NaArMaMo 2014 - Day 3

[kerravonsen]

Yes, I've been participating in naarmamo this year, but I haven't been posting about it (apart from the comments in the comm itself) because there hasn't been anything to show before.

But now, prepare to be pic-spammed!

I'm doing a NaArMaMo album on my LJ - might as well use the scrapbook since I have a permanent account there. But I'm posting on DW and crossposting to LJ. (LJ's old scrapbook was much better than their current crappy one, but hey, it still hosts images)

This scarf is one I've been working on before August began, so it was mostly done already, but I did finish it today.

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This is the tale from yesterday:

I wanted to see if I could do bead-knitting on my new "automatic" spool knitter (you turn an actual handle and it does stuff!). I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and make something to go with a Paua-shell pendant I made a while back. I had some particular beads in mind; pale pink and green to go with the pink and green of the shell. Using also some silver metallic yarn for the actual yarn part, I proceeded. Going slowly enough and pushing the beads down (every fifth time, to make it a spiral) it worked!

Unfortunately, putting the resultant cord next to the Pendant it was supposed to go with... showed that they did not suit each other. The beads were too much pink and not enough green, and the cord was a bit too thick. But that's okay, I just made it into a necklace on its own account. And made some earrings to go with.

So here it is:


And continued:

But that left the poor Paua-shell pendant without anything to hang from. So I thought I'd try another experiment with my automatic spool knitter, and see if I could knit multiple threads together. I'd tried before with threads of different kinds and thicknesses, and it hadn't worked. But this time, all the threads would be of the same material and thickness - maybe that would work. What were the threads in question? Silk embroidery thread, three shades of green and one of pink (that seemed to be the right proportions). So I tried it, and, going slowly enough to prevent mistakes, it worked! A lovely soft smooth silk knitted cord for my pendant.

Today I did some wire-wrapping on the ends of the cord so that I can attach stuff to it. One step closer to finished:

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And spiralsheep requested that I show my automatic spool knitter, so here it is.

This is laying on the table, so one can see it clearly. That is the start of a cord - because of course I needed to make a cord in order to demonstrate how it works. This was an experiment with two differently-sized threads; one machine-embroidery thread and one filament thread, both sparkly.


This is me holding it as it's supposed to be held when using it. Because I don't have three hands, I could not demonstrate turning the handle, because that hand was holding the camera. The clip hanging from the cord is a weighted clip, and thus provides steady tension which the device needs in order to work.


And here is the finished cord which I started above. I'm not sure what I'll do with it.


It's interesting how different threads give a completely different texture to the resultant cord; the silk was thick and smooth, while the sparkly threads were sparse and crinkly.

Comments

[watervole]

I like the sheen of the silky one - the colours combine better than I would have predicted.

[kerravonsen]

8-)

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

I've got that frame for you, and a couple of small things that sort of fell out of a box or something...

[kerravonsen]

8-)

I've got that frame for you, and a couple of small things that sort of fell out of a box or something...

Huh?

[hyndara71.livejournal.com]

Ah, now I know what you meant with knitting machine! Those are looking great! Never saw knitted necklaced before. You gave me an idea ...

[kerravonsen]

8-)
Yes, with sufficiently thin and pretty yarn, one can knit and crochet necklaces! I find embroidery thread is really good for that too.

[carelessmemory.livejournal.com]

The scarf looks so cozy! :) And the bead-knitting, I love that.

[kerravonsen]

I love the way I can do double-knitting with my rack loom - makes a really thick and cosy scarf.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Simply awesome!!! Thank you for showing us your magic...which is actually your hands and a clever head:-)
The scarves! Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

[kerravonsen]

8-)

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

Ooo... thank you for the demonstration of your automatic spool knitter. That's very interesting!

I especially like the shell necklace, and the cord for the pendant. The pendant is spiffy too, did you buy it or make it? Because I know you do some metalwork (e.g. chain making).

[kerravonsen]

Ooo... thank you for the demonstration of your automatic spool knitter. That's very interesting!

It makes me want to go and make lots of cords, because it is so easy.

I especially like the shell necklace, and the cord for the pendant.

Now I want to go and buy lots of silk embroidery thread, it is so soft and lovely.

The pendant is spiffy too, did you buy it or make it? Because I know you do some metalwork (e.g. chain making).

I did make the pendant, it's one of the few things I've done with wire-wrapping (which isn't the same thing as chainmaille).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I like all the different patterns and textures in the scarf, and the cords are lovely too.

The cord-knitty thing looks like an automatic version of the French knitting we used to do with nails in a cotton reel, like this.

[kerravonsen]

I like all the different patterns and textures in the scarf, and the cords are lovely too.

8-)
Mind you, the different patterns and textures were more a result of running out of yarn...

The cord-knitty thing looks like an automatic version of the French knitting

Oh yes it is the same thing as French Knitting. I just tend to call it spool knitting nowadays because it seems a less confusing name.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Spool knitting does make more sense!

Since then I've discovered knitting i-cord on double-ended needles.