What's on the Loom?

This is Paul's blanket I've been working on. It's on my big LeClerc loom. I'm doing it in 4 panels, finished size will be 110 inches X 120 inches, for our king size bed. I'm hoping my seams will be fine enough to not be seen after it's been fulled. I'll keep you posted on the progress. All the sheep are represented in the big checkerboard, and it's not real fancy so he's happy.
I want to get this one done soon, as I'm already planning a Summer & Winter project, which I'll need at least 6 harnesses and 10 treadles! By the time I'm done with Paul's blanket, my research will be done and I'll be so very ready to go!

Northwoods Fall Art Tour 2009

We had a great turn out for the Art tour. The Homestead had lots of visitors; and the world has a good number of new spinners in it now. I didn't sell much in the way of woven goods, but the yarn & the hides did well.



I had a visit from a previous customer, Anna. She had purchased some of Whoopie's yarn for a sweater and came by to show me the completed work. It was truly beautiful and very well done. I'm so glad she came by!
It was a busy weekend, but I feel good that so many people came by to see my studio, to try out the looms and wheels, and to visit with my sheep. It makes all the work very worth while.

Machine Knit Socks

Machine Knit Socks: I used sock yarn, which is rather fine

Cuff: Lock (carriage) on right side of machine. Bring 70 needles forward into rest position. Open the latches.

I used a 2-1-2 ribbing, other wise, push every other needle back into the neutral position, for 2-1-2=2 needles forward, one back, etc..

Cast on to the remaining needles, and bring to Yarn Receiving Position.

Set row counter to 000.

Knit for 24 rows, then bring forward the Neutral Position needles into the working position. Turn up edge & loop onto the needles that have been brought forward, so now you have a complete row of 70 working needles.

Reset row counter to 000.

Leg: Knit for about 110 rows or till desired length, I usually want about 8” for the ankle.

Now we’ll get ready to knit the instep (the part of the sock that is on top of your foot).

With lock on right side, using a contrasting length of scrap yarn, manually knit 3 rows onto the far left 17 needles, remove from those 17 needles. Push lock to left, and repeat on right side, with the far right 17 needles; then push lock to right.

Now you have 36 needles in the working position. Knit to desired length from ankle to base of toes, I need 80 rows or about 6”. Then it’s time to shape the toe!

Toe: start to decrease, one stitch from each side, till row counter is at 28 and there are 8 stitches left in working position, (that’s the top of your toes).

Start to increase, one stitch from each side, till counter is at 56. (That was the bottom of your toes).

Sole: Knit for the same number of rows you used for the instep, (mine is 80 row, or 6”). NOW it’s time to turn that heel.

Heel: As you did for toe, decrease one stitch each side, for 26 rows, till there are 10 stitches in working position. Then increase back till there are 36 working stitches, row counter should be at 56. Knit one more row, then with contrasting yarn, run 3 rows. Remove sock from machine.

Stitching Time:

First you need to stitch together the leg tube, use your preferred method. I use mattress stitch as I can get the seam to lay flat. Then bring the heel with the scrap yarn and the bottom edge of leg/ankle tube with its scrap yarn together and using a kitchner stitch, grafting the edges together, cleanly. You should be able to pull the scrap yarns out. Join the sole to the instep. You are done! If needed, you can slip a piece of elastic through the cuff for extra support, I’ve never needed it.

NOW! Do this all again so you have 2 socks.

You will need to adjust your stitch counts to suit your foot and the type of yarn you’re using, adding or subtracting stitches &/or rows as needed to fit.

Good luck & happy knitting.

Happy New Year!

A Joyous New Year to All!

This is a shot of my sons, Stephen & Josh, with Stephen's girlfriend Carrie. That's me on the right, like my new hair? (I'm just glad to have hair again!) We have a tradition of sending Mom home with a farewell breakfast, though this was closer to lunch.
I had a great time with visiting with my Family down in Illinois, stayed at my Mom's a couple nights, and each of my sons' a couple of nights. They have both become very good cooks, so I ate well.

This is my daughter Kate, holding up the sweater I had been working on for the last 3 months. Can't complain as it was a fun project, plus it came out exactly as I had planned. I even dyed it, using Gaywool dyes, much easier than I thought it would be. That's her boyfriend John.

So now I'm back home in the Northwoods, where it's extremly cold, with lots of snow. But it's a new year, and a new semester at school, so there's lots to look forward to.