Tag: Chone

Officially a Mad Hatter

It seems I just can’t stop.

I thought I could just turn off the “hatting” once the need for hats evaporated.
But the urge persists.

20151206_153653

(Still a little bit damp from its final bath. Will fluff out a little more when it’s completely dry.
I think it needs a blue pompom.)

Perhaps because it’s so easy to start another. No need to plan and measure and swatch and such.
Just cast on.

I’m also having second thoughts about Burr. Maybe I just need to get started knitting.
I’ve got about 750 yards of the Chone yarn ready to go,, and could do the rest on a spin-as-you-go basis.

20151206_153737

But I’ve found myself distracted.
Out of nowhere, an urge to knit something Argyle hit me mid-week.
The sudden need for Argyle socks.
Yeah, I’m all over the place. 🙂

And now I’m spinning some fiber left over from the Little Bow Market holiday sale. A Chone blend.

20151206_175529

Would actually look really nice worked into Burr if I run short on yardage.

And speaking of Little Bow Market leftovers, I’m happy to say that my remaining hats and mitts are now available at Northwest Handspun Yarns in Bellingham. So if you regret not having picked one up a couple of weeks ago, you have another chance!

20151204_070916

Sweater Math

Burr it is!

I’ve swatched, and it looks like I can get gauge with the Chone yarn I’ve been spinning, so I’m good there.

But, the question is- am I going to have enough Chone wool to generate the required yardage?

Of the yarn I’ve spun so far, it looks like I’m getting about 120 yds per 3 oz.

So if I need about 1300 yards (perhaps an overestimate, but trying to be safe), that’s about 33 oz total.

I’ve got approximately 12 oz spun up

20151122_173156

And just over a pound of Chone (mix of 2014 and 2015) remaining in the stash

20151122_173210

Which leaves me a little short.

Hmmmmm.

I see a couple of options:

A. make it without sleeves (Burr jacket becomes Burr vest) or,
B. incorporate some other wool in some part of the jacket (back, sleeves?) I have some ideas.

Since I’ve not quite at the casting on stage for the sweater yet, this week I worked on an “In the Meantime Cowl”

Pretty little thing, I think.

20151122_173147

The Next Sweater

The Holiday Festival was a great sucess, and I’m feeling like I’m ready to embark on a new sweater project.

No firm plan on the pattern yet, but the yarn is coming together nicely!

It’s 100% 2015 Chone, spun on Sigrid (new wheel) and chain plied on my lateral treadle wheel.

20151115_163217

My little sample swatch knit up to 4.5 stitches and 6 rows to the inch on size 5 needles, so I guess that’s roughly worsted weight.

20151115_163502

It’s wonderfully squishy and fuzzy (but still has the occasional reminder of what a messy eater Chone is).

20151115_163529

I’ve got two skeins all finished and one ready to ply.

20151115_163720

Guess I’ll just keep spinning until I figure out what I’m making it into.
My first thought was a simple roll-neck top-down raglan. So comfy and casual and cozy.
But perhaps that might be too toasty for all but the coldest weather.

So then I started thinking about a vest. I’ve got a couple of nice vest patterns “favorited” on Ravelry.
Moussailon
Wood Hollow Vest

And vests are so useful for layering fall through spring.

But then I’ve always wanted to make a Burr, too. Love those Brooklyn Tweed patterns!

20151115_163144

What do you think that this yarn wants to be?

Denise 1, Crows 0

Egg production is up!

Or, should I say, egg thievery is down.
And the crows are no longer hanging around in the tall trees bordering the pasture.

I’m calling it a victory.
We’ll see if it lasts. But for now I’m pretty pleased with the results of the netting.

And, we moved the SheepCam today- so the view of the boys is no longer obscured by the crowproofing. 🙂

In wool news, I washed the last of my Spring 2015 Chone wool last weekend,

20151018_172856

And have been slowly getting it picked and fluffed. It’s really neat how his wool has been getting softer and crimpier over the last few years. His lamb fleece wasn’t much fun to work with, but he’s come a long way! One more reason to love the crazy little dude

20151011_160419

I haven’t been spinning much recently, but hat production continues apace-

20151018_172944

20151018_173008

Next up-

20151018_172839