Sunday 4 March 2018

Soap today!

Report card writing time usually takes control of 3 consecutive weekends so when they are done, I look forward to a few things.  This time I looked forward to yoga so I made it to 3 consecutive 6 am yoga classes! 

I also made plans to make soap with JayKay.  It had been a while since we had made any together, likely not since July 2017.  So it was grand time to make more.


For today's soap I used:  
  • olive oil 
  • cocoa butter
  • shea butter
  • mango butter
  • Orange Valencia and Litsea essential oils
  • powdered cocoa


The hearts were made by mixing powdered cocoa with a small amount of soap base.  I love how these soaps have turned out so far.  I blended the oils & lye around 115F.  The base colour was quite yellow/orange due to the olive oil and the citrus EOs.  It's only been a few hours but the soaps have already lightened-up a fair amount.  


The 2000g of oils made 12 oval soaps, and 12 square soaps.  I poured the leftovers in what I call my "square guy" mold.  JayKay is calling this leftover mishmash soap "Poppy Seed Explosion".  Oddly, I'm even more excited about this soap than the planned soap.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when it's ready!

Sunday 11 February 2018

Tunic Fade

2017 was the summer of forest fires in BC, and in the knitting world it was the summer of faded knits:  shawls, sweaters, ...  I had wanted to knit a faded tunic for a few years after seeing a few different versions on Pinterest but was not confident enough to do it on my own without a pattern.

Then came a Tanis Fiber Arts Etsy update featuring these beauties:


Knowing that they would disappear within minutes of the sale opening, armed with my phone, at the given time I made a quick purchase and was lucky enough to get them.  Having purchased the yarn, there was no turning back and it was time to find a pattern.

I liked the shape of Amy Miller's Seamus, a fun, light tunic in fingering weight yarn.  Using the total length of the tunic, I divided the tunic into 5 sections, reserving the ribbing for the last colour.  When it was time to switch colours I would usually knit 1 row of the new colour, 3 rows of the current colour, then 1 row of the new, followed by 2 rows of the current, then 1 row new, 1 row current, 2 rows new, 1 current, 3 rows new, 1 current, and continue with the new colour.


When adding the sleeves I tried my best to match the colours with those in the main body.  The original pattern has pockets but I decided not to add these.  They look great on a plain tunic though.

The final product is amazingly soft with beautiful drape.


To think that I almost didn't finish it.  I thought that the teal might be too bright and would have preferred to switch the last 2 colours.  The project lay dormant for a few months while I completed Christmas presents and a few other knits.  I'm glad to have returned to it and toughed it out because the result is a spectacular sweater that feels amazingly soft and light to wear.

I have fallen in love with the tubular bind-off.  It adds bulk to the ribbing and gives a nice, clean edge.

Colours:  Tanis Fiber Arts Purewash Fingering in:  Poolside, Atlas, Hummingbird, Luna, and Silent Movie