I know I haven’t posted in a while, I am more active on Instagram and Facebook now than I make blog posts.
I am going to be working outside the home and am going to stop teaching for the time being. I intend to keep my website and may post occasionally as I weave and knit for fun rather than money. I will let you all know if and when I resume teaching. I do enjoy it a lot, but working outside the home 40 hours a week will be a big adjustment for me and I still need to spend time with my family.
Here are the socks I made for my family for Christmas.
I was working on a ribbed sock for my son today, and made a couple of videos to help other CSMers.
First, my new favorite tool, the flat, bent tip needle (Bodkin needle).
I would really like one about 2 inches longer, but haven’t found it yet. This one is almost three inches long. I use it to help when I am switching to my working yarn with the ribber in place on the my circular sock machine. You need to thread the yarn into the machine and get it down into the cylinder to knit with it. This needle is much easier for me to use than a latch hook tool that is fished up from below. Check out my little video below.
Next is a video to show you how I latch up or “pick up” a dropped ribber stitch. I had a lot of experience latching them up until I got my ribber correctly timed to the machine and the yarn guide placement adjusted correctly. The only other videos I found about picking up stitches showed how to latch up a dropped cylinder stitch. So this morning when I dropped a rib stitch when transferring it to the cylinder needle, I knew I would have a dropped stitch to fix when I took the ribber off. So here it is.
I have started cranking out some socks again. Above is a pair I knit for me out of Berocco Sox Corib. Now I am working with my warm German sock yarns that you can see pictured below. I bought some some collections, so they will have similar patterns within the collections, but different colorways. Some are very bright and some are more subdued and conservative. (Plus I have a new colorful collection of Opal Potpourri yarn on the way and will post those pics as soon as they arrive.) If you want a particular size and colorway, let me know and you can choose from the sets below. Normally $28 a pair but friends and family can order a pair for $25 (if paid by cash or check (ladies sizes) until the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday November 25. I can usually have them ready within a week but will let you know if they will take longer. Shipping is not included. Men’s sizes will take longer since I want to get the ladies sizes knit first. I need to switch out cylinders re-set the machine for a larger foot size. That all takes time and I prefer to knit as many as I can on one cylinder before switching it out.) Extra large men’s feet (above size 12) may cost more if I have to use more than one ball of yarn (in that case heels, toes and perhaps cuffs will need to be knit in a solid coordinating color which I have to buy). Send me a message through the contact form here or on my Measured Threads Facebook page if you want some.
Over the Rainbow Collection (numbered from the top row left to right as #1 to #4 & bottom left to right as #5 to #8)
Hot Socks Collection (numbered from the top row left to right as #1 to #3 & bottom left to right as #4 to #6)
Morning Dew Collection (numbered from the top row left to right as #1 to #4 & bottom left to right as #5 to #8)
Rigid Heddle weaving is a great way to get started weaving in a simple way. Rigid heddle looms are inexpensive, portable and quick to warp. You will learn to direct warp a rigid heddle loom with easy to find knitting yarn, learn the basics of weaving, and create a beautiful plain weave scarf in 6 hours. Looms will be provided for class. No previous weaving experience needed.
I am currently working on a weaving sample for a class. This is woven with Juniper Moon Farm Zooey a linen and cotton blend yarn. It has a real nice feel to it. In this end of the sample I am using the same yarn for warp and weft. There is leno lace and Spanish lace. I have some blue Hemapathy yarn that I will use for weft when I sample at the other end to see what difference it makes in how much the lace shows up. I think it can be a real nice table runner or if made wider, a placemat. It might even be nice for a summery scarf if I beat a little lighter to have more of a warp dominant fabric.
