Laura (lauralkeet) knits in 2024

Dit is een voortzetting van het onderwerp Laura (lauralkeet)'s 2023 fun with fiber.

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Laura (lauralkeet) knits in 2024

1lauralkeet
Bewerkt: dec 31, 2023, 4:27 pm



Two favorites from 2023: the Avix Cardigan, and Buggiflooer Beanie

In 2023 I finished only 9 projects, the fewest since 2020. But two of these were sweaters and I started a third, and these take longer.

The Fair Isle beanie -- the official pattern for Shetland Wool Week 2023 -- has inspired me to do more colorwork in 2024. I would also like to use up some of my stash, and colorwork might be a good way to do that. We'll see if I have the right color combinations in the right quantities to do anything interesting. If not, there are always hats!

If you're on Ravelry, you can find me here.

2lauralkeet
dec 28, 2023, 12:43 pm





I'm currently knitting this Maja Pullover, in a very different color combination from the pattern. The main color is on the right; the contrast color on the left.

The sweater is knit from the bottom up in the main color and then after about 8 rows of colorwork, set aside to work the sleeves. I am almost ready to attach one sleeve to the body, and then I'll make the second one. Once both are attached I will finally get to knit the colorwork yoke!

3dudes22
dec 28, 2023, 3:28 pm

That's a very nice pattern, Laura. Looking forward to seeing the sweater in the different colors.

4rosalita
dec 28, 2023, 4:02 pm

>2 lauralkeet: Dumb question here: Since it looks like the colorwork pattern extends to the sleeves, do you have to do anything clever to make the pattern on the yoke match up to the pattern on the sleeve? In the picture it looks like they align perfectly and it seems like that would be hard to do when you are knitting them in separate pieces!

5lauralkeet
dec 28, 2023, 4:54 pm

Julia, that's not a dumb question at all. The answer is that I (the knitter) don't have to do anything clever because the designer did all the clever stuff. The pattern tells you how much (in inches) to knit in the main color before doing the colorwork, for both the body and sleeves, and how to join the sleeves to the body so it matches up. Let's hope it works, eh?!

Yoke sweaters can also be designed to be knit from the top down, so you do the yoke first. That seems like it would be easier to design, but I don't think it matters much for the knitter. I am not sure *why* the sweaters in this book are all knit bottom-up; I'm sure the designer has her reasons.

6rosalita
dec 28, 2023, 4:57 pm

>5 lauralkeet: Thanks for explaining, Laura. I love the colors you chose and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

OK, one more question (and I'm pretty sure this one really is dumb): Are there any sweater patterns where you knit the body and the sleeves all as one piece? It's hard for me to picture how that would ever work, but if anyone would know how it's a Master Knitter like you!

7lauralkeet
dec 28, 2023, 6:05 pm

Still not dumb! There are no dumb questions!

Well ... you can get close to that by knitting a top-down sweater where you create armholes, and then the sleeves are made by picking up stitches along the armhole and knitting down to the cuff. But you'd still do each sleeve one at a time.

I'm trying to think if I've ever seen a design that is truly all one piece, and coming up blank. If anyone else has seen that, please chime in!

8PawsforThought
dec 28, 2023, 6:25 pm

Happy new thread for the new year, Laura! I’m looking forward to seeing how your Maja sweater turns out.

Regarding the sweater question, I’ve kind of seen it done, but only with cardigans for babies. In that particular case, you knit the back, increase for the sleeves, cast off for the hole for the head and split into two sides, decrease at the end of the sleeves and finish by knitting the front parts. You end up with a + shaped piece that is sewn together along the sides and under the arms. I suppose you could make a sweater the same way but you’d still need to make the hole for the head and that would mean knitting the sleeves one by one for at least a while. I guess you could steek the hole, but that seems like more trouble than necessary.

9lauralkeet
dec 29, 2023, 5:41 am

Paws, your description reminded me of knitting legend Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. which looks like this:


Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket has truly proven to be timeless, growing in popularity since its conception in 1968. The Jacket is knitted back and forth in Garter stitch, then cleverly folded and completed by weaving the shoulder seams.

