One Crazy Fiber Lady

This is a hard post for me to write. I’ve struggled for several hours now to write this. Partly because the longer the gap since the last post, the more that has happened that needs/should be included. But mostly because this year was one of loss and significant change. I lost my best friend in July, which had rocked the foundation of my world on many fronts. Ten days later I lost job as a management change was implemented.

If I where to be truly honest there have been gains in my loss. Not commuting to Maryland any longer has allowed me to be home and spend more time with my family. I’ve reconnected with my children in a beautiful way. I’ve found that Kathryn is a beautiful person inside and out.

She’s been a monumental support for me and makes me extremely proud as a mother of the person she is. Thank you Kat. I love you more than I can say.

Another gain had been discovering all the other wonderful people who have supported and consoled me. I found I have a much larger community around me than I thought I did. Thank you all.

I’ve also reconnected with my love of the fiber arts and they’ve been greatly therapeutic. I finally started using the Schacht Baby Wolf that I bought in 2010 and rediscovered the beauty that is weaving.

So much so that I decided that I needed a bigger loom and added an 8H Mighty Wolf.

I’ve pushed past my comfort zone of simple tabby and twill scarves that I made in the first phases (years) of weaving. Currently both looms are dressed and have ongoing projects.

The baby has a tencel scarf underway. While the mighty has a tea towel and napkin project that marks my longest and wisest project ever.

Spinning has also played a part, though I haven’t done it much since spending so much time with the wolf pack. It began with finishing yarn I had started on the wheel I kept in Rockville and had earmarked to knit Art a pair of socks.

It hurts that I can’t finish them for him so I’m making myself a very special pair.

And because I don’t have enough projects going I started something I’ve always wanted to do, knit an Orenburg style item. I bought the yarn at Rhinebeck and have been waiting for the new issue of spin off to come out with the pattern. It’s out now and I cast on for it yesterday.

All told I’d rather be in Philadelphia as the saying goes. I’m trying to be grateful and positive as I say a good riddance to the awful year that was 2019 and head into 2020. I want to believe that it will be a better year, but it can be a struggle.

Taking it moment by moment.

Happy New Year.

Wow, another year blew past.  They are getting faster and faster.  Must be getting older 😉  Anyway, this was a year of much change. But then again, aren’t they all?  I added two beautiful new wheels this year that might have supplanted all the other wheels here.  I spun a lot.  Changed jobs a lot.  Hopefully that job hopping thing has stopped for a while.  I’m liking the current situation.

I tried to challenge myself to knit 12 pairs of socks in ’12 and did it!  Actually managed 13 pairs with only one pair of kids socks in the mix!  I also managed to complete  long term knitting projects (I finished Kauni 2 yesterday. It is laying on the matt in front of the central heating vent now along with Kauni Damask)!  All in all, a good year.

 

Hope everyone has a very happy and healthy New Year! We will be spending it quietly at home.

Craft on!

Breaking myself away from watching the Cornell Red-Tail Hawks, I thought I might try and re-establish somewhat regular posts.  Or at the very least, catch up what’s been happening recently.

First up is another pair of socks:  Sox Socks.

• Pattern:  basic sock pattern over 56st on US0
• Yarn:  ITW Pakokku Sock
• Colorway: Serenity
• Started:  May 11 2012
• Finished:  June 4 2012

I frogged the collar and hem on Featherweight.  If it hadn’t of taken two hours to get those two parts out I would have frogged the whole thing.  Instead I got the needle back in and decided to make it longer.  This time instead of a 1×1 rib, I’m using garter for the borders.

I do realize you can’t tell squat from this picture, but there it is anyway 😉  Trust me I’ve made the sweater body several inches longer than it was, then added some 2.50″ inches of bottom border.  Now I’m working on the collar again.  I’m ready to be done with this.

But then again, if want to finish it, then I should quit working on other things like this golden oldie.  Anyone remember what this is?

I pulled it out of its hidey-hole last night and actually added a row!  Oh my.

I’ve also discovered that I really can use a support spindle and actually enjoy them.  I lucked into this Spanish Peacock Russian spindle on Ravelry.  I’m spinning some Cupcake Fibers Merino/Alpaca/Silk in Copper Penny on the spindle.  Love it.

You can spin some might fin yarns on a support.  Not sure if you can tell from the photo, but that’s a dime with singles from the spindle criss-crossed over it.  Totally enjoying it.

Now to decide what to spend the evening with… decisions decisions decisions

Craft on!

I’ve made a great deal of progress on Evenstar and while I like the pattern, I’m just not sure about the yarn. The gradient is far more variegated than I expected.

I’m just not feeling it. Spreadsheet says 31% complete and I think I should stop now and restart with a different yarn. Now. Rather than layer. Yes?

On other news I saw a rather unusual sight this morning on my way to work. Driving down the block on the way to the station I spotted something on the neighbor’s lawn that I initially took for a lawn ornament. Which moved. I backed the car up. This is what I saw:

Sorry for the crappy photo but the regular camera was in my purse in the back seat. My iPhone was in my pocket. Internet research leads me to believe s/he is a red tailed hawk. I interrupted breakfast. Shortly after I snapped this the bird flew with the catch to a nearby tree and I headed for the train.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I made some serious progress on Evenstar this weekend. I finished the first chart and am well into the second. I finished the transition to the second yarn this morning on the train. Might be time to go hunting up some beads very soon. The progress spreadsheet reads 20% completed. Yay me.

