When Life Gets in the Way

My blogs have been few and far between for the past couple of weeks because life has gotten in the way...

Every day, I think about posting pictures and describing what I'm doing. The pictures of my lovely blocked 198 Yards of Heaven shawlette are still on my camera, as are the pictures of my FINALLY finished Weekend Jacket (that I absolutely Love, love!, btw), and that I've worn a couple of times this past week. Even on my camera is a picture of the absolutely huge wild turkey that gobbled his way up the street and up over the railroad tracks, just as Rebecca's grandson, Kaleb, was looking out the window. It was quite the spectacle, amid all the WOW's!!

Why am I delinquent? It's my accounting woes... I've some software issues, some human errors, some lack of understanding and learnings with my POS/financial software integration that has taken over ever waking moment that I'm not with customers for the past few weeks. Deadline for getting this all done is Monday.

If you don't hear from me by Tuesday, send in the chocolate, wine and bandages!! I'm hoping for a good outcome, though... so close

Things finished

I've been hunkering down this last week and finishing projects. First done, the 198 yards of heaven shawlette. I even blocked her and she is quite lovely, with a finished measurement of 45" x 21". I would definitely add another repeat if I do another because I had lots of yarn left over and it could use being just a tad bigger.

Next up, the Weekend Jacket. This is one I started in Jan 2009, but put aside when spring came, pulled it back out again this winter and have had it ready to put together for at least a couple weeks or so. Finally sewed it together... don't know what I was avoiding as it was really easy and only took a couple hours to get it all done. I love how this jacket came out! it's longer than I expected and I like that about it, too.

Finally, I'm nearly finished with the cabled shell out of Cotton Twirl. I should get the front done tonight, and maybe even sew it together so I can work on the armhole and neck finishing.

Aren't they lovely? don't you just love the colors and styles??

ok, I've once again left the finished pieces at the shop, while the camera is with me at home. Pictures of these beauties will come, I promise!

I do have one more little nugget that you will enjoy... I know I did!
Remember that lovely SOAR yarn I spun and finished last week? that gorgeous black blue-faced leicester/tussah blend that Morgan, our little cali cat was obsessed about? Well, I was diligent about putting the fiber up after that so she couldn't get at it any more before it had it spun up. And that worked swimmingly. After I finished the plying and photoed it and posted for you all, I set the skeins next to my bag that I take with me to the shop so I wouldn't forget.

The next morning, one skein was on the floor and we just assumed that the cats knocked it down when they were playing/tumblng. Silly me...  Once at the shop, I started to steam set the skeins and one skein had this funny 'wobble' area where the threads seemed out of whack. Yeah, they were out of whack, alright! Morgan (I feel confident accusing her!) had chewed right through the skein! Not all of it, but enough that she had to have worked that puppy for some time, only stopping when the threads were cleanly broken, with sections out of the middle. yum, yum... I can just hear her...

I haven't checked to see how much of it I've lost... I guess I should just let it go... easy come, easy go, and she must have relished her fiber dessert.

So productive week, overall. Sorry you can't see it!

Maybe I'll wear the jacket tomorrow at the shop's 2nd anniversary so you can drool over it!

I'm a Magnet

Ever feel like you are a magnet for the very things that drive you crazy? Like you can't stand the toilet paper roll paper unrolling over rather than under and you find a mate who puts it on the holder exactly the way that makes you want to bite your nails?

Well, thankfully, John and I both put the roll on the same way, but I'm finding I'm not so lucky with my knitting patterns of choice lately. I've written about the intuitive knitter/wannabe pattern designer and how they make me crazy when they write patterns as if the following of them doesn't matter. I thought I had it out of my system, but I was overly optimistic. And now I'm finding myself a magnet for them.

My latest misadventure is with the "198 Yards of Heaven", improperly named, but I don't want to get ugly. Actually, the finished product from this effort by the designer is quite pretty, and is what prompted me to attempt it in the first place. It is more than pretty!

Here's my finished piece... lovely isn't she?

She still needs to be blocked and will grow quite a bit in width and length, but I'm really fond of her.

