Friday, April 08, 2005

Little Things, Part Deux

Last night I worked up the other two samples.  I know, I know - this is getting ridiculous :)

This is the Merino Style DK from the Knit Picks samples.  This is my favorite of all the yarns - lovely to work with and an almost satiny feel to the finished piece - the stockinette, of course.  The seed stitch is supposed to feel bumpy :) I cast 9 stitches onto size 5 (US) needles and did 4 rows of seed stitch, switched to (RS) K1, P1, K5, P1, K1 and (WS) K1, P1, K1, P3, K1, P1, K1 for several rows and then worked another four rows of seed.  Then the piece was folded and sewn and the double cord attached with a lark’s head knot (like you would attach fringe).





This is what got me to stop biting my nails which I had done viciously ever since I was very small.  Through my teens I had thought it would be nice to wear rings, but my fingers were so ugly that I didn’t want to draw attention to them.  Around the time I was 20 or so, a friend showed me one of these things that she owned and I spent a long, leisurely afternoon eating pizza with her and learning how to put the thing together.  Once I had gotten that, I just had to have a puzzle ring of my own.  Before long, and I don’t remember it being a conscious effort either, I had stopped biting my nails.  I have had one of these rings ever since.





This was made from the Andean Silk (Alpaca/Silk/Merino blend).  I’m not a fan of navy blue, but this color seemed so rich and alive I swear I could almost see it breathing.  This is a worsted weight yarn and it worked up easily.  If the rest of the colors in this line exhibit the same kind of intensity and saturation, this yarn will make some really spectacular pieces.  Curiously (to me, anyway) despite the fact that this is only 23% silk, the yarn felt a lot more like a plant fiber (little spring or stretch).  That’s not a knock though - I love cotton and work with it often.

The bag started as 1 stitch cast on to a size 6 needle.  K1, YO, K1 into the stitch.  Turn and K3.  Continue doing a double increase into the middle stitch and knitting the following row until you just have enough left to bind off.  Knit half the stitches, fold piece so that the right sides are facing and do a three-needle bind-off.  Run cord through the stitches around the opening.

This stone is star diopside and almost certainly came from India.  It is not uncommon and not expensive and it has a wonderful trick.  It exhibits asterism!

Doesn’t that sound pompous?  Heheh....  All that means is that when a sufficiently bright light source shines on the stone, it produces a four pointed star which you can see in the above picture.  Star diopside is always cut as a cabochon (the un-faceted, domed shape of the stone above) so that the star can be seen.  Many minerals show stars on occasion, even ordinary quartz does it.  Probably the most famous though, are the star sapphires and rubies.  Their stars have 6 legs.  In fact star diopside is the only stone with just four.

It looks like the sun’s struggling to come out and I hope it makes it.  We don’t need any more rain for a while :)

Have a wonderful weekend, folks!

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1. i think that knit picks has definitely produced winners in their new lines- let’s just hope they can keep it up-

   your wee creations are pretty and the gemology tidbits are great- you are a rare person of infinite interests-

   stay happy-

   Posted by  on  04/08  at  11:03 AM
   Location : still sleepwalking in the south



2. I think this is great.  We are getting a first hand review of the yarns.  The gemstone information I find fascinating.
   From the last post’s comments:  I love opals. They seem to have so much personality.

   Posted by  on  04/08  at  11:52 AM
   Location : what time did it used to be LA?



3. I love your big ideas knitted into these tiny knitting projects :-) Very clever, and very adorable. Way to knit, girl!

   Posted by Lisa, Mike, Jack, Della  on  04/08  at  01:08 PM
   Location : global



4. Barb - If by that you mean I have trouble concentrating on any one thing at a time, you’re absolutely right :) Something that requires absolute focus is probably going to be forever beyend me.  I’m not ADD or anything, I just find everything interesting :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  04/08  at  03:43 PM
   Location : Beyond the blue horizon...



5. Aarlene - I have a very tiny pair of opal earrings which are, never the less, really pretty.  In the universal choir, I always think of opals as sopranos :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  04/08  at  03:48 PM
   Location : Beyond the blue horizon...



6. now, would i say a thing like that???

   let’s reword it- you have varied and amazing fields of interest- anyway, a little ADD never hurt anybody- i say that about all the five gazillion projects i keep on hand-

   stay happy-

   Posted by  on  04/08  at  03:51 PM
   Location : still sleepwalking in the south



7. Lisa - Goodness! - Thank you!  It was certainly a fun exercise :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  04/08  at  03:52 PM
   Location : Beyond the blue horizon...



8. Robbyn, Again, gorgeous creative ideas.  What a way to show off jewelry as well!  You’ll need to set up display cases at home now to exhibit this artistic collection.  Also very clever way to do lots of projects at once and still get them done!  As for the lack of elasticity in the silk, alpaca and wool blend, alpaca is also unelastic and thus probably contributes to that “plant fiber” feel.

   Posted by Rob  on  04/09  at  12:15 PM
   Location :



9. Rob - Thanks - you’re very kind to say so :) And thanks for mentioning the inelasticity of the alpaca.  I hadn’t known this and I’m sure that contributed to the overall feeling of the yarn.  Hope you’re having a great weekend :)

   Posted by Robbyn  on  04/09  at  01:20 PM
   Location : Beyond the blue horizon...

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