Monday, December 26, 2016

Re-Do of a Meme

I decided to re-visit this meme.

Listening: my cat 'snorkeling' (she has allergies)

Watching: nothing

Eating: Yoplait Greek yogurt Cherry flavor

Drinking: Hot Chocolate Raspberry Coffee

Wearing: long sleeve t-shirt, sweat pants, socks and slippers

Reading:  Historical Romance, PLY magazine (love the latest issue)

Weather: cold but it's not snowing

Knit: socks for December then a shawl and a couple of cowls

Spin:  Spinner's Hill BFL/Silk in a rust/orange colorway

Want: a different table to use over my recliner

Need: to pick up snorkel kitty and give her some cuddles

Looking Forward to: dyeing yarn/fiber in my basement craft room

Wonder:  how long before I can get down those stairs to my room. (still can't do stairs with my foot issues)

Merry Christmas! ... Slow Knitting Progress ... A Fiber Community Loss


Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.  We had a quiet Christmas here, just the two of us.  Pat and I made a nice pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and a mixed veggie. He helped with the prep work as well as checked on the roast and potatoes as they were cooking so I could rest my foot.  It's healed but I'm trying to stay off it as much as possible since it's still sore until it gets 100% back to normal.

My knitting is suffering lately.  The December YOSS socks are being knit in tandem and are at gusset decreases.  I hope to finish before the last minute of the month.  Sadly, YOSS group is disbanding on Ravelry.  There is so much camaraderie among the members.  I'm going to miss following and posting in threads.  One of the moderators has set up a new group for a while and I've joined that.  

My Project Peace Cowl didn't get finished by December 21.  I put it aside since I've missed that date, but plan to pick it back up as soon as I finish the socks.  The same goes for my Rippling River Cowl. I do have a project to cast on for January 1 at 12:01 a.m.   It's the Oceanbound  Shawl and is part of a KAL in the We Are Yarn Podcast group.  

There was some spinning on the Hansen.  About 2 ounces are left of the original 9.  Maybe I can squeeze that in between sock knitting to give my hands a rest from the size 1 needles. I set the mini spinner up on the card table, and slide it in front of my recliner. Once I'm settled in the chair, with remotes, laptop, drink, and legs are up, I can spin.  I keep a bin of "next" projects near my chair and put the bag of fiber on it. The fiber is in batts and in a clear plastic trash bag so it's easy to reach in and grab a handful of fluff to continue spinning.


I was sad to learn of the passing of Tracy Drake (a/k/a Copperpot Woolies) earlier this month.  She will be missed by all who loved her fiber batts.  I still have several in my stash and will think of her often while spinning them.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Current and Finished Items, Prizes

It's been quite a month here.  Lots of good stuff with a little bad tossed in was the rule. 

My Indigopie sweater was finished.  It was entered into a few groups on Ravelry for KALs, and I won two skeins of yarn.  My November socks took until December to be finished.  Partly due to my back going out and my not being able to use my arm to knit for a few days.  This led to some retail therapy.  :)  And I had done so well with not shopping after Thanksgiving.   The second pair planned for November got pushed back to December.

The sweater isn't blocked in the picture.  The front is suppose to be higher than the back and is meant to be open without buttons.

 



 




My knitting guild holiday party was last night.  We always have a Yankee Swap with knitting or crochet related items.  I knit a hat which I think was well received.  The person said she liked it.  I usually just pick a gift, but, this year I "stole" one.  I came home with a gift certificate to Mermaid's Purl yarn shop. :)

Currently, I have two cowls, and two pairs of socks on needles, and two fibers on bobbins for the Hansen.  I got bored with the first fiber so started a second one.  I still can't treadle and use my regular wheels.  Hopefully, I get an "all clear" from the podiatrist next week.  

I still need to get my tree up but it's hard with crutches. The big one won't be used this year.Maybe I can talk Pat into putting the tabletop one up for me.  I can sit and decorate it.  

