Pistachio

First round, about 175 yards, of the Pistachio roving from Cider Moon. Haven't done the WPI yet but it's looking like fingering weight. In my opinion, gorgeous. I still have 1.25 ounces to spin from this bag (plus what's left on the spools to ply) and another 4 ounce bag of this color. I'm thinking lace shawl, of course.

This weekend I knit some bed booties for my mom out of my new love, Rowan Soft Baby. I made them in the soft blue angel color in the spirit of Project Spectrum (but just because I liked the color) and they are the softest ever. I didn't get a picture, but I made them double stranded on US 4 needles with a short cuff and simple slip stitch design, started on Saturday afternoon and finished Sunday evening. She likes them.

Project Spectrum 2.0

I signed up for Lolly's Project Spectrum, Part Deux and have neglected to post about my participation. Actually, I've been so wrapped up in learning to spin(!!!) that I forgot about it until I clicked on her fun blog the other day. The first two months are Blue, Grey, and White. Turns out that with my efforts to complete projects that I already had on the needles I have serendipitously been keeping with the program! I'm getting closer, little by little, to finishing the fronts of the cabled sweater. It's going to look so much nicer blocked, but I love the cabled design.

I've been distracted from completing the sweater not only by spinning but also by a project I've been working for a while, piecemeal, which is also blue: the Snapping Turtle Skirt by Norah Gaughan in her book Knitting Nature. Because the Berroco Suede is rather costly, I've been buying it just a couple balls at a time to help rationalize the overall cost, and because of the modular design of the skirt, I think the different dye lots will only enhance the look. Anyway, I've completed 9 hexes, and so far it's looking like it will fit very well and has been pretty fun to make. I drew lines on the picture to show where the zipper goes and how the stitches are picked up on the previous hexes and then the remaining sides are cast on. This is a time I really wish I were the same size as when I married because I would probably be done already! And yes, I know I said I would never knit a skirt, and generally knitted skirts are a bad idea, but it's so darned cool! The skirt is worked with the stocking stitch side facing, but this will be the inside of the skirt when it's completed.

Weekend Fun

How delightful to have been able to get out of the house and down to the Merc to meet the Cider Moon artists! Jacki and Gail were there, with tons of their hand dyed yarns and rovings for a trunk show on Saturday, and I ended up spending a good four hours there. Jacki was spinning the whole time with an interesting mixture that Gail was carding up for her in rolags, and making a most eclectic looking spool of yarn. I'm curious to see how she plies it! Lori was also busy spinning some gorgeous stuff called Stir Fry.

I showed them my Leaf Lace shawl in progress, and bought another bag of the victoria roving to complete the project. I finished spinning and plying it before dinner on Sunday, and got about 340 yards of pretty even looking 2 ply. Each batch I spin is getting better! I also bought a small bag of blue bling (sparkle nylon) to mix with my black alpaca/silk roving, and 2 bags of Pistachio wool.

I talked with them about dying roving, since I have a pound of merino on hand that I'm planning to dye. Sounds like it's pretty similar to dyeing the yarn, you just have to be more careful not to agitate at all.

Much fun, I hope they'll come again!

happy you-know-what day

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: Louet Pearl, baby willow 100% merino
Needles: 0 US
Modifications: just the heel, done in the usual slip stitch heel flap rather than plain stocking stitch.
Experience: These were fun and quick! I got half way through the first one and realized they would be perfect for my mom, so I made them to fit her little feet. I will be making another pair for myself, possibly soon!

We are currently enduring our 5th "calamity day" (used to be called snow days) in the last 8 school days. I am so done with snow days, but this storm was really bad. Here's Elise and the girl next door enjoying a little slide.

Here also is a close-up of the Leaf Lace Shawl in my handspun. The Cider Moon girls are keeping back a bag of this colorway for me so I can finish the project. I'm very proud of myself. :o) Color is a little off, but you get the idea. I've also spun a teensy bit of the ingeo, but it's very difficult and I haven't had too much time to work on it. Very soft and silky, though.

Happy Day

Yes, it is a happy day for me. Not only did the girls go back to school today after 3 long days off due to weather, but I picked up my package from Mud River Angoras at the post office right after I dropped them off at school!

I got about a pound of natural colored merino, which I plan to dye (after I pick the brains of the Cider Moon ladies! They will be at the Merc on February 17th.) and the most interesting stuff made from corn sugars, ingeo. I have about a 1/2 pound of each color, burgundy and teal, although the teal is a very rich color more to the blue side of teal, and the burgundy is an incredibly gorgeous true burgundy which appears more purplish than in the photos. Loralee gave me a few extra ounces that she had left, which I very much appreciate!!



I tried to get a close up of the ingeo so you can see how silky it appears. I think I need to put a macro lens on my Christmas list next year! I had corresponded with Loralee from Mud River about my order, told her I was a new spinner, and she advised me to spin this from the fold as it is very slippery. I can see what she means now that I have it in hand, but I can't wait to try it. More on this as the spinning commences!

Pretty Cider Moon

A while ago I bought a little bag of roving from the Merc, dyed by Cider Moon.
The last couple of days I spun up this little batch from that bag, about 155 yards of maybe dk, maybe light worsted. The colorway is called "Victoria", and I'm thinking that I can get another 100 yards of 2 ply out of my remaining roving, and if I can get another bag in this color I can spin enough to make the Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark. Wish me luck. :o) I'm feeling like this might be too ambitions for a newbie spinner. Oh well.

I have also completed one Monkey sock out of Louet Pearl Baby Willow, and finished the knitting part of a bridal garter, pictures to follow soon.

Yes, I'm still working on the blue cable sweater, but it got too big to transport and I've been on the go a lot.