Category: Year of Projects

Year of Projects Week 5/52 — Tansy Hapazome

Posted on Posted in dyeing, gardening, knitting, sewing, Uncategorized, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , 26 Comments

Fiber Art / Natural Dyeing

I managed to get out into the garden this morning to weed and noticed it’s time to harvest the tansy! Tansy is one of those dye plants with natural tannins like indigo, so it doesn’t need a mordant. I decided to test a Hapazome print on the edges of my remaining indigo printed Virginia cotton.

I’m pleased with how this came out. Now I need to decide if I want to continue to print on this fabric, or order more. I think I will order more, as I want to experiment with black walnut leaves and iron mordant.

I may also kettle dye some Virginia cotton and wool yarn with tansy this week. Since this blend of fibers doesn’t take readily to acid dyes or fiber reactive dyes for plant fibers, a natural dye pot may be just the thing it needs!

My flax is also ready to harvest. There are a few stalks that are already too far gone with ripe seed heads, but most is still ok. So that’s another fiber art project this week.

Knitting

I’m super close to finishing my Halloween Livie shawl. One more section then bind off!

Sewing

I should finish my Gather dress and Bob’s Marvel shirt this week.

Spinning

Since I came down with Covid, I didn’t spin for the last week of Tour de Fleece. I need to oil my wheel and get back to spinning.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) update. You can read my updated list here, and my original list at this link. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

Year of Projects: Week 4/52

Posted on Posted in dyeing, knitting, spinning, Year of ProjectsTagged 15 Comments

Knitting

I finished my Pumqueen Cardi this week! I hope to have finished my Halloween Livie shawl by next week.

Dyeing

I spent most of my week dyeing this gorgeous kit for an up and coming knitting pattern designer. We’re both pleased with how it came out. I’m particularly happy with the black. This is nonsuperwash merino and silk fingering weight yarn.

I had a black dye bath to exhaust, so decided to try my hand at dyeing fiber for spinning. This is some merino sliver from my stash. Of course I went for Halloween colors. I’ve dyed wool fiber for felting but not for spinning, so we’ll see how this spins up.

Spinning

I finished spinning and plying this Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) fiber from a local farm, and I love it. I think my spinning is getting more even. I enjoyed working with this fiber so much, I’m going to try dyeing it and then offering it in the shop for spinners.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) update. You can read my updated list here, and my original list at this link. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

Year of Projects: Week 3

Posted on Posted in knitting, Year of ProjectsTagged , , 13 Comments

I had a good week this week. I cut my first sweater steek. I finished sewing my first Clyde Jumpsuit. And I started spinning some farm BFL that smells like sheep heaven!

I’m still waiting for the perfect buttons for my Pumqueen Cardi to arrive. Once they get here, all I need to do is sew them on!

In need of an easy knit, I picked up my Halloween Livie shawl. It’s perfect TV knitting! Plus I seem to be gravitating toward all things Halloween right now.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) update. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

2022-2023 Year of Projects Week 2

Posted on Posted in dyeing, knitting, sewing, spinning, Year of ProjectsTagged 12 Comments

Completed Knitting

  1. Pumqueen Cardigan in Cascade BFL
  2. Halloween Livie

Knitting To Do List

  1. Arrowhead Cardigan in Lettlopi
  2. Powdermill
  3. Knitter’s Dude in Comfy for Bob
  4. That Old Christmas Moon Shawl
  5. Auchnaha in Schiehallion in Mooring
  6. Cozy Autumn Socks
  7. Peaceful Lodge Sweater
  8. Taxus Mitts in Tukuwool Fingering
  9. Holiday Doodle Cowl
  10. Christmas Pudding Socks
  11. Willow in Moonstone Arcadia
  12. Super Simple Summer Sweater in Cestari Ash Lawn
  13. Seavaiger
  14. Hansel Hap in Ramsay Farms fawn katmoget Shetland with Jamieson and Smiths for trim colors
  15. Summer Solstice Wrap
  16. Stash Aurealis
  17. Glenan in Tarheelbilly Farm Tunis (I may dye this)
  18. Skipwith in black Rauma Finullgarn
  19. Undulation Shawl in Shilasdair Tansy
  20. Straw Cardigan in Tukuwool DK
  21. ‘Onipa’a Shawl in Mindful Folk yarn
  22. Peerie Flooers. I have the J&S Shetland yarn for the original version of this that you can see in the show Shetland.
  23. Celtic Tree Handwarmers
  24. Long sleeve Treit in Foxglove
  25. Sunset Slouch
  26. Strom Cardigan
  27. Peace Fleece Ronan in Siberian Midnight
  28. Brown Felt Cowgirl Hat
  29. Vintersol in Wing and a Prayer Farm yarn

