Crazy Socks

So I started knitting some socks on one long circular needle. checked my gauge, did the figure 8 cast on and started knitting and increasing. Then I noticed that my socks were pretty different.


I know I checked my guage. I just didn't check each skein seperatly; they're supposed to be the same.

5 st/in vs. 6.5 st/in.... great...
I asked the nice people at knittinghelp.com about how to solve this problem. I got 1 response suggesting to start at a differnt spot in the skein and match up the colors as this yarn happens to vary in size. They're usually more talkative than that. Oh, well. I seem to be good at killing threads on any forrum. So I wound the skein on my ballwinder and tried the other end. This time using the magic cast on. I don't know why there is so much "magic" stuff in knitting. I used the magic cast on on magic loop and so far its convient and looks good, but isn't magic at all.
So the new toes are moving right along and now I'm trying to decide if I want ribbing on the top of these socks and what kind and wondering where the skein gets fat. Wish me luck, I really like these colors!

So, if you have some of this yarn

be careful, it might change gauge on you.

New Item - Mirrors and Buttons

I've had this idea for a while now and I finally did it. I think its really cool, but I'll have to wait and see what happens. I took some expired sectional and terminal area charts and cut out circles to make into mirrors and buttons. I think they're really fun. If you want some aviation themed mirrors or buttons check out my shop. I'll be listing more there and if there is a city in Washington or Oregon that you want, just ask.
Here's the first one http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6288927

Small Purse Pattern

Who doesn't like ideas for things to make with small amounts of yarn!?
I'm going to try to make some patterns to make with small amounts of handspun yarn or yarn left over from other projects.


This is the first of those patterns. I made this cute little purse out of handspun Blue Faced Leicester almost bulky yarn and and handspun with beads wool worsted weight yarn. I chose different weights so the top of the purse would be larger then the bottom. The whole thing is a whopping 1/2 oz (13 grams)



Knit a rectangle 8in wide and 4 in tall (mine was 35 stitches)

With the border yarn (beaded yarn) knit 4 rows, then bind off except for 3 st.

Knit I cord on these 3 st for 5.5 in or the length that you want the handle.

Fold the rectangle in half with the purl side out; on the end opposite where your I cord starts pick up and knit 3 st, then bind off.

With the purl side still out and with the 1st color crochet or sew the open edge together.

Weave in ends.
Turn knit side out.





Ta da! A cute little purse. Its a good size for holding business cards and a few extras like lipstick. I just checked, my digital camera fits in it. An ipod would fit too.
Well I'm off to work on some socks right now.

Flickr

I now have a spot on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainydayart/
I'm mostly showing off pictures of my creations.

Sneak Preview

I spun this yarn the other day, for a certain project.

I'm going to be making some small things...

Shetland Roving turns to Yarn

In my quest to try even more fiber types/kinds of wool I bought some shetland roving. Here is some of it waiting to be plied. Some of it came as roving and some as a batt.

Blanket Update

I finally attached a few more pieces to my sample blanket. The big brown rectangle on the left is Blue Faced Leicester. The white square above that is ingeo. The green rectangle waiting to be attached is knitted from some of my hand dyed yarn. It should have more lables on it right now, but I tried making some different ones and them put it in the wash to see how it would hold up and it dissapeared! I just can't find it now. Maybe the washer destroyed it, but that would seem a bit odd. My clothes from that load were fine. :) I guess I'll just have to make more lable and hand wash them.

Etsyfast Sample Bags and ACEOs

The Etsyfast Sample Bags are now for sale in the group shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5068591

The pictures look great! I really wish I could have contributed more to them. They just have my business cards.

There is also the June ACEO Challenge (ACEO = Art Cards Editions and Originals). They are small collectible pieces of art.
To find ACEO's by FAST's fiber artists, search tags and titles for "ACEO" and "EtsyFAST" or look at the shop's favorites.

Mine are here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5944531
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5749690

I'd like to make another, but June looks like it will be a really busy month offline.