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!!

Old Friends

Lately, I've been in touch with some friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. One of my good friends from junior high is about to have her first baby. I haven't seen her in over five years, but I've talked to her a few times. She's due sometime next month. Another good friend of mine is also due this month with baby #3. Her husband is serving in Iraq and she's currently living in Japan with her two sons.



Today, I received a call (which I almost didn't answer, not recognizing the phone number). It was my best friend whom I had lost touch with over the last four years. Our lives went in separate directions and I really wish I had not ended our friendship. There were reasons for it ending, but I realize now that no matter what someone else decides to do with their life, I could at least be there for them, in case they ever needed a friend. I hope she feels comfortable enough to stay in contact with me. I love her dearly and miss her. I think about her so often but have always been so reluctant to call her, for no good reason. Maybe I was scared that she'd reject me, not wanting to ever confide in me again, or be close to me. Whether we are close or not in the future, I want to be part of her life, at least stay in contact. She had always been a huge part of my life and no matter what has happened in the last four years, I want her to continue to be in my life. So, Samantha, if you are reading this, I am here for you and always will be. I love you and you are a dear, dear friend, I've missed you so much! Thank you so much for calling when you were in town and sticking around to meet up with me, for that alone I look up to you. You have been through so much in the last ten years and you are a strong person because of those things. You can do anything you set your mind to, just like I did. I will always be here for you.



On to the fibery content!



I have been reading a lot about this Larger Than Life bag everyone is crocheting and I've decided I must participate. I do not have the magazine, or the pattern, so like always I just made my own version of it.



I started out crocheting and moved on to knitting and spinning, so for me, this is going back to my roots. Enough of my blabbering, here is a picture.I don't normally gravitate towards blues, but I really liked the look of these three colors. It's going pretty quick, this square was really easy to memorize.


That's all I got today, I have been doing plenty of spinning, but I don't want to show that yet. I will tell you that I am spinning some lovely handpainted kid mohair that I got at the latest fiber fest, and I am loving it! I think I may actually do Navajo plying to keep the colors intact.

Tagged: Another Meme

I've been tagged by Sarah.

Every person who gets tagged is to list seven things about themselves. They are to write on their own blog those seven things and then list the rules. You also need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog as well as leave a comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.

1. When I was in the 4th grade, I was in the choir and sung solos in front of lots of people. Now I can't sing to save my life. I feel like I have to warn people when I start singing along to the radio.

2. I used to smoke cigarettes, but this summer will mark four years since I've quit-yay for me!!! (the smoking is probably why I can't sing anymore)

3. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was seven (to chain and single crochet). I still have the gold aluminum crochet hook she gave me. My grandmother passed away many, many years ago. When I was in my teens I picked crocheting up again in memory of her. She is who I thank for my love of fiber.

4. I was taught to knit by a male who I then taught to crochet.

5. My boyfriend of 5+ years and I "went out" in the 4th grade. We "broke up" because I was talking to another male classmate and my boyfriend threatened him. Our senior year of high school, I asked him (my boyfriend) out on a date, and he said yes! Been together ever since.

6. I don't believe in religion, but I wouldn't consider myself an atheist.

7. I have a black lab who just had a birthday, she's five.

I tag:
Leslie
Amanada
Elizabeth
Kate
Mia
Samantha
Elli

Spinning Meme

Bold those things you have done, italicize those you wish to do, and leave plain the ones that are of no interest to you.


