Komb!
Now is the time when knitbloggers look back and reflect on the finished objects of last year. Here’s a mosaic of it all:
Twenty four things: half of them socks, 10 accessories, the Squares for Sharron blanket, and poor Phyllo Yoked Pullover, which turned out very unflattering, sigh. You can click on the photo for details on all of the projects.
A bit more interesting is the yarns of 2008. Specifically, handspun. I bought a used, somewhat rickety (well-loved, right?) Ashford Traveller at the end of 2007 and gave it quite the workout in ‘08:
clicky for linky!
That’s a lot of yarn! Looking at the mosaic, I can clearly see how I improved as the year progressed, from the overspun messes in spring to the relatively good quality yarns that I spun in the winter. In mid fall I decided that my fiber stash had gotten out of control, so I spun the last ten skeins in a relatively short span of time.
While I was getting good at spinning yarn, I wasn’t very good at using it. No, not at all. Had I actually knit with the early yarns I would have realized how icky and overspun they were and I probably could have spun better stuff sooner. Ah, well, hindsight and all. Regardless, I have a shelf of handspun sitting around, becoming yet another stash. I finally decided to do something about it, all at once!
If you read Lolly’s blog, then you’ve seen her posts about the Komb blanket she’s knitting. I have an unnatural love of hexagons and how they tessellate oh-so-perfectly, so Komb is perfect! I decided that all of the handspun, from crap to gold, was going to become a gigantic blanket. Knit it until it’s gone!
First came color selection:
Since my color preferences are pretty consistent (cool colors!), this was pretty easy! I omitted anything with brown so that the blanket could hang out on our grey couch. I also chose yarns that were relatively the same weight – dk to worsted. One bulky yarn made it in to the blanket, and my next post will talk about the issues with handling the gauge difference.
I knit a few swatches:
Which became a little flower:
Which then multiplied!
The cream border yarn is Knitpicks Bare Superwash in the worsted weight. I went back and forth (and back. and forth.) of whether to use the superwash or non-superwash versions. There’s quite a bit of a price difference between them, but I finally splurged for the superwash (after buying all that fiber, what’s a few more dollars a skein?) so that I could easily spot clean the border without accidentally felting the yarn.
In the past, I never considered myself much of a blanket knitter. I’ve knit one baby blanket, the Oat Couture Prairie Blanket, and at the time I thought that was the longest, most painful project ever. I’m really enjoying this blanket, though – I think the handspun makes everything much more fun! I have a huge bag that I keep all the yarns in and it’s entertaining to close my eyes, put my hand in, and pull out the next color. I’ve also been searching the internets looking for more! colors! and spinning additional skeins to add to the blanket.
Since I’ll be working on this blanket for the foreseeable future, I’m going to spread out the details until the blanket is done. Next up: construction and gauge, where I spill the beans on the fact that I’m not actually knitting Komb at all, just a very close replica.
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I find all the spinning you did inspiring! I had gotten away from my own for a while, but I’m back at it now, and I remember how much I enjoy it.
The blanket is absolutely beautiful.
That blanket out of handspun is going to be freaking fantastic! I also knit the Prairie Blanket several years ago. The middle of it was quite tedious, but don’t you think it’s overall a very clever design?
I love the look of the blanket so far and think that it being knit out of hand-spun is just a great idea!
Oh my, it’s so beautiful! Your handspun yarns are lovely. I bought a wheel recently and I am learning as I am going. Hopefully, my ugly yarns will be better in the future.
Oh, wow, the blanket looks amazing so far! Your handspun yarns are beautiful, and I think a Komb lookalike is a perfect way to show them off.
I love all the hexagon handspun goodness! What a gorgeous project.
That’s so pretty and inspiring. I know I’ll be keeping Komb in mind when I drag the wheel out again.
Wow, you did some awesome work this year. And that blanket is going to be GORGEOUS! It’s super-inspiring; I’ll probably have to do something similar someday…once I have enough coordinating not-totally-crappy handspun, that is…
Swoon, that blanket is going to be spectacular!
Wow …. I am in awe of your knitting and spinning prowess! Your socks are gorgeous (I think I’m going to knit up one of your patterns this year), and the stag hat is stunning. And to think you knit all that and then had time to spin, too. Thank you for the inspiration
You were busy last year!! That blanket will be amazing. A great, interesting ongoing project!
Such beautiful socks.
This sounds really interesting. I can’t wait to read the next post.
The blanket looks fantastic, this would be something to do with sock yarn scraps. Mine are mostly the same colours as your handspun :-D. What does the wrong side look like?
so much beauty!
That looks great! What a perfect use for all that handspun.
omg, LOVE LOVE LOVE the blanket, it is soooo gorgeous! makes me want to make one too, but i don’t think i have the patience…
Okay, so looking at your knits and handspun for ‘08 is pretty inspiring. But the scene stealer is the start of your Komb blanket. That is awesome!
That is the coolest-ass blanket I’ve ever seen! I want one! I want one!
you have been a busy bee this year. but your blanket…whoa!
Gorgeous blanket! And oh, how I love the colors!
kelly, your komb is so gorgeous! i love all of your knits and damn your handspun is awesome.
komb is so pretty!!! i just love all the colors you chose :)
Wow, that is truly gorgeous, and inspiring! I, too, have a handspun stash, and some of it is pretty ordinary… this would be an ideal project. Thanks for the gorgeous photos and inspiration!
The blanket looks so wonderful! Just like a beautiful stained glass window!
wow! that is spectacular! what a showcase of your handspun!!!!!
That blanket is absolutely gorgeous. I LOVE the natural border around it!
Amazing colors in that blanket. I love all the yarn that you’ve spun.
Agh! That blanket (and your handspun) is gorgeous! And what a good idea. I never knit with my handspun, either. Love love love.
Oooh…I’ll be keeping an eye on this one!
OMG…that blankie! I want to knit one…and out of hand-spun!!!
BTW, you’ve been nominated for a Blog award. Go see on my blog.
Your handspun looks wonderful in that blanket! I too like hexagons, but I haven’t yet knit any. You may be enabling me in a seriously bad way.
Damn, woman, you are impressive. Those projects! that handspun! and that Komb. It’s looking so amazing – I might need to check out that pattern…
And maybe when you are all done with the intermittent tutorial, I will start the blanket!
That blanket is going to be gorgeous!! It looks like stained glass.
I love your handspuns in the blanket – they’re really nice together with the white borders.
And congratulations on knitting yourself 12 pairs of socks last year – your toes must be very happy!
[...] Best use of handspun [...]
Your handspun yarns and blanket are lovely!
Your handspun blanket has rendered me virtually speechless. That is truly beautiful.