American Spun: 20 Classic Projects Exploring Homegrown Yarn (affiliate link) was released on December 8, 2015. I pre-ordered it, so it arrived in my mailbox a couple of days before the official release date. This book is primarily a pattern book. If I had understood that, I would not have ordered it, which would have been a shame because not only do the patterns seem to be well-written, the book is also much more than just a pattern book.
The projects in this book are all designed using yarns which are made in America, at some point during their production process. Sudo highlights fifteen yarn companies ranging from shepherds who send their own wool out for processing to a mill (Harrisville) to yarn designers who source wool from the United States to indie dyers. Some of the yarns are completely American made from sheep to yarn. Others might be only milled or dyed in the US, from wool produced elsewhere.
American Spun is organized by yarn producer. Each section starts with a two page spread featuring pictures of the company and short interviews with an owner of that company. When I pre-ordered the book, I expected this type of material to make up the majority of the book. While I definitely enjoyed these pages, I was disappointed that each section was so short. You get only a broad overview, similar to what you might get on the “About” page of a website. I was hoping for something more in-depth.
Following the two-page spread is at least one pattern designed by author Anna Sudo using one of the company’s yarns. The 20 patterns offer a little something for everyone — hats, gloves, scarves, shawls, sweaters, slippers, leg warmers, jelly jar cozies, a rug, and a blanket. None of the patterns are suitable for an absolute beginner knitter. Every pattern uses an intermediate to advanced technique like steeking, stranded colorwork, or grafting. A few patterns involve more basic knitting (hat, scarf, mittens), but you then embroider on top of that basic knitting. Anyone who already possesses all the skills represented in this book would certainly be considered an advanced knitter.
I have not knit any of the patterns in this book, so I cannot vouch for their accuracy. However, I will tell you that all the patterns include a feature that I very much like and look for in patterns: detailed information in the beginning of the pattern. Every pattern should include finished measurements and gauge, but often patterns don’t include more than basic information in these areas. In American Spun, the provided measurements are complex. Fingerless mittens give you both the hand circumference and cuff to fingers measurements for all three sizes. Hats specify the circumference at the brim, unstreched. Sweaters give you the chest size both of the person the garment is intended to fit and the finished garment itself, so you can see how many inches of ease Sudo built into the pattern. The leg warmers pattern provides the calf circumference, foot circumference, and length for each size and advises you to choose a size based on your foot circumference. Every single pattern specifies the size of the sample shown in the pattern pictures. The gauge information is also detailed. Most patterns provide multiple gauges, for stockinette and a stitch pattern. Every gauge listing describes the stitch pattern used and every pattern that includes something other than stockinette lists a gauge in the stitch pattern. The pattern lists up front the notions you need for the pattern. While I haven’t knit any of the patterns, the care taken in providing this detailed pattern information raises hope that the patterns themselves were handled with similar care and will be accurate.
Every pattern where fit is relevant gives a range of size options. Accessories like socks, hats, and gloves include two or three sizes. The men’s sweater includes instructions for sizes S to 5X. The two women’s sweaters are graded for sizes XS to 5X. The only one-size patterns in the book are the blanket, scarves, shawl, and jelly jar cozy.
Even if you aren’t going to knit any of the patterns in this book, there is one feature of the book that is worth the purchase price: the three page appendix of grafting instructions. Several of the patterns in this book require grafting, and sometimes that grafting happens along borders that aren’t straight stockinette. All the instructions I’ve ever seen for grafting were written as though you were grafting stockinette, so you are grafting two knit stitches together. But what if you are grafting reverse stockinette edges? Or garter stitch? Or ribbing? And what if your stitch pattern changes along your seam? The appendix of American Spun has grafting instructions for these scenarios. I have too long of a queue to buy and hang onto knitting pattern books, and that’s why I wouldn’t have bought this book and ordinarily wouldn’t have kept it on my shelves after I realized that it was primarily a pattern book. But this appendix on grafting earned the book a permanent home on my crowded shelves of knitting reference books.
