Getting up to date

Having finished the crocheted Simply Spring top recently, I was tempted to start another summer top. I've had some Emu Perle (acrylic which looks like perle cotton, light DK weight) in the stash for ages in several colours and I've used some of it for other tops. This time lilac was the choice, and the pattern I'm using as a starting point is the cover design of the latest Interweave Crochet magazine (Spring 2009). Instead of the flowered yoke I will have a try at working a more solid circular yoke. So far I nearly have half a front done and the fabric is very pleasing. I'm using a 5mm hook.

My interest in various yarny pursuits fluctuates with time, and at the moment crochet is pushing its way to the front. This was why I ordered some more Clover soft touch hooks to fill in the gaps of my set. When they first came out, I bought the set which covered 2.5mm to 6mm in half mm increments. I just discovered that they now make the quarter mm sizes between 2mm and 4mm, along with a range of steel hooks in the smaller sizes 0.5mm to 1.75mm. So, seeing that they are my favourite hooks, I couldn't resist. Of course I had to make a case to keep them in, so I made another like my original one.


I have managed a little knitting: the neckband of the Cabled Spiral is nearly done, but I need to put the stitches on a longer needle so that I can try it on to check. I've also started a sock with the Wendy Happy bamboo/nylon yarn. I'm using Wendyknits Seaweed sock pattern with a little alteration to the lace pattern. I'm reversing the chart on alternate repeats. This is the second attempt because the first try was too big, so I'm doing the medium size now. Even on 2.5mm needles 66sts seems to be enough in this pattern.

Last but not least I finally finished spinning some superwash english wool tops which I dyed myself. It is fairly bright and it ended up about DK weight 2 ply. (223m, 91g)

Playing catch up and a Drum carder

I have some FOs to report; the Monkey socks are done and I'm very happy with them. The Regia yarn is superb to work with and feels soft.


After a bit of a time out, the Simply Spring crochet top is finished too. I had to decide how to finish the neck edge and the bottom edge. the pattern has you work just one row of dc (UK terminology), but I needed a bit more depth to prevent the neckline gaping and to stop the lower edge from flaring out. In the end I worked several rounds of dc, ch1 where the dc goes into the ch space on the previous round. After washing and blocking, I'm pleased with the fit of it. Now we just need some warm weather. For a change I've finished something in advance of needing it. This won't be the case for the Cabled Spiral because by the time I finish that, it will be too warm to wear it.


I finally finished the Wendy Happy scarf and used my new hair braider gizmo to twist the fringes. It certainly saves some wear on the fingers. 36.8cm in the heddle, 35.2cm wide after finishing and 1.8m long excluding fringe.


I need to wear glasses for reading and I hang them round my neck with a made by me kumihimo cord so I don't lose them, and one of the rubber ends gave way a couple of weeks ago, so I dusted off the marudai and made a couple of new cords. I ended up using the one at the bottom, attaching it to some new rubber ends. Job done!

I've saved the best for last - I have a drum carder now. My hubby decided that he would like to build one for me quite a while ago. He is not a well man, so this has really given him something to work towards, doing a little at a time. He enjoys precision metal work, so the majority of the structure is metal with a minimum of wood! I've christened it, and it works great.



I have two doffer rods and a small carder for cleaning the cloth. The gap between the drums can be adjusted and the infeed tray can be raised and lowered. It has high quality sealed bearings and will outlast me I think.

A couple of progress pics

On the loom:
4 ply cotton at 12.5 dpi, with simple pick up stick patterning.