January Goals

Fewer goals for this month:

1. Finish Grandma's blanket
2. Finish spinning and plying wool/silk blend
3. Finish Damson
4. Spin sample of Yak
5. Finish 2 Squares for Basketweave Blanket

The first goal absolutely has to be done and in the next two weeks as my parents are hand-delivering the blanket to my grandma in India.

The wool/silk blend is from Rhinebeck purchases of 2008 so its about time it gets spun up.  Its two 4oz rovings of this dusty rose color roving so I probably won't keep it for myself.  Or I may knit it into a gift for someone.

The Damson is being knit out of Malabrigo Sock in the Persia colorway - absolutely gorgeous!  This will be the first shawl I knit for myself so am very excited to finish it and wear it.

The Yak fiber is for a sweater but I have to spin up a couple of sample yarns to decide what I like best.  I've never spun for such a large project.

On a completely unrelated note, I watched Avatar yesterday.  Amazing movie!  Such wonderful imagination on the part of the creators.  What was most amazing to me was the absolutely stunning use of colors; there were so many shots where I could have just freeze-framed and if possible, copied down the colors into yarns...ooo I want to go see the movie again already! LOL.

December Goals Update

I guess I did not have as much crafting time this month as I only managed to accomplish 2 of the goals I'd set out for myself for the month.  I finished spinning up the bag of alpaca (from hell, might I add) and I finished the Peaks Island Hood (from heaven, might I add).  Smaller goals for January, I think!


Spin up:

• Bag of Alpaca - FINISHED
• 1 skein of meriboo
• 1 oz of yak fiber

Knit:

• Finish blanket - more strips sewn together but not finished
• Start and finish Peaks Island Hood - FINISHED
• Start and finish Convertible Mittens
• Work on Handspun socks
• Work on Cashmere leaves scarf
• Finish setup edging of Aeolian

Binned

I’ve been working on the Peaks Island Hood and nothing else for the past few days.  I’m almost done too!  I’ve finished the long length of the scarf and the entire hood and have started the short length of the scarf and am on my last ball of yarn.  I have a feeling I may run out of yarn before the end so I’m going to knit and knit and knit on it today and see which one I finish first – the yarn or the pattern.  The shop is open today and early on Thursday so I can always run out tomorrow if I do run out of yarn first.  

I also organized the stash – took all of it out of my living/thinking space and put it in storage upstairs.  I have only one bin of yarn that I want to work on next and all my WIPs (which attacked me from every corner when I was organizing) in a space that is visible to me.  This has made life so much easier – no only is everything very decluttered but I find that I can knit far more easily now.  It seems weird I know but I think what was happening is when I could see all the yarn I have all the time, I was starting to build up guilt over it and it would actually make me not want to knit.  Now that I have one small bin of yarn and some WIPs, I can just focus one or two projects and a time and get them done.  It is even more relaxing as a hobby now. 

[Pictures of bin pending]

Laptop

Forget the damn Pleo, what I really need is a new laptop - this one is on it's last legs!  I'm changing my prize countdown to indicate laptop instead.

Need for simple project

I haven't had anything to knit in the car with me since I finished the HWL scarf (remember the red neon?); the reason being the two projects i'm focusing on now are my grandma's blanket and the handspun socks.  Both are in stages not conducive to car knitting (not while driving, of course!).  The blanket is too big and the socks are too high maintenance with the delicate Lantern Moon DPNs.

I need another simple project to work on in my car during lunch breaks.  I've been looking through my stash and i don't have any yarn that i have as yet designated to be another simple donation scarf.  But I do have a bunch of that Rumor yarn for the blanket from this past weekend splurge.  I threw a ball of it and some needles in my bag before running out the door for swatching purposes.  I've been having trouble coming up with a good pattern for the yarn partly because an adult size blanket has the issue that a simple garter stitch will start to fall apart on you (as I discovered with that Homespun blanket I knit many years ago).  there are adult sized blankets i do like, like the sock yarn blanket, barn raising blanket and such but these do not look good with just one color yarn.  they need variety in color.

Lois is knitting a lovely afghan right now and it is a seed stitch design - i like the look of that.  I'm not sure if that is a stitch that will fall apart or not - maybe the knits and purls will give it more stability.  I'll swatch when i go out to my car today - maybe both seed stitch and stockinette.

