2nd Pair Done

The second pair of handspun socks are done and I just...just...had enough yarn to finish. I think I have about 6 yards of yarn left! The only concession I made was to make the top 6" instead of my usual 7". They have nice heft to them, without being as heavy as the first pair.

The new pair is on the right.

They have a great sheen to them and are very soft. Now on to the next project.....

After a 4 day weekend

I just wasn't satisfied having so much handspun fiber left over after finishing my first pair of handspun socks. I knew there was enough for at least one more sock, but would there be enough for 2 more??? Taking the scientific approach (please note: totally unlike me), I weighed each finished sock on my digital kitchen scale and a-ha, one weighed 61 grams and the other measured 45 grams! I knew one was heavier, but I was really surprised at the difference between the two. I then weighed the leftover handspun yarn and it weighed 100 grams, or just under 4 oz. I then rewound it into two balls of 50 grams each and felt I should start another pair!

As the yarn ran through my fingers to the ball-winder, I knew that this was the thinner yarn of the smaller sock, so I went down to a size 2 and cast on 56 stitches for another pair of plain socks. These too, I am doing 2 at a time on circs, so if I run out near the toes, I can at least be certain that the toes will match each other, if not the rest of the sock. I am really happy with the texture of this pair so far.

After the 4 day weekend, I should have more to show for my time, but relaxing and enjoying the sunshine was the original plan. I took several walks, watch several movies and finished up the
Targhee from JulieSpins. It is incredibly soft and squooshy in its finished skeins. I didn' measure yet the yardage but I must have at least 400 yards in the two skeins (plus the bitty one) in sock/fingering weight out of the 5 oz of fiber.

I just love how the colors played in this yarn as it was two plyed. The two skeins don't even look like they come from the same fiber,

but one skein will lead naturally into the other.

Now to plan a project.... another Ishbel, perhaps? Any other ideas out there? Until then, I will be satisfied just giving it a squeeze every now and then!

Fibery Progress

One finished project! YAY! These are my first handspun socks, in a 48 stitch plain sock, top down on size 2 needles, 2 at a time. Spun from Dragonfibers (merino, bamboo and nylon).

I was going for a normal weight sock, but I ended up with a heavy sock which will be nice with Crocs and boots this winter. I used a regular 3 ply for them and I thought I was spinning sooooooo thin. Live and learn, and the funny thing is that one sock is much lighter weight than the other. I have enough yarn left to probably knit a third sock to keep as a spare and it might match one or the other of the socks. I can't really remember whether I spun thinner at the end, or at the beginning. So much for conscious spinning and knitting.

Washed and skeined up, below is the finished yarn from the Pagewood Farms fiber, in the color Maple Leaf. The label only said "wool", but it was soft and lovely to spin. They are both 3 ply but notice the difference navajo plying makes with the colors in the smaller skein. Soon (?) to be mittens. Maybe I will put a crochet edging around the cuffs with the smaller skein......

The Target Practice socks are making progress. I did have to frog back the heel once, because it was totally wonky.

I am a little concerned about the size of the socks. I measured exactly and had even gone down to size 0 needles, but as you can see, they look a little big for a women's medium. Since these are my first short-row heels, maybe when I rejoin with the instep stitches, it draws up and gets a smaller length to the foot. Anyone have any experience with short row heels?? I am glad I didn't try to do these 2 at a time since I would have spent even more time frogging back. Tonight I may get to start on the tops and see how that pattern does it thing. To be continued.

And, last but certainly not least, is some spinning goodness developing on my wheel. As a reminder, this is the fiber: Targhee wool in the color, Bouquet from JulieSpins. I am quite addicted to her fiber as I have mentioned before.

The top bobbin is from the outside of the roving and the second bobbin is from the inside. It hardly looks like the same batch! I split the entire roving in half lengthwise, and will 2-ply it which should result somewhat in some stripes. Of course it is my perogative to change my mind and navajo ply it to maintain the variation of colors and make clearer stripes. Another to be continued.......

Ripped Again!

My socks, that is...... With the DragonFibers handspun,

I am hoping that this third attempt is a keeper finally. I made two attempts at doing the Berry Season Socks from 2 at a time Socks

by Melissa Morgan Oakes. My handspun is very dense and the gauge just wouldn't work out. They were coming out huge, so I ripped them again and started a plain jane pair using a 48 stitch cast on. So far so good, now, and I like the shine the yarn has in the plain stockinette. So, here is the third attempt:

I hate that I am still working part time and that I can hardly make ends meet, but I am loving my job and my 3 day weekends........ Everything is a trade-off in this life and things could be lots worse. At least my yarn and handspun stash is large enough to keep me in projects. Now, if I only can restrain myself from new purchases.

A Knitting FO !!!