I haven't made this myself. At some point in its history additional instructions were provided for making the jacket in sizes from child to adult.

10lauralkeet
dec 29, 2023, 7:47 am

Potential Stash-buster Projects

Here are some projects under consideration for 2024, to make use of yarn in my stash.

Antler Toque


I've made this hat from tincanknits before and enjoyed it. I'll use yarn I bought at a fiber festival last autumn.

Anthology Hat


This pattern, also from tincanknits, is more of a "recipe". You get the instructions for knitting the hat in various sizes and with various weights of yarn, and a slew of colorwork motifs to choose from. You can make a basic 2-color hat or use many colors. Here are a few combinations I'm thinking about. All of these yarns have been hanging around in my stash since 2018 or 2019, left over from the Master Hand Knitting program.

I'd like to use gray as the main color with motifs in blue and pink, but need to play with the motifs to see if that will work.



I could probably use all three of these colors in one design:


Here, I'd use either green or purple as the main color with white motifs.


Wohin? Socks



When I bought the gray yarn I thought I'd just make a basic pair of gray socks but decided that was too boring. A couple years ago someone I "know" on Ravelry made these socks and I decided that was how I would use the gray yarn, if I could just find the right color to pair it with. Last year I gave up on a project using the maroon yarn purchased on impulse, so maybe this is a way to put it to use. ("Wohin?" is German for "Where to?")

11rosalita
dec 29, 2023, 8:19 am

>7 lauralkeet: >8 PawsforThought: Thanks to both of you for expanding my knitting horizons!

12PawsforThought
dec 29, 2023, 8:27 am

>9 lauralkeet: Yeah, that looks very similar to what I've seen people making.

13dudes22
dec 29, 2023, 1:04 pm

>10 lauralkeet: - I love all of these combinations, but the gray, blue, pink is my favorite.

14MickyFine
dec 30, 2023, 12:36 pm

Looking forward to seeing all the gorgeous knitting 2024 is sure to hold for you, Laura. All of your stashbusters look lovely.

15lesmel
jan 6, 1:09 am

Happy New Year! As always, you have a great eye for color and projects!!

16PawsforThought
jan 6, 9:22 am

Just looking at your proposed colour combinations. I have a project planned that I really want to start working on but I need a skein of wool yarn in the exact shade of purple you have. Completely differently type of yarn, though.

17lauralkeet
jan 6, 10:53 am

Purple is one of my favorite colors and I'm particularly fond of that shade. I hope you find what you're looking for.

18SassyLassy
jan 8, 10:06 am

>7 lauralkeet: There are quite a few patterns for knitting all in one piece, but most of them involve sewing seams at the end, from the cuff to the lower edge on each side.

Some of these sweaters start at one cuff and work across to the other, increasing along the way for the body, front and back in the middle, making allowance for the head opening. They can have quite striking one colour vertical patterning.

Others start at the bottom and increase for sleeves, then decrease as you start the other side. These aren't particularly successful for anything other than plain knitting.

Then there are patterns that start at the neck, and work along from there (lots of short rows for shaping, leaving stitches on needles to come back to, picking up, but they are quite rewarding patterns. Here is one I've done from Interpretations Volume 5


image from Interpretations Volume 5

There is a lacy pattern around the neck continued down the front opening, and then featured on the cuffs, and a small dot pattern on the bod. There is a yoke across the back.

I'm a big fan of the Interpretations series, and have knitted several of their patterns..

19lauralkeet
jan 8, 12:24 pm

Thanks for chiming in on this. That's a pretty pattern, too.

20lauralkeet
jan 14, 2:44 pm

I'm finally working the yoke on my Maja Pullover! I'm quite smitten with the color combination.

21scaifea
jan 14, 3:00 pm

Oooh, I love it!!

22MickyFine
jan 14, 3:28 pm

>20 lauralkeet: That looks gorgeous, Laura!

23thornton37814
jan 14, 5:07 pm

>20 lauralkeet: Very nice!

24lauralkeet
jan 14, 5:21 pm

Thank you so much Amber, Micky & Lori!

