I cannot believe how ridiculously busy the last couple days have been. I have not knitted anything. Not one stitch since Sunday. It's starting to get to me.
What have I been doing? Dyeing yarn, filling salve tubes, going to a violin lesson, practicing violin, and cleanign the house. I hate cleaning house in the winter. It just feels wrong to do. But, clean I must. You see, the owners are going to list the house for sale and I'd like it to look a little nicer when the realtor shows up. I can't put some of this stuff away simply because it has no place to go. The yarns that are srying? Hanging in the window. Skeins for sale? Hanging on a rack in bags. Fibers for sale? Wrapped in paper and sitting in a basket. Still, laundry is done, dishes will be done and the house is vacuumed.
When I'm able to sit down and knit, I'll be working on the two OWLs I've gotten approval for. The first one is a sweater called Vivian. This sweater is so gorgeous and I decided on the pattern partly becasue of its name. Vivian means lively and I am feeling even more vibrant as time passes. The second pattern is a pair of mittens that I actually designed almost the whole thing myself. The rose in the center and the cuff design are the only parts that aren't mine. I can't wait to get going on it.
I'm captain of the Quidditch team this term in the HPKCHC group and have to say that it's a lot of fun. I've gathered a good team and we're going to rock the games. There is so much talent out there! I'm so happy to be part of such a great crowd.
Anyway, I have about 45 minutes before I pick up the daycare kids and I need to work on the house a little more. Hopefully I'll be able to get it doen soon so I can sit and knit for a while.
Catching up Topic: Projects
I started a pair of socks the other day for a loved one and after wrestling with 4 strands of yarn (2/Suri alpaca & 2/bamboo), I decided to change the idea just a little. I swatched just the Suri and found that it didn't shrink as much as I'd feared it would. So, I'm starting over with only the Suri. These will be some of the toastiest house socks this person has ever had.
I finished all the classes this month and will be done with the OWL assignment by tomorrow evening. I'm pretty happy that I will have completed all classes for the whole term (total of 18 assignments, Quidditch charity knitting and OWL). I have more socks now and so does Lady Dreamer. I have several gifts ready to be sent out and only a couple more that will need to be completed before the holiday. All in all, I feel pretty good.
For now, I have Vienna Teng playing through my headphones, incense gently wafting through my room and a couple candles glowing softly. There really isn't that much more I can ask for right now.
I'm so thrilled! K & I were walking through the mall, then decided to get some coffee at Borders (a rare treat) and we walked right into a knitting group! Apparently they meet every Thursday night and I'm so tickled!
Ok, I know I said that already, but I'm so glad to have found others in this area who knit. I know where I'll be next week. Hmm... now to decide which projects to bring. :)
I hope everyone is having a really good weekend. I'm going to be "tying up loose ends" with some of the projects I've gotten done. I'm also going to be spending this special evening with my Sweetie. Don't know what we will be doing, but we'll get to that later.
HPKCHC update - all my assignments are complete, my OWL is at 50% and I'm looking forward to the new assignments to be posted. I have a couple pairs of socks I want to make as well as a much-needed pair of gloves for myself and Lady Dreamer.
The drum carder has been a lot of use so far. I've gotten about one third of my alpaca carded and ready to use. I've created some gorgeous sparkly batts that I'm hoping to sell and I've created a batt just for a new pair of socks for myself (50/50 wool/alpaca in faded blue). I've even gotten a few other people interested in this particular carder.
For now, I need to get going. I hope you are all safe.
I've been having so much fun! I finally got a drum carder from Special Kitty. I've been spending most of the time carding up the alpace I got from R. I've blended alpaca with wool, made sparkly batts and have generally enjoyed myself. Yesterday I started carding the fleece from Excellente. This was his first shearing and I'm so amazed at how soft this stuff is. There isn't that much crimp and I may blend it with merino or something to fluff it up a little, but I want to make a sweater for myself with it.Or a nice pair of gloves.
I've also been working on socks for us (and turning them in for the HPKCHC). At this point I may stop knitting them for Lady Dreamer and focus on my own feet. I do not like to be cold in the winter. I've nearly completed 2 squares for the afghan and really need to get going on it. I did set a goal to finish all classes and the OWL and I want to stick to that.
For now, I'm going to finish up another baby hat and focus on the afghan squares.