Yak blend spun

I finished spinning the Yak blend fiber:

 

 

I'm not sure if I mentioned this on the blog before or not but this stuff spun up very badly - very uncooperative and lumpy.  it was the way the fiber was blended - i guess its my own fault for buying an "as is" bag of fiber.  the stuff is incredibly soft, don't get me wrong, but not easy to work with.  Either way, it is a finished 3 ply yarn and I got about 340 yards of it.  I'm thinking of making a hat for sure and then i'll decide what to do with the rest.

I also finished my Handmade With Love Especially For You scarf:

The picture did not come out well at all.  the red is a far more pleasant red and the green is a darker green - it looks more Christmas-ish in  life than the neon in the picture.  Will be mailing it out tomorrow.

I got my spinner!!

I got my spinner but haven't had much time to play.  Will be posting about it soon.

In other news, total yarn diet fail at the Smiley's Yarn Sale!  Will be posting pics of the new acquisitions soon too.

100 Balls Knit up in 2009!

I did it!  I knit up 100 balls of yarn in 2009.  Remember, when I started this challenge last November because I thought I'd need to cheat in order to make it to 100?  Well, turns out I didn't; I finished knitting my 100th ball of 2009 last night!  YAY!  I'm definitely doing this again next year. 

Looking back at how I did with the challenge, I have to admit, knitting with 2 or more strands is clearly the key to success here!  Not only does it use up stash faster and create a thicker fabric faster, it also creates absolutely beautiful colors and fabrics that are indeed quite a surprise! 

  

Also, I remember not knitting much at all for about 3 or more months during the spring and summer - I'm sure if I had knit during that time, I'd have reached the 100 balls goal even faster!  I'm debating whether or not to up my goal from 100 to 120 or 150.  I am planning on doing more lace knitting next year and that certainly takes much longer than knitting with worsted weight or something else.so.maybe I should stick to 100 for now. 

Something else I noticed last night as I pulled out the Malabrigo worsted from it's bin: I don't have to force down the lid of that bin to close it anymore.  In fact, I see open space at the top of the bin! I'm getting there, folks!  I'm getting there!

Update to Ten410

 I thought of 2 more things to at to my Ten for 10 or Ten410 list.  I'm reordering it because i realized that certain things go together.

Socks #1:
1) Provisional Cast-on (believe it or not, i've never done this one)
2) Short Row toe
3) Afterthought heel

Socks #2:
4) New sock construction (HatHeel)

KP Vest:
5) Do colorwork
6) Steek something

Market Squares bag:
7) Entrelac
8) Felt something

Mittens:
9) Thrummed Mittens

Lace:
10) Block something (Aeolian)

Broken out into 6 projects makes the goals seem not as overwhelming.  The Lace and Market Squares bag projects are probably the longest projects but the rest should go pretty quickly.

I just had an idea about the malabrigo set I’m going to be making in this yarn:

I want to make a hat, scarf and mittens set but am thinking that the variegated colorway might be too much for my head.  So I had an idea: I make the scarf and mittens in this color and get a skein of solid color malabrigo worsted for the hat; then I’ll run around the rim and flaps of the hat with the variegated so it’s a nice pop of color and the whole thing looks like a set but isn’t like “WHOA!  What’s that on her head?!?”

Resolutions

I posted a draft of my 2010 resolutions on ravelry and here's what i said.  I'll be working on this and figuring out what's best:

Crafting related:
1) Use up 14 of the 18 items purchased at Rhinebeck
2) Limit purchasing of yarn or fiber to 1-2 items per month if at all
3) Spin up 2 of the 4 bags of sweater quantities of fiber
4) Knit 10 pairs of socks
5) Knit 2 sweaters
6) Knit up 100 balls of yarn

Other stuff:
1) Continue to exercise 6-7 hours a week
2) Continue vegetarian diet
3) Declutter/organize at least once a week


Another thing i read on ravelry is a Ten for 10 plan which basically encourages you to list 10 new things you would like to try in 2010.  I thought this was a very clever idea so here's an initial list for that as well:

1) Do colorwork
2) Knit an afterthought heel
3) Make thrummed mittens
4) Block something (most likely the Aeolian when it gets done)
5) Felt something
6) Entrelac?
7) Steek something
8) Try a new sock construction (probably a Cat Bordhi pattern...HatHeel?)
9)
10)

I can't think of 2 more right now.  that's a lot to do in 1 year regardless!