25qebo
jan 14, 6:40 pm

>20 lauralkeet: Nice! I especially like that yellow.

26lauralkeet
jan 15, 6:18 am

Thanks Katherine. I asked a friend from the Fiber Guild to help me choose the colors. Left to my own devices, I would have chosen something a strong color like red or blue, paired with a light neutral like gray or off white. There's nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to choose colors outside that comfort zone and she helped me see some other possibilities.

27PawsforThought
jan 15, 8:45 am

Well done Laura! It looks great.

And I really like that there is a super-clear contrast between the colours, but you can still see the pattern. People in my FB groups are obsessed with contrast and insist that there must be really high contrast between all colours in a pattern or else it’ll be terrible. And I just look at all the gazillion Fais Isle sweaters out there that most definitely do not have have that…

28lauralkeet
jan 15, 11:10 am

Thanks Paws. I admit I was worried about contrast at first. Photos of the yarn in gray scale showed they were about the same. But I liked the swatch. I think high contrast would be more important if you were working with several colors. If they were all the same value it could look muddy. You'd want one or more colors to "pop". But getting high contrast between all colors sounds unrealistic.

29dudes22
jan 15, 2:14 pm

I've gotten my computer problems fixed and can now see pictures again. I really like the color combination. That will make a great fall sweater.

30lauralkeet
jan 15, 3:38 pm

Thank you Betty! I'd love to finish this sweater soon enough to wear it a few times before the weather gets too warm. We'll see.

31lauralkeet
jan 26, 7:35 am

The sweater is finished! I need to block it today, and it will take a few days to dry, and then I'll take some photos.

Meanwhile, I started two stash-busting hats mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:: the Antler Toque, and the Anthology hat in the light gray/blue/pink yarns. Anthology involves a bit of design, because you get to choose the color work motifs and decide how to use your colors to create them. The pattern provides several motifs and shows how they can be used with just 2 colors, or 3 or more.. I also have a book of Fair Isle motifs but one can easily get overwhelmed trying to choose, so that book remains on the shelf for now. I might get more ambitious on a second hat.

32MickyFine
jan 26, 10:51 pm

Congrats on finishing your sweater. That's a big achievement!

33lauralkeet
jan 27, 6:22 am

Thanks Micky.

34mnleona
jan 28, 7:02 pm

That is so nice.

35PlatinumWarlock
jan 29, 2:43 am

>20 lauralkeet: Laura, what stunning colors! Beautiful work!

36lauralkeet
jan 29, 6:19 am

>34 mnleona:, >35 PlatinumWarlock: thank you both! Photos of finished sweater coming soon ...

37lauralkeet
feb 1, 6:31 am



I'd like to get a photo of me wearing this, but weather and indoor lighting have not cooperated. I had to make some adjustments in knitting so it would fit properly, and they worked out as they should (I was nervous about that). So all in all, I'm quite pleased with it.

38dudes22
feb 1, 6:58 am

That's really pretty, Laura. I'm sure the colors are much better in person. My browser is showing the main color as a rusty brown (brownish orange?) I often share your project pictures with a good friend who is a knitter and crocheter and I'm sure she'll like this too. She's the one who made her daughter a coat of granny squares a few years ago.

39lauralkeet
feb 1, 7:01 am

Thanks Betty, yes I'd say the yarn is a rusty brown/orange. Its official name is "persimmon". There are pics of both yarns in >2 lauralkeet:. They are not bright colors but do look nicer in person.

40PawsforThought
feb 1, 7:10 am

Wll done, Laura! The sweater looks lovely. Not colours I'm normally drawn to, but I really like the main brown/bronze.

41scaifea
feb 1, 8:37 am

Oh wow. That turned out so well!!

42LyndaInOregon
feb 1, 3:04 pm

Nicely done. Circular yokes with stranded colorwork are always a challenge, and if the pattern doesn't happen to precisely fit the intended wearer's particular body shape, tweaking the fit can be a major undertaking! Glad you were successful on all counts. Wear and enjoy!

