Yarn and Ewe Girl Podcast Episode 5:
Where to find me:
Ravelry: yarnandewegirl
Instagram: @yarnandewe
Facebook: Yarn and Ewe
My name is Janine and I just wanted to make sure I said that this week because I think I totally spaced out on my introduction last week. Thanks for joining me to all my returning viewers and if you are a new viewer thank you so much for taking the time to check me out. I hope you enjoy.
Finished objects:
I only have one finished object today and that is my Sólfar Socks, by Cookie A. These socks are for the #cookiejarkal that Candice from the Pinfeathers and Purls podcast is doing. This kal started May 1 and is running through June 30th and all you have to do is knit a pair of Cookie A. socks to be a part of it. I’ve done a number of Cookie A socks in the past and have always found them to be very rewarding knits. As I’ve said before I really have a hard time with vanilla socks and plain stockinette over and over and her socks are always interesting. Not always intuitive … but definitely interesting. These ones were somewhat intuitive. The pattern is a bit complex, it has a 32 row repeat. I found I did have to check with the pattern frequently to make sure that I wasn’t screwing it up. This pattern came in 3 sizes small, medium and large. I made the medium size. They were done from the cuff down, knit two at a time on 2 24 inch circular needles US size 1.5 (2.5mm). I did have a significant amount of frustration with the 2 circulars and doing 2 at a time. In the past I have mostly done my socks one at a time and used 2 circular needles and have been very pleased with that arrangement. However I recently started doing 2 at a time and really like having both socks done together. The first pair I did was using the magic loop method US size 1 40inch cable, those went great. This pair was to quote a friend “like wrestling with an octopus!” I had so much trouble with these. I kept grabbing the wrong end of the needles and ending up all mixed up and turned around. The more I worked on them the more that I became frustrated with the needle situation. I didn’t have a 40 inch US 1.5 needle though so I struggled on. I tried using a 32 inch cable but had difficulty with that as well. So for future I will be sure to do my 2 at a time socks on magic loop.
The yarn I used for this project was Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering Colorway 1962, which is 75% merino, 20% cashmere and 5% nylon. 385 yards per 100 grams. Such a pleasure to knit with.
Works in progress:
Biscottes sheep socks. I really haven’t done anything on these socks since last we spoke. 🙁 To be honest I just got caught up in other things. I do still plan on working on these but it has fallen by the wayside, for now.
Hermione’s Everyday sock, by Erica Leuder. This pattern was my first patterned socks I ever made. Here’s another thing about me, once I make a pattern I rarely make it again. With a few exceptions of course. I just like to make different projects and try different things all the time. If I do make a pattern again, it’s usually a long time in between. That way the pattern feels new. So my last pair of Hermione’s Everyday socks wore a hole in the ball of the foot. I still have them, and am toying with the idea of repairing them but I got a good 4 yrs wear out of them. And that is wearing them a lot. I probably have a pair of knit socks on my feet 4-5 days of the weeks even in summer. And being that that particular pair was at the beginning of my sock making days I didn’t have many pairs to rotate in between. I think they held up well. I thought it was time for another pair. So I cast on with my new sock blank from Gale’s Art. It is a single knit Sock Blank in the Dancing Bunnies Colorway. 100gm 463yd. 75% superwash merino 25% nylon. I unwound the blank and caked it up into 2 balls so I could do 2 at a time. I’m using Addi lace US 1 or 2.25mm 40 inch needle, magic loop style.
Budding Bluebells Shawl
This one is for the Budding Bluebells Kal that is going on through June 30th. Mina from the knitting Expat and Nicole from Hue Loco are putting on this Kal and I decided I wanted in on this. I just got some new yarn in the shop from Mrs. Crosby Loves to play. I’m so excited about this, it’s called Satchel and it is the first single ply yarn that I carry. It’s fingering weight 100% superwash merino 100gms with approximately 370 yards. I have some beautiful colorways in the shop. I wanted to test it out on something and this is it. I’m using the Rueppell’s Griffon colorway and the smoky granite. So soft and lovely.
So far I’m enjoying the pattern but I am having a difficult time with one part. There is a knit 3 together tbl in the directions that I’m having an issue with. On the row before you are supposed to kyok all into the same stitch and then when you come back on the next row those 3 stitches are the 3 you k3tog tbl. She says to use sharp needles which I am. And she says to try to do the kyok loosely to make it easier but I’m still struggling. It’s the yo, I can’t seem to get my needle to pick it up and it’s a bit frustrating. So I changed the pattern a bit. Instead of doing the kyok throughout the pattern I’m using a kfbf, (knit into the front, knit into the back and knit into the front of the same stitch). It still takes one stitch and makes it into 3 stitches and when I k3tog tbl on the next round I can pick them up much easier and I don’t think you can tell that I changed it at all.
Still haven’t started the heliopath vest. It’s just too hot right now I think and I’m not really in the mood to do a sweater vest.
Stash enhancement:
Two things:
The first is from Bumblebirch Wellspring which is a 3 ply fingering 100gms 490 yards 100% superwash merino, colorway is Rosemary. Bumblebirch is a Portland based company. I picked this yarn up while I was in Bend Oregon last weekend at a shop in town called Gossamer. Very cute shop lots of wonderful yarn and I just wish I had more money at the time to spend. But I’m saving up and I’ll tell you about that in a bit. This yarn is going to be for my design socks so I’ll be able to show off the pattern better. Which by the way I’ve got all the charts worked out so far and will be putting the pattern in order here so and will need test knitters for that if anyone is interested.
Quick shout out to all the lovely people who test knit my hat pattern recently for me as well. YOU GUYS ROCK!! You all knit that up so fast and provided great feedback for me. I can’t thank you enough. I should have the hat pattern up on ravelry by the next podcast. Stay tuned for that.
My very first handspun. This is just BFL. I took a class right after my last podcast on beginning spinning using a wheel. It was a bit tricky at first and clearly as you can see I’m not an expert but I really want a wheel now. So I’m saving all my money to get one. I got to try an Ashford traditional and a Schatch Sidekick. The Ashford was ok, but the sidekick was the bomb!!! That’s the one I’m leaning toward now, but it’s kind of expensive, so I’m going to ask you all a question. For those who spin… What wheel do you use and what do you like most about it? Comment below.
So in the class she took me through the entire process from spinning to plying and then winding it into a skein. She told me to take the skein home and wash it to set the twist. Once washed I was supposed to lay it on a towel and gently squeeze out the excess moisture and then to take it outside and whack it against the wall a few times before hanging it to dry. I let my boys do the whacking and they got such a kick out of that.