more awesome pennsic buys

Finally finished unpacking after Pennsic and found more acquisitions:

• A little brown jug
• White wool thread
• Three balls of weaving yarn
• An old book on wool
• Spin Span Spun
• Turkish spindle from Valkyrie (no longer being made!)
• Belt knife (historically accurate)
• Circlet
• Carnelian necklace
• Amber ring
• Brown leather belt (made by Rickard)
• Two cloak pins

not done with class

You may recall that I mentioned Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth W. Barber around April when I was trying to write a history paper. I began to read it, but decided to set it aside because it went back a little too far for my time period.  I had intended to return to it once school was over, but I just hadn’t gotten to ordering it. Now the summer is quickly passing by and Pennsic is approaching. I like to have a historical book to read while I’m there and remembered this one in particular. I found it for $5.00 on Amazon Marketplace, ordered it last week and it arrived on Monday. 

In addition to Pennsic, we have our local event in the fall called Saxon Summer. Last year I tried to teach a spinning class, but much to my dismay no one attended. (Remember the photo of axes sunken into a wooden target stand?) Well, I thought I’d give it a second try this year. Maybe they will get so sick of seeing me on the schedule they will attend if only to shut me up! 

My lesson plan is different, however. I like attending other people’s beginner spinning classes without letting them know I have any experience. Maybe that is a little devious, but I enjoy it anyway. Plus you can learn a lot just by watching what other people do (and learn what NOT to do). I’ve attended some pretty dreary classes… But what I’ve noticed, and this is specific to the SCA, is that no one ever gives any historical context to what they are teaching! We are a historical reenactment group. Why would you not do that? Do they just assume we all know that women have been spinning for ages and we don’t need to talk about it? I want to talk about it. My class is going to discuss spinning historically and geographically in addition to giving lessons to those who require them. It makes sense to me. Women’s Work, along with Bette Hochberg’s wonderful series will be the basis of my class. 

I’m excited, but mostly pessimistic. It’s very unlikely that anyone will attend the class.

texture in knitting.

When I found out I was going to the Folk School this summer, I consoled myself by purchasing Barbara Walker’s Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  It contains at least 500 different stitch patterns, and since I’d like to make more personalized and original pieces, I thought this was a good start.

Yesterday I got out some handspun that I wasn’t overly fond of, a pair of number 9 needles, and the BOOK. I started with the Plaited Basket Stitch, since I’d tried it before with instructions from another book and I couldn’t do it. This time it worked with no problems. I don’t know why, since I’m pretty sure the directions are the same! I really love the way it looks.

Because there was quite a bit of yarn left over, I started on another pattern. (These two pieces are not continuous).  It’s called Mock Honeycomb. I’m really drawn to the lattice-like patterns for whatever reason. The picture in the book looks better than my swatch, although blocking might be helpful.

When I was working on the basket stitch, I showed it to everyone in the office, since I was very excited about my success.  They just nodded and said, “that’s nice.”  But really, I don’t think they could tell that it was different from normal stockinette stitch. I had to get out my hat to show them exactly what was different. It definitely seems to me that variation, subtlety especially, in stitch patterns is for knitters.  Or at least your family who knows more than the average bear.

Plaited Basket Stitch

Mock Honeycomb

still here – barely

I guess I’m getting sort of boring here. There is an obvious decline in visitors. Not surprising – I don’t have time for fiber! But do not fear, faithful viewers. With only FIVE weeks left of the semester, I’ll be back before you know it.

Lately I’ve been in the process of writing (or at least reading for) a history paper for my Early Medieval Civilizations class. I wanted to do something spinning related, since I enjoy that, but for some reason I can’t seem to come up with a valid topic. It’s supposed to be argumentative, but it doesn’t seem like there is much to argue about in regards to spinning. They had sticks – they made string. I have been reading this book, Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber, and it’s quite interesting. I think I’m going to buy it. If you are curious about history and women and fiber, read it.

