Well, for my New Year’s Dash I got the sum total of about three quarters of the superwash merino sock yarn spun. Ta-da!

Next year, I start earlier.

I did, however, get the start of the first draft of that spinning article I mentioned. And I also got a pretty good chunk of the black llama deguarded. That wasn’t on my list, I know, but hey, it’s still spinning related.

The nice pile of chosen and selected fibers is still teetering on my desk, so I have decided that this month shall be a spinning month. The idea is to see how much of that pile I can spin before February, while keeping things fun. If spinning becomes a stress factor we have a major problem.

And, on the complete opposite of a problem, look at what came in a surprise package from a very dear friend! (Thank you, Lina!) A skein of KnitPicks Palette yarn in marine heather, and some beautiful scraps of various KnitPicks Shimmer yarns. Yum yum yum. And beads. I love beads.

I have to admit, of the bunch I’m most drawn to the this gorgeous one at the moment. Allow me a very long, contented sigh.

Today was washing day for the various hand knitted items I have accumulated over the last year or so. The two pairs of socks I made, and the two pairs of socks and pink sweater that my sister made for me. The Mini Moochi socks got really hairy after being washed. I must have roughed them up a bit in the water. They’re superwash, so no one panic. I may go through and snip off some of the biggest bumps, just because no one wants hairy socks. Yuck.

A couple days ago I went to JoAnn Etc. and bought knitting needles! So much for trying not to spend anything this month.
But I needed them for a couple of projects. Remember that cowl neck sweater I talked about a while ago? Well, two of these needles will go to that. Now I’m all ready for the yarn to get here! I wound up going with Knitpicks Swish yarn instead of the Webs variety, for various and sundry reason. A good one being that the Swish yarn is superwash.

The yarn will be in the clematis heather colorway… as long as Knitpicks doesn’t pull a surprise switch-a-roo or the mail truck doesn’t get held up by rabid New Year stash builders.

I thought about making a matching hat out of it. One of those things that are sort of like tams, only a bit more floppy and mushroom shaped. Possibly with the same lace pattern so it will match!

What with the cold weather lately I’ve been wearing my merino/oppossum tam a lot, and I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on it. Enough to make me wear it every time I stick my head out of the door. And it’s nice and warm, too. I don’t notice it when it’s on my head, but when I take it off I get colder.

Anyway, back the the finally-s. I finally got around to over-dyeing the two pairs of slipper socks. This was the second over-dye for the pair on the right, and the first for the pair on the left. I tried steaming the blue/yellow/red ones, and it seems to have worked pretty well. No crocking!

This afternoon I whipped (well, surged, actually) some large denim bags together to use for storing the lovely llama and alpaca wool I’ve been given this last year.
The fleeces were in plastic bags, and I seem to remember someone saying that keeping fiber in plastic isn’t the best for long-term storage, because moisture can get trapped in there, or something like that. Anyway, it gave me a chance to dig them all out and fondle them again. I’ve already got a fair sized portion of the black llama fiber de-guard haired and in this lovely bag. And why did I start with the black llama? Well, it was on the top of the pile, and I had ulterior motives . . .

A couple of nights ago I came to an important conclusion. If I had a large shawl or ruana I would definitely use it. It was downright freezing. I had to resort to draping a large, acrylic crocheted afghan about my shoulders. And I say that if you have an excuse to do that, you have more than a good reason to make something large and sumptuous. Something done in black llama. I even have some black sparkly stuff I could put in there too, but that might be a bit much. Ooh, maybe I could use the black llama, and then occasionally throw in some white for a marled look. I rather like that idea.

No! Not another project right now! I refuse. It was all I could do yesterday to add a bit more to the Willow sock yarn. The first bobbin full is done and reeled off, and it’s as gorgeous as ever.

Speaking of gorgeous, I did something yesterday that I’ve never done before. I placed a large fiber order – (Yes, I know I’ve done that before. Will you wait for the punch line?) – for Maiden Yarn on Etsy – (There. Satisfied? Yes, I know I’ve done that too. Wait a bit!) – and it had some luxury fibers in it. Such things as camel down, yak fiber, silk latte, and bamboo. I can hardly wait for it to get here so I can pet it . . . oh, I mean, transform it into various new products. It’s coming from Wisconsin, so it’ll take it a few days to get here. In the meantime I shall keep spinning away.

Crash. Bang. Shriek of car brakes. WHAT?!?!?!??!?

