My Pursuit of “Wrappingness”

After my trip to Cologne in March, I was so exited about receiving the yarn I ordered from the suppliers I met in the fair. The yarn arrived last week and I was jumping like a little girl when it happened. As soon as I opened the boxes it felt like walking on the clouds. I love the smell of the yarn, the texture and softness; I could lay on it forever.

Well, I was not only waiting for my yarn, but also for other equipment I ordered. The Ashford warping board. This is a weaving accesory used to create a warp. I do not weave yet but I will be using this frame to create self stripping sock yarn. In order to do so I wrap the yarn in different directions and lengths. Depending on how you do that, you can create multiple stripe color patterns.

Since I am in the process of designing my own patterns, I titled this post “My pursuit of Wrappingness”. Here is the photo I posted on Instagram last Monday that shows my wraps:

If you are interested in how to dye self stripping sock yarn you can check this tutorial. This is a fun process and I am enjoying it. My sock yarn will be available soon.

On the other hand, I have been working on my knitting WIP and I have a FOs. My WIPs are:

1) Stitch Surfers by Louise Robert. I am still in my first sock but I passed the heel. I have to surf to the left one more time. I used the tutorial prepared by Diane from the Knitabulls Podcast.

The yarns I am using is Jawoll Aktion from Lang in the solid color number 131.0165. The blue stripy one is Jackpot Color from Regia number 07210. Both contain 75% SW Wool and 25% Nylon. I am knitting these with my Chiaogoo Red Lace Circular needle size 1 US / 2.25 mm cable 40″ / 100 cm.

Here is a picture of my Stitch Surfers:

2) Another WIP is my sample for the “Swatch Like you Mean It” class by Mel from the Single Handed Knits. This will become a cushion for my sofa. The yarn is Linea Pura from Lana Grossa in color number 005. It contains 85% Cotton and 15% Milkfibre. I am using bamboo needles that were kindly offered to me by Tulip while I was in Cologne. This is a new line of their bamboo needles and so far, there are really good. The size is 8 US / 5 mm cable 32 ” / 80 cm.

Here is my sample:

3) The last I have been working on is a pair of socks for a swap I signed at the begging of the year. This is organized by, again, Mel of “Single Handed Knits” fame through her Group in Ravelry. My partner is Heather from Knits-N-Things video podcast. I received from her a beautiful skein of 100 yds / 92 m that I have to include in my socks. The yarn is from Sock Bunny Studios in Etsy in her Janie base MCN 80% 10% 10%, colorway “Running with Scisors”. I am combining this yarn with Jawoll 75% SW Wool / 25% Nylon from Lang in color number 83.0061. I am using my Addi circular needles size 1 US / 2.5 mm. The pattern I am using I am creating on the way because I would like to integrate the MCN yarn in a different way than only toes and heels.

Here is a picture of my first sock:

My FO after a long time is a plain vanilla sock out of my sock yarn, wich will be available soon 🙂

This is a picture of my socks:

Last week I was also able to spin and I have a FO. First, I prepared the fibre to spin a lofty yarn following the instructions of the wonderful Maggie Casey in her DVD distributed by Interweave.

I bougth the fibre back in 2012 from Tempted Yarns at the market place of in the first SSK organized by The Knit Girllls. This was a custom bath that we could create. I mixed Bamboo and Merino. Since the colors were not blended as I wanted, I used my Ashford blending board and create rolags as can be seen in the below photo.

Using a semi-woolen draw method I spun from the rolags and create my yarn whose length is 71 yds / 65 m of a bulky weight.

This is the result, which I am very proud of:

4) My current WIP is a corespinning yarn. I am using local sheep fibre that it is a bit coarse. I bought this as well in 2012 from Laines d’Ici, an association that gathers local producers and promotes local yarns and fibres. I am carding the fibre with my hand carders that are from Ashford as well 🙂 I like the outcome and let’s see how does the yarn come out. I higly recommend to check out the videos of Jacey Boggs. She is a master of spinning art yarn.

5) Last but not least, I went last Saturday to the 2014 edition of Swissexpo Zurich, organized every year by Wolle-Schweiz. This is a specilized trade expo similar to the H+H, but in a smaller scale, explicitly targeting the Swiss market.

Among the exhibitors, I spotted one of my current suppliers, Schulana, and I stopped by to say hi. I also met a local mill that has wonderful yarn.

As usual I took some pictures of the stands with creative displays. I would like to share some of them; this was at the entrance of the exposition:

The following three pictures were taken at the WeltiCreativ stand; cute crochetted tiny birds:

Paper Collage Vespa:

Amazing yarn display that I would like to have:

This sign was at the exit; very funny, in German it means “Speed limit, no more than 100 stitches per minute” I only regret that the numbers were in sticky tape and not knit. The numbers were falling apart:

It was a nice event and it gives you an overview of the local market.

I hope you enjoyed this week post and until next time, happy crafting!