trying to forge ahead with the steeks, my husband decided he wanted to see how that style fit him and I'm not working Fair Isle patterns back and forth if I can avoid it!

Happy Knitting and other textile work!

 

[Faroe]

Well, well...
Another lost (long) post, and having just posted elsewhere, I was already recently signed in.
The thing is getting jumpier.

Will re-post later, if I have the patience.
Happy knitting.

 

[Martinhouse]

Faroe, I remembered something you'd posted about knitting and applied it to a problem of mine.

I am watching a neat old TV series on DVD...Mission, Impossible...and decided to knit so as to not be totally idle while watching. I found that it was too easy to lose track of either the knitting or the screen while looking at the other, so I turned myself just enough sideways so that my right elbow leans on the computer desk and if I put the button end of the left knitting needle at my waist, the knitting is held high enough that I only have to raise my eyes to see the picture instead of my whole head. I am somewhat slouched while doing this so the left needle stays fairly well at my waist just from my bunched-up clothing, but I think I will make a band to put around my waistline with something on it to hold the back end of the needle against me.

So thanks for the inspiration...I'll be able to knit anything small like this while watching movies. Right now it's headbands, as my old ones are all stretched out and getting useless, but I can also do parts of the slippers I make and also the dishtowels and dishcloths I like to knit.