Vanilla is the new Black

The doctor said it would be good if I knit less and stop staring at the computer screen. At least for a while, because of severe muscle tension in my neck and back. Sounds familiar? He would then tape my neck, prescribe physiotherapy and send me home.

Since then, I have been non-stop in the jungle garden (no, I did not tell the doctor): raking up the leaves, tidying up, cutting back shrubs, chopping and splitting logs for firewood. Sisyphus’ work in a way (spending hours outside, working hard, however in the end it does not show at all), on the other hand enormously satisfying. There is nothing better for my head and spirit than working outdoors and having fresh air (not good for my neck though …).

When crawling back inside the house in the late afternoon I am too tired to work on anything but simple projects. Luckily, we’re in socktober. Luckily, I came across the Vanilla is the new Black sock pattern. Not complicated at all, great fit and a beautiful extravagant heel. Downright perfect!

In Lana Grossa’s Glamy, a self striping sock yarn with subtle glitter accent, they knit up in no time. I am definitely going to knit another glittering pair, however – next time I might choose a solid color yarn like Lana Grossa’s Late Night, as stripy and glitter are slightly too much (at least for my taste).

Be it as it may, those socks will now proceed to the drawer, their new home (until summer is finally over = end of next week). Especially as a new pair of striped socks is already on my needles. Regia in red and blue, knitted top-down, classic heel-flap (red), wedge-toe (red). So easy – it is boring. Hence, I added a row of little sheep at the second sock’s leg.

If things work out, the pair will be finished tonight. In time for the weekend.

Tomorrow, the man will work on the logs (he is looking forward to it, I can tell), whereas I seriously consider not doing anything at all. Nothing but baking an apple cake for school festivities and sitting in the sun.

Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do. ☀️

 

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Camel fiber

Camels have two humps, dromedaries have one – at least that is what I thought. It’s not true though. Now, I have learned: all of them are camels, curious and friendly, however, there are two different groups: dromedaries (1 hump) and bactrian camels (2 humps) in one group, llamas and vicunas in the other. Don’t tell me you knew …

Even more interesting: camels (ie those from group 1) can easily loose 5 to 7 kg undercoat when shedding naturally in moulting season. After collecting those fibres, the coarse and fine hairs have to be separated, washed to remove any dirt or debris before they can be spun into yarn. In short: a lot of work!

Well worth it though as  the result is beautiful: It is said that the undercoat is almost as soft as cashmere and very insulating. Especially the latter totally makes sense, as the majority of camels live in desert regions, where it is super hot during the day and really cold at night.

A few weeks ago, I have bought a skein at the German manufacturer Grossewolle. The company is currently cooperating with a German camel farm – what an exciting and eligible project! Daniel (head of Grossewolle) wrote quite a bit (German – sorry) about this project that is apparently very near to his heart.

In the meantime, my skein has turned into another Down to the River but (again) I may not keep it for two reasons: the type of yarn and its color. Camel fiber has a very nice stitch definition and great length, however it is not something I like to wear around my neck. It reminds me of Scandinavian yarn, yarn with tiny “barbs” that has a felted feel to it when knitted. Something I really like in sweaters but not in a scarf. That “barbs-y feeling” is due to the guard hair, the outer protective fur. In their first attempt, Grossewolle has not (yet) been 100% successful when trying to separate guard hair and undercoat.

I have been trying to soften the finished scarf with the help of wool fat – now it itches less but has a “greasily” feeling to it (even though I did not use much lanolin at all). Hence, for now I have not yet decided how to proceed, whether to wash it again or not. Whether to keep it or not.

And talking about the color: it is totally different from sheep wool. Actually no surprise, as a camel is not a sheep … but I had not given it any thought before. Camel wool is mat, lusterless in a way. Look at a camel and you know what I mean. (Besides, the yarn smells different too).

However, I cannot let go (yet). I really want to see this project develop at Grossewolle. There is so much enthusiasm, so much passion and work. Hence, sometime in the near future I might buy another skein. It will be softer, I am sure and (in combination with a more colorful strand) an exciting yarn to work with.

I will keep you posted!

Soap Socks

Have you ever heard of Soap Socks? It’s something I really wanted to try, the minute I discovered soap socks online.

Whether you knit the sock circularly or flat (and seamed) doesn’t really matter; however, make sure it is stockinette and not garter for a tight fit. I cast on 20 stitches with Judy’s Magic Cast on, increased once or twice in the first few rows and knitted in rounds.