I'm actually sort of colorful myself right now.  On Saturday, my desk chair caster got caught up on the edge of my area rug .  When I tugged on it, the caster snapped off, and the chair tossed me on the hardwood floor.  Luckily nothing was broken, just lots of bruises on my upper thigh, arm, and foot. Everything is still a little sore but getting better. 

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Knitting Calms My Nerves ... A Fiber Festival

It seems it doesn't take much to set me off lately.  I'm not sure why.  I guess dealing with the foot issue is wearing on my nerves and stressing me out.  I did have a great visit with the nutritionist last week.  My weight and blood sugar numbers are both down.  I see her in four weeks for a follow up. 

There's been much knitting progress.  The Sail Shawl is finished, and my Indigopie sweater is about 70 percent done.  I think I might be playing yarn chicken at the end of it.  The shop only had just enough skeins for my size so I couldn't buy the extra one like I always do.  My November socks for YOSS still need to be knit as well.  I can't use my wheels and just haven't felt like setting up the Hansen, so there's been no spinning lately.  I was thinking about it so maybe tonight or tomorrow will see something on a bobbin.

 Last weekend was the New England Fiber Festival.  Pat and I decided to go on Saturday.  He did the driving and I helped navigate. For some reason, I was getting car sick so there was only a tiny bit of knitting accomplished.  

I had made a list of "must visit" vendors,and mostly stuck to it.    I also got to meet Jen from The Uncreative Crafter Podcast, and The After Hours Podcast.  She was vending for Fiber Stash where I bought some Merino Twinkle fiber to spin.  I did see several spinning and knitting friends, some who I hadn't seen in over a year. 

We also took a quick drive up to WEBS where I only got the yarn for the one project I had in mind - a poncho.  After a quick meal at Wendy's we headed for home.  

Here's a picture of my newest acquisitions.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Visiting Yarn Shops

Last Friday, several of my knitting friends decided to visit Mermaid's Purl in Wickford, RI  for her new shop opening.  She moved over one street to a much bigger shop.  There's lots to choose from, but, I couldn't really look around too much due to the crutches.  This is a shop I didn't usually go to, but, plan to visit again in the future.  

I've been seeing the Three Color Cashmere Shawl  being shown on podcasts for a while and it just didn't really appeal to me.  There was one on display in this shop.  I loved it and bought the yarn in the same colors it was knit in - pale pink, silver, and dark gray.  No set plans are in place as to when this will get cast on, but, I had to buy it.  :)

Right now, I need to finish "Sail", and start two sweaters.  Indigopie and Tappan Zee are both bagged and waiting.  Of course, there's two November socks planned as well.  One is plain vanilla and one patterned.

Another visit to Driftwood Yarns in Mystic is also in the very near future.  Right now, I don't plan to go to the New England Fiber Festival.  If my foot and back are doing good, those plans might change.  It's two weeks away. 

Halloween Socks, "Sail"ing, Birthday Yarn, and Foot Issues

It's been a tough month with a foot problem.  At the end of September, I thought I had a blister on the side of my foot and it turned out to be the beginning of an ulcer on the ball of my foot.  Not walking on that foot was mandatory for it's healing.  I've been in a special boot, applying a special medication,  and using crutches for most of the month.  It has worked and I got the clearance to go back to my regular shoe as of yesterday's appointment.  There's a small spot still which has to have the med and bandage on it, but I don't need to use the crutches.  

I also saw my diabetes doctor and made an appointment with his nutritionist the same day as the foot issue started. Well, I'm doing great with my new plan.  I'm down 10 pounds and my glucose has dropped between 70 and 100 points (now between 70 and 160s instead of in the 200s).  It definitely helped the foot problem.  And, that's without walking and just doing "chair" type exercises. Arm and upper body movements in the chair and leg lifts laying on the bed.   I liked Weight Watchers but need a more structured, less flexible, food plan.  Set carb amounts works best for me.  

