Product Review: Mini Mochi from Crystal Palace

I have heard a lot of buzz about Crystal Palace's Mochi line of yarn. I've also seen some beautiful patterns float by on the Ravelry pattern page. They started with Mini Mochi, a fingering weight, but have added Mochi Plus, a medium (number 4).
I love mochi (the Japanese food made of pounded rice) so I was predisposed to like this yarn. It didn't hurt that I have a weakness for slow-changing colors, and that the range of colorways dances all over the place from the subtle Autumnal Rainbow (above) and Feldspar (un-numbered below, no. 116 in the catalog) to eye-searing Flame Rainbow (102, below).
Strawberry Lime Rainbow (106 below) is particularly fun , but my favorite colorway so far is Neptune's Rainbow ( 108, below). Other names include Jungle, Baby Face and Bossa Nova.
Turns out the yarn itself is named after a lovely marmalade short haired Scottish Fold kitty.
I got a chance to knit with it this weekend for the first time, and can see why this yarn has become a "love it or hate it" sort of thing.

Early user reviews of the yarn on Ravelry didn't bode well. Comments included complaints about too many knots, lack of twist and felting/shrinkage despite following the washing directions. Other comments mentioned that at smaller gauge the halo turned into plain old fuzz, obscuring stitch definition.

Crystal Palace has stated that some of the early runs were not up to par, and has offered to replace skeins with some from newer lots to some people who were disappointed. If you are one of those, here is the contact info:

Contact Crystal Palace Yarns with Questions or Problems? email: cpyinfo -at- straw.com
(replace the -at- with @ for email)

My first attempts at knitting with a needle slightly smaller than recommended were a little frustrating. When casting on with the long tail method, the thumb-side yarn became tightly twisted while the over-the-needle yarn became fluffy and almost like pencil roving, although stronger.
It was hard to capture the stitches on the first round until I switched to a slightly blunter needle. There was one small knot near the beginning, but the rest of the yarn was fine.
After that first round, things got a little easier, and my stitches less tense. This was with a skein of Baby Face, lot number 27.

From the same shop I also got a skein of Autumnal Rainbow, lot number 43 and that was a little easier to deal with. Still a little splitty, but even with my sharp Addi Turbos (in a size recommended on the label) I was able to go along smoothly with only a few hitches to put split stitches back on the needle for a second try. I wonder if the darker dye changed the texture enough to make the difference? (Dark yarn tends to have more dye absorption, changing the texture sometimes).

Would I make socks out of this? Nope. Can't see it happening. The low twist leads to fear of quick wear, even with the nylon content. Although soft, it loses some of it's smooth hand when knit at a tight gauge. I think the tighter the gauge, the more the low twist becomes an issue in split stitches.

HOWEVER I think it would make a stunning fabric knit on larger needles. If I used us#7 (4.5 mm) needles or larger, I think the loft of the construction would be in it's element.

On the whole, I don't think I'll try a small-gauge project with this yarn again, but it is definitely worthy of a place in my stash for making truly spectacular shawls and scarves with a drapey fabric.

I have only used the mini mochi, but I look forward to trying out the worsted when the right project comes along.

My Rating Mini Mochi Only:
For socks, 3 out of 10
For larger gauge projects: 8 out of 10.

Deets:
80% Superwash Merino Wool/20% Nylon
195 yds/50 gr ball

a Self-Striping fingering weight, single ply yarn
Perfect for any fine knit projects: baby, socks, lace, scarves and more.
16 self-striping colors - 7-8 sts/inch on size 1.5-2 needles
Hand or Machine wash gentle cycle in cool water with mild soap/detergent. Dry flat.
(all images from Crystal Palace Yarn)

Water Bridges

I am spending some time waiting for my hands to ease up a bit, wandering around the weird physics section of Youtube.
I learned that in 2007, Elmer Fuchs and colleagues in Austria created a 25 mm long water bridge, with the help of an electrical current. Not a bridge over water, a bridge created simply with electricity and water, floating between one beaker and another.
Here are a few cool videos.

This is one of Dr. Fuch's videos, showing the bridge as it is created.


This one, using a laser beam, shows that the water is in fact swirling within the bridge while traveling from one beaker to another


These two were done with a thermgraphic camera by Elmer C. Fuchs also:




I wonder what other bonds electricity can strengthen?
Sci Fi Live! Gotta love it :-}

Freedom Day

For the sake of my sanity (and thus, his own) Oscar likes to be certain I get out of the house once a week, when at all possible. Today was another Diana Freedom Day and quite a good one, at that.

