progress

I've been spending way too much time on Ravelry and not enough time knitting or spinning! Between entering my projects, my queue and seeing who I know has joined, it has taken away from my knitting time!

I finished my super sidekick! The strap was mostly made by a friend that needed a break from an attention demanding project. I taught her how to do i-cord (!) and she was off! I felted it down too much, but it's still a nice bag size, 9 x 13 x 4.

This project used 2 skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted in Mulberry and about 4 skeins of Patons Soy Wool Stripes in Natural Plum. Knit together using a size 15 needle. Most of the pattern was followed, though I added about 10 rows in the body and pretty much doubled the strap.

This weekend, I began swatching for the Mystery Stole. First clue comes out Friday! I think the vanilla zephyr with the silver lined beads is the winner, but I'm still playing with needle size.

Home improvements are slowly moving. I should have a new AC unit purchased this week! I also have Thursday - Monday off to work on the house, celebrate my birthday, and remember my grandmother (her birthday is Monday). OK, I just admitted to my birthday....an event that I celebrate for a the month once it has passed, but generally disregard right up until the actual day. This year is different somehow. I haven't quite put it all together yet, but it is definately different. Some of it is due to my grandmother's death, but I think there is something else as well.

And now, a critter in my back yard. I think I've found who is responsible for at least some of the holes I've been finding in my back yard!

alpaca, babies, and ravelry, oh my

The last two weeks have been a blur. Lots of fun fibery things.

I got busy cleaning some of the alpaca fleece that I got in January. I ran out of energy before I finished all of this, but the majority of it got clean. As I finished up each batch, I spread it out across the deck furniture to dry.

After trying handcarding, I've come to the swift conclusion that I need to get a carder!! I hoped to borrow a friend's carder this past weekend, but we ran out of time.

This past weekend, the LYS hosted a dyeing class, where I played with some indigo dye. Made a tie dye scarf and dyed some of the cream alpaca I had just cleaned. I so need to order a carder!

I also started a class for Elizabeth Zimmerman's baby surprise jacket at the LYS. No recipient has been identified for it, but after watching so many knitters finish one, I had to give it a try. Our LYS owner has broken this down into several classes and she gives lots of tips to make this easier to do. This is Fleece Artist sea wool sock yarn, unknown colorway. I also want to make a hat and booties out of pink or turquiose.

On Sunday, I received my Ravelry invitation and have been practically glued to the laptop ever since. I am seriously hooked! It has info on lots of patterns and yarns. Plus a spots to enter projects, projects to be, stash, and needles! Jess and Casey have done an awesome job on this site.

Under Construction

It appears that some of my images have vanished, links screwed up, etc, so I'll be doing some blog construction this week!

More soon!!!!

Mystery Lace!

Mystery Stole #3 starts June 29!!! See Melanie's post here for details.

kicks

My squatty sidekick from Knitting Daily has been quite popular. Several knitters I have encountered in the last week want to make one. So it was only right that I start yet another one, right?? (yes, this would be #3) This is combining the mohair goodness that is lambs pride and the beautiful color variations that is Patons Soy Wool Stripes on size 15 Denise Needles. Following the pattern as written so far, the larger needle and double yarn makes this a bigger bag.

An update to my other addiction, I did this over the weekend. Fleece Artist 65/35 wool/silk. Still thick and thin, but I'm getting more consistent. I love these colors and this is definately becoming a favorite roving. I think there are two or three left at the shop and they will be mine this weekend.

It has been a heck of a week. Fun in someways - a potluck dinner followed by reading with friends, knit night. But not fun in others. Add to it that I'm not sleeping too much this week, so I'm just dragging at work. Especially at the end of the day. Hopefully tonight I will sleep and I will feel less like a robot tomorrow.

It's bedtime!