Home » Discussion Forums » Blog Post Discussion » Yarn. More of. Yessssss.
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51204 is a reply to message #51201 ] |
Mon, 06 August 2012 21:05   |
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Fiona's blanket is AMAZING. It does not, however, tempt me. (That is, not to make it. To have it -- that would be another matter.) Like you and a full peal, I do have some idea of what I can and cannot do.
I must point out that you don't have to make socks out of sock yarn and toothpick needles. My initial plunge is with ordinary worsted and #6 needles. Will they be very bulky socks? Yes, quite. Will they be wearable with boots or substantial sandals (not those strappy 4" heel things I would never climb onto anyway)? I think they will. They are coming along well; one is a couple of rows from turning the heel and the other is a few rows behind. They are 48 stitches around, and 7 rows to the inch, so if I were faster than a snail, I would be done by now.
Tell us more about the bookstore? Did you venture in, or save it for Next Time?
Congratulations on nearing the Shadows finish line! Imagine us filling the stadium stands, rooting madly for you, and standing by with bottles of water, blankets, etc.
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51205 is a reply to message #51201 ] |
Mon, 06 August 2012 21:14 |
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*swoons*
You have such nice yarn stores there. I am all jealousy.
Smooshes!
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51206 is a reply to message #51203 ] |
Mon, 06 August 2012 21:16 |
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| Catherine wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 01:59 |
I am, in fact, jealous. You have both bought some gorgeous wool and it sounds like you found another lovely shop to supply you. My closest shops are poor to middling (high emphasis on baby and acrylic, very little proper made-of-wool wool). Not that this stopped me from buying stuff, I liked the shop and the man who owns it and the fact that he was highly dog-friendly I just wish the selection was better. At least there are good places to go online, I've got at least three who please me (but I miss being able to fondle the wool while I decide what I want to do with it).
I love the smell of old books, and new books, and middle-aged books... Books just smell good. There is nothing like them.
Cath
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Would that yarn store be 'The Pincushion' by any chance? I know last time I went in there I was itching to tidy the yarn up, and I remember there was a teeny dog behind the counter (I think chihuahua, but I'm not 100% sure.)
Don't worry about the dust bunnies, they're just here to guard the treasure.....
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51208 is a reply to message #51201 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 00:35 |
EMoon
Messages: 662
Registered: March 2009 |
Senior Member |
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Fiona's blanket made of sock yarn is incredible and beautiful and...I know myself too well. Not enough patience. But so gorgeous.
Socks, on the other hand. I make socks of worsted weight, with size 5 US needles. Not going to smaller needles, not with my eyesight and hands. I need thicker socks anyway, so...that's what I'm making. Yarn for them...I had used up eight balls of yarn completely, and four more were committed to socks on the needles, so I needed another twelve balls plus a cushion? Right??? I actually intended to just replace, or even under-replace what I'd used. Ummm.
You can guess. More than replacement happened. Knitting at my best rate (which isn't happening right now) I might run out of yarn for socks in 2014. But...I don't want to run out. I want have, always, some yarn in reserve just in case. And anyway, there's knee socks, leg warmers--both of which use up more yarn than the socks, and wrist warmers....
E
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51211 is a reply to message #51201 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 02:02 |
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 Diane in MN
Messages: 2728
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA |
Senior Member |
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I went to my yarn shop today because the sweater I am finishing (for all you Ravelry folks out there, it is an entry in the Ravellenic Games and may actually be done in time, if luck holds) is made with a lovely nubby silk and wool VINTAGE (ahem) yarn that does not want to be used for sewing. And I found some silk yarn in the right color and, even better, on closeout. Buying just one ball would have been foolish, obviously, because what would the leftovers be good for? So of course I bought enough to make some future project with it. Of course. It would have been wasteful to do anything else. 
Fiona's sock yarn blanket is gorgeous.
Then we went to an old-books store. Which was nearly across the street. It was like it was waiting for us.
Well, it WAS waiting for you. Of course!
