spinner's basket: Take 2

Socks: a New Way for Me

I think I have mastered two-at-a-time socks with the Magic Loop method.  Sorry if that sounds like some uber secret knitting code.  It might as well be, as I cannot explain how to do it.  I just figured out a way to make it work for me.  Anyway, the next step into today's knitting geek-dom was to dye my own sock blanks.  Joanne T. buys the wool,  Liz, super geek of everything, knits the blanks up double stranded  on her knitting machine, then I dye my own.    As you can see, I have a ways to go with that technique.  Right now I could be a 70's hippie tie-dyeing t-shirts.  However, I am rather liking how subtle the socks are turning out.  This may mean I never buy commercial sock yarn again.  Well, maybe never, anyway.

Arabella, the grand lady

Arabella1
Originally uploaded by cordovastudios

Have a look at her delicate castle and bobbin. Can you see the wrought iron findings? Laurie lucked into this lovely lady from the past, took her home, cleaned and oiled her and then tried out her magic.



Here is Joanne giving Arabella a whirl. She drafts quite quickly so you have to treadle ever so slowly.

New Pattern Launch for Joanne T.

Yes! Joanne T. of TerrificCreations.etsy.com has created this Trinket Scarf and Shawl pattern. It has ruffles and a super soft drape thanks to the dropped stitch element. Details are here on Ravelry.


I have knit two scarves, so far, as test pieces, and now am ready to do a shawl with the handspun. The teal greens one is a Paton sock yarn. The yellow one was knit from natural dyed (marigolds) merino from Cerro Mojino Ranch. Two mismatched rovings from Taos Sunflower (see last post for this fingering weight yarn) should make a whisper weight shawl for cool summer evenings.

It is a blast to knit. Dropping the stitch and watching the ladder slip down the piece is almost a fiendish delight since it is on purpose. I think a finished shawl or scarf may just show up in Cordova Studios. I mean, how many shawls can a girl wear???