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 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

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!

I love color. If you haven’t read my About page, you may not quite understand how much that is an understatment  ;o)  So, dyeing is a natural part of my process, whether I’m working with yarn, fabric, roving, or odd bits. My favorite fiber is silk. I love how it can be as heavy and rough as burlap or as soft and sheer as… well, silk! It also has body and drape. Silk noil, or raw silk, is one of my favorite fabrics. It has texture and is heavy enough for clothing but light enough for summer. With a bit of industrious scouring, it takes dye superbly. Here is a 1/2 yard of silk noil I dyed recently and was one of the pictures that Gloria used in my Blog’s banner/background design. I used Gaywool dyes on this one as they are a favorite to use at home. They are easy and tend to be less toxic then some of the other varieties of acid dye. This fabric was done using my favorite technique of wadding it up into a dye bowl that is really a bit too small and dumping in about 3 different colors that are left over from other dyeing projects. Don’t you just love serendipity?

Speaking of dyeing, I found a Blog that I have added to my Blog-roll (see sidebar). This is the Blog of Karren Brito, a wonderful Shibori artist and author. When you read her blog, have napkins ready. You will drool.

Another Blog I have added is for “Whip It”, an artist’s Blog with fantastic info on all aspects of being a fiber (or mixed media) artist. I love this one for all the treasures you find buried in it. BTW, I found this site because Karren Brito had it listed on her Blog. I’m starting to find this whole Blog thing very addictive and informative. Cool!

And lastly, Cindy’s comment asked about the ruffly tops on my daughters red & white striped socks pictured in the last post. Hi Cindy! and no, they are not crocheted. You work with me every Friday and you don’t know I’m allergic to crochet by now??  ;o)  They are a variation of the Frilled Bind Off explained in Charlene Schurch’s book More Sensational Knitted Socks (both SKS books are favorites of mine). If you have the book, it’s on page 78. Briefly, I worked a last row with a YO (yarn over) in between every stitch, doubling the number of stitches. Then I followed the directions in the book; *work a stitch, make one, bind off the first stitch*, repeat around. This doubled the number of stitches again as I bound them off. It gave a very ruffly top and enough ease that I did not have to worry about it being uncomfortably tight on her thigh.

After months of knitting on them, I think she liked her new socks! And they looked so cute I made her model them.

Living with a drama student has been interesting ;o)

But, now that I don’t have to look at red and white stripes anymore, I can knit some socks for me! The next pair (I always have at leastone pair on the needles) are from a pattern for the Tofutsie sock club; Summer Daze by Deby Lake. I have chosen to do the pattern in a solid color as the Tofutsie yarn for August, beautiful as it is, was too “busy” to fully show off the pattern work in the knitting. I’ve got the yarn already to start another pair of socks from Cat Bordhi’s new sock book though. They will be stunning!

 The yarn I am using is Regia Silk. I’m not usually partial to regular Regia sock yarn, it’s just not soft enough for my tender tootsies, but their Silk is so soft and wonderful to knit with, I’m delighted!

 Here is a peek at the lovely cables.

Definitely a nice change from red and white striped 2×2 rib!

Lest you be afraid that this is only a knitting Blog, I did spend my day at The American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. I picked up some lovely rayon batiks for who-knows-what yet, but it will be lovely! It just has to sit a bit and tell me what it wants to be.  ;o)  I also picked up some yummy variegated thread by Sulky in 12 wt. It should do a marvelous job of showing up machine quilting nicely on hand dyed fabric.

Now, I’m off to work on my Artist’s journal. Hopefully, I’ll do more than stare at it!

Blog (‘blog, ‘bläg) noun   short for Weblog  1. an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log.   …or so says Webster.

Why would anybody want a “Blog”, a public diary for the whole planet to read? I’ve asked that a million times in the last few years. But, here I am… talking (via keyboard) to perfect (I assume you are all perfect  ;o) strangers.

The purpose of this Blog, at least for now, is to journal my fibery explorations. I’m hoping that with a “public” to answer to (post comments Mom, so I know someone is reading it  ;o) I may actually spend more time in my studio. Who knows, I may even organize it – gasp! Call this a motivational tool. Actually, I’ve recently re-learned the value of a creative journal. Someplace to log my experiments and accomplishments. A place to share techniques and ideas. A place to spout off when no one else will listen to me!

So, what fibery things am I up to? I’m going to Fabrications Fiber Retreat in two weeks (October 10th -13th). I’m spending three days in a workshop being taught by Laura Cater-Woods.  It’s primarily an Artist’s workshop for quilters and I’m very excited. You, of course, will hear all about it. This will be my third year in a row to attend this wonderful retreat and I can’t wait!

Meanwhile, I’ve just finished knitting a pair of socks for my eccentric daughter. Yes, I knit a lot of socks. Knitting is portable and socks are small enough to finish in a reasonable amount of time. Well, this pair wasn’t! I figure she can get Halloween and Christmas wear out of them anyway. But, knowing her, she’ll wear them more than that. These were knit from the toe-up, two at a time, by the Magic Loop method (one long circular needle). She kept saying “a little longer” until I used 200 grams of yarn with a total of three yards left over. They are Regia sock yarn in red and white dyed stripes – I’m very pleased with the way they turned out. Better yet, so is Ashland!

Lastly, the Blog itself. Isn’t is just beautiful? I’m much better at fiber stuff than computer stuff so I sent a ton of photos of my dyed fabrics, yarns and quilted items to my Blog hostess and asked her to make it “pretty”. I do believe she has done a stellar job. Thanks Gloria and Andrew! Visit them at Gloderworks.