Completed Sewing

  1. Free Range Slacks in Black Linen
  2. Free Range Slacks in Olive Linen
  3. Clyde Jumpsuit in Indigo Linen
  4. Marvel-ous Shirt for Bob
  5. Zero Waste Gather Dress
  6. Tekura Tees

Sewing To Do List

  1. Mocha Tunic in yellow linen
  2. Florence Top in cream floral linen
  3. Ophelia Overall shorts in red linen
  4. Ottobre blouse in Liberty blue paisley lawn
  5. Lauren Boyfriend Shirt in aqua and apricot linens
  6. Two A-line Tees in batiked cottons
  7. Audrey Pants in black brushed cotton twill and gray cotton twill
  8. Ophelia Overalls in teal corduroy
  9. A Logan Shacket in navy wool flannel
  10. Ottobre Coat in black wool floral embossed coating

Completed Dyeing

  1. I dyed my handspun with some leftover acid dyes.
  2. Gourd Party colorway for the shop
  3. I custom dyed this kit for a knitting pattern designer.

Completed Spinning

  1. Tour de Fleece is going well. I spun and plied this Targhee from Allegheny Fiber Arts. I really enjoyed spinning Targhee. It’s one of my favorite fibers. I still need to set this hank with a good soak.
  2. I spun and plied 4 ounces of farm BFL.

This is my running list for a Year of Projects 2022-2023. You can read my starting list here. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list.

2022-2023 Year of Projects

Posted on Posted in dyeing, knitting, sewing, Year of ProjectsTagged 22 Comments

This is my new list for a Year of Projects 2022-2023. You can find out more about the group on Ravelry or Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. I love being part of this group.

Knitting List

I’d like to get through the first 16 of these projects by July 1 of next year. There are several sweaters and knitalongs on this list, so I’ll try not to add any more of those. This gives me a little room to add a few more spontaneous projects since I normally finish about 20 in a year.

  1. Arrowhead Cardigan in Lettlopi
  2. Pumqueen Cardi in Cascade BFL
  3. Summer Solstice Wrap KAL
  4. Powdermill
  5. Knitter’s Dude in Comfy for Bob
  6. That Old Christmas Moon Shawl
  7. Auchnaha in Schiehallion in Mooring
  8. Halloween Livie
  9. Cozy Autumn Socks
  10. Taxus Mitts in Tukuwool Fingering
  11. Holiday Doodle Cowl
  12. Christmas Pudding Socks
  13. Willow in Moonstone Arcadia
  14. Super Simple Summer Sweater in Cestari Ash Lawn
  15. Seavaiger
  16. Hansel Hap in Ramsay Farms fawn katmoget Shetland with Jamieson and Smiths for trim colors
  17. Stash Aurealis
  18. Glenan in Tarheelbilly Farm Tunis (I may dye this)
  19. Skipwith in black Rauma Finullgarn
  20. Undulation Shawl in Shilasdair Tansy
  21. Straw Cardigan in Tukuwool DK
  22. ‘Onipa’a Shawl in Mindful Folk yarn
  23. Peerie Flooers. I have the J&S Shetland yarn for the original version of this that you can see in the show Shetland.
  24. Celtic Tree Handwarmers
  25. Long sleeve Treit in Foxglove
  26. Sunset Slouch
  27. Strom Cardigan
  28. Peace Fleece Ronan in Siberian Midnight
  29. Brown Felt Cowgirl Hat

Sewing List

I’ve added more tops and bottoms, which was the result of my Me Made May challenge. In addition to this list, I’d like to sew some underwear this year with my knit scraps.

