"Monthly Gathering of Crankers......."

Last Saturday, the local group of CSM owners gathered at Madison's Hawthorne Branch Library, on East Washington, for their monthly crank in.

Here is Barbara, one of my mentors, who drives from Mineral Point to attend, setting up her NZAK.

Pat, my another of my mentors, who has several machines, brought her NZAK on Saturday to work with as well. As my NZAK is also blue, it seemed it was to be the day of "Blue NZAK's". That, of course, changed as more people arrived. :)

Here is a shot of the entire group of "attendees".

And another view of the group. My NZAK is on the far right. I sat closer to the wall this time to be closer to an electrical outlet, as I now have a light which clamps onto my yarn mast. That purchase was inspired by "Mentor Pat". ;)

This is Susan, of FiberArtCafe, with several of her 2 strand, hand painted, "Sock Blanks". Also shown are 3 pair of her CSM knitted socks which she knitted from similar sock blanks. Here is the link to her blog. Please go and check it out........

http://fiberartcafe.wordpress.com/

Aren't these colors vibrant?! Beautiful work Susan!

"Dyed Tubes and Finished Socks"

Today, I have 3 dyed sock tubes that I've knitted into pairs of socks to show you. I used WEBS "Valley Yarns Franklin Natural Cones", with the tension set at 9 on my NZAK, to knit both tubes and socks. The tubes were dyed in a crock pot.

On this 1st one, I used a combination of Jacquard Dyes.......Sky Blue, #621, Sapphire Blue, #622, and Jet Black, #639.

On this blank, I used Country Classic's China Jade, COC 78, and Blue Spruce, COC 75, along with a little of Gay Wool's, Mustard.

And on this last sock blank, I used Gay Wool's Garnet and Mustard, with some Country Classic 's China Jade.

Here are the finished knitted socks.

As you no doubt can tell, I am enjoying the process of knitting blank sock tubes and dyeing them very much.

"Dyeing a Sock Blank...."

Last Friday, I dyed the 2 strand sock blank tube that I had knitted on my NZAK. I had been avoiding dyeing it because I knew when it was done I had to unravel the 2 strand tube by hand. So finally, I bit the bullet and did it. This is how it looked in the sink after dribbling the various dyes that I had chosen for it.

And after slowly putting it into the crock pot with the vinegar infused water.

I "almost" forgot to take a photo of the finished dyed sock blank. I think I had about a third of it to unravel yet when I remembered that I needed a photo. Each ball will have approximately 1350 feet/450 yards in it when wound......enough to knit a pair of mens large socks (I wear a size 12 1/2-13 shoe and I have enough to knit a pair for me).

The 2 wound balls in natural light. I will, of course, post a photo of a finished pair of knitted socks from them.

"Dyed and Knitted Sock Blank Tubes....."

I had posted this photo earlier of this dyed sock blank tube that I had knitted on the NZAK. I do so again for easy comparison.

Before......

During.....

After.......the knitting of the sock is complete, but the toes need to be "kitchenered" together (64 needle cylinder).

This is a sock blank tube that I had dyed and wound onto a paper towel cardboard center, ready to be knitted.

The resulting pair of socks from that ball of yarn (prior to kitchenering, 64 needle cylinder).

Knitting a sock blank tube on my NZAK......

The dyed sock blank tube, ready to be wound onto a cardboard tube and knitted into a pair of socks.

"Sock Blank....."

I knitted another sock blank. I have the 2 strand sock blank from last week that still has to be dyed, but decided I wanted to re-measure another "single" strand sock blank, dye it, and knit up a pair of socks from it so that I could measure the rows per inch for sizing another pair of socks using the same yarn. I have measured the yarn before but not after dyeing it, so wanted to get another reading on it.

The following photo is without a flash. Unfortunately, yesterday, when the photo was taken, the sky was overcast and I didn't have good natural sunlight, but using the flash washed out the colors too much, so settled for the "flash-less" one. :) When Don saw the sock blank, he remarked that it looked like the colors on a raku fired piece of pottery. That would be an excellent description of the colors although the photo doesn't show it as I would've hoped.