Since I was chair bound, I managed to finish my Halloween socks knit in Fishknit's "Count Sheepula" colorway.  They look like velour. My "Sail" Shawl is almost two thirds done.  The second skein is almost done. It's so soft and squishy.  It's also perfect for group knitting since you only have the one increase and attached I-cord to remember.  I'm hoping to get to the purple yarn for the edging by this weekend. The picture is at the end of the first skein.

 








 Expression Fiber Arts had some gorgeous yarn for October in the "Tourmaline" colorway.  I got two skeins, and a semi-solid of the matching pink.  That's 1500 yards of fingering weight. I need to find a pattern for it. 


                       
No spinning happened.  I had my husband set up the big card table so I can put my Hansen on it, but just never did.  That will happen this week.  
 

Monday, October 03, 2016

In The Mood For Mauve

It seems I've been in the mood to use a particular shade of mauve in my projects lately.  My Big Island Wrapper and Spring Forward socks both have this color in them.

 

I developed a small ulcer on the bottom of my foot so spinning on the Minstrel is limited for now.  My other foot gets tired from doing all the treadling. Because of this, I haven't finished the last ounce of my Blackberry Ice Cream colorway singles yet.  (It's almost the same shade of mauve).  Plans are to ply it all on the Hansen as soon as I can. 

 

Since I'm not suppose to walk on my foot, I have lots of time at the desk or in the recliner with the feet up.  This lends itself to lots of knitting time.  Besides the above two projects, and some more Vivid squares being finished, I cast on two more projects.  Sail is a garter stitch asymmetrical shawl with attached I-cord.  My October YOSSRATS2016 socks are French Vanilla Cappuccino by C.C. Almon.  The shawl yarn is from June Pryce Fiber Arts  Beavertail DK in "Ziggy Stardust".  The socks yarn is Fishknits "Count Sheepula" which is a perfect name for Halloween time.  It's self-striping dark purple, black, burgundy, and olive green.

 

Before the foot issue, I spent a lovely afternoon in Mystic at Driftwood Yarns in September.  There was quite a bit of stash acquisitions purchased.  There was some lovely fiber near the counter that called my name.  It's from Groton Family Farm's Shetland sheep.  Sadly, the farm is now closed and this fiber is no longer available.  So of course I had to buy some.  :)  I plan to knit an Indigopie so a sweater quantity of Encore Chunky.  Two skeins of Happy Feet 100 Splash sock yarn  and one of Cascade Heritage Prints also found their way home with me as well.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Yarn Dyeing, Needle Felting, and Knitting


This Saturday's weather was perfect for several members of my knitting guild (OSKCG) to get together for the Dye Workshop with Kelly of Romney Ridge FarmIn the Loop yarn store in Plainville, MA was our lovely host.  The heat stayed away long enough for us to finish our skeins, and then the sun managed to find the back of the building where we were. Since we were about to move inside for the needle felting part of the class, it wasn't a problem.  Kelly taught us how to make adorable sheep.  They all looked different and seemed to have distinct personalities.

Here's some pictures of some of the yarns in progress as well as a few of the sheep.  Mine is the big plump one on the left. (Seems kind of fitting.  lol)

 




My only knitting at this time is the Big Island Wrapper.  I've finished the solid portion of the second part and just started the second transition part.  September 1 is right around the corner and that means another pair of socks will be cast on.  I'm going to use my PacaPeds "Kaliedosock" colorway for these.  This is really old stash - 2008 I think.

My wheels are begging for attention and I plan to start a new fiber project soon.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Finished Stash Dash Projects


Stash Dash 2016 has finished and I managed to complete the 5K portion. It was close but I squeaked in the last project at 11:48pm on Sunday - 12 minutes before the end. :)  My total was 5274.26 meters.   My last three items were my August YOSSRATS socks, four Vivid Squares, and a 4-ounce batt of Merino from Copperpot Woolies in the "Whisper" colorway.  Here's a link to my project page for this.