  1. Free Range Slacks in black and olive linens
  2. Mocha Tunic in yellow linen
  3. Florence Top in cream floral linen
  4. Clyde Jumpsuit in indigo linen
  5. Ophelia Overall shorts in red linen
  6. Gather Dress in floral print linen
  7. Ottobre blouse in Liberty blue paisley lawn
  8. Lauren Boyfriend Shirt in aqua and apricot linens
  9. Two A-line Tees in batiked cottons
  10. One Hour Top in navy polka dot knit
  11. Audrey Pants in navy stretch cotton twill and gray cotton twill
  12. Ophelia Overalls in teal corduroy
  13. A Logan Shacket in navy wool flannel
  14. Ottobre Coat in black wool floral embossed coating

Dyeing

My goal for this year is to dye yarn in seasonal colorways for the shop. I also hope to dye with tansy flowers from my garden this year, and experiment with other natural dyes.

Spinning

Participating in Tour de Fleece will be a great start to getting back into spinning again. I will set a goal of spinning my Coopworth fleece this year. I don’t know if that’s realistic or not, but it’s good to have a goal.

Fiber Art

I will try again to harvest and ret the flax this year. If I succeed, I’ll spin and dye it, and weave it into a wall hanging.

2021-2022 Year of Projects Finale

Posted on Posted in art, finished objects, knitting, sewing, Year of Projects30 Comments

This is my finale post for a Year of Projects 2021-2022. My goal was to not deviate from the list too much, which is laughable.

Fiber Art

Eight of the ten pieces. Two I wasn’t happy with so I didn’t include them here.
  1. I had a solo show in September 2021, and I made a body of work for this show. I finished ten pieces.
  2. I grew flax and tried to process it to weave an art piece. This was unsuccessful, as I over-retted the flax.
  3. I experimented with fresh leaf indigo printing from my garden.

In 2021-2022 I finished 21 pieces of knitting:

21 knitting projects finished!
  1. Pride Socks for Bob
  2. The Lonely Heart is a Hunter Mystery Knit Along (Rav link)
  3. Milkshake Cardigan
  4. Cemetery Drive Cowl
  5. Nova Scotia Strong Hat for Margie
  6. Autumn Advent: Point Edwards Mitts
  7. Sleepy Hollow Socks
  8. Back Porch Shawl
  9. Number 9 Beanie
  10. Marled Alaska Cowl
  11. Christmas Ranunculus sweater in The Fibre Co. Arranmore
  12. Unbearable Hat for Henry
  13. Celtic Myths Showl
  14. Gourd Party Socks
  15. All Sass and No Squatch Hat
  16. Musselburgh Hat for Freya
  17. Clog socks
  18. Spring Thaw Bandana Cowl
  19. Vertices Unite
  20. Ocean Moon Shawl
  21. Blueberry Popover Day socks for Bob

In 2020-2021 I finished knitting 22 items, so this tracks. Although I now have 29 items on my knitting to do list. I hope to increase the number I finish this coming year. I’ve got three sweaters on the needles. Last year I knit two sweaters, but somehow I finished four sweaters the year before.

Finished Sewing

  1. Emerson shorts in natural linen
  2. Halloween PJ Pants 1
  3. Halloween PJ Pants 2
  4. Ophelia Overalls in Purl Linen
  5. Barcelona Dress in lavender linen
  6. Pietra Pants in dark blue chambray
  7. Piedra Dress in Headless Horseman fabric
  8. Plateau Joggers in olive French terry, black merino interlock, navy and gray speckle cotton fleece
  9. Mile End Sweatshirt in black merino interlock
  10. A Logan Shacket with plaid flannel
  11. Mile End Sweatshirt in Pink Velour
  12. Clare Coat
  13. Gray Speckle Piedra Dress
  14. Born to Knit Melba Dress
  15. Paranormal Day Dress
  16. Felix Dress in floral cotton voile
  17. Black Melba Dress
  18. Eggplant Linen Felix Dress
  19. Charcoal Melba Dress
  20. Spoopy Project Bag

It’s difficult to keep count of finished sewing since I tend to sew multiples of the same pattern. This year I made a lot of PJ pants, joggers, and dresses. Comfort has been key as I try to manage my health.