Craft on!

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I’ve forgotten how much I like pi shawls.

Particularly once you get off the dpn’s. I was able to move to the 24″ circs last night after SnB. Should be able to make some progress this weekend.

Craft on!

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I cast on for another project last night. Evenstar Shawl. The yarn is Eos from Unique Sheep in Tequila Sunrise gradients.

Always fun to start 9 lace weight stitches on three slippery dpns.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wow another week has flown by.  This one brought the return of BASEBALL!   We’ll ignore for the moment that my team isn’t doing so very well so far.  Season is still young, there’s plenty of time to panic. I just had a spinning playdate with Tami so its time for the weekly update.

On the Needles

1.  Hermione’s Deathly Hallow Socks – The first sock is done, but this isn’t news as it was at this time last week.  I’ve dawdled with the knitting this week, but am catching up now.  I finished the foot on the second sock onFriday while getting a pedicure 🙂

2.  Mawata Lilies Shawlette – Finished! I totally enjoyed working straight from the mawata’s and will definitely do more with silk.

3.  Featherweight Cardigan –  The finishing of one object marks the point where I can start something new.  Next up is a second featherweight cardigan in Malabrigo Lace.

I started this on Friday night and put the sleeve stitches on the waste yarn yesterday afternoon before the Seder. The colorway is Vermillion.  I love it.  I made this sweater once before, but it came out too big, so I gave it to mom.  Since then, the designer has added additional sizes to the pattern, including smaller ones.  Yay!

On the Fiber Front

First up, I owe a picture of the finished yarn from last week.

I dug out the never-ending bag of CVM roving that I’ve been spinning on and off for years now on the Vermont Wheel.  I actually weighed the bag and there’s 1.5 lbs left to spin.  I’m going to try and do a little every day.  I have a good beginning on the next bobbin’s worth:

At today’s playdate, I started new fiber on the Schacht.  This is Targhee from Zarzuela in Redwood.  I’ve split the fiber lengthwise into strips about the width of my index finger.

Other spinning – I filled another spindle on the Charkha with the Shetland, and managed to add a little more of the silk to the Bosworth spindle.  Not interesting enough to take another picture of either.

Other Stuff

Dad took the twins to Toys R Us yesterday afternoon before the family showed up for the Seder.  He came home with this:

Just what we needed, a 14′ trampoline for the backyard.  That’s Kat jumping with a friend of hers a little while ago.  It was a family affair in assembly.

Craft on!

 

 

Wow am I tired today.  There must be something in the air this weekend because I’ve been pretty draggy.  Though I think today is a result of yesterday’s driving two states away for a baby shower.  It was excellent, and I don’t like showers 😉  I’m glad I went but am paying for it today, which started somewhat early as the CPW moved along to its new home this morning.  Getting right into it:

On the needles:

1.  Hermione’s Everyday Socks –  Stick a fork in these babies, they are done!  I finished them up on Monday.

This is the first time that I did this stitch pattern and I have to say that I really liked it.  I think it works very well with handpainted yarns and was easy enough for my fuzzy brain to hold onto, though I did have issues seeing the stitches in low lighting conditions, like Panera.

2.  Mawata Lilies Shawlette – is still in progress.  It doesn’t look much different than the picture from last week.  I managed a few more repeats of the edging lace and have at least made it past the halfway point.  Each repeat is taking less time as I’ve mostly memorized the pattern, well after the third or so repeat of each sitting.  The first one or two are slower.  But, progress is being made and I’ll probably be working on it tonight when Game of Thrones Season 2 starts!

3.  Hermione’s Deathly Hallows Socks – I started these Tuesday morning on the train and bound off the first one late this morning.  As part of their homework, the kids need to read for at least 20 minutes each day.  Due to personality conflicts, Alexander usually winds up reading with me and while he reads to me, I work on the current sock project.

The yarn is Forbidden Woolery Lush in the Deathly Hallows colorway.  The pattern is, surprise surprise, the Hermione’s Everyday Socks pattern.  Figured the names of the two went well together.  I’ll start the second sock tomorrow morning.  Probably.

Mods on this sock:  working toe up instead of cuff down, plain foot and a 2×2 rib.  What can I say, I’m particular with my socks.

On the fiber front

I’ve actually made some progress this week.

1.  I finished spinning the singles of the Blackforest Cake Merino (been mistakenly calling it BFL) on Thursday night.  I n-plied it on the Schacht today.

It came out to be some 468 yrds of n-plied at 4.2 oz.  I think it’ll make some lovely socks.

