Madame Purl » Mishaps

Rope

Madame Purl — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:25:48 +0000

I do actually try to spin with a project in mind. However, sometimes the yarn seems to have a mind of it’s own.

I spun this gorgeous Cormo x 3 ply and it seems to be thicker than I thought. I originally planned to make the Tasha Shawl out of this one, but now I’m thinking it’s too thick for the shawl. This is on a size 10.5 needle and it’s a struggle to get the stitch off the needle. I’m re-evaluating my options and going to knit a swatch, but Raveneli has caught my eye and I think I may have enough to make the vest.

A Near Mishap

Madame Purl — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:20:54 +0000

I have so many sewing mishaps, it’s amazing I have the audacity to keep going back to the sewing well. Every once in a while though I get a sewing bug and can’t get rid of it without giving it a go. I decided I needed a journal cover for my new datebook. I bought one of these Moleskine 18-month date books and I thought it would be nice to have a different color cover to be able to easily pick it up.

I followed this pattern and everything seemed to be going well, but then I decided I really wanted to use the elastic band, so how could I do that… I thought maybe a large button hole on the back.

Hmmm…. well that didn’t go so well, but it’s not so bad not to use it. When I was putting the button hole in, I thought this would be so much simpler with knitting. Cast off and then cast on – instant button hole.

One of my new found loves is the fountain pen. I bought my first fountain pen and ink this past week. This Poussiere de Lune translates to Moon Dust. I love it and it’s an extra-fine nib Lamy. Writing with it is just a joy. It makes me want to write. Of course I’m coveting their new special edition pink Lamy.

So we got our first delivery of the CSA this week and we got arugula. Lots of arugula. I made a pesto last night, which turned out just ok.

DH however fixed it up tonight with some chicken and put some more tasty things with it and it was much more mild tonight. Last night it was way too bitey.

Frogged

Madame Purl — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:46:11 +0000

Well, I’m the proof that we can’t have successes without the failures. I’d been planning on making a matching crochet hat. Unfortunately, I used a hook 5 sizes too small, it’s been frogged and re-started.

Hopefully done soon.

Knitting Kryptonite

Madame Purl — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:33:30 +0000

Since the beginning of my knittting career, it seems that hats have always thrown me for a loop.

This was going to be a hat for a friends mom, but it got sent to the frog pond. It’s ok though because I found out her favorite colors and now will re-knit on smaller needles in those colors. I seem to have quite the stash of cotton.

The combination of knitting cotton in the round seriously throws my gauge off. Obviously it could fit the Jolly Green Giant.

Technically Not A Mishap

Madame Purl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:54:58 +0000

Technically this is not a mishap in my book, but we’re going to categorize it as one for today. Poor DH, he’s been after me for eons to knit this basic raglan top down sweater. Well, I spun the yarn… lots of yarn. A beautiful light gray Corriedale. It’s gorgeous and soft. At least to me it’s super soft. This is from a fine sheep from a super fine establishment that always sells out of fleeces. I was actually thinking of getting another one as it’s been fun to spin.

Well wouldn’t you know it too itchy for him – poor thing. He can’t help his sensitive skin. At least I found out in the collar. We tested cormo on him – too itchy. Say it ain’t so… he’s so, so sensitive on especially in the neck area, he’s telling me it has to be cashmerino, which is fine, but there is a boat load of wool in the basement destined to be sweaters. Oh well. Right? Cheer me up folks.

Making Lemonade

Madame Purl — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:58:56 +0000

About a month ago my little gang came over for a dye day. Since we have a new spinner in the group (Hi Beverly!), I convinced her to dye wool. (We actually have a couple new spinners.) Well, needless to say sometimes the studio is more like the mad scientists cave and accidents do happen. Categorizing under mishaps is my latest disaster – felted wool out of my dye pot. Whoops.

This is the lemons – felted bit. I could barely pull bits apart.

Well at least it appears to be felted and I probably would’ve tossed it into the oops pile if Beverly didn’t say to me in passing, maybe you can put it on your carder?

So this weekend while I was fixing up another pot for her Slytherin colorway, I decided I would give it a go, what the heck – there is nothing to loose right. Well to my surprise lemons to lemonade… whohoo!

This is the new dye pot full and I did a hot pour method this time – so the colors strike quicker and are more distinct and vibrant.

It’s still not quite dry in this picture, but will be soon.

The specs on this fiber: This is a special blend of 75% Merino 25% mohair that I had specially made at Spinderellas, whom I can whole heartedly recommend as they have done a fabulous job on all my fleeces. I’ve sent them a few lemons over the last few years and they’ve made beautiful lemonade for me.

Bummer

Madame Purl — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:25:49 +0000

Well, it seems that I knit in the round much looser than I purl back and forth. Whoops! Well, I’ve been trying to decide do I re-work the numbers or go down a needle size. While I like this, I think it would look nicer in a bit firmer fabric – so before a visit to the frog pond I’ll be doing a few rows in another size needle to make sure I’m actually getting gauge.

Hello Old Friend

Madame Purl — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:31:23 +0000

My old friend Mishap stopped by to see me today. Actually he popped by yesterday too, but since I ignored him and proceeded full steam ahead things really got messy. Somehow failure never seems to stop me, as now it will be be a big laugh for a while and then in the end I’ll be right back on it trying to make it right. Anyway… here’s what happened.

I got it in my head I was going to do some felted slippers for my husband for Christmas. Well, it sounded really good in theory. There is an awful lot of wool to use in my basement and wet felting seems very fun. I read through several books and decided that yes, wet felting was the way to go. Ok – so I really wanted to do wet felting around a mold, but that seemed rather difficult, so why not just make a few pieces of flat felt cut them out and sew them together. Again – great in theory. Well, after the initial craziness of the wet felting – nearly threw my arm out in the hardening stage and sending into the washer, which I read online you can do – I failed to get to the part where you’re supposed to wrap it in an old sheet to stablize it. Again whoops…I probably should’ve went back to the drawing board. Did that happen, well no. Not even when I did have to make more than a few pieces of felt to get it right, but hey… again thought nothing of it. After the felt was done – I proceeded to cut out and attempt a slipper. The initial results didn’t look so bad, but then when I had him try it on it was a reverse flip-flop. Hmm… that wouldn’t work. So I tried to take the stitches out and shorten it a bit – but that got even uglier. So now this is what I have and some very lousy cut up felt I made… oh yeah and a decent laugh. However, felt I’m not done with you… back to the drawing board on this one and more practice in wet felting.

So that’s my tale this fine Christmas Eve… I really should stick to knitting and spinning the stuff, but I won’t. I’m hard headed that way. So have a egg nog for me and wish my friend Mishap well on his way home… hopefully I won’t see him again for a long while, but you never know. Stay tuned it’s just one fiber adventure after another around here. (lol)