Two down

Two to go! Finished one sock for CIC (the smaller one lying flat), and one for me. I'm really pleased with the way mine is turning out. It's a simple knit/purl design, but I like the way it works with the S.O.B. colorway. I don't like the way handpainted yarns will often pool in the gusset area, and this design does a nice job of preventing that. I'll probably write the pattern up & include it with the yarn. I'm already poring over my stitch books & old pattern magazines looking for more patterns to try!

Business has been brisk lately, and I haven't had a chance to dye any yarn for a while. I am hoping to get a chance this week to dye the yarn I need for a vest I want to make for myself. Every time I think I'm going to have a quiet few days, the phone starts ringing. Not that I'm complaining! If that phone doesn't ring, I don't have any $$ to buy yarn. But just one quiet day would be nice.

Out the door

Fringed the prayer shawl this a.m. & shipped it off! I figure it will arrive Friday or Saturday; nothing like waiting till the last minute. I finished the knitting over a week ago, but business has been very busy lately, and I just didn't have the time to do the last little bit. In fact, I'm neglecting my clients today to get this shipped.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. It drapes nicely and the yarn has a nice variation in thickness that gives the simple stitch more interest. Weighs just under 11 oz with fringe, so my memory is correct that I used 3 skeins.

I've been knitting socks for me & CIC. Now that the gift knitting is out of the way, I think I'm ready to start on a vest for myself as well. It has been unusually cold this winter, and I want more wool to wear!

Gift knitting is done

The scarf is blocking, and the prayer shawl is next. Scarf measured just under 40" when finished, blocked it's 47" long and 7" wide. Definitely a respectable size (whew!).










Also finished pair #5 for CIC. Paton's Classic Merino dyed in my Naiad colorway. These have to be tucked away in the CIC box right away, so I don't weaken & keep them for myself.


OTN is a pair of socks for ME (shown on the right), using my S.O.B. colorway and a basketweave pattern that I'm making up as I go along. Most of my socks are knit from heavier yarn; I've found that the two pair I knit in fingering weight don't stay up very well. However, they're both superwash yarns; I'm interested to see if this non-superwash sock yarn stays up better.

I've also started on another pair for CIC (that's the sock on the left). Good mindless knitting to keep me from dying of boredom while walking on the treadmill (still too cold to be outside unnecessarily). One of these days the b/f is going to notice me knitting while walking; I fear it will be the last little nudge that sends him over the brink of insanity. Oh, well.

This is fun

I've been playing with my new spindle. Here's my first skein (all of 50 yards):


Here's my second skein (60 yards):


The second skein is from some roving I dyed with Koolaid (natch). I purposely dyed it unevenly to see how it would look. I rather like the effect.

Next up:


More Koolaid-dyed roving. I'm going to dye some more before I get started. I'd like to spin enough to knit a pair of socks (if I can bear to walk on my handspun, that is). Maybe I'll opt for mittens instead; looks like this winter is going to be cold enough for 'em. Considering my penchant for losing gloves, tho', I'll probably put 'em on a string, since I'd probably have to undergo grief counseling if I lost one.

Maybe I'll just frame the skeins and hang them on my wall as art.

Calmer now

OK, I got the server manufacturer to take the *&#%! server back & give my client a full refund. Now I'm working on getting quotes for a new server (different mfr, natch).

In order to calm myself down, I've been doing this:






I bought a spindle & wool from this lovely eBay seller. (Not afiliated in any way; just a happy customer!) I got one of her 9.5" top-whorl spindles. It came with a nice amount of wool roving, instructions, and encouragement. A little bit of practice, and I was making yarn! Yes, it varies quite a bit in thickness (resembles rope in some areas), but I'm getting better. It goes much faster than I expected, and it is very hypnotic. I am almost done with the roving that came with the spindle, and am drooling over all the lovely choices for my next purchase.

Now I have to decide what to knit with my brand-new handspun. Something that will be forgiving of the variation in thickness. Hmmmm....