… and I will love her.
Stats:
Triple-ply
Superwash
17 WPI (Socks That Rock Lightweight is about 16 WPI)
Approximately 600 yards of socky goodness.
Dime for scale.
Archive for Spinning
I will call her Rhodochrosite…
Can I eat it?
This is merino/tussah plied with merino/vicose from Chameleon Colorworks in the Autumn colorway. Somewhere between lace-weight and fingering-weight and I want to eat it.
Pod casts
I’ve been listening to a handful of knitting pod casts for the last few months and I thought it might be fun to start doing little reviews. One that I would like to talk about is one you’ve likely heard of. It’s called “It’s a Purl, Man” by a guy named Guido.
I’d heard of this pod cast a long time before I’d heard of any of the others out there. To be fair, I only heard of pod casting less than a year ago. I listened to about half an episode a while back and it bored me to tears. Maybe because I didn’t yet understand the knitting “community” thing. But I decided to download all his shows and catch up a few weeks back and I’m happy to report that I’m addicted.
I couldn’t even figure out why I’d been bored in the first place. Guido’s show is like sitting down with a friend and catching up on life. I like the fact that he doesn’t go through and edit stuff out. He has a wonderful sense of humor and his laugh always gets me smiling. He’s had a number of exciting episodes wherein he has a co-host for the day and he’s started reviewing books. The book reviews are always great and hearing about his latest projects is fun but I have to say that I enjoy his show mainly because he shares a little bit of himself with you.
Perhaps that’s the most important part. I try to make my blog a little bit of everything in my life. Although I have been knitting and spinning like crazy lately, I haven’t really been sharing much of that with you this last month or so but I don’t feel terribly guilty about it because this blog is about my entire life.
Sometimes Guido will talk about an aspect of his life that makes me feel, as a listener, as if he’s a guy I hang out with once a month. His emotions and thoughts are tangible and it’s like you’re going along on a trip with him. He shares his family with his listeners too and that’s a touching twist. It’s been exciting listening to him work on learning to spin and I feel like I’m reliving the experience myself. Likewise, I love hearing about how his wedding planning is going.
Guido is a normal guy with a normal life. It just so happens that, between all those other things in life, we find fiber in common.
Yarn diet?
Did I say I was on a yarn diet? Oh… well. Tools don’t count.
So…. I met up with Sarah and Karen on Saturday at the Knitting Expo near Seattle. I was so bleary-eyed after having stayed up late on Friday night (come on, it was Friday!) and I felt like a dork because… well… because I’m sure I was acting like one.
OK. Seriously… Here is my public apology to Sarah, Karen and Teyani. I was totally acting like a dork. I was not my normal, friendly, chipper, giggly self. I’d had only one cup of coffee after a full week of having quad-shots every morning. Add to that staying up until 2 AM working on stuff and then going, “Crap! I gotta get up early!”
And then I proceeded to get lost on the way to the hotel. Which isn’t a shocking thing for me but, just so you know, you have to try pretty hard to get lost in that neighborhood. So, seriously… I’m sorry. I promise that, next time, I’ll be much more intelligent conversation and I won’t keep going, “Ooooo… shiny!” every 30 seconds.
Karen and Sarah (left and right respectively) both scored some awesome stash and some fantastic goodies. I made out pretty well myself. Do you see that big, white bag on the table between them? That’s MY 4.4 lbs. of dark grey merino. *drool*
I also scored a couple lovely books and some superwash.
The superwash, as per usual, is from Crown Mountain Farms. I always have to buy stuff from Teyani and Klaus. I think it’s a disease or something. The superwash is in the colorway “Secret Agent Man” so I got a quick serenade from Teyani as we did a little catching up. That made me giggle.
One of the books has some great history that I very much look forward to reading.
And now, to give you a quick taste of what I was up to, staying up so late on Friday.
My stash
As promised, I’m posting pictures of my stash reorganization. Don’t get too excited. It’s not exactly more organized than it was. There’s just a whole lot more of it in one place rather than spread out all over the place.
These were the areas where I had much of my stash. There is still plenty in these places but I’m slowly consolidating. I’m sure you can see that I was more than overdue for a clean-up.
