Knit Flix

Friday, July 30, 2010

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing?

I'm partial to entrelac on this foggy summer morning--

A Step Above #3
Project details on Ravelry

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Your Passport to Adventure - CA State Fair

California State Fair
July 14-Aug 1
Cal Expo Fairgrounds
Sacramento, California

Here are more sights from the Creative Arts gallery at this year's fair.


Avis Mitchell
1st Place, Large Crocheted Afghan
Hints of Purple Waffle Stitch Afghan



Natalie Raz
1st Place, Knitted Wearing Apparel Youth



Noelia Briones
1st Place, Crocheted Wearing Apparel Adult
Shawl



Laurel Anderson
Honorable Mention, Applique Quilts
Winter Amaryllis



Jay Kent
Honorable Mention, Scale Models
Jay's Whimsey


I'm glad I took a photo of Backyard BBQ scale model because I didn't notice the details while I was viewing it in person. Squirrel!




Ronald Duarte
Honorable Mention, Scale Models
Backyard BBQ



Lisa Sheaffer
Honorable Mention, Any Other Knitted Item
Felted Roses Purse



Gene Kirkendall
Best of Division, Any Other Handicraft
First Place: Leathercraft
Tandy Leather Factory Award
Leather Saddle



Ferrin Call
Honorable Mention, Knitted Wearing Apparel Adult
Autumn Rose in Water and Earth


This next one should look familiar--remember last year's 38,250 Beaded Van Gogh Iris? Maybe we'll see Sunflowers in 2011. What do you say Susie?




Susie Kelly
Best of Show
Best of Division: Bead Art
First Place: Any Other Bead Art
Bead Fetish Award
41,664 Beaded Starry Night



Phyllis Day
3rd Place, Pieced Quilts
Spirals



Renee Schultz-Hein
2nd Place, Group Quilts
Autumn Splendor



Jan Soules
1st Place, Group Quilts
Vence [sic] Remembered

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Fair


California State Fair 2010

Yes, it's that time of year again, it's time for the California State Fair. Actually, the fair is early this year so if you're planning on going you'd better get a move on because it ends on Sunday. Having it earlier in the summer is nice because it isn't oppressively hot--plus the unseasonably cool weather made walking around pleasant last weekend.

This year R & I went our own way through the Creative Arts building. I took my time looking at all of the displays taking photos along the way, and he moved through a little faster.

When I got about half way through he came back and I asked, "Did you see it?"

He nodded.

I asked apprehensively, "Will I be mad?"

He said, "No."

Whew. I resumed walking and snapping and resisted the urge to have him lead me to it.

I passed by one item after another and finally saw my entry.


Finn-ish socks on display

It's not near anything too large and spectacular like last year, so I think there's a chance that more people will notice this entry.

Winning 2nd place is an honor but it also begs the question, "What took first place?"


2nd Place, Any Other Knitted Item

Then I noticed that the tag for Finn-ish still had it in the "Any Other Knitted Item" class as opposed to what was written on the judges' sheet, "Knitted Wearing Apparel Adult". So which one was correct? We looked for first place in both classes.

We came across this one not too far away--


Lisa Sheaffer
First Place, Any Other Knitted Item
Floral Felted Tote Bag


Hmmm. Okay.

Now to find the First Place Knitted Wearing Apparel. Both of us searched high and low but we didn't see it. We went back and forth scrutinizing all of the blue tags. After my 4th time around the room I was going to give up. R suggested I speak with the woman at the information counter. She didn't know specifics about the entries but had a diagram of what placed and where they were located. Okay. Direction. Direction is good.

Well, I finally figured out what happened. I had seen this first place entry on each trip around the room--


Betty Fryer
First Place, Any Other Knitted Item
Flower Garden Triangle


Two entries marked as first place for Any Other Knitted Item. My guess is that the Flower Garden Triangle is the First Place Knitted Wearing Apparel.

Either way, mystery solved.

Maybe the judges would have been more impressed if I could have shown them the technique used to make the socks.


Knitting the Rovaniemi way

But I didn't see in the rules how supporting material could be submitted with an entry. Oh well. California's a big state and I am very fortunate to have placed again.

Oh, and did I mention that the pattern for Finn-ish is available? I'm just sayin'.

Finn-ish sock pattern
Finn-ish sock pattern, $8.00
buy it now

I'll blog more about the fair soon.

California State Fair
July 14-Aug 1
Cal Expo Fairgrounds
Sacramento, California

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Friday, July 23, 2010

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing

Almost Baroque
Project details on Ravelry

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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Purple?

I wonder if there's anyone I know who might be interested in tone-on-tone purple Superwash BFL? Hmmm... let me think...


Big pot o' purple

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

TdF update

I've been spinning every day of the Tour, some days more than others. But using the fast flyer, it adds up quickly--to date I've spun a total of 9.5 ounces of fiber.

4 oz of Out of Step Dyeworks Superwash Merino/Bamboo:


Dagon 3-ply Fingering Wt

and 5.5 oz Superwash BFL that I dyed (this is 5.3 oz, the rest is on the wheel):


Potluck - Cobbler

I'd like to finish the 3rd bobbin of the BFL and ply it all before the tour ends, but realistically that probably won't happen. Next week will be a busy one. That's okay, spinning close to 12 oz of local/indie dyed fiber and getting to know my fast flyer will mean I've met my goals. Keep those wheels turning!

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Friday, July 16, 2010

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

Today's weather calls for cotton blend socks.

Primavera socks
Project details on Ravelry

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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Potluck anyone?

I've been trying my hand at dyeing, some of which I've blogged about, most of which I haven't. I tried hot pour dyeing last weekend. It sounded easy enough--heat up some fiber in water, add colors, poke, cook, cool, rinse, done.

