Motherlode

I tend to buy a good deal of yarn in May. I think it all started during my first Maryland Sheep and Wool festival, which always take place the first full weekend in May. Then, when I moved to Seattle, my favorite yarn store, Weaving Works, has it annual Mother's Day Sale.

And obviously, I bought yarn. But what is different this May is that I went to the sale with projects in mind. (Crazy, I know.)

First up, this lovely Manos Silk.



Which I have slated for this.



I originally had designated some Louet Gems in an eggplant that I was in love with. Until I started knitting it and realized I would not wear it.

I really love the pattern, so eventually I will have the sweater in my wardrobe.

But first, I need to knit this sweater ...



with this pile of Hempathy.



Mainly because I'm taking a trip to do some whale watching in July and this sweater is the perfect thing to wear when one goes whale watching, don't you think?

Yarn spa day

This weekend, I did a little spring cleaning (even though it SNOWED on Friday but I digress).
And in the spring cleaning, I looked in my closet and saw two sweaters that I knitted in Jaeger's Chamonix using this pattern that I NEVER WEAR.
That's not a nice way to treat angora and wool (which for some reason Jaeger discontinued.)
So I frogged the sweaters and gave Chamonix a spa day.
I thought I'd show you how to give your yarn a spa day (i.e. block it so it doesn't look like a Raggedy Ann doll's hair). This is the method I use to block my handspun yarn. I realize that there are other methods for straighting out kinked yarn that involve steaming, but this method does the trick and the yarn smells nice afterwards. (Plus the yarn had been sitting in the closet for a while, so it totally needed a wash)

1. Frog the offending finished object. It is preferable to use a skein winder, but if you don't have one, I suggest using your hand and elbow, or place two chairs with their back facing each other.
   
2. Fill a basin of some kind (in this instance, my tub) with hot water and place some soap.
3. When water is still, place yarn in basin. It will float on top of the water if it is made of wool or other animal fiber, because those fibers resist water. (One of the great things that make wool so ideal for fighting the cold wet weather.)
4. Gently press the yarn into the water, being careful not to stir up the water. Felting comes into play with yarn when hot water and soap combine with agitation. You should be fine if you don't disturb the water too much.
5. Let yarn sit until water cools to room temperature. (Because felting can also come when wool comes into contact with a water temperature shock)
6. Pull yarn out of water, squeezing excess water without wringing yarn. (Again, as a measure against felting)
7. Place yarn on a hook or door knob handle and let a towel hang from the skein. This adds weight to the yarn as a blocking measure, and allows helps keep your floor dry.
8. Voila, your yarn is refreshed, glowing and smelling nice. Aren't spa days great!

On a totally different note, I'm excited that it's Opening Day for baseball! So I will be knitting on the eggplant sweater while watching the Mariners!



I know, I messed up the cable, but do you think I should go back and fix it? Part of me wants to, but part of me feels like no one will notice.