Monday, April 13, 2009

Mixed bag of tricks

I quit job number 2 and my last day was Saturday! Yay!!!!! Now I can really concentrate on my new job in the financial industry. My next exam, the Series 66, is scheduled for Monday 4/27 at 8 am-- two weeks from today. I am nearly through the reading materials and have found that much of it is a repeat of the Series 7, thankfully. Lots of rules and regulations to learn though, so soon I will just concentrate on all the self testing that I have at my disposal.. I find that it is the best way for me to learn the relationships of regulations/laws and the points I really have to remember.

As usual, I have been spinning up a storm. I bought some SW Merino from JulieSpins on etsy and here is what is left of the fiber.

The blues and greens are so bright and vivid in the fiber, but as I started spinning it on the wheel, I have discovered that there is a lot of white in the center of the fiber. What is on the bobbins is more pastel and the finished yarn should be very summery. I am spinning with the goal of a tightly plied 3-ply sock yarn. I have heard that some of the weight is lost in spinning, but I started out with 8 oz, so I should have plenty, with leftovers. Here are two bobbins, and the third is still on the wheel.

Speaking of the wheel, has anyone had problems with the leather ties on the treadle snapping? I don't know if it is the angle of rubbing against the wood or what. The first one snapped a couple of weeks ago, and I retied it and then the second one snapped last night. On my last trip to JoAnn's I purchased new leather laces, so now I will be prepared for the next break, but it is a pain to untie and retie often. My other purchases for my wheel include white lithium grease for the squeaks, and a ball of hemp cord for the next time the drive band snaps. It was cheap enough and I read that waxing the driving band with beeswax also preserves it. Oh yes, I had to purchase the beeswax! I should be done with wheel expense for a while, except for fiber of course!

Oh yes, one more purchase for the wheel. I bought from a fellow raveler 3 more bobbins and an arched, tensioned lazy kate.

At the rate I am spinning this SW Merino, I should be able to ply it this weekend! to be continued!

Here is the progress on my market bag. I am on the decrease rows now so I should finish it tonight or tomorrow and then felting is on the agenda....after I do the handles and flap which I am adding. I better get cracking on it. The auction is in 2 weeks.

And last but not least: I had previously seen the Great American Afghan book and although it was cute, some of the squares left me less than thrilled. But last week at Knit Night at A Knitted Peace, I spotted this book:

Now THAT is an afghan! I grabbed a copy without hesitation. I have always been fond of Aran patterns, sweaters and afghans, mainly because it reminds me of my grandmother, Yetta, who taught me how to knit when I was 7. As I remember, she was always working on complicated sweaters which she designed herself with diamonds, popcorn, cables and an amazing variety of stitches. I still have several of her sweaters, although several of the natural colored aran sweaters have yellowed a bit with age. Pause while I run upstairs to photograph one...........

It is still gorgeous, despite the yellowing. Anyone know how to renew the brightness? This sweater is at least 30 years old, and probably older.
Look at the details... the pockets!

The handmade buttons!

The back of the sweater and the number of different panels!


I am an amateur in comparison, but I do think I channel her creative spirit with my newly acquired skills. Thanks, Grandma!
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edited to add: when I was looking at Julie Spins shop for the link for this posting, she had the most brilliant hibiscus roving available. Her shop is usually sold out within minutes, so I was so lucky to grab it when I saw it. Gee whiz....blogging can be dangerous to your budget!!!!!

12 comments:

Turtle-chan said...

What a beautiful sweater! It showcases such dedication to knitting. :) You have every right to be proud of that piece. Also, good luck with your spinning!

Sonia said...

What an amazing sweater!

Sue said...

Your sweater is incredible! Those old school girls knew a thing or two didn't they! Good on your grandma for passing on the knitting gene.

Terri said...

I had one leather piece tied to the treddles break after less than a year. Only one. I figure it is to be expected given the hard forces applied to that one little piece of leather. You are smart to have some in reserve, I will do the smae.

Samsara said...

All those cables!! Amazing! I love your spinning by the way, I only have a drop spindle but I'd love to have the time to play with a wheel! :-)

lunaticraft said...

I can't wait to see the finished yarn. It looks like it's going to be beautiful!

And WOW. What a sweater. I don't have any suggestions to brighten it, but if I come across any info, I'll let you know immediately, because that sweater is beyond awesome.

Ria said...

Love the cables - adore the sweater. It's really cool from different spinners blogs I read, how different the yarn looks from the roving sometimes.

smariek said...

Wow,your grandma was an amazing knitter, that is a gorgeous sweater!

inkberryblue said...

Your grandmother's sweater is beautiful. (I have lace crochet antimacassars my great aunty made and I treasure them.) Your spinning is lovely too and very inspiring!

~ Phyllis ~ said...

Your Grandmother's sweater is a treasure. What a skilled knitter.
Your spinning looks great.
Good luck with the exam.

Megan said...

That sweater is so beautiful! I hope you can restore it, although I have no tips. What a wonderful thing to have though.

I also love the Great American ARAN afghan! I was choosing between that and another aran afghan myself. It's so lovely.

Sharon Rose said...

Fiber spun into yarn won't change weight (unless your cat takes off with a chunk of it) but it does tend to look paler, especially when dyers don't fully saturate the roving. Great colors! And you are fortunate to have that knitting skill lurking in your genetics. :)