Last year I took ten days. Started on December the twenty-second. There I was, December twenty-sixth, thinking I would get even more fiber spun then last year. Ha ha ha. Ha ha.

So . . . my New Year’s Dash is becoming a bit more of a New Year’s stroll. What with an unfinished and late Christmas present, and not having spun for a long time (various muscles and joints don’t like to be thrown into the deep end, so to speak) I’m idling my way along. But I am spinning. Yes, I am. It’s some superwash merino with bamboo in it, and I think some nylon.
Gorgeous, soft stuff. I dyed it quite awhile ago and stowed it away, lost and forgotten. I absolutely love the way it’s spinning up. (Into a sock yarn, of course.) It shall be called “Willow” and may possibly make its debute in my Etsy store. If it stays here I shall find myself dropping all sorts of works in progress and plunging into a new pair of socks. I do not need more sock yarn. I am firm. I am resolved. And maybe I can make some more later.

First off, Nessie is done. Eyes and all. The pattern called for brown eyes, but I happened to be working with some navy yarn at the time so I just snitched a bit of it from the too-long tail of the work in progress. The recipient’s eyes are blue, so it works.

Second, I give a public thank-you to God for His blessings to me through yarn and fiber sales on Etsy. A month or so ago I was seriously thinking about pulling the plug on the whole thing, but He has sent me enough sales to make continuing worthwhile. I’m very excited about next year. I’ve got all sorts of ideas for new products, and a couple of marketing ideas as well. Look out, you may be seeing my shop on Ravelry sometime soon!

Third, I’m starting my New Year’s Dash tomorrow. Or at least, I’ll be preparing for my New Year’s Dash tomorrow. I’ll probably spend the better part of the day working on something completely non-fiber related, but I will take time to rummage through my fiber stash and see what will make the cut. I was given my favorite recording of The Wind in the Willows today, and I plan to listen to it once I get spinning.

And last, I actually began working on the navy cowl again. (Hence the color of Nessie’s eyes.) It’s about three inches tall now. I really don’t know how tall a cowl should be. I want it to come up over my head like a hood, but not swallow me up when not over my head. It may be too narrow for an over the head cowl. Thankfully it’s not taking up all my stitch markers now. I was given another set for Christmas.

Ha. As I was typing that last bit I kept thinking of more and more spinning projects to add to the Dash list. This could get really interesting. Another thing I’m going to add to my Dash list is not technically spinning. I’ve had an idea for an article to submit to a spinning magazine, but never gotten around to writing it. It shall be written between now and the New Year. Period. Zip. End of discussion.

And speaking of some work, here is the sum total of the New Year’s Dash.

Before

After

Ta-da! Ten days of frenzied activity paid off. I’ve got five projects checked off my list, enough yarn to sink a small boat, and the knowledge that I can spin five and a half ounces in a day. (On average.) And even though the pile of New Zealand wool is still uncomfortably large, I’m happy.

I also have a large fiber order coming in, and there are rumors floating around that it might be time to refinish and fix up my spinning wheel.

Have a wonderful New Year!

This is the Bunny Yarn.

Soft and Squishy

So I took what was left of the pink roving, slapped it (gently) onto the Saxony wheel and spun it up thick. Then I plyed it with some of the leftover thin single. That gave me the Bubblegum Silk Yarn.

Even Softer

Put a big check mark next to it, my friends; the pink silk roving is history!

Now it’s just a matter of seeing how much New Zealand I can spin before midnight. Which won’t be a lot because I’ll be busy for quite a bit of today. But, I’ll show you the enormous pile of yarn I finished up during these last . . . what? . . . eight days? I’ve got enough to open a small store. A very small store. But anyway, I’m rather happy.

The Completed Rebecca Yarn

So, that was the good news. Now for the . . . well, not really bad news, just mildly depressing. I’m still working away on the drop spindle projects. I can practically guarantee that the New Zealand will not be done before New Years, but I’m not sure about the pink silk. I just reeled off a spindle full and started plying it with a thick Wensleydale single I had stored away for that purpose. It’s rather fun looking. I can’t decide whether it reminds me of a little pink and white bunny (angora!), or peppermints. I’ll get some pictures up once it’s done.

But, in the meantime, the Jester batt keeps calling my name and the alpaca is batting its little eyelashes at me. Must . . . resist . . .