SQUEEEEEE

Screw all that thinking and planning.  I ordered the spinner!

December Goals

Here are my December goals in no particular order:

Spin up:

• Bag of Alpaca
• 1 skein of meriboo
• 1 oz of yak fiber

Knit:

• Finish blanket
• Start and finish Peaks Island Hood
• Start and finish Convertible Mittens
• Work on Handspun socks
• Work on Cashmere leaves scarf
• Finish setup edging of Aeolian

An electric spinner?

When I was researching wheels, I looked at electric spinners too but eventually decided to go with a regular treadle wheel instead.  I'm glad to have made this decision because what I learned about spinning from my wheel is invaluable.  But now that I've been spinning for a while and have found that I can spin for extended periods of time, I am starting to feel the need for an electric spinner.  One of the greatest hindrances I am finding is that while I can spin for a while without my hands getting tired, I cannot treadle for very long periods of time.  I think an e-spinner is the perfect choice.

Now the decision I need to make is do I count down to 25 projects and then order the e-spinner (as a replacement to the Pleo) or do I order it now so it will help me spin up my stash faster.  Thanks to the money I put aside for the laptop I've decided not to get, I do have the funds.

This is the spinner I am thinking of getting:
Hansen Crafts

Plying on the wheel

I finally got the plying head installed on my wheel and it actually quite easy!  I was worried for no reason.  And the plying went so fast!  The only thing is, I put the drive band on the largest whorl (non-spinners: that means the lowest speed) so I don’t think the yarn has enough ply twist in it.  I may have to run it though again.  I’ll wind it onto the niddy noddy first though and see how it came out.  I’m definitely glad I did it though because plying a 4 oz roving took an hour instead of a whole day.

 

The skein itself is very beautiful!

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m going to start spinning the chocolate brown floof next and I’m thinking because of the quantity I have (6 oz) that I may split it into 3 bobbins and do a 3 ply.  My only concern is, what do you do when you run out of yarn on 1 bobbin in a 3 ply that isn’t Navajo plying.  Maybe I should Navajo ply.  Hmmm…must email the spinning genius…that Winter!

Last night's adventures

I gave Ruth the handspun and she absolutely loved it!  we were brainstorming ideas of what she could knit with it and I suggested a small triangular shawl…you know, like the kind I want to make when I end up plying that orange handspun (both bobbins are now full so only the plying remains).  So at some point I’ll be going over to her house so we can go on ravelry and find a pattern she likes.  

Winter brought some more of her handspun fresh off the niddy noddy and omg, she is turning into an amazing spinner!  Her third skein ever is so beautiful – even I can’t spin that well yet!  If she posts pics of it to her blog I’ll link it here so you can all admire the pretty!

The next thing I’m spinning is that beautiful chocolate brown alpaca blend I got from Rhinebeck.  As you can see, it is a floofy bag so spinning it up will free up a lot of space!

I also finished something yesterday with Ruth’s help:

 

This scarf was supposed to be for the OFA charity but I love it so much that I decided to keep it for myself.  I cast on another scarf last night using some more rejects from their originally intended projects but after knitting about 4 inches, I fell in love with that one too! ::sigh:: so I had to put that one aside as well and will finish it later when I have more time.  

 

I started a second scarf last night and this one I’m determined not to like!  Though I may have to rip out the 1.5 inches I accomplished last night to switch to a bigger needle.  I’m very happy for all the stashbusting happening though!

Lastly, I bought Heather dinner last night so she would sew in ends on all the washcloths for me! Yay!  So now I’ve got a large stack of squares ready to go.  WOOT!  Thank you Heather!

Still no Eucalan!

This is getting a little absurd!  I called up the shop and looks like Terri still hasn't printed out the gift cards so I can't get the Eucalan yet.  I don't want to pay for it and then have a gift card just sitting there because i don't want to get more yarn. 

Speaking of gift cards, i still haven't ordered anything with my gift card from knitpicks.  i want to order a bunch of needles but then i'll have a bunch of duplicates and ... sigh ... its all so unnecessarily complicated!

