A Post Rich in Fiber

A Post Rich in Fiber

by | May 1, 2014 | General, Making

Some months ago, I attended Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet. It was my first time attending this event and, for the most part, did not find the event worth the price of admission. I did find a couple of amazing vendors – one of which I will be reviewing here today.

I first learned of The Ross Farm when I stopped in a LYS who told me they carried local yarn from Eighty-Four, PA. The LYS did not have a large selection of their yarn and no fiber at all, but I tucked the information about the farm away in my brain and imagine my profound joy when I discovered them live at PGH Knit and Crochet! Their booth drew me in immediately with their stunning version of TTL’s Germinate. Next, my eyes went to some very lovely bags filled with processed fiber. I selected one of each – okay, maybe more than one of each, but one can never have enough good fiber!

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In Which There is Knitting, Lots, and Lots of Knitting

In Which There is Knitting, Lots, and Lots of Knitting

by | Apr 29, 2014 | General, Making

I am great at starting projects, but not so great at finishing them. Recently I completed two projects; one a very fun mystery-knit-along which I started last year but moving got in the way of its completion. The other, I am sad to say, had been languishing on the needles for a good number of years.

First up is Germinate – a design by Kirsten Kapur the creative mind of Through the Loops.

I really enjoyed this pattern a tremendous amount. It is a very well written pattern and an incredibly striking design. It was the first pattern I have completed by TTL but it will not be my last!

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The Spinning of a Yarn

The Spinning of a Yarn

by | Feb 17, 2014 | General, Making

I recently got a Schacht Matchless and to say I adore it is an understatement. It is an amazing wheel and I am getting my spinning groove back.

In my box Spunky Eclectic had tucked some lovely fiber  and so I divided the fiber in half with a goal of plying the yarn keeping each color separate with gentle gradient transitions between each color change.

I would say my results were very good and the process gave me a good refresher in spinning and plying. I had some thinner spots in spinning, but as I continued, my consistency got better and I achieved a move even single. My plying had some spots where I over spun a bit, but I did not let that deter me and I forged ahead working on applying just enough twist to balance out my yarn. I skeined it up and sent it off to the tub for a nice bath and I ended up with a 2-ply yarn that had 16 WPI.

I tweaked this lozenge stitch scarf pattern and cast on 122 stitches and joined in the round to make a cowl and my results were more than pleasing.

 

Beating the heat

Beating the heat

by | Jul 8, 2012 | General

It has been a quiet week here at Casa del KatKnits, with temperatures climbing into the triple digits causing many to hibernate to an air conditioned place to beat the heat.

My garden is growing nicely, even if my lawn looks like the Sahara Desert. We have had little to no rain here, but the bonus of container gardening is easy watering and the ability to move things out of the scorching heat, for which my plants are grateful, I am sure!

With a brief respite from the heat for a few days – it is amazing how cool the 80’s can feel after a stint of 100 plus degree-days. I am enjoying open windows, blowing breezes, and chirping birds.

I have begun my summer knitting project, in preparation/training for the highly controversial Ravelry “Ravellenic” Knitting event. Who knew that knitters could be such a divisive lot? My summer project is the lovely Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier, knit out of Elsebeth Lavold’s Hempathy. It is indeed the right yarn to be knitting with on these hot summer days and nights. Now, bring on the Olympics to maximize my knitting time!

Happy Summer all!

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