"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51212 is a reply to message #51206 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 04:46 |
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Catherine
Messages: 196
Registered: July 2012
Location: Windsor, England |
Senior Member |
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| Vikkik wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 02:16 |
Would that yarn store be 'The Pincushion' by any chance? I know last time I went in there I was itching to tidy the yarn up, and I remember there was a teeny dog behind the counter (I think chihuahua, but I'm not 100% sure.)
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Yes, that's the one. I think the emphasis is clearly more on the sewing side, which seemed to have a better selection and be more organised (I didn't look much, after all, I knit) but the chap was very friendly and helpful and anywhere gets bonus-points for welcoming Chloe. There were maybe half a dozen wools I liked (although not necessarily in colours I liked) so I'll definitely use them again, but I'll need to go elsewhere for a lot, too. Oh, and the dog is a Chihuahua/Yorkshire Terrier cross.
Fiona, my 2am brain forgot to say: amazing blanket! I love the richness and variety of the colours.
Cath
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51214 is a reply to message #51204 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 06:01 |
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nickithomas
Messages: 44
Registered: December 2011
Location: Speen, Bucks, UK |
Member |
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I am in complete awe of Fiona's blanket, just wonderful.
From my rather more amateur level I am happy to report that my first Post Knitting Lapse jumper is now at the sewing up stage - thanks everyone!
| abigailmm wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 02:05 |
Congratulations on nearing the Shadows finish line! Imagine us filling the stadium stands, rooting madly for you, and standing by with bottles of water, blankets, etc.
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Yes, yes. I am SO looking forward to next year...
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and all our little lives are rounded by a sleep.
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51217 is a reply to message #51212 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 09:22 |
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| Catherine wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 09:46 |
Yes, that's the one. I think the emphasis is clearly more on the sewing side, which seemed to have a better selection and be more organised (I didn't look much, after all, I knit) but the chap was very friendly and helpful and anywhere gets bonus-points for welcoming Chloe. There were maybe half a dozen wools I liked (although not necessarily in colours I liked) so I'll definitely use them again, but I'll need to go elsewhere for a lot, too. Oh, and the dog is a Chihuahua/Yorkshire Terrier cross.
Fiona, my 2am brain forgot to say: amazing blanket! I love the richness and variety of the colours.
Cath
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Yes, their sock yarn selection wasn't bad, but that was more or less all I came away with.
There's a yarn shop in Henley that has a better selection of wool yarn (and depending whereabouts in Windsor you are that's between 30 and 45 minutes away) John Lewis in Reading also has a reasonable haberdashery department with quite a lot of strokeable yarn...
*makes enabling noises*
Sorry - going a bit off topic here - I blame Robin for posting yarn porn 
[Updated on: Tue, 07 August 2012 09:24]
Don't worry about the dust bunnies, they're just here to guard the treasure.....
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51219 is a reply to message #51218 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 09:49 |
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| Catherine wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 14:35 |
| Vikkik wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 14:22 |
Yes, their sock yarn selection wasn't bad, but that was more or less all I came away with.
There's a yarn shop in Henley that has a better selection of wool yarn (and depending whereabouts in Windsor you are that's between 30 and 45 minutes away) John Lewis in Reading also has a reasonable haberdashery department with quite a lot of strokeable yarn...
*makes enabling noises*
Sorry - going a bit off topic here - I blame Robin for posting yarn porn
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I've been to Henley, but as a non-driver it's tricky for me. I used to use John Lewis on Oxford Street for my wool needs, but that was over four years ago. However, I have faith that they have stayed excellent and as I go to London regularly it's on my list. That said, I have three or four projects lined up in the stash so I should stop buying and start knitting them out.
(famous last words)
Cath
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Ah, yes - and Henley is a swine to get to by train from Windsor - at least 3 trains by my reckoning 
When I have my lottery win, I have plans to start a decent combined yarn shop, bookshop and cafe in this area (all I need now is that winning ticket )
Don't worry about the dust bunnies, they're just here to guard the treasure.....