But.... for all who want to do this and create their own very lovely version, DO NOT follow the written instructions!!! just Do not... You don't know how much it pains me to say that I have encountered yet another intuitive knitter who has written a pattern following the successful completion of her own project, but it's true. In this case, it's even documented how the pattern was tested by Ravelry test knitters. Alas, that can only be part of the story... they could not have used the written instructions as part of their test, only the charts. The charts are correct, with some adjustments following tester comments. The written pattern should just be deleted.

So I won't rant about how intuitive knitters need to write patterns that are correct and can be followed explicitly by someone coming behind them. I won't moan about how it cost me 2 evenings doing and undoing the 22-row repeat to figure out where the problems were arising, and I won't even comment on the fact that the pattern has this goofy switch  from a 2-stitch rib to a knit pattern in the edging, which can only be interpreted as not paying attention to pattern. Why? Because, at the end of the day, this is a lovely piece when you go with the fabric flow that I'm thrilled to have worked through.

Want to make one? Follow the chart only, do not follow the written row instructions, change the lace edge stitches to follow the pattern as in 'continue in pattern', and well....
Maybe you want to forget this one, unless you like reinventing the wheel... because, you will need to do and undo many times to get this to look right. Now that I've done one, though, the second should be a piece of cake!

Nope, I'm not really a Slug!

Sometimes, I feel like a slug... I get others, like my DH, to make meals and clean around us, and generally hold up the fort. He doesn't mind, really. In fact, he likes that he is so appreciated doing things he, at best, totally enjoys (cooking), and at worst, knows needs to be done and that he's supporting our larger goals. Still, I oftentimes feel a tad guilty that I really should be 'doing my part' around the place. 

John is a dear and assures me, when I show him what I'm getting done instead, that it's totally worthwhile. I love him madly for that! Here's what I've been working on over the last few days with his support. 

I spun up the SOAR comemorative fiber (black blue-faced leicester and tussah silk, 75%, 25%). I managed to spin up 806 yds of 2-ply out of my 4 ozs and so have enough for a shawl. The finished color and sheen is amazing. Now that it's done, I'm fantasizing about overdyeing it for a woven shawl. It's so beautiful, I can hardly keep from petting it.

Then there is the Cotton Twirl Shell I started a couple of weeks ago. See how lovely it is with it's soft cable? I'm nearly through the front (and the back), so should be done in just a few more hours.

Next comes the Spunky Eclectic fiber for February, a Superwash BFL in a colorway that is totally not my colors, yellow, orange, burgundy and turquoise. It's sort of a southwest colorway, though she calls it "oh la, la, tropical". I decided to go outside my norm and comfort zone with this, since there was really nothing to lose... I divided up the fiber into long strips and wound them into cakes for spinning, each in sequence, keeping the colors intact. I married the yellows up with the burgundies, the oranges with the turquoise. 

I am spinning the singles as a somewhat uneven yarn, with the idea that it will result in a worsted weight, uneven 2-ply. Here is the yarn as a singles. More to come on how it will look plied up!

You Know I Couldn't Resist!!

I have  been hearing about the shawl called "198 Yards of Heaven" for a few weeks now and finally relented (that's my excuse, and I'm stickin to it!). What is so wonderful about this shawl/shawlette is that it's made using a worsted weight luxury blend of your choosing, doesn't use much of it, and produces a nice-sized shawl/shawlette. From all accounts, it's a speedy knit, too. So I started one... yes, I did! Mine is in Tupa, the lovely Mirasol merino/silk worsted weight yarn and I'm so loving knitting with it and how it's coming out. I've finished one repeat of 22 rows and set it aside for tonight so I could work on another project. I think this is probably just a 3 or 4 evening effort at a nice, casual pace. I'm loving how the leaf pattern shows up and will post pics to show you mine, maybe tomorrow!

My other project for the evening? Spinning!!! Have I told you how I love to spin?? I'm finishing up the last of my SOAR commemorative fiber, the black blue-faced leicester/silk blend that was made specially for the participants. I'm hurrying to get it done because Fischer and Morgan, 2 of our family cats, have declared their passion for this fiber, too, and plan, plot and excute how to chomp on it every waking moment when I don't have my eye on them, which is most of the time. They are fascinated by the smell of it and I can only hope I can get it to a safe place, as I have visions of the resulting shawl being eaten up by them... what's so up with that??

