Knitting cleaning ...

Theme of the week is cleaning ... And knitting.
Really, the theme of every week is knitting, and eating chocolate. But the chocolate part is given.
The reason the knitting theme is cleaning is because of a current project I've started for she spinning group I've joined.
Every month the 'Whorling Spinsters' meet at the textile center in Minneapolis. They spin, exchange news, share tips and projects ... And try joint experiments. This month spinners were encouraged to take home a sample of 'undesirable' fiber from a local sheep farmer. The farmer raises the herd for meat and was told that the fleece was not worth much. A member of the group is a friend and wanted to show him that the fiber is usable and very versatile - it just isn't super luxurious like merino.
So each spinner took a few ounces home to clean, card and bring back to report.

I used the soaking instructions from Deg Robson's the Independent Knitter. Here's my bit of fleece soaking in hot water inside a lingerie bag - kept it all together and from getting handled too much.
I soaked the fleece twice in hot water for 20 minutes each soak, and then 15 minutes in water with some dawn detergent (non-phosphate), another dawn soak, and a final 20 minute hot water soak to get out the last of the detergent. All told it was about an hour and a half of soaking and dumping water. The first batch was super brown and dirty. Each soak got progressively cleaner and now the fleece is a lovely cream color with bits of grass left.
So far my experience has been good. We'll see what it's like when I drum card everything next Monday.
I might even be brave and try to dye the whole thing before carding. As I won't dye it afterwards.
Also, I plan to spindle spin the whole thing instead of using my wheel. I hope to get a different feel for the fiber, especially with one I know won't be as slick and short as merino.

Remember last week, my lesson on dishcloths on a knitting machine - it went very well! I bought two extra cones of cotton to make dishcloths.

There they are! And they work fabulously! My housemates love them already! And I've got a set of 4 ready for an upcoming present. My only need left is to buy a humidifier. My apartment is so dry (with the heat on) that the yarn becomes like static cling and sticks to itself as it goes through the machine. This is making the machine do weird things and not make perfect little dishcloths.
So, I've cleaned a fleece and made things to clean my kitchen. All that's left is to actually clean.
Oh, if only that was as fun as knitting.
Be excellent to each other!

63 and counting

Who's begun counting down the days? As knitters I don't think we're ever ready for that countdown ... hand knits for loved ones ... The crunch for finishing the lovelies for Christmas.

Last year I planned way ahead. I had a giant project in the works: the velociraptor sweater for my husband. I started early November and finished with a week to spare for blocking before his birthday dec. 21st. Offda. Here's a photo, the charts are on ravelry. And I use Elizabeth zimmermans percentage system for sizing the yoke-sweater.

This year I am keeping the project simple - at least for the holidays. The rest of the projects are just as awesome, geeky, and inspired (if I may say so myself) as the velociraptor sweater. There are three new designs floating around. Two sweaters and a shawl (that is still percolating). It will be the winter of charts, crazy new techniques, and machine knitting!

But back to the holidays: this afternoon is my next lesson in machine knitting, and is the link to knitted Christmas presents!

I have some lovely Cascade yarns ultra Pima cotton ready to whip into some machine knit dishcloths. I'm excited for the experience, as I've never hand knit a dishcloth before ... And I'm excited to use these intense colors to make some intensely awesome Christmas gifts!

Be excellent to each other!

And don't stress too much about the hand knits for the holidays. A hand knit two weeks late is still a special gift. (And I've been a month late before. Breathe.)

 

Knitting tech

This week I am attending JNUC 2013, the international conference for users of JAMF and their Casper suite. In my day job I am moderately techie. I didn't major in comp sci, I don't do anything with the server and network. I make the iPad program run. I manage the software behind the scenes, deal with any problem apps/settings or breakages. Some of the talks at the conference are over my head. But that's what makes these fun (besides hanging out with 1,100 people that all love this work as much as I do). I LOVE learning. If I had enough money I would go back to school for another degree - and design full time. Those are compatible. Right?

Back to the title. I am a visual learner, and at conferences I need something to do with my hands. Luckily, I'm a knitter.

