Hey wow!

I found out I'm going to have a design in the Spring/Summer issue of Knit Simple! :O

Greetings from the Land o' Mohair

Glad it cooled off, because I'm on a tight mohair-related deadline this week. I put it off initially, choosing to work on other design projects because the prospect of knitting clouds of mohair in 90 degree heat is most unappealing, even with air conditioning.

Now, though, it's perfect.

Anyway, no time for love... got to finish the body of the sweater today....

Stitch n' Pitch

Yesterday was the Detroit Stitch n' Pitch game-- we had a lot of fun! I went with Hubbo, but left him to actually watch the game in peace while I knitted with my Tuesday night knitting friends Angela, Beth, and Sonya. Since our seats weren't together, we roamed from place to place, finally settling in at a nice shady picnic table with a decent view of the field. Here's the sock I brought to work on (didn't get as much done as I thought I would, but oh well!)

Take 2

About a week ago I ordered another spindle (a much lighter one, a little over 1 oz, since the nearly 3 oz ones I already have, the top whorl I got in a kit years ago and the Ashford Classic bottom whorl, are no good for finer/lighter yarns, I'm told). I got it from Spunky Eclectic, along with some pretty hand-dyed roving (superwash merino, I have a little fantasy about spinning sock yarn and making socks, a la Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook, a book that has been fueling that urge for several years now). We'll see.

The spindle is a Schacht Hi-Lo (right now I'm preferring bottom whorl, but this one can be used both ways in case I change my mind). Not fancy or anything but it spins nicely. The color of the roving is Bruised Ego (I wanted something different than the sock yarn I usually buy).

Anyway, the box arrived just as we were leaving for a bbq, but when I got home I spun a bit of the sample roving that Amy so lovingly wrapped around the spindle (it looked like a lollpop, I should have taken a picture!) It turned out a lot better than my first try the other day-- I'm encouraged!! Here it is with its twist setting in my shower:

What do you think?

(Yes, I'm knitting too-- I finished a sock for a book today at the bbq and the Tilli Tomas top is just in need of finishing. I just can't SHOW that stuff right now, so I'm showing you this).

Oh, and tomorrow is Stitch n' Pitch in Detroit-- for those who are going, see you there!

First Day of School

Today was Emma's first day of school without me (new school, and mom is not teaching now). She woke up really early, got ready, and attempted to leave for the bus an hour early since she was so excited. (I did eventually manage to get her back in the house for awhile). Hubbo and I met her at school (her little face looked very cute on the bus) for a quick tour and then snuck out to breakfast. She had nothing but good things to report, so all is well in the new place.

As for me?

Tomorrow (first full day of school) I'm planning to get a lot done. Wow.

The dark side

I took a little break from "work" knitting the other day and deciding to try spinning. I bought a "Learn to Spin Kit" when I was in graduate school a few years ago, but never really used it- I found the spindle (it was top whorl) really hard to control and wobbly (it was not a very nice one). Recently I swapped someone for an Ashford Classic spindle, bottom whorl. I still had the fiber than came with the kit (really rough Swalesdale top, but easy to spin, they say). I found the bottom whorl much easier to spin with.

Though it was easier to use, that by NO means suggests that it was easy. My results were "variable" at best- some parts were super thin and broke (the Classic is a pretty heavy spindle, apparently) while others were totally superbulky. I managed to get a decent quantity going, and even plied it. The result is decidedly thick-n-thin.

Despite the frustrating parts, it was kind of fun!

New Magknits is here!

With my less-than-one-skein (and still full size) Seasilk shawl! Enjoy!