Crankin' it up

Here at MinglingYarn we have a major love for cozy wool socks. So, when physical issues interfered with handknitting production I turned to a CSM (circular sockknitting machine) from Erlbachergearhart to keep up production.

 I got the Speedster and a couple of different sized cylinders -- but decided to forgo the ribber unit until I knew whether or not this machine and I were a good fit.  Although there is a definite learning curve, it wasn't too long until I was cranking out warm, toasty socks.  Surprisingly, we didn't find the lack of ribbing to be a deal breaker, so I decided to keep on without the added investment (and additional learning curve) of the ribber.  If I were interested in selling socks I would reconsider, since most folks tend to like that look, but since I'm not -- well, no brainer, more money for yarn!

I also added a small cone winder to make knitting easier.  Early days saw me using a regular 'cake' winder, but the yarn feeds off much easier when wound on a cone.  The Royal cone winder works well, but they seem to be a bit harder to find here in the US, so I ordered one from Germany. Their website has an English translation, but for those interested you're looking for a Kleiner Konenwickler (small cone winder). Absolutely no issues with ordering, and delivery was prompt.

Currently being knit are some plain grey socks from Valley Yarns Huntington which is a house brand from Webs. This yarn seems a bit lighter in weight than my usual, but after washing they fluffed up enough to make an acceptable fabric.

Hemmed top, and a wide mock ribbing down the leg only.

Also being finished are some socks from Brown Sheep's sock yarn (and I'm blanking on it's name, because it's from DEEP stash).  These are hemmed top and totally plain knit.  The neon green yarn in the photo is waste yarn used to take the socks off the machine.  That sock is still waiting for me to graft the toe closed.

A change of bling

As summer fades into autumn it seems time to change up the sassy, colorful earring bling to something a little more sedate.

So goodbye turquoise hoops -- pattern from Off The Beaded Path 

and hello to a softer blue and silver square.

It's a simple, easy to make design done in square stitch 
using Miyuki cube beads in a checkerboard pattern. For these, after the stitching was done,  I pushed a decorative head pin through the middle of the square and then formed a loop for the earring wire to go through.  It's also possible to use the tail end of your beading thread to securely stitch a closed ring to the top middle of the square if you prefer.

And although these beaded earrings don't need the added protection, I also made up a couple of small bags for silver earrings made from a tarnish resistant silver cloth from Amazon. I'll be happy if it extends the time between polishes for even a little bit.

Diving deep...

...into the yarn stash for a couple of small skeins of hand-spun yarn.

At one point it seemed like a good idea for a knitter/crocheter to learn how to spin.  Lessons were taken, a wheel was bought, and I fell in with a rogue gang of local spinners.  Camaraderie was enjoyed, and bits of fluff were turned into usable yarn.  I never became entirely proficient though, probably due to a lack of practice, practice, practice. Years pass, wheel gathers dust, and small skeins of hand-spun languish.  Until -- 

A hat appears!  A rather rustic hat, but a useful garment nonetheless.

The brown yarn is from a breed known as Manx Loughtan.  It's a British rare breed known for their interesting horns (among other things I'm sure).  Behold --

The lighter beige yarn is from the California Red breed.  No, the yarn isn't red -- it's the faces of the sheep themselves that are -- see?

Well, perhaps more russet than red, but then no one consulted me. 

So, at long last, something useful -- and who knows? -- maybe the spinning bug will bite again!

Eco Crafting

In an effort to cut back on waste produced in this household, there have been some projects made to replace throw-away or short term use items.  Here are a few --

Cloth napkins -- super easy to make, and pleasant to use.  I like to use quality cotton quilting fabric -- sometimes bought specially, but often leftovers from other projects.  Who says your napkins all have to match?  For meals I like a napkin around 18" square (finished size) -- 10" squares would give you a good size for cocktail napkins to hand out with drinks and nibbles.

In the kitchen I have gone through too many plastic covered sponge scrubbies to count. I'm currently trying out some homemade scrubbies made with Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle yarn. It's polyester, so not ideal, but seems to stay fresher than my former scrubby and so far is holding up well. For knitters, there's a nice pattern on  Ravelry  If crochet is your thing -- Midwesternmoms.com has you covered.

How about replacing plastic wrap with some waxed wraps?  There are many instructional sites online -- I went with a link I found on www.apartmenttherapy.com

And finally, a hanging hand towel for cutting back on paper towel use, or wiping hands on the nearest dishtowel.  No link or pattern for this one, as it's just a prototype I made up myself one evening. Will need some tweaks before it shows up as a mini tutorial.  This one is made from some scrap heavy weight cotton, and I finally got around to trying out Kam snaps  -- very easy to use, we'll see how they hold up.

“Once more unto the breach...”

There’s something worthwhile about keeping a record of creative pursuits, no matter whether anyone else sets eyes on this journal — and so I begin again.

"The time had come, so Marvin went."

Farewell, it's been fun.  Until we meet again...

Socks, part deux

Still playing with the knitting machine, and finishing up a WIP.


The second sock went much easier than the first, and now I have a pair.  You'll notice that I didn't bother with trying to make the stripe colors line up exactly the same.  I wasn't sure that I would have enough yarn to do that, and I really don't mind that they are fraternal rather than identical.



To reinforce lessons learned, I immediately cast on another pair.  This pair is also knit from a Regia yarn, but a different fiber blend -- Regia Silk.  It's a 55% wool/25% polyamid/20% silk combination.  I've used it before in its 6-ply incarnation (now sadly discontinued) for long-wearing hand knit socks for the mister, but this is the first time using the lighter weight 4 ply.  And what was today's lesson?  Despite being the same 4 ply weight as the previous socks -- this blend needs to be knit at a slightly tighter tension -- probably due to the inelasticity of the silk.  Still, they are OK fit-wise, and will happily join their friends in the sock drawer.

I have even started a third pair, but I think these won't be so quickly finished.  I think I will do a bunch of socks -- just the machine knitting, not the seaming or hand knit ribbing -- and throw them in a bag for finishing up later.  They are an easy "front of the TV/travelling/etc. project once the machine work is done and it would be good to have some quick to finish projects on hand.  At any rate, that's the plan!