Spin a little bit, spin a little bit of that yarn for me

Now If I haven't told you yet, I have quite my gig as a knitter for hire. I decided that it was time for lace. I also purchased 5 skeins of cashmere silk blend from Personal Threads. Lastly I have started knitting a lace shawl I will talk about in another post.(when I stop wanting to cry every other row!)

I have decided to "spin a little bit" every day and reduce the stash. I have learned something already. a) split roving into thin strips. b) pre draft strips c) if you want thicker yarn, spin slowly and don't draft so much. D) warm soaks after plying make for better yarn. I can now make pretty much any size yarn I need as long as I have an example 1/2 the finished size.

You'd think I'd know this already. And I did. I forgot and just now remembered. I had one yarn a California Variegated Mutant dark chocolate that when I spun it, it just sucked. Fiber was short, there was oil/grease in the wool and it lumped and bumped no matter what I did. Frustrated, I plied it, skeined it and washed and rinsed it in warm water. Then I let it dry unweighted. I fell in love with it! Thick spongy perfect for an afghan or cozy sweater. Too bulky for a cap or scarf. It took size 13 needles to knit it and holds cables just great!

I'm spinning some plain brown Corridale now. I have about 6 oz left to spin and 2-3 oz on the bobbin. I think I may fill all the bobbins and then spend a good while plying. (2 wheels= 7 bobbins-1 to ply and 1 that's busy=5 bobbins to fill.) Hmmm maybe I should rethink that.

I'm not sure if I'm gonna be in the guild show this year. I will be demonstrating knitting at the Children's art Museum on Saturdays. Anyone who wishes to join me feel free. They have no knitters for demo- ing and have several knights open, so if you want to demo, please contact me and I'll send you the info.

Lastly I went clothes shopping this weekend and have fallen in love with long skirts.
So if you see something that looks like me but in a skirt...It's probably me.
Tooddles!

Now it's been two

Two. Two years tomorrow since I started this blog. I can't belive it. I thought I was coming on maybe 1. Wow... I still read many of the blogs I used to read, Yarn Harlot, Panopticon, and a few new ones.. Brooklyn Tweed, Two sheep Getting Stitched, and Modeknit. My friends still keep their blogs Muses of a Dragon Mad Knitter, Does Anybody Give a Damn. I listen to podcasts (which started in the last year) Cast on, Sticks and String, Knitwit, and the KnitPicks Podscast.
I've been enthralled By EZ, Lace, and Fine wool. I've knit a sweater from the fleece up, and 2 pairs of socks. J got a new motorcycle and a job he can hold onto. I've finaly adjusted to Christine and Heather has become the most accomplished violinist in her school. Quisha has turned into a young woman and I have a job I like and offers me some opportunities for growth. My east coast relatives continue life unchanging. At least we haven't lost anymore of them.
My garden has grown and the flowers bloom beautifully, both figuratively and literaly.
Life is good, let's hope for another couple of decades like this.

50 ways to leave your lover...

Trekking blank sock yarn..Maybe a 1/2 circle shawl?

Unfinished EZ raglan with garter stitch for ribbing.

Yarn for Dream in color Tulip Adult size.

"Just slip out the back jack, make a new plan stan, don't need to be coy roy..Just listen to me

Hop on the bus gus, don't need to discuss much, just drop off the key lee, and set your self free..."

I love that song but lets get down to business. I finished the pi shawl, I finished the green cashmere yoke sweater. I spun 200 yds of 2 ply cobweb lace weight 100% angora yarn as well as plied up some silk and wool in reds.

On the music front I went to Magna tunes and bought 4 instrumental CD's 2 on guitar and 2 on piano.

I also bought a Kirby vacuum. I planted another rose, mulched 2 new gardens with the cocoa hull mulch and scraped my front windows of old paint so I could paint...new paint. We are also having a driveway put in the back yard as we speak/type. This caused me to have to dig up the new garden I just made this year. se la vie (or however you spell that)

Thank you for all your birthday wishes! I gorged myself with Olive garden at J's expense and spent the rest of the day hanging out together.

Well gotta go now that my camera is working, there should be more photo's.

Toodles!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to ME! I'm.....not telling how old I am.
Have a good weekend!