For Jenna

My spinning, dyeing, knitting friend Jenna informed me last night at our SABLE meeting, that she no longer wanted to see the hairy chip. Haha! That cracked me up, so I thought I should do a new post (not like it wasn't completely overdue anyway). I had so much fun again last night. We have the best bunch of ladies ever! I keep forgetting to take pictures though. Chris has a few here (scroll down a little), but some of them don't seem to be showing up. She is always stalking us with her camera while we TRY to look natural, right Chris? I can't go next week and I am seriously going to have withdrawals. Sniff. Erica, you can sympathize. We may have to pout together.

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I worked on my Rusted Root a little this weekend. I really like this pattern so far. I should try it on, but I'm just too lazy to put it on some yarn and do it. I'm not worried about it though, because if it's too small my daughter has already laid claim to it.

It's looking cute so far, yay!

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I am doing pretty well on my committment to stop buying yarn for a while, however I have fallen off the wagon in the fiber department. Oops!

All 3 of these gorgeous creations are from Coby. Kim and I had way too much fun on our visit with her.

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I'm also eyeing this and this in Jenna's Etsy shop. Actually I'm drooling over a lot more than those 2, but I promised myself I would spin some of what I have before I buy more. I might have to wait until June the way my schedule is looking.
I'm so ready for summer vacation.

Hairy chip?

Did that get your attention? I couldn't resist posting this, because how often can you use a title like that? I found this in the chip bag the other day.

I know it's not really hairy, but ewwwww.

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It's been very busy here as usual. The Monkey had a big history project due in school last week. The 3rd graders have a "wax museum" where they dress up like someone and write a report. Then they are displayed like wax museum characters. He was George Washington.

He looks so funny in his wig lol! He had fun, but he didn't like it that kids laughed at his hair. That wig was tight on his head and made his little cheeks pop out like a chipmunk. It was cute.

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Only secret knitting going on here. I have halted on the Juliet. Cotton fleece doubled weighs a ton. I am not sure I want a 2000 lb summer top. Any ideas?

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I finally took some pics of my latest spinning project.

Northern Lights pencil roving in Icy Winter. I really like how the colors played out in this one. I have just a few overplyed spots, but hopefully they won't be a problem.

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I'm not sure it will happen, but I am really hoping to get some knitting and spinning time in this week. It has to be better than last week right? My wheel stayed in the same position for the whole week. That is way too long!

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I'm really excited for Friday. I finally get to meet my online friend Kim. We are meeting at Coby's studio for some shopping and chatting. We've sent messages and stuff for a while now, and finally we found a time to meet up. I can't wait!

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Have a great week everyone!

Catching up

It's been a busy week here. Spring break just makes for a whole different schedule. When the kids are home the time just flies by, the house is continually a bit more of a mess than usual and we just don't get the same things done.

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Small amounts of craftiness have occurred.

I did cast on a new project. It's the Juliet pattern. I have loved this little top since I saw the pattern come out and just never got around to starting it. (Sorry the pic is inside out, oops.) It's very simple to knit and goes really fast. I am just not sure how much I will like the finished object. I think it's going to be REALLY heavy. I am using Cotton Fleece doubled and wow, it already feels like it weighs a ton. Not sure I'm gonna like that.

The cotton fleece I am using is a "second" and has these little areas that didn't seem to take the dye. I can't quite decide whether this will bug the crud out of me or not. At least it's a fast project, so if I hate it and decide to rip, there won't be so much time lost. Hmm...what to do.

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I have been spinning a little too. I finished the Caribbean roving.

I still have to figure out the wpi and yardage. If I have enough, I may try to make a little shrug out of this to go over tank tops. I'm pretty happy with it. I was trying for a thicker yarn and this is definitely thicker than sock yarn. The learning process is fun at least! :)

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I started some new fiber too. I got this at the Spinning Loft. Beth had a great swatch knit from this pencil roving and I couldn't resist it.

Pretty huh! I'm hoping for a hat and scarf set out of this one. If this Michigan weather doesn't stop it's ups and downs, I may still be able to wear it this spring. (That is so not funny!)

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Yesterday The Sporty One passed her driving test. I have survived another one. If you've never been through it, it's one of the most stressful hours of a parent's life. You are not allowed to help them at all and you have to just sit and pray they do nothing wrong and that they pass. Ugh, it was so nerve wracking. I'm just glad it's over. Now I just have to worry about her being on the road by herself! Yikes!

