lutrian dreams - Wool Love

A bit of magic in the forest

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:20:53 +0100

I can't resist posting just one more picture of the slippers, this time in snow. (I might as well, since I spent a ridiculous length of glove-less time outside to take these. I am now paying for -5F air temperatures with chapped hands. Not that -5F is bad, for here; but combined with a lack of humidity, it wreaks havoc on skin.) This was Ken's favorite shot. We came back from Joann today with faux suede in chocolate brown and felt for the liners (bubble gum pink and sky blue, so Gabriella and Savannah will have a special surprise inside the slippers). I was feeling really pensive about the purple set. A coworker told me that they looked like little eggplants, and that almost ruined them for me. But seeing them outside in our magical forest, I think they are adorable.

Two finished sets

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:46:02 +0100

I finally got around to putting a cuff on the second slipper of the second set. The slippers are finished in theory, but I would like to make them a little more wearer-friendly. I am going to head to the craft store today and look at faux suede to put on the bottom of the slippers. I think I could line the slippers with thick felt or woolen fabric, and sew the suede to this using a whipstitch. This should help on slippery floors, and I think it will also help prevent wear spots and holes, since the knit is very loose.

On another note, look at that blue sky!

Couch potato

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:13:49 +0100

Tonight we watch Desperate Housewives, so I'll be starting another knitting project. I think I'll work on the second pair of elf slippers, since I'll use the needles on my next large project. I love these colors, and I hope that their young recipient does, too. I know both girls are really into pink, but I think that the purples and blues in this hand-painted wool are lovely. And really, it's more about my pleasure in knitting them than it is about the preference of the wearer, right? They are only four and six, after all.

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Mohair Thick N Thin in Mysty Moor and Joann Sensations Beautiful in Green
Cat: Mowl Sima's Korat (my Annapurna)

Freed from my woolen chains

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:15:49 +0100

One pair of elf slippers is finished, and now I can go out and enjoy our lovely weather. It's been a cloudy day, but it's warm (25F). We have a goodbye party to go to for one of the nicest women I have ever met. Calypso Megan is trading in the dry cold of Fairbanks for the damp cold of Maine. We wish her well on her new adventures at Chewonki. We'll be sending care packages to keep her in Mountain Madness. And maybe she'll just have to visit for berry picking season.

For Carrie's elfin children

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:30:58 +0100

Work in progress... Since these are for no specific occasion, are quick to make, and I need two sets... They keep getting bumped by projects of more immediacy. But I love them, and I guess I better get them finished before the kids outgrow them!

Pattern: Kate Sokoloff's curly-toed elf slippers
Book: Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Mohair Thick N Thin in Old Rose, Joann Sensations Beautiful in Posy
Needles: Brittany Needles US 13 and US 9 dpn in birch wood

Vogue

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:36:19 +0100

Thanks to Ken for modeling my latest knitting creation. After 40 minutes of deliberation, Melissa and I picked out Peruvian wool in a shade somewhere between forest green and teal, to knit a hat and scarf set for our manager's birthday. He didn't even know he was so picky!

Thanks to my main male model, the hat is ready on time for Frank's birthday. The scarf, on the other hand, will have to be given as a raincheck... Between two somewhat experienced knitters, you'd think we would have thought to buy extra skeins of wool. Now the store is out, and Melissa had to place a special order.

Pattern: adapted from Kitty Schmidt's Adults-only devil hat
Book: Stitch 'N Bitch The Knitter's Handbook
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Galway Chunky Pure Peruvian Wool in color 26
Needles: Brittany Needles US 9 dpn in birchwood

What's that falling from the sky?

nospam@example.com (Megan) — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:26:44 +0200

Big, fat raindrops turned, this afternoon, into big, fat, semi-solid splats of sleet. Which have now turned, this evening, into wet, fat flakes. Of snow. It's not even October, but those of us who were paying attention saw this coming. Two or three weeks of gorgeous weather, complete with sunshine, followed by winter skies and rain. I, along with many other non-meteorologists, predicted snow before October. We were right. Sigh.

I'm prepared. I went to Inua today and bought yummy wool. Blue Sky Brushed Suri in French Roast, Blue Sky Melange in Cornflower, and Blue Sky Sportweight in Natural Light Tan. I can't wait to start knitting this up into a hat and scarf set for *me*! This is actually a project for me. I plan to wear it on the cover of the 2008 Ester Women's Calendar (I'm Miss August, so I had no chance to wear hand-knit in my photo shoot).