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.