The Tangled Arts

On Completion

November 7, 2009 by ladyindica2000

I finished the Mushroom sweater on October 22, 2009. I don’t know why I haven’t blogged about it sooner.

It fits like a dream. I swear.

I used less than four balls of Malabrigo and added about 3 inches of length. I normally have to do this because most patterns don’t seem to be long enough for me. I also added a few inches of length to the sleeves.

I also added in some waist and hip shaping as the original pattern doesn’t seem to have any shaping. I am just too curvy not to add in at least a little shaping.

I knit both sleeves at the same time on one long circular needle. I picked up this handy trick while at Sock Summit this year ( I took a two socks on one circ class from Melissa Morgan Oakes) and while I will admit that I still prefer to knit my socks on dpns, the technique was especially handy for ensuring that the sleeves were identical. I sometimes find that my sleeves end up to be two different lengths or that the decreases don’t happen at the same spot. Rest assured, these sleeves are completely identical.

Finally, I added cabled ribbing to the sleeves and the bottom of the sweater.

Next up? Silken Scabbard. Stay tuned.

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Hands Up, Baby!

October 21, 2009 by ladyindica2000

The Mushroom, she is almost done!

So close, yet so far...

She has sleeves and soon, she will be done. Finito. Hooray.

Next up, another pair of Embossed Leaves. Stay tuned….

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Where Did That Time Go?

October 7, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Wow, I just realized that it has been almost a month since I last blogged. How did that happen? I may never know.

Would you like to see what I have been doing?

I knit me some Monkeys out of Wollmeise 100% sockenwolle in Terra di Sienna.

Wolly Monkeys

I started a couple of Kitty Pi’s

Snuggly Brown Sheep Bulky

And I worked on the Mushroom sweater a little bit.

Shroomin.

The real reason for my being MIA is that the sun sets here oh, so early and I have been without a way to photo my knits. So, until I get a light box, the posts may become more sporadic. But, I promise to be more vigilant about posting from here on out.

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All Wollmeise, All The Time

September 14, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Well, thanks to Claire, I can officially say that I have a new obsession and my cup runeth over. Actually, my obsession is your gain as my cup runeth too far over. I will be bringing these to the guild meeting Wed night. Here is just a little taste of the excesses of my riches.

Zur Lederhosen & Pattern

Fuschia (I have two of these)

Saffran

Pesto

Merlot

And, perhaps more. You all will have to wait and see.

Posted in Socks, new yarn | 3 Comments »

It’s Been Awhile

September 12, 2009 by ladyindica2000

I haven’t had the posting Mojo lately. I think I have been spending too much time on Ravelry.

I did cast on for a pair of socks though. These are being knit out of that new fangled merino/cashmere/nylon blend that all the kids are raving about these days.

Squoosh MCN Sock in Dahlia

You can’t tell that these are Sunshine from the new Cookie A. book, but soon enough, it will become easier to recognize.

I know that we had agreed, as per the vote, that I would knit these out of the Alchemy sock that you all helped to choose. But, really, I tried and just couldn’t get gauge. The yarn was too fine. So, here we are with the Squoosh.

And, I am all but finished the Shroomin’ Sweater.

Cozy Malabrigo, oh how I love thee

Although you can’t tell from this pic, I only have the sleeves to do and this is one finished sweater. Winter, I am ready!

Posted in Life, Socks, new projects, project photos, sweater | 1 Comment »

Get Your Wollies Here

August 29, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Success! Two socks, knit on the same needle; finished at the same time!

Two socks; one needle!

Pattern: My own 64 stitch ribbed socks (this time with a slightly larger gusset to accomodate recipients higher instep)

Yarn: Arucania Ranco in orangish color (Ravelry lists this as a sport weight. It is so not.)

Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)

More details here.

In other news, I tried on the Mushroom-y goodness sweater the other night. The fit is nearly perfect.

Cable-y goodness

I love me a good top down raglan. It is so nice to be able to try it on as you go along. I’ve made some progress since this photo was taken. I am now past the waist shaping and am hurdling toward the finish line.

Making progress

I am thinking it might be time to try it on again…

Posted in FO's, Socks, project photos, sweater | 2 Comments »

Mush-swoon

August 24, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Oh, so it’s a cheezy title for a blog post. But, seriously, this sweater is making me swoon. I am totally enamoured with the baby cables and velvety softness that is Malabrigo.

Mmmmmmmushroom

I know it doesn’t look like much yet, but as far as sweaters go, I think this one will be a hit right out of the ball park. Perfect.

Posted in new projects, sweater | Leave a Comment »

I Am Learned

August 21, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Check these out. Notice anything different?

Look closely...

Yes, they are pretty. And yes, you may have guessed that they are being knit magic-loop style. But what you may not have noticed is that they are both being knit on the same circ! At the same time.

Two socks - one circ

I picked up this handy new way of knitting socks whilst at Sock Summit this year and I have to tell you, it’s the bombdotcom! Not only can you ensure that both socks are the same size, but it pretty much annihilates that pesky second sock syndrome that most people suffer from. Yup, both socks will be done at the same time!

If you think that this is something that you might be into, check out this book. I actually took the class from the author herself and she let us know that she will have a toe-up sock book coming out in April of next year.

Yup, it really works!

Posted in Socks, new projects | 2 Comments »

I Saw Some Yellow Leaves Yesterday

August 18, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Long after the gardening gloves are put away for good…

…after the flowers have wilted and died…

…and not long after the last steak has been BBQ’ed…

It will be Sweater Time again!

Yup, it’s that time of year again where my thoughts turn to falling leaves, Halloween, and dare I say it, SNOW! I can’t wait to get out the snuggly warm hand-knit sweaters and socks of seasons past and start dreaming of hand-knits present and future.

I have the yarn wound and ready to start my first sweater of the season; Wicked.

I am thinking that this Malabrigo will suit the pattern just fine.

And, then it’s off to the races with the Apres Surf Hoodie from last Summer’s Interweave Knits. Hopefully soon, this:

will become this:

And finally, I am thinking that with the return of fall, also comes the return of knee socks. So, watch out for these socks coming soon to needles near you!

Posted in Musings, Socks, new projects, new yarn, sweater | 2 Comments »

A Little Something About Sock Summit

August 15, 2009 by ladyindica2000

Shhh… it’s oh, so quiet in my house right now. TG is out on a man-date, Bunnah is at a sleepover, and the baby (who peed on the potty for the first time today – which I guess makes her a kid now!) is asleepin’. It’s time I pulled up a chair, sipped on some wine, and showed you what all the fuss was about.

The whole shebang was held at the Portland Convention Center.

Welcome to the Portland Convention Center

And let me tell you; it was heeyooge!

One teeny little part of the convention center

I took as many classes as I could possibly get.I even managed to get a class with Judith MacKenzie McCuin who is about the nicest and most knowledgeable spinner that I have ever met. She walked the Ashford Joy I was using through all it’s many paces and then some. I saw her do things with this wheel that I didn’t even know could be done without a special flyer and bobbins.

Ms. MacKenzie-McCuin running her wheel through it's paces

Thank you so much Judith. I no longer spin crunchy yarn.

We went to the Sock Hop and were so exhausted afterwards that it was all we could do to get the damn poodle skirts off.

These things are so itchy! Why didn't anyone tell me?

And I came away with bruises. At first, I couldn’t figure out what they were from; then I figured it out…

Ouch!

The Hand jive! And, believe it or not, these are already a week old in the picture.

Also, the divine Miss M. got a nasty case of food poisoning. Ack. It put her out of commission for a whole day. Give her a big hug if you run into her, k?

Finally, we packed up our new stash…