Finished Stuff

You get a lot done sitting around at a volleyball tournament...

The Hubbo's team participated in the state championships this past weekend in Battle Creek (they did pretty well-- made it to the semifinals) and whilst this was going on I watched and knitted. I wasn't even the only knitter this time, which was pretty wild.

I made another Calorimetry (since I lost my other one) out of some of my handspun. The wool was superwash merino with sparkly Angelina that I spun on my wheel and Navajo plied. It came out a nice heavy worsted weight.

The socks are for Emma, just a plain vanilla affair with short row heels. The yarn is Opal Rainforest (in the "Flamingo" colorway) which I bought last April at the Knitter's Frolic in Toronto (super on sale).

Even though Emma and I couldn't have breakfast with Tony the Tiger this time around (Cereal City is closed, so sad) we were still happy to tag along and cheer for Hubbo's team.

New Socks

First off, I finished the socks I was working on in Socks That Rock Mediumweight. The color is "Sherbet" and yes, they are VERY bright. Very quick, too, in the Mediumweight!

I started another pair (or two) while we were having Easter dinner with Hubbo's family (one pair for Emma, one for me). Will take some pictures when there's more to show (I did finish one of Emma's socks already).

Work-wise, I'm waiting for yarn for some new designs and up to my armpits in tech editing. The good thing is that since I just shipped out a bunch of designs it's not too crazy (at least until more yarn shows up, right?) The good thing is, when I get tired of editing I can knit, and when I get tired of knitting I can edit-- kind of balances each other out. I kind of take it as a given that I'll be very busy from now until June TNNA, but hey, that beats having nothing to do in my book.

Happy Birthday to Me

What will I do today?

1. Knit whatever I want (not design work)
2. Play with my wheel
3. Eat something tasty
4. Knit with my friends

More magaziney goodness

Right here.

Little sigh of relief

The two sweaters I was working on for Westminster Fibers are done at last-- and off they went this morning. It's been really nuts trying to finish them what with all the sickness and general craziness around here, but it happened!

Yesterday evening I had some free time, so I finished up some yarn I've been (trying) to spin on my new wheel in little 5 minute snatches. It's some pink Romney I got at Knit Michigan, and even though it's not the softest stuff in the world, it's REALLY easy to draft. I think I've got the hang of the wheel now!

I'm finishing up another sweater for Alpaca With a Twist, working on some tech editing stuff and bracing myself for another huuuuggge tech editing job. I'm also hoping to get out to knit with my friends more than once this week, since we're not expecting our typical huge-snowstorm-of-the-week like it seems we've been getting all winter (unlike most winters).

OH- I got the spring issue of Knit Simple with my dress in it-- and imagine my surprise that they did a technique article on it as well (for eyelets and picot hems). Yay!

It's here!

Yes, I know my birthday isn't until mid-March, but Hubbo hooked me up early. Behold!


Amazingly, even though I've never spun on a wheel before, it only took a few false starts before I was off and running. Still got a learning curve to work through, of course, but I think it helps that I could already spin on a spindle (at least drafting is nothing new!)

I ended up going for the Lendrum single treadle-- a great price, solid maple, treadles easily, plenty of accessories to add on as my skill/needs grow. Plus it folds up and stores in a handy bag! I didn't like the idea of double treadles, mainly because I don't want to have to sit "front and center" all the time and the single treadle reminds me of keeping time with my foot in band class-- more natural for me.

Quick break

Yes, I've been knitting/editing furiously, despite having come down with the flu (better now, though) but I have snuck a few moments here and there to do other things "just because."

For instance, I made a spindle!

It spins GREAT-- and for a loooooong time. Here's what I did:
Materials: An old size 11 bamboo needle (from a Suss Cousins shawl kit I bought years ago on clearance at Barnes and Noble), a round, flat stone with a hole in the center, about 2 1/4" in diameter (bought at Michael's for about $3 in the bead department), some stretchy illusion jewelry cord (had lying around, but originally bought at Michael's) and a small cup hook.
What to do: 1. Slip the stone over the needle, leave up at the top near the cap. 2. Beneath the stone, at the point you want the whorl to be, start wrapping the illusion cord TIGHTLY, narrower at the edges and thicker in the middle, about 1/2" wide in total, until the center of the cord wrapped part is a bit bigger than the hole in the stone. 3. Tie off the cord. 4. Gently force the whorl down over the cord wrapped part. It should be nice and snug. 5. Screw the cup hook into the cap of the needle.

That's it. You might want to put a dab of glue where the knot was tied to keep it secure (I did).

Also, I learned to Navajo ply on my spindle:

(The wool is some Blue Faced Leicester I bought at Knit Michigan from The Spinning Loft).

And here's the sock I haven't been knitting much lately:

That's it. Guess I'd better get back to work... especially because a really exciting thing is arriving on Thursday (my birthday is coming early this year!!) and I want to be able to play with it.