Mmmmm, Soy Silk

I picked up this yummy Soy Silk from SWTC in the Rainbow colorway this weekend while at River Knits' Sock Club. It's nice and soft and so silky smooth...I have begun predrafting and with any luck I will be spinning some by this weekend. Not too excited about the bright chunks of hot pink in there, but I'll cope. Anyways...there is 8 ounces here. My plan WAS to do another fractal stripe yarn like the one spun for the handspun bias rib scarf from my last post; but when I got home and took the fiber out of the bag the top was in two pieces who's color did not match nor was consecutive (very disappointing). So, I guess I will just take the larger of the two pieces and do the fractal striping method.

Handspun Bias Rib Scarf

Okay, so the pictures aren't the greatest, but I didn't have the greatest light either...

This is my handspun yarn, 2-ply. I spun the handpainted fiber (PoppyFlowerFiber) in order to get a striping sock yarn. Since this pattern calls for sock yarn, it was perfect. I love the way the stripes are turning out. I will give more details on the pattern and spinning method at a later date.

I hate weaving

Either late last year or early this year, I started and finished knitting a sweater in which I designed. It had a large band of colorwork near the cuff of the sleeves and near the bottom of the cardigan's body. Three accent colors plus the background of the sweater. It was knit from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and it is so plush. It has also been sitting in my WIP basket for months and months...weaving not done. So...having knit night last night, I decided to take in the sweater so that maybe the other knitters would force me to finish it. Although they did not actually have to MAKE me finish it; I did. I got all the ends woven in and when I got home I sewed on the buttons (coconut buttons). It was meant to be more of a house sweater than something I would wear out in public--not because it is ugly, but because it's shape isn't all that flattering to my figure. I'm just so excited that I finished it!!

Pictures one day soon, I hope!

More Spinning and a Scarf

So....still spinning that Alpaca (one day I swear I will have a picture of it). I go to a knitting group on Monday nights and last night I brought my spindle and some louet northern lights. I hate how slow the hand spindle is now that I have been spinning on a wheel for about 4 years; however I do miss the simplicity of it and the ease of taking it anywhere.

I am also working on a scarf for my mom. I think the yarn is Nashua?? I am bad about knowing yarns of this nature...it is a superwash wool, one of those I-cord yarns-kind of novelty but at least it's wool. It has the most gorgeous stripes! A hat out of this yarn would be so lovely.

Alpaca

Okay, so it's been awhile since I've spun Alpaca...and I love it. It's just wonderful. I have one bobbin done, which I will spin into a two ply from a center pull ball. I still have enough fiber to spin up another bobbin.

After I finish the Alpaca, I've got some wonderful Kid Mo/Wool blend I'm going to start. It's a jewel tone yellow/gold with oranges and greens...it's gorgeous! I so wish I could get some pictures but I am still without a camera.

Stranger

I know I haven't been good to my readers lately, but I am still battling getting internet at my apartment....

BUT, I have been spinning...lots and lots of spinning with luscious fibers from Crown Mountain.

I attended a little fiber festival in Corydon, IN this Saturday and brought home some goodies. I am spinning some alpaca in shades of brown, tan, and black. I am loving it!!

I also am knitting a scarf for my mom out of a superwash wool who's name escapes me at the moment.

Sorry, No Camera

Hey strangers! Sorry about my absence...but it's not over yet! BUT, in my absence I have been spinning. I just finished about 200 yards of some worsted weight superfine superwash merino from Hello Yarn and it is just wonderful. I think it will be a hat and maybe some mitts. I also started spinning the colorway Great Balls of Fire merino from Crown Mountain Fibers. I am really loving how the colors are playing out. I am not sure how I am going to ply. I would like to try Navajo, but I never seem to have good results...advice anyone?

IT'S ALIVE!!

Well, I am (I swear!).

Sorry about the absence. I have moved (yet again) and do not yet have internet, but I will, and hopefully by this weekend.

I have been doing a bit of knitting with some handspun, and just a tad bit of spinning. Although you would think without tv and internet I would have done more knitting, but I haven't.

Although I think I am going (and actually have been) on a yarn diet. While moving into a smaller apartment it has occurred to me that I should really knit and spin some of this yarn and fiber....there is just too much for the space I have available!!

JUJU

Did I spell that right?

Well, it doesn't matter....what does matter is that I am going through a really hard time right now and I could use some good vibes, so if you can spare any for me, I will take 'em.

Thanks and wish me some luck during this ordeal :-/

SP11 Questionnaire 2

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?

What does one consider a knitting accessory?? My scale.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?

