A Little Update

I'm not sure if I've put this out there very much, but I have a website! It's dedicated to storing my documentation, classes I've made, and it has galleries for my knitting, spinning and natural dyes! If you have a spare minute, check it out and tell me what you think! Feedback is always welcome. Since this is my first attempt at a website, things are still in flux and any ideas as to make my site more user friendly and pretty are very welcome!

http://dreuxdanjou.wix.com/dreux

As a thank you, here's a teaser of a knitted hat I'm designing for someone! This is just a prototype, and I'll have a full write-up soon!

Spinning Fever!

This post will be a little short due to me packing and getting ready for Gulf Wars! We leave Saturday morning and I'm so very excited! Also, I'm working on a series of photo tutorials for some common knitting issues and fixes. I can't wait for those to come together.

 But, as mentioned in my last blog post, I've been spinning up a storm lately and I have finally spun and plied those beautiful braids of fiber and without further ado, here they are!

Fiber is plied and on the niddy noddy!

Skeined, washed and ready for its closeup! 

I really loved working with this yarn. Watching the colors transform and give the whole yarn a wonderful purple overtone was magical to watch. I can definitely say that there will be more experiments with color and plying! It's just too fun not to do! But, that's not everything I've spun. Oh no, I've finished more!

This is 4 oz of merino wool in a hunter green color. I completely spun and plied this wonderful skein at Nottinghill Coill's Baronial Birthday and Investiture last month. It was wonderfully relaxing and really added to the event for me. I think I'll be bringing my wheel to more events now. The camera messed with the color a bit, but you get the idea. This skein is a 2-ply and is delicious! I have an idea to make a bag out of this fiber, paired with some white I'll be spinning later on.

Here's a teaser of what I'm working currently! How about you guys? Have you been working on anything lately that you're super excited about?

100% merino wool in an undyed oatmeal color.

MMMMMMMerino

I recently purchased some lovely handpainted merino top from Lanitum Ex Machina on Etsy, and I can't help but share how much I'm enjoying this fiber. Nea focuses on multicolor handpainted tops but there are also some pretty cool art batts available. If you get a chance, check her out.

The fiber is actually two separate 2oz braids in different colorways and are meant to be spun individually and plied together. The blue is called Blur and the red is called Downfall. The fiber glides through my hands and I think my experiment in spinning silk has helped me gain better control of my hand movements while spinning. I have only spun up the blue so far, but if the red is anywhere near as lovely, I'm in for a real treat. Here's a few teaser shots.

Yay bags!

As mentioned in my last post, my knitting has really taken me in an unexpected direction. When I originally began my knitting within the walls of the SCA, I thought my road would take me down knitting socks. Lots and lots of socks. Well...........surprise, it didn't! I have become intrigued by reliquary pouches, and reliquaries in general. How they were made, why they were made, and what was in them? It's a fascination that I don't see subsiding soon. So, what sparked this interest? The Sion bags found in a cathedral in Sion, Switzerland.

Those are the pictures that sparked my interest in pouch knitting. There was also a 5th bag found alongside these, but I can't seem to find the picture right now. From the beautiful colorwork to the fine gauge of the knitting, everything about these bags interested me. I wanted to be good enough to not just make these bags, I want to be able to replicate them in terms of gauge ( 16 stitches per inch) and materials used (silk). It has become a passion to develop my knitting skills and gain the knowledge necessary to replicate these bags as close to exact replicas as I possibly can.

As you can see by the pictures, not all of the bags had a hanger from which to hang the bags from. I really liked that. When modifying the patterns to create samples or gifts for others, it gave me the versatility to leave out that element if I chose to. You can't tell from the pictures, but not all of the bags have tassels either. This also gave me flexibility. I like when knitting can be accommodating.

This was my first attempt at creating one of these bags.

The bag was made for an inter-Kingdom A&S swap called the Noblese Largess, and it was just the kick in the butt I needed to start down this path. The bag was knit in KnitPicks Pallete (100% wool) with size US 1 needles. I fingerloop braided the hanger and I made a lucet cord out of crochet cotton for the drawstring. I am extremely happy with how this pouch turned out, and for a first try, I don't think I could have asked for much more.

My next two attempts allowed me to stretch my creativity even more. I used elements found in the extant pieces as well as elements of my own creation, to draft my own patterns and make my own version of a reliquary pouch! To me, using the Sion bags as inspiration was really important. I want these bags to be special. I want the person who gets them to keep something treasured or valuable in them. Or, they can keep their car keys and wallet at an event in them if needed. They're so versatile and I love that about these bags.