Here are the Spring Forward socks, finished at last.   I worked on these on and off for several months and finally finished them last night as promised. What I learned: Two at a time socks is easiest when there are the same number of stitches on the front and back of the sock and they do not change at the heel!!! Re-arranging the stitches with this method caused major brain damage until I had it worked out, but then it was clear sailing to the end.     Details are in earlier posts, and on ravelry.

I am pretty pleased how they turned out and since we are heading into barefoot season, I think I will pack them away, but they may actually be gifted to some lucky person!

I began spinning the Dragonfibers fiber last Sunday, and it has such a full-on shimmer that I couldn't photograph it  well.   I will try again in the natural sunshine in a few days, but it does beg to be spun very fine.   

Today was my short day at work, and I finally got around to fertilizing the lawn, so in about a week it should be totally lush.   Of course for my three day weekend, rain is in the forecast and  I WANT to plant flowers.  With Sunday being Mother's Day,  I should be able to do what I WANT......   It isn't fair!

Wishing all the mothers out there a perfect day to do what YOU want.   Appreciate your mothers, let your kids appreciate you, and take a moment to remember the ones no longer with us.   

Problem solved!

I always had been a little nervous taking my spindles with me for an outing. I now have at least one batch of fiber reserved for spindle spinning, so they don't feel left out now that I have my wheel. But traveling with them in a ziplock never felt quite secure enough, even when surrounded by fiber, but now I have the answer:

These are a couple of cardboard canisters that came filled with the most luscious biscotti, sent by my daughter from Zabar's in NYC (my idea of heaven, for sure). I certainly will enjoy the biscotti, but more than that, I now have the perfect travel container for spindles & fiber and they are beautiful too, photographed with my first and only tulip so far! I must plant more in the fall, but I have been saying that for years. Shown is my Bosworth Midi and a ditty batt from SpinKnitandLife.

Yes, I have been knitting. I have temporarily put my wheel in the corner for a rest, and pulled out my Spring Forward socks to finish them up . Tonight I am determined to knit down to the toes, wash, block and photograph for a posting tomorrow.

Last night at Knit Night at A Knitted Peace, I decided to purchase the pattern for Ishbel by Ysolda to use my new variegated green homespun yarn that I posted about last time.. If I finish the socks early enough, I may even cast on tonight! I plan on making the large size, and I should definitely have plenty of yarn for that.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I was surprised this morning with a Valentine's Gift of pearl earrings along with the card. Gary is not usually the jewelry type of gift-giver, so it was a surprise. May he was feeling bad because this was my 6th day working this week, but whatever, I appreciated the gift and the thoughts.

Here is a new photo of the Spring Forward socks in progress. Working my way to the toes.

Turned the heel

Yes,the heel is turned, picked up the gusset stitches and I am still 2-at-a-time and moving right along. The hardest part was getting the right stitch count on each needle with them lined up in the proper order. Now it is clear sailing through the gusset decreases as I move towards the toe.

Minstrel update: UPS tracking shows it has moved from La Marque, TX, to Houston, and has arrived in Dallas early this morning. to be continued......

I went to the library yesterday and saw they had the book, "Teach yourself Visually, Handspinning", by Judith MacKenzie McCuin. I thought right, sure, this would be pretty lame, but then I saw that the technical editor was Maggie Casey of Shuttles Spindles and Skeins in Boulder and the author of Start Spinning, which I already own. I knew then that this would be a worth while way to spend several days before the wheel arrives. Yesterday was the Superbowl, and since I am NOT a sportsfan, I blew all the way through this book during the game. It is great and covers everything from fiber prep, through handspindles and wheel spinning, to dyeing and knitting with handspun. The photos are great and even if the info is pretty basic, it is very clear for beginnners and a valuable resource along with Maggie's own book. I did confirm while I was reading this book, that even though I am right handed, I spindle spin like a lefty. I keep my fiber wrapped around my right wrist and draft with my left. I wonder what will feel best when I get the wheel set up.

2-at-a-time Socks #2

Having successfully completed my first pair of socks using this technique, I went shopping in my stash for my next project....never mind that I still have several other projects in various stages of completion. From the Summer 2008 Knitty.com I am starting Spring Forward, a light and airy lace sock pattern that will do very nicely in Fortissima Socka, colori Eggplant, a nice blend of purples and beige in a cotton and wool blend.

After my experience in my last pair, I wound two balls of equal weight and then wound off from one ball until the starting stripe pattern on ball 2 was about the same as ball 1. I started the ribbing and I may be off a row, but much better than last time.

I will be adapting the pattern from DP's to the Magic Loop 2-at-a-time as described by Melissa Morgan-Oakes in her book. It is a 66 stitch pattern so I put 33 stitches on each side of the sock. The pattern is an 11 stitch repeat, so it should work out well. It may get a bit funky at the heel and the gusset, because the orginal pattern calls for a 30 stitch heel. I'll see once I get there.