FIBERS SPUN

Fine Wools (i.e. Merino, Cormo, Rambouillet, Polwarth, CVM, etc)
Longwool & Crossbreed Wools (i.e. BFL, Cotswold, Lincoln, Romney, Coopworth, Teeswater, etc.)
Down-type Wool (i.e. Black Welsh Mountain, Dorset, Cheviot, Shetland, etc.)
Double Coated Wool (i.e. Icelandic, Navajo-Churro, Karakul, etc.)
Mohair
Cashmere
Angora
Alpaca
Llama
Camel (it's in the stash)
Vicuna
Bison/Buffalo
Yak
Quiviut
Dog
Cat
Silk Caps/Bells/Hankies
Silk Sliver
Linen
Hemp
Cotton (prepared)
Cotton from the Boll
Engineered Fibers (Rayon, Bamboo, Soysilk, Ingeo, Ecopoly, etc.)
Recycled Fibers (Sari Silk, Jeans, Garnetted, etc.)
Holographic Fibers (Angelina, etc.)
Commercially Combed Top
Commercially Carded Roving
Hand Combed Top
Hand Carded Rollags
Hand Drum Carded Batts

FIBER TOOLS USED
Flicker
Hand Cards
Mini-Combs
English Combs
Hackle
Diz
Distaff
Drum Carder
Nostepinne
Niddy Noddy
Yarn Meter
Skeiner
WPI Tool
McMorran Balance
Top Whorl Spindle
Mid-Whorl Spindle
Bottom Whorl Spindle (includes Turkish)
Supported Spindle (Navajo, Tahkli, etc.)
Castle Wheel
Saxony Wheel
Great Wheel
Portable Wheel (Little Gem, Joy, Lendrum, Hitchiker, etc.)
Electric Spinner
Charka
Tensioned Lazy Kate


SPINNING TECHNIQUES & YARN TYPES SPUN
Worsted Spun
Woolen Spun
Long Draw
Short-Forward Draw
Double Drafting
Singles
Energized Singles
Andean Plied 2-Ply (Wheel or Spindle?)
Center-Pull Ball 2-Ply (Wheel or Spindle?) both
2-Ply from Bobbins/Cops
3-Ply from Bobbins/Cops
Navajo Ply 3-Ply (Chained Singles)
4+ Ply from Bobbins/Cops
Bulky/Super Bulky Weight
Worsted Weight
DK Weight
Sport Weight
Fingering Weight
Lace Weight
Cabled Yarns
Fulled Yarns
Slub Yarn
Marled Yarn (Barber-Poled Colors)
Seed Yarn (1 Thick and Soft Ply, 1 Firm and Thin)
Wrapped Spiral Yarn
Flame Yarn (Like Seed Yarn, but with Slubs)
Turkish Knot Yarn
Boucle Yarn
Beaded Yarn
Coiled Yarn
Encased Yarn (Fabric, Flower, Feather, etc. Captured Between Plies)


OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES
Buy a Fleece
Wash a Fleece
Blend Fiber Types (Combed or Carded)
Blend Colors (Combed or Carded)
Dye Handspun Yarn
Dye Prepared Roving/Top
Dye Locks
Solar-Dye Fiber
Kool-Aid/Food Coloring Dye Fiber
Natural Dye Fiber
Commercial Dye Fiber (Gaywool, Jacquard, etc.)
Attend a Wool Festival
Take a Spinning Class
Take a Dyeing Class
Spin in Public
Teach Children to Spin
Teach Adults to Spin
Knit with Your Handspun
Crochet with Your Handspun
Weave with Your Handspun
Design a Project to Match Your Handspun
Design a Project from Fiber to FO
Spin Yarn to Match a Commercial Pattern
Make Socks from Handspun
Make a Scarf from Handspun
Make a Felted Project from Handspun
Make a Large Project from Handspun (Shawl, Adult Sweater, etc. >1000 yds) I have the yarn...just haven't committed to the project yet!
Keep a Spinning Journal
Use A Reference Card to Aid Consistency
Spin Yarn for Pay
Dye Fiber for Pay
Write a Book on Spinning
Write an Article on Spinning
Make DIY Spinning Tools (PVC Niddy Noddy, Lazy Kate, CD Spindle, Hackle, Wrist Distaff, etc.)

Old FO's

Before I had a blog....there were FO's, I swear!



