Oops, I did it again... and again... by guest blogger Jeff

So, remember way back when we decided to knit the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl? And I decided I wanted to knit it in 3 different yarns? Well the first one - and primary yarn - was in Habu Tsumugi Silk. That one only took me something like 6 months to finish. This was during a very busy and stressful time a work and knitting fell by the wayside, plus whenever I picked it up and knit some, I inevitably had to rip back more than I knit. It wasn't until December that the pattern finally clicked and I finally finished!

Habu Tsumugi Silk

Since then I've knit TWO more! Can you believe it? The second I knit out of Elemental Affects Natural Shetland Rustic Lace that I had picked up at Churchmouse when I was out in Seattle a few year's ago (Hi! Seattle peeps! I wish I had known you all when I was out there!). Since I had almost twice as much yardage of the Shetland, this turned out to be a much bigger shawl than the Habu. It was lovely to work with, by the way. I highly recommend it.

Elemental Affects Shetland Lace

And the last one I knit in an aran-weight yarn - a discontinued yarn by Queensland Collection - Kathmandu (85% Merino, 10% Silk, and 5% Cashmere) that my aunt passed onto me when she decided to give knitting a pass. I've decided to gift this shawl to her - hope she likes it! I did have a slight yardage problem on this one... having to rip back what I thought was going to be my last repeat... then again during the border, which I cut short a few rows. And while binding off, I completely ran out! Had to rip the bind off back and use a different yarn (from Will's stash). I think it came of nicely!

Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran

I wish you all an amazing 2014! Happy New Year! And Happy Spire KAL! I look forward to seeing everyone's progress!

Finally Finished . . . posted by guest blogger Jeff

I've finally finished the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl! Pretty pics follow:

 

I've already started Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl number 2!

 

As far as the next knit-a-long, I think I'm going to sit this one out seeing as how:

 

 

I've already knit one. :)

 

Maybe I'll pick up my Niebling again!

I'm baaaack! ~ post from Guest Blogger Jeff

hi there!

long time no post. life and work had been suuuuuuuper busy and knitting and spinning had gone by the wayside. now that we're into July, and the "big meeting that pays my salary" is over, i have time to knit and spin again! maybe i'll actually finish my shetland triangle sometime soon!

it's also been fracking hot and humid in PA and that has made me not want to knit - plus, it's Tour de Fleece! so i've been spinning lots more than knitting (although, i did finish one baby blankey and start on another - good old no thinking garter stitch).

here is some yummy spinning goodness:


corriedale spun on my great wheel

 speaking of great wheels, i, uh, kind of just acquired another one...


the "new" GW is in the front of the "old" gw.
i just need to get a drive band and a little piece to keep the wheel on and i think we're in business!

and now, back to your regularly scheduled spinning pics:


this became...



...this! a 2-ply wensleydale from Into the Whirled
in the Doctor Who inspired colorway Mercy Hartigan



black welsh mountain and tussah silk blend from HilltopCloud
single was spun months ago, but finally plied it this week

north ronaldsay from Gnomespun - my first "successful" attempt at long draw on the Lendrum

and....

BFL from HilltopCloud naturally dyed with marigolds

will become a 3-ply yarn with the other 2 braids above (also
naturally dyed - both with berberis)

Oops.... post by Guest Blogger Jeff

Somehow this 200+ year old great wheel ended up in my possession. I don't know how that happened, but boy am I excited about it. :)

Overall, this Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival was the BEST. I'm sure Will will be posting all about it over on his blog, and he is the real blogger in this family, so I won't go all into it except to say I spent lots of money and don't feel bad about that one bit. We took a shepherding class on Friday(decided I wouldn't mind having a small flock for fleece, but probably won't go into it full time), spent all my cash on Saturday on goodies from Gnomespun, Into the Whirled, Persimmon Tree Farm, Loop, and a few other small farms on some breed specific fiber (Icelandic) and yarn (Montadale), took the sheep breed walk with the amazing Deb Robson on Sunday morning and learned about breeds I'd never even heard of (have you ever heard of Soay or Hog Island sheep?), and bought a great wheel that's been around as long as we've been a country. All in all, a fabulous weekend!