Whether you are looking for a coffee table book with stunning photography, an introduction to yarns produced in America, thoughtfully written intermediate to advanced patterns, or clear descriptions of knitting techniques, this is the book for you. The fact that this single volume includes all of these features makes American Spun an outstanding book that belongs on every knitter’s shelves.
I haven’t updated my progress since week 29, back in July! Since we’re coming to the end of the year, it’s time to review my goals and start thinking about goals for next year. Anything that’s crossed through in the list is something I did not get to at all. If I did any work on a goal, even if it isn’t finished, I kept it on the list and made notes about its status. In early January, I will publish a slide show with pictures of every project I finished this year and a list of goals for next year. While I didn’t finish everything I hoped to finish this year, I am happy with what I accomplished. I learned a great deal, especially about crochet, and I’m looking forward to learning more in 2016!
Review of 2015 Goals
Knitting
Knit myself a sweater Moved to 2016. In July, my friend Stacy got engaged and I’ve been working on projects for her wedding instead of knitting a sweater!
Swatches 1-12 knit on size 7 needles, finished by July 19, 2015
I did actually finish the swatches by the dates listed here. I went to Masters’ Day at the TKGA Conference and learned that I had guttering issues I need to work out before finishing my swatches. I haven’t gotten back to my swatches yet.
On the Friday before Thanksgiving, I’m on a plane flying north for 10 days of family fun and I’m not in my usual traveling groove. I’ve flown a great deal in the last four years, usually alone but also with my husband, and I have habits. Whenever possible, I pack in a carry on only. I have Global Entry which gives me automatic TSA Pre-check so I arrive at the airport about 1.5 hours before my flight, sail through security, and once I’m in my terminal eat a meal if it’s mealtime. I have a short wait before boarding and I sit in an aisle seat as close to the front of the plane as possible. While I’m waiting to board and while I’m on the plane, I listen to podcasts and knit. I do not make small talk with my seat mates. When the plane lands, I’m out of there as quickly as possible and don’t have to go to baggage claim since I’m packed only in a carry on.
These habits are all part of a personal defense mechanism. I’m an introverted person and have a difficult time filtering out noise. All the stimuli of random conversations and interactions with strangers is exhausting. Since I fly in and out of Orlando, my flights are always full of families with small children on their way to and from the theme parks. As a result, there’s higher levels of noise than might be the case if I was flying in and out of any other airport in the country. In addition, when I started flying so much it was because I was flying to New Jersey every other week, helping my mother-in-law with the details of life after several deaths in the family. I was hanging on by an emotional thread and would randomly burst into tears. I was terrified that this might happen on a flight, where I had no means of escape from scrutiny. I had no bandwidth for handling even inane conversations. And so I didn’t engage. I popped in my headphones and focused on my knitting. It was the only way I made it through those trips, putting on a façade of normalcy and shutting out everyone around me. And now, it’s a habit.
But on this flight, I’m traveling with my parents. My father likes to get to the airport super early. They have bags to check and might not get to go through the shorter TSA Pre-check line. We’re flying on Southwest and my father has status since he flies on that airline every week for work, so they do end up with Pre-check, but we didn’t know that was going to happen. We get their bags dropped off, sail through security, get breakfast at Au Bon Pain and are still at the gate 2 hours before our flight is scheduled to depart.
My project for this trip is a new scarf for charity. I worked out a design a couple of days before we left and cast on while waiting to board. I knit about 3 inches and realize I don’t like how wide it is, so rip it all out and start again. I knit 3 inches and this time it’s too narrow. I rip it out again. Finally it’s time to board. My father boards before either my mother or I, thanks to his status, and saves us a row close to the front of the plane. I’m in the window seat. My mom is chatty, so I only have one ear bud in, on the side by the window, so I can halfway listen to a podcast and still hear my mom when she starts talking. I cast on again, rearranging the order of the cables, and knit another 3 inches. This time, I’m happy with the width. I put the knitting down for a minute and stretch out my fingers and wrist, looking around the plane for the first time since we took off. And that’s when I see The Other Knitter.