Definitely yes! I'll take a couple socks IP and my roll of needles (cause I can't help but visit yarn shops on vaca!).

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?

Um, I haven't really been anywhere that great...give me a few years and I could answer this better!

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?

I don't have a favorite knitting book...I don't really buy knitting books.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?

No.

6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?

GREEN

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?

Depends on the mistake....sometimes I would frog, sometimes I would not. I have a sweater where I miscrossed a cable and just left it, no one will know but me.

8. Where is the most unusual spot you've ever knit?

Hmmm....that's a tough one, I've knit in lots of places like under my desk in classes, at dinner, walking....

The King

So, after I finished the Stained Glass Bag, with lots of extra yarn, I decided a hat would be awesome. I love the way the brim swoops over the forehead and ears. I have only the very last few decreasing rounds to go. I haven't decided if I will felt it a bit or not...I have a while to decide either way. I just loved this colorway of Kureyon. There wasn't one color in this mix that I didn't like, although I wish there was more orange and yellow, but it's gorgeous anyway!

Afternoon Delight

Pasta tossed with roasted carrots, zucchini, orange bell, new potatoes, onions, garlic, asparagus, herbs, and yummy olive oil. Oh, I forgot to mention...jalapenos too!

Almost There!

She's been felted! She's almost dry. All I have to do is sew on the handles and line it....although it will be sad hiding that beautiful inside!

I think maybe I felted her a bit too much as she is quite smaller than I expected, but I am just happy my washer actually felted her! She's going to make an awesome little bag!

I will put some pockets on the inside for knitting notions, a wallet and phone.

Now...off the to fabric store to pick out a liner fabric!

Stained Glass

Wow! I'm in love with this bag. I just have the straps to finish, or one strap to finish and then this thing is getting felted! But isn't it just so beautiful? I can't believe I used a pattern, I am so proud of myself. It was so hard to stick to the pattern and not make changes, but I did it. There were a whole hell of a lot of ends to weave in, but it wasn't too bad.

SP11 Questionnaire

Here is the questionnaire for SP11. Please be sure to post it in a spot on your blog where your pal can easily find it. Since your pal will use this to help create your packages you'll want to have it posted to your blog no later than August 15th.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn(s) to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

My favorite yarns are wool, multiple or single ply. I DO NOT like working with cottons and acrylics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have a Namaste needle binder, some handmade rolls and a little stand-up tote that sits on my coffee table.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate, or advanced?

I have been knitting and spinning for about 4 years. I learned to knit in college when a guy who lived across the street from me wanted to learn to crochet...he taught me to knit, I taught him to crochet. I would consider myself advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wishlist?

No, sorry!

5. What's your favorite scent?

Orange Bergomot

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Hmmm.....I LOVE sour patch kids and sour gummy cherry coke bottles!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I also make jewelry (beads), sew, and dye yarn. I DO spin. I LOVE to spin. I spin A LOT!!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3's? (If your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like classic rock, alternative, and punk. Yes, it can play it!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you can't stand?

My favorite color is green...just about any shade. I also like blues and yellows. I don't necessarily like pinks and purples, but they are okay in SMALL doses!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a five year old female black Labrador.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens, or ponchos?

Scarves, hats, gloves or fingerless mitts (no mittens, please).

12. What is/are your favorite items to knit?

Sweaters and socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?

A LOT OF THINGS....but seriously, quite a few socks, a sweater or two, a tote bag, and quite a few spinning projects.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Of course, don't you?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo. Circular and DPs

16.Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes, both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Hmmm, do abandoned projects count? No? okay, then probably a year.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

N/A

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Frogs. Anything frog....cute frog, not ugly frog.

20. Any books, yarns, needles, or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I don't use patterns, or it's VERY rare that I use patterns. I don't have any subscriptions, but I do buy Spin-Off and Interweave Knits regularly.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Not that I can think of!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

YES!! I don't know that I know how to measure my foot....I'll have to come back to this one later. (I usually just try them on as I go!)

23. When is your birthday?

October

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Jamisyn

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, No--It's a Pattern!!

So, a few weeks ago, I was lurking on Moth Heaven's blog and saw this pattern. I'm not one to use patterns, but this thing was so cool, I couldn't resist. I instantly went and bought the pattern on Etsy.

How gorgeous is this? I cannot wait to get it done. Sure, there are a lot of ends to weave in, but it's a lot of fun anyways. It only takes a few moments to knit each little triangle and it is an easy knit. I cannot wait to finish and felt this bag. I haven't had much luck in the past with felting, but I have a newer washer and I hope it will do a better job. If you have any advice about felting, please give it to me, please!

Not Cold Anymore!

