Short row top with 16+ colours

My design involved a panel front and back knitted using short rows. I used steps of 7 stitches in a 42 stitch row and alternated 2 balls of wool. One ball starting a triangle beginning on the right, the second a triangle on the left. I discovered that it took about 3g to make a triangle. I was pleased the way the colours merged as I knitted from one colour to another in the ball. I made the back panel longer than the front one and curved the neckline.

The next step was to pick up stitches along the edge of the front panel, cast on some for the neck, then pick up stitches along the edge of the back panel (206 sts). I knitted in garter stitch until the work measured 21 cm. I left the armhole stitches on a needle and to shape the bottom of the armhole decreased 1 st every right side row until 64 stitches remained. A 3 needle bindoff joined the sides together. I was determined this would be a no seams garment.

For the sleeves I worked out a garter and stocking stitch relief pattern that was similar to the triangle shapes on the panels.

By now I had decided to enter the top in the Creative Fibres Experience show in Hamilton. What it needed was a skirt to complement it.

Dream jacket Finished

For years I've wanted to make a handspun version of this pattern. My sister knitted one from commercial yarn and it was a showstopper. People kept stopping her to admire it.

The blue and wine yarns were spun from Corriedale from the Anna Gratton of The Little Wool Company. I

carded some purple and pink silk into the blue wool.

The thick and thin of the cuffs was some synthetic yarn I'd had for 30 years. From it I chose the other colours.

The brilliant lime green from the Anna Gratton was the first sliver I chose. I spun it worsted.


I dyed some superwash merino orange then added sari silk. The sari silk was spun together so I unspun it then cut it into 2" (5 cm) lengths that I shredded and carded into the orange.

The final yarn was superwash merino that I painted then spun and chain (Navajo) plyed.

I used several needle sizes - the bands and collar were knitted on the largest needles. The green of the body was knitted on the smallest needles because I wanted it to hug my body and the multiyarn areas were knitted on slightly larger needles because I wanted more stretch there.

Fractal spinning

Last year I spun and knitted a hoodie for my 2 year old grandson. It looked great but was a bit scratchy. I'd used a Romney fleece and spun it with too much twist.

Top down knitted hoodie

He looks happy enough in it here

So this year I am determined to make him a garment that is soft and gentle on his skin. I've chosen superwash Polwarth to spin and I shall include yellow in the dyeing as that is his favourite colour.

I painted the dye onto the sliver in bands of red, orange, yellow and brown. Altogether there were 12 metres of sliver with 8 repeats of the colours. I steamed the sliver for about 40 minutes.

I wanted to use fractal spinning for the yarn for this project. To prepare the dyed sliver I split each set of the 4 colours in half lengthwise. One half I split further into 4 equal portions.

One of the eighths being dizzed.

 I spun the halves one after another onto one bobbin (right one in the photo). The eigths were spun onto a second bobbin (left). I used a worsted spinning style. When the yarn is knitted I should see bands of colour and within each band, for example the red band, there will be red with red, red with orange, red with yellow and red with brown.

Closeup of the yarn

200 g of glorious yarn

 

 

Spinning angora

I spun a worsted style yarn from some of my first blend of 30:20 merino:angora and was thrilled with the result. After I'd washed the yarn it became fluffier. Here is a knitted sample. I think this blend works well. The yarn has a lovely angora halo and the merino gives it bounce. One idea is to make a beautiful bunny hat with ears for my 6 month old granddaughter.
For the second batch of carding, I used pink merino sliver and angora in a ratio of 4:1. This time I handcarded the angora.

 then made a sandwich with the merino on the outside and angora as the filling.

I elongated the sandwich as I put it through the wild carder

I separated the batt into two lengthwise then made each smaller batt into a pile of 4 pieces. I took a section from one batt and elongated it then put it through the carder. Then one from the second pile and so on alternating the pieces.

 Here are the exquisite balls of fluff.