See Morgan's razon-focus as she watches me spin that fiber? "I want it!!" And Fischer, below, is just waiting for his moment to pounce.

March Colorway of the Month

Yes, it's ready... the March colorway, "The Ah Ha Moment!". The fiber is a soft falkland top, 4oz and the yarn is a squishy, tight-twist sock yarn. Here it is:

Purples and pinks, a bit of coral and sometimes a green where the yellow meet the dark blues. I can't wait to see your spinning and finished objects in this!

I haven't been busy, oh no... not me! :)

More on Organizing Life through Cubies

I spent much of my free microcycles today thinking about compartments and fitting life's projects/to do's into them. The more I think about compartmentalization, the more I know that I must be an expert at it. Case in point, house cleaning is necessary and done by most rational, 21st century woman beings. I have managed to put that into a cube that doesn't apply to me. When the vacuuming needs to be done, I am always surprised, because it can't be ME, can it that needs to do it? John, DH, accepts this about me and he, magically, vacuums when the need arises. This allows me to avoid the subject altogether.

What that does for me is it allows me time to work on my other cubie projects... spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting (less crocheting, but I do have a couple projects on my list for 2010). If DH loves me, why would he not want me to work on these things, and he loves me more than I deserve!

So he's cleaned the house in a manner beyond anything I can comprehend today, and I'm sitting looking at my spinning, weaving and knitting... actually admiring it, if truth be told. It's  liberating, sinfully freeing to work on projects in exquisitely clean and lovely surroundings. Tomorrow, I will proceed to fill the space with fiber dust balls again as I fill bobbins, and shuttles and needles with all I do... happiness for me and smiles from John as he gets pleasure knowing he's enabled me yet again. Life is grand!

Letting it Go

I always have lots of projects going at a time, and I am really good at compartmentalizing... I mean, if truth be told, I only have 4 knitting projects in the works - socks, my hoodie, my shell and my weekender jacket that just needs sewing up and final blocking.
Of spinning projects, I have 3 wheels going (and my charkha with my home-grown cotton), but these are my stress-relief time chunks and when I get an 'I love to spin' energy burst. I just have 5 weaving projects in the works... my Cricket washcloths, my bamboo warp, gifted Noro weft scarf project, my handpaint ikat-like fabric I'm set to weave for a jacket, my pomagranite shetland handspun warp for the ultimate scarf that will also use up some of my handspun stash (one of my three 2010 fiber goals), and my towel warp, yet to be completed... I won't even add the handpainted warp scarf that I'm hoping to become a kit, my silk and vicuna scarf... Let's not forget my crocheted wrap or the socks I have as another 2010 goal.

Compartmentalizing is so useful... it means that we never have to look at the whole at any one time and can rationalize why the compartment (3 or 4 things at a time) is the only thing that is important (vs. saying that I have 20+ projects going on simultaneously, all needing my attention). This is a mental health issue. It's how to cope with an imagination gone wild and a desire to try everything one can get his/her hands on without any reasoning on time bounds or responsibilities.

But every now and then, we find that this justification bites us in the behinds. And today was one of those for me. After a long day at the shop working non-stop on random, but important projects, I came home to work on something to get it done or approaching done. I sat, and pondered, and sat, and had a glass of white wine and looked around me at all of these things to be done with the idea that I would just reach for one and begin knitting, or spinning, or weaving, or crocheting... and here I sit. The more I think 'outside the box/compartment' the more overwhelmed I've become. I'm exhausted just thinking about which thing to work on next. Know what I mean?

Usually, when I feel this way, I start something new, but I've decided to give myself permission to just accept my project overload and let it all be... I acknowledge that I'm a frantic fiber project freak. But I'm holding back starting anything new. Tomorrow, I'll figure out which 2 or 3 things I'll focus on til completion. Which compartment shall I focus on?

Finished Project!

I finished my stealth project this evening, a submission for the Handwoven contest, 'Not Just for Socks'. As usual, I was at the 11th hour working on it to get it done in time... last night I completed the weaving, late afternoon today I finished twisting the fringe and then washing, drying... nearly... (if truth be told, it's still slightly damp, but it was dry enough to do the photos). It took me nearly an hour to submit it through the contest form because the pics from my camera created files too big for their requirements. Geez I wish there were some standard sizes that people wanted that would make that part easier... what a time sucker to resize images, test, upload, find they are not right, repeat ad nauseum...