8 oz of fiber + heat + dye:


Hot pour dyeing

The results were less than thrilling. Trust me, they look better in braids.


Potluck - Cobbler


Potluck - Cobbler

I didn't realize that the yellow traveled to the bottom of the pot and spread farther than I intended. The top bump is heavy yellow/red and the bottom bump is heavy yellow/blue. My first thought was, "Overdye." But then I thought if I made a 3-ply with all 8 ounces, it could turn into something I like.

Stage 7 of Tour de Fleece Stage is promising. Most of Bobbin 1 looks like this (with more yellow):



But the end of the bobbin looks like this:


Bobbin 1 of 3

This might work. If it doesn't, I can always throw it back into the dye pot, right?

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Friday, July 09, 2010

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

A well air conditioned office means I can wear wool on a hot day:

Petroglyph Socks
Project details on Ravelry

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Thursday, July 08, 2010

Winnow

Knitty First Fall 2010 went live today and Winnow is in it!


Winnow


The pattern has wheat heads up the front and back of the sock and lacy panels on the sides. Wheat + airy lace = Winnow. And I like to think the sock is what's left after the chaff flies away. ;)

After I submitted the pattern I got a request for photos with real feet in the socks. Plural, socks.

Thankfully by then I had finished the second sock (whew!).

I asked Bill to help me out with his mad photography skills. I wanted to keep the rustic feel of the single sock images, so the double sock shots were taken at The Picchetti Winery in Cupertino where there's a great building with weathered wood and a rock wall full of texture.


Winnow
Photo: William F. Walker


Thank you Bill, that set of photos is really beautiful.

Well, it's out in the wild and initial response has been positive. I'll write more about the pattern later. It has been a long day, but a great day thanks to Knitty and all of you. :D

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TdF Stage 5

Épernay to Montargis, 187.5 km.

Standings after Stage 4:
Individual: CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 18h 28' 55"
Points: HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 80 pts
Climber: PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
Youth: THOMAS Geraint SKY PRO CYCLING 18h 29' 18"
Team: TEAM SAXO BANK 55h 30' 40"

Dagon YARN. Next!

Dagon 3-ply Fingering Wt Yarn
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks

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Wednesday, July 07, 2010

TdF Stage 4

Cambrai to Reims, 153.5 km.

Standings after Stage 3:
Individual: CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 14h 54' 00"
Points: HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 63 pts
Climber: PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
Youth: THOMAS Geraint SKY PRO CYCLING 14h 54' 23"
Team: TEAM SAXO BANK 44h 45' 55"

Finished bobbin #3. Time to ply.

3 bobbins of Dagon
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks

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Tuesday, July 06, 2010

TdF Stage 3

Wanze to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 213 km.

Standings after Stage 2:
Individual: CHAVANEL Sylvain QUICK STEP 10h 01' 25"
Points: CHAVANEL Sylvain QUICK STEP 44 pts
worn by PETACCHI Alessandro LAMPRE - FARNESE 35 pts
Climber: PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
Youth: MARTIN Tony TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 10h 04' 32"
Team: QUICK STEP 30h 11' 40"

Second of three bobbins is finished.

Dagon - Bobbins 1 & 2
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks

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Monday, July 05, 2010

TdF Stage 2

Bruxelles to Spa.

Standings after Stage 1:
Individual: CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 5h 19' 38"
Points: PETACCHI Alessandro LAMPRE - FARNESE 35 pts
Youth: MARTIN Tony TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 5h 19' 48"
Team: TEAM RADIOSHACK 16h 00' 19"

2/3 finished with second of three bobbins.

Dagon - Bobbin 2
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks

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Sunday, July 04, 2010

You know, I really don't have time for this

4th of July shopping, cooking, cleaning, TdF... I have a lot I'm supposed to be doing and I really didn't need to see these at the Farmers' Market this morning:


Pickling Cucumbers

Here they are an hour later:


12 half pints of Garlic Dill Pickles
Recipe from Food in Jars


Now, what was I doing before I was so rudely interrupted?

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TdF Stage 1

Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

The cyclists are going from Rotterdam to Bruxelles today and I'm starting my 2nd bobbin... which means I finished the first bobbin yesterday.


Dagon - Bobbin 1
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks


I don't anticipate being able to keep this pace, but it felt good to start with a bang.

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Saturday, July 03, 2010

Go! TdF Prologue

The Tour de France starts today and as the premiere riders make their way through Rotterdam (Go Team Radioshack!), spinners around the world will spin with them in the Tour de Fleece.

This is the first year I'm participating and I'm spinning for Team Spinnity and Team Lendrum. My #1 goal is to spin everyday. Period. It could be for 5 minutes or 2 hours, but work the fiber every day. The second goal is to spin fiber from local and/or indie dyers. The third goal is to work through as much stash fiber as I can without hurting myself. If I can get the hang of it, I'd also like to do all of the above using my fast flyer.

Here is some of the fiber I have to choose from:


Pigeonroof Studios roving
50/50 Superwash Merino/Silk
Colorway: Morocco



Pigeonroof Studios roving
50/50 Superwash Merino/Silk
Colorway: watered silk



Lisa Souza BFL Wild Things


Lisa Souza BFL Olive Tones


Knit Flix Love Me Baby


Knit Flix 7th Veil

plus much more!

The first bump to spin comes from Amy Klimt's Out of Step Dyeworks.


Out of Step Dyeworks Merino/Bamboo
Color: Dagon
80% Superwash Merino
20% Rayon from Bamboo
Out of Step Dyeworks


I bought the fiber from Amy at the Oakland Fiber Festival last weekend where she had a show special, buy fiber or yarn and get a free stitch marker made by DecorNoir. I got the last yarn monster eye. (Score!)


Out of Step Dyeworks Fiber and DecorNoir Stitch Marker

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