The bag on the left was inspired by an individual's heraldry. I took the colors present (green, yellow and purple) and one focal item present ( 3 4-leaf clovers) and put them all into this bag. I had to draft the clover part myself which was a bit tricky, but I love how it turned out.

The bag on the right is actually the second bag made in this pattern. The original went to an individual who didn't have heraldry at the time, but wanted black and red with suns on it. So, using the flower motifs found one the extant pieces, I simply filled them in and called them suns! I didn't add tassels or a hanger to either of these, partially because I thought they would clutter the look of the bag. In future bags I will make sure to incorporate these elements. Again, both of these bags are in the KnitPicks Pallete and on size US 1 needles.

As you can see, I still have quite a ways to go before I reach my goal, but that's a good thing. It gives me a goal that I can work towards. Here is a sneak peak at my newest bag. It's in the Pallete on size 0 needles. I am practicing knitting with 3 colors at a time and long color blocks that have substantial floats on the inside. This won't be the finished product however. It is a test to see if the bag's pattern works! If it checks out, then I'll be recreating the bag in DMC thread and size 00 or 000 needles.

What about you guys? Do you have a long-term project that you're working on? What ways are you going about attaining those goals?

I'm back!

Well, to be more accurate, I'm here! I moved my other blog from a different e-mail account to this new one. It's all imported and pretty, so I should be good to go. Having to log out of my g-mail, just to log into another another account to blog really took the the spontaneity out of this.

Now, I almost didn't import my old blog onto here. There is such a substantial gap between where I left off and where I am picking up, that it almost seems like a new person is posting. My work has gotten much more detailed, and hopefully more period. In the end, I think it'll be good to see where I started and how I got to where I am. I'll probably write somethings about my adventures in pouch knitting/research, my recent dabbling in the sewing world, and what fiber blog would be complete without spinning and naturals dyes? All of that will be coming as soon as I can take pictures and get the words to come out. Until then, here's a little teaser of what I've been up to.

My first attempt at a sion bag

A prototype "ermitten" with my heraldry on it

Islamic sock in 100% cotton. Too small so I only made 1

Bag knit by me, pendant cast by master Andras. 

My most recent handspun

Shawl I made for Mistress Siobhan when I took her belt

Take care, brush your hair. I'll see ya when I see ya.

~D

Looking Towards The Future

As some of you may (or may not) have noticed, I haven't posted here in about a month and a half. Why is that? Well, I've switched which gmail I use more often. That has really created an out of sight, out of mind problem with this blog. I'm trying to find a way to allow me to post under my new e-mail address so that I can continue to keep people updated, and just to organize my thoughts. If I can't find a way to merge the two to better work on the blog, I might have to start a new one, transfer over the posts, and delete this blog. It's sad, but might be necessary.

In a while, I will also be setting up a website for myself and my husband. This could turn into a new blog for me as well. I don't quite know what the future holds for this blog, but I hope that I can remember to keep my readers informed on what has happened already and what will happen once I find the answers I'm looking for.

FO Friday: Lots And Lots of Shawls!

What is it about blogging that makes me feel bad for not posting? I wish I knew. Anyway, I've been super busy and productive and I can't wait to show you what I've done! This post is going to be kept relatively short because company is coming over and I need to clean, but I thought you guys deserved an update.

First off is my Sharktooth. You might remember it from this post, but you might also remember that I started out with a different color. The Ella Rae wasn't quite working for what I needed, so I changed to one of my Christmas presents. The Cherry Tree Hill yarn in color Slate. I love how this turned out.

 

 







I learned a valuable lesson with this project. Counting and paying attention are very important. This shawl should technically have about 200 yards less yarn that it does, but I accidentally added 6 more pattern repeats, thus making this thing huge. But, I love it and I'm so happy it's done.


Next up is something I've already finished and showed off, but I finally got around to blocking the darn thing!
Here's my 3rd Herbivore! This was a fun and quick knit, and it's one of my favorites.

Finally is something I made for my DH with the yarn he got me for Christmas! Here's my Forest Gyllis! It's an amazing lace scarf made out of a worsted weight 100% wool yarn. The pictures don't show off the subtle yellow and green heather the yarn has, but I'll try to get better pictures later.