Yay, classes have been posted. I already decided to try using these as a means to get some Yule gifts made. I already started a gift for a baby (ironically it's a cotton sheep). In the middle of that I'll be getting an afghan started. I've been working on several quilt ideas but haven't been able to get them completely worked out, so I'll stick to the Bear Claw pattern.
I'm also going to try making shelves for my fiber cabinet. I think that would be a lot better than the way it's currently laid out. I may even be able to put several cubbies in there to keep the weights separate... or something like that.
This month I'm also part of a swap group called Reducio. It's HP themed, but the linit on spending is only $10. No problem there. The last swap I did was a bit pricey, even with the things I made. It was then that I swore off swaps, but this one seems much more easy-going.
Today will be mostly laundry and knitting since I only have the school-kids here and they're only here an hour in the morning & a couple in the afternoon.
Well, I've mannaged to complete a few small projects and am nearly done with K's Kurtain. I'll take it over to his place this week and "size" it to be sure. I finished a few more washcloths and now we can have a fresh one each day for the dishes. I also decided to start a Bear Claw afghan. This will be large enough for a queen size bed and will probably take me quite a while. But I'm determined to have it done. I think it will be beautiful once it's finished.
I'm still part of the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC) group on Ravelry and can't wait for the new term to begin. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in Hufflepuff since they don't have that many new people coming in. Which I think is a bit sad. After all, 'Puffs are about as loyal as they come. My kids and their friends think I'm a geek about this stuff, but I'm having a lot of fun and meeting new (online) people.
I'm also determined to get to one of the Fiber Fests within a year. I'm thinking I should be able to save up my money and get myself there within that time frame. In the meanwhile, I will keep setting aside my $1's & change until I have enough.
My book just arrived today. After looking through and deciding I want to make all the socks in there, I think it's time for me to step out a bit and learn to make socks from the top. I know I have plenty of yarn for the patterns in here and I can do this. Right?
I will say, though, it feels strange casting on so many stitches to start with. 60? 68? Wow. And some of the color-work patterns may actually have to be done one-at-a-time. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like doing both together since I know the tension will be the same for both socks. Things change over time and I knit tight sometimes and loose others (my Goddess scarf is a bit wonky because of that). Hmm.. I wonder if it would be better for me to just try doing them both.
Well, enough rambling. I'm doing fairly well in the HP knitting group and have made a lot of progress with my Goddess Scarf. I may actually finish it soon. Istill have lots of WIPs but I am plodding forward with them.
Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup Topic: Just Stuff
Ok, so I joined this group on Ravelry and am now a proud HufflePuff. I know there are people out there who would think that I'm taking this Harry Potter business a little too far, but... there are people who go to every showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in full dress and everything. I think this is a lot more fun.
Anyway, each month we get an assignment and earn points for our house. We can choose which classes to take (so we don't get overwhelmed) and even have a bit of flexibiliy for what we choose to make for the assignment. So far this month, I'm signed up for Herbology (making a dress for Faelyn) and Charms (a dragonfly illusion square). Once I finish these I can choose to join another class.
So far, it's been a lot of fun. The group is light-hearted and doesn't have some of the drama that other groups seem to develop. Plus I'm learning new things (this month: bobbles & illusion).
Ok, I have today off and Aurora doesn't seem nearly as bad off as the other cats when they got spayed, so I'm going to try using this day to catch up on some knitting. I did finally finish my Nutkin socks (ravelry link) & realized a big mistake - I forgot to make the second heel grey and only have 13 rows to finish clue 1 of the Goddess Knits Anniversay KAL (ravelry link). After getting those done I plan to work on the Rosalind Meadow Cardigan for a while.
Perhaps I'll go outside to enjoy this gorgeous weather while I'm at it.
It's here! I was lucky enough to be able to get it warped (love those pegs!) and started a project. I figure I'll make a set of kitchen towels. I didn't figure out how many I'm making or even how long they are all going to be. I figure that will happen as I go. I know there are probably people out there thinking, "What? no measurements? No yardage calculations?" Nope. I took this huge spool of cotton, warped the pegs for about 15 feet of warp and threw it on the loom. For the weft I'm using some heavy cotton thread a friend gave to me and striping it with the Sugar & Cream yarn.