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51230 is a reply to message #51220 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 13:10 |
Katsheare
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2011
Location: Berks., England |
Senior Member |
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| Catherine wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 14:55 |
| Vikkik wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 14:49 |
Ah, yes - and Henley is a swine to get to by train from Windsor - at least 3 trains by my reckoning
When I have my lottery win, I have plans to start a decent combined yarn shop, bookshop and cafe in this area (all I need now is that winning ticket )
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And if I win I shall invest heavily in your venture, you can pay me back in books and yarn!
Cath
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There's also Stitchery Do in Wokingham (1 change, about an hour on the train) which has lots of cushy, large-gauge wool as well as more sedate sock wool or crazy novelty stuff. They also have sewing and needlepoint fittings as well, but a delightfully wide wool selection and they're very nice. Not sure about Chloe, but it's worth a shot. Plus it's only about 3 shop fronts down from a very good real ale pub (which is what my dream wool shop venture is: buy some old pub, make one part a proper gastro pub with local local local and the other part all wool all the time, again local, local local. A girl can dream, right?)
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51235 is a reply to message #51230 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 19:17 |
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Catherine
Messages: 196
Registered: July 2012
Location: Windsor, England |
Senior Member |
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| Katsheare wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 18:10 |
There's also Stitchery Do in Wokingham (1 change, about an hour on the train) which has lots of cushy, large-gauge wool as well as more sedate sock wool or crazy novelty stuff. They also have sewing and needlepoint fittings as well, but a delightfully wide wool selection and they're very nice. Not sure about Chloe, but it's worth a shot. Plus it's only about 3 shop fronts down from a very good real ale pub (which is what my dream wool shop venture is: buy some old pub, make one part a proper gastro pub with local local local and the other part all wool all the time, again local, local local. A girl can dream, right?)
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That sounds like a nice adventure afternoon! I can always take Chloe and see what happens (usually people just coo over her and I get away with it).
I'd support that, too, sounds like a fab dream! Now, someone needs to win the lottery/inherit millions from previously unknown relation/find buried treasure so we can sort these awesomenesses out.
Cath
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51239 is a reply to message #51201 ] |
Tue, 07 August 2012 21:56 |
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SarahAllegra
Messages: 25
Registered: February 2011
Location: Los Angeles |
Junior Member |
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Regarding your general business and trying to get SHADOWS finished, plus doodles, plus knitting, plus ringing, plus hurtling, etc, would it be in any way helpful to offer to do a guest post? And not necessarily me writing it, I'm sure other blog-readers are also blog-writers of their own too. I do have an exceptionally beautiful hellhound of my own I could write about... who is very patient and long-suffering, as you can see And if it's not helpful, then please disregard.
I am SO wanting to break out my knitting things. This would mean first finding them in the boxes leftover from my move four months ago... or I could simply get ALL NEW knitting items! I like that idea better.
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51250 is a reply to message #51235 ] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 05:53 |
Katsheare
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2011
Location: Berks., England |
Senior Member |
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| Catherine wrote on Wed, 08 August 2012 00:17 |
| Katsheare wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 18:10 |
There's also Stitchery Do in Wokingham (1 change, about an hour on the train) which has lots of cushy, large-gauge wool as well as more sedate sock wool or crazy novelty stuff. They also have sewing and needlepoint fittings as well, but a delightfully wide wool selection and they're very nice. Not sure about Chloe, but it's worth a shot. Plus it's only about 3 shop fronts down from a very good real ale pub (which is what my dream wool shop venture is: buy some old pub, make one part a proper gastro pub with local local local and the other part all wool all the time, again local, local local. A girl can dream, right?)
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That sounds like a nice adventure afternoon! I can always take Chloe and see what happens (usually people just coo over her and I get away with it).
I'd support that, too, sounds like a fab dream! Now, someone needs to win the lottery/inherit millions from previously unknown relation/find buried treasure so we can sort these awesomenesses out.
