I started a new project of course. A simple lacy shawl using some coned merino/cashmere blend I got from Webs so long ago it's been discontinued. The stuff is pretty rough to knit straight off the cone because it's processed with some icky oil, and my hands become filthy after just 20 minutes of knitting. It does soften up a LOT after washing, so the shawl should be next-to-skin wearable when I'm done. But in the future I won't be buying any more coned yarn. The decrease in knitting pleasure far outweighs the cost savings.
In other news, I've been banging my head against a wall trying to figure out how to photograph my next Knitty submission. All my ideas are outrageously impossible. For example, has anybody else seen The Saddest Music in the World? It's a movie about this beer baroness (Isabella Rosselini) who lost both her legs in a car accident because the doctor she was with was drunk, got into an accident, and then accidentally amputated the wrong leg. Fast forward many years. The lovely beer baronness decides to hold a competition for the saddest music in the world because when people are sad, they drink more beer. The winner of this competition is to be determined by the amount of beer consumed when the musicians are performing. Before the competition, a doctor makes the poor legless baronness a pair of crystal legs filled with beer. They are magnificently absurd. I wish I had those legs to take sock pictures with. Ah, Canadian film. Gotta love it.
That movie sounds funky ... crystal legs filled with beer!
Posted by: Agnes at April 11, 2006 10:55 AMFinally, someone who talked about the cone and oil business! I was debating buying a cone on Webs (some nice tweed) and asked on Craftster about the oil business. Sounded like I was buying tuna "packed in oil" so I waited...and spinners responded about how the oil helps them with the plying/spinning what not. Everyone seemed to say it was no big deal and just to watch the swatch to get a good gauge. Seriously, who wants to knit stuff that bleeds (red dye!), leaks, or is just plain grimy? Ok, maybe I am too picky.
Posted by: Juls at April 11, 2006 11:07 AMI haven't seen that movie, although it certainly sounds like it could by an Australian film as well. Have you ever noticed the wacky movies made done under?
Posted by: Gina at April 11, 2006 11:18 AMOh, Canadian films are great, aren't they? The legs from that movie would be perfect for staging your submission posts. You just wouldn't be able to sing around them!
Posted by: Lisa at April 11, 2006 11:45 AMIs it the Merino/Cashmere from Valley Yarns? That's what I'm using for Threepenny. That's also why that project has been on the needles for over a year--it's like knitting with twine.
But after it's washed, it's quite nice. If only this sweater would knit itself.
Posted by: Janice at April 11, 2006 11:49 AMHaven't seen the movie, love the new shawl, hate coned yarn. Yep, that about sums it up.
Posted by: Rebekah at April 11, 2006 12:15 PMWhat about winding the coned yarn into skeins and prewashing it before knitting? Best of luck.
Posted by: sasha at April 11, 2006 2:11 PMMy dad used to have a giant glass beer stein shaped like a lady's foot and leg. It was awesome, like 3 ft tall. I wonder if he still has it.
Posted by: Amy at April 11, 2006 3:49 PMHow about I could take some cool ones of it around here??? Like Petroglyph National Park? On the Tram? Tent Rocks? Sooo many possibilites!
Posted by: Scout at April 11, 2006 7:34 PMI love coned yarns because they have far fewer knots/ends. Don't give up on them. I got some Webs wool on cones and couldn't believe the spinning oil either - ick. Next time you are tempted, ask if there is spinning oil on the yarn, then you'll know to look for something else.
Posted by: fibrebender at April 12, 2006 11:09 AMhttp://www.manne-king.com/dspskudetail.cfm?CatId=13&ClId=88&PlId=222&Sku=PFHL83TRANS
How about a transparent plastic leg filled with bear? If the transparent leg leaks you can get the silicon that they use in fish tanks to seal any holes.
In Fashion Merchandise class in college I did this for a transparent dress form and turned it into a fish tank and had a bubble wall against the back with bright coloured Koi swimming around.
Posted by: kitty kitty at April 12, 2006 1:57 PMAs soon as the movie came to Kingston, I saw it with my boyfriend. It was pretty much the most romantic night ever.
Posted by: Eve at April 16, 2006 2:54 AMI got some coned cashmere for really cheap on Ebay and opted to wash the yarn before knitting with it. It takes a little more patience, but it's makes for a much more pleasant knitting experience. :)
Posted by: Caroline at April 16, 2006 11:22 AMis there a pattern for this shawl? i love the way it looks like it swirls upwards.
stopped by here via knitty, btw. i'm planning on making your baudelaire socks, though i think i might make them longer - never had the desire to knit socks until i saw those !
Posted by: nora at July 18, 2006 10:48 AM