Things are happening. At a rapid pace, too!

Our browser has been down, seriously limiting my posting ability. Here is what has transpired at Haus Weaver Bergh lately.

This Merino/Tencel roving from the Sheep Shed at Mountain View Farm (purchased at NH Sheep and Wool)Is now this:
I used the long-draw method and attained what seems to be a very even sportweight yarn. I only recently dusted off my spinning wheel, and look forward to some handspun/handknit creations in the near future.

There was also a trip to Savers, aka Value Village. WOW. I went with my friends Hannah and Jenny; here we are at Burger King after our shopping spree. I asked a nice man to take our photo. Oh, all those bags we're carrying were empty when we rode the bus to Savers.

We walked back to the West Roxbury bus after another stop at Joanne's fabrics, where I purchased fabric for a trapeze dress I plan to sew this weekend.

I also crocheted baby booties for my upcoming whatever-you-call-it when your cousin's wife has a baby. The pattern is found here, on pimpampum's amazing website. I sized these down, since the first one I made according to her pattern looked like it would fit a 10 year old.
Whew! There's more, too, but I have to keep some for later!

Stealth Finished Object

This is the test project I've been crocheting, designed by Monica Brown, who gave me permission to post the photo here. You can reach her here. She promises that she will be making the pattern public soon.

This one is the extra-small size (31 inch bust), made with 5 balls of Rowan Calmer in Plum. I have already worn it twice and been besieged with compliments. You too can make one, even with the most rudimentary crochet skills. Thanks, Monica!

Tomorrow I'm off to the Fiber Frolic and, if the weather permits, a lot of biking in mid-coastal Maine this weekend!

Wii

The latest finished object, a commission from my sister. It will be a birthday present for one of her friends. Do I own a Wii? Nope. Do I know what one does? Well, a little more than before, after looking at the Wii homepage to get a sense of the logo's form. What's important is that I have created a meaningful present for both giver and receiver. Shots of the recipient will be coming at the end of June, for now, here's me wearing it, after it has been washed in the machine and dried in the dryer (low heat).

It's made of less than 1 ball of white Lion Cotton Ease, with some Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Fog embroidery, which felted a bit when washed and looks great that way.

Oh, and another thing. Sometimes those of us who have been knitting for a while and have done a lot and generally seem to have the basics of the thing down, well, we have total disasters, too. Disasters that could have been prevented with just a little bit of planning. Like washing and drying a gauge swatch, something I really always do, except this time.

I made a hat that fit slightly loosely, but fit. Then I washed it. And dried it. Just like its owner will.


Wash and dry your gauge swatch. Gauge knows when you're getting a little too complacent and maybe a little big for your boots. It will find you, and when it does, it will be as ridiculous as what you see here.

Mother's Day Reveal

Here they are, in all their glory: Above we have Grandma's socks, from RPM (free pattern at knitty), made on size 2 needles from 2 skeins of Spunky Eclectic Chubby Sock in the color "Joshua Tree." There's a little more green in the colorway, but it was difficult to photograph indoors. Get yourself some Spunky Eclectic; the colors range from the subdued (like this one) to the electric.

The socks on the right went to Mom Bergh, my mom-in-law. They are your basic 3 by 1 rib with 1 by 1 rib cuff on size 2 needles, made from one skein of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock DK in an Earth potluck colorway (the fuschia you see in there broke up the other "earthy" colors and made these quite striking). I got the yarn at Yarns in the Farms, where they had a LOT of colors of this new sock yarn.

Finally, on the lower left are Mom Weaver's socks. Made from a now-defunct free pattern called "Yukon Leaves," these were done on size 1 needles from one skein of Socks that Rock lightweight in Emerald Isle, purchased from The Fold.

Everyone was happy. I am happy. So many lovely sock yarns and sock patterns out there... though this sock tour was a bit more deadline-focused than I would have liked, I loved all the patterns and yarns I used. So now I can go get some more.

The First WEAVERKNITS official design!!!

It's official! Coherent directions have been written, charts have been typed up, the product has been test-knit by the lovely and talented Hannah at Windsor Button, there are photo, and kinkos has sealed the deal!

My first self-published pattern will be available printed on high-quality glossy stock paper and encased in a plastic sheet protector.

The Nouveau Sack Hat is a perfect pattern for learning fair isle: no shaping, flexible gauge (it's stretchy!), only two colors, size 7 needles for instant gratification... there's not even grafting involved! And the yarns suggested (Berocco Ultra Alpaca, Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, and Blue Sky Alpaca sport weight) and tried have about a thousand available colors and are reasonably priced. You cannot lose!

The pattern will be available for $6 through Windsor Button and Newbury Yarns in Boston, and you can also order it from me directly by sending me an email at weaverbergh13@verizon.net. I'll send you a PayPal invoice, and once it's paid I'll put the pattern in the mail. The $6 includes shipping!

Why not a downloadable PDF, you ask. Well, I like nice things, and I've made sure that this pattern is NICE. What you will get is something durable and lovely, just like the things you knit! And, as all of us know, there's nothing like going in to a yarn store and browsing the patterns and seeing actual project. There will be samples at both Windsor Button and Newbury Yarns for feeling and examining and trying-on.

Plenty more patterns are on their way... soon!

Meanwhile, another finished object from this weekend, photographed at kinkos. It's the Cranium from Crochet Me, made from 2 skeins of Louisa Harding Fauve in some really bright pink color.