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.