I Made Yarn!!!

Ok, so it is just a little bit, but it is mine and I made it. I think I am going to frame it. = )



I also started spinning the Corriendale roving. I do not like how it is coming out.. The yarn is, I guess you would say "sticky". It would be great for felting and I am thinking about making felted balls, that I could make snowmen out of. I sense a kid project coming on. = ) (sorry about the fuzzy pic - kids running around) = )



(Note: for some reason Blogger does not want this picture uploaded. I have tried several times tonight. I will try again tomorrow - ok scratch that. Blogger has uploaded them but now the pictures are HUGE!!! and off center - go figure)


So I took the Corriendale off of the spinner (duh, how else did I take the pic?) and started spinning the merino (the multi one)




Ok here is knitting updates.

Pinwheel sweater: I am now on the second to last color band. You really can't see in the picture but I am knitting purple, and pink is the last before bind off. I really can't take this with me now since it is larger and there are 2 balls of purple attached and waiting for the sleeves to be knitted. I have this feeling if I travel with it the yarn will go everywhere. (that is my luck with this kinda stuff)



I made a quick headband for a little cousin. In the picture it looks horrible but it is cute in real life. I used a yarn I had in my stash. It is from knitpicks and it is a bulky yarn and I have no clue what exactly it is since I have lost the ball band. = )



I started the Dragon Scarf. Here is the tail. The yarn is nice but I really am not thrilled with picking out twigs, sticks and other veggie stuff. Now I know that this is part of a home grown yarn but is this normal to be picking this stuff out every 6 inches?



I also started a pair of Fawkes socks (can not find the link right now but the pattern is from socktopia) I really like that the person I am giving these too wears a size 4.5 womens (and yes she is an adult). = )



Everyone have a Happy Halloween!!

Finished Stuff and a Good Lesson Learned

Remember the last time I dyed yarn? I dyed 440 yards in orange and black and slightly felted it. Well I learned something a little important with that yarn (besides the part where I watch the pot to make sure it does not boil and felt the yarn). When I skeined the yarn, I had wrapped it around 3 chairs and only tied it loosely in 2 places. I also hung it outside to dry. On a windy day!!! Note to self: If I hang yarn outside to dry and it is a little windy maybe I should tie it in more then 2 places and it might help if I make sure it doesn't fall off the hanger and blow around the yard. The slight felting was not the problem, all of the knots were. It took me almost 3 hours to untangle that mess. I am loving how it came out. I think it will become socks for Halloween. (Next Halloween most likely)

Okay, back on friday while I was waiting for Hubby to finish hie pre op testing I finished the Harlot Scarf.



I used 2 hanks of Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande on size 10.5 needles. If it ever gets cold here I could use it. Here it is the end of October and the leaves have barely changed. Yesterday it was 75 degrees!!! This is crazy.

I also finished another Christmas gift.





A Owl Cable Hat. Budha is modeling it for me. It was really neat to see the owls form while I was knitting it. I used Knitpicks Swish in Truffle. It only took a little more the a ball to make this hat. I have enough to make another one and I am tempted to make myself one.

Rhinebeck!!! Part 2

Okay now that the telling and pictures of Rhinebeck are done , now it is time for the fun part. What I bought!!!



This was my first purchase. It is from High View Farm. 100% wool and 153 yards of bulky prettyness. It is bulky weight. I am thinking maybe a scarf and hat or hat and mitts.



At the Spinning Mill I bought this:


460 yards of Merino hand dyed. It was the last one in this colorway. This might become a shawl.





Sock Yarn!!!

The top one is from Koenig Farm. It is hand dyed 425 yards of superwash merino. The color is called Lily Pond.

The bottom two, well I lost the receipt and there are no tags. But I do know it is fingering weight superwash wool. Each one is over 400 yards and I got both for 20 bucks. They are from I think (but I am not sure) Pucker Brush Farm.



This is from Morehouse Farm. It is a dragon scarf kit. I love there book and when I saw their booth I was so happy. I bought this for The Son.(shhh... it is a surprise) He is going to love it.



This is the hand spinner. It is called a Rakestraw Spinner. I was spinning in about 2 minutes. The roving on the left is from New Zealand. It is the same wool that was used for the clothing in Lord of the Rings. I have already spun it up and will post picks as soon as it is dry.

