Happy New Year....

This last year 2010 seemed like it flew by. Yet when I take a look at all the pictures I took last January seems like it was so long ago. I love taking pictures I always have and now that I can save them on the computer and have such easy access I use photography all the time. I use pictures to remind me how I did a certain knit pattern or even what brand of underwear my husband likes so when I go to the store I can just look it up on my iPhone. I love gadgets and when they work some of the new ones are brilliant.

This is a knitting blog primarily so I will post about what I've been knitting on since my last post. Last year I got into spinning and dyeing yarn. What fun it's been, I love spinning and the dyeing is just the cherry on the cake. I only use food coloring that I get at my local Smart & Final. Primary colors 2 bucks a bottle and I can use all my kitchen utensils and it's non toxic and permanent. That is the first question people ask me is will it last? Yes it's permanent and will not wash out. Of course like other dyes some colors fade faster than others.

I first started spinning on a drop spindle, the one I love is Jenkins Woodworks Turkish spindle. Mr. Jenkins is an artist and the little wooden spindle is like a work of art. Beautifully made and functions superbly, balanced just right and it's a source of hours of hours of entertainment. For those who do not understand why anybody would work so very hard on making yarn when you can buy it readily made all I can say is that it's not about the yarn you make but the process. Hey it's better than taking Prozac, it's a very relaxing activity and with the world so crazy around me I need calm and relaxation. Also it makes me feel like I've taken a step back to simpler times when you made your own wool to make your own socks etc.

Here are some pictures of the first project of the year. Simple wrist warmer, oh but it feels so wonderful and it's warm!

The pattern:

"One Ply" Single yarn spun from Pagewood Farm merino wool. 50 grams about 80 yards. Needle used 1.25 dpn knit in the round. (Any sock yarn will do for those who do not spin.)

Using a size 3 needle co 72 sts using the German Twisted cast on method for a loose cast on. Join to knit in the round, place a stitch marker so you know where it starts and k3, p3 for about 2”.

Beginning at the next round K2 tog, k3, p3 for 4” (Spiral rib)

Beginning at the next round K1, M1, K1, k3, p3 for 2 more inches.

Crochet picot bind off: take your crochet hook slip 3 sts and pull the working yarn through all 3, chain 4 and repeat all the way around.

(Here is a demo of this bind off I made with a different stitch count.)