Yarn Pr0n Wednesday

Up early...day off...well nursing/chauffeur duties are required, I am here w/coffee and about to go knit...housework is taking the day off...well until this evening :)

Merino/tencel blend...oh so soft!

But I fear too pastelly for my SP!

Close up view and wondering if I should overdye it to make it more jeweled colors, hate to ruin it though. I have a few ideas courtesy of Jen but not sure I should even touch it...

This yarn below is called the mess!! Let me tell you..first I immersion dyed it in 7 colors (mistake #1 too many at a time so they couldn't get the effect of the vinegar setting them...) So it was oven dried, rinsed, colors still not set...off to microwave...colors still not set, back to full immersion with vinegar...

And Voila!! It is actually a little more darker, but I think this will work. I have to admit with all the abuse, this yarn is still soft. It is a superwash wool/nylon blend.

So I think this will be my SP yarn, she likes all the colors included in here and I feel it is jewel toned enough. What do you think! BTW, she's just as nervous as me about this too, (meaning how her SP will like the one she dyes) and she's dyeing to meet me...hahaha! I also made an emergency purchase of more sock yarn, as I am not sure of the above and wanted an option to try 1 more time...hmmmm

The one on the left used to be Patons Classic Wool in winter white. Handpainted and I thought would be very dull, yucky..but I tell you when you skein the stuff up...so different..who knew! On the right is superwash wool/nylon blend in green. Tried to make it darker with the black but it kind of just deposited on the wool. Not sure if I should overdye it....I like it! All dyeing courtesy of me and Wilton's Icing dyes..yep

Turtlegirl the same stuff used for colorizing cake icings... amazing isn't it. It is cat/people/house/container friendly! :) Well off to knit and do said duties today! bye!

She wants to see my knitting bag innards???

Turtlegirl76 tagged me so I thought I would embarass um..try to tame my startitis, Knitting ADHD...non-adherence to one project unless the deadline is within a couple of days, hours, or minutes...

So here we go, she wants to see my knitting bag innards...um....er...which one!!! LOL! I dub this my WIP/Immediate stash corner!

You can see the O bag with my winder resting on top. Inside are Kyoto, voodoo wrist warmer 1 and part of 2, cotton fleece for my GG. (tub full of fabric, one of....er..not going to tell you ;). Behind in hobo chic bag (remember the knitting olympics...has SP goodies in there along with a patient one skein sockette) Purple cotton fleece resting on top of carpet bag in the bag...or should I say cotton bag! 3 cones of cotton with various small balls...can you say oneskein and M/D knitting...Black Bella Filati paper bag in foreground, cotton chenille for flower washcloths--told Sun. 4 or more needed by 9 June..Yikes.. Knitting bag thingy with wooden frame. Dulaan hats on top, Clapotis on stitch holders ...patiently waiting its turn, small tub of stitchmarkers. And the case behind it that you can't see well is my sewing machine carrier...filled with current WIP's extra yarns. But wait a minute..you wanted to see this.....

Larger paper Bella Filati bag (btw my not-so-local LYS!) with Green gable and pattern notes... Darling patient daughter's red/black striped socks in size 1's...ick!; Noni bag, and cutaway sweater.

This little tube of blue oriental fabric is a gifty from my SP6 Yarner! It fits a crochet hook perfectly..well even 2 of them along with my chacha and stitchmarkers, pieces of yarn, stitch holders, chibi, and pen! I am by no means as organized as Turtle girl!!

The lower bag is my xray animal humbug bag with various point protectors, and stitchmarkers. I participated in a few swaps for these...I am very well stocked, but a few more is always good, they make good jewelry too! ;)
Here is my corner of our huge 3 shelf bookcase my FIL made with mostly leftover wood from a fabric store (hehe....) it was ugly but I painted it sage green and then stained it. I had tried to do a grain effect...that sucked, so I just used a cheap black sponge brush, and if you didn't look close up...you'd never know that! Ok, top has 3 hatboxes with various cards/sp notes/ and ...um...some sock yarns..hopefully soon to be socks and other various supplies. The second shelf has my small library....4 or so books, 3 binders with patterns, and box with stitch marker/jewelry supplies. The rest of the bookcase belongs to hubby..

This is what I am most ...well...can you believe it. My needle storage...I think it is funny as I make them for everyone else LOL! In my defense, I do have them cut out... :) You can see my straights getting dusty, along with dpns and other goodies in the round vase and the tub to the right has supplies and circular needles.

So there you go...I tag whomever wants to take on this task!! :) Feel free to show us your secrets!! ETA: umm...hubby has the rest of the bottom 2 shelves and the other half of the top is our printer...hehe!

