46 by 7:00 AM

 The benefits of being an early riser. Almost 4 dozen Bran and Chia Muffins (recipe by Martha Rose Shulman, doubled) baked and cooling by 7 in the morning.

It Started Out Okay

This is the beginning of Octagon B7. I felt it started out okay, but instinct told me it was not going to end well so I took this "before" photo to record the octagon before it went bad. LOL

And indeed, as it was completed with the very bright "egg yolk" colour, my instinct proved correct.

The final photo actually looks a lot better than the octagon does in person. My camera was kind. In real life the truly garish "Cheezies" or "Kraft Dinner" type orange is very evident.

Let me explain why I let this happen. In the beginning, when I decided to do this afghan, I was not able to find a kit in stock with the original "Eastern Jewels" colorway. I substituted yarns I was able to purchase through Hobbii.com. Some were close, most were not. But in the end I wrote out my list of substitutions and I am committed to using them as laid out in the Eastern Jewels directions. If, when all the pieces are done, some stand out as truly hideous and out of sync with the others, I will redo them in a kinder colorway. 

 

While I Wait

 While I'm waiting for the Twists and Turns Shawl MKAL to start on October 6th I'm working on a large crochet project. 

It's the "Eastern Jewels" version of the "Persian Tiles" crochet blanket by Janie Crow.

I wasn't able to snag a kit with a colour scheme I liked so I purchased individual balls of yarn from Hobbii.com and subbed in my choices for the colours in the list. Some are close, others are nowhere near the originals.

This frightfully vibrant pink one is an example of where the colours could be better. When all pieces are finished I may sub this one out for something less eye searing.

Other combinations, like this one above, I quite like!

These octagons are quite large, almost 12 inches across, so they are each taking at least a full day of crocheting to complete, and there are also many smaller squares and triangles as well. Usually I don't have that much time to devote to hobbies, so clearly I won't be finished the entire afghan by the start of the Twists and Turns Shawl Mystery Knitalong. 

Come October 6th I'll put this afghan project aside so that I can keep up with the incoming weekly "clues" for the mystery knitalong. Not to worry though, I have almost an entire year before the afghan must be complete.

Swatching and Waiting

 Swatching in September for a Mystery Knitalong that will begin in October. All three yarns I'll be using are my own handspun. I think they play well together.

The designer, Stephen West, recommended choosing 2 yarns that have high contrast and will be used in approximately equal amounts, then a third colour that will "pop" as an accent. The pattern is "Twists and Turns: Westknits MKAL 2022".

Doily or "Medallion"?

Sometimes I enjoy crocheting, and lately I've been working on "medallions" as some like to call them now. Yes, these are doilies, like my mother and grandmother had on every flat surface of their home. I unashamedly do the same. To me a coffee table looks naked without one. 

I used #10 cotton from SouthMaid, the standard crochet thread you can buy just about anywhere, but in limited colours locally. I sent away for the "greige" colour (a beige/grey), since none was available here. I think it's a nice alternative to the white, cream, or beige my mother more commonly used.

I enjoyed making the first so I just kept right on crocheting and a few days later I had a full set of four for the top of a tall sideboard in my dining room turned office area.

The pattern is a free one I've made before. The Gift Doily.

Graduation Day!

 Teddy graduated from his basic puppy training today. 

He even got to wear a graduation cap for a few photos.

We had been warned at a previous class to have him practice wearing a hat and posing for pictures, so he had a few "training sessions" with a little party hat.

Kona saw him and seemed a little put out at the attention he was getting,

so I let her in on the action.

Summer Sewing

In anticipation of the coming warm weather (it IS coming isn't it??) I revisited one of my favorite Jalie.com patterns, the racerback tank. I've made this pattern many times before, but always in the longer tunic length. This time I'm just doing the tank top length.

I really like the racerback style.

I bought the striped material for this one from the remnant bin at Fabricland for $3. Now I'll probably visit Overseas Fabrics in Abbotsford to buy enough fabric in plain solid colours to make several more.

 

With Jalie.com patterns you get all the sizes in one pattern printed on very durable paper. You do have to trace off your size, but it is SO worth the trouble when your size changes or you want to make a gift for someone else.

One Warp, Three Scarves

I have completely finished all three scarves woven on the Tencel/cotton warp I purchased from a fellow guild member. I wove all three scarves in the same 2x2 twill, but gave each a different weft.

Weaving with the little Dorothy was a delight once I switched out the standard lever system for the much quieter and easier to use wooden levers and Texsolve cord system. 

Another New-to-Me Loom

 Yet another loom has followed me home.

This time it's a 4 shaft Carolyn by Woolhouse Tools. I once had an 8-shaft version of this model but sold it. I loved that loom, but 8 shafts were a bit much for my limited short term memory to cope with and the loom wasn't getting much use. I had also been having a real struggle warping that loom --- any loom for that matter. I had not yet committed the process to memory and had to follow along, step by step with a book.

Since selling the 8-shaft Carolyn I have woven a lot on the 2-shaft Saori loom that replaced it, gradually becoming more familiar and comfortable with the whole process of warping a loom. I have also acquired several Saori tools that make warping a loom much easier and more ergonomic as was proven while I warped the *other* new loom, the Leclerc Dorothy I introduced in an earlier post. 

In celebration of this most recent addition I treated it to a moisturizing rub down with Howard's Feed and Wax. 