Suddenly, it strikes me that I’ve never seen another knitter or crocheter on any of my flights. Why is this? Years ago, on a flight home from Boston, I was sitting in front of a high school classmate. There was only 13 people in my high school graduating class; there are millions of knitters in the United States and many knit on planes. It’s far more likely that I might run into a knitter than into a high school classmate. But I’ve never seen another knitter.
The Other Knitter is sitting one row in front of me, on the opposite side of the plane, in the middle seat. I realize that I’d vaguely heard the woman directly in front of me telling her son he could sit with Nana. The three seats in front of me contain a husband and wife and a son about 10 or 11. Across the aisle is another boy of similar age, Nana (The Other Knitter), and a gentleman I take to be Nana’s husband.
I find myself fascinated by The Other Knitter. I strain my neck to see if I can figure out what she’s knitting. Her pattern is on the tray in front of her and she’s working with royal blue yarn. She’s on the second page of the pattern, and there’s a picture of the finished object, but I can’t quite see it. At first, I think she’s making a sweater. But the pattern’s only two pages long and when The Other Knitter puts her knitting back into her clear plastic bag and gets up to use the restroom, I can see she only has two skeins of yarn with her, including the one she’s knitting now. Perhaps a sweater for one of the grandkids? I can’t tell.
Throughout the flight, I keep looking at The Other Knitter. I want to talk to her, to find out what she’s knitting and for whom. Does she like her yarn and pattern? Is she heading home after a family vacation at the parks or is she leaving home for Thanksgiving at another relative’s home? Is she on Ravelry? I feel like a stalker or paparazzi or a fan girl. I want to take her picture, but stop myself. It’s a step too far. What’s the matter with me? I didn’t get like this on the few occasions when I’ve been around celebrities!
We’re starting our descent into Hartford, Connecticut when my mother notices The Other Knitter. She nudges me. “There’s another knitter over there.”
“I know,” I say, casually, like my heart didn’t start beating a little faster when I first saw those needles working the royal blue yarn a couple of hours ago.
When our flight lands, we all gather up our things and head to the baggage claim. I don’t see The Other Knitter there, but I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m sorry I was too far away and boxed in the corner by the window to talk to her, too afraid to get up and ask her what she was making. I’ve missed the opportunity to meet someone new and perhaps make a friend. Maybe next time.
I have been knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving away, but have not been writing posts on each of my finished projects. I received a private message on Ravelry, asking for the details of this project, so thought I’d write it up to share with all of you!
Official Stats
Date Started: September 16, 2015
Date Finished: September 28, 2015
Pattern: as discussed below
Yarn: Cascade Pinwheel in Autumn Leaves (#21)
Needles: US 8 , 5.0 mm
Finished Dimensions: I forgot to write down the measurements; but approximately 6″ x 65″
I bought the Pinwheel yarn specifically to knit for charity. I got two skeins of most colors so I could make matching sets with a scarf, mittens, and hat. The scarf takes one skein and I can just squeak a hat and mittens out of a second. For three colorways, I only had one skein because that was all that the shop had. In September, I decided to knit up a couple of those skeins into scarves. I looked at the free patterns on Ravelry, but didn’t find anything that caught my eye that I hadn’t already knit. So I pulled out my Barbara Walker treasuries and found stitch patterns. This scarf uses the Traveling Rib pattern from page 180 of A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns.
When I first started this project, I planned to add a couple selvedge stitches, but after knitting the repeat a couple times, I didn’t like how that looked, so I ripped it out and started over, using just the stitches for the pattern. Ribbing isn’t going to roll and makes a nice stretchy fabric. It doesn’t really need a frame to give the fabric structure.
Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
RS = Right Side
WS = Wrong Side
This pattern uses a 7 stitch repeat. I’ve been casting on somewhere close to 40 stitches for all the scarves I’ve made with Pinwheel. This gives me a finished scarf of 5″ to 6″ wide and 60″ to 65″ long, depending on the stitch pattern. For this particular pattern, I assumed the ribbing would pull the fabric in so chose to cast on more stitches than usual. I cast on 7 repeats (49 stitches), using the long tail cast on, which is my default.
Row 1 (RS): K1, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K3
Row 2 (WS): P2, *K4, P3* 5 times, end K4, P1
Row 3. K2, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K2
Row 4: P1, *K4, P3* 5 times, end K4, P2
Row 5: K3, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K1
Row 6: *K4, P3* repeat to end of row
Row 7: *K4, P3* repeat to end of row
Row 8: K3, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K1
Row 9: P1, *K4, P3* 5 times, K4, P2
Row 10: K2, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K2
Row 11: P2, *K4, P3* 5 times, end K4, P1
Row 12: K1, *P3, K4* 5 times, end P3, K3
Row 13: *P3, K4* repeat to end of row
Row 14: *P3, K4* repeat to end of row
Repeat Rows 1 – 14 until scarf is desired length, ending on either Row 6 or 13. BO loosely and in pattern. In this case, that means working Row 7 or 14 as written, and passing the preceding stitch over the just worked stitch as you work across the row, using larger needles if needed to keep your bind off loose.
This scarf is reversible; I’ve only marked a right side and wrong side in the pattern to help keep track of where you are. If you look closely at the pattern, it may appear that rows repeat, but while the instructions repeat, you are on the opposite side of the fabric when you work it (Rows 1 & 12, 2 & 11, 3 & 10, 4 & 9, 5 & 8, 6 & 7, 13 & 14). As a result, if you put your work down and come back to it later, it may be difficult for you to tell where you are in the pattern. If you think you’re on Row 1 and you were really on Row 12 or vice versa, you will find that the direction of your rib changes midstream! You may want to mark the right side of the work, by hanging a locking stitch marker on that side.
While I was at The Knit and Crochet Show, more than one person commented to me that they couldn’t take classes the entire time because it was too much for them to absorb. Wasn’t I totally overwhelmed? Nope, not at all. The entire event was an adrenaline rush and I enjoyed every moment. A week after I got back, after reliving the entire event through writing the blog posts about it, I crashed. This wasn’t all because of the show; August is break month for the Harry Potter Knitting / Crochet House Cup. I push myself hard during the term, achieving feats of crafting that I otherwise wouldn’t attempt, and I appreciate break month! Don’t get me wrong — I still crafted and had fun adventures in August and September to date. Here’s the highlights.
August
S’s 5th Birthday Party
My cousin’s daughter turned 5 and had a birthday party at the zoo. It was the largest kid’s birthday party I’ve ever attended — 28 kids and 30+ adults. I made fondant cupcake toppers (I don’t think I’ve mentioned here that I’ve got mad cake skills? I don’t make cakes as often as in the past). Since I live 2+ hours from my cousin, she bought cupcakes locally and I put the toppers on when I arrived at the party.
Birthday party at the zoo = live animal show and tell!!
And I was the first person in line to get my face painted. I got to the party early so I could get those cupcake toppers on the cupcakes and the few children already there showed no interest in getting their face painted. I figured I’d beat the rush!
I knit the birthday girl a Barbie dress.
Sorting Yarn
A few months ago, my friend Nancy and I went to the home of a member of the weaver’s guild who had passed away (see my blog post). She wanted her yarn to benefit the guild. Nancy and I sorted it to pick out anything that was suitable for demos. We always have a little takeaway for kids and are constantly on the look out for yarn for those. We packed up any project kits or yarns suitable for weaving and brought those to the guild’s annual auction. The money raised from the sale of those yarns is designated for demos and will be used to buy yarn for takeaways once we use up our current stash.