This is my mod of the CPH. I love knitting sweaters. This is the first (and only) time I ever even LOOKED at a sweater pattern, preferring to just "knit it." I adapted the pattern and completely rewrote it for my style of knitting. I don't swatch, like, ever, so I had to adjust some things. I don't think I could fully explain what I did, but I LOVE this sweater. I knit it in the round, raglan style (sort of), sans hood, with an extra long body and sleeves with the cable on the sleeves meeting in the middle on the back. Don't get me wrong-the hood is so cute on the original pattern, but if I had put the hood on, it wouldn't get as much use as it gets now. I used Cascade 220 in a lovely wine color (not sure what the name of this color is), and six beautiful wooden buttons.

Trekking socks, color 100 (?). Green is my favorite color, so when my LYS got this gorgeous colorway in, I just HAD to have it. Definitely one of my favorite pairs. 80 sts on size 1's. The leg is a garter rib and the foot is regular 2x2 rib.

Jumping Off a Cliff...

Because everyone else is doing it too!

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with Silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circ simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine Knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning (I hope I never have to do this!)
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Goodbyes

I'm about to be heading out the door to my last Knit Night at my LYS. I am very saddened by this. I am truly going to miss Knit Night and all the wonderful people who are always there. Soon I will be moving; not too far away, but far enough that it will not be feasible for me to travel to Knit Night on Monday nights. I hopefully will still be able to make it to Sock Club on Saturdays. If not, Saturday will also be my last Sock Club.

Bored

Tales from the River has a nice recap of the knitting retreat I went to this past weekend. I even won a prize (I never win prizes). I received a handdying kit from Louet for "Name that Yarn" in which I was able to identify (very) small samples of yarn by brand and type (and smell if you wanted to get technical). I also received a wonderful door prize with yarn, needles, notions, a needle case, a scarf, and more all tucked into a neat little yarn and tools caddy! I forgot to bring my camera, so if you'd like to see some pics, just head over to Tales from the River.

There has been quite a bit of spinning going on, but nothing to show yet. Still working on the dream roving and some older spinning projects including some Lorna's Laces wool top. I managed to get a little sun tan while I was spinning on the porch this morning, I'm very excited about that :).

I am so bored. I could be knitting on all those socks in progress, but sometimes it is just hard to knit socks when it is so warm out. I am done with classes, graduated, and don't start my new job until next month...so what is a girl to do? I have sweater going, actually a couple, but I don't feel like knitting on those either. I really wish I had some nice cotton to make a little tank out of....WAIT!!! I DO have some cotton in the stash, though it may not be a summery colorway. I will search out the perfect stitch pattern, and I'm pretty sure I know what I'm looking for. I will let you know how the designing goes! I'm excited now, I'm going to get started!

Got Spin?

I finished spinning and plying Violets before I left for the retreat this past weekend, but I didn't have time (or proper light) to take pictures. It was a treat plying this stuff. I didn't end up spinning the whole 8 ounces. Instead, I squeezed as much as I could onto one bobbin (about 5.25 ounces). I like having one continuous strand of yarn, so I decided against putting four ounces each onto two bobbins. This will leave me with a little bit to play around with or spin some lace weight for a nice shawl.

I have about 335 yards, but I haven't measured the WPI yet. I'm assuming it is somewhere around dk weight, but it could be a heavy fingering. Either way, it will one day make some really nice socks.

I also started spinning my dream roving the other night. I wanted to wait until I had quite a bit on the bobbin to show pictures. I am spinning this inconsistent and a little lumpy (I want this yarn to actually look like handspun). I am planning on making a sweater, although I don't know exactly how much yardage will come out of the pound I have. I am loving the colors so much, the pictures don't really do it any justice. I am spinning it so that the color repeats are very long and I think it will be so gorgeous! I only have Sanguine Gryphon to thank for this dream come true!

Off To Play!

I'm off to the knitting retreat in a few minutes...But I will leave you with a picture of this little beauty. BTW-I finished my last final exam, EVER, yesterday!!