Since I bought a spinner I of course needed roving. = )

I could have totally gone crazy.



This is Berkshire in the color autumn. Eight ounces of softness.



This is merino. There is blue, orange and a mixed color (blues and greens)



This is Corriendale. I am spinning this right now and loving it.


I originally didn't plan on buying a hand spinner. I had asked for one for christmas. We had seen tons of drop spindles and Hubby said why not. Right after he said that I looked up and we were in front of the Rakestraw spinner tent. I had seen this on the internet and it looked easy. (it also said it was easy on the hands- big plus) Like I typed before I was spinning within 2 minutes. Really easy and fast. Of course there were also spinning wheels everywhere. Hubby kept looking at them and he told me why not. So now we are looking into spinning wheels. I know it is a big ticket item and that is why I really haven't looked into them. Hubby's case is this: He has his video games and his way of thinking is that if I really want one , I am worth it. He is so sweet. He knows I would not spend the money on myself, so he is going to get me one. (first I have to make up my mind about which one I want)

= )

Rhinebeck!!! Part 1

We almost didn't go. Luck was on our side and The Son was better and we could go. We dropped the kiddies off at My Mom's and drove up. It was beautiful weather and the scenery was very pretty.





It only took about 2 hours to get there. The amount of people there was amazing



It was crowded. When we went into one of the vendor buildings the temp went up at least 20 degrees.



Shopping



Yarn



There were people spinning. Hubby really got into it, asking questions taking pictures, he was really great!!



I couldn't decide which one to buy





Sheep



Naked Sheep



This was the booth that had this really neat hand spinner thingie



great teacher



Here I am trying it



Yep, I bought it

which means.....





Yes I bought that.



Hubby carrying the goodies. More on that tomorrow!! = )

sick again = (

Well the cold that I though I had fought off decided to come back with reinforcements. It has been slow going in the knitting department (when there was any knitting going on). I did play with yarn though. I dyed more yarn. (hey this is getting addicting)
I played with blue and black trying to get a navy. Well it is not navy but it did come out a very pretty blue.



It is not this bright in real life. It is more like a muted teal but more blue then green. It matches a crayon that my kids have called Cape Cod Blue.

Speaking of Cape Cod, my Auntie (who lives there) asked for a pair of slipper socks. She told me any color but white. I hope she like this.



I used a golden yellow and a scarlett and let the colors overlap. It came out really nice. I did 2 hanks at the same time so I should have plenty.

I also dyed some fingering weight too. I wanted orange and black for Halloween. The orange came out great, the black well the first time not so great. I do not know if I didn't leave it long enough or what, but the black came out brownish purple. Now I know black can be a pain to work with but I was hoping it would be easy. Wrong. I guess after the others came out so nice that well a bad one was bound to happen. I had to re-do the black and of course my patience was gone and I made a mess. some of the black bled into the orange (not to badly) and I didn't pay enough attention and the dye bath started to boil. Well the black part of the yarn is a little felted. It is not too bad. I started balling the yarn to see how badly it was felted and I am not having a problem. I would say it is a little sticky but the yarn comes apart easily.



In other knitting news, I won a contest on Keri's blog. It was a welcome surprise on saturday when I got the package in the mail. In the package was a hank of Jitterbug by Colinette. It is beautiful. The picture does not do it justice. I am not sure
what I am going to use it for but I am thinking mini Monkeys for me.



The other part of the prize was a handmade by Keri - a small project bag. It is amazing and I love it. I let her pick the fabric and I am glad I did. I know for those of you out there that know me I am sure you wouldn't think that this is a fabric I would like but I do.



Keri did list one on Etsy and I hope she puts more up, cause right after the holidays I am so buying another one. It might be sooner if I leave Rhinebeck with any money left (stop laughing - it might happen)

All is moving along with Hubby. The surgery is scheduled for the 26th. Now it is just a waiting game. Again. He will have to stay overnight for observation. That will be hard for me. I do not like being apart. I didn't really notice when I was in the hospital giving birth, I was exhausted. Friday night is going to be a long night. 9and I am not going to think about it until then)

It Is Finally Fall = )

I am back. I have been under the weather for a few days. What a pain in the butt. Really.