Orlando Shakes Open House
From the Weavers Guild meeting, I went straight to the Orlando Shakespeare theater for their annual open house. I’ve never made it to this event before and had a great time. I went to all three panel discussions — one on lighting and sound production, one on building props, and one with the directors and educators about visioning and producing individual plays and the future of the troop. They also had a small display of props and costumes from previous productions. Here’s a small selection of the spectacular costumes, which are created in house, in conjunction with the theater department of a local university, and with the help of many volunteers.
Akerworks
My order from Akerworks arrived! I got 6 bobbins for my wheel (one in each style) and 3 drop spindles (one in each size). I didn’t take pictures before they got pressed into service, but I’m sure you’ll see pictures in future blog posts. I did take a picture of the lovely hand-written note Adan included in the box.
Ravenclaw Staff
I accepted a position as blog mistress for The Ravenclaw Aerie, the blog for the Ravenclaw Tower in the Harry Potter Knitting / Crochet House Cup. This is a big part of the reason for the neglect of my own blog; planning and executing for that blog has taken the time I had for blogging. Now that we’re on a schedule over there, I expect to be back to my own blog regularly! Most of what’s on The Ravenclaw Aerie is probably only of interest to those in Ravenclaw Tower or the Cup, but one of the first posts is about something else I did in August. Ravenclaw Porcupine Snuggles works at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She and two of her colleagues drove from Baltimore to New Smyrna Beach, FL to release Cougar, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. I met them in New Smyrna Beach so I could witness the release, and Porcupine Snuggles and I wrote a blog post about it for the Aerie.
Disney with Beth
My friend Beth came on vacation for a week and we spent lots of time at Disney! We ate at the Be Our Guest restaurant in the new part of Fantasy Land in the Magic Kingdom. We did not expect to be able to get a reservation because this restaurant, the interior of which is a replica of the castle in Beauty and the Beast, is sold out 6 months in advance. We checked anyway; someone must have cancelled because we got a 1:15 pm reservation! The restaurant is stunning inside and out.
On the day we went to EPCOT, it poured. My mother, Beth, and I walked from The Land to Journey through the Imagination without seeing any one else walking around (everyone else was smarter than us — when we got to Journey through the Imagination, the ride was down because the building was struck by lightning!). It was eerie, and made us think about what the park is like after it closes. We waited for Journey through the Imagination to be back up, and after we got off the ride, the rain had settled down to a normal rain shower rather than a deluge. We headed towards the World Showcase, wading through a calf-deep puddle on our way there.
All the rain made for a beautiful sunset!
Sick
A couple days after Disney, my husband got sick with a very bad cold. I caught it from him and it turned into a sinus infection. Yuck! For the last week of August and the first week of September, we took turns feeling misearable. Not much got accomplished around here. I was coughing so much that fiber crafting wasn’t even viable 🙁
September
L’s Birthday
Fortunately, I felt better in time to fly to New York City for a long weekend celebrating my sister’s 40th birthday. Before she arrived on Friday evening, her friends and I went to the Global Fashion Capitals exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum. Here’s a couple of interesting pieces from that exhibit.
We were trying to decide what to do next when I saw someone walk by with a Mood bag. For those who aren’t familiar with the name, Mood is a fabric store and is the place contestants on Project Runway shop for the fabric used to make their creations. We decided to go to Mood and since it was a lovely day we walked the 10 blocks to the shop. I was totally overwhelmed by Mood. On the ground floor, there’s a two-story section of upholstery and other home decoration fabrics. To get to the main shop, you take this old elevator, operated by an elevator attendant, to the third floor. Once there, you have another 3 stories of every fabric imaginable. I have no idea how the contestants manage to shop for fabric in only 30 minutes!