Yarn/dyeing/knitting pr0n tomorrow! Hubby is having a tendon released in his thumb, so nurse/chauffeur duties are needed tomorrow...yay, knitting time!

a little bit of this

and that! I did get a few things accomplished the last couple of days, not as much as I wanted...you know the drill! Feeling a little tired and I think I am getting a chest cold! ARGH! I have way too many things to do!!

I needed 2 size US3 x 24" bamboo circs for my cascade fixation ankle socks, the addi's are just not working and I don't want to use my dpn's I want to do more on the 2 circs so I don't forget. Well had to go to the LYS as I couldn't find any in town. So after lunch with hubby on Friday, 45 mins later was at the LYS, ended up with clover brand which is fine I just like the cords on the natura's better. A few skeins of wool came back with me with ideas for a couple of oneskein projects for my One Skein SP and...well..a few more balls of the fixation. I was in and out within 15 minutes and had to drive home within 45 mins. to pick up the kids...phew I made it!

I made this the other day for less than $5 and have enough pipe left for like 2 or 3 more! Made the skeining easier, however, how does one hold it correctly. My arms are killing me! It does work better than the swift did, but sheesh...my arms!


Today spent doing some sewing, just no energy for it either, so minimal time on that. A little burst of energy produced this:

Before going into oven

Divided into 2 cakes as it'll likely become a hat or felted object due to the bajillion knots in it!

My first handpainting and oven dyeing with Wilton's icing colors on sock yarn, the one with like a bajillion knots in it. I am happy with the purple, yellow, and greens. The blue is fine, it is sky blue, but not what I want for my SP.. So I did another skein of Patons Classic Wool which is still drying but I fixed the orange to be a little duskier and the purple lighter (wanted 2 shades of purple), not so bright and still did another skein of sock yarn with green (found a knot while winding niddy (so no go to SP) and added a little black to make it deeper...it's ok, but some of the black left a few spots(used immersion). Good thing it is for me. Sooo, I am learning quite a bit on finding the colors. Hopefully tomorrow, I will get the perfect combo. I did like the handpainting, will get some bottles next time. Still a fan of immersion though!

Tomorrow, real knitting pictures...I promise! And for those who read my blog that haven't dyed and want to, well YOU CAN DO IT TOO! and get addicted like me. Keep looking, only 3 more skeins left...gotta do one perfect for my SP ya know! ;)

May Sock is.......

Finished for my Sock-a-month KAL! Done on 2 circs, which I learned from my not so local LYS. Glad I took the class, I learned a lot about basic sock making and a few other hints. Plus, for 3 weekends it was so nice to actually set foot in a yarn store!



Done in Plymouth Encore Worsted as required by the class. Not my first choice, but hubby likes them...his first of hopefully a few from me. I have 2 skeins of Regia Silk waiting in the wings to be Thuja's for him! I now can use 3 methods for sock making...hmmm need to learn the 2 at a time method one day! :)

On the dyeing note, below is a skein of Patons Classic Wool that was once the Winter White colorway. Dyed twice with Burgundy Wiltons Icing Colors, not the deep shade I wanted, but good enough....I call it Z'wine and it is a going away gift.



I'm off again today and hopefully will be dyeing and sewing when I return from my son's awards assembly.....later :)

Dyeing to meet you!!

Haha! I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to post...what can I say, I just couldn't! (picture heavy post here hopefully :)! To the left, kool-aid in stockpot, to the right first drying! Not too bad, but not the deep green I wanted so I re-dyed it.

So you see the final product below with the variations in the reds and greens. Still not the green I want, but it'll do for my first skein!

What to do when you don't have a niddy noddy. You wind the skein like this...

Then you use your swift and rewind...and rewind...and 20 mins later still rewinding..to get this!

top view
side view

And then you're really finished when you get this!!!!!! My very first dyed object...on purpose that is! ;)

Z's Watermelon Colorway as said so by my Daughter!!

Knitpicks Dye your own sock yarn with 5 pkgs of tropical and lime green kool-aid each. (which maybe that is why it isn't deep, dark green...hmmm)
I also learned next time rewinding for a skein to use the 3rd arm of my swift, so the final skein will have more twists with it.

Thanks for indulging with me. I promise not to be dye crazy and just show some of the color experiments I am doing for the Dyeorama swap. I am not using kool-aid any longer...I have moved onto Wiltons Icing Dyes.........more later :)

Z's Tutorial on........

How NOT to go crazy while making a bigger skein before you dye!
If you choose not to use the skein as it arrives from the store/manufacturer/etc. Follow my tutorial so you do not end up with this mess!

