A Dead Elfine + Spun Silk
June 7, 2007
Although I suspected it in the first repeat of the lace pattern, it was confirmed last night. This yarn and the Elfine pattern were not meant to be. The lace muddied the colors and made the fabric look a bit like baby shit. The first clue was my “mmeeeehhhhh” at the colors in the lacework
and the joy I felt everytime I flipped over to the sole stitches.
So I ripped it back to the toe this morning and I’ll be making a simple stockinette fabric to allow to colors to pirouette at center stage. I love the Elfine pattern, so this is going back on my to-do list, only in a semi-solid colorway.
Have I mentioned my recent obsession with Lucy / Mind’s Eye Yarns? It all started with a trip a few weeks ago. Then I got sucked into the spinning vortex and made haste to visit Lucy for a lesson (last Friday). The lesson was awesome. She’s a great teacher. I’ll be going back for more. But with her big sale this week, the free drop spindle give-away, and the drawing for a gorgeous spinning wheel, another visit this week was a high priority. Also, after reading Amy-Knitty’s piece on spinning silk hankies, I was jonesin’ to try it. Then Haddy admitted that she’d never been to Mind’s Eye, so Danielle, Haddy and I made the pilgrimage during lunch yesterday.
I grabbed a silk cap, traded my wine colored sock yarn for a blue (Wifey’s request) and bought an additional skein of blue for this pending Wifey shawl/scarf project.
I was so jazzed with the silk, I spun an entire layer on the way home. Yes, on the train.* Thank god/Lucy for that free spindle! 
Brian (my train conductor) was highly amused. Or perhaps he thought I was crazy? In any case, he took one look and said, “what are you doing now?? oh …. you’re spindling, er … spinning.” I was pretty impressed that he knows what a spindle is. Clearly there’s a fiber person in his past. One day I’ll get that story.
*I tried to take a picture on the train, but the damned camera battery died. grr argh
P.S. For those who are waiting for interview questions, I didn’t forget. I’m being lazy, but I’ll get motivated soon, I promise. There’s some pressure to create wacky questions, and I hate pressure. Perhaps now that I’ve admitted to it, I’ll get off my ass. ??
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1.
Em | June 7, 2007 at 10:42 am
Wow, that silk looks amazing! I’ve got to find some hankies for myself… Best of luck in the draw for the wheel!
Sorry the elfine’s weren’t working out, but I agree that the sole looks much better.
2.
PumpkinMama | June 7, 2007 at 11:26 am
Ok - now I must go to Minds Eye on lunch today, if only to enter the drawing! Sweeeet.
Good call on the sock - much better in stockinette.
3.
Lucy | June 7, 2007 at 11:39 am
Wow, you’re a house-a-fire on the spindle! That’s more progress than I think I’ve ever made on a silk cap. I get too impatient with all the pulling. I don’t card either and always pay the nice people at Zeilinger Wool Co. to prepare my fleeces. Fiber prep just isn’t my thing.
4.
Beth S. | June 7, 2007 at 11:49 am
You SPUN on the TRAIN and I was not there to SEE it!!!!
Good call on the Elfines, though. I like the plain sock much better!
I really want you to win that spinning wheel. Really. Really really.
5.
Lisa | June 7, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Wow, as usual, you are just too amazing. If only I were younger….
I have never been bitten by the spinning bug, as I have watched my aunt and it looked like too much patience was required. I’ll leave the prep stuff to you experts and just pay for the ready to use product.
Good call on the socks, even tho the pattern looks great. I love the name of the pattern.
Can’t wait to see the FO for Wifey in that beautiful blue….my favorite color too!
6.
Elinor | June 7, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I really love your story about the conductor. That’s classic. You should teach him how to knit just for fun. It would be a great story, at least!!
Too bad about the socks. I like the color - I don’t think it brings the association that you do but every baby poo is different.
Heh.
7.
pamelawynne | June 7, 2007 at 4:57 pm
One day, you *must* find out the skinny on Brian — I can’t believe he could identify a spindle on sight! Sorry about Elfine. I can’t wait to see that pretty green yarn all knit up.
8.
Ashley | June 7, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Yup yup–that yarn is meant to be stockinette. Love the mini-stripes!
9.
Teresa C | June 7, 2007 at 8:45 pm
So much to say to this post. How long has it been? Just over two weeks? Hooked. That’s what you are.
10.
JessZ | June 7, 2007 at 10:45 pm
ooooh shiny silk. It looks pur-tay.
11.
Suzanne | June 8, 2007 at 7:58 am
ON the TRAIN? I would not have thought it possible.
12.
Rhonda the Stitchingnut | June 8, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Oh whaaaaaaa, I didn’t get to go to Mind’s Eye with you guys. And I see you all must of had a fantastic time too! I’m going to pout.
13.
painterwoman | June 9, 2007 at 2:30 am
The blue is amazing. You are SO write about the sock/lace/yarnway combo. I’m impressed with Victorian Lace’s wisdom about fiber selection.
AND I understand that it is because of you that I got to watch the FATGIRL rant. THANK YOU. Many times.
14.
Christy / Not Hip | June 12, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Oooo, the underside is so beautiful. Tough yet wise decision.
15.
Stock Sock Progress &laqu&hellip | June 19, 2007 at 10:48 am
[...] 19th, 2007 This beautiful J. Knits sock yarn is well suited for a simple stockinette sock (not so suited for Elfine, unfortunately). I contemplated inserting a really simple pattern with a horizontal [...]