Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Binge knitting

Cozy, warm wool binkieHoly crap, the weather has gotten cold here. As such, I've whipped out a knitting project that I started a few years ago. We have since moved and it got packed in a box and thoroughly forgotten about. It is a wool blanket with this most awesome (and expensive) yarn that I bought a few years back - Crystal Palace Merino Frappe.

I'm using a fairly large size needle (11) in just a basic knit stitch, nothing fancy, since I like to space out when I'm knitting and not pay attention to where I am in the row. Because it's extra fine merino wool, it's extremely warm even though it's super lightweight. I've got a bit more work to do on it, but since I'm doing it in pieces (I know, weird) I can use the middle section as a throw.

Anyway, this yarn is really soft and wonderful to work with. If you are afraid of wool because you think it's super scratchy and stinky, this yarn will totally change your mind. And, if you like to knit and want to make something fun, check out this Vegan Fox pattern from Fuzzy Galore.

Got to get meself all ready for this year's Freeze Yer Buns Challenge which, apparently, is going to start before I know it! Summer? It's noon and only 55 degrees. My poor tomatoes...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooooh! I wish i could knit! That yarn looks yummy!

Farmer's Daughter said...

I LOVE to knit when it gets cold out. The added benefit is that you warm up while you're doing it because the project sits on your lap. I'll break out my needles or hook once it cools down a little more here.

The Three Little Bears said...

I just found your blog and happily subscribed. I don't know how to knit although I hear it is faster than crocheting. I am working a baby boy blanket for my cousin that is due any day now.

Robj98168 said...

My mom used to knit. I for years had a great wool sweater she knit me. I noticed that they say you can knit and /or crochet shopping bags made from [lastic grocery bags. Supposedly you cout the bag into strips and that's your material. Seattlefreeschool.org is where i read that and they have a link to the Mother Earth News article

Anonymous said...

Merino Frappe, Vegan Fox and Fuzzy Galore reads like a demi-monde line- up of slinky performers. Knowing how Crunchy likes to phrase things, I guess that was intentional.

Anonymous said...

Oh, it's a total myth that wool is stinky and scratchy! You can start investigating different breeds of sheep (that produce different varieties of wool) and become very impressed with how the animal world can develop. But it isn't always very frugal ... I keep intending to concentrate on local yarns to keep the carbon miles down, but then something cries my name (like wool from ... Wales?).

On the bright side, the time is right to whip up some knitted holiday gifts!

Your throw looks beautiful.

Crunchy Chicken said...

RC - I'm glad someone is paying attention.

As for everybody else, knitting is actually really easy. Unless you are trying to do something particularly fancy (like cables) or something that requires 4 needles and 8 hands, I'm fairly convinced that pretty much anyone can pick it up in an afternoon.

Sharlene said...

Knitting flairs my wrist up like nothing else so I crochet with a wrap around my wrist. I spend my Sundays crocheting and watching football. Anyhow- Try Alpaca. So soft, and warm, and light weight. I am telling you once you go alpaca, you can't go back!

Oh- and I am crocheting a plastic bag out of used plastic bags right now as well. It is going to be so cool when its finished and it makes good use of those plastic bags I try to avoid yet still keep accumulating! Very easy to do. There is a youtube video online that shows a girl doing it.

Unknown said...

Like others pointed out,lots of why wool feels scratchy is due to the breed of sheep and how it was processed- the harsh chemicals can be really hard on fiber. Or how it is spun- woolen versus worsted etc.

There are lots of great yarn store in Seattle and elesewhere that teach knitting for really cheaply, and it often includes the cost of supplies.

I do think it is easy to pick up in a couple hours- though I am biased I suppose since I work with yarn for a living :). But most people I teach do pick it up quickly. And no, not as cheap as buying a scarf. But hey, you made it! Plus there are things that are not easily bought that easy to make if you have the time- wedding ring lace shawls if you like lacework, for example.

Anonymous said...

Girl if you haven't already checked out this page, you need to:

http://www.jejune.net/diy/archives/001532.html

Think: recycling, wool, winterwarmth! But for the record, her colors are hideously ugly.

I don't have a digital camera or I'd show you the 4 blankets I;ve already made (One in Summer colors, one in Autumn colors and two varied).

Laura