I've been knitting. Quite a lot, actually, although I haven't posted about it because I was waaaaaay behind on the picture-taking. So, here's what I've accomplished recently. . .

( Lots and lots of knitting - Now with Pictures! )

Whew! Now I'm tired, just from talking about all that!

I'm long-overdue to make the detailed post about this project.  I actually started it very long ago - it was in-progress when I entered K&Q A&S Champs.  I ended up putting it aside as I was overtaken by other things, like Life and Things That Go Wrong In It.

Way back in 2006, I made a study of several Middle Eastern socks in The Textile Museum.  It was my first museum trip and really partly a practice/preparation for going to the V&A in London later that year.  I later made a reproduction pair of one of the socks, resized to fit me, and using purple commercially-dyed yarn so as to make them easily distinguishable from an intended pair (yet to come) that will use blue yarn hand-dyed with indigo.  (The purple version is featured rather prominently in my avatar photo.)

The sock of this group which is most often seen and imitated is the Animal Sock.  It's an adorable sock with a design of palm trees and animals.  (I think they're deer or maybe antelope, but I've heard others who think of different animals.)  I have to say, for all the people who've seen different photos or versions of these socks - the actual sock is little.  It has to be a child's sock, which only makes it more precious, in my opinion.  In my pursuit of Trying Something Cool, I set out to replicate this little sock as closely as I could.

( Sock Details. . . )

I went to Pointless War this weekend, and ended up staying for Court. . . and I'm so glad I did.

There were a few awards given, and the Captain General of Archers was called up and spoke of the tournament they'd had that day.  He announced the winner, but also said that Padraig (our local Archery Captain) and the local guys had everything all set up so that all he had to do was show up and have fun.  Then the King called Padraig up.  He said that the CGOA spoke very highly of him and how he's always working his tail off on these things.  And that the Prince also commented that he was constantly working his butt off on something.  He said that they had already given all the awards planned for the day, but that sometimes it's good to be King. . . because you can sometimes reward someone just because they deserve it.  And then he made Padraig a Court Baron with GOA.

It was freaking awesome.

I realize that most of the people reading this haven't a clue who Padraig is, but I also know that a few of you do - and I know you'll be celebrating this the way I am.

Sometimes I get frustrated with people in the SCA, or with the way things are, and I ask myself "What would Padraig tell me to do in this situation?"  That never has steered me wrong.

It occurred to me that I haven't posted anything about knitting in quite a while.  Just in case anyone was concerned, there has been knitting, although it has varied a bit in frequency and most falls right off the historical accuracy scale.  Unless your idea of history is last year, which it could be.  Who am I to judge?

( Knit Speak here! )

We always knew cats consider us their pets.  Now we have scientific evidence.

Cats Do Control Humans -
news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090713/sc_livescience/catsdocontrolhumansstudyfinds

Just saying.

Back in March, I started a Hemlock Ring Blanket - I thought it was a really neat pattern and I liked the yarn, and that was really about it. Oh, and I was headed to a conference for work and wanted a project I could carry around and work on without too much thought or looking at the needles. At some point, I got tired of it because the rounds were taking soooooo long to finish, and I put it in time-out for a while.

( Long post, with pictures! )
PS - I'm as proud of the photo as of the knitting.  I am a horribly inept photographer, so this one is a major accomplishment.

For the Fiber Geeks among us -

The UN has declared 2009 The Year of Natural Fibers.  In recognition of this, there is a project underway called Keep the Fleece.  They are running various design competitions, as well as a promotion of the World's Longest Scarf.  The World's Longest Scarf is intended both to raise awareness of natural fibers and as a fundraiser for Heifer International.  For the uninitiated, Heifer International is an organization that seeks to provide aid to needy families around the world by providing livestock (and education, etc).  The theory is along the lines of the old "Teach a man to fish" proverb.  WLS is seeking to donate $250,000 to HI to purchase fleece-bearing animals.  (Additional info is at www.keepthefleece.org.)

This morning, I registered a Scarf Team for my Local Yarn Store (LYS), Vulcan's Rest Fibers in Chesapeake City, MD.  We will be knitting a team scarf for the project, with donations at a rate of $1/row.  I expect that we will have quite a bit of fun with this, as there was already discussion like "I'll donate $$, to make So-and-So knit!"

Knit on, Dudes!

Your results:
You are Beverly Crusher

Beverly Crusher 80% Spock 75% Geordi LaForge 65% Deanna Troi 65% Uhura 60% Chekov 50% Jean-Luc Picard 50% James T. Kirk (Captain) 45% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 45% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 40% Data 40% Will Riker 40% Mr. Scott 35% Worf 25% Mr. Sulu 5%

A good physician and a caring parent. You are devoted to your children and to your occupation.

Click here to take the "Which Star Trek character are you?" quiz...

1.  Filed Federal taxes.  On the 14th.  Nothing like procrastinating, but at least they're filed on time.  I will be getting a bigger refund than I expected, which is good.

2.  Fulled (aka washed and dried) my inaugural fabric again last night.  It still looks more open than what I'm accustomed to seeing in commercial fabrics, but I have declared it to be sewable.  And, as a special bonus of having woven with a "sticky" wool, I have no fears about cutting it - it's not going to come apart.  No way, baby.  (Although I'm not foolish enough to not finish the edges or anything!)

I'm quite pleased with this first project.  The fabric is very light but still insulating, just a little scratchy to have against the face/neck, and I'm convinced it's closed enough to keep a light drizzle out - if I make something hoodlike from it and line it with linen, I think it will be a really comfy garment for damp and/or chilly occasions.  I'm not convinced it looks particularly medieval, but I don't think I care at this point.  It doesn't look garishly un-medieval either.  After a bit of shrinkage from the fulling, I still have at least 20" width and about 3 yds length, which seems like plenty for a hood or perhaps a short cloak and a hat. 