Anyway, here is a brief glimpse of my Antigua Bay Shawl... all out of sock yarns. Even if it's not accepted as an entry, I love, love, love this shawl. The drape is luscious! I can really see this a a wonderful wearable.

Now back to working on my shell, my hoodie, my socks, my 2nd bobbin of SOAR fiber spinning, my remaining 3/4lb of other SOAR fiber I'm spinning, my mittens... there are more. If I think about them all, I won't be able to work on anything!!

Mum's the Word

Well, no surprise to you, I've been quieter than usual lately. That's because I have a couple stealth projects I'm working on, both to deadlines. But tomorrow, I should have my weaving project done and, on Monday, I'll have the March Colorway of the Month ready for unveiling. The weaving is one of the nicest I've done, unless I mess it up at the final hour, and I'm really happy with the colorway for the month and just chompin on the bit to share... but that wouldn't be fair.

More on Monday!

Intuitive Knitters Make Lousy Pattern Writers

Ok, talk about a wild generalization, I admit it... But here's why I say this.

Intuitive knitters design wonderful pieces based on their experience and what they feel in the moment. They 'go with the flow' and modify existing designs or create new ones on the fly. If they look at their sweater, or cap, or scarf and think, 'gee, this really needs a color change, or a cable, or ___________", they just do it. They tell themselves that they'll write it down later (if they remember) because they don't want to break the wonderful rhythm and creative flow they are feeling. Why do I know this? I am one of those, by nature. Before I opened the shop, this is how I worked most all of the time.

Fast forward to today, when I follow patterns to the letter in order to be able to teach others and share important tidbits to make the designs successfully. I find that I understand more and more the challenge that newer knitters or knitters that prefer explicit directions have with so many patterns. Example: A few months ago, I started a cute little cardi by one of our vendors. I got about 2/3 done with it when I noticed that the lace charts did not reflect the armhole decreases and the pattern just said, "Continue in pattern." This required some rather unintuitive counting backwards to figure out what the first stitch of each row needed to be and where it was on the chart. I called the designer, who told me in no uncertain terms, that she is an intuitive knitter, writes the pattern after the design is done and assumes that others will just be able to figure out what she is intending because it's all "pretty obvious based on the pattern". I consider myself to be pretty darn good at recognizing patterns, but dang, this just seemed harder than it needed to be. She was very nice about it... that's just what she believes is the approach to design she chooses to embrace. I ripped out the cardi and made something else with the yarn. Why? because, while I knew I could figure it out for myself, I no longer knit just for myself and could not reasonably pass this confusion on to others.

I had nearly forgotten about that episode until today, when I began the decreases for my very lovely Mini Mochi Fair Isle Hat. It has a really simple 8 stitch, 6 row diamond fair isle pattern that is repeated throughout. When the decrease rows began for the crown, I was expecting some clear directions about how to maintain pattern while working on fewer stitches. But there it was... "maintaining diamond pattern, do thus and such decreases!" Ok, I admit that I thought, no problem, I'll just count and figure it out. After a row or so, I realized that I had no idea what the designer had in mind regarding maintaining the diamond pattern. I mean, it was morphing down to nothing with each row, so what part of the pattern did she want me to maintain?  Then it dawned on me... ahh, yes, another intuitive knitter who made the hat, then wrote the pattern!

I decided to proceed without the diamond fair isle pattern. How bad could it be? And the hat turned out just fine!

Here it is in it's unblocked state. Tomorrow, I'll block it, which will only make it nicer.

So, lesson learned? When you find directions that suggest that you just continue on 'in pattern' while making numerous alterations and expect that you figure it out, assume it is not you that is lacking. Think that you may have encountered an intuitive knitter that has written a pattern from an already-produced design. Don't give up, don't give yourself 30 lashes and throw it in the wip basket.  It can be worked through or modified so that you will love it and it will be just your own! It's just that the pattern doesn't have the roadmap to get that done.