As always, any links in my posts are there solely for your convenience. I receive no kickbacks for your "clicks". 

A New (To Me) Loom

Not too long ago I was fortunate enough to pick up a used Leclerc Dorothy loom for a good price. Unfortunately It was missing its reed, which is a costly and absolutely necessary piece. I was lucky that the local guild had a used reed on hand that they were willing to sell to me at a fraction of its cost if purchased new.

My next improvement to the loom was to change out the notoriously noisy side lever system of the Dorothy to a wooden lever system with texsolve cords. The loom is not just way quieter, it is also much easier and less fatiguing to use.

Then, at the next guild meeting, Betty, a fellow guild member, had a lovely 6 yard warp for sale. I had been looking for an appropriate project for the new little loom so I snapped it up. This is the first of 3 scarves that can be woven on the warp. Thanks Betty!

Old FO becomes New FO

This inkle band is an old finished project. Long ago I made a small portion of it into a band for my medic alert bracelet. Today I took what remained of that band and I made a lanyard for my new ocarina. 

I'll eventually make a little bag to protect it when not in use.

But for now I'm busy driving my husband crazy practicing the ocarina several times a day.

It's All About Timing

 I discovered today that I can spin in peace, if I pick the right moment.

The right moment happens to be when both dogs are sleeping.

Saddles of a Different Sort

 These saddles won't be used for riding.

They are "saddle shoulders" and with any luck, and the help of Barbara G. Walker's "Knitting From the Top", they will be the start of a beautiful handspun sweater. Don't hold your breath though, this could take awhile. I'm designing it myself and I'm also still in the process of spinning the yarn for it.

As always, the links are only provided for your convenience and I receive no kickbacks for your clicks.

WPI Lied

I knit a test swatch with the handspun today and I'm glad I did. I find it gives me a more accurate indication of yarn weight than the WPI calculations. 

I find WPI a little difficult to calculate with handspun because the yarn's thickness varies a little in different areas and a small miscalculation can result in a different size classification. My knitted swatch, at 24 - 25 stitches over 4 inches, is showing the 3 ply handspun to be a "Fine / #2, Baby/Sports weight yarn".

My WPI calculations had it at about 15 WPI with thicker sections coming in at around 14WPI, which would have been a Super Fine #1, Sock/Fingering designation, but the knitted swatch would indicate that the yarn must be closer to 12 WPI. I'm actually glad it's in the sports weight category. It will make finding a pattern easier (if I don't decide to design one myself, from scratch), and the resulting sweater will be a nice weight too. 

Two Into One

 I'm plying two colourways into one yarn and I love the result.

Last summer I bought 9 braids of roving, 4 ounces each, of a lovely Merino/Silk/Kid Mohair blend dyed by Jude of Ewesful Creations. She had six braids of the first colour but I wanted 9 in total so there would be no question of running out of yarn mid project. I found 3 more blue braids, but they were brighter. Another spinner voiced the opinion that the brighter skein would clash with the others but I took a chance and went ahead and purchased them anyway. 

Turns out it was a good choice! I have spun up 2 of the darker braids and one of the brighter colour and then plied them together. I'm very happy with the resulting bright denim colour (most accurate colour representation is in the first picture, a hand wound 10.3 ounce ball of 3 ply).

I still have 2/3 of the roving to spin up --- another 6 braids. I had only gotten started on this lot last fall when our puppy, Teddy, arrived and he required all of my attention. I'm finding that I can spin again now that he is 8 months old --- as long as I keep the e-spinner and the roving up out of his reach. It's not always possible so this may take awhile!

Diagonal Shell

This "Diagonal Shell" vest has been completed for quite some time. I started it back in November after years of being intrigued by this particular design. It's worked diagonally from one hip across to the opposite shoulder, front and back worked separately. That diagonal stitch pattern creates a really nice drape to the fabric. 

Sorry for the very dark photos, they were taken on a gloomy day and I haven't gotten around to taking better ones. This next photo shows the colour a little better. It really is quite pretty, with diagonal ribbons of colour that are ever changing.

The edging is a crocheted "crab stitch" which gives a delicate picot looking textured finish.

This is a pattern I may make again some day. I purchased yarn for this one, but it would also work up nicely for a destashing of little bits of this and that.

Barnstaple Vest

From the great long blogging break that I have taken you would think I hadn't done anything at all creative in a long time, but that isn't the case. During the 2 hour breaks I get each morning while the puppy, Teddy, goes down for a nap, I have been able to accomplish quite a bit. This new vest is a recent finished project.

It's the "Barnstaple Vest", pattern by Sandi Rosner.

The fit is perfect and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

I respaced the buttonholes. I have 5 buttons with 12 stitches between each buttonhole rather than the 7 buttons with 8 stitches between each buttonhole as suggested in the pattern. I find fewer buttons, placed farther apart a more pleasing look.

Since my last post in November I have been working on several other projects, some are finished, some are still works in progress. More on that over the next few days -- if my blogging ompf holds out and Teddy-pup gives me a few moments to myself.

Won't Fit For Long!

 I'm almost finished this sweater for Teddy.

I just need to find appropriate buttons for the belly straps and get them sewn on.

But I don't know if he'll get much wear from it. 

The weather is just starting to get a bit cold here, 

and Teddy can't walk in places where other dogs may have roamed until he's had his next vaccinations 3 weeks from now.

By then he may have outgrown the sweater! 

While I was knitting it it seemed like it was going to be too large.