December 13, 2006
Ryan's Adventures with Handspun
Since I was clueless about what to do with TMK’s Tropical Juice yarn—it was thinnish, with the occasional small thickish thrown in, and not any standard gauge known to man; in short, handspun—I opted for swatching, measuring, counting, getting some kind of usable gauge and using the online raglan percentage pattern applet for the first time . The results so far, a kooky, fun sweater that makes me want to whack it with a stick to see if candy falls out:
The gauge I got on my swatch? 8 stitches to the inch. The gauge I get when I’m actually knitting and am relaxed and am feeling smug about having done a swatch and am sure the gauge issue has thoroughly been put to bed? 6.75 stitches per inch. The difference this makes to the percentage pattern? A lot, as in, at 8 stitches, cast on 90; at 6.75 stitches, cast on 76. Poo and double-poo. Ca-ca, even. But there’s no going back. Even for me, that would be too much frogging. And I think TMK would kill me. Or, at the very least, stop making me star-shaped panqueques.
Other than that, not much to report from the Land of Eternally Grey Skies. Commute-wise, this morning was an adventure, what with the high winds loudly "floofing" the cloth top of my convertible, rocking the car back and forth, and churning up angry waves which caused the floating bridge to careen up and down. How to drive a car that is going forward, up, down and sideways simultaneously is something they don't teach in driver's ed.
Holiday-wise, the Christmas tree is up. This year we opted for one that looks like the slightly more robust, football-playing older brother of the Charlie Brown tree—although apparently we could have bought a clone of the real thing had we been so inclined. One party down, 3.5 half to go, the half being one that is still in the wind. Many cookies made. Many cookies eaten. Many pounds put on. All’s right with the world.
Lastly, a fun Wednesday Kooky Kraft for you to enjoy, carved crayons.
...sigh...
I love that yarn.
I just made a vest that contained some handspun that I got for a guild challenge. My thoughts were as long as it came out to be warm does it matter what size it is since it is going to the Dulaan project. I am sure Mongolia is full of kids that the vest will fit - same with this Tropical Juice there is a kid in Mongolia it will fit 6.75 sts or at 8 sts. I love how it is striping.
Posted by: Teresa on December 13, 2006 11:48 AMTeresa, your point has always been a a guiding principle of our project: No matter what size it is, it will find a home! However, in my case, I'm not so much concerned with size as with proportion. I need to make sure that the length, armhole, arm length and chest circumference are all in proportion with one another, which is why my change in gauge is throwing me off. But, whatever; I'll just keep plowing along.
Posted by: Ryan on December 13, 2006 12:05 PMRyan, that sweater is bee-yoo-tee-ful! It is going to make some little Mongolian girl very, very happy.
Posted by: Kirsten on December 13, 2006 01:03 PMI think the sweater looks really pretty. Spring already!
Posted by: Gillian on December 13, 2006 01:18 PMIt might even make a little Mongolian boy happy!
Good work on the sweater, by both of you. Can you bring it to Guild so we can all see in person? You should bring TMK too--she can be your knitting show-n-tell.
MaryB
Posted by: Mary B on December 13, 2006 02:14 PMThe sweater is quite bright and bright. (looks nice, though).
My husband has the Charlie Brown Tree Clone in his office... I quite like it. (I keep meaning to find a pale blue blanket to tuck around it, though)
Posted by: melissa on December 13, 2006 02:18 PMRabbitch made me:
I hate to do this to you, but Tag, you're it! (see my blog for details)
Posted by: Ann on December 13, 2006 03:22 PMJust to derail Rabbitch's evil plan, Ann, I love memes! Well, most of them anyway so, you're on!
Posted by: Ryan on December 13, 2006 03:37 PMI love the sweater. And the link. I just don't know what is worse.... that they are carved crayons or that they look so dang cool!
Posted by: Angela on December 13, 2006 03:47 PMCandy-colored handspun of indeterminate gauge, carried along with a thick mohair yarn like Patons Divine, can be worked into a lovely Cloud Hat, or a "Cloud Scarf." Check my gallery for just sucha thing. I had a lovely few skeins of Claudia's handspun that I got at a yarn swap and used that way. It turned out fabulous and was sent to Dulaan. :)
Posted by: Norma on December 13, 2006 06:43 PMI've lurked at your blog for ages, loving your stories, photos, creations. Duulan has been calling to me even tho I suck at making garments...but last night I think I got the push I needed.
A rerun on PBS about a search for truth behind the Amazon myth. To make an hour-long show short, Mongolian nomads were found to be direct descendents of the female warriors of the steppes. Goddess, I love how DNA is showing how interrelated we all are! So just think of all those wonderful sweaters and hats and gloves and mittens adorning the beautiful female and male amazons! I get chills! (The good kind.)
Thanks for sharing so much of your life. You and TMK are great lights in the world. Hope your holidays are joyous!
Posted by: Nora in CT on December 14, 2006 05:31 AMLove that sweater! The yarn is so pretty.
Our tree is up, and I just got finished putting the lights on it. I hate that job. Usually husband does it, but he's away working, and I'm not sure when he'll be home. I can only handle so much, "When are we decorating the tree?" in one day from the kids. (I also figure if husband comes home, and the tree is already decorated he won't want to run out and get another one. He's fussy, and I'm sure the one I picked out isn't good enough.)
My brother never bothers to put up a tree, but one year he did have a Christmas stump. He had log about 18" high and 12" across, decorated with lights and a star on top.
Posted by: Sheri on December 14, 2006 06:48 AMThat yarn DOES look like candy would tumble from it if you hit it. It also looks sticky-tasty enough to eat. If it were my sweater, I think I'd be tempted to chew on it. I'm sure I actually would chew on it at some point, just to test...
YUM!!!
I wouldn't worry so much about gauge and proportion. Chuck the numbers...you know what a sweater looks like and you it's hard to go wrong with yarn that pretty. Eyeball it. (And I'll see you at Madrona. )
Posted by: Stephanie on December 15, 2006 05:30 AMKnock, knock, knock. You OK over there? I just heard about the scary weather in your area.
Posted by: Kristen on December 15, 2006 12:41 PMWe're here. We're fine, although there are lots of squashed cars and houses around our respective neighborhoods.
What a ride, my dear friends, what a ride. More on Monday.
Posted by: Ryan & TMK on December 16, 2006 08:14 PMRyan - Since you haven't posted since last week I'm assuming you're one of those people who have lost power. I hope that there was no loss of tree or propert and that you are finding ways to stay warm - might I suggest taking all of the avalanch yarn that you have left, (maybe add any garments that you may have waiting to be sent to Dulaan) make a big pile and burrow in. Beth
Posted by: Beth in Seattle on December 18, 2006 10:11 AM