Collections

Just a list of the collections that have been popping up everywhere as of late! And somehow, they're all things I like? So here they are, in no particular order.

1. Interpretations Vol.3 (Joji & Veera) - almost everything.
2. Piper 2016 (Quince & Co.) - laceweight! garments! lace! What more need I say?
3. Indulgent Dreams (Hanna Maciejewska) - I have Deep Feelings about this one.
4. Shibui SS16 - just steal my heart, Shibui. As always.
5. Contrarian Shawls 2 (Amy Gunderson) - whoa.
6. Bundled in Brioche (Stephen West) - This is really exciting! West has such masterful control over colour & the incorporation of all sorts of diverse elements into his designs, in such a way that nothing ever looks boring, so I'm really looking forward to what else is in the collection!
7. The Colorblock Collection (Knit Picks) - Electric.
8. Celtic Journey (Knit Picks) - again, a couple of patterns in here that I like, e.g. Rhiannon and if I were a stole knitter, the Fildais Stole
9. 6 Bits Storybooks: DWELL - I'm not huge on knitting accessories, but there is a sweater in this collection, and I love it!
10. AUTUMN Collection 5 (Marie Wallin) - Aspen! Carmine! Sapphire! (Those lace "edges" are really nice.) Sorrel! Colourwork & cables & beautiful colour palettes. That's my jam. Not that I do much colourwork (or cables, really), but I do appreciate me some of that.

And then, on a slightly unrelated, but not really because still a new collection, note, check out the papercut collective's new Ahoy! collection of sewing patterns. I finally took the plunge and ordered the Moana dress pattern, although I was also very tempted to get an Adrift, just for that skirt variation. (ETA: Did end up getting Adrift also. That skirt. It's the first textile-related purchase this year, don't judge!) Use code AHOYPAPERCUT for a 15% discount till midnight Sunday in New Zealand. Did I mention free shipping worldwide?

Jane & co.

Hand-dyed, hand-woven, hand-sewn

Unfortunately not the best photo, but as I don't have access currently to a lighting studio, this will have to do. This is the project I had been working on all of last semester: a hand-dyed, hand-woven, and hand-sewn quilt! It was my first time quilting anything at all, so of course I had to go all out and do it as much from scratch as I could, right? Stitching together all the layers of the quilt sandwich took me a good 3 nights of hand-sewing, stitch by painful stitch (I didn't have a thimble the first night and drew blood after using my finger to redirect the needle upwards enough times), as I found out that quite unexpectedly - although I should have foreseen it - the quilt sandwich was too thick to go through the sewing machine, for one, and, when I tried, it got stuck and threatened to destroy the quilt blocks!

I'm not sure exactly how much yarn I used for this, but I'd hazard a rough estimate at approximately 7000 yds of laceweight & 2000 yds of fingering weight for all the fabric I wove up. Granted, there was a small pile of scraps at the end that were either too small to use, or that I didn't have to use since the block was already large enough. The centre of each block was woven in BFL using my Coccodrillo, and the surrounding strips were woven on Sandy using superwash merino. All the yarn save the undyed parts were dyed using Greener Shades dyes. All the structures required only 2 shafts, and there are 3 blocks of each weave structure in the quilt. It took me a good month or two to finish this in its entirety.

I made the quilt to accompany a book - The Plainest Weave - I made for the same project. I had had the idea since the start of the term, but just writing and rewriting the draft took a while, and I was making changes even as I was printing the first side of the pages.

Once I get better pictures of everything (probably closer to March, when we have our department's Open House and there's better lighting), I will be updating my website. And in the meantime, if anyone is interested in purchasing this & the accompanying book, feel free to send me a message, the only caveat being that I still need everything until March at least.

January Reads

Just a list of my January reading. I've finally been getting back into reading as of late (the start of the school term in September put a hamper on my initial motivation last summer), so I figured I should keep a list and see whether Goodreads won't give me any suggestions as to what I might like after I input 20 books. Also, seeing a list of everything makes it look like I've been doing something (because I overdid it with knitting a couple of days ago, and my thesis is currently going nowhere if only because we need to wait on something to continue it).

*Note on WorldCat: I do not see the public libraries closest to me even though I got most of these books from those libraries (I can only assume the system is not connected to WorldCat), so before going to purchase the books (which, feel free - I will enable whatever book-purchasing endeavours anyone might be entertaining), search it up on your local library catalogue. Libraries - both public & academic - are a great resource that I cannot recommend enough! All the luckier are you who have access to academic libraries (and access also to academic journal directories/search engines)!