Sadly, my Big Island Wrapper wasn't finished in time since I had to order more yarn.  Since I have quite a bit extra yarn now, I'm adding extra repeats in the remaining portions.  The pattern is simple and won't be affected by my doing this.  

 

 

I still need to pick my September YOSSRATS yarn from the bin.  I just can't make up my mind. :)

Saturday, August 06, 2016

Mail Yarn and Fiber Goodies, Knitting Group and Sock Fail

It's been a fabulous mail week here.  My prize from "The Corner of Knit and Tea" podcast came in. It's a 4-ounce bag of Portuguese Merino from Hello Yarn in the "Wheat" colorway.  I have never spun this breed or anything from this dyer before so I'm looking forward to that. 

 
Yesterday was the delivery of my other fiber prize from "Fiber Pusher" podcast.  It's a 8-ounce bag of a Merino blend in a pretty pale lilac purple/taupe color and soooo soft. I haven't taken it's picture yet.  My other order from Knit Picks came in at the same time, so I can get back to my Big Island Wrapper.

A little over a month ago, I hurt my leg and had quite a bit of trouble maneuvering stairs and curbs. Pat has been driving me whenever I have ventured out of the house which has been only when necessary.  Yesterday was my first time driving myself.  I went to knit group, and then did a couple of quick, easy errands.  Sadly, I ended up ripping out about ten rows of my progress on my sock. I had managed to drop a stitch on each side and both had run down.  It's all back together and I've started the heel again. 

The sock fail is with my other yarn selection for August.  It's a light fingering weight yarn and wasn't working with the pattern I wanted to use.   The design was getting lost in the yarn colors.  The skein is back in stash and I think it might become a shawl instead.
 

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Another Pair of Socks; Slow Knitting Progress; Another Prize!

My July socks for the YOSSRATS201 KAL are finished.  That and another Vivid blanket square are the only completed knitting for the month.  Here's a couple pictures of the finished socks.



I won another prize from another group I had spun along with during Tour de Fleece.  It's eight ounces of a Merino cross fiber in a pretty taupe/lilac color.  Of course I had dear hubby pick me up another quick pick ticket.  lol  You never know how long the good luck will last.  :)

Now the Tour  is finished, I'm hoping to get a few more projects off the needles for Stash Dash.  I'm at 4408 meters right now and know my August socks and another square should push me over the 5K level.  I would love to make it to the 7K but don't see that happening since Stash Dash ends August 21st. 

Here's a picture of the yarns I plan to use for two pairs of August socks. Plans are Lamby Toes "Mix Ins"  for "Fine and Dandy" socks (the whole sock in this yarn), and Cascade Heritage Prints "Cotton Candy" for a vanilla pair.




I did start my Big Island Wrapper, but, had to order more yarn for it. There have been several notations regarding running out of yarn in each color.  The designer must be a very tight knitter.  I plan to make it a little bigger if I have a lot left over at the transition points.  Here's a pic of the first part in progress.
                  

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Tour de Fleece Spinning; More Prizes; Sock Knitting

Tour De Fleece 2016 has finished as of today.  I am happy with my accomplishments.  The "Tuscany" as a chain ply, 12 ounces, 455 yds.;  "Vineyard Haven" as a 2 ply, 8 ounces, 626 yds.; and a Loop batt "Sweeeeet" as a chain ply, 4.2 ounces, 188.5 yds.  I had hurt my leg and was happy to have the Hansen so I could finish my spinning goals.  Prior to that I had been using my Minstrel for the first two projects.  I had to ply the Vineyard and do the Loop batt on the e-spinner while elevating my leg.  (It's much better now, but still a little weak). 



