Cupric

Cupric comes from the Latin word for copper. Cupric is the name of my latest design, published in Issue 24 of Yarn magazine.

The yarn is Qoperfina supplied by Ecoyarns. It is an amazing blend of organic baby alpaca, organic pima cotton & pure copper fibre. The copper fibre is not obvious in the yarn, and the yarn is soft and has a wonderful drape.

Because of the lovely drape and the shape, Cupric can be worn in numerous ways on the body.

Copper has long been regarded as having many health benefits, particularly when worn against the skin. Cupric is a lightweight wrap, perfect for when a 'little something' is needed about the back & shoulders; or draped around the neck as a scarf.

Tapestry Weaving

I've been looking into Tapestry Weaving...borrowing books from the local libraries, (I've since ordered one of the books), reading blogs, looking at looms. The looms I'm looking at (from cheapest to most expensive) are:

•  the Ashford Weaving frame which is basically a wooden frame with notches cut top & bottom. Am I correct in thinking that because of these notches that the closeness of the warp threads (is this epi??)can not be changed? The frame also limits the dimensions of the finished tapestry.
• the Schacht portable tapestry loom with optional A frame stand. This has 4 heddles. It is 25" wide but allows for a continuous warp around the frame so the length can be up to 60". I can't find a supplier in Australia as yet so have an "order" with Dick Blick. I'm waiting to see how much the shipping is on this and then can either confirm or cancel the order.
• the Ashford Tapestry Loom. This is a big investment loom.

I'm opting for the actual looms over the frame as I think the frame may be too limited & I could quickly outgrow it. I don't understand the differences between the Ashford & the Schacht. Any Tapestry Weavers out there who can offer some advice?

Undulating Leaves

You might think that after my last post I wouldn't be participating in any more knit-a-longs, especially for shawls. Wrong.
I think I first saw the Undulating Leaves shawl on the Artyarns facebook page. I found the first part of the pattern via the link in Ravelry. Basically this knit-a-long requires that you use Artyarns yarn and post a pic of part 1 finished before December 31 (part 1 only takes an hour or so). After you complete each part & post a photo on your ravelry project page then iris will send a link to the next part.
I had to order the yarn from overseas as I couldn't find a supplier here in Australia. I nearly didn't bother as the postage that some US stores were going to charge for one skein of yarn was ridiculous!
Part 1 is now complete:

The yarn is super soft. The photo doesn't really show it but there is a fine silver thread as well as the mohair & silk. The mohair is so delicate that it doesn't seem to be bothering me at all (not like some mohair yarns in the past) but I'm being extra careful not to make any mistakes, as it's grabby enough to make ripping back a bit tricky (ask me how I know). Mohair & silk .... super soft & light, even though it knits to a DK.

I'm keen to get started on part 2 but there is a little matter of some bookwork to be done first, more knitting/designing on the interior assessment piece for my C&G course and some sketching for my landscape painting (we've started having an art lesson one lunchtime at work, so I've got homework to do).

What Do You Call A Group of Frogs??

I've decided that it is OK to frog, not one but 2 projects. Funny (ironic?) but they are both Mystery KALs & both shawls (which I don't really wear) ... hmm maybe I should have known better.
Anyway the first to hit the frog pond was Tuck .... I wasn't feeling the love for this project. I didn't like the (lack of) drape & going up a needle size may/may not have been the answer to that issue, but I just didn't really like the design.

The second project is the Stephen West Mystery KAL shawl, Earth & Sky. I was hesitant to frog this because so many people were taking part in the KAL, so many people love Stephen West designs (I do too, just not this one). It was only on the way to work this morning listening to a podcast that I realised it was OK to frog this. The podcaster was saying that she too had signed up for the mystery KAL, after all it was Stephen West, over 2000 knitters can't be wrong can they??? Then she too realised that she didn't like this design & if she'd seen it first would never had started knitting it. I realised that I felt the same way.

I'll just need to find another project for this gorgeous yarn.

Shop re-opens

Just a quick note to let you know my etsy shop has re-opened. My goal is to have it brimming with goodies again, but I've been making slow progress in that direction, so I've decided to re-open it now. I'm hoping that having it open will "encourage" me to finish some pieces I started a long time ago.
www.etsy.com/shop/yarnaboutyarn

Finish or Frog??

I finished the mini KAL "Oh Delilah" and am really pleased with how the shawlette/scarf turned out. It's purple & fringey! .... and has a nice drape

 I think this is part of the problem I'm having with the mystery KAL ... I'm not sure it's drapey enough. The yarn is really nice, it's the Coffee House kit colourway from Studio June.

 But I'm not sure how I feel about the pattern, and I think it's lack of drape is a big part of this. I don't know whether to keep going with the KAL (since this photo I've completed Clue #2 and am ready to start Clue #3), put it aside & see how some finished ones look in a few weeks or just frog it & move on.

What do you think?

Saturday Chillax

Just lately it seems that every Friday is spent half at work then coming home at lunch time (so appreciate that I've been given study leave) to spend the afternoon and into the night finishing an assignment, to be submitted by midnight. This Friday was no different...and just like last Saturday, I spent this Saturday chillaxing (as my kids would say). I knit, I drew.

I found a drawing from last October that I'd done in graphite pencil and decided to add some colour & more shading. I left the graphite there but did change a couple of things where I could.

And my go to for relaxing ... knitting.

I signed up a couple of weeks ago for the latest mystery KAL with Sharon of She-Knits. It's for a shawlette called Tuck. I order one of the prepared kits & received some yummy yarn (I'll take pictures of the yarn and get the details of the yarn store). Tuck starts the beginning of November (Nov 2 I think) so in the meantime Sharon surprised us all with a free mini KAL (called Oh Delilah!) for those who had signed up. Clues were given every 3 days or so & of course with work & study I haven't been keeping up. There are 4 clues & I'm just about up to Clue 3. I did include the extra rows to make it a bit longer and I'm adding the optional beads to the fringing, so that's all taking extra time. It should go a lot quicker as soon as I get to the decreases.

 

It's not photographing true to colour. The yarn is more a purple. It's a gorgeous soft alpaca, silk, cashmere blend called Caress from evoke.
I also ordered the new book by Alana Dakos & Hannah Fettig (2 of my favourite designers!), Coastal Knits. I'll do a little review after it arrives.