'nuff said

*EDIT* I work for a construction company--you wouldn't believe the looks I get wearing these things. Suprisingly, more people asked about the regular length mitts than these mammoth things!

Are you Cold?

Everyday at work, when I am wearing my fingerless mitts, many many people ask me "Are you cold?"

Yes, I am cold. So cold, I decided to make these extra long mitts. I love them....well THIS one. I only have the one done. But it was so quick I will have the other done before Monday, YAY mitts!!

I Love Spinning!!

It's tough trying to get an accurate portrayal of this yarn! Anyways, it's about 12-14 WPI, 250 yards, 2-ply, 4.25 ounces, lovely color. I wasn't sure about the singles (see previous posts), but I really like the way this turned out! I think I will take the other four ounces and spin a thick and thin for my Etsy shop.

Yarn, Finished

Here is Rhumba plied. I will give details and better pictures asap.

Yummy Stuff

Okay, so it's not a great picture, but it'll do for now. I spun this (about four ounces) in one afternoon/evening. I was determined to have this project finished fast. I haven't had the chance to ply yet, but I will hopefully have that done by Saturday. You can see a picture of the fiber here. It is from Crown Mountain and it's the Corriedale pencil roving in the Rhumba colorway. The color sequence was interesting, with more repeats than I had thought. I am not sure how this yarn is going to come out. I spun it thick, a lot thicker than I usually do. I still have four ounces to do something else with, just in case I don't care for this yarn.

D-O-N-E

Warning!! This post is going to be picture heavy!!

What does that spell? Done, done, done!! That's right, I actually finished a spinning project in a reasonable amount of time! WoooHooo! Hurray for me! Okay, on to the pictures:

The beautiful Palomino 2 Superwash Merino. Picture courtesy of Lisa over at Poppy Flower Fibers, thank you Lisa! Is this roving awesome or what? Just gorgeous!!

This is the 2-ply still on the bobbin. If you didn't get to see the singles, visit Thursday's post here.Here is a shot with the gorgeous yarn on the knitty knotty.Skeined up. I wish the light would have been a little better, but it looks pretty good anyways.And a little close up, because we all love the eye candy!!

On to the details:

2-ply Superwash Merino, Hand-painted by the wonderful Lisa at Poppy Flower Fibers.

Weight: 3.6 ounces

WPI: 23

Yardage: 433

Outcome: EXTREMELY HAPPY!!

Flip Side

Almost done. Done with the singles at least. I am truly loving this Palomino Superwash Merino I bought from Etsy seller Poppy Flower Fibers. I am going to ply tonight, and hopefully before the sun goes down so I can take more pictures, but if I don't get the pictures tonight, I will get them tomorrow evening as long as the light is good!

Are those colors just to dye for or what? I can't wait to see them plied up. I am going to get to it! See you on the flip side!

Birthday Meme

I've been tagged by Elizabeth.

Go to Wikipedia, look up your birthday and list three events, two births, and a holiday. I'm skipping the "tag 5 people" part, though if you want to participate, please do!!

1582-Due to implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

1780-The Great Hurricane of 1780 kills 20,000-30,000 in the Caribbean.

1966-Simon and Garfunkel release the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

1813-Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer, died 1901.

1955-David Lee Roth, American Singer.

Occasionally (only every few years), Columbus Day is observed.



Sorry about the lack of knitting/spinning content. I started my "career" as I have just graduated college and started my new job. I just haven't had the energy to post. Rest assured that there is at least spinning going on. I am working on finishing up the singles from my last post.

I Love Etsy

Okay, I know this is a horrible picture and a little out of focus, but the light is bad in my house at night and I really wanted to take a picture of this beautiful singles. I didn't get a picture of the roving, although it is not all spun up yet, but I am planning on having this yarn done by tomorrow evening. I purchased this lovely hand dyed at Poppy Flower Fibers. Not that I've ever had a bad experience buying from Etsy sellers, but my experience with Poppy Flower Fibers was fantastic. I will definitely buy from her again. Oh, did I forget to mention how awesome this Superwash Merino is to spin? It's not only beautiful (bad lighting, sorry, more pictures to come) but an absolute pleasure to spin. It's spinning up so quickly. That is at least one ounce. I have another ounce to go on that bobbin and then two more on another. Have you read the new Spin-Off? Well, I have and I am spinning this like the yarn (sock) on the cover. Breaking the roving in half, spinning one half as is (bobbin one) and breaking the other half into eight small strips (bobbin two). I've never thought to spin like this and I am excited to see how this yarn is going to turn out.

