Clare-Dragonfly

More thoughts on yarn

2008-04-05T19:28:26Z

Don't worry, these are more interesting to the non-knitters!

I feel guilty about the Calmer. I feel guilty for buying--and so far, loving--a yarn that is part conventionally grown cotton (one of the most resource-intensive crops that exists) and part synthetic. I want to be environmentally friendly. I want to buy and use yarn that is good for the environment. Like bamboo! Yay, renewable resource! Yay, plant fiber!

But as I learn more about yarn I find that it's not all so good. Bamboo is not as natural a fiber as I thought it was; instead of pulling long fibers from the stalks and spinning them together, it's actually made in much the same way as rayon, broken down and made into yarn with harsh chemical processes. And most of it comes from China, where the regulations are much less strict than in the US, so who knows what kinds of dyes are used. In fact, it seems like the only good ways to be sure of getting environmentally friendly yarn is to get organic colorgrown cotton (not very nice colors and not very versatile), wildcrafted silk (way expensive), or humanely raised wool (I'm allergic). These are not good options! I want to knit stuff I like and can afford!

Now, fast forward... after more thought and more reading, I've come to another realization. Really... I'm already doing my part. I do try to get more environmentally-friendly yarns, even if everything isn't. And it's already significant that I'm mindful of my purchases. And the biggest thing? I'm making my own clothing, and therefore offering less and less support to mass-manufactured clothing probably put together by underpaid children in sweatshops. So really, I'm doing pretty well.

Warning: knitting ahead

2008-04-05T05:11:20Z

I was going to be good. I was all "yay me, I'm going to knit up my stash. See me buy needles so I can knit things. See me knit stash!" And I have been knitting up my stash to some extent. I started to make a hat with yarn I had (though I need some smaller DPNs for that). I made socks. I'm making a mesh bag with the cheap cotton/acrylic that I really just want to use up.

But I have been done in by deals. I ordered two skeins of way discounted Rowan Calmer from eBay. I ordered a skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk from Little Knits. I just now ordered five skeins of an anniversary sale yarn (I don't even remember what it's called...) from WEBS.

However! I am still being relatively good. The first skein of Calmer is dedicated to swatching--ordinary "see what gauge I get" swatch is going now, then I'll do a swatch-in-the-round, then a cabled Morrigan (sweater I will make someday) swatch. The second skein? Finally, Knucks. The Sea Silk goes toward the Hanami stole--and since I already have the first skein for that, it is technically helping knit up my stash! And the other yarn will be for the Ballet Camisole from MagKnits, which I will totally wear. So, yay. And it's not like my stash is that huge, really... it's just a little inconvenient to transfer around with me between school and home. I guess that will be moot soon anyway. Ah well. I still want to shrink it.

(Also, we just got a huge raise at the Writing Center, so I can totally afford all this!)

Book Review: Heirloom Knitting

2008-01-14T01:46:09Z

Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller

This book is a true classic of lace knitting, and with good reason. It's chock-full of useful, interesting information about Shetland lace knitting, in addition to the patterns. I kind of skimmed over the sections on wool, but was pleased to see that it had information on other fibers as well. Lots of fun lace patterns--projects as well as motifs--and help for creating one's own. I can't wait to knit some of the patterns from this book. I love lace!

Hee hee!

2008-01-11T05:15:13Z

Sock needles are so cute! And comfy to hold. I feel another addiction coming on! But right now I'm just knitting a swatch. An adorable little pink swatch.

Argh!

2007-12-19T03:37:37Z

My sister doesn't like the yarn I got for her shirt. Well, at least I don't have to knit a shirt before Christmas now. In fact, with only the purse to finish, I'll probably get my Tuscany started before the holiday.

Of course, this also means I don't have a present for my sister. So I'm poking around on Etsy. There's no way I'm braving stores at this time of year. She knows I'm looking on Etsy for something so it may not arrive in time. I don't really know what else to do. ~~She has an Etsy favorites list but I can't figure out how to get to that. She's not a seller so I can't search for her that way. Anyone have any ideas?~~ Found it. She likes expensive stuff.

Knitting blather

2007-12-17T07:08:17Z

I'm up... rather later than I should be (at least to be online) because I was finishing my Branching Out scarf. I had intended to knit until I ran out of yarn, but then I realized that it was actually getting to about the right length for a decorative scarf. I threw it about my neck and tied it loosely as I expect to do when I wear it, and sure enough, it was getting close. So I decided I may as well finish it. Now all it needs is weaving in and blocking. I'm fairly pleased with it, though I do wonder if it has a little too much stitch definition. Well, I'll reserve judgment until it's at least blocked.

I've been knitting a lot lately--trying to get Christmas knitting done, as well as just having time to knit now that finals are over. In addition to finishing the scarf, I made another bookmark for my grandmother, this one semi-improvised out of Heirloom Knitting. (I need to actually read the text in that book rather then just oohing and ahhing at the patterns. I think I'll put that next on my list, when I'm finished The Mabinogion and The Mists of Avalon.) I also finished the gauge swatch (or rather, geeky thing) with Shire Silk the other day--yes, those are practically projects for me. I have fun with them. Better than hating them like most people do.

So what's left to do before Christmas? At least one more bookmark for Nana, this one probably improvised out of the first Barbara Walker book. A purse for my mom, which I don't want to start until I've blocked the Shire Silk geeky thing and know the blocked gauge, so that will wait until at least Tuesday. My plan is to make the third bookmark and then block them, the Branching Out scarf, the geeky thing, and possibly a few other geeky things--I'll have to look through my geeky thing bag and see what wants it. And whenever the yarn for my sister's shirt gets here I'll get started on that and pray with every stitch that it's big enough for her bust size. How ridiculous is it that the pattern only goes up to 33 1/2"? At least it's knitted on the bias, so it will stretch plenty. Then when I finish the Christmas knitting I get to start my Tuscany!

The blocking will be done on a towel on my bedroom floor, as I stupidly forgot to bring my blocks home with me. What's worse, though, is that I forgot my yarn swift. Thankfully, the yarn for the bookmarks (Silk City Bambu 7) is on a cone, and the Shire Silk comes in balls. Also, I've knitted Blue Sky Cotton from the skein before and it doesn't really tangle. Not sure about the Handmaiden, though. I might have to try that draping-it-over-my-knees thing that the Yarn Harlot talked about a while ago.

Book Review: Confessions of a Knitting Heretic

2007-12-13T01:49:10Z

Confessions of a Knitting Heretic by Annie Modesitt

I quite enjoyed this book--but then, as a Combination knitter myself, I was sure I would. I really liked what she had to say about knitting. I agree with her thoughts on being an adventurous knitter and on letting people understand their options and decide for themselves. There's also a lot of good information on knitting techniques, including basics like casting on and more complicated things like colorwork. I enjoyed the personal essays as well. Not all of the patterns are my style and I have no interest at this point in knitting with wire, but I definitely want to do that plaid bag at some point.

Knucks

2007-10-11T20:34:01Z

I've been intending to make myself Knucks for ages, but didn't really want to do the embroidery on the knuckles... until I realized just now that I could totally put "NANO 2007" on my knuckles.

I need to do that now.