Cath
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If you like, you can let me know when you're coming and I can show you the, ahem, "sights".
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51256 is a reply to message #51231 ] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 13:46 |
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Mrs Redboots
Messages: 943
Registered: October 2008
Location: London, UK |
Senior Member |
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| Fiona wrote on Tue, 07 August 2012 18:39 |
And Katshare, the squares are all knitted individually, so each one has 2 tails, but I use them to sew the squares together, and then weave in the little bit that's left and trim off any remnants.
(and before anyone says it, yes I know I'm strange, but I LIKE sewing up )
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My friend Dawn - the one with ME - has just finished a sock-yarn blanket, double-bed sized, but she didn't knit the squares individually. Nor do I, when making my mitred square cardigan!
Robin, you need to AVOID THE ALEXANDRA PALACE SHOW LIKE THE PLAGUE if you want to have ANY money EVER again, and guess how I know that!!! I went ONCE. Once. My bank balance still hasn't recovered twenty years later....
Mrs Redboots
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51273 is a reply to message #51265 ] |
Thu, 09 August 2012 06:42 |
Katsheare
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2011
Location: Berks., England |
Senior Member |
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| equus_peduus wrote on Thu, 09 August 2012 03:20 |
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Sock weight is also good for lace, so long as there's no nylon or cotton or whatever in it.
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Why no nylon? I use sock yarn (with nylon) for lace (scarves, shawls, socks). A friend of mine used sock yarn to make a lacey blanket for her bed. Heck, why no cotton either? Since cotton blocks pretty well - though it'd change the type of fabric you get...
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I found the nylon-in-it wool didn't really hold a block well, and the cotton is more stiff than I like... Could have been the patterns and weight (the cotton was a bit more like worsted than sock), but I also found that I didn't like any of my lace until I started working with wool. I was more thinking obvious payoff, which in my experience wool has given.
But hey, whatever kays your tog 2, you know?
(This is part of what I love about handcrafting: there are very few absolutes. If you can use it and like and it works for you, it's not wrong. So many possibilities for some other kind of right. I love that.)
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51280 is a reply to message #51265 ] |
Thu, 09 August 2012 23:23 |
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blondviolinist
Messages: 1066
Registered: October 2008
Location: Midwestern United States |
Senior Member |
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| equus_peduus wrote on Wed, 08 August 2012 22:20 |
I have often thought of the sock-yarn-mitered blanket - but I don't think I'd be able to deal with the slow progress (or at least, it probably would be for me). I admire Fiona's blanket immensely.
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I'm making one right now, and it's total potato chip knitting! You know, you can't eat just one potato chip? (Well, actually, I can, because I don't like potato chips, but that's beside the point.) The sock yarn blanket is like that... you can't knit just one mitered square. You find just the perfect color to go in this spot, which gives you an idea for which color should go in that spot, and then obviously the green should go in the other spot over there...
I'm fully expecting my blanket (twin-bed sized, so small) to take me three years or so, since I only work on it off & on. But it's loads of fun!
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Sock weight is also good for lace, so long as there's no nylon or cotton or whatever in it.
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Why no nylon? I use sock yarn (with nylon) for lace (scarves, shawls, socks). A friend of mine used sock yarn to make a lacey blanket for her bed. Heck, why no cotton either? Since cotton blocks pretty well - though it'd change the type of fabric you get...
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Ditto. I make shawls with wool/nylon blends all the time, and haven't ever had a problem with them holding the blocking. And my favorite go-to lacy summer shawl is worsted-weight 90% cotton/10% cashmere.
[Updated on: Thu, 09 August 2012 23:23]
"Purity of heart is to will one thing." Kirkegaard
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| Re: Yarn. More of. Yessssss. [message #51294 is a reply to message #51291 ] |
Sat, 11 August 2012 01:39 |
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HMS Pinafore comes to mind --
What, never?
No, never!
What, never-r-r-r??
Well... hardly ever.
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