Not much has been going on here. The weather I think has finally decided that it is really fall. My fingers are crossed that it stays. On Monday Hubby and I went to an Islander game (hockey) and it was 90 degrees. That was a little strange. Hot and icky outside cool almost cold inside. It is october people!!!
- and there are still people that believe that there is no global warming. Yeah right. We so screwed this planet.

I did knit a little bit. I started Son’s socks. Nothing fancy. 3x2 ribbing, some sort of slip stitch heel (I know there are names but I haven’t a clue) and know I am working my way down the foot.



I also started Buddha's sweater. I am making the Pinwheel Sweater (pattern from elann.com) in Knitpicks Wool of the Andes. Buddha likes these colors and wow are they girlie. I am really thinking about making this for me too, I just can not decide what colors though.


The only mods I am knitting a few more rounds before putting in the arms. (I am almost there). I am hoping that this will make it last a little longer.

In march I had made Buddha Childhood form knitty. It came out great. I had made a larger size so that it would be a little big and I was going to save it for Christmas (yes I was thinking Christmas back in march) Of course this is also when she decided to have a growth spurt and grow a whole size (love those growth spurts) Parents out there know this one well. One day everything fits, next nothing (not even shoes this time). She wore the sweater for about a month. In the end it was really too small. Technically I didn’t finish it. I never got to put the buttons/snaps on it. My fingers are crossed that at least it fits for longer then a month. = )



The Son’s sweater is in a time out. I worked on it for what seemed hours and well I knitted almost half an inch. The knitting black hole stikes again!!!

6.5 hours!!!!!

That is how long it took me to comb Daughter's hair. Thankfully after several head checks (by me and the school nurse) no lice or eggs. My fingers are crossed that this is it (at least for a long while - I am not going to kid myself, it is something that happens often at this age).

I did not get much knitting done. I did however finish a pair of socks. They are for Daughter. They were supoose to be for christmas but she saw them and put them on before I could stop her. Now they are an early christmas gift.



yarn: Dancing from Knit Picks
needle size: 1
pattern: 2x2 ribbing

I did the cast on a little different. I co double the number and on the next round I k2tog,k2tog,p2tog,p2tog..... This creates a little ruffle.

Well the kiddies are out with the grandparents. I am going to enjoy it.

6.5 hours!!!!!

That is how long it took me to comb Daughter's hair. Thankfully after several head checks

Plans Foiled

Yesterday I was all ready to knit and knit. I wanted to finish a pair of socks and work on the pair that I am designing. Everything was going well until dinner time when I notice my Daughter scratching her head. Now mom's of young school age children fear this. As soon as we finished dinner I pulled her over to the light and looked. Yep. She has LICE!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!! I feel itchy just thinking about it.


My MIL went to CVS for me while I kept her from the other two and stripped everything. It took me 3 and a half hours to comb out those nits (eggs). I had to take her to the school nurse this morning to get checked. Not good. I missed some eggs. I have to re-comb her hair and wash her sheets and pillow again and treat Buddha (as a precaution - since they are always playing together) Yeah!! (not)

Yarn Fun!!

While I was taking a picture of the Pink Ribbon yarn for Jill's contest, I noticed that the sky was really blue and the grass was really green. Then I started thinking that fall is almost here and then it will be winter and these colors will be gone until spring. (the colors are the only thing I really miss about summer) So what did I do. I dyed more yarn. I wanted a bright blue and a green green. I think I got it. When it is the middle of winter I have these to brighten up my day.



Blue Sky



Green Grass

I played around with the dye and yarn and this is what I got. What do you think? I have an idea what to do with it. Hopefully it goes well.



Now I know I am no expert at dying but it is so much fun. I used up all of my extra Knit Picks Bare yarn and dye but I am going to get more.

In knitting news I started Hubby's double knitted hat. Blue and orange again. NY Islander or Chicago Bears colors. (do not get me started on the Mets - I know there is next year...) It is not that hard to do but boy it does take longer. After 40 minutes with interruptions this is where I am.



Hopefully I will get it done before it gets too cold.

I also finished the Lace Rib socks.



This time I took the picture in sepia just to be different. I took a look at my Christmas knitting list. 5 things done and 27 to go. I am out of my mind. I am not going to do this next year. Yep I am taking next christmas off (well the knitting part). I have made so many things for other people and I think it is time I made some things for myself and not deal with the stress of making so many things. Maybe I will change my mind (and maybe I won't).