I've also been able to get a little further on a few other projects. My Nutkin socks are nearly finished and I only need to decide which bind off I want. I changed my mind about the baby blankets and will be making teddy bears instead. I think they will be a lot more unique since most people make blankets for the new babies. I also have been getting a few rows finished on the scarf. I'm not sure about working on that one much since we are about to enter summer, but then again, it would be nice to have it waiting for me when it begins getting colder.
I used the money left over from my last doll sale to order my loom. I'm getting the Kromski Harp, 32". I'm pretty tickled about it. I saw a really neat way to make a shawl on something as small as a Cricket, and I've heard you can double weave to make a really wide fabric. I'm still not clear on whether this can be done on a rigid heddle, but I am a way from being able to do that yet.
Since I have gotten a little better at weaving, I've thought about making some hand towels for the kitchen & bathroom as some of my first projects. I also thought about weaving some basic rectangles to make the Tantric Puzzle Top. For the most part, it's a knitting pattern, but her original was woven. I also have a great, simple pattern for a dress that I think would be great in cotton/bamboo. Now I only need the loom and several days off.
Currently, I have several projects going and a couple are about to enter the Twilight Zone if I don't start working on them soon. Like my Nutkin socks. I've already gotten to the heel on the second one, so it's nearly done. I need more socks, so I need to get this pair off the needles.
Eventually, I'm going to start a blanket with apaca. I have 1760 yards of some gorgeous dark blue alpaca yarn that I was going to make a sweater with, but I don't really like the darkness for that pattern. Does that make sense? Anyway, I know this isn't enough for a full-sized blanket, but it would be a start. I think it would be nice to snuggle under when the winter winds blow.
I think it's funny that knitting has really made me realize how short the warm season is up here. As much as I'd like to have all my knitting done before the cold sets in, I've realized it will take longer than the Spring and Summer.
Sometimes I forget how nice it is to spin with a spindle. Today I was able to finish up some gorgeous yarn. (Yes, I will say my yarn is gorgeous.) Tomorrow I will wash and hang it. I'm not really sure what I will be doing with it (I was able to get 206yds from two of the batts) but I know it will be special. Then again, all my knitting stuff is special.
Why is it we feel the need to put our stuff down sometimes? I've seen people on the boards say things like, "My stitches aren't even." or, "My selvages are horrible!" But when you look at the project they are talking about, it just isn't true. Perhaps we are our own worst critics. Perhaps it's that issue of not showing too much pride. I don't know and quite frankly, I'm getting too old to care.
I love my yarn. And my knitting. And when my loom arrives, I will love my weaving.
I spent a good portion of yesterday spinning for Lady Dreamer's socks. The blues of this yarn remind me very much of Aurora's eyes. So, that's what I will call it.
I actually finished it in about 4 hours of spinning. This was also plied after I wound the sinlges on my ball winder. I have to say that it was pretty easy compared to using the "handy andy" method.
Ok, I love the colors of Flowering Weeds, but I do not like spinning it. So, what to do? I thought about it a lot, tried spinning some more. Decided it just isn't the fiber for me to spin right now (Mohair/Wool blend). Well, an idea struck me - make a felted rug. Only it didn't turn out the way I'd planned, now I want to hang it on the wall or something.
I should felt it a little more. Perhaps tomorrow. I think it looks pretty cool and even started another one that is much thicker. I'm also happy that some of the fiber I know I'll never spin is going to good use.
I was able to complete a few little projects last week. One was a corset for Lady Dreamer's doll and another was a sweater for my doll.
I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and am looking forward to making others.
For now, I need to focus on the sweater I have going, and the socks. Once I get them finished I might start on another big project, but I'm not really sure.
Well, I started a new top for myself. It's called Rosalind (on ravelry) and I will be making a few changes to it. I wanted to use a different lace panel and I'm still not sure about the sleeves.
What! Another KAL? Have you finished the the other KAL yet? Have you completed any of the projects currently on your needles? Have you started working on the Spring Raven Shawl yet? Yep. No. No. And... no. But, I felt inspired to work on this new cardigan.
I'm also inspired to begin dyeing again, but the temperatures are just a little too cold for it. Perhaps next month.
I recently joined a group called Obscuriosity on Ravelry. This group has KALs/CALs of patterns that don't get a lot of recognition. Why would I join a group with more KALs? Simply because I like wearing things that other people don't have. This group picks patterns that have a low project count, so there aren't that many people who have already done it.
The next round is coming up pretty soon (I joined in the middle of a round) and I'm looking forward to voting this time for the patterns we will be working on.