It all started when one of the editors of Knit Circus posted in Ravelry that they would like a sample knit of an upcoming design. I offered to do one of the smaller projects, and they arranged to have one of the LYS (local yarn shops) hand over some yarn to me. Visit a yarn shop? You betcha!!! I think it's been almost a year since I was in a yarn shop.
This was my first time visiting the Old Village Yarn Shop in Plymouth, Michigan (about 20 minutes from our house). I had a wonderful time, of course :-}
The shop was spacious and EXTREMELY accessible. I mean, I only found two tight corners, and my manual wheelchair is larger than average (had to go manual today because of the rain). Also, everything was within sight distance, and the clerks (and one of the teachers) were there to help with any questions, or to reach something for me if it was beyond my stubby arms. :-} MOST of the yarn was within reach of me in my chair. An unusual situation in some yarn shops.
I picked out the yarn colors for the Knit Circus project, then shopped for a shawl/stole I have in the works. It's based on a stitch pattern I found in a Weldon's book. I have every volume except for volume three, and I find loads of inspiration thumbing through them. Anyway, I found yarn for the stole and a matching scarflet, then enjoyed chatting. (I chose Plymouth Kudo in color number 42) Oscar enjoyed himself too, and impressed them with his knowledge of yarns. I guess I'm rubbing off on him!

When we got home, I received a package from Amazon, with a special book in it.
LynnH, Oscar's sister, has one of her patterns published in Joy of Sox! Her design is called Hot Waves. Although I purchased the book because of knowing Lynn, I really love some of the other patterns, too. It has a good balance of beginner projects to way 'off the cuff' designs that require a good amount of enjoyable concentration. The editor, Linda Kopp, has also included tips and tricks and washing instructions. I'll review the book more fully in another blog post, but even browsing through I am delighted to own it.

In other news, I have been offered an opportunity to do book reviews for Knit Circus!
I have done book reviewing before, mostly fiction, but I am really excited about reviewing some non-fiction in my chosen field.

Juggling for Dollars

I was SO right when I said doing patterns one at a time is not my style...
I have been having a terrific time this month.
I discovered the Free Pattern Testers group on Ravelry, and have three patterns being tested at this point in time; the Wave Baby! blanket (I will be advertising it in September, I think) the Dragon Butt Hat, and the Winged Cropped Cardi (photo of Amanda wearing it, above). I am also working every day on my submission which is now due September 6th (to Anticraft).
The pattern testers are giving some wonderful feedback which will make my patterns stronger and more easily understood. I have also received an offer of help in teaching me to draw a layout for how pattern pieces fit together; crucial for the winged Cardi.
So, I am having a terrific time, bouncing from one project to another as questions from the testers arise, thinking of yet another weird slant to add to the Anticraft submission, and often forgetting to eat until my stomach complains.

Spinning Giddy

I haven't spun much in my life, but the little I did, I loved. I have used a drop spindle, but was too afraid to try a spinning wheel. I guess I thought it would go too quickly for me or something. Anyway, when I became disabled, and sitting up for too long became harmful if done on a regular basis, I put thoughts of spinning aside, but never got rid of my drop spindle.
Now, through someone I met on Ravelry, I have learned that spinning while reclining is possible! A little slower, but doable. Still, I put off trying, as the only roving I have is too matted to use for yarn. After winning Rockpool Candy's contest, she sent me some wonderfully gorgeous handspun yarn, vibrant with energy. I will share photos of my lovely yarn another time, as I am not up to setting up a photo shoot today, and the yarn deserves my best efforts. As I played and petted my new yarn that old longing to spin came back stronger than ever. And I happened to know Rockpool Candy was having a major sale on her roving this month... so I flat-out indulged myself and bought two batts. When they arrive, I will practice spinning again. If I do well, and space allows and money allows, I may try a spinning wheel next. I love a new challenge!
(below, images taken by Rockpool Candy of batts similar to the two I will be getting soon!)

