Spinning, now with pictures!

Posted by Emily |1 comments

While practicing my spinning before my second class, I had a major breakthrough and now I pretty much adore it. Here are some pictures of my handspun!

My Louet S10 spinning wheel

(my cousin painted the treadle for my aunt)


The white fuzz was the first yarn I ever spun.
It's joined to some nice grey handspun that my aunt made.


This was the second yarn I spun.
The corkscrew stuff on the left was before I figured out
what I was doing wrong.


And here's the third yarn I spun. Looking much better!

And lastly, a gratuitous picture of Kate
beating up my handspun yarn.

Trilobite Hat!

Posted by Emily |1 comments

Just finished the Trilobite Hat (Ravelry link) and wanted to post some pictures.

New Camera!

Posted by Emily |0 comments

I've been researching a new camera for a few months now and finally took the plunge today. I ended up with the Panasonic ZS3 in blue. It's a very nice camera with one of the best zoom lens in the small point-and-shoot category.

Here are some pictures of knitted projects that I took as soon as I got home with it. Next I'll have to test that zoom lens the next time I'm out birding!

The Great California Scarf Project

Posted by Emily |0 comments

In a previous post, I mentioned that my World of Warcraft guild leader wanted a scarf. Thus Shayzani's Scarf of Conciliation was born. He lives in Utah, so it was easy to find a pattern and yarn that would serve him well in the cold months of that mountainous state.

As a consequence of making a scarf for my guild leader, several other guild members wanted hand-knit items as well. The requests were:

• A warm scarf of indeterminant color for Aurorai (Ravelry link) (picture on the left)
  
• A navy blue scarf for Zindo (Ravelry link) (picture on the right)
  
• Green gloves for Fahn

The only catch was that all three of those people live in California. After some discussion, we determined that (at least for the scarves) warm ones would be preferred because they plan to move somewhere colder upon graduation. However, being from Minnesota myself I have a feeling that my idea of a warm scarf is considerably warmer than their idea of a warm scarf, even after accounting for a colder climate. Maybe I'm wrong; I sincerely hope so because I knit a couple of Minnesota winter-worthy scarves!

Now that the scarves are complete, next on my list are a pair of green gloves. I'm going to attempt the Beer Gloves pattern from the Son of Stitch and Bitch book (Ravelry link). I love the pattern and I think the fingerless gloves are a very good choice for California weather. I have a feeling that if I knit full-fledged gloves, Fahn's hands would probably melt. You know, that ol' Minnesotan knitting for a Californian problem.

Shockingly, my gauge swatch was dead-on with the recommended needle size. I'm not sure what to make of that and I'd be lying if I said was more pleased than concerned. I have yet to knit something without going up at least one full needle size and usually I go up two full needle sizes. Still, all signs point to an accurate gauge swatch, so all I can do is start knitting and hope that the gloves turn out the right size.

Once I'm done knitting this group of projects for my Warcraft guild, I'm going to work on something for myself. It's been a while since I made something and I'd really like a hand-knit hat for fall/winter! I've settled on the Trilobite hat from Knitty (Ravelry link) and picked out the yarn already (Dream in Color Classy, November Muse). It's all ready to go and I'm really excited to start it, but I'm practicing discipline first. Fingerless gloves for Fahn first, Trilobite hat for me second. If I don't do that, I'll never finish those gloves!

I'm writing this post away from my usual computer and camera, so I don't have proper links or pictures. Once I get home, I'll remedy that. In the meantime, please don't be annoyed by the wall of text!

Noro Ideas

Posted by Emily |1 comments

I recently purchased nine skeins of Noro Silk Garden in the 276 colorway. It's so pretty and I adore the greens with the splash of pink. The trouble is, I'm not quite sure what to do with it.

I've never made an adult sweater, so I'd kind of like to try that. I obviously don't have enough yarn for a full-blown raglan pullover, but a vest, shrug, bolero, or cropped sleeve cardigan would be acceptable.

Digging around on Ravelry and some Noro books from the yarn store that I work at gave me a few options, but I'm not quite sold on any of them.

I adore this pattern from Interweave Knits: Scoop Pullover by Cathy Carron (Ravelry link). I think it would work well with my shape and it would do justice to the Noro yarn. I'm fairly sure I would wear it as well. Definitely a seasonal top with the short sleeves, but that doesn't bother me too much. (photo on left)

I also really dig the Top-down Garter Stitch Yoke Vest by Naganasu (Ravelry link). It would be nice and easy for a first sweater project. I think it would showcase the Noro really nicely. (photo on right)

Digging around at work, I found the Noro Joy book by Jane Ellis. There were several patterns that I really liked, but my favorite was Doris (Ravelry link). The pattern was written for Noro in mind, so I know it will compliment the yarn nicely. I don't like it as much as the other two patterns though. (photo on left)

I also liked the Ribbed V-Neck Pullover by Jane Ellis (Ravelry link). Again, it's designed for Noro so I know it will look good. I really like v-necks, so that's definitely a positive. The ribbing will minimize the horizontal stripes formed by the yarn. (photo on the right)

It's something to think on, anyway. Of course, any feedback is appreciated!