Here is to where I have consolidated. 
This is a full-sized person hammock. Well, if you picture the size of the nice ones you might see at Costco or at the yard and garden store, this would be about 3/4ths that size. When I was younger (and about 40lbs smaller) I used to lay in this thing. I love it. Some day I’ll hang it up for people use again. Until then, here on the wall it will stay.
As I was tossing skeins and hangs and bags of yarn into this hammock, I realized that this is less than half my stash. It contains mostly one-offs and sock yarn. Ouch.
Brainless blog post
I’ve been swatching for my big design project for the Create-Along and my brain is completely spent tonight. Let’s just say that it’s not going so well. Translating one’s vision into fabric isn’t so easy. But, never fear. I have an order of another yarn from the requirement list on the way. Perhaps it will make me happier. Meanwhile, I’m swatching some stitch patterns that seem to work well for the yarn I received in the mail today. Yes, I will be sharing all of this progress with all of you.
I’m finding the last couple weeks difficult as far as free time is concerned. I must be developing a cold bug or something. I’m so low energy and my knitting is not going nearly as fast as I’d like. Even this swatching… I’ve got like 4″ x 5″ done but it’s taken me about an hour to do that much. I’m hoping it’s mostly due to my inexperience with this yarn (Rowan Denim, all cotton) and that my hands will warm up to the feel. My plan for cables ended with disastrous results and stitching so uneven that I shudder to even discuss it. So I’m working on a stitch pattern that is fine but it’s missing something. It needs a little interesting detail but I have yet to figure out what that should be.
My back is still not happy with me and my crazy spinning binge on Saturday may have been too much. My body screamed at me all day long and it’s still speaking rather loudly.
Back by popular demand, I bring you Daisy. This time, it’s Daisy butt. Or at least Daisy spot. Daisy is getting a big head about the fact that everyone thought she was so cute yesterday. I think that Mommy Christina will be having trouble dealing with “The Princess” with the swelling ego. Daisy gets just one brush with world-wide fame via Sachi’s blog and there just no talking to her now.
Photo Credit: Mommy Christina
Saturday S&B
Yes, I think our little gathering on Saturday qualifies as a S&B.
I got up (too damned) early on Saturday morning and worked my way over to Christina’s house to meet with her and Libby’s. I got to start my day with a ferry ride across the water which, of course including knitting. The crossing time is a short one in comparison to the other ferry routes; only 1/2 hour. But I wasn’t going to be denied my quiet knitting time, short though it may be.
This was my first solo ferry ride as a knitter and I was so pround to sit down with my MP3 player and pull out my knitting. I don’t think anyone paid any attention to what I was doing but, dammit! I was going to knit and show off (if only in my own mind), whether there was anyone to see it or not.
Upon arriving at Christina’s I spent some time giving Daisy love. Daisy is a Jack Russell/Beagle mix. A little ball of energy and cute as a button. She has a black spot on her but, right in front of her tail. It kills me because it looks like it’s there for a reason. Like it’s a solar panel or something. These first two pictures are of Daisy with Mommy, Christina. You’ve got to admit, that’d a damned cute dog.
Since I’ve got 5 fur-babies (and one fish), Daisy was almost disinterested in my affection as she burried her nose into every peice of fabric I brought in the room with me. She was particularly interested in a little bag in which I kept a drop spindle and some carbonized bamboo. I was surprised that she didn’t go for the bags of greasy wool I brought through the door but, given that she tried eating yarn once as a puppy and Mommy Christina had to yell a lot, she doesn’t seem much interested in anything that resembles yarn.
Here are my and Libby’s spinning wheels, side by side. They look like little friends, don’t they? Laurie Ann will be pleased to know that I’ve finally named my wheel. All this time, I hadn’t found a name that worked and I’d finally given up. About the time that I’d been on the road/ferry for about 1 1/2 hours, the name came to me. Ezmerelda. Libby had already named her wheel. Mr. Linderman is his name. Mr. Linderman the Lendrum.
Libby is an accomplished knitter as well. She made this ADORABLE hat. I love it!