(And now, great-grandma-to-be returns to knitting tiny garments.....)

43lauralkeet
Bewerkt: feb 1, 4:52 pm

Thanks Paws, Amber, & Linda!

Linda, to your comment about tweaking the fit ... I did have some challenges to deal with. I don't have a difficult-to-fit body, other than being short which is more of a problem with trousers than tops. However, my gauge was such that I did have to make some adjustments otherwise the sweater would have been too snug and the yoke, too short. Congratulations on being a great-grandma-to-be!

44SassyLassy
feb 1, 5:13 pm

>43 lauralkeet: It's always an interesting question just where a yoke should be. Some, like yours in this sweater go down past the armholes, others are just a suggestion around the top.
Yoked sweaters seem to be making a comeback, and I notice that many, like yours, have a wider neck opening than the older "wrap up tight" versions.

Nice work!

45lauralkeet
feb 1, 5:40 pm

>44 SassyLassy: Oh yes, I know what you mean! I was surprised when I first read the instructions, to see that the colorwork started about 1" below the armhole. And when I tried it on I was equally surprised by the wider neck although on closer examination of the pattern I might have noticed.

Your comments prompted a trip down memory lane. The very first sweater I ever made was a yoke sweater. It had a smaller neck opening and the yoke started above the armhole. Here's a 10-years-younger me in said sweater:

46PlatinumWarlock
feb 2, 7:29 pm

>45 lauralkeet: Oooh, I love that... and I especially love collars like that, which sort of roll a little bit. Beautiful!!

47MickyFine
feb 2, 10:49 pm

The newest sweater is gorgeous, Laura. Beautiful work as always!

I've got some crochet circle yoke sweater patterns (with yarn to go with them) waiting in my stash and I'm looking forward to trying out this method of making.

48SassyLassy
feb 3, 4:31 pm

>45 lauralkeet: Another great sweater - it's amazing how this style holds up. I like the suggestion of border above the cuffs. The proportions go well with the yoke bands.

49lauralkeet
feb 4, 6:21 am

>46 PlatinumWarlock: Thanks Lavinia!

>47 MickyFine: And thank you, too, Micky. I enjoy your crochet adventures and am interested to see a crochet yoke sweater, whenever you get around to it.

>48 SassyLassy: Thank you! I agree, the yoke is a really classic style. That sweater is from Ann Budd's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters, and it's one of those designs that looks more difficult than it is.

50lauralkeet
feb 7, 12:01 pm



Finished! This is the first Anthology Hat I mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. It's a fun pattern because you are in control of both the colors and the combination of color work motifs. It also knits up quickly.

I had originally planned to make a few of these with yarn combinations as shown in my original post. But my Ravelry stash inventory was off. It looks like I don't have enough of some of the colors, and the yellow has completely disappeared from my stash! I have absolutely no idea where it went.

Fortunately I have enough for a hat in navy and white, and I came up with a design this morning that's quite different from the first hat, so that will be fun to make.

51dudes22
feb 7, 12:26 pm

That's a really nice hat, Laura. I like the colors.

52scaifea
feb 8, 6:35 am

>50 lauralkeet: Very cute!

53MickyFine
feb 8, 6:41 pm

The hat is lovely! Great work, Laura.

54lauralkeet
feb 8, 7:21 pm

Thank you Betty, Amber & Micky!

55lauralkeet
feb 12, 6:20 am



I finished another stash-busting project. This is the Antler Toque mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. I've made this before, and it's a fairly easy cable project if someone were looking to try their hand at cables. There's also a matching mitten pattern.

I'm now working on my second Anthology hat, in navy & white. I changed my mind about the socks mentioned in >10 lauralkeet:. I took a closer look at the pattern and thought, "this doesn't look fun". It just seemed overly complicated. I found a herringbone design I like, that has been quietly waiting in a book on my shelves. Go figure.

After I finished my Nordic sweater, I realized I had time to make a summer top that would be ready to wear when the weather warms up. I now have pattern and yarn (a cotton/viscose/linen blend), but am trying not to think about it too much until I finish the navy/white hat. Then I'll have both sweater and socks on the needles. I don't like to have too many projects going at once, but two is fine and sometimes it's nice to switch back and forth.