That's it for now, I'll do my best to post what I'm working on this Wednesday!

FO Friday: Swap Time!

Wow, sorry I didn't post anything on Wednesday! I actually had finished the project I'm going to show off today on Tuesday, therefor no WIP on Wed, and I hadn't progressed on any of my other projects at that point! I'm kind of a slacker in that sense, but I did get an entire project done in 4 days. That's pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

Now, some of you may know that I am taking place in an Arts and Sciences swap within the SCA. The particular swap is called Noblese Largesse, and it's pretty cool. When you sign up, you are required to fill out a questionnaire, and from there I'll quote from the Noblese Largesse's facebook page.

So, how is this supposed to work?

No doubt, you've noticed that you've had to fill out a questionnaire. We use an Excel spreadsheet and the RAND function to take your name and match it with someone else. We will then send you the information that your recipient filled out on their questionnaire. It is for you to decide at this point what to make them. After you make the object(s), send it out. Please make sure you send a note with your item, revealing yourself to your recipient.

Also, there's a limit to how much you can spend on materials. $20

Pretty simple, eh?  Well, yes and no. I had quite a few difficulties trying to choose what to make for my swap partner. Being a new SCAdian, and new to the world of A&S as a whole, I didn't have a wide variety of skill sets to pull from. I have knitting, I can make some glass beads, I can do some pathetic embroidery. That's about it, so I went to what I know best; knitting. Now, what to make?

From the questionaire I received, my partner has a French persona, her colors are red and gold, and to throw a wrench into my plans, she tries to only wear period (and persona) appropriate garb. I know nothing about late period French knitted garments as of right now, which is sad since my persona is late period French. Realizing I was kinda screwed, I asked if my partner liked shawls. Nope.

Time for plan B! Problem. There was no plan B. So, I spent the greater part of 2 months trying to find something I could actually make, and would be something my partner would enjoy and use. My solution? Mittens! I found this free pattern on Ravelry for these mittens, and I'm in love with them. Check it out!

I think they're pretty spiff. They're made out of a sport weight 100% wool yarn called Wool Of The Andes purchased at Knitpicks. This yarn was much softer than I expected and wears amazingly well. Not to mention, at under $3 a ball, I was able to purchase all the yarn I needed, for a little over half of my budget which still left money for the knitting needles and notions I needed! I would highly recommend this yarn. 

So, what do you guys think? I'm pretty proud of myself. I think I'll end up making more mittens in the future. Now that I know I can do this, why wouldn't I want to make such a fast, and easily transportable project?

FO Friday: Nummy Alpaca

Let's get this out in the air, I love working with alpaca. It's soft, it's warm, it's amazing. Now, what two things could make alpaca better? Add silk and hand spin those two fibers together. That's a recipe for an amazing knitting experience, and one I got to indulge in.

Now, this particular project has gone through quite a journey. The gorgeous dark green roving was purchased as SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival) by one person (Sine), spun by another (Siobhan), and then the yarn was handed off to me to be knit into a shawl for the original purchaser of the fibers. You'd think that was enough of a journey, wouldn't you?

Nope.

Once I got the yarn, I had to learn how to figure out how much yardage I was given. This is a  very handy skill to learn, and I suggest everyone who works with yarns (especially handspun) learn this. First I placed a skein of yarn on my swift, which I happen to be borrowing from Sine until I can afford my own, measure the circumference of the yarn. Inches works best unless you end up with one or two yard wraps. I happened to have 2 yard wraps. Then near one of the ties, count thenumber of threads in each skein (yeah, it's a pain, sorry!) and multiply by the circumference of the skein - that should give you total # of inches in the skein, which then you can convert to feet or yards or whatever works best for you. I ended up with 416 yards of alpaca and silk deliciousness.

A finished project

Then, I had to choose a pattern. My first choice was called a Dummy Clap. It's a super simple, dumbed down version of a Clapotis (clap oh tee). The dumbed down version, knit a wide scarf that's about 55 inches long. when you're binding off stitches, drop some. It created those gorgeous columns of lace. It's a really nice pattern. for those who have the patience to knit a 55 inch scarf. I generally don't, but I gave it a try anyway, because if I don't push myself and do things I usually don't (or won't), then I can't grow as a knitter.