Hello, my name is purplbear and I knit.

I've been working on my butterwillow shawl at the conference.

See?

That was yesterday. Today I am about 6 rows from binding off. It's been the perfect project for a conference. Complicated enough that I like it, but with really short repeats and mostly knit and purl stitches that I can listen without thinking too much about what I am knitting.

Also today ... I met a fellow knitter from Seattle.

I have to admit, my clothing choices have been intentional. All days of the conference I am wearing hand knit shawls. Sort of like a badge or flag to meet new friends. "Here! Over here! I'm a knitter! Come talk to me! I'm approachable!" Knitting does make you approachable. You are making a thing that is filled with love and care for someone, how can you not be a nice person?

The knitter from Seattle was very nice. Sadly we didn't get much time to chat about our knitting. We are in sessions all day for the Casper suite that we all use in our day jobs.

But this coming April will be the knitter convention, YARNOVER! I love knitters.

 

Be excellent to each other!

 

Be careful what you ask for...

Or you just might get a cat purring himself to sleep on your lap. For the first time ... In 4 years!

We bemoaned not having a lap cat. We tried every trick for years. Gentle cuddling while holding - for limited amounts of time. 10 seconds holding on lap ... Every once in awhile.

Our cat has finally decided that his human' slap is an okay place to be.

Which is why I am holding my iPad in the air and typing one handed to avoid putting anything on the cat. It's why my nose itches and I haven't been able to blow it. It's why my legs are getting warm.

Be careful what you ask for.

 

The Tettegouche test is going well. Some math has been redone. A few errors found. Some instructions clarified and been rewritten to make more sense. One woman has already sent me a photo of her project - which just is so ... Jazzy. It's inspiring to see the yarns that people choose. Everyone looks at a pattern slightly differently, and therefore colors vary accordingly. It's a great thing to see unfold as these people knit this thing that I've only had in my own brain for so long.

While the test goes well I continue to plan new projects. I'm determining how I would construct a sweater on a machine, and write directions for it to be done by hand. Charts and fair isle are also being designed. There will probably be a white sweater with the lace and linen buttons (from a drawing in a previous post) and then a sweater for a friend in pink with a yoke of dancing elephants. Uh-huh ... Too cute.

Be excellent to each other!

 

No test anxiety involved

Shh. Testing is in progress. But no worries, no stress or anxiety involved because there are no right answers.

Or maybe there are right answers in knitting. I don't know: unless the answer is a knit '42.'

Finished the write up for Tettegouche last week and sent the call out for testers via 'the testing pool' on ravelry. A few preliminary findings:

• Checking the charts over and over again before inserting them into the final document was a great way to save headache and extra editing in the end.
• Remember: break at the section to change the direction of the pages for extra long charts (and it's okay to have to look up this formatting on google every time I write up a pattern)
• Super cool trick: 'edit' choose find > replace - you can find certain text and replace it with other text. That m3 I decided should be written as k3into1 ... SO EASY TO CHANGE! This made editing the written section so much easier. I dread hunting through to find the mistyped stitch to replace it. I must have used this section 5 times already and I know I will use it again!
• DO NOT post for testers on a Saturday morning. Lovely people did contact me and several are testing ... But if I shall be gone all day Saturday it means I can't respond to people until the following morning. Sadly this resulted in several ladies committing to other tests.

But the PDF is sent, and knitting shall commence. This is a fun time, I enjoy seeing the yarn that others choose and seeing the pictures as people post and compare. I've often had testers ask if they can change the weight of the yarn or size of the needles. This would only be a problem if all the testers made this change. When one person changes the specs of the pattern for their knit ... It is educational. It lets me know that the pattern works in different yarn weights. It helps in the decision of which needles to recommend or whether more notes are needed on a gauge.

While the test happens I have a simpler knit along with the second sample of Tettegouche. The new knit is buttonwillow in yellow. So of course I called it butterwillow. The testing is a fun phase stage of the design process and so a new fun knit is required.

Hope everyone else is also having fun.

Be excellent to each other!