I make good yarn!

Me! I can make good yarn! And it's not just me saying that.
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This past weekend I went to a spinning class at the FABULOUS Spinning Loft. It wasn't just any old class either. It was a spinning-for-socks class with Abby. THE ABBY! ABBY FRANQUEMONT Abby! (Breathe in, breathe out. I'm ok.)

Can ya tell I am a little starstruck? I grabbed her and made her have her picture taken with me. This woman is amazing. Not only is she a fantastic teacher, she makes gorgeous batts, writes a great blog, and produces wonderful videos.

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So anyhoo, at this class, we learned a TON! How to spin long wearing yarn, how to spin a sproingy yarn, how to preserve color in a roving, long draw, navajo plying...yeah...all that!

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I took along some of my yarn to show Miss Beth the spinning queen. It was this yarn, the 3rd one I spun.

Not only did Miss Beth tell me I did a nice job, so did Abby! She even said it on her blog! She used the word impeccable and my yarn in the same sentence! Eeek! I couldn't be more excited. I think I actually almost peed my pants. It was a wonderful day and I would take another class from her in a heartbeat. Between Beth and Abby, we were truly in the midst of mega knowledge and talent. Sigh.........

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I could talk all day about that class, but I will stop gushing.

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I do have something else to talk about. I even have another FO to share. Eh, not a great one, but hey it's finished right?

Simple stockinette socks for my niece. Boring by yarn used from stash and a gift finished. That can't be all bad right?

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Well I'm off to work on another secret project. I will share when I can.

Mad spinner

I hope all you knitters out there don't desert me. Where are ya all anyway? (translate - leave me some comments would ya?!!!) I digress. Don't hate me because I am addicted to spinning.
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I am improving! Yay!

Here is the Pigeon Roof. I love love love this skein. This is actually taken before I soaked it. It's nice and "fluffed up" now. I might save it for a hat. :)

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New stuff on the wheel is some roving I dyed myself.

I took a dyeing class at City Knitting a couple of weeks ago from the fabulous Rita. I had so much fun and absolutely loved dyeing, despite the fact that I was the most math challenged pupil there.

I started spinning it and I just love it. It totally reminds me of the Caribbean. Maybe that's why I love it so much. Me, the one who lives in Michigan and fears never seeing spring temps again. (It's supposed to snow again...sigh.) Anyhoo, when I spin it, I will just imagine myself on a cruise ship looking out over the ocean. Who says I have to live in reality all the time right?

Even Brodie wants spring. He loves laying in the sun. ;)

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P.S. - I have been knitting too. I almost have the niece socks done and have completed a few more rows on the shawl.

Goals met

I hope everyone had a nice Easter. Ours was pretty relaxing. Church this morning, lunch at my mom's house and then basically trying to keep the kids out of the candy for the rest of the day.

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I have been trying to keep up with my routine of setting small goals each day. I find this really helps me to prioritize what I want to get done and actually do it. Today's goals were to ply the Pigeon Roof singles, upload a couple of things to Ravelry, and finish the pink Gedifra socks.

I had these kitchenered for about 2 minutes before they were snatched from my hands and quickly put on The Sporty One's feet. She even said she would model for the blog. I'm sure these will rarely be in the sock drawer. They will probably be snagged off the drying rack right onto someone's feet.

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I finally edited the pics of the latest handspun. This is Crown Mountain Farms pencil roving in Chocolate Bar. (I think it's a discontinued color.) At first I really didn't like it, but as I was plying, it started to grow on me.

I'm hoping for a pair of socks out of this and I know there will be enough left for a pair of wristwarmers and/or a hat.

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Pics of the Pigeon Roof will have to wait. I don't have it off the bobbin yet.

Tomorrow's goals include: start spinning something new, get the niece's 2nd sock to the heel flap, do at least 4 rows on the new shawl I have started and get the Pigeon Roof yarn wound off and set the twist. I think I can do that.

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Just to give you a glimpse of the silly stuff that goes on around here, The Monkey thought his Easter bucket would be a good hat.

Crazy cute little bucket head.

Melody

Introducing Melody, a lovely lace scarf made from silky cashmere yarn.

Skill level intermediate.

3-page pattern calls for one skein of Mama Llama Silken Cash and includes both charts and written directions.

Available in the sidebar.