Before I frogged

Problems came in halfway through working the second skein of this project. I had only knitted about 24 inches and the pattern called for 55. There was no way I could get the length I needed for this monster of a project. I had to change my approach. So what do I do next? Frog the entire thing, an annoying and time consuming task in its own right, only to cast on the same pattern with about 20 less stitches. At this point, I'm thinking I'm pretty clever. The shawl won't swallow Sine alive, and I get to make this the length it needs to be! Wrong. I made it about 35 inches and ran out of yarn.


Again, I had run into a problem. But as luck would have it, I ran into Sine on Sunday and we got to talking about her shawl when she let me know she prefers triangular shawls anyway! How lucky of me that I prefer knitting triangular shawls better as well! Next to find a great pattern. I eventually found a pattern on the lionbrand website. It's called the Easy Triangle Shawl #60301. It's the same pattern as the Splendid Triangle Shawl #80982AD. I love this pattern. It's great for yarn that is Worsted to Bulky weight, and its made for Lion Brand Homespun yarn. I saw this as the perfect pattern for the yarn I had. A little worn from all the knitting and frogging it had been through, I washed it and re-skeined the yarn to help it recover a bit. Worked like a charm. This is what I ended up with!

Please keep in mind that this has yet to be blocked. The shawl will increase in size and the stitches will be much more even once I have finished the blocking process. However, I need to get blocking wires first. That will happen within the next week or two, and then I can block this and the other three projects that have been waiting patiently to be blocked. hehe

In the end, it took about 2 months from purchase to finished product of this shawl. I hope that it was well worth the wait, and I can't wait to hand it over once it's completely done. 

WIP Friday? True Story!

Well......this is technically supposed to be FO Friday, but since I haven't actually finished anything, I might as well show the two new projects I started. ^_^;; I like having a variety of projects going so that I always have something to work on, no matter what mood I'm in. Do I want to make a shawl? No problem! Bag? Can do! Blanket? Sure thing! Even though it might be a bit maddening at times, it really does help when I get bored with a project. So, on to my latest projects.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was going to start working on the Sharktooth Shawl by Stephen West. It just so happens to be the first shawl for this shawl club (still writing up a post for that)! I love this thing. The only problem that's really stopped me from working on it more than I have is that I don't have the pattern printed out yet, and knitting at my computer makes my back hurt. :/  So, here's the first half of section 1 completed!

Note: I have all of section 1 finished, I'm just too lazy to take a picture of it right now. Just sayin'.

The first "teeth" have just been completed. Love how the yarn looks

Here's a better picture of the colors in the yarn.

Now for something a bit unusual for me. I started a crochet project last night on a whim. My dear husband (DH) has been asking for almost a year now, for me to crochet him a blanket. Up to date, I've started and frogged 4 different blankets for him. Reasons varied from project to project, like bad tension, gauge different from piece to piece, not knowing what I'm doing, ect. The list goes on and on. I think I finally figured out what the problem was. I didn't have a pattern.




It's so simple, but I've realized something about myself. If I do not have a pattern for a project, then I won't work on it. Weird, I know, but true. Hopefully I'll finally be able to make the DH happy finish a nice crochet project!

I'm using 3 different color for the Afghan. The two darker ones don't quite contrast enough for my liking, but I've gotten this far, and I'm not going back now.

Now, you might be wondering to yourself, "Self, isn't that just one big granny square?" The answer would be yet. 100% yes. Well, at least for now. I'm not sure how large I'm going to make this beast until I start another one. I'm planning on having between 4-6 of these monster squares completed and seamed together to create the blanket. Simple, but effective.

Also, it eliminates all the gauge issues I was having the the regular sized granny square afghan I was trying to create. It also didn't help that the thought of seaming together 180-200 granny squares gave me the chills. Much easier this way.

WIP Wednesday: Holiday Knitting

The holidays are upon us, and despite your religious slant this time of year, there's a good chance gifts will be exchanged, and that's no different for me. Here's some project that are on my needles right now, some will hopefully be done in time to be given out as gifts.

Market Bag!

I love this thing. I have to admit, I was nervous using linen for knitting considering how hard it is on the hands, but I'm so glad I decided to go for it. This is a Christmas gift for myself, and I'm so excited for how it's turning out. I love how easy the bag is to construct as well. It's knit flat, folded in half and the sides are seamed together forming the bag. Then I just knit the handle, and attach! Viola! How simple is that? I also like how sturdy the bag will be. Since it's linen, there will be very little stretching of the fabric, and once I wash the finished product, it will soften up quite a bit. 