100% wool is perfect as it actually felts with friction in warm and cold water. I decided on Lettlopi leftovers, crammed the soap inside the sock and closed the opening with kitchener stitch. When done, I handed each of my testers (the man and the son) a bar of soap.

Both of them approved.

Which may have been because of my choice of soap. My favorite soap was neither too hard (nice foam) nor too soft (it would have turned into mush in no time). It is hand-made and hand-cut, purely organic and packed with beautiful oils, vegan and without artificial preservatives.

We favor soap bars over liquid soap. There is way too much plastic in the world. 300 million tons are produced annually. 300.000.000 tons! That’s just crazy! Fortunately, more and more people are paying attention to reducing plastic. Pia is one of them – and as luck would have it, soap (as opposed to shampoo) is also her topic in her current (German) blog post.

Knitting soap socks and using them is fun. I think about storing some in my linen closet as the wool seems to hold the soap’s scent for quite some time. Some others may serve as presents.

I might even try soap sock variations. FairIsle and the like. After felting, it might look like those rubber boot insoles I have been wanting to make for a long time. I’ll see.

Is it okay to give away soap? Or will I offend the recipient?

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Polka Dots

Just in time for the end of summer, my summer project is done. And I am absolutely thrilled with the result. Even though I have not yet wet-blocked it or woven in ends, it is beautiful. Maybe I won’t even block it. It wouldn’t do the dots any good – all the “bubble wrap” would be gone, which would be a shame. After all, I have wanted those dots for so long …

Back in 2013 (is it really that long ago?!) Kathi taught me how to knit dots. This is how we met!

Two (maybe three) years later I came across the IceCream Shawl pattern on ravelry and had to have it.

However – good things come to those who wait – it took me until September 2017 to actually look for the right yarn at BerlinKnits (again, Kathi was there. And Pia). I wanted my shawl to be red and white, just like a lady bug … It still makes me laugh that no one realized my mistake, no one told me that it would have to be red and black to be a lady bug.

Be it as it may, I finally found the perfect yarn at the Wollnerin’s yarn store. Three skeins of sock yarn: two light and undyed, the third hand-dyed in beautiful red. Still, I did not start knitting as all else seemed to be more important at the time.

Eventually, in early August the shawl became my summer project.

Now it is done. Pretty big (210×44 cm), very soft, with an unexpected beautiful reverse side. It is perfect – except for one minor mistake that turned out to be big. I can see it. Always. You can see it. Please look away.

Remember that saying? It’s not a bug – it’s a feature … I only have to find out what this particular feature is meant to be for.

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In the wake of Summer

All of a sudden, Instagram is full of hats, cardigans, yarn delight – are you serious? Do you really want it to be cold again? Socks on your feet and yarn wrapped around your shoulders? Well, not me. Not yet!

Knitting? Yes! Wearing knitwear? NO!

If I was to decide, there would be more summer and more light. Barefooted, breakfast outside. Just like summer vacation. It was so good! Even without us doing much.

Then again … that’s no quite true as we were athletes by necessity (if that makes any sense at all). Instead of roads or paths the city had lots and lots of stairs. 130 to the supermarket, 42 to the beach, 68 to go downtown. Wide and narrow steps, stairs, steps, stairs. Now, I have thighs like … well, let’s change subject …

Luckily, the boy is back on track. He’s happy again. Not only did he recover, he decided on what to do next and – ta-daah! – it’s basketball. Not that anyone ever had a doubt he would keep on playing, however in another (smaller) league. A very cool team, a club with a great concept, plus he can go there on his own (without me driving him) and – first and foremost – he loves it. Hence, even at 37°C his hands were mostly glued to the ball.

What else did we do? Unlike previous years, I hardly knitted any leaves. Looks like I am done with leaves. Besides, it was so hot, so incredibly hot, that nothing but water would do.

Nonetheless, I have been working on a summer project. I had wanted something like the IceCream Shawl for a long time. With significantly thinner yarn and only two colors, the result is soft and with a sensational backside. I finished it last night – more pictures to follow once I have woven in the ends.

10 days ago, school started again. The man in my life is back at work, I juggle son, job, household. Daily routine. A little cooler day by day. A little darker.

And whenever that starts to scare me I look at my version of the IceCream Shawl. Maybe fall isn’t that bad after all …

 

 

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