Ride a painted pony
Let the spinning wheel turn...
I always thought that song was by Chicago. Blood, Sweat, & Tears, it turns out. My dad would've known. He's a classic rock MAVEN.
I started to blog 1:45 minutes ago. WTF? I've been distracted online every since. The internet is my TV. SUCKED. IN.
Focus, HEJ. We don't have all freakin' day.
First, some bits about spinning. You can skip this if you hate spinning. FO at the end of the post...
In the "better late than never" department, I just saw that Jen mentioned us Athens Knitters with a link to my blog when she and other GA gals went spinning. Yeah, THAT Jen. With La. FAMOUS. Will wonders never cease.
Next time you GA gals go spinning I must come. MUST.
Because: last Saturday I took a class at my LYS to learn to spin on a WHEEL. And, I officially suck at it.
As evidence, I offer:
However, I want to keep doing it so much. I hope to try out a few wheels. I would LOVE to hear comments from those of you who have wheels as to which you like and why. Lemme hear it.
A February Finished Object! Or, It's About Damn Time!
Now, I have next to show you a finished object!
Back:
and the front:
And a gratuitious close up of the tubular BIND-OFF, which was new to me: Click to see the rockin' ness.
Now. You may be asking, "Why have we not heard of this at all? Why has it not been in your sidebar?"
Well, so many reasons. It was made for my dear friend T who is modeling it in the above photo. The problem was, as always happens when I knit things by request, there were troubles from the beginning, and it was too painful to blog about, and it took about 10 days because it was on big needles, so there wasn't really time.
Here, I will sum up in case you are interested.
1) Pattern: The cover shrug from "Knit It!" magazine, spring/summer 2006. (I know, what should I expect?) If you dare try to knit this, you must have experience with knitting math and altering patterns, (or email me), because a) this pattern is FULL of typos and b) the math is all totally off. It took me hours just to redo ALL the math. ALL of it. I shouldn't have to redo every single measurement in a pattern I paid for. REALLY. I think they got the pattern from a designer, and redid it to make it "simpler" and to fit a lion brand yarn, and those 2 things = math disaster.
2) Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted, which is okay, but not a color I'd have picked (looks great on T, though) and I had to use it doubled, which I HATE.
3) Needles: US 15 (10 mm), which I HATE. I forgot how much I can't stand those big sizes.
The fact T likes it makes it worth it, but I learned or remembered a lot about my knitting self while knitting this shrug, and what to avoid knitting in the future. No more projects on needles bigger than a US 13, no doubled yarn, no jury-rigging patterns. Ok, maybe a little jury-rigging. But just for my sister. ;-)
Oh yeah: GO Steelers!!!!!. The Bus is going home, maybe for his last game. Let it be a good one. UPDATE: THEY WON!!! THEY WON!!!
Comments
Oh T looks so happy and smiley I say all the knitty math was worth it! But good for you for knowing what you want out of your knitting!
So for my bday, you might remember, I wanted a wheel. I had tried a spindle in the summer and hated it. Spun on two wheels for like 15 seconds each at Rhinebeck. WANTED ONE. Talked to people, did some research and bought a Lendrum sight unseen. I love it. LOVE IT.
Don't be discouraged. My first spinning attempts on my wheel had me pouting and stomping. It only got better - MUCH better - after that. There is DEFINITELY a learning curve and it definitely needs a lot of time committed to see improvement, but man is that shit relaxing. You will love it.
I chose the Lendrum because I will, really, never have to buy another wheel. You get the most bang for the buck and it's not super expensive at all and I've yet to hear anyone that doesn't love it. The only criticism I hear is that it's not a "pretty" wheel. Hell. I think it's beautiful! Good luck!!!!
Posted by: Cara | February 5, 2006 08:28 AM
GREAT JOB!!!
It's one of the few shrugs I have seen when I think "Hmmm, yeah, want that!
Posted by: Colleen | February 5, 2006 08:53 AM
I am really disappointed to hear that the pattern had so many issues. I was contemplating that shrug, but I do not think I have the experience yet to be fixing so many mistakes. Darn. Thank you for the heads up. Your shrug turned out beautifully, I'm just sorry to hear it caused you so much grief.
Posted by: Keri | February 5, 2006 09:18 AM
Love tubular bind-off. The shrug looks great, and great on T.
Posted by: Ruth | February 5, 2006 11:29 AM
That shrug is absolutely adorable on your friend! She can really pull off a bulky knit. The color is right for her, too. So all's well that end's well, half pint! :)
Posted by: Karma | February 5, 2006 11:30 AM
I like the way tubular bind-off look, but I've never tried it. I'll have to give it a go someday. The shrug looks great on your friend!
