Previously on Carol's Lunatic Cafe

July 16, 2005 4:37 PM
I love this yarn

OK, the more I work with this yarn, the happier I am with this recent dyeing success. This is the tie dyed yarn shown earlier, wound into a ball:

And here are the beginnings of the bottle sock I am making up as I go along designing.

I promise to post pics & pattern when it is complete.

July 12, 2005 2:46 PM
Slippers are done, man

Finished the slippers this weekend. They are just as cushiony and cozy as I hoped.

I also experimented with Koolaid dyeing. Had one success, and a couple of failures learning experiences. I'm happy with this tie dye experiment and looking forward to seeing how it looks knitted up.

Speaking of less than successful dye experiments, I started knitting up the yarn from a learning experience from a couple of months ago. It didn't turn out the way I expected, so I set it aside with some disappointment, but it has been growing on me, so I reached for it when I wanted to start another slipper. Well, what do you know!

The red & blue formed spirals round-n-round the cuff, and tiger stripes on the heel. Am looking forward to seeing what it does on the foot. Didn't know I was dyeing self-patterning yarn!

July 9, 2005 11:07 AM
One down

Completed one slipper

Number 2 is cast on & about 1" of ribbing done. I think it's going to take just a little more than one skein of yarn. Each skein is 100g. I weighed the completed slipper on my postal scale; weighs 51g. Figures.

July 8, 2005 8:57 AM
Progress

The slippers are proceeding apace.

This is the first time I have used my new Lion Brand dpn's. I must say I like them; flexible, sturdy and smooth. Unfortunately, size 5 is the smallest size they come in, which is what these are. I usually use needles a couple of sizes down from whatever a pattern recommends, so I don't suppose I'll get to use these much.

This is the yarn I'm using:

It is knitting up really thick and cushiony. I keep squeezing the slipper, and stopping to try it on, because I like the feel of the wool so much. I am almost looking forward to cold weather so I can wear them.

No, not really.

July 6, 2005 12:54 PM
Doesn't suck

Isn't this pretty?

This is one of my dye experiments that didn't suck. I have been tie dyeing yarn using Koolaid. This little swatch will become a cat toy, but I am going to try to reproduce the results with enough yarn to make some socks.

July 5, 2005 10:55 PM
Survived the 4th

We had a fabulous 4th of July celebration. The b/f's father is an amateur pyrotechnician, and he created some spectacular fireworks. I was worried about fire since it hasn't rained for weeks, and everything is dry and brown. But it rained (twice), even tho' the weather guessers swore there would be no rain at all. The asparagus ferns in my garden did catch fire (briefly) when a bit of burning debris landed among them, but it went out of its own accord.

Today is the third anniversary of the b/f finding the love of his life: a 2002 Collector Edition Trans Am. I like to refer to her as "the other woman", although an affair wouldn't cost nearly as much as he spends on this car. But she makes him happy, and he did name her after me, so I don't kvetch too much.

Have been knitting cat toys instead of working on my slipper design. I'm on my third one and I think I finally have the size where I want it to be. It's a variation of this pattern from Lion Brand Yarns, knit with wool yarn and felted. The first one was much too large; more of a toy rat than a toy mouse. Cats didn't mind one bit. Sure is a good way to use up yarn from my rejected dye experiments.

Tomorrow is back to work, which takes far too much time from knitting. Must remember to buy a lottery ticket so I don't have to worry about silly things like earning a living.