56PawsforThought
feb 12, 8:41 am

>55 lauralkeet: Looks great, Laura!

I don't like to have too many projects going at once,

I...am not very good at sticking to just one or two projects...

At least I'm still in the single digits. I think.

57lauralkeet
feb 12, 12:21 pm

>56 PawsforThought: Paws, it stresses me out to be juggling more than a couple. And I have to admit, sticking with two projects does help me to finish them. If I end up setting a project aside to "take a break," there's a good chance that break will become permanent.

I'm the same way with books, rarely reading two at a time and almost never more than that.

58MickyFine
feb 13, 4:38 pm

I can't even do two at a time. I always end up favouring one over the other so I stick to one at time with a dishcloth usually hanging out in some level of completion that I can take to meetings.

59avaland
feb 13, 5:58 pm

Wow, I've missed a lot here (not sure how). Gorgeous work as always, Laura. Wonderful projects!

60lauralkeet
feb 13, 7:50 pm

>58 MickyFine: I get that Micky. If I have a “big” project underway I like to have something smaller that I can take with me.

>59 avaland: Thanks Lois!

61thornton37814
feb 18, 4:45 pm

Some cute caps/hats.

62lauralkeet
feb 18, 8:46 pm

Thanks Lori!

63mnleona
feb 19, 8:20 am

Your work is so impressive and practical.

64lauralkeet
feb 19, 11:07 am

Thank you so much, Leona.

65lauralkeet
feb 22, 1:17 pm



I finished my second Anthology Hat! This one has a folded brim, no pom-pom, and uses different motifs than the one in >50 lauralkeet:. And different yarn too, obviously.

These hats have been a fun way to use up leftover yarn. I still have leftover yarn (who doesn't?!) but not enough of it in coordinating colors to make another hat. At least for now. 😀

66MickyFine
feb 22, 2:28 pm

>65 lauralkeet: That's beautiful, Laura!

67dudes22
feb 22, 3:07 pm

Very pretty!

68mabith
feb 22, 10:03 pm

You've made so many lovely things already! Count me in the fan club for the color choice on the sweater.

69lauralkeet
feb 23, 6:09 am

>66 MickyFine:, >67 dudes22: Thanks Micky and Betty! I really love the pattern/"recipe" because you can play around with motifs to create your own design.

>68 mabith: Thanks Meredith! I asked a friend from my fiber guild to help me with color choices, because she is really good at it and I wanted to move outside my comfort zone. I never would have chosen these on my own, but they work really well together.

70scaifea
feb 24, 9:02 am

That hat is fabulous, Laura!

71LyndaInOregon
feb 24, 11:30 am

>65 lauralkeet: The differences between the two Anthology hats are quite interesting. I would never have guessed they were from the same pattern! (Love those "recipe" patterns.)

72lauralkeet
Bewerkt: feb 24, 11:34 am

>70 scaifea: Thanks Amber!

>71 LyndaInOregon: I know what you mean, Lynda. It was inspiring to look at all the Ravelry projects for this pattern, because every one was unique. Some, like me, used the motifs included with the pattern. Some used other sources (or maybe their own design talents). The "recipe" recommends a specific number of rows be devoted to patterns so it's a blank canvas to do with what you will.

73lauralkeet
feb 26, 8:53 am


Anker's Summer Shirt (pattern photo)

After finishing my recent sweater project I was looking for another one when I realized it would make more sense to knit something for summer. Over the weekend I started this tee, in a pinkish-peachish color.

I also have a pair of two-color herringbone socks on the needles. I cast on and knit the ribbing before setting it aside for this project. I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about sock knitting these days, and am already wondering whether I will continue with it. Well, no need to make a decision, there's no harm in leaving it alone for a while.

74PawsforThought
feb 26, 9:00 am

>73 lauralkeet: Ooh! That's a Petiteknit pattern - they're very popular in my Facebook groups. I've been eyes some of her sweater and cardigan patterns for a while.

