FOs

In spite of the plague, I managed to finish these (in the SW merino I spindle spun last week) last night

I knew I'd run out of yarn before I ran out of feet so thought of knitting them toe-up until I ran out. I wanted nice, slouchy legs more than I cared if the toes matched up. I spun up some hazelnut SW merino to finish the feet and it's heathered enough to blend "good 'nuff."

I finished knitting Ray's scarf (Palindrome) around the 1st but just sewed in the ends this morning.

This was my first project with yarn spun on my Victoria. I didn't mention it here because it was to be a Christmas gift, along with my mom's scarf (last pic, Branching Out). Mom received her scarf (I don't have any finished pics but she loves it...even though it's wool--merino/alpaca--and she swore she can't wear wool because it's "itchy") the Sunday before Christmas, when we went to see my dad in the hospital. He's still in the hospital. :-(

Hey--the plague, daughter home sick from school, husband home sick from work, dad in the hospital--it's not all bad here at chez Twin/Spin...

Here's some cuteness for you--splish-splash, Widgie's takin' a bath

Spindling

Em and I went to Threadbear (our not-quite-LYS) for their celebration of Distaff Day on Sunday. Among other activities, we watched co-owner Rob give a very informative fiber dying demo. The dyes he used (I need to find out the brand) are crystals in the jars (and include mordant)...you can sprinkle the crystals where you've already painted to add flecks of color. Way cool!

Anyway, I persuaded him to sell me one of the SW merino samples he dyed and brought it home still dripping. Yesterday morning, after checking it was dry, I couldn’t resist spinning “a little” on one of my spindles. The fiber was so luscious, it just flew through my fingers. I ended up spinning and plying the whole 4 oz...

I actually had the plan to split the roving in quarters, spin 1/4 of it then join another 1/4 from the opposite end (blue-grey) I started with (red). So that each end of the single was the same color (reds) and the color changes met at the blue-grey in the middle. Repeated for the second single. I hoped the colors would mostly match up when I plied, so I could divide the yarn in half and start a sock from each orignal end…both socks would start with the reds.

Unfortunately, my division of the fiber wasn’t all that equal. The last 1/4 was way thicker than the other three and I ended up having to divide the excess between the two bobbins (lengths of capped PVC) I had going. I still ended up with quite a bit of match-up on the colors but I’d really like to try again with my original plan.

This was supposed to be jewel tones. It didn't end up that way but I love it anyway. It will eventually become socks.

I'm not sure what the 3 or so pounds of raw (unprocessed?) black-brown shetland fleece still in my trunk will become. Since I don't have any fiber processing equipment beyond a sink and couple of dog brushes, probably a huge pain in the ass.

I did it--Etsy!

After realizing my kids do not need umpteen million spindles--even though they beg and fight for every new one I create--and some encouragement from friends, I opened an Etsy store today. I'm Spinsanity over there.

Go see! Go buy!

(though I'm not quite sure of the pricing)

My husband would surely appreciate any purchase, to help offset the cost of his purchases...

every spindle-making girl needs

her own power tools

(Yeah, right.

I did figure out the drill press

won't throw off the hole saw when I use it

thus cutting holes through me

I still haven't found the need for a miter saw

I think he used it for the drying rack though)

my (very messy) work table

with the cute little drying rack

Peter made for me

In between spending much of my time making spindles,

there's been some spinning going on

I purchased 24 oz of these adorable merino/tussah silk birdsnests

in luscious basil

(pics really don't do it justice but hers is better-- scroll all the way down)

from Leah at Yarn or a Tale

,p>

Note my spindle-- it's so light (.6 oz) and purty, I heart it!

There should be one/some of this type

(the whorl is two layers--I carve out designs in the top layer, paint or stain the bottom layer and then glue them together under heavy weights)

in the shop next week.

and some plying

Note: 'nother one of my spindles

it's a bit heavier (1 oz) but doesn't feel heavy at all

also note: my yarn meter that doubles as a lazy kate

and also (I discovered) holds my spindle

when I need to stop in the midst of playing

I plan to add one/some of these soon too!

and some knitting

(pardon the crappy pic on my desk chair,

it just occurred to me that a post to my knitting blog

really ought to include some knitting

so I grabbed the project closest to my desk

and didn't feel like running back outside to take a pic)

One more thing--it's a big...no, HUGE...day in the Twinsanity household. My older daughter, Kait, graduated from high school this evening.

Kait and her friend Ashley

(Ashley finished her Cosmetology boards and became licensed today!)

CONGRADUATIONS, KAIT!!

I love you and I'm so very proud of you for hanging in and sticking with it,

even when it was very difficult for you.

.

**signing off due to teary eyes**

spindles, knitting and yarn...oh, my!

I spent yesterday making more spindles....

These



make me happy.

I worked on some knitting over the weekend...

This

is pissing me off.

I somehow reversed the row counts and the repeats for the initial decrease rows

and had to frog all. the. way. back.

Then, I was all the way finished with the increases

and the 'knit even until 14.5 inches from cast on"

and began the underarm shaping.

When I realized I was a few stitches short.

I missed an increase row.

Wugh.

Now I've frogged back to add the last increase row and have another couple inches of plain stockinette before I get back to the armhole shaping.

But I washed a bunch of handspun yarn yesterday...

this (merino/silk from my Gatlinburg trip)

is now

this

and it's very, VERY soft and yummy.

Petting it makes me very happy.