Just a Little Undershirt

I can't remember whether or not I blogged this, so here goes.
One of the projects I completed this summer was actually by follwing a pattern! (Yeah, I know!) And I didn't even change anything except to create a comparable yarn weight by doubling some Knit Picks organic cotton.
I loved the story behind this pattern:
“Originally copied from a little Danish undershirt from the 1960s, this baby undershirt is updated with a colored stripe. It can be work as a cool summer topper or as a toasty-warm winter undershirt. The update includes circular knitting, which makes the 2/1 striped pattern easier. To keep the project simple and quick, the stripes stop at the underarm. The up-to-date K2/P1 ribbing lies smoother than the old-fashioned K2/P2 ribbing on the original. the drawstring at the neckline means baby can wear this undershirt pulled up at three months and with the drawstring loosened from one year to eighteen months - maybe even longer. While I was knitting, I suddenly recalled a factory-made-undershirt from my childhood that had a little bow at the breastbone - a reminder of older undershirts with gathered necklines that little girls could wear for several years. Ah, the days of sensible thrift!”
Anyhoo, Here it is, Just a Little Undershirt by Robin Orm Hansen, published in Interweave Knits, Fall 2009. It is for Sean, of course :-}

Beautiful stuff

I uploaded a large scale image similar to the smaller one to the left, here, to Caedes.net
Beautiful, beautiful stuff there. One of my favorites so far is called Sea Clouds.

Sunday Adventures

What I did today (as close as I can get to sequential order, but no guarantees).
-woke up after Oscar left for work.
-called him to say hello and I love you
-made a cherry banana vanilla smoothie with soy protein powder. Pretty yummy. 1/2 left over for an afternoon snack.
-Watched the documentary Chihuly In The Hotshop while knitting (knit on two projects, till the hands gave out). 1/2 the documentary left for later.
-found out my lift chair has been unplugged and was out of juice battery-wise. Realized phone was out of reach. Did a few uncomfortable gymnastics to reach a grabber, which allowed me to unearth the chair's power brick and the extension cord, and mate them again. Whew.
-made it to the bathroom in time. Double Whew.
-read my favorite blogs, and through Karen, found Kym. Good stuff Maynard.
-read my favorite blogs and learned stuff about Lithuanian Symbolism. Good stuff Maynard.
-commented on some Ravelry forums, fixed an error found by a test knitter in my Dragon Butt pattern.
-Contemplated the benefits of a simple braided strap for Alison's Bag. Non-stretchy, easy, narrow enough for the bag. Within 3 rounds of finishing the main part of the bag now.
-Read about sweater construction in "The Knitter's Guide To Sweater Design".
- I'm currently fixing lunch. (veggie patties with green beans and a little cheese)

I've been up about 4 hours now. I think I'll take it easy and knit some more this afternoon.

Quiet day

We are lucky in that Oscar's company, unlike many in Michigan, is offering overtime this month and part of next. Today is his one day off this week , and he'll be alternating between watching our "racy shows" (NASCAR coverage) and catching up on household stuff. Meanwhile I'll be working on a banner ad for Elijah to run on Ravelry for September, messing around on the computer, and knitting just a little bit. I am no longer allowed to do much housework. Never thought I'd miss it this much! Anyway, here are a few reworked photos from several years ago. Enjoy!

Image of Sound

I used my first computer in the mid 1970s. One single computer was sited at the Career center, perhaps the only student computer in the county, and I was fascinated from day one with what it could do. I don't remember specs, I've always had a more vivid memory for emotion than for details, but it had to be one of the first PCs out there. Years later, in the early 90's I traveled the globe on a gopher with Jughead and Veronica to visit Archie, winding up reading articles on archaeology at an Australian university from my room in Battle Creek, Michigan. Then I joined one of the early Intra-webs, the Great lakes Free Net, and moderated a group or two, and met some people who I still care about and communicate with now, years later.

I guess this is the long way round to say I love living in 'the computer age' .
Today a friend posted a link to a beautiful computer animation set to music, which led me to the artist's site. Esteban Diácono
He has several sites, each a different yet interconnecting facet of his 'computer face'. He's a motion graphic artist, among other things.
I am still exploring myself, but what I loved today was this:

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.

I Love Steampunk

I have a secret lust for Steampunk stuff. I know, I'll be 47 in October. it doesn't matter, I love it. One of the reasons I love Warehouse 13.

Now I find out there's some way cool steampunk rings being made by Rebecca of Catherinette Rings

She's also running a giveaway on her BLOG.

