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useful knowledge

Posted on | March 19, 2008 | 9 Comments

I’ve finally got my thoughts and self organized a bit, at least enough to post about last weekend’s Useful Knowledge seminar hosted by Little Barn in Huntsville, Alabama. 

First off, the instructors were fabulous.  Stefania Isaacson taught a class on thrummed mittens on Friday which was interesting and I got this far on my mitten:

My thrums are waaay too fat.  No, I did not listen to Stef when she said to make them skinny!  I will be starting this over, but not with this yarn.  Little Barn created the supply list and furnished the supplies for all the classes, which I’m sure was helpful to the instuctors, BUT the wool provided for the thrummed mittens class was cheviot.  I didn’t learn until Saturday that cheviot wool is known for its non-felting properties.  See where I’m going here?  Non-felting wool to be used for thrummed mittens.  Doesn’t seem like that was very well thought out.

Saturday’s class was on spinning for socks and it was incredible!  If you ever, EVER have the opportunity to take a class from Merike, do it!  Her toe-up sock pattern has me confident that I *will* be able to knit a sock toe-up and have the heel in the proper place.  I wish I could share it with you, but it’s her technique and it alone was worth the price of admission.

This is the sample sock I spun the yarn for and knit in class.  Taking this class reinforced all the information I’ve read concerning what constitutes a proper sock yarn and what does not.  Knowledge I’ve chosen to ignore as I knit lovely socks from 100% handpainted merino.  Yes, they’re beautiful and yes the yarn is a delight to knit with and wear.  But it won’t last and you’ll end up with holes in your socks, which is why Merike now teaches a full class on darning.  I knew this, but I only wear my handknit socks on the weekends so I ignored my better judgment and knit on. 

So, what’s a sock knitter to do?  Well, if you’re a spinner, you can take some of that lovely merino and blend it with a stronger wool or even silk!

This is the second bobbin I’ve spun from carded merino and kid mohair.  I worried initially that the colors would blend too much with the hand carding, but I like it.  My plan is for a three ply yarn, but I may make the third ply just merino, as the mohair content in the other two plies should be enough to strengthen the socks sufficiently.  It’s really not that much more work and a small payoff for durable socks.

I’ve also cast on for a new project.  Yes, yes, I know.  Where’s the finishing?  What about the Airy Cardigan?  Well…I’ve come to realize that it’s 80% likely I’ll never wear a mohair cardigan.  I might finish it, I might not.  It’s just hanging out right now while I work on something I am certain I will wear!

The beginning of a Hexacomb Cardigan from this spring’s IK.  One day in and I’m already taking liberties with the pattern.  First, I’m making this longer – no cropped cardis for me!  Second, I’ve changed the bottom edging so there isn’t a stripe of contrast color.  The colors in the original are tone-on-tone, so it’s a subtle stripe, but with my colors, it would’ve looked like this:

I think it would’ve looked like a mistake and not a design element, so I added a row of purl stitches in the main color to create a clean break between the two colors. 

The yarn I’m using is Artful Yarns Cliche, a nice blend of 55% cotton, 30% linen and 15% rayon.  It has a good amount of twist so the stitches aren’t splitty and the linen gives it a nice drape.  I wish I could wear the green they have because I’d order more of this for another summer cardi!  I plan to knit several items to supplement my summer wardrobe (which isn’t very different from my winter wardrobe, truth be told) and this cardi will be the first!

Short admin note:  my illustrious employer has now blocked access to the personal email program that I use, so email replies to comments will take a bit longer than they used to.  Can you imagine the nerve?  Wanting me to work at work!  Sheesh!!! 

 

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