Otherwise, I haven’t much to report. I have been trying to knit the Mug Jacket and it’s been incredibly unsuccessful. In the beginning I was using a handspun yarn, but it was too heavy for the needles. Going up a size meant the finished product was too large, so I tried to cast-on with fewer stitches. But since I have no math skills nor pattern writing/editing skills, I failed miserably again.  So now I’m using a commercial yarn. I’ve gotten to the point where I need to start the stitch pattern, but once again not working. I don’t have time for this!

yarn always emerges

This weekend we took our first real step towards beginning our final research project.  We had to drive 40 minutes to a retirement community for a tour.  I was not overly enthusiastic about the whole thing, mostly because it just meant I’d have to go back again and again.  The facility is very nice and huge!  We were there about an hour before piling into the car and heading home.  Since the general consensus was to take a different route home, I suggested driving through a particular town where I knew a yarn shop lived.  We stopped there to browse and it was so cute!  I’m the only knitter in the group of three, but the other two ladies meandered around the store like pros – squishing yarns and thumbing through books and patterns.  I bought a skein of sock yarn and Ann Budd’s The Knitter’s Handy Book Patterns - something I’ve been holding out on since September.  After shopping, we walked down to an English pub for lunch.  It was a nice surprise, turning a school trip into a yarn stop!

I started knitting the socks for my dad.  Rather than following a specific pattern, I’m using the charts in Budd’s book.  It’s quite exciting.  I have pictures to share, but they are still on the camera and I haven’t had time to get them off and adjusted.

staying in the house

Saturday, while knitting at Cosy’s, I started a sock using the 2 circulars method. She provided me with the yarn, which she dyed. I want to call them “Forest Walkers” or something. Anyway, the first pattern in the book was a simple ribbed sock in 3 sizes, none of which were mine. Originally I did the child’s medium, but it was determined after turning the heel that that was too small. So I got out my Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook and Knitting Rules by S. Pearl-McPhee, and did something new. I worked a gauge swatch (though tiny) and measured my foot. After finding my numbers in the charts provided, I cast on 56 stitches and went to town! Early into it, I could tell that these were going to fit me much better. I continued to refer to the 2 circs book in case there was something vitally important that I need to know regarding the intricacies of working socks on 2 circular needles. Everything went fine – I made the heel flap using a different yarn, got the heel turned, gussets, and now I’m into the foot and I feel great!

This has been a very positive experience, especially after Thursday’s series of unfortunate events.  I must be transparent in my struggles and it has been coming out here. Well, I have not had any formal training in anything – no art, no nothing! At first it was fun just to bumble through things with nothing particular in mind. But now I can’t say that. I want more predictability and I’m just not getting it. I need to take a class or something or just keep trying or just shut up.

A photo of my Birthday Axes from Richard. If you recall, from Saxon Summer, I enjoy throwing axes quite a bit.

what else did i get?

The rest of my birthday went fine. Unfortunately it tends to snow a lot and ruin my plans, so we didn’t go out for Japanese like we’d planned on Sunday night. I opened the rest of my gifts though, along with eating some cupcakes. Sunday morning I decided on a whim that I wanted a cake for my birthday. But since I don’t really like “cake”, and I didn’t want to buy one at the grocery store, I made cupcakes instead. Cherry chip with cream cheese frosting (the only kind I like).  I dusted them with snowflake sprinkles.  

As for gifts, from my parents I got Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi with two circs and sock yarn (packaged by Knit Picks); also Vogue Knitting Vol. 3: Colorwork, which I am returning due to its uninformativeness. All it has in it is charts! What if I need help and guidance actually KNITTING WITH MULTIPLE STRANDS? The only instructional photos they had in the back were about doing yarn-overs!  The best gift was from Rich. He gave me a set of three throwing axes. Now I have my very own set that I can become acquainted with. I won’t have to wait for weapons to become available when I want to throw and I don’t have worry about someone else banging them up. Isn’t he thoughtful?

(Photos to come)

I’ve been plodding around the house toting my wheel along with me – into the living room, into the bedroom. I want an excuse to take it with me somewhere.