I wanted to make the skein longer to do 3 colors, so I got the two chairs, started winding around them and tried not to get dizzy! Well, no one warned me about the tons of knots that happen while you are holding the skein over one hand and guiding the rest as you go around in crazy circles..... So after a very frustrating 1/2 hr. you see the above results. I pieced it together best I could. So this skein will not be socks for anyone too many knots--4 I think, but I will triple it up to make a hat or felted object! All is not lost! :)

Sooo if you want headache free preparation for skeining longer areas and don't have a warp board..here you go :)

First use this...

To get this...

Then you can do this....


To get this.....

Now just tie skein together in the appropriate places, remove from chair and you are ready to go and even SANE!!! see...skein...you gotta stay sane!! hahahaha!

A little knitting going on...

Well I think I am recovered from the crud! I did get a minor version of it phew! Yesterday I stayed home and sacrificed not using another 40% off coupon...oh well! I have made progress with this baby today!

My Green Brown Gable is debuted! Well, partially LOL! I had to frog it once already, luckily only on the 2nd row as I forgot a K1f/b! Yikes. So far so good, I just hope it fits! It is addicting and hard to put down today as I wanted to also knit on this...

ETA: OMG, when I swatched, it was on US 8's to finally get gauge...well I messed up and used US 6's.....waaaaaaaa! Well I did a quick gauge check and it was 5 sts. per inch...what I am supposed to have...WTH??? Well I am going to continue onto the point of trying it on and go from there. I don't want to frog it and if there is a slim chance it'll fit...then I would really cry...stay tuned for the Tale of the Green Brown Gable....




This is the start of an ankle sock! Oh, BTW, I just joined the Cascade Fixation Ankle Sock KAL hosted by KnitPastis! You too can make a pair of ankle socks with only 1 skein of Cascade Fixation Yarn! These will be perfect for the NC summers here when I need to wear a sock, especially at work. Oh and since I have pink, lime green, and black clogs for work...well you know what happened...I have to match you know ;)

I do have an FO, I finished it late Saturday! Yay!

Dulaan Zud Hat in Lambs Pride Bulky in Raspberry and Magellenes multi yarns. Used my US13 addi for the first time, and my Brittny DPN's got broken in as well! I have enough of both leftover to make another one.

I know I have a lot of WIP's, but slowly they are being worked on! Along with dyeing yarns later today and sewing a bit! I have a week to get my Sockamonth KAL sock done...on the heel flap so far! Later! Maybe with dyed yarns to show!

J is for.....

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans!!!! The bestest JB's in the world, IMHO ;)


A close up view! Is your mouth watering yet?

The whole shebang! My favorite flavors are cinnamon, blueberry, cherry, bubble gum, caramel apple, cotton candy, cream soda pineapple, Dr. Pepper, French vanilla, green apple, juicy pear, kiwi, lemon and l. lime, orange juice and sherbert, raspberry, root beer, strawberry cheesecake, tangerine, tutti-frutti, watermelon, and the best in the world--toasted marrrrshhhmellloow, ahhhh! I detest licorice and popcorn...yuk!

Ok, now that I've made everyone hungry (that is if you like them ;). A bit of knitting...she what you can accomplish while waiting patiently (tapping foot!) for DD to get out of the movies 1 hr later than planned......hmmm

half of a Dulaan Zud hat! I am not going to make a "number commitment" I can't do that to myself right now...lets say..as many as possible, and with doubled bulky yarn and size 13 needles...the possibilities.........Hubby is doing much better....however.....as much as I stayed away, the creeping crud wants me....it's attacked my throat, is making me achy and a little feverish, I didn't even go to knit nite tonite...so you know I'm a little under the weather...but not enough to NOT knit KWIM ;) Off to the bottle of zicam to ward off evil germs! :)

It's not easy being green......

I remember that song from way back when... :) From where I don't know... Another favorite color of mine is Green...all shades usually. Here are a few below... :)

This is the Everyday Cardigan kit from Peace Fleece that I just got yesterday from my yarncoop. The color is in Hemlock. Great deal on that for sure and I can't wait until the next one..someday ;) I really like the looks of the yarn so far. I will not know how it knits as this is going to be an August or September knit for sure!

This is the 2nd flower washcloth I got finished with but couldn't take a great picture...it is a sage green color. I have a bit of leftovers and it will be interesting to see what turns out. But that is a while off, my wrists are still aching a bit from the cotton...yikes..and I plan on casting on my Green/brown Gable top in cotton fleece within the next day or so.

