Spinning, and Knitting, and other stuff

There's been a whole lot of spinning going on around here lately, and not much blogging.

I finally finished spinning the Midnight in the Meadows Falkland that I got back in May for Mothers day. I've wound up with about 500 yards of a heavy lace, light fingerling weight yarn. The color is really a bit muddier than the photos show, but I've already cast on for Haruni.



My awsome mother-in-law got me a subscriptin to the Spunkey Club for Christmas, and I've already spun my way through the first fiber. The December fiber is Wensledayle, and it was the first time I spun this fiber. It was a dream to spin, I did most of the singles in one day, and plyed it one night after work




I wound up with about 250 yards of a light fingerling/sportish weight yarn, and cast on for Abby




I've still been working on the Merino/Silk blend from All Spun up that I got for my birthday. I'm about 1/4 through the bump and loving every moment of spinning this. I think I'll get around 800 yards, which will be enough for a good sized shawl.

The Ravelympics are getting ready to start next month, and I've been trying to decide which event (s) I want to attempt. Defentely something spinning and/or lace related. I've been thinking of:
Fleece to FO Long-Track eventfleece (Start with fleece or roving and create a finished object)- Spinning a single out of some merino/bamboo blend (or the Jan Spunky club fiber) and knitting a small shawlett.
Flying Camel Spin eventflyingcamel (Just spinning…lots and lots of spinning)- for spindle spinning some silk which is in stash, and might be able to double enter the Fleece to FO spinning
Lace Luge eventlaceluge (Lace patterns and laceweight yarns), enter the Fleece to FO knitting portion.

Rambelings on Knitting

I can't believe its been over a month since I last posted anything, again. I am turning int a bad knitblogger. I blame Ravelry. It makes things so easy, and makes it seem silly to write about the same projects on multiple places, but I miss being able to ramble on about knitting in an environment where my friends don't think I'm crazy.

Ravelympics- I finished not one, but two objects! Laminaria, which was my main project. The shawl turned out so lovely, and will more than likely wind up being my MIL's Christmas present this year.

Pattern: Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman

Pattern source: Knitty.com Spring 2008

Yarn: Lone Star Arts Catalyst

1 Skein, about 800 yards

Purchased at DFW Fiber Fest, April 2008

I finished early, and wound up finishing Helena for the WIP wrestleling. We have had a few cool enough mornings this week for Kaylee to wear it to daycare, where it had much oohing and awwing. I just hope they don't decided to wash it for me. I do need to get some photos of her wearing it, but for now, Corwin's spider man sheets do a good job.

Pattern: Helena by Alison Green Will

Pattern source: Knitty.com Summer 2008

Yarn Knit Picks merino Style, 4 skeins,

over dyed with Koolaid in a gradaded pattern

I'm almost done with Lisel. I have just one sleeve left to knit. This is the first time I've knit with MMMMMMmmmmalabrigo yarn, and I'm in yarn lust! I want to move to a colder part of the country so I could wear it in more than an airy cardi. The pattern has been easy to follow, but has been taking a long time due to getting other things done.

I wasn't too sure about this colorway to begin with, and part of me still wishes I had gone for the blue-green one. But I have told the husband that more MMMmmmalabrigo would make a nice birthday or Christmas present for me this year.

Corwin's yearly birthday sweater is coming across fast. His only requirements were that it be a green hoodie. I searched and searched Ravelry for a free child size hoodie pattern that wasn't girly, but no luck. I broke down and ordered the Little Cabled Hoodie pattern from Gardiner Yarn Works, and I am enjoying this pattern. Its well written, and easy to follow, and I have my eyes on other patterns from them that I want to knit. I think I will have the hoodie finished this weekend, and then I will need to find a zipper and sew it in.


I think I should be finishing up the green hoodie and Lisel this weekend. Which means I can get back to working on the Mystery Shall 4. I'm using the Alpaca Cloud in Iris Heather and bead from the forgotten Moroccan Days shawl for it, but I'm not loving it 100% . I need to start a new sweater, and I have had everything for the Apris Surf Hoodie for months, but found the pattern for A Cardigan for Merry which would only fit Kaylee this year. But the Apris surf hoodie yarn has been in stash, and it is perfect weather to knit and wear it. I'd cast on for both, but they both call for the same sized needle. Decisions decisions.

