Knitting needles

A few years ago I met my parents in New York. I had taken the train to New Jersey and after getting all turned around and my Dad rescuing me from Hackensack, NJ, we were enjoying a nice evening outside the camper. The plan was that after our weekend exploring NY, we would drive together to my aunt's, where I was living in W.V. Since this was the plan my mom brought somethings of mine that were still in NH. Amongst the things was a silver and red tube.

Inside the silver and red tube was a small collection of knitting tools that I had never seen before. It had been my Great Grandmother’s, who was an avid knitter. They would go on vacation to Maine and she would knit one sock on the way up and the match on the way down. When she got older she made every one of us Great Grandkid’s a pair of mittens. They were the warmest and best mittens in the world. I have yet to find a store bought brand (that aren’t leather) mittens that live up to the warmth, and dryness of those mittens. When they started to feel wet that was the sign for us all to go inside.

Grandma's knitting needles

Now this tube was a treasure trove, a history of knitting in one little package. There were plastic, metal, pin, circular, and double pointed almost an entire histories worth of samples of knitting in one little tube. You see the earliest form of knitting is done on double pointed needles in the round. All paintings done of knitting show this method. At first there was no name for the art, early mentions of it call it knotting, interwoven, mesh and net. It isn’t until 1527 in Paris that a capknitters’ guild under the patronage of St. Fiacra (An Irish man but mistaken as a Scott by the French at that time) actually makes it known that in deed there are knitters guilds.[1] Double pointed needles are how these hats would have been made by the Guild. Same for any sweaters, mittens and socks made, they were all knit in the round, on double pointed needles.

A. double pointed B+C Pin needles D.Early circulars

Double pointed needles would be the main way to knit anything until 1842 when it is noted that “a knob was sometimes put on the end of a needle.”[2] This was to prevent the yarn from being pushed off when you were working but for some project like scarfs, and sweaters that are pieced together, this is useful. In the Dictionary of needle work in 1882 the pin needle is mentioned. Soon enough the pin need the most recognized knitting needle of our time takes its place among knitters.

Most recently is the invention of the circular needle. Now it isn’t exactly circular rather it is a double pointed needle with a flexible piece in the center of it. Some have tips that can be interchanged. The earliest were made of steel like cable. They make knitting socks easy and you aren’t afraid to lose your needle but if poorly made they come apart easy and your yarn can get caught on the joint between where the needle and cable meet.

One can never have too many knitting needles of all shapes and sizes.

Other tools include starting top left: cable needle, stitch markers, stitch holders, neeedles, and crochet hooks,

Every needle is useful, they come in all shapes and sizes and give us warm mittens and sweaters. So here is to an old fashion tool, for an art that is making a comeback.

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[1] Rutt, Richard. A History of Hand Knitting. Interweave Press; C.O. 1989. P.1

[2] Rutt, p. 16.

Looking Back

I was recently going through things on pintrest and came across a Meme. It simply said Bush and Clinton are running for President, Jurassic Park is number 1 and Terminator comes out next month what year is it? I couldn’t help but laugh, and then I thought, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E comes out next month and Star Wars comes out in December and the number of remakes, reboots and comic movies and T.V. shows that have come out in the last few years  are staggering. We have rebooted the Odd Couple, a number of T.V. stations have dedicated their time to old television shows from ME TV to TV Land. We are stepping back in time in such proving that nostalgia can pay.

I mean my blog lives on nostalgia, and the past. For a culture that is constantly moving ahead, we are always looking behind. I think in some ways it is a good thing though (not that I am biased or anything). There are some times when looking behind can save us. I have used new sewing machines, I don’t think they can hold a candle to my very old but very good Singers. I have had to bring my ‘90s Rose in for repairs 3 times and I need to do it again but have brought my ’69 easy touch in for one and a cleaning and my ’51 301 in for none. My cars are over 15 years old, I have had less problems then some of my friends who have newer cars, though when I have problems with my truck, we have big problems. (Love you Dad.)

I surround myself with my past. I do it for a living. I can tell you how to dry herbs but I can’t tell you what baseball team is playing tonight. I know about the most random fact of almost any period of history but ask me what new movie is playing I have no idea. The thing I can’t help but notice is when we do look behind. The 1950s and 60s were about looking ahead, movies about the future, sprinkled in with some nostalgia were in every theater. Now though it seems more nostalgia and less future. Why, the world is changing. The 50s saw the end of the Second World War, a baby boom and a new way of living. Everything was on the up.