Sweet, Sweet Fiber

I acquired all this gorgeous fiber from Crown Mountain probably about a month ago. I would really like to start spinning it, but I have so many yarns on my bobbins and I am exclusively working on a yarn for Spun Stitches.

From top to bottom:

Rhumba in Corriedale pencil roving

Silver Fox in Corriedale pencil roving

Great Balls of Fire in Superwash Merino roving

Say a Little Prayer in Superwash Merino roving

I cannot wait to spin this stuff. I've heard some pretty good things about it online and I've been eyeing it on their website for months. I'm glad I splurged, because it wasn't like I NEEDED it, I just LUSTED for it.

Alright. So. Thursday 6/7 was the day I was supposed to move in to my new place. BUT, the painting and carpeting was not finished. It was supposed to be all done and I didn't find out it wasn't until I called landlord to figure out what time to meet for the keys...two days before supposed move-in date. So, everything was rescheduled for Sunday when landlord assured us that all would be complete. Sunday comes, truck is packed and due back at rental place at 6 p.m.. Made plans to be there around 11 a.m. 11 a.m. call landlord. Not finished with carpeting or painting. We Wait. Fiddle around old place for awhile. Still waiting. 4 p.m. leave for new place.

5:30 arrive at new place to find old tenant still loading a uhaul in the driveway. WTF?!? The garage is packed with old tenant's crap. We ask old tenant, is there anyway we can help speed this up? He's says "no, but I can drag my feet," WT-double-F?!? Landlord arrives (what an idiot). Go inside the empty place (at least old tenant's stuff was only in garage). DID A FOUR YEAR OLD PAINT THIS PLACE?!? Some walls are only half painted, some only have the edges painted. No one even bothered to paint the ceiling, which is a different color than the somewhat painted walls. Some rooms weren't even painted. And paint was everywhere, all over the woodwork, counter tops, etc. Let me point out that old tenant was responsible for painting and carpeting because old tenant raised 15 Pitt-bulls in the garage. The place was a wreck and I believe old tenant was a meth-head, no kidding. So, when old tenant left in his uhaul, he left the garage full of stuff. So, idiot landlord and everyone else including me had to drag all this crap out of the garage. The entire two-car driveway was filled with his stuff. Idiot landlord took two days to get the stuff picked up and taken to a dump. Oh, did I mention there wasn't even a fridge? So, while we were dragging old tenant's stuff out, landlord goes to pick up a fridge. Landlord doesn't tie fridge down in truck, and fridge falls out of truck onto road while landlord is driving. Landlord wants to put this fridge in the kitchen. I don't think so. Convince landlord to take back claiming damaged product. Landlord comes back with undamaged working fridge, thank god. Once all old tenant's trash was out of the garage, we were finally able to start moving in. Around 9 or 10, we finished unloading the truck.

I don't even want to talk about why I didn't have internet for so long, so I won't, I'm going to pretend I did have it and there were no problems ;).

So, I have been able to spin for a total of maybe two hours in the last two weeks. I've been spinning this fiber for a little while now. I've been reluctant to show it until I got a little more on the bobbin. I am really loving this fiber.

This is kid mohair. This is my first experience with kid mohair. I must say, I wish I had bought more of this fiber. I acquired this beautiful roving at The Fiber Event in Greencastle, IN back in mid-April. I also got a lot of other fibers that I will be showing over the next week. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much knitting. But this yarn will become a shawl as I have joined the Spun Stitches KAL.

Finally!!!!

I cannot tell you what we've gone through in the last six days. I'll be back tomorrow with a little recap of the last week. Sorry, though, there will be no knitting content, unless I can manage to get some pictures of some recent (and not-so-recent) fiber buys.

And We're Off!!

Moving, that is. Everything is finally ready for us to move, the truck is all packed, and packed full!! Got a little bit of cleaning to do, and I'm outta this place!!

Unfortunately, I don't know when I will have internet service hooked up, could be Monday, could be Tuesday, but I will be back!!

More socks and Moving Woes

I'm finally getting some of these socks finished. Quite a few of my SIP's got ripped, but I'm working on getting the ones I liked done. I had finished a pair of my handspun the other day, and hopefully this #1 will be done tonight and #2 will be started.

I was supposed to be moving yesterday. Well, things didn't work out as planned. For the past three days, we had to rearrange everything from utility shutoffs to the truck rental and even had to change our change of addresses because we are now moving (hopefully) on Sunday. I can't even begin to explain my frustrations with this whole situation. We had people taking off work and everything....I can only hope that we actually get moved on Sunday and thank goodness those people still wanted to help!