*ETA: Also watched Mustang & Richard II from the Hollow Crown Series (borrowed also from my public library).
*ETA also: forgot about Zoobiquity by Barbara Horowitz (Amazon | WorldCat). I believe this was the first book of the year I read. I gave it a 3/5, but only because I can't give half stars on Goodreads, else it would be 3.5. Interesting, and I think it set me up for reading Your Inner Fish, in a sense.

1. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S.Eliot (Amazon | WorldCat)
• Delightful, as expected! The cover told me that much, and T.S.Eliot, of course. I was very tempted while reading to make a children's program with these little poems as the reading material, until I ran into terms like Chink, which quickly made me rethink that plan (not that I have any semblance of control over the programs anyway). It was published 1939, so I suppose it wasn't much of an issue then. Or so I hope, really.
2. Snobbery by Joseph Epstein (Amazon | WorldCat)
• This was actually Plan B for me. I couldn't find another book (called Snobs) in the catalogue of my public library, so I settled for Snobbery, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was very entertaining, and the style of writing was very engaging. I wonder if it's possible, really, to not be a snob at all (and not be a snob in the sense of snobbishly avoiding snobbishness), even if one were not to be given money, a good upbringing, etc. that Epstein notes. This is the sort of book I might purchase if I ran into it in a second-hand book store.
3. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit (Amazon | WorldCat)
• Perhaps I had too high hopes for this, but I was left a little wanting when I had finished reading this collection of essays. I agree with what Solnit has to say, and it brought up issues I hadn't even thought to question before (e.g. notices telling female students to be careful & not wander campuses late at night, but not telling males to stay indoors, and how that in itself is problematic), but overall, it was not as revelatory as I wanted it to be. It's a good book, but my expectations made it into an ok read.
4. Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff (Amazon | WorldCat)
• While I found it an enjoyable enough read, sometimes I couldn't help but feel like the tone of writing was a bit too self-conscious at times. In a way that made it seem as though it wasn't quite on purpose, but kind of was, and tried a little too hard? And as a collection, I personally didn't follow from one essay to another as well as maybe I expected to.
5. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan (Amazon | WorldCat)
• Relateable, but not life-changing for me. (I'm getting this feeling my expectations are set way too high.) I did enjoy Keegan's style of writing very much, especially in her fiction pieces. At first I wasn't sure whether I was reading fiction or non-fiction even though the section had a page that introduced all the fiction with a "Fiction" page, and tried to integrate all these names and lovers and information into one universe, which didn't quite work. Until I reached the non-fiction section and realized why it didn't work. Oops.
6. The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz (Amazon | WorldCat)
• You know when you read something like The Art of War and everything seems so obvious you're wondering why anyone felt the need to write it down? This was kind of like that for me, except I valued reading The Art of War more (and would do so again). It was everything I expected it to be, covering the topics I expected it to cover, and providing the sort of suggestions I expected it to cover. Looking at the call number, it was also the first self-help book I've read (that I know of).
7. Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin (Amazon | WorldCat)
• I read it in a day. Well-written, punny section titles, and easy to understand. I never really questioned that there might be intermediary organisms and that they should fit into the theoretical framework so perfectly that it would seem the theory was pretty solid, but I still enjoyed reading this very much. The examples Shubin gives are not limited to fish (don't let the title mislead you!), and I am left wanting to read more on the topic, more in-depth. Shubin also included a recommended reading list at the end of the book (the notes section, I believe), which I skipped since I had a list of other books I had already borrowed, but which I imagine would satisfy my desire to continue reading on the topic had I pursued that line of action. I would recommend this to people.

And, in the same fashion as my knitting WIPs - why do I feel the need to start everything at once, all the time? - my in-progress reading list:

1. Demons by Dostoevsky (Amazon | WorldCat)
2. The Savage God: A Study of Suicide by Alvarez (Amazon | WorldCat)
3. The Mating Mind by Geoffrey Miller (Amazon | WorldCat)
4. The Outsider by Camus (Amazon | WorldCat)

Pointed Progress

A bunch of ends to weave in.

See what I did there? Pointed progress? Please don't hurt me.