Spinning

I replaced my spinning wheel and took a class to get started.

Most Proud Make

I made a coat! It wouldn’t win any sewing awards, but it is wearable. I learned interlining and how to bag out a lining in a garment. I expect I will get a lot of wears out of it this year if we have a cold winter.

Favorite Makes

I can’t choose one. These are the items I find I’m using most. I guess I’m a shawl person now.

This is my final post for Year of Projects 2021-2022. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. I’ve enjoyed being part of this group. I’m thankful Liz mentioned it to me! Next week I will post my plans for 2022-2023.

Année de Projets

Posted on Posted in knitting, socks, sweaters, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , 31 Comments

Knitting: My goal was to finish Bob’s socks for Father’s Day, and I did!

Bob likes the socks I knit for him, which makes me want to knit them more. Yarn is Knit Spin Farm’s Blueberry Popover Day colorway in Targhee Sport. No pattern, just a recipe. For sport weight I used 56 stitches on size 3 US needles.

I also finished the yoke on my Pumqueen Cardigan. Now It’s rows and rows of blissful stockinette until the border.

I sewed and dyed last week, but won’t be able to share photos until the summer boxes are shipped and received.

This week I will be casting on a Summer Solstice wrap. I’m still fussing about the yarn colors, so today I think I’ll wind my yarn and label each one for the order. I’ll feel better if I have a plan.

For sewing this week, I’ve decided to try the Free Range Slacks pattern in black linen. I’ve been seeing them on Instagram, and they look very comfortable. If I have enough fabric, I’ll make a matching a-line tank to wear with them, like a suit. Will I really wear it that way? Who knows? But I like options.

For spinning, I’m going to participate in Tour de Fleece in July. I won’t be participating officially, as I’m such a noob. But I will spin every day, and I will watch the Tour de France. I should at least be able to get through the wool top that came with the wheel. On challenging days, I’ll ply, or maybe try color.

It’s unseasonably cool, which means it’s a good day to weed the garden. I check on my frog daily. I had two at one point, but it looks like we’re back to one. I worry about Croque. I really shouldn’t, since he chose to be there and can leave if he wants. I probably make him nervous, staring at him every morning, talking to him, “Bonjour, Croque! Ça va? Qu’est-ce que tu manges?” It’s a great way to practice my French. He’s very polite and doesn’t correct me.

This has been a Year Of Projects (Année de Projets) update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Dye Hard: Yarn of Projects

Posted on Posted in dyeing, yarn, Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , , 11 Comments

I’ve been traveling and entertaining the last couple of weeks, as well as focusing on the mystery box stuff, so I don’t have much progress to show. I’m still knitting on the Blueberry Popover Day socks, my Pumqueen Cardi, and Arrowhead. But as promised, here are pics of my haul from the Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair, in order of acquisition.

BFL fiber for spinning
Darning Egg and Damsel Plum yarn in two weights from Knitting Notions
Bulky in Salmon Run and sock in Squash from Laughing Cat Fibers
Litha and Taurus from Dye Mad Yarns

Did I buy more superwash? Yes. I need to draw the line on superwash. It’s great for socks and summer shawls, but not warm enough for winter knits.

I have been editing and updating my Year of Projects list. I make minor changes to my knitting plans throughout the year. However, I made some significant changes to my sewing list. Me Made May taught me I need to make more tops and pants. I have enough summer dresses. Below is the new list. I’d love to finish the first three this month.

