A new stand for the sock machine

I do so love Craigslist, don't you? (For you all not in the USA, that is an online classifieds spot.) I managed to score a Black & Decker workmate for $20. That is a portable work bench, which is sturdy enough to clamp my sock machine too without fear of it tipping over. That means I can take this show on the road!



I used it last night, to test things out. I'm happy to say that everything works just fine. In fact, if I had the floor space in my studio, I'd just leave the machine on it all the time. But since I don't, the machine will go back to its place on the beading desk, and the work bench will get folded and stashed until I want to be portable.

I did get a new camera tonight, so I can show you the socks I've made so far:





















These are all made with different brands of commercial yarn, and are all quite comfortable. I'm getting quite spoiled--I don't want to go back to cheapo Walmart socks any more!

I did some research today. I have a stash of fiber reactive dye from Dharma Trading Company, that I used for the warp painted shawls I made awhile ago. Those were cotton however, and dyes for cellulose fibers don't necessarily work on protein fibers. From my reading though, I think I'll be able to use these dyes for my wool sock yarns, with a bit of a change in the recipe. Somebody check me here: if I substitute vinegar for the soda ash in the pre-wash, and steam set the resulting yarn, I should be ok, yes? Or can I just let it set 24 hours to cure like I did with the cotton, skipping the steaming step?

Progress with the sock machine

I'd love to show you what I've been up to...but my camera decided not to work any more. Pout. Gripe. Grumble. Luckily, it is still in theory under warranty, so tomorrow I'll go to the bank to get the statement that has the purchase on it, and we'll send it in. But that does put me dead in the water as far as listing items goes.

So, in the mean while I'm playing with the sock machine. I've made 4 pairs of socks on it so far!! The first was a hair small. The second was a bit big, and fits my daughter. (She snapped them right up.) The third and fourth are just my size, and are extremely comfortable. I wore one pair today, and the other is fresh off the machine in time to wear tomorrow. They are made of commercial self striping sock yarn. It is great fun to watch the patterns develop as I crank along.

As far as the learning curve goes, yesterday I finally figured out the correct adjustments to make to get the ribber attachment working. There is a screw that controls how high off the base of the machine the ribber sits. That screw had gotten out of whack, and the ribber was sitting too high. Once I lowered it, things started falling into place. I've successfully ribbed with both sized of cylinders now, so the next step is to actually knit a ribbed sock. Eventually.

Actually, I think my next step will be to hand dye some sock yarn. I got a shipment of 10 skeins of dyeable wool sock yarn, and I'm itching to make some custom colors. Using someone else's self striping yarn is great fun...but it is someone else's design. I want to design my own! I'm not working at the school tomorrow, so hopefully I can break out the dye pot and play for a bit.

And once I get my camera functional again, you all can take a peek. (Stupid camera...)

Cording on the sock knitting machine

I was playing with the sock knitting machine again today. Normally, there are lots of little latch-hook looking needles sticking up out of it. When I crank the handle there on the right, the blue yarn carrier goes round and round, and the needles raise up and grab the yarn to make their individual stitch.

Right now though, I only have four needles in place, because I'm making knitted cording. The finished cording is hanging down below the machine there. The weights keep the yarn from riding up and off of the needles as I am working. And up top out of the picture where you can't see it, I have the heel spring engaged to keep tension on the yarn that is feeding in. That keeps the stitches from getting too big and loopy.

I cranked out two yards tonight, in next to no time at all. I'm thinking it might be useful for making cording to couch down onto garb, in all sorts of big bold heraldic patterns. Hmmm...I wonder how it would full down, if you used non superwash wool? Piping? Belts? All sorts of possibilities to play with!

First socks off the machine

I am extraordinarily pleased with myself this evening! Awhile ago, I bought a circular sock knitting machine off of Ebay. It is a Creelman Brothers Money Maker A, and is approximately 100 years old. Mind you, I'd never used one of these before. And I don't know how to knit. And it arrived with missing pieces, slightly rusty and gunky, without directions. Needless to say, there has been a bit of a learning curve.

But tonight, it finally all came together, and I am currently wearing my first pair of socks. They are made of Lion Brand Sock-Ease yarn, which is 75% wool/25% nylon, and is supposedly machine washable. They're comfortable!

They're not ribbed anywhere--that is a learning opportunity for another day. This is what I did though: 10 rows, then hang the hem. 65 rows for the leg of the sock, then the heel. 50 rows for the foot of the sock, then the toe. I used the 54 cylinder. They are maybe a smidge short in the foot, so for the next pair I'll add around 5 more rows there.

I foresee many pairs of custom socks in my future!!

Kumihimo tutorial: flat braid with hearts

I got the pattern for this braid from a friend of mine, who found it here: http://www.qvade.dk/paulette/Swap4.htm . It makes a flat braid, with a heart pattern running up the center. I am using 10/2 Uki red cotton weaving yarn for the background of this braid. The hearts are in an unlabeled cream colored cotton from my stash, that is about twice the thickness of the red. The finished width is about 1/8", which makes for a cute little delicate braid. I'm picturing using this as friendship bracelets, as necklace cording, as drawstrings, or as trim on a little bag.