I'm using 2 skeins of Louet Euroflax Sport Weight in the Charcoal colorway. The yarn itself was a splurge and over half of my Christmas budget that I had set aside to buy myself things with. The pattern is a free Ravelry download. The pattern was created by Vicki Square, author of some awesome knitting books; Knit Kimono, 

Folk Bags: 30 Knitting Patterns and Tales from Around the World, and Lace Style, to name a few and I highly recommend checking out her work. 

The 2 skeins of yarn

Halfway done with knitting the body of the bag.

Next up is what I'm calling my Vintage Loxley. This pattern is another one of Stephen West's brilliant creations. The construction itself is quite remarkable, and I believe that anybody can make this hat if they have the basics of knitting under their belt. The hood is created first, using garter stitch of all things. Stephen makes use of short rows to add some shaping, and a build-in Icord boarder on the edges for a more polished looking piece. After, stitches are picked up on the side of the hood, and the back is knit in the round to create the back. Clever decreases create an oval shape and give a really cool look to the piece. Once that's done, it's just a matter of knitting the scarf part of the Loxley and finishing it up!

Now, you might be wondering why I'm calling this my Vintage Loxley? Answer is pretty simple. The yarn I'm using is 3 skeins of Berroco Vintage in the ever so descriptive colorway, 5107 Cracked Pepper. It's a nice ash grey color and I think it'll be neutral enough to work with whatever I happen to be wearing. Something that surprised me about this yarn though, it's 50% acrylic, 40% wool and 10% nylon. For how soft and warm this yarn is, I was very surprised how little natural fibers were in it! I have to admit, the yarn was a little splity, but that was also my knitting needles' fault. The points weren't very tapered, and thus not very conducive to knitting with this type of yarn. The pattern is available through Ravelry or through the Westknits website for $6. 

The finished hood. Need to work on the scarf part

Modeling

What it will theoretically look like when completed.

What else is on my needles. Hmmm, well I'm still working on my Beekeeper's Quilt. I haven't completed any more hexipuffs since my last post, but I have received some new yarn! 

There they are! Pretty, huh? Here's the yarns and their corresponding colors.

KnitPicks -- kettle-dyed spruce, rouge, kettle dyed jay, and a hand-dyed orange (I think the orange is 6 grams) 

Sock it to me harlequin (7.5 grams) 
Regia bamboo colors 
Opal Neon color 1930 
Cascade Heritage Handpainted color 9872 
Patons Kroy Socks stripes in sailor stripe 
Patons FX in camo colors

I can't wait to start making more hexipuffs. I'm having a little trouble getting a uniform size with my hexipuffs, which is why I've slowed down production on them. I really do need to figure out how to make them all the same size if this quilt is going to be a success. 

While this next thing isn't technically on my needles yet, it will be today, since the pattern for the first Westknits Shawl Club and corresponding Knit-A-Long (herein referred to as a KAL) is released today! The pattern for this month is called Sharktooth and it's beautiful. I'll have a post specifically about the Shawl Club in the coming days, but for now here's a picture of the design Stephen West's latest creation, the Sharktooth Shawl!

I have some other things on my needles right now, but those are super secret presents and I don't want them knowing about them just yet. So for now, I'm keeping my lips sealed. ^_~

Every Project Needs a Good Bag

The title says it all folks! This post will be dedicated to my lovely project bags. All of these have been given to me by amazing and lovely people that I've met through Ravelry. Project bags are PERFECT for knitting on the go. I prefer the box bags since they travel well, and I like the structure. I'll eventually end up getting some drawstring bags, but for now, I'm happy with box bags.

Without further ado, my project bags!!

This is my Pink Hooter bag! I adore this one

My latest procurement! This is my celestial box bag

Doctor Who project bag!!! I squealed every time I saw this for
the first week I had it.

My Lime Green Paisley box bag. This was my first and as
you can tell, certainly not my last project bag!

My first sock sized project bag made out of a gorgeous purple/brown
batik fabric

Sweater sized box bag! Self explanatory. It has little snowmen
on it. How festive!

I can't wait to get more project bags in the future. They keep my projects neat and contained, and they just look so spiff! Who knows, maybe showing some of you guys these bags will inspire you to go and collect some as well for your fiber arts! They work awesome for crochet, they have drop spindle sizes and so many more options! Look around, I promise you won't regret it!