Totally off topic, I was home the other day in the afternoon and the sun was shining very brightly at a low angle through my kitchen window. I noticed on my backsplash behind my sink the following images and had to photograph them.

The sun was reflecting back from my tea kettle on the stove, through my dishdrainer to the tiles under my window. I watched the reflection until the angle of the sun moved away and I am so glad I captured these ethereal images.

Lethargic

I am not in the mood for much these days. News of the economy and my personal state of affairs are dragging me down. I am not really happy with a few of the projects I finished and am reconsidering them as gift items. Not a problem with the projects themselves, but maybe my choices of yarn. As it turns out, I sent them anyway, and the giftees will have to deal with them.

The top one is bamboo, which would have made a better scarf than a cowl. I love the buttons I found, though. The second one is from my first hand-spun. The fiber is from Creatively Dyed and it is Sea Wool purchased while at Rhinebeck this fall.

I did add the buttons to my BSJ and made some thumbless mittens on a string to finish off the gift ensemble. I changed my mind about doing booties, since the baby will be born in January and will be in footed onsies for the most part. Come on baby boy Johnson.....I am now ready for you!

On Black Friday( the day after Thanksgiving), I went over to Joann's to see if I could get into some trouble and to get buttons for several projects. I ended up with sock yarn for 4 pairs of socks in mid weight for a total of about $30. The yarn is Patons Kroy socks, jacquards in four different colors. Not that there was any fear of running out of socks to knit, but now I have built my stash even further. I started a pair in the summer moss color

with my new book: 2-at-a-time SOCKS by Melissa Morgan Oakes which I purchased from Knitpicks to conquer the technique. It works! I am now working my way down to the toes and it is going well now. At first it was a bit fiddly, until I got the hang of it, and I can see both socks progressing very well. I used my basic plain pattern and had to adapt the technique to my 56 stitch pattern, but it wasn't too difficult since I have made enough socks now to understand the basic architecture of socks. My only major frustration is that the sequence of stripes on the two balls are wound opposite from each other. When doing two socks at once, I only found this out after several inches had been knit on each. Next time, I will rewind both balls before knitting so this doesn't happen again. I let it go this time.......

Now I will have unmatched but coordinated socks. Not ideal but these socks will be for me.

I am a winner- again!

What a great way to cap off a great knitting/spinning week! I just received an e-mail from Phyllis at SpinKnitandlife that I won her blog contest and will be receiving some luscious fiber she calls a ditty batt to spin up and I cannot wait for it to arrive so I can give it a spin. Other than the blog award nomination from Needles of Iron , and some of her fabulous iris she sent me late in summer, this is the only other thing I have won.

On Thursday, I joined my knitting buddy for lunch at the new Corner Bakery restaurant in Highlands Ranch. It was a gorgeous Indian Summer day and we sat out on the patio catching up. By the way, they have some of the most delicious Rugalach I have had in the Denver area. I was very impressed and happy. I make it myself sometimes, but it is so labor intensive that I don't make it too often. Now I have a great place to satisfy my craving for this delicacy. The link takes you to a recipe (not mine) but but looks good as well.

Anyway, after lunch, we went to Tattered Cover to knit and enjoy sharing our WIP's. I brought most of my purchases from Rhinebeck to show her and I enjoyed seeing her progress on her Nantucket Jacket. Stacy has such a calm voice and mellow personality, that I really enjoy spending time with her to keep me sane in an insane world.

On Saturday, I was had the opportunity to meet Becky if Iron Needles fame in person for the first time. She had driven to Denver to have lunch with a college friend and we met after that at the Lamb Shoppe in Denver. That was a great experience to meet in person and I think we hit it off famously. What is interesting is that I felt immediately comfortable with her as if I had known her for years, and we were sharing things that are too difficult to get into with the blog. I am sure we will meet again next time we have a chance. Too bad we didn't know each other while the girls were at CSU, since she lives in Ft Collins.

I have been working at cleaning out and organizing all my WIP's that are scattered about the house. I finished spinning the last singles from my louet Northern Lights fiber, and have decided to make a Clapotis with it. There will be 4 balls of 3-ply fiber when I finish plying the last group of singles. I started and finished the first sock of my new Monkey Socks using the Regia Galaxy that I took to the east coast, but I never got around it it while traveling. On the second sock, I just started the pattern after the cuff. Look at my new sock blockers, size medium from Fiber Trends. I had been thinking about these for a while, but since I was hanging out for a few hours at a new LYS, I splurged and bought them there.

I wound the Misti Alpaca lace weight into a ball to begin a scarf using the pattern "Simple Vine" by Ruth Hirsiger. I picked up this pattern at Rhinebeck from Windy Valley Muskox. The pattern calls for Qiviut fiber, but I couldn't afford that. I cast on using size 6 needles, but I didn't like the way that looked, so I will begin again using 4's. .................to be continued.

