Home
 
 
14 February 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Labor of Love  
So be it! Time to wade into the swirling mass of projects that i am lining up for the cosmic spring ass kicking. first up- a huge challenge for me. this project is going to need at least 8 skeins of exactly the same yarn. you all know me...i have a seriously hard time getting through one bobbin with out changing the design at least a couple of times. and i would never even task myself to do something so dreadful except that this is for my best friend Aurora. the project is going to be a huge bulky sweater made of 100% natural grey/brown corridale wool. the yarn will be spun thick and thin, then simply thread plied with silk to make it wiggly and wavey. the yarn will be warm, soft, luscious and dramatic without being loud.

the reason i'm making her a sweater is because she housed me in brooklyn for the workshop last month, and i ended up walking out with half of her wardrobe. so i feel like i should replenish it with something spectacular. and i'm jealous because there is no way we in california could ever even wear such a sweater. even in the coldest parts of winter you can usually get by with long sleeves and a jean jacket. so this will be for the snow storms and the icy wind and it will look f'ing hot at the same time.

and i'm not going to knit this either!! i am going to lay the skeins out and sew through them creating a fabric. then i'll stitch it together and hand felt the seams so they are sound. then lightly /slightly felt the whole thing just to bind it together a little, but not end up stiff. it should look bubbly and just a little dready.

i'm a channeling mad max with a few dangles and tangles at the hem and sleeve. so. here is my sketch and my first skein. wish me luck!! i'm going to isolate myself in a cabin for the next 3 days and spin. so there won't be a blog. encouraging thoughts will be welcomed though. i have 1 pound, 12 oz. to go!


i'm already thinking to make the body more tapered to fit under her motorcycle jacket. will tweak this at the sewing stage.


 
 
( Post a new comment )
(Anonymous) on February 14th, 2008 10:25 pm (UTC)
That is such a cool idea I can't wait to see how it turns out. The yarn looks really good so far, good luck with the spinning :) Brit
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 02:39 am (UTC)
Fanstastic! May you spin in peace ;) I'll think of this project often as I hope to get some spinning done myself this weekend!
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 03:33 am (UTC)
project yarnway
this sounds like yarn project runway. your sketch looks just like theirs!

very fashion designer! except you do not have to finish by midnite or drink treseme.


xox LP02/teamsmalldog.com
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
pluckyfluff1[info]pluckyfluff1 on February 19th, 2008 04:22 am (UTC)
Re: project yarnway
i SO have to drink treseme!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
Jen[info]identity7 on February 15th, 2008 02:27 pm (UTC)
good luck!
what a wonderful friend you are! this sounds like an amazing project. I can't wait to see the finished product! I used a leftover bit of one of your yarms to blanket stitch my mom's valentine:

happy valentine's day

I can't wait to give it to her this afternoon! Let me know when you have a bunch of "left behinds" and I'll buy them from you :) I'm getting ready to make up journals and art for ArtFest to vend and everyone loves when I put your yarn in! I'm so happy I found you and your yarn!!!

xox
jen
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 04:08 pm (UTC)
Re: good luck!
That is a very cute valentine by the way! I think your vision is so intriguing. Can not wait to see it materialize. You are a magic maker!

Kathy
www.whiletangerinedreams.typepad.com
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
pluckyfluff1[info]pluckyfluff1 on February 19th, 2008 04:24 am (UTC)
Re: good luck!
SO BEAUTIFULL!!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 02:46 pm (UTC)
Beautiful yarn. Can't wait to see how this turns out. I love your creative ideas.
Cheers! kate
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 03:40 pm (UTC)
Cool idea, but have you tried a swatch? I don't mean to suggest it might not work, especially after you pulled off the brain hat!--but won't sewing the yarn together take out all the stretch and give that a knit sweater would have? And given that it seems to be a pull over and fairly tailored, will she be able to get it on?

Just a thought :) I can't wait to see it either. Wish I was her! Lorraine
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
pluckyfluff1[info]pluckyfluff1 on February 19th, 2008 04:29 am (UTC)
oh yes! i have many fears about this project. it will not have the elasticity for sure....but i'm going to make it roomy enough to get into. and the neck will be really wide so her head will fit no sweat. i guess i'm trading the give of knitting for a look that has lots of gaps and dreads. couldn't figure out how to acheive that with a knit?? it's so uniform. so...i really don't know. this could be a huge disater. it may end up being a throw pillow. :)
-lex

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
(Anonymous) on February 15th, 2008 08:14 pm (UTC)
good luck in your spinning and design. it's a nice gesture to return a garment, it's a lovely idea.

how intriguing to sew together the yarns; it will be most interesting to see the outcome. i cannot picture how to do this, so i can't wait to see the sweater!

best of luck lexi, here's to creative genuis (tipping cuppa tea)

joanne gerwe www.wearmoa.com
PS--the batts rock, wowsers.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)