Green (S)Leaves II

Hey, here's a milemarker for the day: 9,500 views which means that it will be more than 10,000 by July 22, my first day of counting anniversay. YAY! This honestly makes me happy. I should do something towards honoring my readers on that day. Something to think about...

Meanwhile, back at the kitten ranch, I finished the third sock in the trio of socks and here we go.

Green(S)leaves

The front
The back

Right now I'm knitting a single sample sock called Autumn in Oregon.

At first it drove me nuts, but I think I was just tired when I started it last night. So, now it's really fun...but I'm tired again so I'd better put it aside for the day. This is the first time that I've done the top trim flat, sewn it together and then knit down. See, there's always a first when I do sample or test knitting. That's why I do it: to force myself to learn new techniques that do not immediately strike me as fun.

Days of Tea and Spinning

No, I'm not changing the title of my blog, but I have more finished spinning projects than knitting projects these days. My favorite is half done, above. It's a handpainted colorway from Crown Mountain Farms, called Stonehenge. I hope to have the fortitude to buy more, spin more and knit a sweater or vest from it.
This is more burgandy than the photo shows, but this is what I was working on when I was at the Alpaca Extravagaza. (That name just cracks me up). It's merino and alpaca and I have no idea where it came from, only that I bought it at OFFF last year.
This is what I am saving up for a rainy day to spin. It is more delicious than you can imagine. You know you want to touch it...

What now?

What in the world can I post about today? Usually when I pose that question I head away from the computer, but I feel like I don't want more than a week to go by on posting...

So, this week in my knitting universe:

I had a nice time with the Ravelry knitters that are starting to grow in numbers as we meet downtown on Tuesdays.

I started Chrissy Gardiner's second sample sock and am now halfway.

I finished the Brushed Alpaca lace sweater (but I don't think I'm going to post me IN the sweater yet.

I added beads the edge of a scarf I knit two years ago to give it some weight. (first time on that)

I frogged Chrissy Gardiner's second sample sock a coupla times.

I made a swatch for a new sweater in orchid wool, a cardigan.

What I will post is a picture of the wonderful gift of some pink cashmere from my Swedish angel.

Experience Comes with...Experience

I'm now going to go on a mini rant today about an experience that I had related to my spinning. I was at the Western Alpaca Extravaganza and I was doing a spinning demo. I was spinning this colorful alpaca that I've had for the past year or so:

There were people coming by to see what we were doing and I brought a sample of a very different kind of yarn that I've been working on and showed it around. The very experienced spinner to my right say something to the affect of
"Oh, she's a new spinner. That's what someone who's inexperienced spins. I couldn't do that now even if I wanted to."
I explained that it was something quite intended and that it was a lot harder to achieve than it looked and I explained my technique. To which she said
"Oh, that's 'novelty yarn'."
Ya know, I have a lot of patience with people but this really got my goat. I kept my mouth shut. I kept on spinning but then I got home and here I am, venting about something that obviously really bugged me.
What I appreciate about most knitters and spinners is their interest in learning new things, regardless of their skill level.
Not the case with this person, who in other ways was perfectly pleasant, intereacting in a kind and thoughtful way with children who came up to her.
Okay, enough. this is what I was showing her:

I have to loosely card these locks in the right color combinations. Then, as I start spinning, I pull just a certain amount of each color with contrasting noils in to create a tweed color/texture thing going on.

And, on another note, the Alpaca experience was thus:

My Other Obsession

I always love taking a picture of the moss growth on my window sill. I know it will come back next year for about...8 months. But still! I love this stuff. No matter that it's probaly ruining this big building I live in. See, there are many perks to renting. No worries...

It's cold for Spring. The combo of cold wind and pollen is not my favorite. It's that thing about our short term memory issue as humans when it comes to weather. Ughhh! Look at this rain...snow...uh, wind! Yeah. Big suprise (not).

I love weather. In fact it's on the TV as I write this. Always entertaining. Ummm. Unless you live in LA. Then, it's a blurr.

Spinning Spring

I was saving this handpainted roving for one of those times where I wanted to really LOVE what I was spinning. It was so random in it's coloration that I really couldn't predict what would happen, but I tried to be as aware as possible in my blending when it came to spinning. I ended up with 6 skiens...
Oh, and the fiber is from Woolgatherings. She's not been dying roving for a while, but I read on her blog last night that she's going to be selling again at NW Wools in Portland (where I got this in the first place, last year.)