25 FOs to Pleo

I've found my reward!!!  So I've got to finish 25 things (including spinning) to get myself a Pleo!  Starting point is Rhinebeck so I've finished 2 things so far: the granny squares blanket and 1 skein of handspun.

A Spinning Weekend

Because I was sick this weekend, I spent most of it in front of my tv but there is only so much knitting I can do at a stretch.  So I opted to spin a lot - apparently that one I can do forever!  LOL.  I finished a skein of superfine merino (4 oz, spun up to approximately 360 yards so it is a fingering to heavy fingering weight yarn):

 

This is going to be a thank you present for Ruth for helping me with the blanket. It is a 2 ply yarn and it took surprisingly long to ply.  I did it on my spindle (really need to install the plying head on my wheel) so it took all day.  The yarn has come out beautifully and has got to be my most even yarn to date.

The next one I've started working on is a wool/bamboo blend from Creatively Dyed.  I've already finished 1 bobbin full (told you I spent the whole weekend spinning).  In roving form the colors are very bright orange but it is spinning up to be a beautiful dull orange/gold which I absolutely love!  It also has large splashes of dark brown so I could not be happier.   I think this is going to be turned into one of those small shawls knit with sock yarn that have suddenly become so popular.

Speaking of small shawls - I'm not knitting that for my grandmother after all.  At some point last week I just started reaching into that bag of cotton yarn I have and started knitting dishcloths and knitting dishcloths and ... knitting dishcloths.  I've got a nice little pile going and i think i'll join them all together with the cone of cotton yarn to make a lap blanket for her.  That way it can be machine washable, does not have to be blocked, won't be too warm and I'll have used stash yarn instead of buying new yarn so perfect on all counts!

Now I know I promised a picture of the blanket but it has still not been washed and blocked.  I didn't get the Eucalan last week because Terri hadn't printed out the gift cards to the store yet.  I hope they are ready by tomorrow because I really want to get started on knitting that hood as well (it hasn't gotten cold yet but it will soon enough).  So no picture for now.

WIPs Planning and Goals Update

The blanket is finished!  I will put up pictures as soon as I've washed and blocked the blanket (so probably later in the week).

I've been thinking about the number of WIPs I have and how that keeps me from focusing and more importantly finishing the projects.  So i was considering the idea of using slots for WIPs:

Sample knitting: Basketweave sock
Sock: nothing at the moment (using the slot for OFA scarf)
Whatever: Aeolian shawl
Long-term: should be the barn raising blanket (using the slot for the cashmere scarf)

I don't know how practical this method is or how much it will help me focus but I'm going to try it out at least for this month.  BTW, that Whatever slot may get changed to the Aram sweater in case i want to try for NaKniSweMo still but since its already 10 days into the month and I don't see myself having to time to even attempt to cast on the sweater until the weekend, this may not happen.  I may just stick to my original goal of at least casting on the sweater this month.  Speaking of which, here's an update on my goals:

1) Spin up 1 skein of yarn (Gift) - finished one bobbin and about half way through on the second bobbin
2) Finish the granny squares blanket - FINISHED!!!!!
3) Finish OFA Scarf  - working
4) Finish the Edging Setup chart on Aeolian Shawl

Bonus Goals:
1) Start the Aran Sweater
2) Finish Cashmere Leaves Scarf - working
3) Finish 1 skein of the meriboo fiber

Edging Started!!!!!

The edging on the blanket has officially begun!!! I'm so excited!  I would post pictures but you can't really see much right now.  I have a feeling that i'm going to be okay with my brown yarn and will definitely have enough orange to at least do the first round of orange edging.

Spinning Tuesday

The Yarn Harlot, an absolutely hilarious woman and quite a celebrity in our knitting world, has Tuesday's set aside for spinning only.  I thought this was a great idea - having 1 specific day for just one craft, especially since my spinning often gets ignored for several weeks at a time.  I've been thinking about implementing this rule but never actually got around to it.  By coincidence though, I ended up ignoring the blanket yesterday (Tuesday) and spinning, spinning, spinning!  I finished an entire bobbin-full which is about half of the roving.  I'll see if i want to start the second half of the roving today or wait until another day (like next Tuesday).

Here's the finished bobbin:

And here's a picture of the blanket as it currently stands:

It is wonderfully warm and comforting despite having all the holes in it.  I was surprised by this but am glad because I love this blanket already!

