Name Change

I have changed my blog name from fuutwo to lukknits in order to try to synch up my social media handles (someone has already taken fuutwo on another platform). I don't intend on changing my ravelry though. That might reflect in the shop name once I open it up.

Fiber Fibre

Singles unite!

I started to experience some mild discomfort during my knitting, probably because of the weight of the mecha sweater and the fact that I'm just learning continental, so I decided to turn my attention back to spinning to let my arms rest a bit. (As though I actually need more motivation to spin more other than the fact that the sweetgeorgia fiber from last summer has still not been finished yet. I'm done spinning all the singles that I think I'll need of the "summer skin" (above) now, though, and I'm about 40g into one braid. Just need to ply them and set the twist before starting up those gloves for my friend!)

Malabrigo Nube in "Aguas"

Malabrigo Nube in "Persia"

So with this (re)new(ed) attention on spinning, I went out to further motivate myself to spin more! (The clear rationalization of my actions is only mildly disturbing.) The original plan was actually to go and see whether I could find a supported spindle - more specifically a Russian spindle, since those have really caught my eye - to try out, since I've only ever tried a top-whorl drop spindle, as well as maybe some cotton fiber to take full advantage of the supported spindle exerting zero weight on the fiber. I poked around at Romni's, where I knew they stocked African bead spindles, and purchased one along with another Ashford drop spindle (same as the one I already own) and some Malabrigo Nube.

Northbound Knitting Grey Shetland in "Heatwave" + Spindles

Then I made my merry way to Lettuce Knit, where I was sorely tempted to try out the silk hankies, but I settled on the Grey Shetland above. (I was also very attracted to one of the lace yarns, I forget the brand, but it's a superwash merino singles, and it comes in the most gorgeous vibrant colours; I wanted to take home a couple of grey skeins and a couple of the cyan blue to make a sweater; I resisted.) It's very different from the Corriedale and Merino I've been spinning (no duh) so I decided to have a go at more wool before moving on to plant fibers.
My goal is to spin at least 8oz of stashed fiber by the end of this summer (let's be generous and give me until school starts), whether it's just singles, or plied and set. I'm counting the sweetgeorgia already spun up. I think I'll need it.

Tricksy Knitter Knitting Needle Gauge

Guess what came in the mail today? The Tricksy Knitter Knitting Gauge from Miso Crafty Knits! Thanks again, Melissa! Although I've already cast on 4 large projects, I'm already looking forward to swatching for the next one just so I can use this!

What's in a name?

Enough for me to make a reference to it, clearly.

So it happens that apparently, 3 full-sized projects (2 old sweaters that really should be finished up this year and my silver linings dress, which in comparison should actually take a lot more time to knit up and should therefore be much more behind progress-wise than those aforementioned sweaters - this is one of those times reality does not match with theory) is not enough for me to keep my mind from wandering. And with the arrival of those Knit Picks Options interchangeables in the size I needed to start working with my lovely Malabrigo Mecha, what else was I to do? Cast on, of course!

I only have 5 skeins of English Rose (though I do also have 5 skeins of Mostaza, an equally gorgeous colourway), so I decided to make a bare bones sweater: plain raglan sweater in stockinette stitch with ribbed collar and hems, worked top-down seamlessly (no need to use up more yarn seaming where unnecessary when I'm not sure I even have enough to complete the sweater without that extra concern), no shaping. Possibly with pockets. We'll see when we get to that stage and by that point I should be able to gauge how much more yarn I'll need to finish it all off. Or maybe I'll use some Mostaza to make the pockets. That's an idea.

Knit Picks Options Interchangeables

Already cast on for a swatch with Malabrigo Mecha in "English Rose"

I must say, these are pretty dreamy. They even come with end caps. I've read a bunch of comments here and there that the quality of their needles varies a bit, so I was a little afraid. Not afraid enough to not place my order when the needles went on sale and my LYS just happened to have run out of interchangeable cables in 32" and 24" (just the lengths I wanted!) for the interchangeables I was originally intending to purchase. But now all my fears have been allayed, and I'm very happy with my new needles! Maybe I got lucky. Or maybe it's because I sent my order in on the 9th (Friday) and received it today (Thursday). Not even 5 full working days! (5 exact days, if you count the Friday, I suppose.) Always a nice surprise.

Pool

It's pooling it's pooling it's pooling it's pooling it's pooling!!! I just started alternating the skeins to transition into the next one slowly, and it's not like I didn't notice the pooling before this, but it's giving the dress a bit of a striped look to it in some areas and more prominently a splotch or two of lighter areas, and I'm not sure how I feel about it... I know the yarn is going to soften and drape beautifully after I wash and block it, but I haven't had this much trouble with colours pooling before. The second skein is much less variegated and more overall medium grey (the first skein was medium grey mixed with lighter greys). In hindsight, I should have started off with the darker skein, then the more mottled one, and then used the lightest one for last. I just thought the first skein was less all over the place.
I am considering ripping back and just reknitting those 7" or so, but this is lace weight on 2.5mm needles. Well. It's still a bit stripey for the part where I started alternating the skeins, so. So. Where's the silver lining?

... I won? I won!

I'm just so excited about this, as well as so incredibly happy that these things happen, that I want to tell the entire world (or you know, whoever reads my blog. And I'm not conceited enough to think the world at large reads my blog - unless it does? - but this is as close as I can get, so I'll take it!): I won a giveaway from the lovely Melissa over at Miso Crafty Knits! Aaaahh!! Thank you so much! It's my first time winning a giveaway, so this is pretty exciting. I'll be looking forward to the Tricksy Knitter Knitting Gauge - it'll be something to look forward to now that classes have started again!

Thanks again, Melissa!