Ep 46: Fun with Math, Color, and Sheep Labor

Math, over-dyeing, color theory, and an interesting discussion of the Faroe Islands join knitting and spinning in the topics of this episode.

Kelly's Projects

Kelly has won the battle with the first of the Civil War socks.  Several adjustments for fit were needed, but the finished sock is now perfect and it is on to the second one.

Sock 1 is done!

The only other knitting has been on the NoCKRs shawl.  The desire to use as much yarn as possible of both colors has led to some pattern modification experiments.

Modifying the New Beginnings pattern for two colors

Kelly has been doing a lot of spinning with two different wool/angora blends.  One is a dyed gray and the other is a natural white.  She also continues working on the CVM fleece with both a fingering/sport 3-ply and a bulky singles yarns on the wheels.

Marsha's Projects

Marsha was doing really well on her Fairfield Cardigan by Michele Wang but discovered she knit past the point where she should begin decreasing for the shoulders. Ugh! She now needs to do some ripping back.

She started a shawl call Havasu Falls by Allison LoCicero using Freia Handpaints Ombre Lace in the color way Ice Queen.

Havasu Falls shawl.

Since the last episode's discussion of the Tour de Fleece, Marsha has been focusing on spinning. She has one skein done and three bobbins waiting to be plied of the golden Shetland roving she purchased last month at the Black Sheep Gathering. When that project is done she plans to start spinning a big ball of unknown wool roving from Pendleton Woolen Mills.

Golden Shetland

Pendleton wool roving.

The Two Ewes have a discussion on the planning Marsha is doing to make the Garter Squish afghan by Stephen West. There is lots of talk of math (including the golden ratio) and Marsha has a fiber in the wild related adventure.

Frank's Spirit Yarn Afghan

The Garter Squish afghan is knit using two balls of worsted weight yarn. One in a main color and the second in ever changing contrast colors. For the main color Marsha will use the repurposed blue spirit yarn from the giant sweater she made for her father.  For the contrasting colors she will use odds and ends from her stash. She didn't love some of the colors which leads to a Fiber in the Wild adventure.

Fiber in the Wild

Kelly and Marsha met Maddy Wallace (appledappy) at the Jorstadt Creek Dye Studio booth at the Black Sheep gathering. Maddy invited them to Over Dye Saturday held at the studio in Olympia, Washington. Marsha was able to attend and over dyed some of her thrift shop yarn that she will use in her Garter Squish afghan. Over Dye Saturdays supports Click for Babies who educate new parents on preventing shaken baby syndrome.

Jorstadt Creek Dye Studio is owned by Kerry Graber (jorstadtcreek) and she is focusing on fiber from local producers featuring Icelandic, Finn, and Gotland wools all grown in the Olympia area. Her yarns are sold at Bazaar Girls in Port Townsend, WA and Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood, WA. An Etsy shop is coming soon. Kerry is also part of a design group call the BK Collective featuring Jorstadt yarns. Marsha met two of the designers, Kaia Petersen (cayennepepper) and Jann Hoppler (jmhknits) at the studio. They have some lovely patterns. A couple of Marsha's favorites are....

Traslov Hat by Kerry Graber
Garrison Street Scarf and Cowl by Kaia Petersen
Ebb and Flow Shawl by Jann Hoppler

A huge thank you to everyone at Jorstadt Creek. Marsha had a blast! Here are some pictures from the day or visit her project page, Frank's Spirit Yarn Afghan, for more photos.

Jorstadt Creek Dye Studio.

Getting ready to dye!

And finally, Marsha talks about a story she heard on the BBC World Service about sheep being used to map the Faroe Islands. Here are links discussed.

Faroe Islands
Sheep View 360
Free Faroese Sweater Pattern
Free Sarah Lund Faroese Sweater Pattern