 


Knitting was also completed.  My June "Kick in the Butt" socks and the "Ziggy Cowl" were both done before the end of the month.  Right now, the only knitting I'm concentrating on is my July socks, "My Cup of Tea".  I like the pattern but the sock is a little snug to pull on.  It might be the yarn (old Knit Picks Memories) and needle combo, or the pattern part draws in a bit. Sock one is done and sock two is at the gusset.  Plans are to get that part done and motor on down the foot and toe before the end of the month.  The socks on the right are my June plain vanilla ones.



 









I won another pattern last week and some fiber this week.  My luck has not been so good with Powerball though.  :)


My plans are to knit another pair of socks and a Big Island Shawl  in August.   This is yarn for that. 






Saturday, June 11, 2016

Slow Project Progress and Super Lucky Lately

I know it's only been a few days since my last post but am trying to get on here more often.  

My "Kick in the Butt" socks have seen a bit of knit time.  The first one is finished and it's twin has completed ribbing.  The Vanilla socks saw no love the last few days.  I've been knitting on my Ziggy Cowl.  I love the way my handspun is feeling.  It's a bit thicker than the pattern called for, so I cast on an extra 10 stitches to make it a tiny bit looser.  

I'm still working on getting the third braid of "Tuscany" spun up.  I'm going to ply the whole twelve ounces at one time.  My next fiber is staring at me from on top of the table where it's safe from Isabella kitty.  Of course, it's in a plastic bag, too.

As previously posted, I won a project bag and stitch markers last Monday.  Well, on Tuesday, while listening to another of my favorite podcasts, I heard my name called again.  This time it was for my sweater spin project.  The prize was a $25 gift certificate from Etsy.  Woot!  Woot!  I'm saving it until something really begs to come live with me and my stashes.  

I was feeling very lucky.  On Wednesday, I had my husband pick me up two Powerball Quick Pick tickets.  I specifically told him to use MY $4 to buy mine on a separate slip.  He goofed it up.  He bought them with his money instead when he got his. Not a single number was right.  My lucky streak is over. :(  

Wednesday night was my knitting guild meeting in which we had a huge Show & Tell.  Everyone brought three items to show.  I brought one scarf, two shawls- "Wine Tasting" Cashmere Scarf,
 "Flamboyan" Shawl, and "Evenstar" Shawl.

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

"Stash Dash" Plans, Another Prize

Every Spring, the Knit Girllls Podcast hosts what is know as "Stash Dash".  The idea is to knit, crochet, spin, weave, or tat your way through as much stash as you can from Lala's last day of work in May until she returns in August.  She's a librarian/teacher and has most of the Summer off to do this.  WIPs count as long as there is some form of stitching involved.  Rules and details can be found on their group page. All items must be measured in meters. There are 3K, 5K, 7K, 10K, and a 15K option to choose from.  I'm not declaring until the end of June when I will see how close I am to the 5K.  I might shoot for the 7K at that time.  

So far I've got 2 pairs of socks, and the sweater spin project finished for a total of 1904.5 meters.  There's 2 more pairs of socks, 2 cowls, a sweater (from the spin project), a shawl, and a pair of felted clogs in some sort of progress right now.  One of the cowls and the 2 pairs of socks will push me to the 3K already.

In the middle of SD is Tour de Fleece.  I'm still putting my fiber choices together for that one.  It should give me a good amount toward the Dash.

While watching one of my favorite podcasts yesterday, I heard my name called for a prize.  I won an adorable project bag with mustaches all over it and a set of stitch markers.  I'll post a pic when it gets here.

Here's a few pics of my finished May socks and the sweater spin.  Vanilla Socks in Cascade Heritage Prints "Iris", and Escalator Socks in HauteKnitYarns in "Spring Has Sprung".The last 2 pictures are my current sock yarns. Knit Picks Felici in "Wizard", and Highland Handmades in "Fruju".  There's also some June Pryce Fiber Arts Merino in the "Tuscany" color on my Minstrel right now.  I'm about halfway through braid number 3 and then just need to do the plying.





