Hello, everyone. I wish I could say I’ve been spending these last months in darkest Peru, learning the secret arts of cochineal dyeing, but that would be far from the truth. The truth of the matter is that . . . (are you sitting down?) I’ve not been knitting or spinning much, if at all.
There. The painful bit is over. And so is the silence of the blogger! I didn’t have many projects of a fibery nature going, therefore I had nothing to blog about, therefore I didn’t blog, which led to more ventures into non-fiber hobbies, and you get the idea. It really was the Bermuda Triangle there for a bit. But, everyone needs a little lull from life-consuming hobbies at least once in a while, and I’ve had my lull. Now clear the pool, I’m coming in!
Continue Reading »
To lots of people garbage bags carry negative connotations. They symbolize things thrown away, things unwanted, smashed cereal boxes, banana peels, yesterday’s bacon grease, and other smelly things.
But, for spinners there is a magic about garbage bags because, when found in the right places, they usually contain fiber in vast quantities. Quantities so large, your ordinary bag won’t hold them. Sound exciting?
Well, while in Texas I was given an early birthday present. Two garbage bags full of cinnamon colored alpaca. Oh my goodness. Major fluffy soft.
And I even have a project idea for it! But, before I get to new project time, I have to overcome another project. Remember the indigo dyed merino? It’s decided to haunt me for some reason.
Continue Reading »
This is a confession of guilt, so no laughing. At least, not for the first half second or so. Let me see if I can work myself up to this. Ahem.
While making my shawl I neglected to stop and count stitches when it told me to the first time.
Whew. There. I did it.
So, of course, the inevitable happened and, when I actually counted stitches at the second point, I was off. By about thirty stitches.
Continue Reading »
A few days ago I began a new knitting project, since I had finished the sweater. “Wait!” you say. “You finished and you didn’t tell us?” Well, it’s not finished-finished until it’s blocked, and I’d rather not model it while it’s soaking wet, thank you very much. And pictures of it laying flat on a table get old after awhile.
Ahem. As I was saying. I began knitting my first shawl. The Emily Dickinson shawl, it is called, and it’s available for download on Ravelry. (I’m LoveFiber on there, by the way.) This is my first shawl, my first knitted cobweb lace-weight, and my first time adding beads to a knitted project.
And let me just say it now, knitters have things so easy where beads are concerned! You just pull the loop up through the beads one at a time with no fuss. The last beaded non-knitting project I made required loading the seed beads onto the yarn ahead of time. All hundred and something of them. Then I had to keep scooching them along the yarn until I needed one. Crazy.
Continue Reading »
Just as a quick update, I’ve been busily plying away on the Raven’s Wing yarn, and here is the result so far! That’s about three out of the five hundred yarns needed.
The tencel in the blend is giving the black fibers the same sheen as an actual feather! I could hardly believe it when I saw the first finished skein. And no worries about the glitz making it scratchy. I am so proud of this yarn!
I’ve been mentioning this custom yarn on and off, and now I have a picture to share with you! A wonderful customer came up with the idea of a black yarn with purple and green iridescence, just like a raven’s feathers. Here is the beginnings of that yarn. I’m so excited about it! It’s spinning up quite well. 
Of course, I’ve got my fair share of green and purple glitz tracked all over the house, but I believe it’s worth it.
And yes. That bright pink thing is my make shift drive band. It really dresses the wheel up, don’t you think?
In other news, I finally got to the seed stitch part on one of my sweater sleeves after very carefully increasing way more then the pattern called for. Thankfully the sleeve isn’t too wide, and can therefore be fudged with the greatest of ease.
And my first Creeping Vines sock is finished, except for weaving in the ends. Pictures will be forthcoming.
For the past two weeks I’ve been decidedly under the weather. So much so that I was (and still am) forced to give up many responsibilities and sit around, resting as best I can. Sometimes it’s more irking then others, but for the most part I’m content. The sitting around has led to some amazing progress on the knitting front. Think about it, what else can you do when you’re supposed to be resting? Besides read, and I did that already. Four new books worth.
The sweater body is finished, and I’m a few inches down the first sleeve. Unfortunately, it won’t be ready in time for my original goal, which was today, but that’s okay because the event I wanted to wear it to doesn’t fall under the category of resting.
After a mad dash to the bottom hem and the subsequent beginning on the sleeve, my knitting self just snapped. I had had enough of purple worsted weight. I would start a new project or die trying!
Continue Reading »
So I’m nuts. I want to finish my sweater project before the nineteenth. I see many late night efforts in my future.
As you can see, it’s grown quite a bit, and I’m now into my third ball of yarn out of nine. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to knit tighter once I got to the easy part, because the garment was expanding when it wasn’t supposed to. By now I’ve gotten down to the waist decreases, so it feels like I’m making more progress faster. I have a feeling knitting sweaters with heavier weight yarn could become addicting. They’re so quick when you actually take the time to knock out four or five rounds at a time.
Continue Reading »
This is a post of “finally”s. I finally got around to taking a picture of the progress I’ve made on my cowl. 
It’s a good five inches long, and I’m coming up on the end of yarn ball number one. The question is whether to continue on and make it really big, or just have a second ball of navy mohair laying around for who knows what.
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.
Continue Reading »
I guess I’m officially in the doghouse. No, scratch that, I know I’m in the doghouse. I haven’t blogged a line for longer than I care to think about, and (are you ready for this?) I haven’t spun an inch since before that. Excuse me while I go collapse in a sobbing heap. This thing called life keeps interfering with my hobbies!
Not that I’m bitter, no. Life has been quite enjoyable this December. Everything from seeing the Charlie Brown Christmas to having a small live Christmas tree (both for the first time ever) has kept things lively. I hosted my first Christmas play, made my first gingerbread house, and volunteered for the first time to serve desserts at a Christmas party. (Do you sense a theme of firsts here? Well, go with that, because this is also the first time I’ve gotten so much behind on spinning and blogging!)
I haven’t gotten behind on knitting, though. Christmas knitting has skyrocketed. I made three different pairs of sock slippers for various people. (Two of those will be over dyed into different colors.)
Continue Reading »
