Squishiness

Handspun to gaze upon....

All About That Yarn

Handspun yarn, that is!

Up first, Malabrigo Nube. Slub single spun for my cousin's birthday. So soft and squishy.

Next is more Malabrigo Nube. 2 ply for me! Spun a total of 8 oz. Love, love, love it. I think I already have plans for it. The color is definitely deeper and richer in person. My camera washes it out. Second pic is more accurate.

This hot pink lovely came from Edgewood Garden Studio. Delightful, no? Also even better in person - getting washed out by my camera again.

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Okay. Posting from my phone isn't the best. I'll update post later with a few links and clean it up a bit.

High Seas Shawl

Above: front or right side of shawl

Above: back or wrong side of shawl (both sides are lovely!)

Above and Below:  back or wrong side shown on top with front or right side shown behind it. 
Hand-braided fringe.

Above: front or right side of shawl.

Above: close up of back or wrong side of shawl and hand-braided fringe.

Above: close up of front or right side of shawl and hand-braided fringe



Additional Details: This handwoven shawl of organic Italian cotton was made for an upcoming art auction.  You can find more details about the draft pattern, yarn used, etc. on my Ravelry project page found here.
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On an aside ...
I've been (clearly) struggling with regular postings on this blog and I'm not sure how I can move past the irregularity that has become my blogging.  I think I struggle with witty things to say.  Why I feel I have to be witty?  --- well, if you've MET me, you know I love making jokes.  Usually as inappropriate as possible.  I think when faced with putting it down in writing it's like "GAH! I can't think of anything to say!!!"

So.  Methinks I'm going to aim for "less words, more pictures" from here on out.  If I feel the need to add details or explanation, I will.  Otherwise, just enjoy the view ....

-- Amy

New Toy

Someone got a new toy after Christmas:  A SPINNING WHEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to my parents and boyfriend and grandma who contributed funds or gift certificates, I was able to afford a new spinning wheel!  My friend Sandy at Knitorious cut me a great deal, too!  It's a Schacht Ladybug and it's awe-to-the-some.  Awesome.

And lookit! My first handspun yarn!

This above pic is dark, but best represents the true color of the finished yarn.  The next pic has better details.  And the pics that follow show it at various stages in progress.

The fiber was Malabrigo Nube in #33 Cereza.  It's bulky and lumpy and I love it.  I think it's pretty awesome for my first yarn.  I got about 70 yards once it was all done.  Here is the link to my Ravelry project page about it.

Stuff

A lot of stuff going on.
A lot of stuff happening.
Here's some stuff I wove.

I love weaving random plaids. 
Lots of textures.
Lots of fun.

I need to get better pics of the red one.  Photos aren't doing it justice!  :)  The reds and pinks are much more vivid in person.  But the other one with blue photographed pretty accurately.  Sold that one at a craft show this past weekend! 

Love-Me-Knot Cowl

Procrastinate much, Amy?
Why, yes.  Yes, I do.

I created this pattern back in February for a class I was teaching at Knitorious.  And I never got around to posting it to Ravelry or writing about it.  Bad Amy!  Bad, bad Amy!

It's made from this awesome yarn from Dyeabolical.  It's the Strong Arm Skinny in Velociraptor Says What.  I think the base has since been discontinued, but all the yarns there are awesome.  Buy some.

It's surprisingly warm to wear!  The open work makes little air pockets when it's all scrunched up around your neck and you will stay WARM!  AND it's lightweight!  Crazy-town, I know.

Anyway, it's a free download on Ravelry.  You should make one, too.

Purple People Eater

Okay, so this shawl didn't really eat anyone. Just shamelessly stealing a bit of a silly song* to title my post.

This here is my first woven lace!
....and evidence that I really should press things better before photographing. Ugh.

I made this for a co-worker who retired. Much to early, in my opinion. Not that she cares what I think. Harrumph.

*By the way, I never understood if the song was about a purple people-eater or a purple-people eater. Now YOU want to know, too!

I Like Big Cowls and I Cannot Lie

So. Arm knitting.
Fast. Big. Trendy.

Here's hoping the fad lasts until next winter! THIS is the cowl for the next Snowmageddon! However, since it's almost May, I won't be wearing this anytime soon.

I made my own "yarn" using a yard or so of fleece fabric that I cut into a continuous strip. Maybe I'll have a tutorial on that someday....

It's extremely soft and squishy, by the way. Like REALLY cuddle-y. 

i-cord, u-cord....

Just rocking a little knitting love lately. Thanks to my knitting guru, I've mastered the i-cord bind off. This picture is just to taunt you with some yarn yumminess!

Here's a shot of the rest of the shawl.
Did I mention the short rows?

How about the intarsia and slip stitch color work?
Oh, and a little bit of lace work? (Yes, the holes are intentional.)

This pattern is the Rockefeller Shawl from Stephen West. I'll update this post with some links later. But for now, enjoy the yumminess!

P.S. Weird things happen when blogging from a mobile. Will have to clean this up later....
...and DONE!

Bad Blogger!

I've been a bad, bad blogger as of late.
I could give you all kinds of justifications like being busy at work, moving my studio, etc. 
Instead, I'm just going to placate you with pretty pictures.

These are a couple of cowls I wove at Christmas. 
They were made from the same woven cloth. 

Sorry that my pics are a little fuzzy.  I was in a rush to get them packaged and with little sunlight available in the evenings to photograph with ... well, artificial light had to do.

These were woven with various textures, fibers and shades of gray/white/black/silver.  I love making random plaids!  Quite fun!

One of the recipients managed to snap a better lit picture for me later.  Whew!  That helped!

Hope this satisfies your craving for pretty things.  I promise to blog more often.

Or eventually.

Like a Ninja!

This wasn't a Christmas present.  It's actually a piece I finished almost a year ago and never blogged about.  Mostly because I couldn't get a decent pic --- 'cause I was too busy wearing it!

This was a pattern, Ninja Star Shawlette, from the book Seamless Crochet by Kristin Omdahl.  This book is genius!  No more joining motifs with tons of ends to weave in.  These patterns are designed to work back and forth, almost like rows.  Plus, she explains HOW it all works so you can designs with your own motifs.

This piece I worked on two evenings after work and then finished on a Saturday afternoon.  For me, the process was very intuitive.  I'm not sure it's for the beginner, but for anyone who can "read" their crochet stitches, it becomes almost mesmerizing.

 

The pattern is a triangular shawl and called for fringe.  I left off the fringe.  The yarn is Rastita by Malabrigo.  Such a soft-n-squishy merino.

Love, love, LOVED it!!!

Sea Jewel Cowl

If these colors don't stop you in your tracks, then I don't know WHAT will!

First attempt at plaid.  I think I nailed it!  LOL
I LOVED how this turned out!  Was a LOT of fun to weave!  Actually, when I pulled it off the loom, I think I actually said "Well, damn..."  See, it was soooo pretty that I didn't want to give it up!  But, alas, I had created it with a friend in mind, and yes, she did get her cowl for Christmas!

Doesn't it look fabulous on her?!  And Suzanne chose a great pin to accent it!
Here are a couple more shots, showing just the color.  I wish the textures and shimmer of some of the yarns would have shown up more.  I really gotta work on my photography skills!

I'll be posting a couple more weaving projects soon.  Two more cowls, a table runner ... plus, a few other Christmas gifts!