And I'm happy in a geeky way that I finally figured how to link photos from Flickr so I can put them in where I need them, and not have to load them all up at the start, and hope they come are in the same order that my train of thought is.

FO: Wakame Lace Tunic

Pattern: Wakame Lace Tunic

from the Summer 2008 Interweave Knits

Yarn: Knit Picks CotLin in Coral, 10 balls

Needles: Knit Picks Options, size 6

Size: 40 inch bust, see info

Cast on: June 21, 2008

Cast off: August 2, 2008

I'm very happy with how this turned out. I had some gauge issues with the yarn, and knit it the 40 inch size. In retrospect, maybe I should have knit the next size up (I still have a bit too much belly/c-section pooch) but when I get off my lazy rear and lose 20 lbs, it should fit much better.

I wore it out to a casual family gathering on Saturday, where K got to pose with her Gammy and some roses.

And I'm still knitting away on Laminaria. I'm about half way done with the Blossom Charts, and should make it to the border by this weekend.

FO: Katja

Kaylee in Katja
Originally uploaded by Cynder

I'm testing out the "Blog this" option with Flickr, so if this a bit of a test.

I actually have a FO to show off, Katja from Knitty.com.

The size is 12 months, and knit in Berecco Linen Jeans from Delightful Hands in Celena, TX, about 1.5 skeins, and took about 2 weeks to knit here and there.
Its a bit big for the little girl, but as fast as she is growing, she will be crawling around town in this in no time!

This was a fun knit, and I think I'm going to have to make a larger size for her next summer, but in a cotton yarn, instead of this rayon and linen blend.

Things have been crazy in knitting land the last month. I've had a bad case of "Startitus", and have cast on for, and frogged, many items. Socks, Cowels, etc. I'm also trying to finish a few things before the start of the Ravelympics on August 8th.

In progress that I need to finish are the Wakame Lace Tunic from the Summer IWK (link to my Raverly project page in sidebar). I'm knitting this in KP CotLin, and I. Love. This. Yarn! Its perfect for knitting in 100+ Texas Summers! I have about one and a half repeats of the front left before it is time to start shaping the neck. I'm thinking instead of binding off and picking up the stitches, I'm just going to knit the stitches (for the bind off section) and place on a spare needle, and treat the front like the back. I need to get this finished before the Ravelympics, so I can have my size 6 Option tips back (and I don't get the front piece confused with the back).

Also on the in progress and need to finish list is Helena for Kaylee. I'm using Merino Style left over from my Deep V Argyle Vest, which was left over from my Pearl Buck Swing Jacket, which I over dyed using Kool Aid (photos on the Rav Project page, see sidebar for link) I still love how soft and smoochy this yarn is. Mmmm Merino. I only hope the little chunker doesn't outgrow the 18 month size before March.

And on the Waiting to be Cast on List, Laminaria, for the Ravelympics. I'll be knitting for Team 4815162342! I'm using the Lone Star Arts Catalist Lace that I picked up at DFW Fiber fest in April. I've entered her in the Shawl Relay and the Laceweight Longjump. I know that we are able to cast on early in the day when the opening ceremonies happen in Bejing, but since its a work day, I will wait until the ceremonies air on TV here before casting on, that way I don't lose two days of knitting (blocking and photos must be done before the end of closing ceremonies in what ever time frame you choose). The only downfall to this plan is the DH's birthday party is also the night of the opening ceremonies. I think he will understand.

I also have yarn for, and castonitus for Shetland Shorty, using leftover Yarntreehouse/Jojoland Melody from Venezia, Wicked (with bust darts) using the Brooks Farm Solo from the DFW fiberfest, Liesl, using MmmmMalabrigo, and the Organic Hoodie in a green yarn of some sort for Corwin. (So much knitting to do, so little time)