Russet Lodge Custom Knits

 Well.  The days fly by and I haven't been back to update things in quite some time.  I haven't done a ton of knitting, but I do have a few updates on my fiber arts. I picked a new pattern for the brown yarn from Miss BB, I'm going to do the Rocky Coast cardigan by  Hannah Fettig.  It's knit slightly looser and in a wider variety of sizes.  I may modify the pattern to put a couple buttons in the front, but otherwise I think it'll be a good pick, and I'm going to make sure my gauge is spot-on and I choose the right size if I get back to this project. I'm still working steadily on the Vacillate shawl, and I'm more than halfway done.  I'd love to be able to wear it this winter. The Boyfriend socks are one of my other main projects these days, I have moved up the legs and have started the calf increases.  I plan to just keep going until I'm low on yarn and then do the cuffs.  I can't wait to wear these. The Jacobite bonnet is done.  I mailed it

 I've had a lot of life lately, and for a while I lost steam on my craft projects, but it's back and I've actually got a lot going on, so let's get to it. With much sadness, I ripped out the entire Miss BB cardigan.  I have taken new measurements and picked a new pattern for that yarn, but it's going to be a bit before I start it.  I'm really trying to clear out WIPs and take care of obligations. The green spinning on the goat spindle is progressing nicely.  Having a distaff to hold my fiber and having less time to use my wheel means I'm getting quite a bit of this done.  I'm almost done with the second of three plies.   The baby alpaca (Harley) fleece project is still progressing slowly.  It's hard to get wheel time and processing by hand takes time too, but it's so silky soft. The whipcord braid is done (for now).  There's always a demand for cord for SCA awards, so I imagine I'll make more as it gets used up. The Bayou Giles wavy socks

 It's been a long time since I've sat down to write here.  I've felt swamped at work, I've felt swamped at home.  I've felt obligated to work on things that didn't bring me joy.  I made little progress and got sick of saying so.  But I'm shaking the dust off today with a few updates.  Hopefully it'll help my momentum continue.  Here's how my art has been going lately. UGH - I finished all the knitting on the Miss BB cardigan, and was heartbroken to realize that the sleeves are too small.  The project has been in time out for a while before I decide if I rip out and reknit the sleeves, which would be faster but I'm already knitting the largest size (hello body dysmorphia), rip out and reknit the whole thing (because at one time I really liked this pattern) or rip out and find another use for the yarn, either a more size-inclusive pattern or something I customize myself.  I've had little experience with sweaters and I've never made one I ac

 Life has been full and busy lately.  I earned a promotion at work but that means I've been absolutely swamped with that stuff.  Life at home has been challenging too, and I've been doing a lot of work on myself.  All that is to say it's been hard to make myself sit down and write with all that going on.  I have done a bit of knitting though, so here's a brief overview. I'm working on the shoulder shaping for the sleeves (which I'm doing two at-a-time) on the Miss BB cardigan, which means I'm closing in on the end!  I'm going to have a lot of that handspun yarn left over when I finish the sweater, so I'll have to decide what to do with that.  Maybe sell it or make it into gifts. I've been working on my blue/gray/white spinning project on the Turkish spindle.  I don't know what that wants to become, but I'm enjoying it. I did decide to go ahead and toss the already spun portion of the red and gray spinning project.  I just wasn't feeli

 Well, friends, another two weeks have passed and much more crafting has happened.  Let's see what's been in the works. The Miss BB sweater is going well.  I finished the right front and started the sleeves, which I'm doing two at a time.  This has been a lot of fun.  Such a luxury to use my own handspun.  I think I'm going to make it a rule that when I finish with a handspun project I should knit with it immediately.  The thought of handspun languishing in my stash (and there's quite a bit) is just tragic. The Hue Shift afghan has only gotten a little love, having been displaced by other projects.  I did work on it in the past two weeks though. The Lizard Ridge socks got some work done too.  I'm past the heel marker on the first sock (these will have afterthought heels. The New Year's socks are coming along slowly but surely, the leg of the second sock is almost four inches long. And finally, I started another new/old spinning project (oops).  I had loaned

Well, it's been two weeks and I have more updates on my knitting resolution, some good, some... questionable as far as my ability to reach my goals.   Miss BB sweater has had a little attention, I'm almost done with the second front, then it'll be just sleeves (hopefully I can do these two at a time) and finishing. Maybe I can get this one done in time for autumn.  Hue shift afghan has gotten a bit of work too. I briefly lost one of the balls of yarn but my daughter found it under the couch. By my math I've finished 81 of the 100 squares, then it'll just need to be sewn up and the edging done.  The Eleanora de Toledo stockings got some air time at the SCA event I attended last weekend. I got the new yarn attached and I think I have about an inch of foot left, then it'll just be making the toes and finishing. Hooray! I got a new flicker brush for my Alpaca spinning project to hopefully make processing easier. And finally, I slipped and started a new pair of

 Time for some updates on my WIPs!  Here's what's actually been going on since my last entry. Temperance Socks - something went weird with these while I was working on them and I decided I wasn't feeling the combo of yarn/color/pattern, so they've been ripped out and can be crossed off the list. Miss BB sweater - Finished another skein of yarn and a few inches away from finishing the right front.  Then it'll just be sleeves and finishing work. Hue Shift afghan - Did a few more squares of this, it's a delight. New Year's Socks - Turned the heel on the second sock and have about an inch on the leg, so progress is happening. Red and gray on the sheep spindle - I'd loaned the spindle from this project to a friend who was learning and she just returned.  I am tempted to toss the existing yarn from years ago and start over with what's left, but I'll need to reevaluate. I desperately want to be doing more spinning and possibly weaving these days, but I&

Boy have I got a mess o' projects to share with everyone! First is a simple scarf I'm weaving in the pinwheel houndstooth pattern, also known as the friendship star.  This is 100% Peruvian Highland wool and will be heading to a dear friend in a cold place. Remember that SPAKAL (spin and knit-along) I'm doing?  I've spun 9 out of 24 ounces of the wool for my sweater.  It's still possible I could do this in 2012, though I'll have to work hard. I have just a few repeats of the last section on my Color Affection shawl before starting the solid border.  I should have yarn left over for hat/mitts too. And heavens preserve us, I've started an English paper piecing project.  I'm not sure how I'll put these together yet, right now I'm happily making hexagons, then I can lay them out and see what speaks to me. Come check out all the great projects at Idaho Etsy Team and please make sure to say hi and check out what everyone else is

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

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

My fiance, Arlen , is a Scot. He loves his kilts and wears them with pride. He recently joined a forum for his fellow kilt-wearers from around the world, and pointed out to me that many of them are looking for hand-knitted goods. Favorite seem to be kilt hose, tams, and Aran sweaters, and these fellows seem to have a very difficult time finding quality hand-knitted clothing. This, then, is my offer to the kilted men of the world, as a woman who loves one kilted man in particular. I am now offering hand-knitted goods for the Scots and Scotophiles of the world . Custom sizing and designs are available, and the sky's really the limit. I can do argyle, plain knitting, ribs, cables, your name/initials, entrelac , anything. Really! I'm also happy to design and share patterns for those interested in knitting these types of goods themselves. Please comment or email me if you have questions or to make your order. You pick the fiber, color, weight, everything!