Page 53 – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

Swatching and Knitting

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

I'm having one of those "cast on all the things" weeks. I like weeks like this — sad about the demise of my Flyaway Hoodie (at least until I figure out the proper size and needle size and cast back on), I decided to start several smaller projects so I would have some instant gratification and knitting always ready and at the go.

(1) The Nevermind Hat. Cute Cables. And oh my goodness, the yarn! My first project with The Plucky Knitter Snug, a mix of merino, cashmere and alpaca and I want to marry it!

(2) Olivia. I need a wrap like this so much! Something to wrap around myself on a cold winter's morning and relieve the tedium of all the black I wear to work! Olivia is going to be beautiful (if I can just get my gauge right for creating the perfect warm but slightly drapey fabric).

(3) Wilde. I like this cowl. It has (subtle) stripes. I don't know how to knit stripes — I always get that funny uneven jog when knitting in the round. So this time I'm going to buckle down and figure out the jogless stripe trick that every other knitter in the world already knows.

A word about this yarn: It is Blue Sky Alpaca's Metalico and I really love it. I purchased it for another cowl, but it was too lacy and not the warm neck hug I wanted. I think this pattern will be a better fit for me as the polar vortex descends on Alabama again.

I love starting new projects and that comfortable feeling of projects all ready to be picked up on a moment's notice for a night of happy knitting. I still plan on casting on at least two more projects before the end of the year, this capelet and this skirt, as well as starting over on the Flyaway Hoodie.

A Sad Day For Sweaters

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

This really isn't my day for sweater knitting. I've been trying to fight this conclusion over the weekend, but yesterday, I finally conceded the obvious to myself. Despite a good gauge swatch, my Flyaway Hoodie is way too small. In fact, now that I have a back-sized swatch, I measure and learned that it is only 4/5th the size it should be — making it too small for my daughter as well.

The cables are very lovely, aren't they? I've enjoyed knitting it so much! I've been vigilant about switching skeins every other row to ensure there is no deliniation between the hand-dyed skeins. I've meticulously ensured my cables cross the correct direction — each and every time. I'm in love. Now I'm going to frog it.

My poor teensy sweater that was never meant to be.

Plucky, Plucky, Plucky (The Plucky Knitter, That Is)

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

Six months or so I stumbled across a yarn brand I had never head of before, The Plucky Knitter. The colors looked intriguing, the prices looked high. But, as I kept seeing mention of this yarn in patterns I was looking at or projects I came across, I started to read more.

The dyer was experienced and reliable. She had developed such a following over time that she was having yarns custom milled for her. And the yarns themselves were wonderful blends — merino and cashmere, merino and silk, and a few with yak or other wonderous fibers mixed in.

And, then, of course, I shopped.

The yarn is sold in a clever way, through blog updates that center around color, fiber, new pattern, and other themes. There is a bit of a carnival atmosphere and it's almost as fun to shop as it is to open the boxes when they arrive!

I'm planning to knit a shawl in one of the yarns I've just received as my first Plucky project. But I can tell just from looking and fondling this yarn that I'm hooked.

Outlander Knitting and The Polar Vortex

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

With rumors of another polar vortex-like episode of cold weather headed for the deep south, I decided I needed a quick, but densely warm cowl, to get me through the next few weeks. I've knit several cowls that mimic the look of Claire's beautiful Sassenach cowl, as she works her way through the Scottish Highlands in the Outlander series, and I decided a modified version would be just right.

This pattern is so easy that I knit it during a drive yesterday (I was obviously a rider, not the driver), and had it ready to wear by evening. The yarn is Bulky Blue Sky Alpaca and I held it double-stranded. I used three skeins of yarn for this cowl, dividing the last skein into two even parts. The pattern is very simple: Using size 35 needles, Cast on 16 stitches using your favorite provisional cast on (I like Lucy Neatby's, using a crochet hook, which you can see here). Knit in garter stitch, i.e. knit every row, until you are almost out of yarn. You will finish the scarf with Kitchener stitch, for a seamless join. To do this, you need one length of yarn (no double stranding for this part), that is three times the width of your work. Even if you don't like to Kitchener, you can manage it for 16 stitches, and the result will be well-worth it.

For the larger cowl worn by claire — one that is long enough to twist around your neck a couple of times or spread out along your shoulders, you will want a longer cowl than this one. The modification is simple — this cowl is very bulky because of the double stranding, but using the same quantity of yarn, held single, you can produce a longer cowl that is easily wrapped around your neck.

Finally, a word about the yarn. Recently, I overdyed a sport weight Blue Sky yarn in this same pink colorway for a friend, and got a lusterous result. That yarn had silk in it, and I thought that might be responsible for the sheen of the yarn. I was curious as to whether I could replicate the result in a yarn that lacked the silk content. I tried it with this bulky yarn that is 50% Alpaca and 50% wool and you can see the result in the picture at the top — it's a deep, shimmering blue. I'm as pleased with the cowl as I am with the yarn, and look forward to staying warm through out the coming weather event.

Two Knits in Need of Blocking

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

I finished two long-running knits this week, and although they aren't blocked yet, I couldn't wait to share them.

First up is my Lida linen shawl, which is going to be insanely beautiful once it is blocked out. This took me forever, but between carefully blocking out the pattern (which was a bit confusing) and using stitch markers to keep the repeats marked off, it got easier and easier and was a truly enjoyable knit.

I've also finished the Antler sweater, which needs buttons sewn on after a good blocking. I have some sweet little wood buttons and can't wait for this to be complete.

The sweater will be easy enough to block because it's small, but the shawl is so large that it won't fit on even my large folding blocking board. I'm going to scavenge some of those foam pieces the kids use and see if I can use them to extend it enough, because Lida is going to require some serious blocking.

No More Knitting Blues

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

My knitting blues, which set in when I ran out of yarn about 7/8th of the way through these fingerless mitts, is gone! The knitting gods smiled upon me. Although the replacement yarn I was able to find was not precisely the same dk weight as the yarn I started out with, it was close enough. And the color match when I dyed it was excellent!

Although my boxer puppy, Fig, is transfixed by them (she repeatedly tried to run off with the yarn, a finished mitt, or the entire work in progress), once they are blocked, they are going onto the hands of my youngest son, who seems equally delighted with them.

I can't say enough good things about this simple, versatile pattern. In a knitting emergency, you could knock out a pair in an evening, making them perfect for last minute Christmas knitting.

My Shetland Lace Shawl

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

It's a miracle! My Shetland Lace Shawl is done and I am in love.

So in love that I'm going to wrap it around my neck and never take it off.

It even looked pretty while it was being blocked, a chore I usually dislike, but one that was a pleasure here because of, well, just look at it!

As an added bonus, it was a fabulous accent for my Game of Thrones temporary tattoo for Halloween.

Thank you Malabrigo! I love your Silky Merino yarn, I love your skillful dyeing. It's hard to pick a favorite yarn, but for me, this one is surely close to the top of the list.