The Power of 10

I knit 10 projects for Single Skein September 2010












This hat is the only project that took more than one ball of yarn. It took 4. That's 4 small balls held double.


I learned to knit 10 years ago. I was living in a new city and unemployed in that depressing stage of looking for work. I don't remember exactly why I chose to take a knitting class at the Yarn Barn. It could have been because I had already taken all their weaving classes, or because I thought the yarn I was spinning might be more suited to knitting than weaving. It was for sure because I was a bit jealous of all the socks being knit at the Weaving Guild meetings.

I don't remediable the exact reason but I do remember that the class was learning to knit felted mittens. By the end of the class I had finished 3 pairs of mittens, 2 hats, a pair of socks, and started on a lace shawl. In those 9 weeks I learned to knit on double points, find gauge and do the math to make hats or socks that fit, knit cables, turn a heel, and knit lace.

And while I may not remember why knitting in the beginning I do remember clearly the day that I started knitting more than weaving. It was 6 years ago. I had just spent 6 months spinning the yarn to weave these fine huck lace scarves. 6 months of spinning and I was done weaving over a 3 day weekend. That was anticlimactic and just took the wind out of my sails. Now I can spend a 3 day weekend spinning and have enough yarn to knit with for a month maybe two.

5 years ago I discovered yarn buying. Who knew? That has become it's very own entity.

My Knitting Fantasy Life

So I'm knitting right along for Single Skein September. I have so many photos on my camera that I'm avoiding them so it's not making it onto the blog. At least not yet.

Anyway, I have my queue all lined up. I can't wait to cast on my next hat as soon as this hat is finished. But then wait! Look at that shinny yarn in that basket. It's supposed to be a cowl. I'll knit that instead. Ok, good. I cast it on.

Then I read the EZ wool tights knit along and soon I'm remembering that winter is coming and I really want some wool yoga pants and have for years. I think about that for days and have the yarn and color picked out. It will be my next yarn purchase since I've just earned another.

This morning I pull down the book, read the pattern, love it and 'poof' the urge to knit it is gone like I had already finished knitting them. Now I want to use the yarn purchase for some super soft bulky Alpaca that I was eying at LYS. It would make a lush vest, I know just the one. I look at that yarn on Ravelry, look and look. Realize no matter how much I think it should only take 3 skeins most people need 5 of that alpaca. But it only takes one skein of Cascade Eco from my stash and now all I have to do is decide it I want it in my red or in my white. I'm planning on casting it on tonight. It is one skein and will fit right into SSS. I'm planning on casting on tonight but what will I think about it tonight?

My knitting fantasy life is in overdrive right now. It has no rhyme or reason and is actually becoming a little exsasuting. I've started reading on my lunch at work. I have to something to shut it off.

Gaenor

It's completely finished. After blocking I wove in the ends. I love it. I love the new smaller sized shawls that are worn as scarves. I wasn't sure about that look when it first came out but now I think it's super cute. Mostly because it's a chance to knit and wear a small project with a little bit of lace.
The knitting is easy and with the side to side construction it starts tiny and fast and gets bigger every row. The middle part is a bit of a slog but when I couldn't take it anymore I called it big enough and said that was the middle. From there on out each row is smaller and faster until it's just flying off the needles.
Also, with each row getting bigger or smaller they all have a different number of stitches. This keeps a hand dyed yarn from pooling.
Gaenor knit in Bearfoot colorway Ladyslipper. I've always admired Mountain Colors' and have a few skeins in my stash but this is the first time I've knit with it. I hadn't found a project worthy of it until now.

plink

I washed and blocked Gaenor and carefully pinned it out on my blocking mats. I stretched it so that the garter ridges ran parallel. Each point shaped and pinned. I admired it, stepped back, admired it some more, and then reshaped it. Finally I was satisfied and I walked away pleased with life and my knitting. Not long after I heard the softest plink noise and then another. plink plink

I look up from my computer to this. Sumi-e carefully pulling out each and every pin. I caught him in the act with a pin hanging from his mouth. There is no photo of the monster because my screech sent him scurrying not to be seen again.


He did drop the pin and none were eaten. No cats were harmed in this episode. Although, I did tell him he is this close to becoming the warmest fur mittens ever.

Here it is pinned out for a second time and not as carefully. Now it has to dry under a protective blanket.

Single Skein September

I'm joining Single Skein September this year. Single skeins are the single balls of yarn that are the impulse buys, or the sale yarn, or the super expensive yarn that only one ball can be justified. It is harder to find projects that use the single skeins so after a while they multiply and clog up the stash. SSS to the rescue. The goal is to knit as many single skein projects as possible. At the end yarn is given to the winners. Single skeins of yarn of course.

In preparation I finished the knitting on Gaenor, Silverbell, and Maile. All of them need the finishing done, blocking, buttons, whatever. But that leaves me ready to start September with all new projects. I'm starting with the Bramblewood vest out of a single skein of Cascade Eco wool.