I knitted another sock blank yesterday and will dye it today. It would have been dyed yesterday but I needed to purchase more white vinegar to use as the mordant to set the dye.

I moved the paint roller cage on the NZAK stand to allow the yarn a more direct vertical feed to the yarn mast. After using it in its previous place for part of the knitted tube, I moved it so I would have an immediate idea as to if it seemed better placed, which I do feel, so it has now found it's permanent home. :)

I will make sure that I take and post photos of the pair of socks I knit from this blank. I plan on knitting them today.........

"Socks and Stocking Caps....."

A pair of sock that I knit this weekend using the NZAK. I used Lion Brand Sock Ease yarn.

Here are the other 2 baby stocking caps that I knitted this weekend and dyed. These were given to Andy and Angela for their new little girl, Rebecca Bradley, who was born last Friday.

Here is a photo showing all 4 of the baby stocking caps that I knitted and dyed.

"Doing a Little Dyeing......"

I knitted a couple of baby stocking caps on the NZAK, my circular sock machine. They were an experiment, as I had not knitted any before, so wasn't sure how they would turn out. My 1st one was immediately put into an envelope and sent to Abigail, my granddaughter, to see if it was large enough to still fit her. If so, then more will be sent her way.

After posting the cap to Abigail, I came in and knitted up 2 more caps for the experience and also because I wanted to try dyeing them (I used the cream colored, Valley Yarns Franklin Natural Cones sock yarn from WEBS).

Here are my colors that I mixed up in my "Dollar Store" oil and vinegar bottles, which seem to work very well for mixing and pouring the dyes. The stopper is VERY tight, allowing no dye to escape around it. The brand of dyes that I used this time are Gaywool, from Australia.

Since each knitted piece was so small and I wanted to use a different color dye for each one, I decided to use the microwave to set the dye. I had done dyeing in the microwave before, but that was using Kool Aid, so I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to "blend" various colors, which as you can see from the photo, really didn't happen. I got carried away initially with Willow, a deep green, so my other drops of colors were swept quite away, but it did created a mottled effect in the knitted yarn. In this photo, the dye is almost "exhausted", which means almost totally absorbed into the yarn. A few more minutes heating in the microwave and the water was clear......the piece was finished and needed only to be rinsed thoroughly.

My next attempt was with Citrus, which I decided to use by itself to see if I would be able to get an even color. It, too, did some mottling, but overall I am happy with the dye results and experiment. This photo shows that the dye was no where near to being exhausted, so it was heated, if I remember correctly, for at least 10 more minutes, perhaps more.

Here are finished stocking caps.........

I knitted 2 more caps the following day and also used the microwave to dye them. Once again I tried dyeing them 1 overall color, but they, too, had a slight mottled effect. I think the solution to that may be to use much more water and make sure the knitted piece is submerged fully and continuously during the process. I also used less dye to try for a more pastel effect......finding out that less still means MUCH less, although I was pleased with the results. :) I'll post a photo of them when it is processed.

"Knitting a Sock Blank"

I wanted to wind off enough yarn to knit a sock blank from the cones of natural yarn, so that I could dye it prior to knitting a pair of socks. Using my skein winder, I would be able to do that, although I did not have a way to really know the exact amount wound onto the skein winder except to just count my rotations (which would work, but could be less accurate). Pat, from the local CSM crankers, told me about using a fishing line counter, which I purchased at Dicks Sporting Goods last week. In this photo, you can see how the yarn goes through the fishing line counter and accurately adds up the number of feet that go through it.

I wanted 2 strands of yarn so that when the blank was dyed and unraveled, the 2 socks, when knit, would be very similar in appearance, providing I started using the yarn from the same ends of both wound balls.

A close up of the fishing line counter.......