I can't quite decide, but I think my two favorites are the Seraphinite and the Smoky Topaz

New Day, New Mood

Despite a distinct lack of sleep last night (I am allergic to my CPAP mask and sometimes the itchiness wakes me up and I am too uncomfortable to get back to sleep) I have a much sunnier outlook this morning.
I set my pattern-writing aside and worked on the first of three pairs of socks for Dad.
It is so wonderful that he is still around to wear them, it was impossible to feel down any longer.
He had a terrible stroke last summer and was not expected to survive, much less thrive. He has spent most of the summer up north, in Gaylord, enjoying acres of woods and his wild critter watching. He uses a cane up there, not even a walker. This from a man the docs said would never walk again.
It is a great pleasure to me that my parents, not lavish with praise, have mentioned how well the socks I made him fit, and that he wears them almost every day.
Mom paid for yarn, and I am knitting him some more. I hope he wears them out, I can always get the needles out again. That's my wish for Dad, to keep out of that wheelchair, and wear out multitudes of socks.

Blah Day, Geeky knitting stuff, and a gratuitous photo

The weather is sensing the end of summer, I think. It's not that much cooler, but the rains and storms are more frequent. The aches and pains they bring with them make me grumpy sometimes.
Another grump-making thing; I have run into a snag with the pattern I'm building for the September 1st submission. I made a chart using an Open Office spreadsheet, and after indicating grid lines are to be printed, I was able to copy and paste into an adobe photo shop document with grid lines intact. Voila, a chart.
The first time.
I spied a numerical mistake and went back to fix it, and now, no matter what I do, the grid lines will not print. I think I saved it as an excel file after the first image was created, and ruined the core graphics file. Back to the drawing board. At least I had only one of the charts done. And the knitting bit has only one more part to test and the non-graphics part of the pattern is finished.
The big problem is I think I can make the image on that first chart better, and I've already knit a sample. If I redo the image bit and not just the number bit, it would mean today was essentially wasted, Otterwise Designs-wise. Of course if I don't do the best job I can and remake it from scratch, that pattern would forever bug me.
*sigh*
So now that I've shared my depression, here's a picture to cheer us up:

A Special Award

I visited one of my favorite blogs today, and found that Leslie had given me (among some other folks) an award. Well, that was special enough, but when I read more about the person after whom the award was named, it became even more meaningful. Here's a link to Bella Sinclair's Blog. Thank you Leslie. You made my month :-}
I also wish to gift a few people with this award. Many of my online pals deserve this, but these three seemed to float to the top.
Mokihana, Alison and Karen.

Progress on a Few Fronts

I am getting within sight of the finish line on my Alison Bag pattern (and thanks, Alison, for letting me use your name).:-}
I am loving it. I think it is my favorite design so far. I have to only knit on it in fits and starts, or my hands hurt the next day. (The fabric needs to be firm.) I have plenty of other projects to intersperse with Alison Bag sessions.
I am also working on a submission to The Anticraft, due September 1st.
And waiting to hear if the 1,000 Fabulous Knit and Crochet Hats wants either or both of my submissions.
And then the hat that began as itself but became Dragon Butt. (Oscar suggests maybe Dragon Berry would be easier to market) wants to exist, too.
And the Winged Cropped Cardigan (you haven't seen it yet) is being pattern tested right now, almost done after some resizing and a little math.
Today, I was able to pay my Ravelry Advertising bill with money I earned from the patterns. Not in the black (yarn does cost money, too) but a definite step forward :-}
Also, Mom and Dad have paid me the supreme compliment of saying the socks I knit for Dad a few years back are his favorite. He only started wearing them after his stroke last year.
After pummeling my brain I remembered I used Debbie Bliss Rialto in DK. Mom offered to pay for the yarn if I knit some more. I want to have at least the first of three pairs done before the weather gets cold. Dad's feet are about the same size as Oscar's, so no problems with sizing. Rae's Yarn Boutique still carries the yarn, so I called her this morning, and she helped me choose which colors would make him happy (he's not a pink and orange kind of guy LOL).
Even though her shop is 90 minutes away, and I rarely travel that far, it is such a wonderful shop (and Rae is such a considerate shopkeeper) that I choose Rae's as my local yarn shop. if you are anywhere near the Lansing, Michigan area, I recommend a visit.

