Merino/Silk Loose Shine

 

Silk/Merino Plyed

This came out much better than I thought. I'll have to take another picture to show the shine, but the brownish pink gray thing happening is really pretty.

Single Ply Baby Huacaya Alpaca

This will soon be a 1x1 rib scarf that will probably rarely leave my neck. It's sinfully soft and was spun on my new rosewood drop spindle.

Fiber Wall Installation

Fiber arts (ahhhhts) behind my tv on the wall.
I'd much rather look at yarn then a picture.
I can't claim responsibility for this particular grouping. It's "Over the Rainbow" cotton.
I can change it all the time! What fun. 

Merino Heather and Shetland 2 ply

Just an experiment...

First Ply

Last night I got sick of waiting for my lazy kate (plying tool) to arrive in the mail and decided to stand up with my spindles and try it that way.

It was that intensly stressful feeling I had when I first started spinning that gradually went away. The yarn is running away from me! Oh No! The cats were amused, but also trying to decapitate a really huge moth in the middle of my plying action...

So! Here it is, first and imperfect and done on a too small drop spindle. I used some scrap fleece that I bought, mixing the colors myself.

I read all this stuff on how to know if your yarn is balanced and I actually think that this is, wonder of wonders. No real skewing to one side or the other. I don't even have a wraps per inch tool yet, so it's all just one big experiment, but one that I'm really enjoying.

One wee skein of two-ply. Yah! 

Stash Re-Org Day

Well, it was last week as well, but I just didn't do a very good job. I'm constantly buying more cute baskets but now they are running past the shelving onto the floor. At first it didn't bother me too much, but now that I'm actually CREATING yarn, it seems a little crazy. I know, I've seen other stashes that fit into this little space and that little space. I need to know where everything is, and now that I've moved it around so many times lately, I'm getting confused. Let me warn you. Please no advice on this! It's just my own weird little process and I know there are plenty of better ways to do this. Oy.

And, it's lovely outside and this is what I'm doing instead. Nothing new about that. When the sun's a little lower in the sky I guess I'll go out and try and control myself about not purchasing yet more cute baskets....

Tunic Tank Back (or front)

 

Detail of Tank Tunic

I like this yarn, again from Elann, Lipomo. it's a chainette ribbon sort of thing that has a nice shine that you really can't see in this picture. The color almost has an apricot tinge to it. I've fallen asleep at the wheel a couple of times on this one and have done more frogging than usual, but, c'est la vie. I'm doing the armhole shaping on the back on this one was well, and although it comes to finish in a little high neck, I may go for a v-neck. Not sure. 

Agatha Tank

This is from Book Two of Lavolde's Design Books, Sentamental Journey. The Pattern is pretty easy and I'm working on the armhole shaping now. The colors I'm not so sure about, but I may make it again in a solid, as it was shown in the book. 

Detail in Elann Sonata Print

 

The Fiber, the Spool and the Spindle

This is some of the stuff that I am finally going to try plying. So far I have only spun singles. I bought this fiber last weekend at Blacksheep. It's Bombyx/Merino from Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks. I purchased from a great vendor, Crown Mountain Farms.

This colorway is Moonstone, but I bought a bunch of other fiber from them and was really happy with the quality. Mostly I got 2oz roving to try out and see if I want more. I'm so glad I got the drop spindle in rosewood because I now realize that I needed a much lighter one to work with such fine singles.

I still feel like I don't know quite what I'm doing and I'm trying to pick up on the lingo. It'll take some time, and I suppose at some point I may actually take a class. 

On the road to Eugene

Taking a break and checking the camera... 

Does it get any better?

I certainly don't think so!
Wow, the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene this weekend was just fab.
The fiber, fiber and fiber!
I didn't get into trying spinning wheels because I ended up ordering a new pair of glasses, but I did touch all the fleece I could.
All these places that I had seen online were there. I bought small amounts of everything I wanted to try, so that if I wanted more of it, I could order from the dealers online or by phone.

It was more exciting than I thought it was gonna be, and interestingly enough, I found the baa-ing of sheep do be quite calming. I take that as a further sign...as if I need any! 

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful

 

Me and Gaby at Black Sheep Gathering

 

Rosewood Drop Spindle

It occured to me that I might need something small and light to work with silk.
I spun up this single last night to try it out. So pretty.

Shiney Taupe Ribbon Tunic

This got designed while I was knitting it. I used some eyelets and ribbing under the bust/at the waist for detail and shaping. This stuff was like knitting with dragonfly wings! Exciting and dangerous for these fast hands. 

Sari Ribbon Edging

 

Another Kind of Spinning Wheel

Man, this was SO MUCH FUN!
I really wanted to go on the ferris wheel, was a little scared, but before I downed any junk food, we all got on.
We we flying! It was wonderful.
Then came the cotton candy and now I'm flying on a sugar high that is due to end any moment now...
Thud!!
Okay, time for bed. Someone pull me off the computer. 

View From the Top

Portland in all it's Rose Festival Glory 

My Cohorts

Madame X (just a blur), Carly and Jeff 

Reeling and Wheeling

 

The Vest I Finished Yesterday..

...and wore today.
I didn't have anyone to take a picture, and I wanted to show it on, so here is my weird collage. It's handpainted bulky cotton from Over the Rainbow Yarns. Designed it as I went and found just the right stoneware buttons for it on Saturday.

I am on a mission to finish projects right now. 

Statuesque Birthday Greeting

I got together with my knit buddies today to celebrate my birthday a little early. Nana made this great card for me, depicting me as no less Lady Liberty. Liberate with knitting! (I just know they all see me as a bit consumed with the knit-life, but I think this image is great and flattering as an idea.

We went to Dim Sum and then onto a knitting store that I hadn't been to yet, Abundant Yarn. It was really lovely. We were there for hours and had tea and such. Another gift from Elizabeth, Carly and Nana was the yarn of my choice for a pair of socks. I picked some terracotta color Louet Gems.

It's wonderful being with people who really "get" you. I am so thankful for my friends and their support and creativity. 

Wool Sock Washing Day

This wet pile represents all the socks that I've knit for myself that I actually wear. I guess you can see that I put off washing them until it's dire. Superwash? What's that? I'll make socks out of almost anything, often to my frustration when it get's this bad in the bottom of the hamper.