Note to self... make sure all of my written patterns give step-by-step directions...

What to Do with Odd Lots

Today, I spent a bit of time talking to Dawn and Judy about what to make out of Judy's special beaded stash yarn. It is a gorgeous multi-stranded luxury yarn that just begs to be wrapped around the neck over a black simple top, but there was not enough for a scarf or shawlette, or so they thought.  What to do, oh what to do...

Beware, when you ask me for ideas, you will get at least one, and today was no exception. In fact, I was pretty proud of myself because not only did I have an idea but I had a pattern ready and waiting. It was the Marvelous Mobius Scarf.

Believe me, if you have never tried one of these, you need to. They are truly a marvel. Why? because, apart from the novelty of making a scarf that is circular (with a twist) and lays perfectly flat and never goes flying off your body because of wind or other mishap, you can use up all those lovely odd ends of handspun or handpainted yarns to their best effect.

Case in point, here is the one I made today to demonstrate the process and overall coolness of this technique... (did I also mention that they are fast, fast, fast to do?)

Look at how the colors shift due to it's being worked from the center out. I would venture to say that there is really no other knitting technique that will give this kind of look. Wish you could see a closeup of the stitch, too, as I was able to build in a chevron pattern that is really attractive. All in all, this took maybe 100 yds on a size 4, 26" circular needle. A perfect way to show off small amounts of special yarns, no?

Coco says, "Oh my... that looks good enough to eat! kissy, kissy!"

Fair Isle... why do I love thee?

Have you noticed how many magazine and book patterns are done using stranded colorwork or intarsia these days? So, it did not surprise me when, a couple or so weeks ago, the Wednesday morning intarsia class said they wanted to learn more colorwork techniques, as in fair isle. And being one who is ever ready with ideas that I never have time to execute, I thought this might be just the opportunity to make a fair isle hat using a Crystal Palace pattern I had seen out of mini mochi. So we set the class date for this coming Tuesday and I made a note that I better get on it...

Today, I realized that the clock was ticking and I better get a head start on this to make sure I was at the top of my game with all the techniques. As luck would have it, this morning we got the first copies of the reprint of Alice Starmore's Fair Isle knitting book, the classic that was used eons ago to make those fabulous ski sweaters and such that were popular back so long ago. But, leafing through it again, it was all fresh and new!

Tonight, I turned on the Olympics on the tely and began the hat. It has a corrugated ribbing, which is a marvel. I had forgotten how much I LOVE this ribbing. It's not the stretchiest, but is it ever beautiful!

Using one ball for the knits, one for the purls, it creates a very impactful edge. In this case, what is even more fun is that the yarn is variegated, so each set of knits and purls unfold the colors in different sequences. What a pleasure!

One of the things that this project has driven home is how wonderful fair isle is when done with finer yarns. The fabrics are soft, supple, drapeable and artwear like. 

This project has reminded me of so many reasons why I love fair isle. Maybe by the time I'm done with it, I will list and count all the ways!

The Best Spinning Gadget Ever

Some of you may know that I'm a gadget girl. A serious gadget girl. I think I have tried nearly every spinning, weaving, knitting tool or gadget out there. So when Sherri came into the shop yesterday talking about her desire to spin a more consistent yarn and asking for help in understanding her new iPhone spinning app, I was excited. What in the world could a spinning app do for you on the phone?

To my surprise, the app is fantastic! It's called iSpinToolkit and has a wraps per inch gauge where you just lay your yarn over the screen and you can size it exactly to determine the wpi, there's a twists per inch gauge, too, and a tool for determining your twist angle exactly, Z or S twist. And there's more that I haven't had time to play with yet, including explanations of how these are all used. What does this mean? You can spin your yarn and recreate it exactly for a large project or just because all with one tool on your phone that you are already always carrying around. Pure genius!! I downloaded it as quickly as I could! You spinners will want to try this out. Now I'm imagining a weaving app that would show you the sett of cloth based on different threads you lay over the screen. Wouldn't that be the greatest?

When the Yarn Knows Your Name

I finished my Weekend Jacket... well, not exactly -- it's not blocked or sewn together. I remind myself of my corp life when I used to admonish my team members who said their software programs were finished when they hadn't been tested or through quality control. I can't call it finished, dang it, until it's really FINISHED, as in ready for prime time wearing.