75lauralkeet
feb 26, 9:03 am

>74 PawsforThought: Me too Paws! A friend of mine made her Cumulus Blouse not too long ago (bought the pattern and yarn while on holiday in Denmark). She has a way of designing something not very complicated and yet very pretty.

76PawsforThought
feb 26, 9:45 am

yeah, I really like that about it. I'm fond of simple things.

77dudes22
feb 26, 12:42 pm

Ooooo … That’s very pretty. It will pair with so many things.

78SassyLassy
feb 26, 4:21 pm

>73 lauralkeet: That's a lovely pattern, lending itself to so many different yarn choices.

79lauralkeet
feb 29, 2:11 pm

I'm having fun knitting the summer tee! It's knit top-down, so you begin with the yoke. Each section of the yoke includes an increase row, where you knit a small number of stitches and then do a yarnover for the increase. I've done two sections and each time I've had to undo and redo the increase row because I'd unknowingly lost count along the way. Honestly, I *should* be able to count to 3! There are two more sections in the yoke, I wonder if I'll get them right on the first try? 😃

80PawsforThought
feb 29, 4:30 pm

How frustrating! I think I’d have to use markers to make sure I got the right number of stitches.

81lauralkeet
feb 29, 5:27 pm

I was trying to think of a way to prevent the mistake.
Each section is 10 rows of k1p1 rib. Then you do one row which would be something like k2, yo all the way around. Or k3, or k4 depending on which section you're in. Since you start with 92 sts, that's a lot of markers. I just need to concentrate, I think. I also realized I only have one more rib section with increases, not two.

82thornton37814
mrt 1, 2:42 pm

>65 lauralkeet: That looks great!

>73 lauralkeet: That looks like a great pattern.

83lauralkeet
mrt 1, 3:54 pm

Hi Lori! Thanks for stopping by.

84scaifea
mrt 2, 7:37 am

Ugh. I have trouble focusing on those kinds of rows, too. Good luck!

85lauralkeet
mrt 9, 9:58 am

Progress on the summer shirt: the yoke is finished!



86dudes22
mrt 9, 11:02 am

That's really pretty, Laura.

87lauralkeet
mrt 9, 12:23 pm

Thank you Betty. I really like the yarn, I think it will be nice to wear in warm weather.

88thornton37814
mrt 14, 7:48 pm

>85 lauralkeet: That is nice!

89lauralkeet
mrt 15, 5:48 am

Thanks! Earlier this week I reached the point where you separate off two sections for the sleeves, and then continue working the body (about 12" more of plain knitting). Not very exciting knitting, but doesn't require a ton of concentration either.

90PawsforThought
Bewerkt: mrt 24, 1:22 pm

>85 lauralkeet: That looks superb as usually, Laura. Can’t wait for the next update photo.

91lauralkeet
mrt 24, 4:45 pm

Thank you Paws. I've knit about 2" beyond the yoke so far; I need to knit 12" before the ribbing at the bottom. I'll have to remember to take a photo as it takes shape.

92dudes22
Bewerkt: apr 10, 9:44 am

I checked out the website for the wool place you went to yesterday. I was saying to my friend Lori (we're in AZ visiting) that I sort of wish I had stuck with knitting instead of doing quilting as there are so many nice yarns these days. With lots of great colors. Any pictures of what you bought?

ETA: I have to knit vicariously through you.

93lauralkeet
Bewerkt: apr 10, 11:23 am

Here you go, Betty!



First, some background. I posted about this on my 75 books thread but hadn't gotten here yet. My knitting group met yesterday. Instead of our usual "knit while discussing a topic" format, we went to the warehouse of Solitude Wool, owned and managed by local women (guild members) who raise rare breed sheep and dye their yarn. We learned about their sheep breeds and the process of creating yarn, which was really interesting. They sell at fiber festivals and farm markets and don’t have a brick & mortar store but we were able to browse their inventory and stock up. Yay!

