Spinning problem...

So I have a spinning problem, which is also not to be confused with my hay problem or my yarn problem or my budding goat problem (I LOVE GOATS).  The problem is I'm more efficient at carding wool than I am at spinning it.  And you know what's the best part?  Wool takes up more space after it was carded than as a raw fleece, so my spinning stash is actually continually expanding in volume without me buying anything new.

It's so fluffy!

This is extra suckful because I LOVE buying new spinning fiber.

Stitch Markers

Hi, my name is Kim, and I may have a stitch marker problem.  This is not to be confused with my hay problem (yes I have more than my goats will eat in three years, leave me alone), or my yarn problem (it is not too much yarn it fits in it's bins!... all six of them!).  No, this is the kind of problem where I have a bazillion stitch markers and cannot for the life of me find the right kind.

I love split ring markers for crochet, but they get caught on my knitting, or worse, pop off the cable of my circular needle.  I have teeny tiny danglies, which are great for socks but won't fit bigger than a US2.  I have big giant danglies that always get caught in my yarn.  And I have plain metal rings that, well, also always get caught on my yarn.  I'm not sure how I manage that but I always do.  I even once tried to make stitch markers where a bead covered the tiny gap in the metal ring.  Let us just say that beads went everywhere and I didn't end up with very many stitch markers.  Which mostly then got broken.

But today I found these.

Ring stitch markers that have a bead over the tiny gap!  And look: there's even one with an extra bead on it to be the start of round!  It can be done after all!  And best of all, they even work up to at least US8 (which is as big as I typically knit).  They might even fit on a 9.

So if any of you know where to find Two Ewes Stitch Markers, please let me know.  All I know is that these things are freaking perfect, and they were at my LYS yesterday.  I need to know where they are in case the couch eats these ones (like it always does).

Yarn Review: All for Love of Yarn Seella

You may have noticed something new on Knitty.

I designed those socks!  And they are in Knitty, and this is super exciting!  (Hi everybody from Knitty!)  They also happen to be made out of one of my very favorite yarns, All for Love of Yarn Seella.  "Seella" apparently means "strong" in Russian, and at 75% BFL (strong!) and 25% nylon (strong!), this yarn earns it.  I have another pair in this same yarn that I have dried in the dryer, and they come out looking brand new.  I can frog it as many times as I like and it has never gotten ratty on me.  This is seriously yarn of steel.  But it does not feel like steel - it is still luscious and soft on the toes.  And of course it comes in Angela's special non-pooling variegated colorways, for added awesome.

My pattern is socks knit sideways - so the cables run the other way.  I love non-standard sock construction, but I won't just do it for fun, I need a good reason (because there are reasons that toe up and cuff down are standard!).  I'm really pleased with how these turned out, and the cables were interesting to make.  Plus they look awesome with my Sunday shoes.  So they are called Socks of Angst but I don't think they caused me any, what do you know.

Yarn Review: Skeindalous Eartha Sock

So, this company's logo is really entertaining to me.

It comes in really nice colors too, and is super soft.  At 65% merino, 35% bamboo, that's not surprising, and it is lovely and shiny too.  The thing that surprised me is how well it is standing up to my usual ridiculous amount of frogging.  Still knits up just as pretty on the third go!  It is however a little on the splitty side, which is not super surprising as the twist is light for a sock yarn.  Not terrible - but you have to be careful if you're doing crazy decreases or dropping down to fix something.  It would make quite a stunning shawl, as well - nice and durable, but with the softness and drape of a yarn with a less firm twist.  It is also on the lighter end of fingering weight - you might want to knit at a slightly smaller gauge than usual.

Speaking of crazy decreases:

The next pattern in Home State Botany: Colorado - Columbine - is currently in testing, and came out really nicely.  It is also in preorder, and the final pattern should be ready early November!

Yarn Review: Your Mom Knits Lolo

The next pattern in Homestate Botany: Colorado - Indian Paintbrush - is actually already finished.  And even out of testing.  Slowly but surely, I will catch up on all my stuffs.  For this one I used this super awesome yarn:

Oh wait that was just the packaging.  Isn't it *cute?*  It was like Christmas in my mailbox!  I love it when yarnies add these extra little touches.  Also, it came with a super cute "Your Mom Knits" button:

Cute button is cute!  I freely admit I have no use whatsoever for little buttons like this, but I still like it, and it is currently displayed on my Yarn Along the Rockies tote with all my other useless buttons that I like.  And of course the yarn is really pretty, too:

This yarn is actually a little more variegated than it looks in the skein, which scared me at first - I have been burned trying to design in variegated yarn before - but this turned out really pretty.  You can still see the stitchwork, but the yarn is super fun all by itself, too.

My one issue is that this yarn did not take frogging so well.  That being said, I did frog it A LOT.  Seriously, I restarted that first sock literally four times, and one of those was from after the heel turn.  Those first few yards got a little thingy.

All in all though, I would use it again in a heartbeat.  It is super pretty, the finished fabric is really nice, and the customer service really takes the cake.  You just might want to be a better (or at least less error-prone) knitter than I am.

Playing Catch Up

I swear I am still alive and mostly unwounded, even.  I have however been very busy.  Aspen is out of testing, and turned out very nicely.  Thanks again to all the wonderful peeps who helped me out!  I have also released the second sock, Indian Paintbrush:

Again, yay testers - I couldn't do this without you!  I also owe y'all a review of the yarn I used, Your Mom Knits Lolo.  Short version: super scrumptious.  The third and final pattern in this book - Columbine - is coming along, albeit more slowly than I would like.  Which brings us to why I'm only mostly unwounded.  I'll spare you the details, but my right hand had a bit of an accident with a steak knife, so knitting is quite painful right now.  Fortunately typing is not a problem, so hopefully I'll be able to catch up on the computer side of my work.

Also, this came out this month:

I may be slow, but I'm also in Interweave, baby!

Yarn Review: Sheared Bliss Fibers Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

It's superwash.  It's merino.  And it is hand dyed in Colorado, using natural plant dyes.

This particular ball was dyed with indigo and onion skins, in a two step process.  This yarn totally geeks me out - local, hand dyed, AND plant dyed?  Sign me up!  It is super soft, but still holds up to all my ridiculous frogging, which is always a good sign.  It's nice and round, with a tight twist, which is great for stitch definition.  Look at those cables pop!

The one downside I found is that it turned my hands blue, and made my tension hand itch.  That being said, I've used lots of other colorways of this stuff, and this is the first that has bled or made me itch, so I really think that both are just the indigo.  That being said, the finished socks didn't bleed in the blocking bath, and when I wear them they don't turn my feet blue, so the bleeding is not horrible, and again... if it bothers you pick an indigo free color.  On a related note, I may be allergic to indigo, and that pisses me off.

These socks (Aspen) are currently available for preorder in my Ravelry store!  They are also included in my new ebook, Home State Botany: Colorado.