2.  Friday night I plied the Merino/Bamboo/Nylon blend from River’s Arts.  It is 528yds of 2ply and somehow I forgot to take a picture of it off the bobbins and I’m too tired/lazy to do it now.  Maybe during the week 😉

3. Tussah Silk – this is still ongoing. I managed to finish off another length of silk that i had batched up oodles of ages ago to facilitate this project. no clue how much silk it amounts to, but it worked through 3 different colors. I wouldn’t expect rapid progress on this project, but you knew that already 😉

4.  Charkha Shetland – this one was idle this week.  Oh well, can’t work on everything 🙂

This brings up the big question, what to spin on the wheels next?  I think I’m going to dig out the never-ending bag of processed CVM that has been ongoing on the Vermont wheel for ages.  I usually fill up 3 bobbins, wind off and repeat.  I have some 9 cakes of wound singles sitting downstairs and yet, the prepared fleece bag doesn’t look any emptier.  Maybe if I work on it somewhat regularly I can make progress.  Finally.  Now to find where I stashed it.  I think I’ll alternate this week with this and the charkha before pulling out something else for the Schacht 🙂

That’s about all for this week.

Craft on!

This week was a glorious one, weather wise at least.  I can’t remember the last time it was almost 80F in March.  No complaints here.  As I posted earlier in the week, the trees are doing their spring thing already.  The cherry trees and magnolias are in full bloom around, as well as the forsythia.  I love spring.  Due to some non-fiber related events, my production was down this week.  I had one less day of commuting into the city as I had to work from home on Wednesday for teacher conferences.  Friday night, I went out with a bunch of other mommies for a girls night out.  Much fun indeed.  So while there is progress, it isn’t as much as previous updates.

On the needles:

1.  Hermione’s Everyday Socks – I finished the first sock on Tuesday and was able to cast on for the second one.  Because socks are my primary commuting knitting, this project is the one hurt by the additional day at home.

2.  Mawata Lilies Shawlette – Also progressing.  I’m just shy of the halfway point on the edging lace.  This project was hurt by the additional nights out of the house and reduced knitting time at home.

That’s it on the knitting.

On the Fiber Front

1.  Still need to ply those two bobbins of the merino blend spun up on the Matchless.

2.  Mis-estimated last week the amount of blackforest cake bfl remaining to be spun on the Vermont Wheel.  I weighed it after I posted and had a little over 2 oz left to be spun.  Okay.  Well, I’ve tried to do a little wheel time with this over the last week, at least 20 min a night, with a couple of nights off for good behavior, I still have about an oz left.  Its all good.  In the end I’m going to have two bobbins of rather fine singles that I want to n-ply.

3.  Tussah Silk – This is an oldie but a goodie project.  I tripped on a Bosworth Spindle bag tucked in the corner of my supply drawer.  Turned out to be my very first Bosworth spindle and 4oz of dyed tussah sliver that I bought at my very first MDSW back in 2003.  I was newly pregnant, attending the festival because I was either going to be VERY pregnant for Rhinebeck or have very tiny babies as my due day was within 2 weeks of the festival.  As it turned out, the babies were 2 weeks old (a week out of the hospital) and Alex’s brit milah was that weekend.  So anyway, I’d purchased this silk in MD way back with some project in mind that has long since escaped me.  I’ve been spending a little time with this spindle over the last couple of days.

This is the third spindle’s worth of spun fiber.  There were cakes wound off on the ball winder in the bag.  Still don’t know what I’m doing with it when its done, but I’m enjoying the process.

4.  Shetland ITW Fiber – There’s another project in the works here that I started back in January when I got a monthly fiber fix from Cris.  I showed the first skein back here.  I’m trying to spend more time with this in active rotation, both in an attempt to finish something someday on the bucket list, as well as to gain proficiency with the charkha.

You may notice that the charkha has changed a tad since the last time I showed it.  That’s because it isn’t the same charkha.  I need to admit to a little purchase not terribly long ago and this family portrait is in order:

I have a little Bosworth problem.  Back to front:  Journey Wheel, Attaché Charkha and Book Charkha.  The attaché was posted on the housecleaning pages and after a little hesitation on my part, I bought it to complete the set.  Though I don’t think I’m going to keep the set unbroken for very long.  I’ll probably sell the book charkha soon, if not at MDSW where Sheila has offered to sell it for me.  Look at all that yummy cherry!  That would also count for my Misc News department 😉

On the family front

I’m tired today.  We had two nights of sleepover playmates and last night resulted in quite a bit of musical beds.  Kat and her friend R started the night sleeping in the den, while Alex climbed into bed with me.  About 11:00pm Kat showed up in tears, she’d had a bad dream and couldn’t go back to sleep.  She climbed into bed with me, trapping me in between the monkeys.  They are getting too big for the three of us to sleep comfortably in my queen sized bed!  So after she fell asleep and I’d gotten hit once more than I cared for, I grabbed a pillow and headed for Kat’s empty bed where I went to sleep.  Around 2am, R came upstairs, jumped on Kat’s bed to say that she couldn’t sleep downstairs alone!  She wound up sleeping on the floor of Kat’s room after an hour of futzing around, calling her sleeping parents feeling homesick and other wise keeping me awake.  I finally fell back to sleep a little after 3:30 and was awakened at 8 by R again.  Sigh.  So very sleepy now.  I’m just hoping to make it to a decent bed time tonight.

Craft on!