Still, I can now understand why they wanted to call their work finished... it means you can give yourself permission to move on to start the next shiny, exciting thing that calls us. And for me, it's been a lovely yarn called Cotton Twirl in a color called BBQ Sauce. Ever since it arrived, it's been calling out to me. So, with the jacket project off the needles, and the new project needing just those same needles, I used the lame excuse that it makes more sense to start the new project than put the needles back in their case. I'd only have to take them out again in another day or two for the very same project, so why not just try them out, right?... nothing serious... just a swatch!

Here's my 'swatch' with the needles and the Cotton Twirl...  looks like the start of a shell to me... 10" done just in sitting watching the opening Olympics ceremonies. This one might get done under the radar!!

The yarn is even nicer than I imagined it would be. No splitting, colors are pretty without pooling. I even found myself plotting the making of something else with it as I worked on this, and that's rare for me...

We won't talk about the Central Park Hoodie... we don't want her to get jealous!

Simple Can Be Wonderful!

I love to weave (don't tell spinning...), as I adore the wonder of making cloth - all aspects of it! So you would imagine that I, also, enjoy all those intricate patterns, drafts, treadlings and threadings that make up remarkable fabrics that make us all oh and ah...overshot, crackle, all kinds of lace, doubleweave fabrics and more. And I do, most days.

Still, when I want to calm my heart and soul with the making of cloth, I am drawn, seriously drawn, to simple, simple weaves in beautiful yarns and organic designs. This scarf that I just finished is one of those pieces. Started some weeks ago on a simple rigid heddle loom, then set aside for more pressing projects, I returned to it this week and found that feeling of serenity once again through simplicity. On one end, I wove a two-pick stripe, on the other end, a 4-pick stripe... no symmetry at all, which was part of the beauty and joy of working on this. I love how it turned out!

It's made from the wonderful Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, plain weave, threaded as 'color and weave'. When finished, it's soft, amazingly wrinkle resistent and comfy. For those who have said they want to make one, too, I'm making up kits with the draft and yarn so you can make one just like it, or in a different colorway and striping, following your own organic vision.

Did I say that I seriously love this scarf? (as does every man who has seen and felt it!)

Ishbel is Real!

Some of you had said that you are questioning if the Ishbel shawl is real... because, yes, I started it, and yes, I showed some progress, but then I was nothing but excuses!!

Well, let me unveil the lovely Ishbel, in all her splendor!

I wish you could feel the fabic... it's soft and comfy, a perfect little wrap for a chilly mornng or a day when you need just a little extra.

This is a lovely pattern, too, and one I want to make again (and again!). Ysolda is so very clever with her designs.

I, also, finished a woven shawl in charcoal and brown. Just need to even out the fringe and trim it and then it will be ready for presentation :). This one is a perfect rigid heddle project and I'll be making up kits to keep things simple, with the yarn and the draft all ready to go, so you will be all ready to make one just like it in the colorway of your choice. The Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool makes a yummy, velvety texture that I love.

As you guessed, no progress on the luscious Central Park Hoodie, but I do take it out of the bag every day just to admire and pet her. I know you understand what I'm talking about! She just purrs!!! I'm thinking I won't be working on her until next week, as I'm trying to finish up my boat anchor project, the Weekend Jacket.

You've all had one of these types of projects, right? There is absolutely nothing wrong with it... the yarn is nice, the pattern is nice, there aren't any mistakes in it (that I know of). But, I'm so over the top bored with it. I've finished the fronts, the sleeves and am on the back...that's it! Lots of stitches, just enough of a pattern to be less than mindless... I've so lost my momentum of this one and just have to push my way through to finish it. I won't allow myself to start another sweater until I finish this one, so that is my goal for this week! Nothing else matters!! (nearly...)

Chanel is not buying it... (can you hear her?? whaa, whaa, whaaa)

On Making Promises...

I know better... really I do. I know not to say that I will do something when it's dependent on me having time and all to complete the promised task. So I went and promised a pic of my loverly Ishbel shawl which I had completed. All I needed to do was take a pic of it and upload it. How hard is that?

