Lots of stuff

I couldn't really think of a good title for this post, so I went with the obvious. I've finished a lot of stuff! Okay, really, I've only finished one thing, but I've gotten a lot done, especially by way of Christmas presents.

First up, we have the lovely scarf for somebody (no names present in these Xmas posts. Sorry!) It took about two weeks of off and on knitting with a few projects in between. Warning, this scarf has not been blocked yet!!!


Object: Plied Scarf
Pattern: My own. I will probably be sharing it in the coming weeks, but need to get a test pattern knit up, and I need to knit it in nicer wool (as in NOT acrylic ;) )
Needles: 8s.
Yarn: Bernat something.


Next up, we have the lovely Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy. NOT YET BLOCKED!







Object: Stolen Moments Wrap
Pattern: Stolen Moments Wrap by Amy Swenson (available on her website).
Needles: 8s.
Yarn: "Sublime" Merino/Angora blend. Lovely and soft.
Details: Took me five days. I'm not kidding. This project goes by so fast, and the result is something so snuggly that you just want to curl up and knit under it. The yarn really made the project. Amy did hers in Cashmere, but that runs you in the $250 range for something like this, so I settled on my lovely Angora blend. It's soft, has a nice halo, and I think I got the skeins at 60% off at the Solstice sale, so I'm happy. :)

In spinning:





We're plying! I've finally managed to spin a single thin enough for sock yarn (yay!). I'm going to finish plying them tonight and then set the twist and let it dry to be started on at some point in the next week.

AND I'm getting a spinning wheel. One of the ladies I knit with has an older Ashford Traditional, and she's offered it to me - FOR FREE. It'll need a bit of work, and I have to get the bobbins replaced, but I'm SO excited. It's coming with us to Saskatchewan so I can get my grampa to help me oil the hell out of it.

This is me right now:

:D

I'll try to post again before thanksgiving, but between work and Xmas knitting (and Ravelry), I don't know if I'll be able to find the time.

YAY!!

I just got my invitation to join Ravelry! I've been waiting for it since JUNE! I'm so exciting. I've been spending hours just browsing the patterns, pictures, the color, the yarn.
Je suis in love.
(I'm still spinning)
K

ps. see? I was so excited that I wrote exciting. While I am exciting, it's not in a yarny way. ;)

Just keep spinning -- just keep spinning

This post will be (fairly) short and sweet. I have no pictures since I have done no knitting (except for a swatch and a dishcloth). I've been spinning. I think I finally have figured out how to spin a single that, when plied, will be suitable for sock yarn. I've finished spinning the first single, and I'll show you the finished result once it's done.

ps. Xmas knitting is gonna drive me bonkers! I can tell already, and I haven't even started yet!!

The World Keeps Spinning 'Round

I took my first spinning class yesterday at Make1Yarns. It was taught by the lovely Amy, and it was WAY worth it. I've found my latest knitting-related obsession. We started on the drop spindle, which I adored. There was something so satisfying and earthy about watching the peice of wood spin around and around and around. It really felt natural, which was so surprising.

We spun up some dyed roving and then plied it. The plying was really tough for me, but after some practice (and adjustments to my own style), it got a lot easier. Anyway, it's my first hand-spun, and I really will treasure it forever and ever.

After working on the drop spindle for about two of our four hours, we moved on to the wheel. Now that was cool. It moved so quickly, but I can see why it's so relaxing. It really was a joy to do. I don't have any pictures of the spinning I did on the wheel because - well, it sucks. I haven't plied it yet, but when I do, I'm sure it will look somewhat better. It just doesn't look like yarn until it's plied.

Today, Robbie's dad came over to help him rake the backyard in preparation for laying sod. They also dug a hole in the corner for our weeping birch that will be planted sometime this week. While they were hard at work, I decided to run into Make1 and purchase a drop spindle and some roving.

See, I was supposed to get a spinning wheel as a wedding present from Robbie, but finances as they are and a trip to overseas looming over me, I just cannot justify spending that much money right now. I'll deal with the spindle, learn how wool works, then I'll (eventually) move on to my wheel.

So, got the spindle, Elodie was scared of Sandra (it was cute, though), and bought some roving that Elodie picked out at the store with numerous boughts of "Pretty! Pretty!" I took it home and spun up a bit of the white roving left over from the class. Plied it, washed it to set the twist, and now it's hanging over a chair in my kitchen to dry.

I then set aside my roving and spindle for later in the evening when I would perhaps start on (trying) to spin some sock yarn. It is superwash, after all. Doesn't it look pretty?

The colours are these lovely vibrant pinks and deep browns that tend to get dappled across the white of the wool. It's so pretty. I was going between this roving and a nice blue and green one, but I just can't say no to my daughter (when it comes to wool).

We went and had a lovely dinner at my parents' house to which Tyler, Tanner, Grandma, Grandpa, my brother and my brother's friend all attended. It was a full table, and it's a good thing my parents have extra stools. Mom did some great cooking. We had roast, beans, Yorkshire pudding, salad, gravy...potatoes. YUM YUM.

Gramma and Grampa gave us our wedding present - a beautiful oak hope chest that would easily fit Robbie (or I, if I was that flexible) inside, and much laughter and drink was shared by all except Elodie. We also watched a video of my brother's first sky-diving endeavor which he did on Saturday. I would have shit. my. pants.

After coming home, full, fat, and satisfied, Elodie to bed and just Robbie and I watching the office, I got down to business. The business at hand? Spinning up the start of my sock yarn, of course!!! By the time I went to bed two hours later, I had a lot (in my terms) of yarn on my spindle, but had hardly made a dent in my roving. I can see this spinning thing is going to take some dedication!

All in all, however, it was a great day.

Head Start and a Change

Not much to discuss on the knitting front. I'm just turning the heel on my second Saucy sock, and it's coming along okay. I accidentally pulled a needle out and dropped a bunch of stitches, causing me to rip back four rows. Overall, though, I think they're pretty cute.

I also changed the name of the blog. It's the future name of my yarn store that I want.

I've also started Christmas presents which will be consisting entirely of knitted items. For my mom, gramma, and father-in-law's girlfriend, scarves. For Robbie--something we cannot discuss (surprise and I haven't figured out what yet). For Elodie, I'm going to knit a pea coat (remember that purple thing? Yeah. I'm going to finish it). For my brother and dad and Robbie's dad and stepdad, gloves. Barb and Toby read the blog, so it's also a secret (well, Barb reads it). Tanner and his fiance Kyla and Tyler and his girlfriend Ashley will be getting a stack of dishcloths. Sounds crappy, but they're so vital. For everybody else, you're getting hats. They'll be cool. ;)

Whew. That's a lot of knitting. Okay, I gotta go finish my socks so I can start the Xmas knitting!