Yes, I did pet Swatch!
One section of the leather department.
One day, we went to the Tenement Museum (no pix allowed there). Our grandfather grew up in the Depression-era tenements of the Bronx, so this was a poignant visit for us. Afterwards, we wandered around SoHo and I bought my first ever pair of Fluevogs.
Later that evening, my sister and her friends went to a play. They bought tickets before I committed to the trip, and I wasn’t able to get a ticket to the show. Instead, I took a train out to Long Island to visit law school classmates and meet their 4-month-old baby. It was good to see them!
The next day, my sister, her friends, and I went to the Cloisters Museum, and visited their famous room of unicorn tapestries.
We ate fabulous food every day, including the best doughnuts I’ve ever eaten, from The Doughnut Plant. The interior of the shop was adorable, with doughnut pillows on the wall, a doughnut tile backsplash, and donut chairs!
The last night, my sister and I stayed in her friend’s apartment in Brooklyn. The friend was out of town, but gave us a key. The apartment came with bonus kitty, Billie.
Billie was super sweet and reminded me of my Pepper, whom I still miss very much!
Although I lived in the Northeast for nearly 30 years, I had never spent more than an afternoon in New York City before this trip. I had a wonderful time and hope I get to visit again!
Spamalot
For the fifth year in a row, Chris and I have season tickets for the Orlando Shakespeare theater. The first show of the season was Spamalot! It was absolutely spectacular. If you have the opportunity, you should totally see this show.
Orlando Maker Faire
Last weekend was the Orlando Maker Faire. The Drunken Monkey Spinners and Weavers of Orlando shared a booth for the event. Nancy and I spent the entire weekend in the booth; other members of the two groups spent one day or the other.
This was the fourth year of the Orlando Maker Faire. Last year, they expanded from the Science Center and included some exhibits in the park. This year, they expanded further, with arts and crafts exhibits in the Orlando Museum of Art, which is located on the opposite side of the park from the Science Center. The expected attendance at this event was 15,000; I didn’t hear an actual number after the event, but it is by far the highest attendance at any event where I’ve demoed.
The Science Center was wall-to-wall people; the Art Museum, where we were located, was steady but manageable. This was a fantastic event to demo. The people coming to this events are makers themselves. They like to know how things work and ask lots of questions! I spun the 50/50 Camel Down / Silk that I bought from Red Fish Dyeworksat The Knit and Crochet Show. I only got 1 ounce spun, out of 4, in the 17 hours I spent spinning! This is partially because I talked to lots of people, but also because it is spinning very fine.
Hey — there’s one of the Akerworks bobbins I got in August!
Florida Fiber In
This weekend is the Florida Fiber In. I went last night, but won’t make it there the rest of the weekend. I picked up some Black-Faced Valois locks and some Bombyx Silk fiber, and spent a couple hours spinning and chatting!
Fiber Crafting
The new HPKCHC term started on September 1 and I’ve been crafting like a mad woman. I haven’t taken pix of anything yet, but I’m working on that today and tomorrow. I’ll have a Year of Projects update post sometime tomorrow.
Ongoing
I have also been working on improving skills to benefit my blog. I bought my first DSLR camera (a Canon 70D (affiliate link)) and a Pro-Am video camera (Canon XA-10 (affiliate link)). I added Adobe Stock to my Adobe Cloud subscription. I used my Lynda.com subscription to learn how to use Adobe Bridge, then used Bridge to move all my photos out of Apple’s Photos app and into their own folders on my external hard drive. I’m still working on adding metadata and tags to the photos. I had 19,000 photos and videos in Photos and have a very hard time actually finding anything when I’m looking for it! It’s a lot of work to organize, but I believe it will be worth it in the end. I’m just starting the Lynda.com courses on Adobe After Effects and Lightroom, to further improve my photography and videography skills.
So that’s the highlight reel of the last six weeks. What’s your highlights?
