Not all projects have the projected outcome!

So I finished another weaving project and honestly, it turned into the longest salvage practice known to man. I picked out a beautiful pattern and began to weave and here are the things I learned.....
1. It was way to loose.
2. It really was way to loose.
3. I could felt it.
4. Choose a damn super wash wool to work with.
5. It would be a waste of materials to start over.
6. Superwash wool DOES NOT FELT - even if you think you may coax it into a felted state.
7. Putting it in the dryer does not help it felt.
8. I really do knit better than I weave
9. NO, you cannot weave in extra yarn to fill the gaps.
and Finally -
10. It's okay because all the weaving you did, made you practice edges, and beating and all the things you might have screwed up on a project that might really have had a chance to work out.

Now I am simply waiting for dish towel yarn for the next set of experiments. Wish me luck! Maybe will post a picture later! Right now, I am mourning the death of 2 skeins of beautiful merino/alpaca superwash sock yarn :)

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Thank you DH

Little Peep home safe and sound

Off loom and wet set. It helped alot!

Well Little Peep arrived safe and sound to her new home!  I have been happily weaving since I got over my fear on Saturday.  The first project worked out great and now I am on to number 2.  This one is causing a bit more trouble as the weave is very loose and things tend to slide around abit :)  I am using Ultra aplaca fine, but turns out it's super wash so the little bit of fulling I planned to do isn't quite working out as planned. Oh well, that will just be more practice beating and working on the edges. I am trying to figure out exactly how to use the peddles effective and that is proving to be somewhat of a challenge with sore feet and the like.  Nice thing about it, I can use the hand thingys if my feet are too bad.   I am enjoying this learning process so much.  As usual, I am in a hurry to be perfect at this.  I do acknowledge that learning something as complicated as weaving can take a lifetime to master.  Go figure ADHD and all, I have to master it tomorrow :) .

Lyssa's Scarf on Line

Project 2 Ultra Alpaca Fine

The other exciting news is there is a new stocking on the horizon. This one is for Patti and is called Midnight Solstice.  It's not very dark, but that was the name that came to me :)   It's done in 2 shades of blue and white.  I have a while before I will be ready for testing but charts are finished.

Midnight Solstice

Toe of Midnight Solstice

Finally, Christmas Cables are with the testers and one of my great helpers is almost done.  WOW. This one took me forever. I decided to add some beads to add a bit of sparkle.  Now it's back to the beach for the final photos.

Beaded cables

More Beads

Christmas Cables and new loom!

This is the latest stocking that is up for testing. I'm very happy with the way it worked out, because it is a labor of love with this one. Spent many an hour working out the numbers and having the chart tested, but it's an easy knit and the outcome is beautiful. I stopped by my local beading shop and bought some beads to spice up my DD stocking and ended up buying some to add to this one too. It's just what the Dr. ordered.

On the weaving front, it's just over a day until I pick up my new to me loom. It's a 32 inch 8 shaft Ashford table loom with a stand. I AM SO EXCITED. It's going to be the summer of fiber even though there are two vacations that are coming in the middle of that also :)

Stay tuned for the newest member of my fiber family :)

Cables on Deck!

I am so excited to say that the next stocking is almost done! With all the hard work from my testers I have a couple of photos that will be posted soon. It is just a sneak peak of the cable that will decorate the stocking. It is a very easy pattern to memorize which makes it great! The charts came out great too. While I love cables, I love colorwork more and my mother said that this one will be more popular than others. I guess that is what is makes the world go around. Different techniques different styles.

It's only 3 more weeks until I get my new loom which will send me off into a another exploration. I am finsihing up paying for a 8 shaft 32 inch loom and stand which fell into my path. I can't wait. I plan to learn on my own with the help of Learn to Weave . It's easy to read and understand. Will post pictures when it is here in it's new home. Still working on a name for it ;)

Does this mean I am Neurotic?

Just finished stocking pattern and it posted for testers. It's been 27 minutes and no one has offered to test it. So am I am being insane wondering if it isn't good enough? Or perhaps the color work puts people off. I really should have a ton of confidence in what I did and move on from there. If they don't like it.. fine, but I know its beautiful in person. Confidence is what is called for now and from there comes success. On to the next stocking. CABLES CABLES CABLES :)

Finished

The 2nd installment of Heirloom Stockings is done. I will be ready in a bout a day to send it off to my loyal testers and can't wait to see what they do with it. I decided to provide a duplicate stitch option for those who are unfamiliar or not particularly enjoy stranded knitting. That should make things a bit better. Testing was more stressful than I expected. It truly is difficult to send something that has come from your heart and your head out to the masses to picked apart for mistakes. I KNOW, that is the point of testing. I just have to get over that. They were wonderfully kind, but I think all artists have major insecurity about their work. It is however, very exciting to have your knits in the hands of others.

On blogging, This blog has been around for a while and I truly wonder if it will be read by anyone. I know I am new, both designer and blogger and I am not the most faithful blogger in the world. That I plan to change. Do you ever wonder if anyone really cares what you have to say. I read a ton of them and I really enjoy seeing into the lives of others. Okay onward.

The third installment of Heirloom stockings is going to be a cabled version. That will challenge me beyond what I have done in the past as while I love cables, I have yet to design something of that ilk. I want it to be rich with texture and interest without being way to difficult for a intermediate knitter to undertake. Off to Barbara Walkers books to find something that inspires. Look for updates regarding number 3.

Heirlooms Part Two

Okay, here we go. I am almost done with the second installment of Heirloom stockings. This one is going to be a favorite of mine because it involves both knitting and very simple embroidery that allow a depth that I hadn't expected. I can't wait to get this one up and tested. I am feeling a little panicked that I have not secured the next installment. I have so many ideas playing around in my head. Maybe....cables???Getting a little tired of the stranding, or not ;) ? Enjoy the sneak peak.