  1. Ottobre blouse in Liberty blue paisley lawn and black linen
  2. Two A-line Tees in batiked cottons for summer
  3. Pietra Pants in indigo linen
  4. Audrey Pants in navy stretch cotton twill and gray cotton twill
  5. Ophelia Overalls in teal corduroy
  6. A Logan Shacket in navy wool flannel
  7. Ottobre Coat in black wool floral embossed coating

Bob gave me this natural dyeing kit from Botanical Colors for my birthday. It arrived yesterday! I’ve never dyed with prepared natural dyes before, only from foraged botanicals or plants from my garden. I’m looking forward to trying this. Funds raised from the sales of this kit supports sending vital supplies to displaced children and families in Ukraine as well as supporting Botanical Colors’ BIPOC scholarships.

I have been dyeing hard lately. I’m going for another experiment on cotton yarn this week. And then I’m going to dye some wool yarn in fall colors for the shop.

This has been a Year Of Projects (YOP) update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Throw a Steek on the Barbie: A Year of Projects Update

Posted on Posted in gardening, knitting, sewing, Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , 13 Comments

Knitting

I’m a few rows shy of the shoulder shaping and bind off on my Arrowhead cardigan! I had hoped to see the back of this project by now. (See what I did there?) I can’t imagine wanting to work on a Lopi coat over the summer. But, I would love to have this done by fall. I’m looking forward to cutting the steeks!

See how excited I am about steeking?!

I’m also nearing the toe on Bob’s Blueberry Popover Day sock, and have reached the jack o’lanterns on my BFL Pumqueen cardi.

Sewing

As promised, I sewed another spoopy project bag. It’s available in my shop. I don’t have plans to sell many handmade goods unless they are made from materials I already have, or that are leftover from personal projects. I’m trying to keep it small and sustainable.

I would like to get more Pietra pants sewn in the black and indigo linens I have, and a Felix dress from some purple linen in my stash. I’ve updated my list to include those. I would love to sew some pleated twill pants, but I’m undecided on a pattern. I’m looking at Style Arc’s Audrey Pant. I love their clear and concise pattern instructions and intuitive construction. I have gray and navy twills for these.

I have yet to finish my Me Made May challenges. I’ll squeeze at least one more in today or tomorrow.

Spinning

Nope. I look at my spinning wheel, a lot. But I prefer knitting.

Gardening

I mowed the front yard today. That’s why my face is red in these photos. Also, Bob was clearing a section of brush, and found wild roses. I love wild roses! I know a place is home if there are wild blackberries and wild roses. As far as cultivation goes, everything is planted except the okra and sorrel. I need to get them in the ground, because something keeps disturbing the starts that are in pots. I think they are looking for slugs to eat, which I applaud. I wish they would not disturb the baby plants, though.

This has been a Year Of Projects (YOP) update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Wednesday WIPs: a Mid-Week YOP Update

Posted on Posted in design, dyeing, field trips, knitting, life, Works in Progress (WIPs), yarn, Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , , , 21 Comments

My weekends have been fairly busy, and I haven’t been able to post a Year of Projects update in a bit. So here’s a combo post!

Knitting

I am working on sport weight socks for Bob, a Halloween cardigan, and my Arrowhead cardigan. The yarn shown in the featured image is from my stash and will be used in a Summer Solstice Ambah knitalong. I am also working on my knitting pattern design for the Volunteer Sunflowers yarn mystery box.

The Halloween cardigan is from the Fall Favorites Collection, Pumqueen version. The yarn is Cascade BFL, which I am really enjoying working with. I’m modifying the pattern to be a cardigan with a steek.

Sewing

I am focusing on project bags right now. I hope to have a finish to show by Friday. But I did sew matching KISS pajama shorts for Bob and me.

Dyeing

I continue to experiment. I am mostly focusing on the Volunteer Sunflowers yarn mystery box yarn. Only one week left to order. Please share with people you think would be interested!

Spinning

I haven’t been doing this. I hope to start back up next month.

In other news:

We have two baby groundhogs in the garden right now. They are so cute.

We enjoyed our trip to ParaPsyCon III at the Ohio State Reformatory. Very creepy and lots of fun!