So I found that my camera battery needed a recharge... no prob.  Then I forgot that I was doing that as I moved on to my next project on my list. Early this morning, I remembered... briefly... only to forget to grab the charged battery on my way to the shop where the shawl is. 

I've spent the afternoon repeating... "don't forget the battery, don't forget the battery". I got home and got the battery and inserted it into camera first thing. Yay!! Only to remember that the shawl is, YES, at the shop!

I'm not promising anything, but tomorrow I am intending to have the shawl and the camera in the same place, taking a pic of the shawl's lovliness, and posting here. Week's karma is going to get back into a very good place... I can just feel it!!

Meanwhile, I finished weaving one of my WIP's, a shawl made from Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Tomorrow morning, it gets finished in the washer/dryer and it may make it to the photo shoot, too.

No promises, though...

On a Roll!

I finished the Ishmel shawl this evening... one more WIP from my rather long list completed.

That sounds like I'm not really enjoying myself, and that is so far from the truth. This shawl is a particularly lovely knit. The pattern has some interesting design elements, like an ingenious 3-stitch edge that makes a perfectly finished neck line, and a new (to me) bind off done on the reverse side that is flexible and stretchy, yet looks properly finished. Overall, this is fairly easy and I'd like to do another in 2-ply yarn. This was done from my handspun singles, and it gives a rustic look, that I really like, but it will be fun to see how it comes out in a smoother, more evenly spun and dyed yarn.

Normally, finishing one project would mean I could give myself permission to start another, but I allowed my WIP's to get just a BIT out of control! Right now, my WIP's include 2 weaving projects, 2 spinning projects, 1 knitted bag, 2 knitted sweaters, 2 pairs of socks. Hmmm, that actually doesn't sound so bad when I list it out! But it feels a little schizo when I get home after a hectic day to work on my calming activities and try to decide what to work on next. So I'll be working down my queue for the next few days and then will launch my next round of projects I've been planning. Maybe that's why I'm so anxious to finish up the already started ones... I'm just chomping on the bit to start the new ones!

Pics tomorrow... (camera ran out of battery... isn't that the way? :).

I so love to spin!

I've had a bit of a stressful week... I'm totally bogged down with accounting and tracking down an error that is more than a year old that has things out of balance. And being a libra, it drives me crazy to have my life out of balance! Add to that the fact that I have wayyy too many wip's going on at a time, I was needing to finish something BADLY!

So, imagine my glee when I got some more fiber in the mail this past week. It was some of Spunky Eclectics Pomegranite dyed on a brown shetland. And that's all I could think of doing in the little bit of time I had on Friday evening. I was too tired to deal with numbers, too bored to work on my knit jacket, too anxious to work the chart of my Ishmel... but never too tired, bored, anxious, lazy, crazy to spin. It calms me... it makes everything right with the world... it is my yoga!

I spent maybe 4 hours spinning and plying this into the lovely 2-ply, 352 yds of sportweight yarn. It wasn't a dream spin. I found I had to stop and start often to remove felted wads, lots of guard hairs and some vm. It probably took me 1/3 longer than it would have without all that gunk in there. But the colors are lovely and it was fun to watch as the spots of color became more. Here is the final product, which will probably become a manly man's scarf.

Also, I spent this past week testing colors and finalizing the February Colorway of the Month. Here it is, "First Sunburst". The initial inspiration came from the theme "Grace" and lots of input from you all. I really love the way the yellow/gold/reds pop out of the darker base, like when the sun is just bursting through the darkness on the horizon on a cloudy morning.

I kept admiring it today and came home to test drive some of this to show you all how it makes up... (not that I was wanting any of it for myself, you understand!).
Here are two samples... the bottom one was spun long draw and then 2 plied from a center-pull ball, to a very light, airy worsted yarn. I knit up the sample on size 9 needles. The top one was spun as a fine lace-weight using a forward worsted draw, and then navaho plied to keep the colors clear. That was knit on size 5 needles for a light shawl/scarf or cardi. Both are soft and nicely drapey.

See how dramatic the sunrise sections are against the darker contrast? I love that!

Tomorrow, I'm back at finishing the projects, I hope, as my goal is to get my accounting back to good and have my stress level return to my normal zen level!