Sunday, October 31, 2010

David Taylar Daniels

I have an internet friend who creates beautiful quality work, whether it's knitting, spinning, dying, weaving, photography, or anything else he decides to do.  Sometimes he will sell the lovely things he creates.  I've purchased yarn from him in the past and I've been so pleased.

I hinted/suggested to Dave that he might dye some fingering-weight yarn, with the colors dyed to order.  If he does, I plan to be one of his first customers.  I've sworn off buying yarn for the foreseeable future, but I'm happy to make this exception.

Yesterday he blogged about the idea, "A Yarn Survey", including a survey in order for you to show your interest. 

http://davidtaylardaniels.com/blog/

Check it out, take the survey, leave a comment....and tell him that Joanne sent you!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions about how to resize the Carmichael aran.  I've had a lot of suggestions.  The one I'm going to try first came from Pat Kirtland, posting on the Knitting Beyond The Hebrides email group.
Here's her suggestion, quoted from her email:
"I would reblock the finished sweater to the size you want....and when it is dry hold a steam iron over the top of the sweater about an inch away from the sweater, this will "set" the yarn."
I had never heard of setting the yarn before, but I will certainly give it a try. 
In the past I'd always blocked individual pieces first, in order to make joining the pieces easier.  I'll probably think twice about doing that again.  Perhaps it is better to block sweaters after they are seamed.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Colorado Avalanche Colors

I am not buying any new yarn.  At least that has been the plan for the past couple of months, and my plan for the foreseeable future.  Having said that, I did have a little relapse.  The one yarn I need the least is sock yarn, but I saw sock yarn that was dyed to match the colors of a favorite hocky team.  Being a big Colorado Avalanche fan, how could I resist? It from an Etsy shop online called Draygoneyarnes.


The yarn is 80% Superwash Merino / 20% Nylon, 100 grams/420 yds.

My skein seems to have more white than the skein, above and the colors are less rich and vibrant.

The yarn is fairly loosely plied and I'm not yet sure if I'll make socks. If I do, I'll need to reinforce the heels and toes, I'm sure.  Maybe I'll make a little neck shawl to wear on game days. If I decide on a scarf, I'll have to pick one that looks good in a self-striping yarn.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Carmichael Aran - The Dilemma

I haven't blogged lately as I really didn't have anything to say.  I've been knitting a bit, but nothing was quite photo-worthy along the way.

This evening I took a picture of the Carmichael Aran.  It's all finished, except for the neckband. 

However, I've run into a problem and I'm not quite sure what I'll do about it.  I welcome suggestions.
Each piece was knit to gauge and turned out to be just the size that I wanted it to be.  I soaked each piece in Soak and the pieces became large and loose.  I was worried.  I blocked each piece, nudging it back to the size that it was when I was knitting, the size I wanted the piece to be.  I thought that all was well.  I was wrong.

I sewed the pieces together and the sweater looked long.  I hoped that it was just an optical illusion, but unfortunately it wasn't.  The sleeves and body had grown by about 1-1/2" to 2" in length.  The width is about half an inch wider, nothing I'll worry about.
Now, the dilemma.  What do I do about it?  Should I wet and block the sweater again?  Would I dare to put in the dryer, even for a very short time?  Something else? 

I did do a swatch and it, too, came out looser and bigger, but when I pushed it gently back to the original measurements, the piece stayed put.  It didn't gow as the sweater did.
This is an overdue gift.  I'd like to get it in the mail and off to the recipient and start on something else. 

What's this knitter to do?

Ideas?

Monday, October 11, 2010

Thanksgiving

To Canadians everywhere:


Happy Thanksgiving

Heureux d'action de grĂ¢ces

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Contest Winner

Thanks to those of you who entered the contest and for the suggestions of excellent blogs to visit.  I've enjoyed checking them out.  The winner, chosen at random, was Deb C

Deb, please email me with your full name and mailing address and I'll get the copy of Alice Startmore's new "Aran Knitting" book in the mail to you.  I think you'll enjoy it.  I know that I'm looking forward to making several of the designs, especially the new one, "Eala Bhan", but with shorter sleeves.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Hockey - 15 Years Later

Thursday was the opening of the regular season for the Colorado Avalanche.  This year was special as there was a pre-game reunion ceremony honoring the '95/'96 team.  If you don't know the story, that was the first year that that Colorado had a professional hockey team.  They moved here from Quebec City, formerly known as the Quebec Nordiques, and in their very first season here they won the Stanley Cup.  What a way to make yourselves welcome!  Almost the entire team showed up in Denver for the ceremony.  Here are a few players from that team.  You can click on the pictures to make them larger and use your back button to come back here.

Pepsi Center, Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Adam Deadmarsh and Joe Sakic

Patrick Roy

Peter Forsberg

Claude Lemieux

Uwe Krupp

Some of the '95/'96 team, Adam Foote looking up

The game after the ceremony was against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Avs went on to beat them 4 to 3 in overtime.  It was a good night all around.