FiddleStix

I just discovered the fabulous work of Hanna Haworth.

“White Noise” installation, Hannah Haworth, 10×4 feet, wool

Her use of the fair isle technique is clever and refreshingly applied. It’s all very “knitterly” to me (think painterly, from way back when you took that art history class).

“The Hunt” installation, Hannah Haworth.

I’m not always into a narrative, but I adore the piece of prose that is included with the installation “The Hunt:”

One day she did not return from her fishing and so she was searched for, he reached her spot but it was deserted. And so he began looking for her tracks – they led directly away into the vast interior. It began to get dark as he ventured inland more and more. As night fell, he became sure that her feet were bare. They became smaller and smaller the further he tracked her. As he continued, one of her feet became wolf while the other remained human. As she was like that, he turned back.

Spinning demo starts around 34:00.

Things I mention:

1. Round the Twist Podcast. Of course, you watch this, right? Right.

FO’s

1. Femme Fatale Dress – Rally dress pattern by Pamela Wynne. Louisa Harding Mulberry (silk) in blue & gold, Hempathy in pink. US 4/3.5mm needles.

2. Brick layers socks – my improv pattern. Dyeabolical sock yarn “Take 2″ colorway. They don’t match but they fit and get the job done.

WIP’s

1. Wings of a Dove stole by Kerry Milani in some crap black cotton. Simplified this pattern because the black obscures the fancy stitch work.

2. Feather Weight cardi by Hannah Fettig – using Araucania Ranco Multi

3. Surya shawl by Caryl Style – using Malabrigo sock “Indiecita” colorway.

4. Flirty Socks by Vilma Vuori – using Tofutsies.

Spinning:

1. Endless camel down spinning continues.

2. FO – A LOT of welsh wool top – 20ply worsted/aran in chocolate brown.

Misc:

1. Walter’s not a fatty any more.

2. We’re moving!

3. Oscar had a broken hip, had surgery, and he’s recovering.

4. I try my hand at dyeing yarn with food coloring. I’m also considering knitting another color affection shawl.

5. Mummer’s Parade is a New Year’s parade in Philly.

Finished Objects:
1. Color Affection Shawl – using Jaggerspun Zephyr (silk/wool, “Suede” 630 yds), Suri Elegance (875 yds), & mystery handspun alpaca (gift from J-man’s brother). Us 6/4.0 mm needles & Us 8/5.0mm.
WIPS:

1. Femme Fatale dress – not much progress.

Misc:

1. I imagine shadows that don’t exist.

2. What do I do with my left overs from the Color Affection?

Stash diving:

1. Araucania Ranco Multi – color 309 – wool/polyamide – 376 yds/skein. – I have three balls which will require balternating.

2. Cherry Tree Hill Wool in the Woods, Cherub – wool, 200 yds/skein, Lottery #9 color.  Perhaps this will become Monkey Socks by Cookie A?

3. Gift yarn! Handspun yarn from a local ag festival in Louisiana gifted to me by a faculty member in my department. How sweet is that?

4. We dyed easter eggs. Enjoy!

This is a terrible angle. Sorry. I have poor judgment with I’m exhausted. Also, take a shot whenever I make a noise instead of saying a word.

Show notes:

1. Yard sale madness! We made $150, so that’s cool.
2. On the needles: the Color Affection shawl. Exclusively. I have never been such a monogamous knitter, and I adore this pattern.
3. Stash Enhancement: caught a shop update over at the Fibernymph Dyeworks. I picked up 4 skeins of spor-weight yarn and a braid of 100% silk roving. Must have all the pretties! I didn’t hold things still for very long. Sorry about that. I was excited.
4. Check out Brenda Dayne’s podcast, Cast On.
5. Join the Snatchel Campaign.
6. Garden is pretty much complete! Plant list includes: robin tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, sunnygold tomatoes, summer squash, cantaloupe, italian eggplant, anahiem peppers, red/green/yellow bell peppers, dill, oregano, thai basil, italian basil, chives, rosemary, and two other mystery squash plants (I can’t remember what they are).

Thanks for watching! Follow me (Chelsea Lew) on Pinterest and plurk (fiddlestixknits).

Take a shot every time I look off camera and/or address someone not in frame.

Show notes:

1. I changed my ravname. You can find me ravelry as “fiddlestixknits.” Don’t worry – I’m still the same person.
2. Finished Object – Minimalist Cardigan by Ruthie Nussbaum (I love her last name – it’s cute in German) using Hand Maiden Mini Maiden – a delicious 50/50 merino-silk blend, single ply, in “Peridot” colorway. DELICIOUS! I love this FO!
3. On the needles: Minimal work on the Femme Fatale dress. I got bored with the skirt and started a sleeve. A little worried about the fit, but keeping my fingers crossed. More progress was made on my Color Affection shawl. It’s a super fun knit! No progress on the Bricklayer’s Socks, due to a broken needle.
4. Jon was accepted into Temple University! YAY!
5. I had a weak moment and broke my yarn diet for a Fibernymph Dyeworks shop update.

I am also fiddlestixknits on plurk and Chelsea Lew on Pinterest. Thanks for watching!

Show notes pending!

Take a shot every time I say “stairs” or flash my hairy pits.

2012 Goals update:

• I ran a frickin’ 5k! In an hour! With the Happy’s Running Club. If you’re a runner (or want to be) try Chi Running. If anything, it helps take your mind off of how crappy running actually is! (Just kidding!)
• I have stopped doing push ups due to shoulder issues, but I’m searching for an alternative. I’m still keeping up with the daily sit ups.
• Still going strong with yoga.
• Doing well financially – no discretionary spending for anything other than necessities – with the exception of my 5k-Reward shoes. SHUT UP!
• This is the tattoo I was talking about. Is it or is it not AWESOME! Operation “Ink Travel” starts NOW! You can find more of their work here, and they work at this studio.

One the needles:

• Surya shawl – tragic, catastrophic “progress.” I don’t even want to talk about this right now. So, moving on…

Spinning:

• 50/50 merino silk singles from Dyeabolical in “Bruiser” colorway. LOVE IT! AND, no shoulder issues while spinning! Wahoo!
• Knitty does a way better job of explaining spinning from the fold. It’s a neat technique.

Check out the ravelry group. I am fiddlestixknits (yeah, changed my name) on ravelry and Chelsea Lew on pinterest. Thanks for watching!