Vintage Velvet is at a pause. I finished the knitting of the 4th ball, and now I think it’s too short. so I’m undecided if I want to hunt down a 5th ball (finding the 3rd & 4th balls was enough of a challenge) or leave it as is and hope it stretches out a bit.

what kind of sock is this? where’s the toe? or the ribbing? nope, not a sock.

I’ve been swatching some Koigu and finally cast on a pair of socks (it’s been too long). Nagini (a Socktopia/Momma Monkey pattern) is now in progress using stashed yarn. They’re my current bus project. I did a provisional cast-on because I couldn’t decide what color to make the toe.

I also cast on a pair of fair isle mittens for myself Saturday evening. That one is using half-stashed yarn. (I bought the main color earlier on Saturday after a spinning meet-up)

In spinning news, I’ve started the second bobbin of the pewter. I have 6 oz of it and have decided to try a 3-ply. Only problem is, I only have three bobbins - I think I’m going to have to order some more.

oh, and I pulled out the beads and wire and made this:

granted, the Louet’s have a large enough orifice that you really don’t need a hook, but I wanted one. and it’s nice for adding an anchor when letting it ply up on itself to see how the yarn will look

a close-up of the beads

DSCF5675, originally uploaded by criosa.

to introduce my wheel.

According to the ebay listing, it is a Louet S50. Very similar to the S51, but an older style. It also has a matching skein-winder attachment that I didn’t take pics of.

The wheel made it here from the Netherlands in a week or less. (Left there on the 12th, arrived at the post office yesterday, where it was held hostage until I liberated it today with my signature.)

I did a little test-spin today after putting it back together, but didn’t do much since I don’t have any oil. We’ll get some tomorrow and then get down to some serious spinning.

Things I miss from the newer model (which we used in the class):

• 3-speed bobbins. These bobbins only have 2 speeds, which are at opposite ends. I like the speeds being at the same end - easier to adjust if needed.
• drive-band holder. On the newer wheels, the spot where you insert the flyer peg has a bit of a lip that holds the drive-band in place when not in use. Mine doesn’t, so it tends to fall off a bit when I’m swapping things out.
• easy-release brake band. The brake band is essentially the same, but this one is anchored on (whereas the new model has openings and you can pop it out easily when changing the flyer). The screw thing is also VERY tight, making it difficult to easily adjust the tension.
• the new high-speed flyer. This is the old standard flyer with the cuphooks. I haven’t filled the bobbin enough to know how I really feel about it yet.

The complete wheel pr0n photo set .

you may remember this post, in which I threated to purchase a spinning wheel. alas, the stars were misaligned and it did not get ordered.

but, after a successful bit of plying in this week’s class, I have indeed purchased a wheel:
behold. it will be is mine - it’s being shipped on Monday.

now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some reading to do…

Finished size: Adult
Yarn: SWTC Karaoke (held double)
Needles: Size 10 (size 9 for ribbing)
Pattern: Sunflower Tam from Norah Gaughan’s Knitting Nature

Started: 24 January 2008 …
Finished: 9 February 2008
made for: me

I originally started with one strand of yarn on 7s & 8s and followed the kids size - and ended up with a kid sized hat. (I had a gauge mishap. well, more of a problem thinking about how the gauge I got would end up.) oops! went back and swatched with the yarn held double and got the book’s gauge for the adult hat. There was much paranoia over whether I’d have enough yarn to finish, but I managed to make it, with maybe a yard leftover.

I don’t like the little i-cord ’stems’ that are often at the center of tams, so I made it really short and tacked it down to the hat. Like many people who’ve listed this project on Ravelry, I found that it’s a bit large - the ribbing isn’t tight at all (maybe I should have gone down another needle size for that?).

perfect timing for finishing this up - we’re in another cold snap. (currently it is -8F, with the windchill around -28.)

Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool with a bad dye job (easter egg dyes)
Needles: KP 16″ circs sizes 6 & 8, size 8 dpns
Pattern: Binary Hat written for Hat Attack 2008

Started & Finished: 9 February 2008. 9am to 9pm (with a number of breaks in the afternoon. actual knitting time: about 8 1/2 hours)
Made for: Mullub (my Hat Attack target)

more photos

now, to get it in the mail… we’ll see how long I live