There's been some progress on the Chevron Cardigan that I've been plugging away at. The body has been completed, with a couple of mods to the original pattern, and one sleeve is being churned out as we speak. So, because I don't really plan on making more mods beyond the neck & button band treatment (except for maybe a couple of steeks for pockets, but then again, maybe not), here are the mods I made so far & some other comments:

1. I made a crew-neck instead of the v-neck (or what I assume is a v-neck... it's kind of covered by the model's hair, unfortunately, so I can't quite make it out, but the instructions look like a v-ish-neck).
2. Instead of binding off in stair-like fashion for the shoulders, I made short-row slopes, put the live stitches on a holder, and connected it all when I knit across the back using 3-needle BO, then binding off the back neck stitches and knitting across to pick up all the short row yos, before coming around again to do a 3-needle BO for the other shoulder. Much handier than doing more of that sewing stuff.
3. That being said, I still knit this in pieces. I wanted the structure side seams would offer me.
4. Because I went down a needle size (3.5mm & 2.75mm), I'm making the second size (M).
5. I made the shorter version, and even measured the pieces to be around 14" while stretching it out, since I knew it would grow (this tosh dk stuff is lovely, but it has a tendency to do that without remorse), but it has since grown without any regard for my regards for its nature, to about 15~16" long.

Knitting the first sleeve.

As you can see, the ribbing at the bottom of the cardigan/jacket pulls in quite a lot - which is exactly what I wanted, so that I can get the bubbled look in the first photo (I was pulling the fronts in, to simulate actually having buttonbands holding it all together). The crew neck modification looks great right now, and the shoulders are a good fit. One sleeve has passed the point of increases (oddly only about halfway up the arm or so?) and is on a straight path to completion. Also, that white dress? It's my own from this exhibition. Perfect fit. As it should. I wouldn't mind me another one in black.

I'm pretty excited to wear this when it's all done! My first garishly pink clothing item! (Or not. I mean, one could argue this is also garishly pink. They would lose the argument hands down, but they could still theoretically try. Not to mention a hand-me-down dress I chose to keep, which is an undeniably bright pink.) And once I'm done, I can start something that isn't in the colour range of red-pink-pink/orange/blinding! Nevermind that the pink slip hasn't even been cast on yet. Also nevermind that my burnt brioche has not seen one stitch of progress for a while now. Or that I haven't really gotten too far into my scarlet billows dress either. And don't even get me started on those two forever-unfinished objects. I just saw this nice and simple cowl on ravelry yesterday (free!) and I want to cast on already! I'm thinking of using up the rest of my Malabrigo Mecha in Mostaza (the one I used for the bulky Change of Heart). This is looking to be a productive year already (if I get things finished, mind you)!

Scarlet Billows Start to Spread... So Throw Yourself a Lifeline!

Scarlet billows really are starting to spread. It's much neater than it looks though.

This is a cautionary tale.

I've been drawing up a design - inspired by Mack the Knife - for a lacy red dress using a variety of red yarns from my stash (hurrah stashbusting!). Now, lace isn't really my thing; I mean, I love it, and I love working with it when they're other people's patterns, but I've never designed with lace before. But I understand how pi shawls work, so I figured that as long as the stitch counts match up, I should be fine. And in theory, I really was. Only, the first ring of lace is a 12-stitch repeat. The second one was a 20-stitch repeat. So the numbers didn't quite match when doubled, but all I needed were a couple more stitches, so add them I did, and proceeded along my merry way halfway through the stitch pattern or so, willing myself to ignore all the while that the lace doesn't match up with the first ring of lace that well... it was just a little off, every time I looked at it, but a little off enough to matter. And because I knew it would bother me endlessly, relentlessly, I ripped back. I hadn't put in a lifeline, but I've messed up enough on other projects to know how to read my knitting here! (A simple lace, thank goodness. May I tell you the secret to becoming a great knitter? Or maybe just tell you to make a million mistakes and learn to fix them all, as I've been doing and continue to do.)

White buoy of hope.

