Knitting: The Long Holiday Weekend

Typically July 4th is celebrated with my family. I am 38 and for my life I just realized I really screwed up a big tradition. I've only missed like 2, maybe 3 Firework displays in my hometown.

One when I was 15, and my gram took Joy and I to DC, so we watched the wonderful display on the commons with the monuments all over. It was pituresque and amazing. Though I did miss the whole fam and the annual cookout.

Then last year, B and I headed to Boston over the week of the 4th. I thought it would be fantastic being in Boston for the celebration of our Independence. Since it was kinda born there and all. Anyway, it had it's ups and downs and again, I missed my small hometown and my family a bit.

Enter this year... I really didn't want to go. WILD horses could not have drug me there, seriously. I just wanted to stay home! And overall, I'm glad I did. I did miss some family visiting from Chicago. I did miss the small town fireworks (that are still awesome as hell!). But mostly, I'm not bothered by it. I needed the downtime and to rest and relax and to knit. And I DID!

I'm onto socks again after a break in June. I entered the Sock Knitters' Anon. mystery sock challenge. It's designed by Chrissy Gardiner (who I like a lot) and is stranded color work, which I LOVE! So clue one came out on the 1st, but I had so much going on I didn't cast on until the 2nd. Then I had a booboo and frogged and cast on again twice on the 3rd! Finally try #3 was a go. So clue #1 was finished easily enough. I'm using SOXX APPEAL for the tan color and Noro Kureyon for the "colored" bits. So far, am in love with this sock. The designer is using 4 contrast colors with the main color, but I opted to raid the stash (I'm very proud of that) and use a colorful striping yarn instead of multiple balls. So I DID NOT BUY NEW YARN!!!!



Then on the 2nd, Tour De Fleece - a spinning challenge - started and I forgot. But I remembered in time for day 2 and I started spinning up a storm. I purchased some fantastic Pencil Roving at Knitter's Connection a few weeks ago.

Here are the stages: Bag, to predrafted ball, to bobbin to skein


When I was done with that, I had some Lincoln in natural that I purchased in May at the Great Lakes Fiber Fest in Wooster and that was spun up on 2 bobbins, but not plied. So I plied it.



Then on Monday, I finished up spinning the Blue Fiber Optic onto 2 bobbins, it still needs to be plied. I broke into my Sock Summit stash and got out Wine and Roses by Miss Babs and made some predraft balls. I split the hank into 2 equal parts (2oz each) and set to work on the first 2 oz. I'm almost complete with that, didn't get the bobbin photo yet and then I finished up plying the lincoln into a smaller skein than the first (pic above).



I am really enjoying this spinning thing. It's quite a bit different and feels really "organic" for lack of a better word. I mean creating something from proverbially nothing is a great feeling. Kind of like taking wood or clay and making beautiful things. It's art. And I guess it's really cool to say, THIS thing, right here came from an animal somewhere in the world, it was cleaned and combed and possibly dyed and now it's this... yarn a functional item that will be made more functional once it is knit up into something.

It's all so astounding to me and makes me feel awesome. I MADE THIS. So in the end, I will have a project that I not only knit into "something" but actually MADE the yarn to do it. THAT makes me happy.

Oh and in the meantime, I cast on another sock project to tide me over between the weekly mystery clues. It is also Color stranded work and is also by Chrissy Gardiner. It's called The Dude Abides and I'm making it out of these yarns below. Didn't take a photo yet, but I currently have the toe and first repeat almost done. I'm using some Cherry Tree Hill Solid sock in Green and Prism Merino Mia in a variagated Blue/green colorway.

Spinning: The wonky wheel

So I haven't done much spinning lately... or ever really. Last time I had the wheel out was late last spring/early summer. I remember because it was a lovely warm day and I took the fiber and wheel outside on the deck and spun some lovely Corriedale top roving. This has become my favorite fiber so far. Granted, I have a limited scope.

I attended 2 fiber fests in 2009, the Great Lakes show in May and then the one at Young's Dairy around September/October (maybe)??? Anyway at both I purchased some roving and it's sat in it's little area of my home in various balls or bags of fluff.

I haven't done much spinning because my wheel was a little broke. The connector between the treadle and arm (this is what makes the wheel spin) had broken. We rigged it up so it would work but that resulted in uneven treadling. So it was more bother and frustration than I could handle. Problem #2 was my tension. When I receiving the gently used wheel the tension spring was quite stretched. It was ok though and still worked. Problem was, I could never get really good tension for my spinning. It either was too fast or too slow. I couldn't get it JUST RIGHT.

Just before Christmas, B and I headed down to Nelsonville for boots at Rocky Boots. We also stopped by a LYS. The owner sold ashford wheels, looms and carders as well as had various supplies. I bought the "repair" kit for the wheel, but left it in the bag until I was ready to spin again.

Enter last Sunday. I was invited to a spinning party. I got the wheel out, fixed the connector thingy and READ how to use 2 springs instead of 1 for the tensioning. It was a lifesaver. It has made such a difference, I can't hardly believe it! I also oiled the wheel and put a new drive band on. She's all fixed up and ready to go.

So I went to Stephanie's house which isn't far from mine (cool). And set off to spinning. I recently purchased this super cute BFL Top roving from Miss Babs. It's hand dyed... and I just love the shades of reds and pinks. Received several compliments on the roving and everyone asked where I got it. I happily talked up Miss Babs because she is such a sweet person. I met her back at Sock Summit and she was so helpful and kind and just a great business person. She is also a super fast shipper! I like her sock yarn and colors are fantastic. I did purchase roving at SS, too, but I've misplaced it in my house somewhere.


Anyway, I snagged a photo from her site, so you can see the colorway. By the way, it's called GLEE, which I think is very suitable because it makes me happy to look at it. I initially purchased just one 4oz portion, but decided I might want more. It was in the sale bin and there were 3 left, so I went and purchased the last of it! I don't know if she'll make this color again, but now I have 16oz which should make me something nice (I hope).

But as far as the spinning is going... it's good! I'm excited! There have been a couple of oopsies or thick spots, but... I'm learning and I am fairly consistant, so that is good as well. Last night I worked on this roving again and I think I'm nearly half way through, maybe 1/3 of the first hank I purchased. But I'm hoping to continue this week and into the weekend and maybe have a finished bit of yarn by next week. Of course this means, I have pushed the Every Way Wrap off to the side... and I really need to work on it! The spinning is definitely a nice break/addiction though.