DrWhose Socks?

Scene: Average suburban loungeroom, couple relaxes after dinner.

DrCris: By the way, I don’t offer it anymore, because I know you don’t like handmade stuff, but I will knit or sew you whatever, if you want. So make sure you ask. I just decided to stop asking.

DrHusband: Umm. Sorry. I like the idea of hand-knit socks, but I just hate scratchy socks.

DrCris: No worries. I am fine with it. Just letting you know. And I don’t find hand-knit socks that scratchy. Just the ones my Nan used to knit. All the others are fine.

DrHusband (holding up foot): Do you think you could knit a pair as soft as these? I would wear them.

DrCris: You mean that pair of socks I knit you ten years ago and you claim that you never wear? That you are now obviously wearing and thinking are shop-purchased.

DrHusband: So, yes, then.

DrCris: I had better buy some manly sock yarns. (NB: All subsequent stash enhancement is obviously DrHusband’s fault).

These socks are knitted from Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett, which was gifted to me from a knitting friend. I made a basic topdown sock with a flap heel. I used a spiral rib for the leg and instep, which is mirrored on each sock.

Not knowing my sizes for DrHusband’s feet, I cast on 64sts for one (the right foot) and 72 for the other (left foot). He likes the 64st sock better, so now I know. My Ravelry project page is : DrWho Socks (must have be a rav member to access).

I love how this yarn knits up - random colours with lots of surprise. It made a simple pair of socks quite fun to knit.

Tour de Fleece: Ormeau Merino

My first skein is off the ground. This is a three ply machinewash merino, hand-dyed by Mandie at Ewe Give Me the Knits. It ended up at 16wpi and 270m. That is a bit short, and a bit thicker than I was aiming for, but it is my first three ply so I am happy.

I split the roving in three length-wise, and managed to reverse one of them before spinning. This means I have a nice tweedy yarn, rather than a self-striping yarn. However, I love the colours, so I am happy.

I had grand plans for this Tour de Fleece (a Tour-de-France-long spinning frenzy). I was going to spin 3 pairs worth of 3ply sock yarn. So far, I have completed one. Admittedly, I finished it over a week ago. And if I magically finish all my spinning projects before Sunday, then I will finish skeins of 3ply. Somehow I doubt that will happen.

To Bendigo, To Bendigo

I spent the weekend at the Australian Wool and Sheep Show in Bendigo. It is ten years since I have been to this event, and I had a ball. I was introduced to the show by a friend, DrUrsula, who I have subsequently lost contact with. At that stage, it was at the Melbourne showgrounds and I was a poor student. This time I had more friends to meet (from Ravelry) and a little more cash in my pocket, thanks to a last minute casual night shift last week.

I had a great time meeting some Ravelry friends. It is amazing how much quicker you get familiar with real people - lots of friendships advanced great bounds in just a few real world conversations. Much of the Ravelry events were spent spindling, after some great purchases on the Friday.

Molly (madradish) and I both had some spindle time at breakfast.

There were a few less spindles available for purchase at the show after I left.

I spindled some fun Colour Chaos Polwarth from Mandie at Ewe Give Me the Knits on my Petlyn Steamspindle. I just spun for the fun of it - thick and thin and a handful of each colour at a time. A great break from Tour de Fleece sock spinning.

Spindles weren’t the only thing I bought. Here are some of my purchases from the first day. (Braids: Merino/Viscose from EGMTK, sock yarn from EGMTK, Polwartf from EGMTK, Pink 8ply from Andyle, Tricolour plait from Wirraworra Wool). I have no group photo of my extreme Saturday, which is best, really.

A very satisfying time, but also exhausting, for big and little people.

And the best bit of all? Literally running into my old, lost friend DrUrsula in one of the pavilions. Next year, we will meet up at the show on purpose.

Princess Ziggy

It’s been a long time between drinks, but I finally have a finished object! I was once a member of Red Bird Knits Sock of the Month club, but have not yet finished any of the kits I received. So this is a huge achievement for me (I mean, in terms of self-indulgent knitting, it’s not like it’s curing world hunger, or anything).

Pattern: Ziggy, by Robin Gallimore
Yarn: Estelle Alpaca Cashmere Tweed (35% wool, 25% scrylic, 20% alpaca, 10% cashmere, 10% viscose)

I loved the yarn here particularly, as it is very soft and squishy. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued. I don’t normally like tweed, but this was nice.

The pattern was a bit annoying because there was patterning that crossed the start of a round. This wasn’t accounted for in the pattern, so I had to keep switching stitches from one needle to the next. That’s fine, but it was tricky before I was familiar with the pattern. I also got a much different row-gauge so I added another repeat onto the pattern. This didn’t cause any problems on the instep, even though my ribs were going in the opposite direction.

I wish now that I had have thought to reverse the rib direction on the second foot. However, they are lovely soft thick socks, and I am happy that I have finished them.