Here's the finished braid:




And here's the process on my foam disk. This would probably go much faster on the wooden marudai stand, but I like carrying a project along with me, tucked into my purse. Somehow, the wooden stand just doesn't fit!

Here's the starting position. Notice, I've put a pencil mark on the foam at the bottom of the disk. That helps me keep track of which way I'm supposed to be holding this one, on the occasions that I have to put my braiding down.

We'll start with the threads at the top of the disk. The inner two threads will be moved. The outer two threads will stay on top for now.


Take the right hand, inner thread on the top. Move it over to the threads in the 9:00 position, and put it just below them.






Take the left hand, inner thread in the top position. Cross it over to the threads in the 3:00 position on the disk, and put it just below them.






Take the two remaining threads in the 12:00 position, and move them closer together.

That is the end of the first sequence.




Now, we're going to do something similar with the four threads at the bottom of the disk. The left hand inner thread will cross over to the 3:00 threads, and settle in above them.




The right hand inner thread at the bottom crosses over to the 9:00 threads, and settles above them.







Now, move the remaining two threads in the 6:00 position closer to each other.

That is the end of the second sequence. We started with 4 threads at the top and bottom. Now we have 4 threads on the sides.


Starting with the 9:00 threads. Again, we are only really concerned with the inner set of threads. Take the top inner thread on the left side, and move it down to the 6:00 threads. Put it to the left of these threads.



Take the bottom inner thread on the left hand side. Move it to the threads in the 12:00 position, and put it to the left of these threads.






Move the remaining threads closer to each other.

That is the end of the third sequence.





Finally, take the top inner thread at the right of the disk. Move it down to the threads in the 6:00 position, and settle it in to the right of them.






Take the bottom inner thread on the right hand side. Move it up to the threads in the 12:00 position. Put it to the right of these threads.






Move the remaining two threads closer to each other.

That is the end of the 4th sequence, and you have completed one repeat. You again have four threads in the top and bottom position. Start over from the beginning.

Gryphon Song Gems

I was out at an SCA (sca.org) event this weekend, and had a lovely time of it. I spent most of the time today sitting in the shade of a pavilion, spinning yarn from a fleece a friend gave me, watching warriors in shining armor very politely whaling on each other with swords.



While I was there, I had the opportunity to spend some time chatting with Epaul Fischer, the artist behind Gryphon Song Gems. You can find him at http://gemartist.com/. I am lucky enough to own several of his pieces. I have a labradorite medallion that is carved with the symbol of the laurel, and a set of copper and black enamel buttons with my heraldry on them. And very soon I will be the owner of his first pewter heraldic buttons. I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out! I'm also envious of a couple of my friends, who have hand carved heraldic signet rings, that actually work to make impressions in wax seals.

Today, he had with him a couple of broaches that he was making for the champions of our local SCA baronies. He was in the process of getting the enameling on them right.

















He had also recently had one of the coronets he had made on display in a gallery. The show was done, so he was returning it to its owner. Isn't it gorgeous? He did the metal work, and carved the jade leaves and shamrocks. The leaves indicate the wearer's rank, and the shamrocks are from the wearer's individual heraldry. You can't see it in the picture, but the stone in the central medallion has a dragon carved into it. It is a breath taking piece, totally suited to the individual.





























I love seeing the marvelous works of art that get created in this group! But I am desperately trying to convince myself that I really don't need to pick up yet another hobby...



EDIT: Here's his description of the coronet: "Duke Arthur O'Flaherty's court coronet. Each set of strawberry leaves is carved from a single piece of jade. Front has Amber w/ carved dragon set in metal Sun, sides have shamrock's in faux emerald and malachite. Entire coronet 24 karat gold plated."

A lovely day for a drawing class

Ok, November in Phoenix, AZ is just weird. I'm from the midwest US, and November should be full of dried russet foliage, low gray snow filled skies, and a decided nip in the air. Today in Phoenix though, the sun was shining, and the scent of flowers wafted on a warm breeze. I'm not complaining, mind you. I'd rather shovel sunshine than snow any day. But it just isn't right.

I worked at the college today, for the life drawing class again. It was nice enough that the afternoon teacher decided to hold class outside. So she tossed me a kimono, grabbed a couple of props, and we headed out to a shady spot under the trees. Here's a couple of the poses. The first two were two minute gestures. The third I held for 45 minutes.






































Yes, I was very aware that I wasn't wearing the kimono anywhere near correctly. There should have been several layers underneath, for one. I do hope those who know better will forgive me--I worked with what I was given, with the limited knowledge that I have. However, the students overlooked the inaccuracy, and there was some very creative art work that came out of the session. Being outside really seemed to spark their imaginations.

The only real drawback to the day? Ants in Arizona bite!