Projects Update

I sewed two more strips on the blanket yesterday so now it is an 8x8 giant square.  I laid it out on the bed and it was just 2 strips short lengthwise.  Ruth and I estimated it perfectly!  She was so sweet last night saying that she'd only done a little bit of work on it and it was really my blanket but I know that isn't true.  She did so many squares and at least 3 strips and showed me how to do the squares and the seams in the first place!  I am definitely giving her at least one skein of my handspun - the blue and brown one, as soon as it is finished.  i'm sure i'll be giving her more yarns as soon as they are spun up but I also have to spin more yarn for Jenna.

Speaking of which, i've already got the two skeins of yarn spun up for Jenna and I thought instead of spinning more yarn for her, I may give her cash for her to buy yarn at the Smiley's yarn sale.  I just wish they did gift cards because giving cash seems a bit tacky. 

I haven't started my NaKniSweMo sweater yet - I've decided not to start it until I've either finished the blanket or have run out of yarn and am waiting for more to be delivered.  The blanket is taking top priority. It seems that my tolerance for seaming is about 2 strips a day so since i only have 2 strips left, I will probably be starting the edging tonight.  YAY!!!

Sweater Planning

One of my absolutely favorite shows is Firefly which is a scifi show and is totally awesome and everyone should watch it even if you aren't a scifi person.  The show stands up on it's own as a good show - scifi or otherwise.  Go rent it, netflix it or get it whatever way you get shows.

So the design for my Aran Sweater is inspired by this show and the main cable panel on the front, back and the sleeves looks like the ship - as much as a pretty cable can look like a ship.  The sweater is actually modeled after a sweater that a character wears on the show.  The details can be found here.

This will be my first geek project!  I know Jayne's Hat (from the same show) is a much smaller and quicker project but i just like the thought of doing this one more.  First because Jayne's Hat requires me to order more yarn for it in appropriate colors and second because i dont see myself wearing a bright orange hat - no matter how geeky awesome it is!  I will definitely still knit one of these but probably not anytime soon.

NaKniSweMo?

Inspired by the NaNoWriMo, the knitting community has created the NaKniSweMo KAL - National Knit a Sweater Month.  I found the group this morning while just browsing on Ravelry as an attempt to wake up.  Since today is the first of the month, I would be playing catch up but it would be a good way to get some work done on that Aran sweater that has been hanging over me forever!  I haven't decided yet because I definitely want to get the blanket finished this month and the OFA scarf needs to be finished this month so it can be mailed out in time.  Perhaps I will consider at least starting the sweater this month and if the blanket gets finished in enough time then I'll aim for attempting to finish the sweater.

If I recall correctly, the other sweater I knit up took a long time because I put it aside for several weeks but the actual knitting didn't take as long - I had a full long weekend of nothing but sweater knitting and I remember getting about 60% of it done in that time.  I've got the trip to Key West this month so that's a lot of plane and car ride knitting time.  I'll also have the Thanksgiving break (after the Key West trip) for much knitting time since I don't celebrate the holiday and Jenna is probably not going to be around to do a dinner.  Even as i'm typing, this project seems more and more likely as doable in November.  I will continue working vigorously on the blanket but start swatching and such for the sweater and it won't be like casting on a new project since I already consider the sweater to be a current WIP.

Spinning WIP's

What am I spinning at the moment?

Meriboo - 70% Merino, 30% Bamboo, 8 oz, spinning cobweb weight for a shawl.

Superfine Merino - 4 oz, spinning light-fingering weight, possibly for a gift

 

Projects past and next

I am sitting in training today and as usual we began late - about 1/2 hour late.  So, I was killing time on Ravelry and when I went to see what I'd finished in October, I realized I haven't finished a single thing this month!  NOT ONE!!!  I think that explains the BLAH I've been feeling. 

I did finished spinning two skeins of yarn though so that's something. Here they are:

4 oz Tencel/Wool blend by Creatively Dyed, 94 yards, Navajo plied:

 

4 oz Wool/Silk blend, 100 yards thick-thin, andean plied:

 

Here's another skein (finished earlier in the year), 4 oz superwash merino, 400 yards, andean plied:

I was also thinking about the reward system some more and the only things I can think of that I'm "denying" myself are a drum carder and fabric for the flannel pjs.  I can't imagine getting a drum carder even as a reward though because of the space issues.  I would consider renting a carder or borrowing someone's carder so I'll have to explore that some more when I'm ready to start working with the fleeces.  So fabric is looking to be more and more likely as a reward.