Both Christina and Libby did fantastically for their first spinning round. Actually, what I mean to say is that they did fantastically in general. Not just for first yarn but in general. I feel like a proud mama!
BTW, Libby, drop me an email (address in the side bar). I didn’t tell you what to do with it after its spun. 
Oh, BTW, Miss Kendra… If Libby ever is in Vegas again and asks you to come to visit while she’s there, I’m telling you… don’t miss it.
Thoughtful Friday
I’ll be going to see Christina and her friend (a new spinner) on Saturday. I hope to be able to pass on some of my spinning knowledge, not that I have much. But I want to give what I can and hopefully do a lot of giggling along the way. No doubt, there will be much giggling.
I joined the Create Along started by Marnie and Julia. After a week of crazy-busy-bee and aching back, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to find the time, energy or funding to create my first big design project. I did some web-surfing and found enough yarn in good colors at a low enough price. I will force myself to create. Well, not really since you can’t force creativity. But I will force myself to find the time to create; to preserve enough energy to dig deep enough.
I first met Marnie at the Santa Monica Fiber Festival back in August 2006. Well, I didn’t exactly meet her. I was mesmerized by her spinning and I asked if I could take a picture of her to post on my blog. That whole story can be found here. I don’t remember exactly how it happened but I emailed back and forth with her friend Julia. Julia saw fit to drive across town to Stick & Stone Spinning and Weaving to meet her friend Andrea on an evening that she knew I would be present for my last spin-in. Super sweet, Julia and Andrea both.
Anyways, the point to my story is that I admire Marnie’s and Julia’s creativity. As both are knitting designers, I wanted badly to be able to learn all I could from the two of them without being invasive. I have a tendency to be a little obsessive and often come on far too strong when meeting new people who are involved in things about which I am passionate. (Shut up.) I’m always afraid I’m going to scare people with my exuberance. So, I signed up for this thing in order to force myself out of lurking. I must participate. Now that I’ve ordered some yarn, I’ll be working on sketches to contribute to the group as part of my introduction.
Lace Problem and Some Handspun
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I’ve stopped whirling like a top now so I might actually be able to think clearly now. Or a least a little more clearly.
First, Fyberduck, I did offer to knit silk stockings. I was turned down. It will be a late summer wedding and DD says she won’t be wearing any stockings of any kind.
Second, AnneMarie from PA, thank you so much for posting a comment. You totally made my day.
Ahem, *nudge* Su… I know you’re there. And Ansgard. Christine’s out there too but she reads in spurts so she gets a pass today.
Back to the subject at hand. I emailed a bit with Jason today. He reminded me about A Gathering of Lace. I picked it up during a Knit Picks shopping spree tonight. Along with Lace Style which was just reviewed by Julia. Julia is a sweet gal, willing to drive all the way across town to join you at a spin-in (even though she’s never met you before) at the drop of a hat. And I find her fashion sensibilities to be my speed.
Something that I’m VERY exited about is that I found a site in an ad in the latest IK issue. CHECK THESE PATTERNS OUT! I think I’ll be buying them all.
And now for the handspun. This is a Blue Moon Fiber Arts colorway (I believe it’s called Storm), picked up at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest last September.
Here’s Luna for scale.
Meet Stan
This is Stan the Stash Weasel. I’m sad that his little face is not in focus. This guy has little, red pads on his paws, just like all my fur-babies! Not to mention the adorable, red nose!
I had the pleasure of meeting Stan’s creator at the fiber fest; the lovely, talented and brilliant Miss M. Miss M is selling little Stans in different poses with different attitudes. 1/2 the proceeds goes to support the Knitters Without Borders. I met Stan’s Grandmother, the lovely Lady C. My understanding is that she is assisting the Yarn Harlot with her fund raising.
The other 1/2 of the proceeds go straight into a savings account for Miss M’s college fund.
The current models of Stans are running at about $40. If you are interested in owning your very-own Stan, please drop me an email (in the side-bar to the right) and I will pass the orders on to Lady C and Miss M. Every Stan is lovingly hand-made by this enterprising teen and, let’s face it… Stan sales are for two very good causes!
