Archive for June, 2007

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balanced singles, shmalanced shingles

June 22, 2007

did you think i could blog about fiber and not spin it? nope. apparently not. last night, while ben finished playing a video game, i spun up some of the previously mentioned bfl. should be packing, instead i’m spinning. ah well.

so, my drop spindling has brought up some questions. first of all, know that this is the most balanced single that i have ever spun and i have mixed feelings about it. really, what is the point of a balanced single? i understand that it has optimum fluffiness and no biasing – the exact right amount of twist to make your fiber stay yarn - but frankly, it’s fragile. my drop spindle falls because it gets heavy. it comes apart if i’m not overly careful when i put it on my niddy noddy. i’ve had great knits with unbalanced yarns.

the way i figure is that just as long as i don’t over spin it so much that it’s hard and scratchy and the slight bias that it might have doesn’t disrupt my knitting, who cares. if i really don’t want it to bias, i ply it. so, as you can guess, i’m done with the balanced single spinning. i’d rather have a pleasant spinning experience than have a balanced single.

any spinners out there care to enlighten me about the beauties of the balanced single?  what am i missing? cause i feel like i’m missing something… and since i spread the spinning goodness, you may want to correct me now before i infect the masses :)

on a less hrmphy note, this will make a lovely little neckscarf and i adore the colorway and the fiber.  and i almost forgot – here’s ben wearing a pigeonroof studios beard.

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new button tin

June 22, 2007

i almost forgot that nearly as important as the buttons themselves are what the buttons are kept in. i have mine organized in tins because my mom had hers in a tin. here are some of the ones that transfered from her tin last summer when i was visiting. here are some pics of my organization, and of the tins themselves- to which i’ve added this tin i bought in alaska for 50 cents. here’s the underside which still has its paper attached! in this one i’m keeping the buttons that are still on button cards.

how do you organize your buttons? mine are, obviously if you look at the pics, warm, cool, neutralish, and carded – all in seperate tins.

have you read the button contest entries lately? i get a few more each day and they are all so fun. thanks to everyone who has submitted so far! i’ve had a great time reading them all to ben and getting an education about button related things.

speaking of, this one came to me over email and it has a good story that goes along with it, so let me indulge. ben used to live in a fairly lively house with four other males when we were in university.  they were all good friends, in each other’s weddings etc.   now that we’ve all moved on, we sometimes loose track of each other. so, the other day, while looking for ben via google, our friend adam found my blog instead (imagine that). but the best part is that adam’s wife, sarah, has started knitting since i last saw them! so we’ve been talking knitting over email. i find that especially exciting because when they had their first child, they were the recipient of my first pair of knit booties.  since we lost track of them, they’ve had another child (who, by the way, took her first step yesterday!).  besides that info about the first step, sarah included this paragraph in her most recent email:

I just got my mom to get me some buttons from my grandma’s stash—most of them are gone, though, because she gave them to the elementary school for the little ones to “count things.” I also used a bunch at one time and for some unknown (and bizarre reason) sewed them all over a pale yellow sweatshirt. It was in the 80’s—need I say more?

thanks sarah, for letting me post this part of the email.  for this contest, all stories/memories count so i’m entering you in the contest. i can’t wait to see you all when we come through montana!

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before alaska

June 21, 2007

i sold something from the shop. then, before i transferred the money out of paypal, i saw some beautiful bfl hand dyed by pigeonroof studios. i’d been deceiving myself, thinking i wasn’t shopping when i was really watching for some lovely bfl, hand dyed to perfection. since it has been one of my favorite spins so far, i’d been really wanting to try bfl again.

why am i so late with this? free shipping in the states so i had it sent to my parents and it just arrived today. it’s gorgeous and i can’t wait to spin it, but i think my little spinning wheel may be broke (?) so it’s more of a fight than it would be worth right now with so much other stuff to get done (packing, school, a bit more book stuffs, etc.). here’s the picture from the shop. soooo tempting.

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my all time favorite button

June 21, 2007

remember when i was discussing how things get trumped in my life? well, here’s another instance.

the other night i was talking to ben about this whole button thing and how my favorite button is one covered in very gross material that i’m sure is akin to double knit polyester and he said to me, “you really are a materials snob, aren’t you?”

how rude. but a little bit true. but seriously, i have lots of buttons, shell buttons, wood buttons, old fun buttons, whole sets of vintage plastic buttons, and yet i choose this one. i don’t know if it’s my material snobbishness coming out as much as my incredulity that so many things can seriously trump such important attributes of physical objects like beauty, age, and color. it is such an interesting part of being human to attach other meanings to things.

this button is made out of some sort of 1970′s synthetic that i don’t doubt is polyester. the brightest color is actually a really great synthetic neon pink color – here’s a better pic for the color, but still not quite capturing the intensity. to me, beyond physical description and photo, it is the extra button from my mother’s bathrobe from when i was a little girl. and i will treasure it forever. it’s funny how when you dig back into childhood memories, things become vague. i don’t remember anything in particular happening in this bathrobe, just that my mom wore it when i was little and for some reason that it makes me happy. maybe it’s all lovely physical memory?