The yarn is sport weight, from a breed of sheep called Coopworth which originated in New Zealand. I plan to use 4 skeins of "thistle" for a sweater and the 2 skeins of undyed for the Guild's annual "dye day" in July. There, we demonstrate a dye method and everyone gets to try it out on the fabric or fiber of their choice. In previous years we've done indigo (blue) and onion skins (yellow/orange). We haven't decided on this year's method yet.

94al.vick
apr 10, 12:32 pm

pretty color "thistle"!

95SassyLassy
apr 10, 2:25 pm

>93 lauralkeet: Looks like lovely yarn.

As to this year's dye method - cochineal - fabulous colours.

Dye days are really fun.

96dudes22
apr 10, 6:02 pm

That looks like lovely yarn.

97lauralkeet
apr 11, 7:16 am

>94 al.vick: I love the color, too. The skeins practically jumped out of the bin into my arms, specifically because the color caught my eye.

>95 SassyLassy: Cochineal is a definite possibility. We'll see what the committee decides!

>96 dudes22: Thanks Betty. Besides the color, it has a nice soft texture.

98MickyFine
apr 12, 6:35 pm

Oooh, new yarn is always exciting. And so cool that you got to visit the warehouse. Did you meet some of the sheep as well? :)

99lauralkeet
apr 13, 6:08 am

>98 MickyFine: I wish, Micky! The sheep are nowhere near the warehouse, unfortunately. But shortly after I joined the guild the annual Dye Day was hosted by one of the Solitude Wool owners. I met a few sheep there. 😀

100lauralkeet
apr 13, 6:31 am

Does anyone here do needle felting? I went to a Fiber Guild workshop yesterday where we learned to make a needle felted baby fox. There were about 10 of us, all inexperienced with needle felting. The instructor did a great job walking us through it. Her model was smaller and cuter and mine has a few wonky spots, but as a first effort I'm happy with it. Here's my little guy (about 6" tall):



With a bit of experience behind me, I might even try another project on my own one of these days. I was thinking about something Christmassy: ornaments, snowmen, something like that.

101LyndaInOregon
apr 13, 3:55 pm

>100 lauralkeet: What a cutie! I haven't tried needle felting yet. The class I signed up for via our then-LYS was cancelled due to Covid, and the shop eventually closed. :=( Hope to have the opportunity to learn at some point.

102dudes22
apr 13, 7:38 pm

>100 lauralkeet: - That's really cute. Never tried needle felting but I feel like I know someone who did. I wonder who it was.

103lauralkeet
apr 13, 8:01 pm

Thanks Lynda and Betty! The basic technique is surprisingly easy, but as with all crafts I’m sure there are advanced techniques required for certain projects.

104thornton37814
apr 14, 4:43 pm

>100 lauralkeet: I have a needle felting kit in stash, but I haven't tried it yet. I think mine is a cat. By the way, lovely yarn up above.

105lauralkeet
apr 14, 7:25 pm

Thanks Lori! I think I’ve found a good project for the yarn which I’ll start after I finish the summer tee (which is moving along nicely btw).

106mabith
apr 17, 6:45 pm

The fox is so cute!

I've tried needlefelting, but my hands just can't deal with the required movements (I have chronic pain issues generally). I occasionally try it again out of vain hope, because you can do such neat things with it, but no luck.

107lauralkeet
apr 18, 5:36 am

>106 mabith: Meredith, I'm sorry you haven't been able to do any needle felting. I can see how the repetitive movement with the needle could be problematic. Knitting occasionally gives me wrist pain, usually when I'm doing cable work (I think I do something different with my grip). I'm hopeful that all that's needed is to be careful not to overdo it, but I do sometimes worry about whether it will progress.

108scaifea
apr 19, 6:30 am

I love the little fox, Laura! I know someone (a former student) who does needle felting classes, and I've been thinking about bringing her in to lead a Teen Tuesday. I think the TTs would love it.

109lauralkeet
apr 19, 6:39 am

>108 scaifea: Amber, that would be an excellent TT activity. Our class was only 2 hours long and it required only about 15min to set up the room so logistically it would work well. I also thought it was kinda amazing to make an actual thing during such a short time.