The finished skein. "Unfortunately", when figuring out how many yards I needed for a pair of socks, I didn't take into account that the number was divided by 2 and I measured out the entire yardage in one long strand, realizing afterwards that each 1/2 of this long strand would knit a pair of socks. So now, I have enough on this skein for 2 pair that will be similar in color(s), if not exactly the same.

The next step was to take the skein and wind it onto a paper towel cardboard center, so that it would slide onto the paint roller cage I had attached to my NZAK (January 19, 2010 post). I prefer using paper towel centers compared to toilet paper centers. The paper towel center allows more room for the wound ball without going over the edge as when I tried using the smaller cardboard center.

By using my swift and Strauch Jumbo Winder, that task was easily done. Of course, Copper was there for moral support.

The wound ball of yarn was then slid onto the paint roller cage and knitted into a long tube. I used my 64 needle cylinder and adjusted the tension to the lowest possible setting. The double strand was not easy to knit, even with the low tension, but eventually the tube was completed.

The finished double strand tube........

I will document the dyeing process when I get up enough nerve to start that. :) My plan is to "paint" the sock blank, something which I have not tried to do as yet. So far, I have only purchased some stoppered glass bottles for the dye mixtures, but have not found a vessel large enough in which to "set the dye" using the oven or microwave. I "think" I might be able to use plastic wrap in the process and if so, then I should be able to do it in the microwave easily enough. THAT.......remains to be seen though, eh? ;)

"64 Needle Cylinder......"

I thought I should give myself a little more experience with my NZAK and switched out the 72 needle cylinder (which came on the machine already attached) and installed the 64 needle cylinder. And what better beginners experience to have than to knit a "set up bonnet"? I knit up 2 of them and also hemmed them right away on the sewing machine to keep them from unraveling.

I had knitted several on the 72 needle cylinder and wasn't at all thrilled to see them unravel so easily, so went back and hemmed each one, and in a couple of instances, adding some knitted tubing to them to gain a decent length again. I figured I would just go ahead and hem these immediately and not ever have to worry about it again.

After switching out the cylinders, I had also added quite a bit of lubricant, too, thus the spots of oil and smudges on the set up bonnets.

"My 1st Successful CSM Socks!"

This is the 1st pair of socks that I was able to complete on my NZAK. Ironically, they actually fit me. :) I knitted them from Valley Yarns Franklin Natural Cone, which is a sock yarn from WEBS, and is 75% wool and 25% nylon. There was some minimal shrinkage after wet finishing. I had bought this specific cone yarn because of it being able to be dyed, which I did on Saturday, putting it in the dye crock pot with a skein of hand spun yarn. Basically, I dyed it this color only because I happened to have the dye ready for the skein of hand spun, and it actually matches a hand knit sweater that I knitted this past year.

This is the 2nd pair of socks that I knitted with the NZAK and believe it or not, I used the very same pattern (number of knitted rows) as I did for my 2st pair. This is a prime example of how different yarns knit up. This pair was knitted using Opal Elements (75% superwash wool and 25% polyamid), a German yarn by ZwergerGarn (?).

If you remember from an earlier blog entry, I rigged up a paint roller cage that I am able to use skein yarn on after re-winding it onto paper towel cardboard tubes.

Experimenting and practicing on the NZAK continues.....yesterday I knitted a hung hem using a 3-1 mock ribbing and will continue with that experiment again today.

"Success!........(mostly)"

Here are my "practice" heels. The top section with the yarn in strands is my "set up bonnet" that I used to get started knitting on the sock machine and is continually reused. I left mine on for the photo and will cut the blue scarp yarn so that I will be able to reuse it again.

My 1st successful sock! Once again, I used another set up bonnet that I had previously knitted on the machine (practicing until I had a good one). As you can see from the numbers on my set up bonnet, I'm using my sock machine cylinder with 72 needles. I knitted a sock with a "hung hem", which is a folded over top edge (next to the blue on the left). I still have to hand stitch the toe together, but will be studying a video on You Tube before I attempt that yet. Eventually, I will also be knitting ribbed socks, but I need more instruction on using my ribber before I begin one.

