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.