Boucle #5 Needle

The swatch done on #5 Needle is finished. Four inches square and looks the same on both sides. On to #7 Needle.



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Boucle - Do Over!

DO OVER, DO OVER, I like this much better than my GrandMother's RIP IT OUT and a smack on the back of the head.

The 40 stitch swatch proved to be way too big. I have started over with 16 stitches, also as there is no difference visually between the knits and purls, it will all be garter stitch.




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Boucle - continued

Today I am volunteering at the Acton/Agua Dulce Used Book Store so I have some time to knit.

RedFish DyeWorks Boucle
95g skein 150 yards
10 wraps per inch

For my first gauge swatch I'm using a #5 Bamboo needle by Clover. The #5 looks to be a little larger than the Boucle yarn. Why that size you ask? Beats me, I'm just learning to knit and no one else wants to knit gauge swatches so here I am pretending I know what I'm talking about.

I casted on 40 stitches.


My plan - garter stitch 4 rows, four stitch garter border around stockinette stitch until the piece is square. Continued later, probably much later.



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Location:Acton Library

Previewing RedFish DyeWorks' yarns

RedFish DyeWorks deals in silk and silk blended yarns and fibers. When time allows, I will try to write about the 17 yarns we currently dye.

The first to be discussed is Boucle.  Our Boucle is made by wrapping a fine silk roving with two very fine silk threads that are crossed and drawn up tight making little puffs of the silk roving.  If the yarn is pulled tight when winding into a ball or measured onto a warping board the fine silk threads will pop and the yarn will unravel.

 The fine threads can be seen in this close up.

 This is the skein as it comes to you without it's label.  Untwist the yarn and grab the white string that marks the middle of the skein.

 Place the skein on a swift. I personally like the plastic swifts as they do not grab at the silk like wood. Untie the white string and find the knot that holds the ends together. Before untying the end knot, work your way around the skein smoothing the strands and uncrossing twists. Untie the end knot and determine which end comes from the outside and which comes from the inside. I wind boucle balls by hand as the ball winder pulls on the swift too hard.

 I also like to work with boucle from the outside of the ball rather than a center pull. This yarn has a tendency to stick on it's self as it is a roving and not spun and plied.

Next time -- stats and what to do with this beautiful yarn.