Here is my 2nd sock of the pair (obviously the photo was taken with different lighting). I was doing fine until knitting the toe when the yarn broke. Why? I have no idea, but know I couldn't use it after that, thus it came off the machine. Today is another day, eh? ;)

"Saturday's Crank In....."

Saturday was the monthly crank in at the Hawthorne Branch Library. Wouldn't you know it, but I got so involved with the things, I totally forgot to take photos until I was about to leave! Thankfully, some people were still there and working so I could take a few shots of them.

Unfortunately, I do not recall ever being introduced to the woman in white. John is a very experienced sock machine knitter (he even has a video out) and is teaching both women. Martha is new to machine sock knitting, too. She got her machine around the same time as I did.

Don and I met Joan (in blue) while at Rainbow Fleece Farm's open house a few years ago. She was demonstrating how to use a drum carder. SHE is the person who planted the seed for my getting one. ;) Pat, is my CSM guru. She has given me numerous tips for working on my NZAK. She also solved my tension "issue" when attempting to knit heels. Pat is holding a "chain" of mittens that John knitted and brought in to show. Joan has a pair of socks that she knitted during the crank in. Although I don't have a photo of them, Pat knitted 5 socks (!) while at the crank in. Experience shows!

And.....speaking of heels. I FINALLY had success yesterday in knitting a complete heel with not one problem. Hopefully, the stars will continue to stay aligned when I am working on the CSM! ;)

"Another Attempt at a Heel....."

This photo shows the machine as ready to "turn a heel". The back half of the needles are all up and "not working", so only the front half will be knitting. The small black marks are where I will stop decreasing the amount of needles that knit and begin to increase the amount again which will form a heel.

I have not had much success with turning a heel as yet. Yesterday, I made it the furthest so far without breaking the thread of yarn. I know that it is because I am not doing something correctly, which I think has more to do with the weight on the sock more than anything else. Today's experiment will involve the heel hooks that came with the machine instead of the heel forks that I bought on ebay. I'll see if those make any difference in how the process works.

This coming Saturday is the crank in at the Hawthorne Branch Library (East Washington Avenue) from 9 AM- 4 PM, so I will definitely get some suggestions then.

A close up of the yarn carrier....

A close up of the needles with their latches.......

"Using Non-Coned Sock Yarn....."

When Don and I were at last months crank in, we noticed yarn wound onto cardboard tubes, slid onto paint roller cages, which were set into holes drilled in the knitters wooden sock machine stands. Much of the sock yarn available is not on cones, so this, I thought, was a very clever idea.......and just how was I to get a paint roller cage to work on my NZAK stand? Hmmmmmmmmmm, let me think..........

Why go to Dorn Hardware and get lucky enough to ask a clerk who used to be a machinist! With paint roller in hand, and wandering around the store looking at various "things" that "might" do the job, I happened to ask the clerk (Oh how I wish I remembered his name for all of you who need this same set up for your machine!) for advice. He pondered a moment, then took the paint roller from me and I followed him back to the work room where he proceeded to take the handle off the cage. After that, the search was on for the parts that he'd come up with to make this work. And work it does! I came home and attached it to the NZAK stand, making sure it could stay on all the time, allowing plenty of room for the largest coned yarn next to it.

Attaching the wound skein (I used a paper towel cardboard tube and my jumbo winder) sock yarn onto the roller cage.............

The set up ready to knit.

The knitted tube of yarn. Unfortunately, I wasn't watching the "feed" of the yarn very closely and somehow it wound itself around the yarn mast causing a break in the yarn, thus the long knitted tube with some yarn still on the paint roller cardboard tube.

I was more careful with knitting this tube.....it is some commercial yarn that I hand dyed and I didn't want any breaks in it. It was good to see how it knitted up.

I did find in yesterdays knitting of the skeined yarn, that they were a little heavier and tension had to be lowered for them to go through the machine easily. Of course, I have so much more to learn about knitting on a CSM that I have only scratched the surface.