Dragon Butt Hat

Friday night we decided we needed food and fun, and a celebration of our eighth wedding anniversary.
We met with Tommy, Amanda and of course Sean-boy at a local Chinese restaurant called 'Great Lakes Seafood' (on Carpenter road, if you are in the area).
It has wonderful dim sum, and Hong Kong style Chinese dishes. (I'm gonna try the tripe next time).
Anyhoo, I brought along my newest pattern sample, the Dragon Butt hat. The hat started as something completely different (and the original idea will still come to be this Fall) but it grew into its own unique being, full of exuberance.
We took turns trying it on and snapping photos.

Barbara Walker

I knew going to Sock Summit was out of the question. It is physically difficult for me to travel, and the funds just weren't there this year anyway. I am happier than I can properly express that it turned out to be such a magical event. I have enjoyed reading various blogs and posts from people who attended.
Although there are many wonderful gifted knitters I would have enjoyed meeting (Lucy Neatby, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Anna Zilboorg... the list would fill this blog page) I think what I would have looked forward to the most was getting to meet and express my admiration for Barbara G. Walker. She has been a part of my reading life since long before I was a knitter.
Her books inspired many women who were breaking free of old stereotypes. She writes about cultural anthropology, spirituality and religion based on ancient matriarchal societies.
From Wiki:
Barbara G. Walker describes herself as an athiest. In the book, The Skeptical Feminist: Discovering the Virgin, Mother, and Crone, she writes about her belief that there is no deity. However, she believes that people, and woman in particular, can use the image of the Goddess in their day-to-day lives. Her book Woman's Rituals: A Sourcebook is an attempt to show how she puts her "meditation techniques" into practice, and is meant as a guide for other women to do the same thing.
Then I rediscovered knitting, and started collecting knitting books, and there she was, as inspirational and innovative as ever.
Every time I read about the warmth and gratitude she met with at Sock Summit, I get a little choked up. Part of it may be because I wished so badly to be there, but mostly I am so deeply grateful that she was there to experience the honor in which she is held.

Thanks Barbara. And thank you Lynn, for bringing her a little of my love :-}
(image above is a quilt block I designed, back when I was quilting)

Twenty Eight Years

My pal Lynx found this photo of me taken when I was about 19 years old, and posted it to Myspace.
Funny, I don't FEEL 28 years older than this :-}
(edited with the right math)

the last of the 31st

The People Portion

This next section of the 101 photos taken on July 31st begins the people part of the day.
I am blessed to be connected to some fascinating people. Each of them is deserving of a full blog entry or five, but I will try and hit the highlights, as I see them.
The first image below is of Lynn in an uncharacteristically still moment. She is like watching a hummingbird most days. A human 'doing' sort of human being as Oscar says. She is the reason I knit and design today. What a great gift she has given me! I'm not the only one. She has taught hundreds of people various knitting skills, many of them youngsters.
She and her mom, Liz, are just finishing up an herculean task, getting Liz's primers for children published. Yes, at 75, Liz is a published author! She has taught thousands of children to read, and thousands more have learned from other teachers using the copies of books she created and stapled together. Now, the books will have shiny colored covers, pages, and will reach thousands more kids, teaching them the love of reading at the earliest possible time of their lives :-}
Fred is Liz's partner. He is amazing too. You know, he recently got his pilot's license? He and Liz still win many a dance competition, and medal after medal at the senior olympics. He also traveled to the Galapagos Islands this year, a dream trip of mine.
Brian is a quiet man, but when he says something, it is always worth listening to. He took a great photograph of me that day, whizzing around with my camera strap held in my mouth :-}
He is a musician, and is one of the people helping music from our past stay alive. He and Lynn are The Fabulous Heftones, playing 1920's Tin Pan Alley music, but he has also listened to many an old song recording and brought it to life again on his Uke. His Youtube videos are my go-tos if I am having a rough day, especially his own compositions. His instrumentals paint images in my mind as I listen, and give me some perspective. The last photo is one of my favorites of Lynn and Brian.
Oscar.. Oscar is the best thing that ever happened to me. My life would be so different without him. He brings me joy, and giggles, and sound-hearted advice. I love him.

Other photos include a pair of socks I knit a few years ago.. it took me until the night before the trip to the gardens to weave in the dozens and dozens of ends, and I think this is my second time wearing them. The first time I just tucked the raw ends inside :-}. Also one of Lynn's newest patterns, a beautiful bag, and a glimpse of a gorgeous shawl she is designing.