Kool-Aid

Using Swatches and Testing Patterns

by CZeitler

One of the crafts that I have been concentrating on is knitting. While others are brushing up their sewing skills and learning how to sew masks I have been knitting little swatches. Fortunately these swatches are usually at least 4 inches long and a couple of inches wide, this is the perfect size to add buttons and create an ear saver for your masks.

3 Styles of knitting Top to bottom: Stockinette, Cabled, and Garter stitch.

I also purchased the YarnIt from Make Something Prym. I have been attempting to find a yarn bowl, box, or something where I can put a realtively large ball of yarn, not have it flying everywhere gathering up cat hair and dust (I don’t vacuum as much as I should), and still be able to easily access more yarn when needed. This device accomplishes all of that while having an option to quickly remove the yarn from the device without ripping out an entire pattern and storage in the bottom. There is even a carrying strap. I admit I was skeptical at first, however after using it for some time I really enjoy this device.

Cascade 220 worsted weight skein and slipped stitch sock

I am knitting up a worsted weight sock from the cuff down with a slipped stitch heel using the pattern known as Accogliente Socks by Stacey Winklepleck from KnitPicks website. I had a bit of misunderstanding with the phrase: set up row. Now my slipped stitches are on the outside of the sock instead of the inside, I’m calling it a design feature. It is my plan to use koolaid to dye these socks in a video once I have them both knit up.

Until then I hope that you have an amazing week. If you are an introvert, please check on your extroverts. Remember to live life A Little More Abstract!

Kool-Aid Results

by CZeitler

I still don’t have any sugar free kool aid, so the sprinkling has not been tested.  Darn life getting in the way!  Unfortunately the blue wool wound up getting some rust since the pan completely dried out and began to rust a bit. That’s what I get for buying cheap pans, but it is a good lesson for the classes I’m teaching.  Take your wool out to let it drip dry.  So I had to throw out the blue wool (I might have been able to scour it but didn’t really want to mess with it).  Before I did that though, I did try and rinse out the Kool-Aid, and it did not move an inch.   The dye seems to have stuck to the wool despite the lack of heat.  This makes sense since there are individuals that Ice Dye with Kool-Aid and then do not seem to add heat.  I’m very pleased, and I will have to try this again when I have a free weekend and can do all of the steps in a day or two instead of a few days later.

Result: You can dye with kool-aid and no heat.  It does remain in the wool, however you want to take it out of your pan to dry, and rinse within a day or two.

Kool-Aid Progress

by CZeitler

IMG_0787As you can probably tell, two pouches of the strawberry-kiwi kool-aid did not do much for an 8″ round pan of soaked wool.  It only saturated a few places on the wool, I expected it to go much further.  I plan on seeing if this much color will adhere to the fiber without heat before either using more Kool-Aid or rinsing out the other pan of wool.  It does not show as clearly in this picture as it does in person, but this is actually a very pale green color.  While it shows up as a striking contrast in this picture it barely shows in person.

 

blue-koolaid-wool.jpg

The blue raspberry kool-aid on the other hand shows up as an amazingly vibrant blue, in the few places that the two pouches covered.  This is an example of trying to keep what color I did manage.  I am more willing to lose the little bit of green than I am this pretty blue shade.

It has been a couple of days and I am still chickening out on rinsing these out, tomorrow I will have to bite the bullet and see if the green has remained.  Wish me luck, I’ll post an update then.

Happy Crafting!

Thursday’s singles = Friday’s ply

by CZeitler

I managed the monster mile!  

My first five skeins are beautiful 2-ply yarns at about 14 wpi.  I managed to go well over my monster mile. Hitting my first goal out of the park. For my sixth skein I created a 4 ply yarn that I think of as my unicorn yarn, just beautiful and magical.  

I’m not too sure where I am, though I know winning rogue is out of my realm, but it’s fun anyway.  I have an event I will be at tomorrow, but hopefully I can continue my plying.  I am surprised at how much of my fiber I have spun.

I’ll see what happens tomorrow and do a frantic rush on Sunday, posting my totals then. 

Happy Crafting!

Monday’s Singles = Wednesday’s Ply

by CZeitler

monday-and-tuesday-progress-2016

The singles that I spun on Monday and part of Tuesday were waiting for me on bobbins.  I decided to let them rest, as much as I could stand to, but when I woke up at 1am Wednesday morning it seemed like fate.  I had to ply them and find out how much yardage I had!

So 3-4 hours later I wound off the last of my three skeins and I have to say 474 yards of 2 ply yarn is not bad for just messing around for a couple of hours before work, after work, and when I wake up in the middle of the night.  Since each ply counts, and the time I spent plying counts each of the skeins counts for X3 credit.  This means that 474X3=1,422 yards spun!

This is fantastic!  1,760 yards is a mile spun, also known as the Monster Mile so I am 338 yards or a 113 yard skein of 2 ply away from making this goal!  If I spin up the 2 bobbins I hope to tonight, and spend some time plying it tomorrow, or spinning up more bobbins, then I should be able to make a couple of miles by Friday!  Tomorrow is the first day that I can spend devoted to spinning instead of worrying about work, so I am beyond thrilled!

Happy Crafting!

Gearing up for Spinzilla!

by CZeitler

Spinzilla Fiber Stash pt 2 2016Spinzilla Fiber Stash 2016

I managed to get my Kool-Aid Fiber carded into rolags and ready for spinning!  These rolags are mostly Merino with some Bombyx silk, Bamboo Silk, and sparkly add-ins (angelina and firestar).

I managed to jam all of my rolags into a 40+ quart tub with a flip top lid, and there it will stay until October 3rd when Spinzilla Starts.  I am so excited, I was looking at all of the fun sales and things going on in preparation for Spinzilla.  By checking out what stash I already have I determined that I have more than enough to keep me busy for Spinzilla and practicing leading up to the event.  I have decided that preparing and participating in Spinzilla will equal my second big project this year, I might decide to do some big projects on my weaving loom but for now I am going to keep on with my excitement over Spinzilla!

Happy Crafting.