Russet Lodge Custom Knits

I've made some good progress since the last time I shared my projects in progress, and I even took the time to take decent photos this week, or at least better than the phone pics from a couple weeks ago.  You can click on the photos for a larger view if you like! The Targee wool from Crown Mountain Farms is coming along nicely.  This bobbin plus the ball of unspun roving is the first half of the 4 oz I got.  I haven't focused much on spinning since I'm currently on a knitting deadline, but once in a while when my hands/wrists are too sore to knit I get out the wheel for a relaxing spin. The kilt hose have come a long way since the last time I shared them too!  I've included a picture of the chart I made as well.  The pattern is from the much-sought Knitting Scottish Kilt Hose and Hiking Socks by Joanne Gibson Hinmon .  The book is really popular, but honestly I'm not sure why.  There are no charts, the patterns are full of typos, and the hose...

Well, along with WiP Wednesday I thought it would be nice to occasionally share some items I've actually completed.  This doesn't happen nearly as frequently as I'd like, but it is nice to let people see what I'm up to. Today's FO is some hand-painted corriedale roving from Fiber Fancy .  The colorway is called Jungle Fever, and I got it on sale.  Corriedale isn't next-to-the-skin soft, but the fiber was very well prepared and drafted beautifully.  Here's a picture of the fiber from the etsy shop: And here's the finished fiber.  It's about 330 yards of sport-weight yarn, a fractal-plied three ply.  It hasn't told me what it wants to be yet. I like devoting a day to finishing things up, sharing what I've completed, and remembering that every once in a while I am, in fact, productive.  What have you finished this week?

It's that time again, WiP Wednesday, where I show off the things I'm working on.  I've got crummy pictures this week because i used my phone, but I wanted to make sure I had something to share, so just imagine they're as lovely as Franklin Habit's photos . First, I've got a pair of kilt hose on the needles.  They've progressed a bit since this photo, but not by nearly as much as I'd like.  The pattern is mostly from my head, with input from several toe-up sock calculators and books of kilt hose patterns.  I'll try to share these again once they look a little more like socks. I'm also spinning some hand-dyed Targhee pencil roving from Crown Mountain Fibers.  Targhee sheep were developed right here in Idaho (and named for Targhee National Forest) at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in eastern Idaho.  The fleece is very soft and a nice length, and they are raised for meat too.  I don't have a lot so far, but it spins quickly since it was...

This summer brings together two very popular events in the fiber/crafting world. The Tour de Fleece runs June 30th through July 22nd. This is an event where spinners spin along with the Tour de France, spinning on cycling days and resting on rest days. Spinners typically set themselves a challenging goal and try to "win" by meeting their goal by the end of the tour.  My goal is a simple one, to spin an hour a day every day of the Tour. Ideally I will have hand-combed all the fleece for the SPAKAL (spin and knit along) sweater that I am doing with the Knitmore Girls Podcast and I will spin that for the Tour, but in case I don't have it all done I will spin whatever I can for an hour a day. I have lots of stashed fiber to choose from. The second big event comes not long after the Tour, it's the Ravelympics! During this event knitters cast on a project during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (July 27th) and try to finish it by the closing ceremonies (Aug...

Well, it's high time I came out of my shell and posted another work in progress with my friends over at the Idaho Etsy Team. Hopefully it will motivate me to get this sucker finished in time. I always say I hate deadline knitting and won't do it any more, but I just keep winding up with deadlines! Here is a (rather crummy) photo of one of my many current WiPs, a lace shawl done as a swap for my friend Monica. The lace is madelinetosh prairie in the "tart" colorway, a truly stunning tonal red. The pattern is Lily Go's Narnia Shawl . I am working on the shawl in size 2 needles. It's requiring a bit of improv because the shawl is designed for heavier yarns and larger needles, so it's slow going and extra repeats to get it to a respectable size. I pinned the shawl to my couch to take this photo, but it's still not as flat and open as it will be when it's properly blocked. Someday this is going to grow up to be a magnificent shawl. I can'...

Up to this point I've mainly used this blog to talk about items I'm selling or what's going on in my etsy shop , but I think it would be far more interesting if I try to use it to share information about my crafts, whether personal or for sale, as well. I am a member of the Idaho Etsy Team , and it's high time I joined in the fun of their weekly WiP Wednesday feature, where members post about what projects they have in the works. I just started a new knitting project today, it is one of my eighteenth-century Scottish bonnets for a client. The yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in the color Amber Heather and it's beautiful, it just glows! The bonnet's small now, but I will probably have it done in no more than a couple of days. It's a quick and easy pattern and I'm a speedy knitter. The other project I've got in the works is a group project with listeners of the Knitmore Girls Podcast , they are doing a SPAKAL (spin and knit along), we are ...

A friend is cosplaying as Xenophilius Lovegood for the opening night of the final Harry Potter film, and will be handing out copies of The Quibbler. This is my contribution. It's a very simple pattern, I had to estimate the size of a house elf. Feel free to share, modify, comment, etc. If you’re a progressive witch or wizard, you are well aware of the deplorable conditions suffered by house elves across the country. If you are looking for a way to free your elf in style, look no further! This is a quick project even for muggles, and with two stylish looks (one lacy for female elves, one simple for for males) you can create styles to please any discerning individual! This project is a great way to use up scraps of different colors or show off your handspun. Materials needed: 200 grams/440 yards worsted weight yarn, size 6 circular needle (at least 36 inches long), size 6 double-pointed needles if desired, one large button for closure. Cast on 4 stitches, divide onto double poi...