speaking of buttons, go read the button stories! they are great! join in the conversation.

on to another topic, in case you haven’t noticed i’ve already broke the all buttons all of the time thing. but i think i’ve a compromise. my first post of the day (if i post that day) will be buttons and the second will be catch up of alaska stuff and things from before alaska i never got done because the camera was on the fritz. if i don’t do them now, they’ll never get done and i’ll forget to tell you. wouldn’t that be sad?

yes i know, arugula wasn’t alaska or before, but food is so glorious it trumps all! speaking of – if you’ve never had arugula, i want you to be prepared. if you ask me, the tomatoes (or sandwich makings) are essential to cut the flavor a bit (little bit spicy, little bit bitter). ben, on the other hand, was eating the pasta/pesto without the tomatoes and seemed perfectly happy. you can also do the pesto with half arugula, half basil if you’d like. happy eating, knitting, buttoning.

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arugula pesto

June 21, 2007

so. cosymakes food also, i just haven’t documented anything on this blog yet. i love food. but, i sort of sway in and out of documenting the food that is made in our house.  also, i was trying to keep the blog on topic and wait until it was old enough to add new parts.  and now, darling blog, you’re old enough.  my friend alissa always says that she finds wool in her food when she eats at my house anyhow, so maybe i am more on topic than i think.

right now, i have vaulted back in to being enamored with photographing food. it’s miraculous really, that it grows and that it’s so good for us and yummy and nutritious.  if you wonder at all what mealtime prayers are like around my house, they generally start with a huge sense of awe and thanks… and then they often come out very child-like for that reason :)

anyhow, today i went to the farmer’s market near my house and bought all sorts of lovelies including fresh organic strawberries and cherries…. and the aforementioned arugula. oh arugula – spicy snappy leafy green that you are. so the story is i accidentally bought a box of arugula instead of spinach at costco last year and so had to come up with interesting things to do with it. i don’t particularly like arugula by itself for salads, so i hit the internets looking for recipes. this is one of my favorites. ben and i are very fond of pestos of all sorts and this was a welcome addition to our pesto library (make it in summer, freeze it, and eat it all winter). i’ll have to be forgiven that i don’t remember at all where i got it from. all i had written down was an ingredient list.

ARUGULA PESTO

combine:

2 cups arugula
1/2 cup walnuts
6 garlic cloves
1/2 cup parmesan
little under 1/2 cup olive oil

and process in your food processor
here’s the lovely greeness that it is when done.

i serve it on pasta with chopped or wedged tomato with a bit more parm on top for looks (that’s what we’ll have tonight). we also like it on sandwiches.

p.s. how will i ever survive next winter with no pesto in reserve?  *dramatic swoon*

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button contest

June 20, 2007

whopping HUGE buttons

no button stories?!?  come on button-loving crafty folks. i was expecting to wake up this morning to button stories galore…

but no. so maybe you need some enticement? while in alaska i inherited some really interesting old yarn from a lovely old woman that i have not blogged about yet. now, i’m not promising that this yarn is super pretty or that it’s glorious old stuff, but merely that it is old and interesting and still has labels.

so here’s the contest. submit your buttons stories (with a pic and/or a description!). i’ll probably post some of them as blog entries over the next week if promises of vintage yarn entices anyone… everything closes next wednesday (27th) and thursday i’ll draw two names out of the hat to send out both 2 batches of goodies including vintage yarn and a couple of buttons from the stash. if your name is drawn, you can request what sort of buttons you may wish to have and choose between the two colors of yarn.  and i may throw in a vintage booklet or pattern too, since we’re moving and i’m cleaning.  so it will be an overall old vintagey package.

oh, and i’m postponing my button story a bit.  i’ll blog it soon, i promise.  it’s really not overly exciting or fantastical, it’s just special to me and can be explained in two sentences.  mine happens to have to do with my past, but you could tell the story of the thrift store where you hit the motherload, the button you found on the street, or the button you like because it is the epitome of all that you like (color, sheen) or one you love cause it’s old, or the ones you found on an old wool coat.  i know that there are button stories out there and i will draw them out.  oh yes.  this blog will be devoted to buttons, and only buttons over the next week.

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button chatter – do you have a favorite?