Since my post a few days ago about my spinning stash, I've been thinking of all the sweater's worth quantities i have.  I think i should start spinning with the yak roving since that is professionally processed and would be a better way to learn to spin for a sweater.  Spinning from a scoured fleece comes with it's own challenges and I would prefer to tackle one new thing at a time. 

I am thinking of making a cabled yarn for the sweaters.  A cable yarn is a 4 ply yarn (nice and sturdy for sweaters) where you spin a single, 2 ply it, and then 2 ply the 2 ply.  I also think this would be an appropriate yarn because my preference while spinning singles on the wheel is something that turns into fingering weight or heavy fingering weight when 2 plied so when cabled, I think I should get a sport to dk weight yarn which should work out well.

Reward System

I'm a fairly active participant on the Stash Knit Down group on Ravelry which is, as the name may indicate, a group of crafters who are choosing (or attempting) to stash dive as much as possible into their many different stashes (yarn, fiber, fabric, beads, etc.).  I've joined the "100 Skeins in 2009" challenge on this group which I've discussed in the past and am currently tracking on the sidebar of this blog. 

Well, I also like to read threads other than the challenges I'm involved in and have been reading the fabric stash down thread; one of the most recent things being discussed is a reward system.  Now this is certainly not some new system that I've never read about but this particular post struck me because the writer said that she would reward herself after she finished "6 or maybe 10 projects".  Whenever I've read about reward systems its always been an amount of accomplishment that I never felt was sufficient so I would dismiss the whole system or wouldn't stick to it.  DUH!  How obvious is it that you can set how much you would like to accomplish before allowing yourself the reward!  I have no idea why this never clicked in my brain before but it has this time!

I think that at the rate I'm going with my projects, if I tell myself that I will give myself a treat after 10 projects - that's a huge accomplishment!  I can use the Rhinebeck trip as a starting point but I have no idea what my reward would be.  Considering the severe storage space issues I'm running into, I've actually LOST the desire to buy yarn or fiber!  My shopping mojo is gone.  I need Yarn-Viagra!  I suppose though, my reward does not have to a crafting thing, it could be something entirely different.  I'll think about it though and in the mean time, i'll let the reward system motivate my to finish projects.

Speaking of finishing...does this look like two strips of the blanket sewn together?!?  :::gasp:::

November Goals

I've gotta have some goals for November.  I usually just post my monthly goals to the list on Ravelry but perhaps I should add them here as well.  I am considering what would be the best way to track this - adding another panel to the sidebar would mean...another panel in the sidebar and its a bit crowded over there at the moment.  I'll just post updates for this month and see how that goes.

Goals (In order of priority):
1) Spin up 1 skein of yarn (B/G)
2) Finish the granny squares blanket
3) Finish OFA Scarf
4) Finish the Edging Setup chart on Aeolian Shawl

Bonus Goals:
1) Start the Aran Sweater
2) Finish Cashmere Leaves Scarf
3) Finish 1 skein of the meriboo fiber

A blah moment?

This has been a blah sort of week for crafting for me.  I find myself spending all my time on the computer doing anything from browsing youtube to Ravelry and yet nothing on my projects.  Granted its been a bit of a mess at home but I'm waiting for Mom to remove her things out of my storage space so I can sort things out.  I may end up pulling her things out as it is the only way she will look at them.  Once I have breathing room again, I'm certain I'll get my mojo back.

Tonight is SnB night.  I am bringing my blanket and pjs (if I can find them) only.  Oh yea, btw, Jenna has been talking about her sewing stuff so much that I've been considering learning to sew.  Evil Jenna!  So now I'm thinking of sewing flannel pjs patterned after the black and white ones that I have.  I have to find them though since they probably got put away with the summer stuff.  All I can see is yet another stash building up!  yikes!!!

I went out with Heather last night (unexpectedly) and she showed me some cool new yarn she picked up at Stitches East.  I never made it to Stitches East so it was nice to see some of the yarn.  I guess she's really into novelty yarns.  Here's a cool one she had:

I found out that Stitches East will be held in Hartford again for the next two years so I guess its not so bad that I skipped this year.  I hope I've used up most of the current stash by then though.  Honestly, I need to finish at least one project, and SOON!!!