I proceeded to look up a 12-stitch repeat lace to replace that second pattern and forged right on ahead after doubling my stitches... without putting in a lifeline. A repeat and a half in, I knew I would have to rip back again: this lace was a simpler, smaller-looking version of my first lace! (And because I'm either hopelessly optimistic or an idiot, I refused to swatch that lace beforehand also, which is why I had little clue what exactly it looked like in comparison to the first.) I knew I didn't want the outer rings to be denser than the inside one - this would make no sense in terms of practicality, the inside ring being the part that would provide cover from my waist down - so hi-ho, alas, and also lackaday, this just wouldn't do! And so I tugged and pulled and silently hoped the yarn would hold - which it did - and placed all those loose stitches onto my needles again.

(Shibui Knits Sock, it's been a real pleasure working with you so far - you're a real trooper. I'm sorry to see you're discontinued. Oddly enough though, considering you're a superwash merino, I dry-felt-joined you just fine.)

I then cut some yarn, threaded a needle, and pulled that needle through all my stitches. It took all of a minute or so, if that, and if I need to rip out again, I'm more prepared. Third time's the charm, though, so here's to hoping I won't even have to use it.

Kitten Mittens

Cats for Wancat

Very belated post, but I had forgotten about these. Above are the kitten mittens I made for my friend for Secret Santa! I used the Moggies pattern, which was very easy to follow (it's more or less completely done by following the chart) and turned out beautifully. It was my first extensive colourwork project (the sheep sweater doesn't count. It just - truly and honestly - does not count.) and I definitely noticed my gauge relaxing by the second mitten. Also, look what happens when you don't really plan that well and run out of yarn! The upper left grey kitten is pinching in visibly because I had to substitute a couple of other (thinner) grey yarns since I ran out of the rest of my Cascade Heritage. Also, better colour combinations next time. The grey and the green almost blend into each other, which was completely unexpected. The recipient didn't even realize there were cats on the mittens at first and thought they were camo mittens! He was delighted when I pointed them out though, so I suppose it's fine? And maybe if they're less noticeable, the chances they'll be worn is higher...

In other news: a new issue of Brooklyn Tweed is out! I absolutely adore the colour palette and the styling (as always). Very tempted to cast on an Intersect, and League intrigues me, so I might get it for the sake of figuring out how to do intarsia so cleanly, but not actually make it for myself. Riptide's another beauty that I'm not sure I'd be able to incorporate into my wardrobe, but would love to make. It's actually a bit of an issue, the things that I want to make not being the things I would wear. Also the colours I want to use not being the colours I would wear. (Although I wouldn't hesitate too much wearing rather outlandish colours so long as I don't have to colour-coordinate them with other outlandish colours.)

Through & Through

See those light spots?

There was a part of the chorus of The Penelopiad, a number of years ago (I was still in... first year, second year? Now I'm in my fifth, if that gives this context.), that went:

weaving, weaving, all deceiving
what a tangled web we're weaving
- I don't remember this line -
when will dear Odysseus come

I forget where I went to see it. I get the feeling Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. A quick search says Nightwood Theatre. And another link (the trailer to the play, which includes part of the song) tells me my memory is flawed. What I do remember, without a doubt, is that this was my very favourite of all the plays we had to go see.

I want to go see a play or two this year. This has nothing to do, really, with the main topic of discussion. Which is about all those comments (read: complaints) about madelinetosh yarns not being dyed all the way through, and how people expect more from such a known & trusted brand of yarn. Maybe the undyed centre section of their yarns is necessary?

White spots!

I get the feeling that the white spots coming from the core yarn that haven't been dyed all the way through actually help madtosh yarns with the brilliance & lustre that their yarns are kind of known for. Because the dye penetrates more or less enough so that you wouldn't normally see the white core for the most part unless you split your yarn or it's been frogged enough that its structure has been changed, the dye rests on a white background, which makes the yarn look like it's glowing a bit. Not that the yarn produces any light. But I think it might be a similar sort of thing as when images on your computer screen appear brighter than when you print them out (always make a test print! also, soft proof!). Instead, here it's the light hitting the yarn actually bouncing off the white (or lighter) core instead of a dark, dyed centre. Does that make sense? I haven't actually done science for so long I might just be rambling.

And besides, it doesn't make it any less worrying while you're actually knitting and encountering all these lighter spots. I'm pretty sure one skein might just be lighter here though.

A pile of red ready to become scarlet billows, starting to spread

And this pile of red & pink yarn (minus the forest green & the two skeins of madtosh at the top, which are for the chevron cardigan/jacket) - all from stash! - are in the planning stage of becoming scarlet billows. So excited for this one. Not that I've finished the black dress or the above cardigan though.