For more comments on this pattern, see my ravelry project page (need to register to see page).

Tour de Fleece

This year I have chosen to participate in the Tour de Fleece. This is basically a self-indulgent spinning frenzy that runs for the length of the Tour de France. Get it? Wheels spinning etc? The Tour de France is run through a Ravelry group, and everyone is encouraged to set their own spinning goals. I am “competing” in various teams - Team Aussie, Rookies, Team Spindle, Team Spin Our Socks and Climbers.

Climbers pledge to take up the challenge with their spinning. Some have chosen to spin enough for an adult garment, or a full fleece. My aims are a bit more modest, but something that I consider a real achievement.

My goals are:

• To spin at least 30min every day of the tour (except rest days)
• To spin at least three skeins of 3ply sock yarn (which I have never spun before)

The Tour has already started and I am finding it quite hard work. I am working on spinning one bobbin or spindle-ful a day, and that is a lot of spinning. So far (on day two and three), I have spun two bobbins of machinewash merino from Ewe Give Me the Knits. This was hand-dyed and the colourway was called Ormeau.

And I have spun one spindle of Border Leicester/alpaca blend. This will also be socks, but a lot more slowly…. You can see my rough blending of the fibres. Basically, the fibres alternate black and brown. This should even out with the 3ply. I did this on day 1.

Isabel

Just realised I haven’t shared my new friend. I “needed” an extra spinning wheel to take to the farm, as there is so much lovely fibre there waiting to be spun. I trawled Ebay and the Ravelry boards to find a nice portable wheel, and I found this lovely upright.

Isabel is a Camelot wheel from New Zealand and has huge capacity bobbins (wonder if she knows I talk about her this way). We haven’t had much chance to play, as I have been trying to get some knitting done to clear the decks prior to Tour de Fleece (Ravelry link).

However, I have done a little bit.

That is some machine wash merino hand-dyed (colourway: ormeau) by Marnie at Ewe Give Me the Knits. I’m hoping it will be a 3ply sock wool when finished.

Warming heads with Seaweed

Personal training sessions at 6am in Melbourne winter lead to cold heads. So I am on a hat-knitting frenzy. Really, I have knitted one hat, but I have vague thoughts of knitting more.

The first is from the Zeebee pattern - garter stitch and seamless. I am happy with how it turned out. It is a tad “relaxed”, as I forgot to stretch the swatch before measuring my row gauge. This is no biggie, but I had hoped to make these hats the same size for kids and adults.

I used Comfort10 from Celia’s Basket in “Seaweed.” This knits up very mottled in effect - quite similar to how the yarn looks in the skein.

Looks a bit silly in warm sunlight, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just the expression on my face.

Spinning new socks

I was inspired by some adventurous spinners, and decided to experiement with plying commercial yarns. I chose a horrible 3ply (light fingering) nylon baby yarn, and plied it with a Bendigo Woollen Mills 5ply (sport). So I have ended up with a DK weight yarn with nylon and wool. I am hoping it will knit up for boot socks that are hard-wearing.

It’s not the best spinning I have ever done, and it is my first time back after a big break. But the best bit of the experiment was definitely my assistant.

Running Melbourne

I have challenged myself beyond my boundaries, and I would like you to consider supporting me.

I am an unfit person, and I have been recently working on improving that. My current fitness goal is to run a 10km fun run. I have chosen Run Melbourne, which is in a few weeks time on the 28th of June. I am not a natural runner, so I assure you I will not do it fast. But my aim is just to complete it without walking.

I am working hard to make this possible. I am doing specific personal training sessions aimed at improving my running, and they are seriously awful. Last week our task was to run alternating fast and slow laps for 60 minutes. And then we did interval sprints. And yes, I am paying for this.

As an added bonus to this experience, I can dedicate my run to a particular charity and ask friends and family to support me. I have chosen Breast Cancer research. I have treated a lot of patients with breast cancer, and I know small advances in treatments will help a lot of people. If you feel like helping support this cause, please head over to my fundraising page. Donations close on the 28th of June, when the run is over.

End marketing drive.

DrCris’ Fundraising Page

(Crossposted at Scalpel’s Edge)

Popping Purse

I recently won a fabric pack from Chaletgirl, and I had to find something appropriate to make with it. I bought a square frame purse kit from Nicole Mallalieu Designs, and it seemed appropriate.

This took me the whole afternoon. Although it is not difficult, and the instructions are clear, it is fiddly and made me feel clever when I had finished it. Need a bit more practice with these, but I have mostly managed to hide the bits I wasn’t happy with.

I was trying to use the coordinating fabric for the interior, but I found this rich purple from a thrifted tablecloth, and it just made the lining pop (!) so I had not choice.

Of course, I still have heaps of the fabric left, so I need to figure out my next project…