Fiber Arts Friday: Modified Sandbank, part 2

Since last time, I tried to put this project on one circular needle, but it wasn't quite ready...

So I moved it to two of my longest US0s.  These are 40 inches long...

This was a dedicated project until about  the end of March 2023, when it started to get boring.  So I did some work on other projects to give my mind something else to focus on.

This was also the point of leaving our temporary housing toward the end of the major portion of our remodel.  It was in to the second part of the first pattern repeat and about 2.5 inches wide.

Working on it a little here and there for much of April, I am complete with the 2nd pattern repeat as of early May 2023.  The project is about 4.5 inches wide, and I have used less than half of the first skein.

These are still the 40-inch needles...

This project then spent most of May and June resting, only picking it back up in early July 2023.

Since then I've been working with a less-is-more strategy.  Generally I only work on it in the morning while I'm having coffee and catching up on the news from the previous day.  Then spending any other available time working on something else.

Each round is currently taking about an hour and 15 minutes to complete, usually over two days.  Each round also increases by at least 4 stitches.

As of this writing, in mid-August 2023, I have completed Repeat #4 and used most of the first skein.

Repeat #4 used 27% more yarn than Repeat #3.  So assuming this rate stays constant, I should be able to complete 10 total Repeats.  Which means that I am 40% complete if you count Repeats, but only ~15% complete if you count skeins used....  lol.

Each Repeat adds two inches to the width of the wrap.

I will continue to keep track of yarn usage since the yarn is discontinued, and I, therefore, only have what I have.

I have also filled out my two 40-inch circulars and will be moving this project to two 60-inch  circulars next.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Larimer County Fair, 2023

I'm in the county's new system now, so I received an email on May 16 that the county fair was ready to receive entries.

The fair itself is held in early August, but I do appreciate being reminded that it's time to think about my entries and get them finished.  :-)

I downloaded several categories and had some thoughts about branching into several of them, but ultimately decided to enter in the following categories, which I have entered before:

• Photography
• Spinning and Weaving
• Knitting, Crochet, and Felting

As we got into July, I started setting items aside as well as washing and blocking the candidates.

The entries ended up being as follows:

• Minty Mitts - these are made well and match quite closely.  I also think the thumb join was executed well.
• Inigo Socks - these have two mistakes that I know of.  One can be viewed as a design feature.  Neither are obvious, in my opinion.
• Save Our Sheep Sweater - this has one obvious mistake, but I think the overall body of work and composition is good.  It should receive high marks for the variety of yarns made and used.
• TM 2-Ply Yarn - this is one of the better Chiengora yarns I've made.
• Peek-a-boo Photo of Wilma - I love the personality of this photo, but have no feel for how photos are judged and therefore placed.

The Minty Mitts and Inigo Socks are in the same class.  I only realized that one entry per class was allowed in the Knitting/Crochet/Felting department after I completed registration.  So it seems odd that the registration system allowed for and confirmed both.

So upon confirming with the Check-in Staff and then the Special Check-in Staff my second entry was cancelled.  Then as I was speaking with the Department Steward during Drop-off, She confirmed they were both allowed because socks and mittens should not be in the same class and they would be judged separately, but they would not let her break the class, so I re-entered the second entry.

There was also a change in the Photography Department to disallow matts, even though it is called out as specifically required in the Premium List.... and to be clear, I would not have mounted my photo unless the Premium List said it was required.

I also confirmed that the Premium List Posted still states the matt is required the morning after Drop off.

Annoying on both accounts but alas, all of my entries were dropped off to their appropriate departments.

Judging happens the day after Drop Off and is open to the public.  However, I've never been able to attend judging due to day job commitments.

Upon visiting the Fair over the weekend, I saw that my entries placed about where I expected them to.  It's always fun trying to find them in the display...

My Sweater was displayed prominently, with no ribbons.

I have to acknowledge that the Sweater Competition this year was quite good.  With the Brown one receiving the Grand Champion placement.