 

 

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

My Annual Knitting Retreat

Last Friday found me driving to West Yarmouth, MA for my knitting guild's annual retreat.  Since I had a previous appointment and left late, there was only one stop at a yarn shop along the way.  Three skeins of Plymouth Merino in a dark gray came home with me from there.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn again this year.  After checking in, we all drove to A Great Yarn Shop for a cheese/wine/yarn tasting.  I had water since I don't drink.  It was a lot of fun and I ended up buying 3 skeins of one of the featured yarns along with a cowl pattern for it. There was a new colorway dyed for the shop which I purchased and will be a shawl or cowl.  After stopping for a nice supper, the rest of the evening was spent knitting with everyone in the conference room. 

Saturday was more yarn shop visits, where I bought a couple books and notions - no more yarn - and a stop for a delicious lunch.  The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent in the conference room where I spun on my Hansen mini-spinner for most of it.  There's still about twelve ounces left of my sweater fiber to spin. 

Sunday was the drive home, a nap, laundry, and a quick supper of grilled chicken in a salad.  That evening I finally started my May vanilla sock 1 in Cascade Heritage Prints "Iris" colorway.  I wasn't in the mood to start the patterned ones I have bagged.  That pair now have the ribbing done on the first sock.  

Besides the sweater spinning, I'm still working on the JulieSpins braid I started in March.  It's lovely and spinning so fine it's taking a bit longer to finish.  I did finish my YOSSRATS2106 April socks, "Dublin Bay" in the "Chatham" colorway. (I forgot them in my room when we went to the shop on Friday night).  There was a  quick shawl started and finished as well.  The "Narita Express Shawl" only took me seven days.

Here's pictures of my current "Iris" vanilla sock yarn, and "Narita Express" shawl. The shawl isn't blocked yet.



Sunday, April 10, 2016

More Sock Knitting, a Hat and A Prize

March was a continuation of my YOSSRATS2016 sock knitting with two pairs finished.  I loved working with the Julianna's Fibre yarn.  The pops of color  in the gray background kept the project interesting.  The other pair is knit in super old stash (2008) DkKnits  Technicolor Smoosh Toes in "Shower Salts and Bath Bubbles". The Dragonfly pattern was a lot of fun and easy to memorize.  My other project for last month was a Baa-ble Hat. 


Last week while I was watching DragonflyFibers Podcast, my name was drawn and I won an e-book copy of "Coffee With C.C."  There are six sock patterns and a shawl, all coffee inspired.   

I'm currently knitting my April Socks in Haute Knit Yarn in the "Chatham" colorway I got on last year's knitting retreat.  My second pair is in the same base in the "Spring Has Sprung" colorway.  

 









Two more skeins of the natural CVM fleece are finished.  It's spun supported long draw and is super poofy and light.






Saturday, February 20, 2016

Rainbow Socks... Socks, Shawl and Spinning Progress

I finished my Fruit Stripe Gum Socks in Knit Picks Felici in the "Rainbow" colorway.  There were a few KALs on Ravelry where they met the requirements to be entered. 




Here is a pic of the start of my second pair for February.  I don't think I will finish before the end of the month, but, I can carry them over into March.  They are just a pair of vanilla Julianna's Fibre in "Silver Lining". I'm about half way down the leg now.




My Garter Path Shawl also got some love, but, I put it on hold before knitting the next shade.  I decided to make it larger and requested a custom dyed skein from Play At Life Fiber Arts. Chrystee did a fabulous job.  The skein starts at a shade darker than the end of my original skein, and continues to a beautiful deep purple.  Perfect. :)  The pic of the original yarn is the one with the light pink and tag.








The bright Mad Color Fiber Arts braid #2 is done, and I love how it turned out.  I'm still spinning the CVM fleece for a sweater, but, I took a break to spin something with color.  This is "Seaside Cottage" in Falkland from JulieSpins.