Today it seems to be at a stalemate, there are days were things aren’t getting better but they aren’t getting worse. In many ways it cost the same to rent as it does to buy and many people can’t afford either. You keep your head down, hoping to get from day to day. Living in a world that is ever changing, talks of an apocalypse seem to be on everyone’s mind and yet at the same time we see that glimmer of hope on the horizon.

So bring on the nostalgia, and bring on the past, let us learn from it, use it to our advantage and make our world better. It’s only 2015 we have a long way to go.   

Mending Jeans

So I was doing my laundry and noticed that my jeans were starting to wear through and would probably tear in front of people and do a big reveal for all to see the next time I wore them in public. Now most never realize when their clothes are doing that or when they do they toss them out but a good pair of jeans can easily run you $20 bucks and when those jeans make you feel good your even more wary to part with them . So here I am with a worn out pair of blue jeans, choosing to go with the $2.00 and a little time option.

Yep that is right. With a little time, a sewing machine and some heavy duty thread you can repair those jeans. Now for this job you will need

·         A sewing machine that can do a zig zag stitch

·         Regular thread (I am using Dual Duty 100% Polyester black)

·         Denim thread (I am using Dual Duty Plus Denim thread 68% Polyester and 32% cotton)

·         Your worn jeans

·         Scissors

End result and the settings on my machine

Alright lets begin

1.      

     Take the regular thread and place it on the bobbin. This will be the underside of the stitching.

2.      Thread your denim thread through the machine. This is what will be seen on the outside.

3.      Set your machine to the highest stitch per inch but the widest your zig zag will go. So on mine that is 20 for the stitch and five for the zig zag. I also put my foot onto fine, it gives me a little more control over the moving of the jeans

4.      Place your jeans in the machine and start stitching, moving back and forth over the hole. Try to keep your fabric taunt as you move it because it can get pulled together a bit as you sew. You can still wear them after but it might feel a little strange at first.

5.      When done cut the threads and knot them on the inside. Clean up any stray threads.

6.      Wear them out in public and no one will notice that you just saved yourself an easy 20 bucks.

See with a little time and a little thread old and worn can become new again.

It's on the cards

There are two ways to processes wool, carding or combing. Carding is one of the most common ways to process wool. Drum carders have made the process easier but they are wicked expensive. Carders themselves aren't cheap but if you are going to process and spin your own wool I would start with carders. You can use the paddle combs you use for brushing your dog if you want to but you need two. You can spin wool that you haven’t carded but teased (spread the fibers out with your fingers) but you won’t get as fine or as smooth a yarn.

The woman in the right hand corner is carding. One is combing and the other two weaving and spinning.

Carders are probably as old as spinning they are used not only to clean your fiber but also to align the fibers so they are all in one direction. This will create a more even spin and a smoother yarn. Carders haven’t really changed either, in paintings when you can spot them they seem the same as they are today. Two paddles in varying shapes and sizes with little teeth that have a slight curve to them.

 1)      First tease you want to out your wool (if it is pretty well flat and not too knotted you can skip this step.) You want to take it between your fingers and spread it out making it light and fluffy.

 2)      Next take your wool and spread it on to one of your carders. You want enough so that you are actually combing but not too much that it doesn’t do anything. Try with different amounts to see what works best for you and best for your fibers.

 3)      Next take that paddle in your left hand combs facing up. Take the blank carder in your right hand and place it in the center of your left paddle and gently brush the right carder toward you. Repeat a few more times. Fiber will be deposited on the card in your right hand.

 4)      Next rotate your right carder to your left hand and left carder to your right hand and continue to brush.

 5)      Now you want to take it all up using both carders loosen your fibers up so they are lightly sitting on the combs and roll them up into what is called a rolag. You can roll it from the handle to the top. This creates a fluffier yarn traditionally called woolen spinning. Or from one side to the other keeping all the fibers in one direction. This creates a semi-worsted yarn. 

 6)      Start Spinning!

So there you go how to card, spin and knit. Now I just need to learn how to dye yarn. 

Navajo woman carding on a cacti