My Tibetan Mastiff yarn received 1st place and a Special Award.

The Minty Mitts received 2nd place.

The Inigo Socks received 3rd place.

.. and Wilma's Peek-a-boo photo was placed prominently in the Amateur Domestic Animal Display (directly under the Labrador/2nd place photo), with no ribbons.

So I am pleased that my entries placed about where I expected them to as well as looking forward to getting everything home and seeing what the comments are.

The written comments received were minimal.  I did not receive the written comments/score sheet for the Mitts, but I did receive some oral comments on the photo as I was checking out.... so I now have something to focus my attention on.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Inigo Socks, part 2

Since Part 1, I've been working on the Inigo Socks and keeping track of the actual hands-on time it takes for me to make a pair of socks.

These socks took a total of 22:02 and 21:33... or 43 hours and 35 minutes to make the pair over ~4 months.  

There were periods where I worked on them nearly every day and other periods where they rested for several weeks.

The second sock took less time, because I knew how far to go based on the measurement and record of the first.

Depending on where I was in the sock, each round took between 3 and 6 minutes to complete.

Of course some mistakes, aka Design Features were made.  For example, as I was nearing the end of the second gusset, and starting to organize for the next project, I realized I used US1 dpns for the gusset and US0 circulars for the remainder of the socks.  SMH.

The result is that the socks are less snug around the ankle, which, I think, is a good thing.

I also modified the toe section to be shorter, since I prefer the toe box to be wider.

These were my goals and interests upon beginning this project:

1. Record the actual time it takes me to make a pair of socks, using a new-to-me pattern - ~43.5 hours
2. Gain experience with the Jamieson & Smith yarn on a small project before I embark upon a Fair Isle Sweater - Complete.  The sweater quantity is already in my stash.
3. Decide if a selection of this yarn is appropriate for next year's Sock Madness - Yes, but the Shetland is very "grabby" so it does not frog well.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2023, part 6

This week we are finishing out the womens' race and wrapping up the entire event...

Day 28: Friday, July 28 - Stage 6

Today is the last day of spinning singles in this Tour.  I will begin plying tomorrow.

Day 29: Saturday, July 29 - Stage 7, Challenge

Today, the challenge was just to get everything done... as per usual.  ;-)

The single weighs 18g.

and I began plying.  This is going quickly, so I think it will be easy to finish tomorrow.

Our farm is/was the backdrop for a photo shoot this evening for an upcoming Crochet Collection.  I'm excited to see the result.

Day 30: Sunday, July 30 - Stage 8

I finished plying yarn #2.

Will wind off later today.

Counts at the end of Week 5:

• 1st Single is complete: 40 g (1.4 oz), 137 yards.
• Second Single iscomplete: 19 g (0.6 oz), 61 yards.
• Zero cashmere has been spun.
• Spun 21 of 21 Stages for the Mens' Race and 8 of 8 Stages for the Womens' Race.
• 56 total grams or 2 ounces and 198 yards of 2-ply Tibetan Mastiff was completed

Epilogue

I did not watched any of the Tour de France coverage this year.  I'm a little disappointed, since I enjoyed it last year... but alas, other things took priority.

I did complete two 2-ply yarns made from Ramen Pencil Roving.  The Pencil Roving allowed me to spin a smoother yarn that I have been able to in the past.  This is all due to my improved tools and skills garnered during my recent Drum Carding Classes.

I'm impressed with how similar the two skeins look next to each other.  Especially since the one on the left has been washed/blocked and the one on the right has not yet.

I have a possible project in mind for this yarn, which calls for ~700 yards.  Therefore, if I'm able to spin a reasonably consistent yarn, I will need to spin ~206 total grams of it.... aka another ~150g/500yds.  So maybe this will be a loose goal for the next several months.... something to think about.

I continue to hope to be able to do a more dedicated tour in the future.... but for this year, I'm very happy to have been able to spin for each of the Stages and to have accomplished my simple goals.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!