A Little Spinning and Dyeing

A Little Spinning and Dyeing

Way back in the fall, I spun two pounds of Bluefaced Leicester that I purchased from Haltwhistle Fibers at Maryland Sheep and Wool. My intention was always to dye the yarn and knit a sweater, and I finally got around to it. I started the sweater last night, which will be a simple crewneck raglan.

I used Jacquard Acid Dyes, in Sapphire, I believe. I have to admit that the color isn't exactly what I wanted, but I think I'll like it once it's knit up. I have a block against royal blue after many years of wearing it in elementary and high school, mainly in the form of cheerleading and band uniforms. I have a similar block against orange, although I seem to be getting over it.

I also spun up the 4 oz. of merino tencel top I bought from The Sheepshed at Mountain View Farm at Rhinebeck this fall. I love this fiber; it spins very easily, and it produces the most beautiful yarn. This skein is around 500 yards of fingering weight 2-ply. It's destined to become a shawl, I think. Icarus, perhaps?

Ariann is finished and blocking. I'll have photos soon--and a sidebar update. Life has been busy.

Back on Track

Back on Track

I'm always amazed how two weeks back home, combined with the inherent insanity of the holiday season, tends to get me off track. I got off track in my weight loss plan (ate too much bad food and didn't go to the gym), I got off track with my spinning, and everything just felt out of whack. After a couple of weeks back, I'm finally getting into a routine again.

Sadly, the blogging has not become routine. Most of this is the fault of New Blogger. New Blogger seduced me with its ease of use and click and drag photos (as well as the fact that it's an inevitable switch I'll have to make if I want to stay on Blogger). But New Blogger and my work computer apparently don't get along for some strange reason. At any rate, this has put blogging at a standstill for the time being.

I have finished some things, however.

First, here is a 2-ply Shetland/mohair blend, spun from a batt. It's approximately fingering weight, 400 or so yards, 4 oz. I received the batt from Lauren, in the Knitty Spin swap. Thanks, Lauren!

Next up, an unblocked Tiffany mitten, from the latest Knitty. I changed a few things about the pattern. I used ribbing at the cuffs instead of a picot edging and left out one of the repeats between the thumb and the top of the mitten (actually, a happy accident, since it fits my hand better this way). Since I took this photo, of course, I finished the second mitten and have been wearing them all week. I like them, but I think I'm ready to do a more traditional folk mitten. The yarn is Jamieson's DK, and if anyone wants the colors, I can look them up.

Finally, how could I usher in 2007 without taking up a new hobby? My mom took me to a great quilting shop (Mammaw's Thimble), and I somehow bought fabric and a quilting book. This is the center part of a lap quilt; the turquoise will be the inner border, then the dark brown the middle border, then the floral fabric (pictured next to the quilt) the outer border and binding. The backing is a lovely cream paisley fabric. I will use a wool batting and hand quilt it. The pattern is "Don't Fence Me In," from Eleanor Burns's Still Stripping After 25 Years. If all goes well, I'll be finishing the borders this weekend and quilting next weekend.

There are a lot of other projects in the queue right now. I've frogged and restarted the Handmaiden Sea Silk, and I'll be starting a Baby Surprise Jacket this weekend for a friend who is due at the end of February. I also finished a pair of baby booties for a coworker. It seems like there's too much to do and too little time right now!