Speaking of which, I picked up the vendor cards for the Shoppe as I said I would and have to put together notes for each one because i'm meeting Terri tomorrow.  I need to do the print outs and stapling as I'd planned and it's gotta get done tonight at some point - so many things to do today!  In payment, I'm getting a bunch of Blithe yarn - which is baby camel and OH SO SOFT!

A Collection of Fibers

It occurs to me that in order to get perspective on the shear amount of spinning fiber I have, I must view it all at once (this happened when I found myself scouring Ravelry and Ebay for more raw fleeces).

So let's start with the big ones:

3 lb White Cormo Fleece
3 lb Chocolate Merino Fleece
2 lb Silver Cormo-x Fleece
1.5 lb Yak Roving

Other rovings:
Angora Batt
Foxfire Cormo silk roving - natural
Foxfire Cormo silk roving - dyed
CD Seawool
CD Bamboo/Wool
CVM
Cashmere Top
Orange Merino silk
2 Merino Tussah
Mocha Java
Spice
Redwoods
2 Wool/alpaca rovings
Yak Alpaca bag
4 Etsy rovings

WIP Control

Oooh the WIPs are getting extremely out of hand! I've got way to many things going and nothing finishing!

The oldest WIP of all is, of course, the blanket which is going to be about a year old soon. It is almost done, 6 out of 10 strips have been sewn. Once the strips are done, they will have to be sewn to each other and finally the border. I'm concerned about running out of yarn for the edge; fortunately, I received a very generous gift certificate to Knitpicks for my birthday so I can order more if need be.



A couple of the newer WIPs are the recently started scarves:

Cashmere Leaves - being knit with the cashmere I purchased at Rhinebeck.



OFA Scarf - this is stash yarn, the bamboo yarn that i'd gotten in hopes of knitting an accessory scarf but honestly, who knits accessories in such a drab color! I'm also holding a strand of some sock yarn from Sunshine Yarns along with it to give it a beautiful splash of color.



Then there is of course the Aeolian Shawl, such a beautiful shawl but it has taken a back seat lately because of the blanket and all the spinning.



There is also the Aran sweater which has gone through a couple of transformations. First I was going to do the St. Brigid pattern by Alice Starmore but decided against it after MANY iterations of it failed. Then the yarn was stashed out of spite. I found an Aran Sweater pattern on the Lion Brand site and am considering it. The other option is to do the Wash's Sweater with this yarn but I need to check the yarn requirements and such for that pattern.

There is also the sample sock for the shop which I've actually made a bit of progress on. Though, I don't think i want to be devoting a majority of my crafting time to the sample knitting as I've got the overwhelming stash/lack of space issue to be worrying about.

Rhinebeck 2009

Rhinebeck was this past weekend. They'd been predicting dire weather - rain AND snow and really frakkin' cold! The day turned out to be cold and cloudy and nothing else - YAY! I picked up a LOT of fiber for spinning and some yarn as well.
























I also picked up some more of the cashmere from Springtide Farms - the same stuff I got last year and made the Abby Cowl with. This year i got a beautiful burgundy colorway and am planning on knitting the Leaf Lace Scarf with it.






















Lastly, I also picked up 2 fleeces!!! That's right, 2 fleeces! Both color fleeces - chocolate brown merino and a silver cormo-x. I've already scoured them and they are drying. Will take pictures later and post them up.

Parade of Socks

I was looking through my Ravelry page and noticed that I've knit a lot of socks! I had cast on my first sock at the beginning of June last year and now i'm working on my 11th pair of socks; that's almost 1 sock per month. WOW!

First Clapotis

I must be completely in love with Alpaca right now because this is the second project in a row i'm writing about that is knit in Alpaca.

I finished my Clapotis!! I'm so happy with this shawl. It looks beautiful and is warm and cuddly and just awesome! I'm totally in love with the pattern too. I've heard a few complaints that people have found this pattern a bit boring to knit...well, its no cables or lace or anything complicated but quite enjoyable. i loved getting to the row where i got to drop the stitches and unravel them all the way down. I am definitely planning on making this one again.