I’m just too clever for my own good! I have invented a new cast-on, a nice and stretchy one that is really easy. Since I can’t show you all of my current projects (they are all Christmas presents, the projects for me being on-hold), I can at least show you my clever new cast-on.

First, the description, then a little demo. It’s a simple knitted cast-on with an extra step; using a knitting needle in your left hand and a crochet hook, about the same size as the knit needle in your right hand. Make a slip knot and put it on the left hand needle. Using the crochet hook, enter the loop as if to knit and (surprise!) knit a stitch. As you all know (who are familiar with a knitted cast-on), you do not remove the stitch off the left hand needle, instead you put the loop from the right hand needle on the left needle. But WAIT, don’t do that yet. Next, chain one with the crochet hook and then put it on the left hand needle. You have effectively cast-on a stitch with a chain stitch in between. Lots more room, lots more stretch! Just keep doing that and you have plenty of stretch for a sock top, glove wrists, sweater hems, etc. You can even adjust the amount of stretch by adding the extra chain only as often as needed; like every third stitch that you cast-on, or for a ruffly edge, add two or three chains between each cast-on stitch. Here is a demo;

While I’m basking in my stupendous feat, I do know I probably am not the first one to dream this up and millions of knitters all over the world, for centuries, have already discovered it but… I’m still impressed with myself ;o) To add chocolate sauce to the event, I’ve also figured out videos and how to put them here. Cool, huh?

As for Ravelry, I’m in! If you are there, come see me. Back to Christmas projects…

Deb H

 This Monday was Spinning group day. I belong to the Friends of the Fleece spinning group that meets in Imlay City once a month on the 2nd Monday and we sit and spin and do other fiber related things as well. This month Margot L. taught us all how to make braided rugs out of felted roving. I did not attempt to start one as I already have 9,456,351.6 projects in the works and let’s face it, I think I’ve finally hit my limit for WIPs. I did file it away for future consideration as I have a braided mat someone brought me from a trip once and it’s the perfect trivet! I did do a bit of spinning though.

I like color. I like bright colors. I like a lot of color. Have I mentioned I like color? Here is a picture of my spinning WIP, a painted roving by moi that is being spun into sock yarn. It started life in my possession as a pure white, lovely, super-soft, superwash merino top from Louet. I just love this top (top is like roving but combed more for more parallel fibers). It’s a delight to touch and run through your fingers, in other words, a delight to spin! Throw in some color and you have nervana 

This top was dyed by the “paint” method. I soaked it in acid water, squeezed it out (not too dry) and laid it zig-zag style in a (clean, never used!) cat litter tray. I then applied dye from squirt bottles in stripes cross-wise across the zig-zagged top, sorry, no pictures of this step. after baking in the dye oven and rinsing and drying - it became truly luscious stuff! Since I seriously believe all projects have to have a challenge where you learn something new, my something for this yarn is to spin it a little thicker than my usual default of super fine lace weight. My goal is something between sock and sport weight. At the moment it looks a bit more like a thick-and-thin yarn but I’m working on it. I do plan on dyeing a solid(ish) teal merino superwash to ply with it to give it a bit of contrast.

True confessions, I rarely get time to spin, I go to spinning group just so I can actually do some spinning. So, 2 hours of spinning, once a month, calculates to a finished yarn, ready for knitting in June of 2012. Check back here on that date and see if I made it! ;o)

It’s been such a busy week, I haven’t been home long enough to work on much of anything fibery, or to Blog. So consider this a catch-up and just to let you know I did do something(!) I’ll show you my new hair style ;o)

I was inspired by the cover picture of the latest Yarn Market trade magazine (you can see it partially on the right edge of the first photo). I took 3 colors of roving (wool, combed into long strands but not spun) and braided them into a 1 yard braid. Just for reference, the colors are grape, dark teal, and chartreuse. Incandescent lights strikes again!

I needle felted the ends so it would stay a braid. I thought that was rather clever (she said smugly).

I then coiled it into a cute little “bun” and proceeded to embellish it with leaves and berries from the floral section of the local craft store. Abracadabra, a festive hair bun! I wore it to work (in a yarn store) where it was a great hit. And the crown of my head was nice and warm 

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So I did do something fibery!

And I knit, if I’m a passenger in a car, I knit. If I’m sitting in a meeting, I knit. If I’m watching a movie with my honey, I knit. If I’m waiting for anything, I knit. I’ve been working on my socks, the grey cabled Silk socks I mentioned in an earlier post are coming along wonderfully and I’ve actually done my first short-row heel. I’ve knit dozens of pairs of socks and this is my first short row heel! It was stupendously easy and I sort of miss the durable looking and feeling heel stitch I’m used to but I did not (can I say that again?), did not miss picking up stitches. I’m now on the home stretch and will knit until I run out of yarn or patience, which ever comes first.

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And, because a girl can only look at sooooo much grey, I started another pair of socks. This is the Tofutsie yarn that came as the August installment of the Tofutsie club. The accompanying pattern is the one being used for the grey Silk socks and so this fun and colorful yarn is becoming a “Bartholomew’s Tantalizing Socks” from page 27 of Cat Bordhi’s book; New Pathways for Sock Knitters, book one.

I’m also doing a few things for Christmas presents but you’ll have to wait for peeks at those. Meanwhile…  off to knit!