Progress Update from guest blogger Jeff

Progress has been slow, but that's due to Mother's Day coming up soon and the fact that I gotta get my momma's leg warmers done. Plus it's Sheep & Wool weekend (we met Andee!) so that means lots of time for shopping and little time for knitting.

Going back tomorrow for a sheep breed walkabout with Deb Robson. And maybe shelling out some money for an antique great wheel like this one. :)

Habuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!! - Post by Guest Blogger Jeff

So, the Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl is a pattern that I want to knit multiple times - and I already have yarn picked out for three different versions! Woot!

The yarn I'm planning on using for the first STLS is...



Habu Textiles A-1 2/17 Tsumugi Silk

Definitely can't wait until May 1st!

The other two STLS's I'm planning to knit in...

Elemental Affects Natural Shetland Rustic Lace

and

 

Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran

 

The Mighty, Mighty Mel Saves the Day! ~ Post by Guest Blogger Jeff

Break out the bubbly! My Leave of Grass is FINISHED! Thanks in large part to Melissa, who, just by chance, had a partial skein of the same yarn in the same colorway as I was using - and was able to send that to me when I ran out with only 6 and a half edging repeats to go. All I needed was an extra 10 grams!

Anyway.

Behold!

Alpaca in the Leaves (of Grass)

the obligatory cat picture :)

oh, the horror! - Post by Guest Blogger Jeff

The good news: I only have 6 and a half more repeats of the edging to go!

The bad news:

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That strand off to the right of the needle... yeah, that's the end of my last skein.

I've placed an emergency order with Zoe's momma and hope to to be able to finish SOOOOOOON!

An unintended break.... Posted by Guest Blogger Jeff

So shortly after my last post on Saturday, I noticed a tickle in the back of my throat, which at the time, I just figured was because of the forced air heat at the place we were staying in Rehoboth (as opposed to the radiator heat we have at home). Though as the day progressed, I increasingly got more and more paranoid that I might be getting sick - and with the flu going around in the northeast like crazy this year, I was super paranoid. By the end of the day, I was pretty certain I was sick, and though I was able to knit on Saturday, Sunday was off and on knitting since I felt like pooh. I had hoped to get through Chart D over the weekend, but still have about 1/2 a repeat to go.  :(
I'm finally starting to feel a bit better (at least the chills are gone), so hopefully I'll get back to knitting soon. For the time being, it's just some laying in bed and zoning out on DVDs.

I do have to say, though, that Will has been fantastic at taking care of me in my infirmity. Love you, sweetie!

Another milestone.... Posted by Guest Blogger Jeff

First time through Chart D. DONE.

(Hope the pic shows up... I'm posting from my phone.) :)

Alpacas in the Leaves (of Grass) Update... posted by Guest Blogger Jeff

I'm officially marking my Ravely project page as 50% complete. At least I've used up 50% of my yarn, so it better be 50% complete!

I made it almost through round 25 of Chart D with the first skein of 660 yards.

I am really loving this pattern - and the yarn I'm using. The alpaca is so soft to knit with and is knitting into a lovely soft fabric as I'm knitting at a less airy gauge to be more of a throw than a shawl.

This weekend Will and I are going away on a knitting retreat with one of our knit groups. We'll be heading down to Rehoboth Beach, DE tomorrow morning and spending the long weekend knitting, and drinking, and eating, and just enjoying being away from home with a group of 16 crazy knitters. :) We'll see how much I get done.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Here we go a KAL-oling... posted by Guest Blogger Jeff

I was reminded the other day that I had yet to make my presence known to the Leaves of Grass KAL group. Oops.

So, I'm in... and I'm using a 100% alpaca sport weight called Heather Prime Alpaca for something a little weightier than the lace I'm using on the Neibling-a-long. :)

So, without further ado, here are a few KAL & NAL photo updates:

Leaves of Grass KAL ~ Ravely Project Page: Alpacas in the Leaves (of Grass)

Cast on at Midnight New Year's Day with some bubbly

 

Though this photo doesn't show it all, I am currently in my 4th repeat of  Chart C

 

 

Niebling-a-long ~ Ravelry Project Page: P♥M Wonderful - the Niebling-a-long

 

I'm through round 78, which puts me at 19,956 sts out of 101,148 (or 19.729505279392572%) of the small size of the pattern - though I do plan on adding a knit-on lace border instead of the crochet cast off (because I'm insane like that AND my crochet is awful) so that will add a lot of stitches - I just don't know how many yet since that pattern is currently undecided. :)

 

Happy knitting everyone!