On the needles so far are my 2nd 2 circ sock, sockettes (gotta finish one pair within the next 2 weeks!) Swatching for the 3rd time for Cutaway from Chicknits, but I think I am getting gauge as I went up 2 needle sizes, just like I had to for GGable. Oh and it is crunch time for Dulaan hats/scarves. I need to get them in the mail no later then the last week of June.... I am planning a few days off next week so I'll be knitting, sewing, and dyeing yarn for my swapee!
ETA: I got gauge on cutaway...3rd times the charm lately!!! Woot!!! I think I am going to start any future gauge swatch 2 needles sizes up from the recommendations...Maybe it'll save headaches and some on yarn!! Good thing I usually get 1 extra skein for these projects!

Hubby is sick with the flu, and I am still hoping I get to go quilting this weekend. I have the WIP's lined up ready to go! Now if I don't get the flu.....

Just popping in...

To say hi! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Ours was kind of wet and busy as usual. I did finish this for my MIL for Mother's Day...well after she left from dinner here. LOL! I made roasted chicken x 2 ...they were small organic ones (hubby won't let non-organic chicken in here anymore...) and I had enough left for another meal..yay, one less cooking night! I tried a new recipe to me from the Barefoot Contessa....I love cooking with fresh herbs and one day hope to have a herb garden of my own...

Flower washcloth from Weekend Knitting in Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille in White and Yellow.

I am sure a lot of you have made these since this book has been around for a few years, but I finally finished one and have another one on the needles. I'll see her Tuesday and hope to have both done...since I had the yarn since Christmas ;). She did another gift to hold her off... Myself I got a lovely new teapot and cup set, now I only need one of those metal holders to put the loose tea in and voila, more than 1 cup of tea. I also got one of those willow tree figurines of a mom holding a child.

I also forgot to post that I finished my sock on 2 circs class last week, I learned so much about sock knitting and I am so glad I took it.

I am on the heel flap of the second sock and hope to finish very soon as I need a pair for the sock a month KAL and I have too many favorite sock yarns sitting there waiting to be cast on :) Those and a few sweaters, tanks, bags, ummm you know there is a reason why I don't have progress bars or "on the needles" sections on this blog...don't you ;)

Colors....make my fiber addiction

Hi! I blame it on color! Colors everywhere and depending on my mood, the shades and tones may vary. I love mostly every color....there is one that I don't and that is yellow...just not a plain old yellow. I love yellow with other colors, in stripes and variegations, blocks, squiggly lines and objects on paper, fabrics, etc. and yellow in the world like the sun and flowers...just not what I would pick for me to wear. Sorry, other than my sturdy yellow rain slicker..no yellow pants, shirts, sweaters, socks, shoes or undergarments for me ;) Although, my dream kitchen walls do want to be a light pastel yellow...with lots of windows....to dream huh!

I have a fiber addiction...whether it is a gorgeously colored yarn or piece of fabric, it is the colors that draw me to it. Secondly it may be the pattern of that particular item. But it truly is the color.. (this is a post to fulful many things today!)

This I received Monday and can't stop petting it...it screams COLOR to me...and it even has yellow in it and that's ok!










All Things Heather superwash sock yarn in "Tie Dye". This colorway enticed me from the beginning and I couldn't wait to receive it. Winding it was pure joy. I never really paid attention to looking down at the yarn as it is winding before. I mean I do pay attention as it is leaving the swift and making sure it doesn't get knotted, etc...but I just looked down at it and it was so amazing, the way the colors ran off the swift onto the winder! I wanted to redo the whole ball again but I held off. I will be enjoying this knit (not that I don't enjoy others, but what can I say...I am a color addict!)

This is my answers to the Dye-O-Meme-a-Rama for my pal! (see told ya color was the preface to the rest of the post!)

Your favorite colors? Red, blue, green, brown/blues together, pinks, purples, blacks, burgundy

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? None, I like them all...but right now it is more fingering or sport...because of socks :)

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? Both

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn?
Yes! I like all types, whatever you are up to making...I am a newbie dye'r also. ;)

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? Maybe the nylon or tencel, whatever you choose will be fine, superwash even better but not required...as this yarn is for meeeeeeeeee!

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? this is soo hard...blue chocolate, um Blossoming spring, Fiery Autumn.... is this enough?? LOL!

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? Stepping out of my comfort zone by producing the colors, not just buying what appeals to me. YIKES, am I scared now!

General yarn/fiber questions:

Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? No

If so, what's your favorite dye and method? Don't know yet, but I'll be trying kool-aid and easter-egg dyes

Do you spin? No

Have you knit socks before? Um...Yes!