110MickyFine
apr 20, 9:07 pm

Late to the party but your fox is super cute!

111lauralkeet
apr 21, 6:07 am

Thanks Micky!

112lauralkeet
apr 26, 12:24 pm

I keep forgetting to post a photo of the summer shirt, still in progress.



The body is finished and I just need to add two short sleeves.

I'd really like to find a good tutorial on achieving more accurate color on the iPhone, either when taking the photo or through edits.

113dudes22
apr 26, 3:24 pm

I like that pattern, Laura. Looking forward to seeing it finished. I don't like my iPhone photos either. OLLI near here has a class on taking better phone pictures but I never seem to fit it in.

114LyndaInOregon
apr 26, 6:16 pm

>112 lauralkeet: You are chugging on that!

I'm still swatching with the vintage bamboo yarn I reclaimed from a disastrous project. (Who knew, back then, how much bamboo yarn was going to streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch?) Hope to get the preliminaries out of the way and be able to start my summer sweater on May 1.

115lauralkeet
apr 27, 6:53 am

>113 dudes22:, >114 LyndaInOregon: Thanks Betty & Lynda. It looks like the sleeves will work up quickly -- I've knit the "body" of the first sleeve (only about 2.25") and am working on the ribbing. I'm pleased it will be wearable just as the weather is warming up!

Lynda, I didn't know that about bamboo. My only experience is with a brand of sock yarn, but the bamboo was a small part of the fiber blend. I look forward to seeing your summer sweater. Bamboo should make for a cool, lightweight garment.

116mnleona
Bewerkt: apr 27, 8:52 am

When I saw the word cochineal, I remembered the book written by Frank G. Slaughter. I read many years ago. It got me interested in natural dyes and the Phoenicians. I also read other books of his but have not thought about his books for years. The purple is the cochineal.

This is from goodreads:
Purple Quest by Frank G. Slaughter | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1262627
Frank G. Slaughter. The Purple Quest is a masterful recreation of one of the great romantic sagas of the ancient world--the turbulent story of Queen Dido and the founding of Carthage. With no weapons but courage and a sailor's skills, and no ally but Hera, the lovely Grecian who owed him more than her life, a proud Phoenician prince fights to ...

117mnleona
apr 27, 8:49 am

>112 lauralkeet: That is so nice.

118lauralkeet
apr 27, 9:32 am

Thanks Leona, and that book looks interesting too.

119MickyFine
apr 27, 11:55 am

>112 lauralkeet: That's looking great, Laura!

120scaifea
apr 27, 12:21 pm

Oooh, that's so pretty so far!

121lauralkeet
apr 27, 2:15 pm

Thanks Micky and Amber. I just finished one of the sleeves so it won’t be long now ….

122LyndaInOregon
apr 27, 8:42 pm

>115 lauralkeet: Oh, yes. I don't think you can even buy 100% bamboo yarn any more, it was so bad. It's now only available in blends, AFAIK.

But when it first came out (years ago), a lot of us were overwhelmed by its beauty, softness, drape, sheen, and depth of color. I made a bolero sweater out of it with 3/4 length sleeves. Keep that in mind. Bolero. Short.

You will not believe what happened, but it was so awful that I stuffed it in a bag in the depths of the stash. And every few years it would surface, and I'd think, "I need to rip that out and reclaim the yarn." I took it to my knit group for show & tell, and they said I had to post it to Ravelry's "Ugliest FO" thread before I frogged it. Here's the photo, with about half the lace border already removed. Remember -- bolero style cardigan. Three-quarter length sleeve.

123lauralkeet
apr 28, 6:26 am

OMG Lynda, that's incredible. Given this yarn's qualities, I'm interested to see how your summer sweater knits up!

124LyndaInOregon
apr 28, 12:22 pm

>123 lauralkeet: I frogged it, re-skeined, machine-washed & -dried the skeins (in a lingerie bag), and made a big (8"x8") swatch in pattern. After hanging up overnight with a small towel pinned to it to simulate the weight of a finished piece, it seems to have kept its shape well. I also dropped down to a #3 needle.

We shall see.

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