Still Knitting!: Well I've Got the Yarn

I'm still alive and well in knitting land. Just to prove it, here is my newly arrived Knit Picks order organized by my knitting circle.

Baby alpaca and silk. Shawls perhaps?

I have no plans for this Chroma fingering yarn.

She did not come with my yarn order. She is the newest addition to my menagerie.

See the knitted afghan in the background. Long ago claimed by my older cat and now by Sophie.

Happy Knitting!

Feeling Useless?: Join the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long!

I felt like doing something useless, after my Christmas Crunch Knitting. So, I've joined the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long. All you have to do is collect your ORTs (old ratty threads) in a glass container and post it's progress (or lack thereof) on your blog every New Moon in 2011.

This is the glass container I've commandeered for my ratty yarn scraps.

Here it is sans wine corks (which took me a life-time to collect, really) and with my first yarn scraps instead.

Oh, and did I tell you there is a giveaway at the end for the best useless stitch-a-longers? For the complete rules and to join up, visit here.

Happy Scrapping!

Spinning: Not On A Bike But Maybe On A Drop Spindle?

On the recommendation of Kate at Knits in Class, I bought Maggie Casey's book Start Spinning: Everything You Need To Know To Make Great Yarn.

Published by Interweave Books, Maggie Casey's Start Spinning appears to this absolute novice as pretty comprehensive.

I'll start my spinning adventure using a drop spindle. Buying a drop spindle may be a problem living in a small town. I assume they're sold on-line. However, you can't test for quality before buying.

Joining Beginning Spinners on Ravelry should be a big help.

Now to locate a drop spindle! Any advice on anything to do with my latest pursuit like where to buy a spindle?

Happy FAF at Wisdom Begins in Wonder!

Canada Post Delivers!: Yarn That Is

A box of goodness arrived from Elann today.

Look what's inside: glorious yarn and yummy sweater patterns.

I finally got to touch my Peruvian Highland Chunky yarn. I'm not disappointed with the Oxford Grey Heather colour.

Elann is teasing me with sumptuous brochures of more yarn and more patterns.

I love knitting sweaters. But, I am strong. I won't be tempted until I finish Jared Flood's version of the Urban Aran Cardigan. Maybe.

Happy temptations!

Yarn Snarl, I Snarl!

I was cozy in my pjs and happily knitting my Multnomah shawl when an unexpected yarn snarl intruded on my bliss. Yes, this is the offending snarl.

This snarl emerged from the centre pull of my Patons Kroy Sock yarn skein. When I untangled it, you can see my discovery. Both of its ends were broken from the skein leaving me high and dry in the middle of a lace row on my shawl.

The knitting goddess must have been looking down on me. I was able to knit to the end of my row with a bit of yarn to spare. I had only knit about five rows with this skein.

In the past, I’ve knit with skeins where the yarn emerges in a knot tieing broken ends together. But, this is the worst yet. Quality control where are you!

I hope there are no other snarls this Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gal’s. I’ll be checking to see.

Happy Fiber Arting!

The Knitwit: Not Necessarily a Good Thing

The latest Martha Stewart Living magazine December 2009 has an article in the Crafts section resurrecting a questionable gadget from the 1960s and 70s called the Knitwit. This gadget is also known as a daisy wheel or flower loom. I remember having my own Knitwit back in the 70s. I no longer have the Knitwit, but I do have the original pattern book.

I remember the frustration of making the flowers that are sewn together to make the projects in the pattern book. Winding your yarn around the prongs on the Knit Wit was one thing, but the overcasting and lockstitching to hold your flimsy delicate creation together in the form of a flower was another. Just look at the instructions. And this does not include the two pages of accompanying written directions!

Make 150 of these Knitwit flowers. Join 150 of these Knitwit flowers together. You'll have this lovely afghan. Remember, you'll never get that time back!

For those of you who may still wish to try the Knitwit despite my dire warning and don't want to spend the $20.00 to buy the Knitwit kit at Knitwit.com,  you can make your own!  Here's the DIY for a flower loom made from wooden dowels and hot glue. Or, if you're into pins and cardboard, try your hand at making this daisy wheel.

Yes, I am bitter over my Knitwit experience from which I obviously have not fully recovered. Oh, well...

Happy crafting!

Ecofriendly Yarns: Buyer Beware

As the name implies, ecofriendly yarn is good for mother earth. Unlike synthetic fiber, ecofriendly yarn is made from natural fibers like wool, cotton, bamboo or soy. Synthetic fiber, like most acrylic yarn, is derived from by-products of the petroleum industry. If you think you are being green by using natural fibers for your knitting or crocheting, think again. Natural fibers are not necessarily ecofriendly. To be ecofriendly, your yarn must come from a sustainable source and be grown or harvested in a way that does not damage the earth.

Organic yarns are ecofriendly as they are produced according to industry standards which require sustainable green practices in their production.

Organic wool must be harvested from animals that are hormone free and fed on organic feed. These animals must not be dipped in insecticides to rid them of pests or be crowded on over-grazed pastures.

In 2005, Canada and the United States produced 19, 152 pounds of organic wool. Think of all the sweaters you could knit!

Organic cotton is grown without the use of earth damaging chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. These growing practices leave the soil nutrient rich and water resources uncontaminated. India produces about half of the world's organic cotton. Syria, Turkey and China are also large producers.

Bamboo and soy yarns are the newer entrants into the world of ecofriendly fibers. The bamboo plant is known for its rapid growth after harvest which lessens the need for fertilizers and pesticides. However, the harvesting of bamboo is not regulated and the process of turning it into fiber uses harsh chemicals.

Soy yarn is produced from the waste products of tofu making which is why it is seen as an ecofriendly yarn. However, there are environmental issues with the production of soybeans.

Then there is the issue of the dyes used to color these yarns. Buy yarns in the color naturally produced by the the animal or the plant. You may also buy yarns dyed with environmentally friendly dyes.

Yes, these ecofriendly yarns are more expensive and may be seen as a luxury. But, choosing wisely for your yarn stash helps mother earth. Happy yarn shopping.