June 19, 2007

my mother-in-law, like my mother and so many other people i know, used to sew. especially when these four boys were small (the star buttons in one of the other pics were used on some bib overalls for them). but, since she hasn’t done it in a long while and doesn’t plan to get back to it soon, she gifted me with a lovely new supply of interesting old buttons from her stash. i just reserved the cream of the crop for your viewing pleasure today.

these are the larger buttons with some small rhinestone ones. i wore rhinestones in my wedding, so those are probably for me. i’m also keen to keep the black, white, green, and metal sets together. maybe i’ll be a sweater knitter yet. when i get large sets of old buttons, i sometimes have a hard time using them on hats and such – splitting up the sets.

speaking of, i have a feeling that these ones will never even come off their card. they’re so sweet and lovely as they are. here are some other ones still on their cards and some pretty loose ones. one of my favorite things about inheriting buttons is that i get to know some of the stories behind them. i marked the ones that i know were used for something in particular in the flickr notes if you’re interested.

can’t wait to use these buttons on projects. speaking of, there have been no hat or mitt projects started since i finished the book knitting… (shame on me) i may have to change that today.

in the meantime… do you have a favorite button? why is it your favorite and/or what’s its story? i have a very special favorite button and i’ll hold you in suspense and share the story tomorrow.  in the meantime, i’d love to hear about yours.

p.s. because i’ve been complaining about my body so much, i thought you deserved an update!  i walked at least an hour the last two days and i also plan to also walk to the farmer’s market tomorrow.  and (of course) i’m feeling much better!

p.p.s. ben started packing today for the move.  yikes!

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ribbony river

June 18, 2007

from the plane. alaska is so wild and interesting. there are some more pics over on flickr if you’d like to look – including one of mt. mckinley from the airplane. pretty spectacular.

overall, a good time was had. i gained five pounds (no exercise, plus ben’s mom’s cooking and chocolate lying around the house equals…). but mostly, i’m going to be a while in adjusting from staying up until 1,2, or 3 am and ben’s going to have a hard time adjusting from staying up until 3,5, or 7 am. that’s what happens when twilight doesn’t come until midnight. if i’ve the energy, i’ll tell you about some great yarn i got tomorrow. if not, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. it may not be jet lag (1 hr difference) but the time lag is coming down hard.  i’m going to bed.

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old shale smoke ring

June 15, 2007

my vacation is pretty much over – we leave on a plane tomorrow – and indeed, my vacation knitting is also done. i’ve had many of you ask about this yarn, so the specs are below and here’s a free pattern to boot!

katie, my mother-in-law, does not like to wear hats. but unlike my other friends and family who don’t like hats, she lives in alaska and can’t get away with a headband. so, this is the perfect accessory for her. she already has quite the collection (including a white, lace quiviut one!). why does she like them? they don’t squish her hair, can be worn many ways (like this or this), and they are warm and toasty. here’s another pretty shot of the colorway taken during our walk downtown.

as i said before, Katie is my only knitting relative, so when she came to visit ben and i in montana, of course we had to go dig through the bins of mill ends at mountain colors. she bought a whole bunch and hasn’t had the chance to use much of it yet… so i took it upon myself to borrow some from her stash to make her this smoke ring. it is mountain colors bearfoot – 60% superwash wool/25% mohair/15% nylon. we think the colorway is sagebrush and it was probably about 4 oz, because we tend to buy mill end bearfoot in sock-like quantities.

Anyhow, here’s the super simple pattern. Enjoy!

Old Shale Smoke Ring

Yarn: fingering weight wool

Needles: size 7 US, 16 in. circular

Final measurements: 12 in. across and about 14 in. tall

CO 144 stitches
join, being sure not to twist

row 1: purl
row 2: knit
row 3: purl

old shale pattern (stockingnet version)
row 1: knit
row 2: knit
row 3: k2tog 3 times, (yo, k) 6 times, k2tog 3 times
row 4: knit

repeat until you get towards the end of your wool
and end
third to last row: purl
second to last row: knit
last row: purl
BO loosely

block to make the ends behave themselves and loosen up the lace a bit
keep warm and enjoy!

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there is yarn in alaska…

June 14, 2007

this is one of the signs (here’s the other) of the best yarn shop in fairbanks. one of the things i love about alaska is that people just up and put business in their homes, and zoning says it’s okay. this particular yarn shop was back in the woods in the owners beautiful log cabin home… but alas, it was small and cramped and you couldn’t fit more than a couple people browsing in at a time. so it moved, which I (of course) have mixed feelings about.

what makes it so great? it has everything. shetland wool – you can find it here. possum, over there. cascade 220 and lamb’s pride – yup. five ply canadian wool as well as briggs and little – there. philosopher’s wool, quiviut, buffalo, cherry tree hill and the list goes on and on. it has traditional yarns, luxury yarns, sock yarns, basic wools – everything. she even had some spunky eclectic and cherry tree hill roving! i could live there. there’s also a sweet greyhound and her book selection is outstanding. my kind of wool shop.

where has it moved to? an industrial looking building of course. another alaskaism… not much space for rent anywhere, all of it spread out with trees in between. very practical buildings. most of the best shops are in strip malls and every time we pass a new one, i have to look and see what’s there.

in very short other news, i’m going to email in the rest of the book right now. if any shop in alaska carries my book, i hope it’s inua. i’d be honored.

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