 

Who needs electricity anyway? - post by Guest Blogger Jeff

So as most of you probably know, we got hit pretty badly by Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy on Monday and Tuesday. Will and I have been without power since Monday evening, though, luckily we have a gas stove and hot water heater, so have been able to enjoy coffee and showering just like normal.

But what's a guy to do once it's gone 5 o'clock and the candles need to be lit? Why, knit contentedly on his Niebling by the light of an oil lamp, of course!

I've determined that if I'm only able to knit the smaller size, that would be about 101,148 stitches before the bindoff (I'm also considering a knit on edging since my crochet technique leaves something to be desired). Based on the fact that I've gotten through row 62, that's 11,880 stitches and about 11.75% completed (provided I don't do a knit on edge...) I'm thinking I'll have enough lace to do the small size plus a knit on edge, but not enough to do the large size. I still need to calculate the number of stitches that would be on the off chance. :)

Happy knitting everyone!

My foray into insanity, once again - posted by Guest Blogger Jeff

Hello there!

Once again, I've been convinced by my knitty friend on the West Coast to join another crazy insane KAL. (Actually, to be truthful, I think I may have been the one who ignited the Niebling spark for this KAL, so apologies all around *grin*).

This knit-a-long should be a lot more engaging than the last one. Don't get me wrong, the Bridgewater is a beautiful shawl, it just didn't keep my mind very focused on the knitting with all that garter.... :) (and I like to be engaged in what I am knitting). I think this time around I might have a lot of "huh? wth?" moments, and there may quite possibily be a lot of profane words being muttered under my breath. So excited!

And now...for the big reveal from JeffInAmbler (formerly jmkorn - too many people were calling me "Jim" so I had to change it!), I plan to cast on the Pomegranate pattern on Saturday. Though, based on the amount of laceweight I have for this project (2625 yards), it's looking like I'll only be able to knit the smaller version.

And... my lace of choice for this is Sweet Nothings Silken from Bittersweet Woolery in the colorway "Icelings":

Isn't it lovely?

 

I was tired of doing all of my large lace projects in white JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk, so when I found this lovely 80/20 Wool/Silk blend with subtle tinges of pink and blue throughout at the Garden State Sheep Breeders Sheep and Fiber Festival last month, I couldn't resist. I think it's going to be perfect! What do you think?

 

I'm dying to see what everyone else is doing pattern & yarn-wise! (That means post your choices! NOW! *grin*)

 

Postscript: This is a shameless plug to check out my partner's blog: Strings-n-Stuff where you can read all about our Rhinebeck experiences this year! :)

jeffinambler ~ posted by Melissa

this one's for you :)



guess what I took home yesterday?



blackbird bakery triple berry pie

soooooo..... when are you coming back to Seattle?      ~ Melissa

ta dah! ~ a post by Jeff (guest blogger)

it. is. finished.

 

i'm not dead... yet ~ a post by Jeff (guest blogger)

one... more... side... to... go...

Slowpoke's Update

the end is in sight! only 50 sts left on the needles. i will finish the garter square tonight! woot woot!

Hallelujah!

205 stitches on the needles.

maybe in another 3 weeks i'll have all the decreases done!

oh, yeah, i'm supposed to write in this bloggy thing, aren't i?

so... progress has been slow. i had almost 100 stitches on the needles when, oops, the needle came out.

it was late at night and all attempts to salvage the stitches were just making it worse, so a little time out was called for.

today i decided to rip back to just below the booboo. i'm not smart enough to use lifelines (i like to knit dangerously), but at least i was smart enough to pick up the row of stitches below the whoops before i started ripping back.

it worked perfectly, and now i'm back on track to start the never ending garter stitches again.

seriously, what was i smoking when i said yes?

oh - and i'm using JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 i have on a cone as it was the only lace yarn i had enough yardage of. :)

~ jeff in pennsylvania