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? Afghan squares

What are some of your favorite yarns? Lambs Pride bulky and worsted, Knitpicks sock yarns, shine and Wool of Andes, Patons Classic Merino, Cascade 220, Noro silk garden, almost anything but Manos...

What yarn do you totally covet? Sorry, nothing specific comes to mind...something soft or silky.
I've never tried Cascade sierra or any jaegar yarns...one day :)
Favorite patterns? Purses, bags, socks, and sweaters...although I've yet to complete one!

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? A nice sweater in a soft yarn that I wouldn't have to look at the price per skein...I would see the color first..you know ;)then it would be the softness of the yarn..then I would get 1 or 2 skeins over what that pattern needs...never once looking at the price or finding yarn subs...that would be a dream.

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I prefer circulars in bamboo, addi turbos, inox express, and trying to find plain old inox gray ones. I have a Denise set I use also and a few metal ones in weird sizes.

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Cashmere, soft and springy LOL!

Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Um..er..chocolate, jelly beans, altoids cinnamon gum, clove and beemans gums, gummy bears

What's your favorite animal? fish, they stay in a tank ;)

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? My family has a dog Belle, Bloodhound-4 yrs and a Siamese cat- Sapphire 1 yr.

If you were a color what color would you be? um Red ;)

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else's).. Chambray/denim worn comfortable shirt

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? Sunsets and Gerber Daisies

Tell me the best quote you've ever heard or read. ?? :)

Do you have a wishlist? No

Anything else you'd like to share with the group today? Hi! My name is Zonda and I am a color and fiber addict!



I am ending this post with....surprise, no color! This is my shipment of plain ole fingering weight yarn! Left: wool/tencel blend-1sk; wool/nylon blend-2sks; superwash wool-2sks
My the dyeing force be with me...I just want at least one of these skeins in a colorway worthy enough to send forth to my dye-o-rama pal! :)

I is for..........

IGUANA! Yes folks a live Iguana sunning him/herself in my azalea bush! I could not wait to do this post as I got the pictures 2 weeks ago! I was home on vacation...was leaving the house and something made me look into the azalea bush...stopped the car, backed up and said to the kids "someone put a turtle or dinosaur toy in our azalea.." I got out and looked up closer...but not too close..its eyes blinked and turned its head a tiny bit..YIKES! Ran in the house and got a camera and you see the finished results. Where it came from, no one knows. It seemed to enjoy it's time in the sun..and if I find out it's not an iguana..eek! He took off shortly after and where he lives I sure hope is no where near my house!

I am off to the LYS...sure wished I was close enough for MSW...well then again maybe it is a good thing I am not LOL!

Got Gauge?

Holy freaking crap!!! I did it! (insert happy dance here LOL!) I got gauge on US 8's!! I just washed and it is drying, but I don't expect it to shrink/grow too much as the prior swatches didn't...I am spot on!!hehe...20 stitches/28 rows. You just don't know how I feel right now!....HA!

Of course you do! ;)

Working on my sock homework now...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Friends....what would I do without them!

I have a great group of internet friends! They have rescued me, listened to my venting about knitting or non-knitting related, or just listened...Here are a few that have saved my sanity, made me happy, and taught me a thing or two in the past few days :)

Ok, I am on swatch #3 for Green brown Gable. First 2 I had 6 sts per ", I need 5 sts per "...Used 6's-nope, 7's-nope, and about to start with 8's...hmmm I guess I'm a pretty tight knitter. I would like to thank Heather for promptly answering my frantic emails, and calming me down today. Also thanks to Trillian42 for calming me down yesterday about the same thing...hmmm she offered me a margarita....still waiting ;)



See these! My own craft tags! Designed by CBear19 of FuzzySheepDesigns! She's starting to do small design projects and I couldn't be more happier with mine.. I picked craft tags because I not only knit, I sew and quilt, so I wanted a generic one I could use to write info on the back. I may even get sewn-in type labels made too. So stop by and check out her work!

Now for some....Yarn Pr0n

So soft Lorna's Laces Worsted in Mineshaft and Embers. I got these from Kpixie as I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket LOL! I wanted 2 of the embers to make socks for me, but it was not meant to be...sniff. Thank you Turtlegirl76 for your inspiring yarn pr0n of the last few days..oh yeah and telling me about the macro button (which it's in detail in the owners manual LOL!) These are by no means as gorgeous as yours, but not too bad! Oh and also listening to my swatching gripes too! ;)

I couldn't say thanks enough to these ladies and a lot of others out there in bloggy and Knittytm
land for helping me with my knitting..oh yeah and a few other things too ;)

Until tomorrow......