More holiday knitting

In progress holiday knitting. This happens to be a family member's favorite color. Found some DK weight super wash from Patons at the craft store and figured out a quick and easy pattern. I've been so busy with stuff thought that I don't feel like I'm progressing fast enough. Ugh.

{this moment}

{this moment} ~ a Friday ritual from SouleMama.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Longbourn Mitts

I love this yarn. I've finished one fingerless mitt and am on to the second. This knit picks yarn is lovely. Gloss in DK weight. Wool and silk. Joy to work with, too. As are the needles. I'm loving these Clover bamboo dpns. They're smooth, but warm. Who knew?!?

I plan to get nail polish to match the yarn as part of the gift.

Black Alpaca

The photo just doesn't do this fluff justice. I ordered this from Jakira Farms to make a -- for my -- for Christmas. The fiber is so soft and lovely. It did take a little fiddling before I could spin it properly on my wheel. (operator inexperience - not at all the fault of the lovely alpaca!) I actually went over to the drop spindle for a bit to get the feel of the fiber. Now, it's spinning beautifully. I have a full bobbin and I'm going to Navajo ply it and see how much I get before I spin the other 4 oz.

Holiday Knitting on Hold

I have several double-secret items in progress, but they're all on hold for the quick knitting of a baby hat/mittens for my hubby's friend's 6 month old son. Nothing like digging around in one's stash of "old" acrylic yarn* and pulling out the perfect skein. (*stuff purchased before I got hooked on wool, that is now relegated to the bottom of a tote to languish until I need it for someone allergic to wool or for a small child that needs something easily washed.)

So the skein of soft, bulky yarn has become a hat with flaps and possibly some little bear ears on top. This turned out so well, that I think I may write up the pattern.

Now to find some matching yarn for mittens.

Alpaca fluff makes me happy

Oh, Alpaca... how I love thee...

Picked up 4oz of this super soft alpaca at the Endless Mountain Fiber Festival in September. It spun up like a dream on my pretty drop spindle, and was destined to become a scarf for (name withheld on the really remote chance that said person should stumble upon this blog.)

The scarf has been designed and knit. Photos to follow! I may even post the pattern.

Best day. Rhinebeck 2012

::whisper:: I got my wheel. I am the proud owner of a lovely new Blue Bonnet HoneyBee.

It was a lovely, warm fall day. Too warm. My poor February lady ended up back in the car for the day. But the leaves were amazing. The rain cleared up. The parking lot guy got us out of the mud. We got high on wool fumes. I got my wheel. (Did I mention that?)

Love that Soak had a booth. Into the Whirled did not disappoint. My friend scored some great yarn at the Miss Babs booth, and we all drooled over the crazy-soft qiviut.

Next year- a fleece? A class? Oh... The possibilities.

Rhinebeck Eve

The sweater is knit, blocked and dried. It poured today. Lets hope that's it for the next two days.

Tomorrow is wheel day. Is it time to go yet?

Spinning... the Next Generation

I took my youngest with me to the fiber show, and the one thing she really wanted was her own drop spindle. She's really getting the hang of park and draft, and since that photo was taken, she's finished all her "sample" fluff, plied the singles and dyed the yarn. It's dry, just waiting to be rolled up and knit. We're going to use my biggest needles and make a headband, I think. Can't wait. Her older sister also wanted to learn, so I cleared off my old spindle, found some of the roving I brought home from The Mannings, and started to teach her. She loves it, too. Sigh. The order from Paradise Fibers arrived the other day and is split between the three of us. I got superwash... I can't wait to spin for socks!

Fall = Socks

Fall. Autumn. I love it. I love the cool, crisp mornings. I love my morning run where I can see my breath and am not bogged down by humidity. I love how it warms up during the day, but then cools down again at night, allowing for sleeping snuggled under covers. Fall is candy corn season. The kids go back to school. So many things to love about Fall.

Most of all, though, I love pulling out my knits. Socks. Hand-knit socks. Who knew they'd be so wonderful. (turns out, a whole lot of people!)

I'm never going to knit socks, I'd thought to myself, seeing my mom knit with those tiny needles. That's just crazy. Then I saw the Double Heelix socks and I knew I was sunk. I learned to knit socks. My third pair ever was the magical Double Heelix socks. I love them. I am hooked. I now have enough socks that I didn't wear a single pair of "regular" socks all season last year. (ok...except for the socks that I wear to the gym)

What do you love best about Fall?

Shetland yarn

The yarn spun from the lovely Shetland fluff I got at Rhinebeck last year from Bittersweet Ridge is all spun and plied, the twist is set, and it's all ready for me to choose a pattern. The yarn isn't as soft as some, so I'm thinking a shawl that won't be worn against the skin, but will be just the extra bit of warmth I might need in the office this winter.

Since the wheel spinning class at The Mannings, and discovering that the drafting skills the amazing teacher helped us learn transfer to my drop spindle, I can't get enough of spinning. (seriously. the man. is. amazing!)  On to the yummy Alpaca that I got at the Endless Mountain Fiber Fest.

Woof

I took my youngest up to the Endless Mountain Fiber Fest on Sunday. We wanted to see the Sheepdogs in action. We got there just in time to see one go through his paces and herd the sheep through fences and into a small corral. Very cool.

We then walked around the vendor area. There weren't a lot of vendors compared to other shows I've been to recently (Maryland Sheep and Wool, Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, OR...) but the items offered for sale were quality and my girl and I found just what we'd been looking for... She found a drop spindle kit so she can learn to spin and I found a little bit of Alpaca to try. Worth the trip.

Spinning fool

Ever since I lucked into a wheel spinning class at The Mannings a few weeks ago, I have not been able to stop spinning. Even though I'm still saving for a wheel, the skills they taught have transferred very nicely to the drop spindle. Nearly done with the lovely 8oz of Shetland I got at Rhinebeck last fall - just in time for this year!

Baby!!

New baby in the house. He's a snuggler. He likes so sit on our laps and cuddle. He'll fit in our laps for another two seconds if he grows into his paws!

Zen and Owl socks

I have one owl sock done. Yesterday I got through the better part of the cuff and one whole repeat of the owl on the leg. I'm really trying to be "I'm the moment" with these socks but they just seem to take so. damned. long. to knit.

So instead, I may just work on my Dahlia cardi today. So there, Zen.

Owl socks

The first Owlie sock is done. I love it.

Owlies

I am really loving this Tosh Sock yarn. Can't wait to get to an owl so I can add beads.

Socks, baby

I've turned the heel on the first Sock of the Month that I'm working on, and also on Cait's Socks for Docs but I loathe how those socks are coming out. I think it's because I really hate the black yarn I used for the foot portion of the socks. I fear I'm going to have to just frog back to the black and start over with different, better quality, better matching black.

Sigh.

Penelope Monster

I finished the adorable Penelope monster last night. It was fast and fun to knit and Rebecca Danger's patterns are so easy - clearly written instructions with lots of photos. http://www.dangercrafts.com/shop/Knitting-Patterns/All-Knitting-Patterns-alphabetical/p/Penelope-The-Empathetic-Monster-Knitting-Pattern-Pdf-sku-Penelope.htm

DANGER (crafts)

Woohoo. The Penelope the Empathetic Monster kit that I'm testing for the wonderful Rebecca Danger arrived today. The pattern is already fully tested - it's the yarn quantities enclosed in the kit that I'm checking. Can't wait to get this on the needles. Tonight! (the cat will not be helping)

Multnomah Shawl

I love this. I love the yarn - Sanguine Gryffon Bugga - and it was a joy to knit. It's blocked and drying in a (hopefully) safe-from-kitties location.