I really want to give the spinning wheel a try. I have a drop spindle and I think I've gotten the hang of that, but a wheel seems faster and like it would be less of a work out. ;-)
Posted by: maya | February 5, 2006 12:27 PM
I think your spinning looks quite good...especially for the first time. I don't show people my first skein...ugh!
Thanks for the heads-up about that shrug pattern. I was considering it and will go into it with caution.
Posted by: Anita | February 5, 2006 12:39 PM
It looks fabulous, but I'd be pissed too about the pattern. How hard is it for someone there to check over numbers?!
Posted by: Lauren | February 5, 2006 01:06 PM
The shrug is so cute. Too bad the pattern is awful. Where did you get your info. to do the tubular bind-off. I'd like to use this for a sweater that I am knitting in the round.
Posted by: kelly | February 5, 2006 04:28 PM
Your spinning does look quite good actually. It took me 3 weeks to get the hang of it. And that translates into: actually keeping the wheel going without stopping to adjust. Yarn that looked like I could use it did not come for another month. I have all my yarn that I have ever spun-even the crappy stuff--to remind myself how far I have come. Don't be too hard on yourself and if you are enjoying spinning, then keep at it!! It's just like knitting---it takes a lot of practice.
Posted by: Tina | February 5, 2006 09:22 PM
Oh I forgot.(sorry-tired from my husband's dirtbike race) I like my wheel better because I can turn out more yarn than on a drop spindle. And although many people defend the drop spindle saying it is more portable, there are many wheels out there that fold up nicely for traveling.
Posted by: Tina | February 5, 2006 09:26 PM
Your spinning looks great, cut if you are going for quantity as well as quality, you are right, you are going to need a wheel.
I researched extensively before deciding on the Majacraft Rose. It was between the Rose and the Lendrum, both will grow well with you as your skills improve. I just liked the Rose because it is a beautifully finished wheel. It looks like a piece of furniture. That was worth the extra expense to me.
That aside, I don't think you would be happy with either one.
Posted by: Leah | February 6, 2006 12:40 AM
Sorry!
I meant, I don't think you would be unhappy with either one.
It's getting late ;->
Posted by: Leah | February 6, 2006 12:42 AM
The shrug looks AWESOME, and so does T!! You are supergoodfriend.com.
And yay Steelers!
Posted by: Carrie | February 6, 2006 08:23 AM
The happy shrug looks like it was worth the effort. And, while I have no useful advice on wheels, do you mind revealing the source for your tags (like the one on the shrug)? I've been wanting some.
Posted by: anne | February 6, 2006 09:20 AM
I noted the same issues with the not so happy shrug...Good thing I like things a bit smaller!
I'm on the sleeves...any suggestions? Did your fronts come out tiny? wtf? oh well.
Yours looks GREAT!
Posted by: heather | February 6, 2006 09:36 AM
Man that sucks about the shrug pattern! It looks great though. I did not realize until I bought the magazine that almost every single pattern called for Lion Brand yarn. I bought it specifically for that shrug. Did you write down your changes? If you did, I would be forever in your debt if you could e-mail them to me. In the meantime, I guess I should cross this off my list for the Knitting Olympics and choose something else. good luck with spinning.
Posted by: Kim P | February 6, 2006 01:31 PM
Well I am having a hard time deciding on which sock to knit you. I think I have my color choices narrowed down! Feel free to make suggestions on your blog!!
PS that is a fake em addy (not mine) so that you can't figure out who I am!
Posted by: your sockapaloooza pal! | February 6, 2006 01:58 PM
T looks great in that shrug. I think it looks great. Although, as a witness to some of the shenanigans and goings on involved in knitting it I wouldn't suggest it to anyone either. Ever.
And I think you are your own worst critic about the spinning. I think your spinning looks marvelous. And if you need anyone to take some of that horrible spinning off your hands, I'm a good enough friend to do it!
Posted by: Anne Marie | February 6, 2006 03:38 PM
The shrug turned out great, but I'm sorry to read about the problems you encountered. This shrug is probably the #1 reason I bought the magazine .. eek!
Posted by: Jaime | February 6, 2006 04:14 PM
Famous? Legends in our own minds, maybe.
You (and all you crazy athens girls) can come spinning/knitting any time!
Posted by: jenifleur | February 6, 2006 06:17 PM
I love the way it turned out. This is actually my next project. can you email me the corrections? I'm really glad for the head-up, it seems such a straight forward pattern, i'm surprised to hear about the errors. thanks. carolyn
Posted by: carolyn h in ct | February 11, 2006 08:28 AM