I also have lots more of the yarn - I can keep it and maybe use it for something else in the future, or sell the unused portion back to the store.  I'm considering that.  I also find myself with a slew of gift ideas for my mother - she does love her placemats.

I finished my first project on the new loom!
( Pictures and Details here! )</div>
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I took the loom to Knit Night last night so the yarn store owner, M, could help me beam the warp.  (I'm proud of learning the lingo, but that still sounds very Star Trek to me.)  I thought it was all very organized and would be really easy.  I thought it couldn't take more than an hour or so.

I was wrong.

( The continuing adventures of Weaver-Girl! )

I'm pleased to announce the results of last weekend's East Kingdom A&S Championship:

The new Queen's Champion is Alheydis von Riga, who won the competition with her Bayeux-style embroidery entitled "The Ransoming of Earl Brion".

The new King's Champion is Baron Angus Kerr, who was chosen by His Majesty for his Square Mullion Window, Panel of Wattle and Daub, and examples of carpentry.

Please join me in congratulating them both!

I would like to draw attention also to several other excellent entries:
Briony of Chatham presented a 12th-century Bliaut, Egyptian Sleeve Kerchiefs, and an Elizabethan Kerchief.
Alexander the Younger presented blown-glass goblets.
Nest verch Tangwistel presented an Elizabethan Hood decorated with blackwork, a Lace Table Runner, and an Italian Renaissance gown.

For all those who volunteered their time to judge, I extend my most heartfelt gratitude.  You are all fabulous people!

All those who entered should be very proud - I believe we had many fine entries which made the decisions very difficult.

I also thank everyone involved for their patience with me, as I have been quite preoccupied with events in my own life of late.

Lady Susanna Lockheart
(FORMER Queen's Champion of A&S)
- Please forward this message to all appropriate lists, including emails!

It's New Sock Day!

I haven't had one of those in awhile now, so it's about time!


These socks are actually more brother & sister than twins.  I got really aggravated with the pattern, so I made a lot of minor modifications and didn't even try to duplicate them on the second sock.  They're just siblings.  I also did the first sock on DPNs and the second on a circ.  And it took me from May until now to actually finish them.

I really love the color, and I think I'll like the pattern now that they're finished.  But I'm thinking of holding a ceremonial burning of the copy of the pattern I've been using.  (I keep the originals in a binder so they stay nice, and use a photocopy to carry around and write on and stuff.)

Anyway, Happy New Sock Day!

catelinelb  posted this, and it seemed cool so I did it.  I had no idea I had accomplished so little!

The thing is, I'm pretty content with the things I have and haven't done on this list - most of the things that were a "no" were things I really have no desire to do.  You know, like playing sports or getting arrested.  I think I can live with that.  The travel question, though - I really want to go a lot of places I haven't yet.

Oddly, there were no knitting questions.

The Life Experience Test

Overall, you have partaken in 67 out of 169 possible life experiences. Your average life experience score is therefore 40%. The average score is 50%, making your experiences more than 19% of the people who have taken this test. The average for your age group (36-55) is 56%. Broken down by category: Art: 3/17 (18%) Career & Work: 8/13 (62%) Civics & Technology: 2/7 (29%) Crime & Disarray: 1/11 (9%) Education: 11/18 (61%) Fashion: 4/10 (40%) Fitness, Health and Sports: 1/7 (14%) Life in General: 7/14 (50%) Relationships: 10/14 (71%) Religion & Politics: 1/4 (25%) Social: 10/22 (45%) Travel: 4/20 (20%) Vices: 5/12 (42%)

Take the test and see how YOU compare

I have recently gotten into a veritable frenzy of project-finishing and stash-using.  I consider this a good thing, particularly since I have an abundance of both.

( WIPiness )
Has anyone out there used Options?  Opinions?  Thoughts?  Recommendations?

So, more crafty stuff finished:
( Projects and Pictures! )
Unfortunately, my photo-taking mojo is made of Suck.

I've been a very Crafty Chicky of late, although I haven't posted about it much. Mostly, I've been doing things that were gifts for family, and things that just weren't very exciting. I've also been trying to use up some stash. There will be more coming, when I take more pictures, but for now, here's an update on my stash-using list.
 ( Stash-Busting # 1 - 4 )</div>  ( More Projects )
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In other news - I officially bought a spinning wheel yesterday.  Well, the sale was rung, although it's only halfway paid off.  I've been helping out in the yarn store, and I'm using my pay to buy the wheel.  I think this is a Good Thing for both the store and for me.  I'm getting a nice wheel that I've had a chance to test-drive, and I've gotten lots of help with it (which I needed!).  And while I can't justify spending money out-of-pocket for a large purchase right now, I can totally justify this because it's not coming out of my regular income.  From the store's perspective, it's like having an employee work for half wages, I expect, since she only ends up "out" what she originally paid for the wheel.

As a side result of the spinning, I started making orifice hooks that I'm going to put on consignment in the shop.  I have this brilliant idea to put together "Spinner's Gift" sets that combine a nifty hook and some hand-dyed roving.  File that under "We'll See".  I'm percolating on some similar sort of "Knitter's Gift" sets, but I'm a little stalled on it.  I'm thinking of hand-dyed sock yarn with pretty beaded stitch markers, but I think it needs something more.  Anybody have thoughts on these?


 

Swiped from catelinelb  and spinpsychology  -

Interesting.