Update for Samantha:
I frogged five pairs and finished two. I just finished sock #1 pictured above and will caston tonight for sock #2.

The yarn I used for this sock was bought on Etsy. I've tried to go back to the person's shop, but I don't think they are a member anymore. It was MCY, or MysticalCreationsYarns. I never thought it would stripe quite like this and I love it!!

Yarny Goodness!

Okay. So I was reading Lorn'a blog The Stitchin Corral (found through Sarah) and saw that a bunch of them went to a yarn shop called Sheep's Clothing in Valparaiso (Valpo for us region rats). I've never been there even though I used to live in the region. See, I didn't start knitting until I moved to college, so I missed out on the yarny goodness around the hometown. So, because Lorna seemed to like it so much, I decided I had to make the 80+ mile trek up north to see this shop before I moved another 80 miles further south (making that a whopping 160+ miles total). Plus, I got to visit a friend I haven't hung out with in quite a while (like 4 years).

This is Koigu. I've never had Koigu. I am very excited to start some socks!! The top is P407 and the bottom is P707.
This is Dream in Color (bottom) in Cloud Jungle. Colinette Tagliatelli merino tape in Charcoal (top).
I was not too happy with the shop I bought this group of yarns from. It was called Stitch by Stitch in Highland, In. It was a large, nice space with practically nothing in it. Anyways, the Alchemy (top) Bamboo in Koi Pond was buy one get one free, so I guess it was worth it. The Trendsetter Tonalita (right) was a gift for my non-knitting friend. I will make her a pair of mitts. I specified non-knitting because the fiber content is 52 Wool/48 Acrylic. And last, but not least, is the Noro Silk Garden in color 245. I just loved the color and I am going to make myself loooong fingerless mitts in preparation for the winter (I know, I know, it's awhile before winter but what the hell, why not?)
While at Sheep's Clothing, my friend and I saw a little bead shop right next door, and of course we had to go in. As soon as I walked in the door, I spotted these. My friend and I used to have necklaces in highschool (matching of course) as a symbol of our friendship. So, I am going to make these into keychains for us.

This is my goofy dog Sadie. Sarah had asked me awhile ago to post a picture of her. It's not that I don't have a million pictures of this cutie, but they were all older. She was sleeping, belly up, on the couch the other night and we (the boytoy and I) thought it would be hilarious to stick a bottle of Belvedere by her and snap a picture! She didn't think it was so funny and got up right after I got the picture.

FO, FO, FO!!!!!

Yarn: My handspun, Desert Brush from Louet Northern Lights

Pattern: none, simple rib over 80 sts

I Heart Handspun Socks

I know I said yesterday that I haven't been working on much...but I couldn't help digging out a SIP that is my luscious handspun I named Camo. I had gotten as far as the toe during my LYS's last Sock Club, but haven't picked it up again in weeks. Then I thought, "Duh, Jamisyn, if you finish the toe you can start on sock #2." So:

I am making great progress on sock #2 and should have it finished by tomorrow.

Movin' on Up

I promise there has been fiber/yarn related activities!! However, I am in the midst of getting ready to move and most of the knitting and spinning have been put on hold. All of my needles and yarn have been packed away except for my works in progress, and there's not much progress going on.

Monday, a friend of mine and I dyed some sock yarn. It was fun, I should have worn rubber gloves the whole time, but I didn't and it took a few days for my skin to turn back to a somewhat normal color, although my fingernails are another story... You can check out what we did in my etsy shop.

I finished all the crochet squares for my version of the Larger Than Life bag, but that's as far as I've gotten. That probably won't get worked on until after the move. I did break down and buy the magazine in hopes to actually use to the pattern....but pattern, schmattern!

Well, that's it for now, I am going to continue packing. We are moving on Thursday, and I cannot wait to get out of this town!!!

I actually finished something?

I have two FO's to show and guess what?? I started them on the same day I finished them. Okay, okay, I was in a crunch. I had searched for the yarn to make these mitts for months. I made them for my cousins. One wanted blues and greens, and the other wanted reds but no maroons. It's not that my LYS didn't have this yarn when I was looking, but I was looking for something....specific. I had used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted for my Aunt's mitts and she loved them. But LYS didn't have the LL in the colors that I wanted, and for some reason I didn't think about special ordering. Anyways, so it was crunch time and I spotted this Karaoke, I thought the colors would be okay, not exactly what I was looking for, but I think it's going to work out okay. I told Aunt that if red-loving-maroon-disliking cousin didn't like the little bit of darker red that could be called maroon, I'd make her another pair. I think I will keep my fingers crossed.

And thank you to my lovely mother, who was in town yesterday, for modeling for me!!