And that reminds me, in a round-a-bout way, that I got an email from Paradise Fibers saying that my box isn’t scheduled to arrive until January 7th. (Oops, did I sigh out loud?)

The First of the Bunch

I’m not sure how much they weigh, or how much yardage is in them. I’ll find out once they’re all done. And, once they’re all done I’ll just have the two drop-spindling projects left to finish up.

Ha ha. Just two drop-spindling projects. I spun a little on each of them today and managed to remind myself that they’re good for leisurely, enjoyable spinning. Not so good for speed work.

Supposedly you can speed up drop spindling in several ways, one of which is to get a faster spin on the spindle by rolling it down your thigh very fast. That creates more of a spin than you can get by just flicking it between your fingers like a top. The only problem is that I wasn’t thinking about rolling the spindle when I started, and both spindles need to turn clockwise. When you roll toward your knee (which is easiest) it turns the spindle counter-clockwise. I can do it the other direction, but it’s awkward, hence, slower.

Thankfully the New Zealand project can carry over into next year. I’ll just see how much I can get done on it between now and then. (While plying the rest of Rebecca and trying to ignore the batts in my closet that are calling me.)

Four-Ply Sock Yarn

Gawain is done! I absolutely love it when the seemingly endless thread you’ve been working on for the past who-knows-how-long comes together and makes yarn. It’s amazing.

That makes three things checked off my list. No, four. Well, I guess three. Gawain sock yarn, the lumpy yarn, the sparkly black stuff, and if you want to count it separately, this little skein from the leftover turquoise.

Turquoise Light Worsted

Keep in mind that the plying of the sock yarn and the turquoise stuff happened between 7:30 and 11:00 last night. I didn’t get much done yesterday morning. We went to the library (where I got more audio books) then did cleaning chores. Actually, while we were at the library, I found the Start Spinning book by Maggie Casey. I’ve never read it, so I brought it home to look at. From what I’ve seen while glancing through, I think most of the things in it are things I have already learned one way or another, but it looks like a very good, concise, practical how-to guide.

I also made the mistake of browsing in the craft books section a little too long. A book on watercoloring flowers, and one on Chinese knotting jumped into my arms. Oh, and I looked through a book of knitted shawl patterns and found one I really like. I don’t know why I look at knitted patterns! I don’t knit! And as for the Chinese knotting, I’d never heard of it, and it looked amazing. Do I really need yet another craft? Thankfully the instructions aren’t geared toward beginners. Maybe I’ll get frustrated with it. You never know.

As of supper time, I’d only spun a little on the New Zealand. I’m getting close to another spindle full. Although I have no idea how much I have left to do.

And you’ve already seen what happened last night. Maybe I spin better once it gets dark out.

Oh, then yesterday afternoon I placed a rather large fiber order. I got a Paradise Fibers gift card for Christmas, combined it with plenty of my own money, and ordered the biggest fiber batch I think I’ve ever bought. No, I think the SAFF beats it. There are three and half pounds of various fibers coming. But I won’t tell you what they are until I have pictures to go with them!

And speaking of pictures, here’s a close-up on the colors in the Gawain sock yarn. I’m very pleased with the way it turned out. I’d been expecting more color shifts, but the four-ply mellowed it into a nice blue gray. It’s a very nice, soft, squishy yarn.

So Soft

I Can See The Bottom!

This is all I was able to make before running out of purple locks to stick into the thin single.

The Finished Lumpy

I’m learning that movies are great for the Walking Wheel. I can crank out an ounce of spinning (a full bobbin) in about a half hour, so it adds up. Last night we watched The Quiet Man, which is a long one. I spun four bobbin-fulls, added that to the one I finished up on Christmas, and put the whole stack of Rebecca bobbins together. It’s really coming along. And I can see the bottom of that basket-full, too. Not as empty as the turquoise, but getting there. A couple more movies should do it.

A Tower Of Singles

I spun about an eighth of an ounce on the New Zealand wool, decided that the spindle was getting too heavy to spin well, and wound it off onto a tube.

Tube Full and New Beginning

I’m having to keep the New Zealand tube separate from the Rebecca tubes because they look a lot alike. New Zealand is slightly whiter than the other, but it’s best not to take chances.

You may have noticed that I still have some turquoise fiber left. I decided to spin it up into some three-ply light worsted. It’s almost all spun onto the bobbin. Then I just need to ply it! One more thing almost checked off of the list.

Turquoise Single