Endpapers

My mom would ask me what book I would memorize like those in Fahrenheit 451; my inner sci-fi/fantasy geek always wanted the answer to be the Lord of the Rings trilogy however if pushed I would have to say that Wuthering Heights is my all time favorite book, the one book that I could live without. When I had first seen Eunny Jang’s pattern for “Endpaper Mitts” literature nerd inside squealed with delight. I would knit this pattern in the colors of the endpaper in my travel copy of Wuthering Heights.



Pattern: “Endpaper Mitts”
Yarn: Alpaca with a twist Baby Twist in Blue Corn and Brindle
Needles: Addi Turbos US0 and US1
Started: Early November
Finished: November 17, 2007
Modifications: I added fingers to keep my hands a little warmer.

These mitts were finished on the train and helped keep my hands warm while walking through the city. While the yarn is very soft and warm, I do not think I will be using it again. I haven’t washed these (it would take too long to dry and I would rather have them in my pocket to use) so I do not know how the yarn will look after a good soak, however the yarn has ‘haloed’ a lot with some wear. The next time I make these, and I will make them again, I will use the yarn the pattern calls for. I love the pattern; it might be the quickest knit once I straightened out my gauge and fit problems. I see another pair before Christmas as a gift.


“I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind.”- Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights

Yarn Love

I was lucky enough to score two skeins of Yarn Nerd 850 MHz from the Loopy Ewe a little while ago:

Autumnal Equinox for myself.


Ting! for hubby’s socks. For those of you keeping count, I now have three skeins of yarn earmarked for Scott’s socks and have only turned the heel on the first sock of one pair.

Speaking of socks, since my Socktoberfest was a bust (I did finish the socks that had deadlines but touched nothing else), I was thinking that my first project that I knit from my own handspun should be a pair of socks since sock knitting started it all. Last week I spun up some Superwash Merino from Spunky Eclectic in “Ravelry.”




I have about 200 yds so I will have to order some more to have enough for a pair of socks. This was a great lesson for me because now I know to write down which ratio I used when spinning the singles. I’m pretty sure I spun this with the 8:1 but it might have been the 10:1. Good news is that my plying is much better and this skein is pretty well balanced. I really love my wheel!

We’re getting too old for this

I didn’t care for the shots of Icarus that I took in Rhinebeck so I thought I’d re-shoot it in the courtyard of one of the libraries I work at. I like these photos much better.






Last night Scott and I went and saw Dashboard Confessional at one of the local bars; the show was general admission with no age limit. I have never been to a concert with such a rude and nasty crowd. At least Dashboard Confessional put on a great acoustic set. Here are some pictures:




Walking out of the bar Scott turns to me and says: “I’m too old for this shit, no concerts unless we’ve paid for a seat.” I do agree with him, however there will be some once in a blue moon exceptions.

Learning Curve

I just wanted to say that I love my wheel! When I get a few hours here and there I drag it out and spin until my heart is content or I have to go to bed. This past week I spun up some fiber I bought from the store is Sayville and tried plying once more. I’m quite happy with the results and improvement from my last attempt.

(Penny for scale)


I have about 140yds of New Zealand and domestic wool in “apricot.” I’ve been thinking about combining this with some blue yarn to knit a scarf or a hat or something for hubby (I think I need to go back and buy some more roving) however he said “that yarn smells like sheep!” Notice that he called it yarn (YAY I made yarn!). I soaked the offending yarn in hot water with dishwashing soap multiple times and it still has the light scent of sheep. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the sheep smell out?

Just because she’s under represented on the blog, here’s Nemo.

Spinning and Blankets

I’ve been happily spinning away on my new wheel whenever there is a spare moment. Now that I have no deadline knitting left I’m free to start new projects and spin without guilt. Here is my first attempt on my new wheel.

(Penny included for size since I don’t have a WPI tool.)

This is 2 oz, about 110yds (guessing the best I can since I don’t have a niddy noddy) of mixed breed sheep that I picked up from the guild. I’m pretty happy with it for my first attempt. There are some really pretty parts:


Some not so pretty parts:


I think that when I was plying I didn’t leave the yarn out long enough before allowing it on the bobbin.

I’ve wanted to knit a blanket for ages now; I’ve been imagining snuggling up under a hand knit blanket on the couch with my sweetie and the cats watching a good movie. After months of deciding what pattern and what yarn, what color I’ve finally chose my new project! I’m going to start Saffron Cables in Socks that Rock Heavyweight “In the Navy.”


Any guesses when this will be finished? Scott says sometime in 2009, I hope I prove him wrong.

Just beacuse I thought this was so cute:

(Please ignore the pair of socks that they found and dragged into the living room)

"Hey what are you looking at?"