Breathing a little easier

Today's stock market jump felt good after the last two weeks. I know, I know, we are not out of the woods and I expect lots more volatility, but I feel better about not panicking and selling or rearranging my 401-K. I am a diligent saver with long-term goals in mind, but I am 58 and this period has been pretty painful to my retirement and my gut. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that things calm down and begin to regain from the bottom.



Luckily, I have been knitting from stash and finishing some UFO's. There are lots more hidden around the house, so even if I am totally broke, I will still be able to knit for quite a while. Here is a sock I am rushing through hopefully to give as another gift on my trip east. If it looks a little lumpy, my hand is inside it and not my foot!

I leave on Thursday morning for NYC, then my high school reunion, and hopefully Rhinebeck on Sunday.



Here was a happy surprise. Looking outside in the garden this morning after our first freeze of the fall, I saw this:

Usually I get a whole trellis full of pancake size lavender blooms of clematis in the spring, then nothing for the rest of the summer. I diligently water and feed it, but the vine doesn't get as much sun as it probably needs and gets pretty skimpy after it finishes blooming. I purchased a second clematis vine this spring with deep purple double blooms that is supposed to bloom all summer, so together as they intertwine, I should have some nice color there next summer. Maybe the original vine knew I did this and put out two late season blooms as a peace offering. Whatever, I smiled as I saw them this morning.

2 Days off feels like a Vacation

Because the store is closed on July 4th and I am working both Saturday and Sunday, I actually had two days off in a row. To make that even better, tomorrow I don't have to be in until 1pm so I have the whole morning off too. That means 3 days of sleeping in (and staying up late the night before!!), getting some excercise and craft time in. A real vacation, which doesn't cost anything, if only I could stay out of the stores......

;-0

I finished up my "Prague Socks", blocked and dried them, and neatly folded them away for when the fall days are next upon us.

I cast-on a new pair right away which I will give to MOM, not a surprise, but a promise made during our trip to Europe. I am using the Lana Grosse varigated yarn bought in Volkach, Germany and the basic pattern I use for plain socks by Diane Soucy from Knitting Pure and Simple. They are actually a bit heavier than fingering weight and making a nice firm fabric. I am loving how the colors are coming up. No pooling so far and keeping the plain knitting interesting. They should be nice and warm and toasty for this winter.

Last night was knit-night at my local yarn store and Stacy met me there. We caught up after the wool fest and discussed our Alpaca yarn. She has actually knitted up a swatch and it is very light and delicate.... and oh so soft. Thinking that I might not have enough for a full size sweater at a small enough gauge, I may either double up the yarn and make hats and mittens (oooooooh) or use a lacy pattern and make a 3/4 sleeve light weight sweater. .......to be continued....... I also purchased some arcrylic to make a Baby Surprise Jacket. No babies in my family, but I have until January to make this for Candy's first grandchild. She is having surgery on her hand, so knitting for her is out of the question for the immediate future.

_

I bought Maggie Casey's new book " Start Spinning" and read through it while sipping an iced latte on Starbucks patio (see....vacation activity!) I am amazed how much I have already figured out using the internet and Ravelry resources about drop spindling. The photos are fabulous--and a terrific resource for any new spinner. At this point I have no desire for a wheel, and Alison if you are reading this, there will NOT be any sheep grazing in the backyard the next time you come home, but be careful before you jump into your bathtub here, as there just might be a fleece soaking.........

There are flowers in the garden. Not a real surprise, but since I was traveling during the last two weeks of May, during prime gardening season, I was happily surprised to see the perennials go on without me. I only planted a few annuals to fill some holes and from a distance it is not so dramatic at this time.

Close up, each flower and plant has its own drama. The rose bush is prolific but I don't know its name. The flowers are so heavy, they often break the stem after a watering day. I tend to pinch off some buds to make each rose a single on the stem and lighter weight and more dramatic.

I have grown to love african daisys. The colors are vivid, and when fully in bloom, I cannot help but smile.

Can't remember what they are called (what kind of gardener am I??) but the bees love my purple things.

In the other garden there was a late and last poppy, that is so shockingly orange.

I have dahlias in two colors: fuschia and this deep rich maroon. I positioned the maroon one so I can see it from my bedroom window.

Fortunately I cannot see the holes in the leaves from my window. I may have to drown a few slugs in beer. :-)

Colorado's state flower is the blue columbine, but the color didn't photograph very well for some reason.

This is a nice long post with knitting accomplishments, future projects, and gardening. If only I could afford to be on "vacation" permanently. Unfortunately, my stash would run out eventually, and I would be restless to travel again.......So back to work tomorrow.