FO Friday

So, not technically an FO, but I did slave for many hours!

I spun this out of Jacob fleece.  My spinning needs work, as it is very rough and tight, but I got a useable amount of yarn at 176m of DK/Worsted weight!  Just need to figure out how to get some air into the yarn.  It is becoming more even though, which is the main thing.  My technique is also improving and I am starting to figure out my wheel and what it can do.  I'm going to watch the DVD I got with The Intentional Spinner, and continue with dedicating some time each week to practising.

In an effort to make some of my stash useable, I dyed some white sock and lace yarn I bought last year.  I am really happy with the colours, but do wish I had a microwave!

As usual I am joining in Tami for FO Friday, so have a look at some other FO Fridays if you have time.  I am also joining in Creative Friday, and think my first week of dying is a perfect time for it!

FO Friday

Quite a big Friday post today, so let's just crack on!

I showed the Whimsical Elf Couture Cowl a couple of weeks ago, but failed to take any action photos, so here they are for you now.

I put buttons on both sides, but so far I've been wearing it as shown in the first photo.  Knit using Noro Kureyon, alternating colours/skeins, it is very warm, and I have had many compliments about it from friends!  The buttons were all very kindly donated by Lee - I really need to improve my coloured button collection!

I finished these Baby Lamb Cuffs last week and they are so so nice!  As you can see in the top photo, the tension is off in the first cuff (the one on the left), but it is barely noticable when they are on and I think (hope) my sister will love them.  I can't wait to get mine done, I will probably take the kit with us when we go away.

I can't remember if I mentioned, but my little brother asked for a neck warmer thing, which I assumed to be a cowl.  This amazingly quick and cosy Bandana Cowl was a hit when I gave it to him last weekend, and I think I'm going to do a few in different colours as it is very comfy and very versatile, and also fits Jitterbug!

Again, an FO from a few weeks ago, but some action photos, kindly provided by my sister, modelled by Gordy, a 1 year old Border Terrier!

Puppies on Parade was knit using a variety of different acrylic yarns I had, and they both absolutely love how it  turned out.  Despite my fears about it being too big, the only areas that are too big is the neck and the leg cuffs.

Next up is some spinning I did months ago!

Worsted weight

DK weight

I don't remember the fibre composition, but they are 50% freecycle-wool I washed and carded myself, plus 50% other stuff, merino and silk, and merino and alpaca I think.  The bottom is very loosely plied, but as my second ever skein I think it's not bad.  The top is very slubby as I was trying to get to grips with the spinning wheel.  I don;t remember yardage, but it's not much, I think the DK weight is 80 yards, worsted weight far less.

I don't have a photo of my next FO, so you'll need to take my word that it is real!  After me complaining on Wednesday about my crochet-mojo having gone walkabouts, I felt the sudden urge to crochet snowflakes.  I probably won't be interested long enough to make any worthwhile number, but the one I did tonight was quite fun.  I just need to find the ideal way of stiffening them - many people are using PVA glue watered down, but I planned on using starch.  I've never used starch before so I don't know if it would provide the stiffness required, but I'll try it out and see.

That is it for today - I shall be spending the afternoon putting up some Christmas decorations in preparation for the tree going up tomorrow night.  This will be the first year Bubba has properly understood what's happening, and so we will be keeping him up on Saturday night to help decorate the tree.  Then on Sunday, they will wake to find Santa has made an early visit to our house (next year it will be Sinterklaas, which is all Jitterbug celebrated when younger.  We just need to teach Bubba and Gremlin about him and how he differs from Santa).  

We give them their Christmas presents early as we usually go to my parents house for Christmas - most of the presents they get there, stay there, and this way they get to play with their toys here for a while before being completely overwhelmed all over again.  I am expecting a long day on Sunday, as Bubba has developed a shyness when opening presents and leaves the room to rip open the wrapping paper.

As usual, if you have some spare time please head over to Tamis blog for some more FO Fridays

Squee Sunday!

Lots of things this week!

Biggest one is this book, Eddie Vedders Ukulele Songs.  We pre-ordered this a couple of months ago now from Ten Club (it was limited edition, and I can't find it on the website any more), and it finally arrived this week!  In it are standard ukulele chord structures, and also the ones Eddie Vedder uses on his album, Ukulele Songs, which as the title suggests is an album full of songs played on the ukulele.

Very sexy uke!

Jitterbug and I both love the album, and after buying Jitterbug a uke for his birthday this year which has sat unplayed, he needs some kind of incentive!  Hopefully this will get him learning a new instrument.  Jitterbug has a bad track record with learning new instruments - he is very set in his ways and having played guitar for the last almost-30 years he struggles to not think in terms of guitar chords.  He wants to learn but isn't willing to become a beginner again; we have a lapsteel that he doesn't play, a mandolin that get's looked at sometimes and a ukulele sitting on top of the cd shelves gathering dust!  He only plays with his many guitars! I think I might even give learning a shot with this book, looks easy enough :)

Next, some very nice fibre I ordered from World of Wool.  Fantastic prices, fantastic service, and I can't imagine I'll be ordering from anywhere else in future!  I got 300g each of scoured Blue Faced Leicester, scoured Kent Romney Lambswool, and scoured white Shetland.  I also got 400g each of black Jacob and grey Jacob tops.

In yarnie related news, I have decided to knit Have You Made a Jumper Yet on my Year of Projects list with Knit Picks Palette in Mustard.  It was originally going to be some white 4ply sock yarn I got at Knit nation for a steal, but then decided white would get dirty, and it looked a bit too thin and fragile to knit a jumper with.  This is the second variety of Knit Picks yarn I have, and while my inner eco-warrier hates me for buying it, my frugal stingy self loves it!  Both times I ordered from Great British Yarns (the name is so ironic since I only ever order Knit Picks!) and they also have fantastic service, I've had email replies at all hours!

I've also re-found my love for my SLR, and spent yesterday re-taking stash shots :laugh:  I still have more to take, my stash is all over the house!

Squee Sundays can be found here

WIP Wednesday

Now, I know I cannot be the only one who is surprised every single Wednesday to find that it is actually Wednesday, *again*.  I think it may be one of the perks, and downfalls, of being a parent to 2 busy little monkeys - time speeds up and it really is a case of blink and you miss it.

For example, after my mutterings a week or so ago about needing a quick project to give me my quick FO hit, I have finished it, so I still don't have anything more interesting to show than the Kiss Shawlette which is actually growing, albeit very very slowly.

I love the ridges the pattern forms

I also have my first self-spun WIP in the form of yarn.  There was slight drama last night when the single snapped as I was spinning and I couldn't find the end, so I think I'm going to have to navajo ply this sucker at the weekend, and just make an end *laugh*.

I have 2 full bobbins (well, one more full than the other), I just need a lazy kate made (and I'll hopefully talk Jitterbug into making my swift at the same time!).

I received a small delivery of yarn this morning.  It is an actual proper purchase for a specific project!  Let's not talk about the fact that I already had yarn for said project but have since changed my mind about it.....

To see more WIPs visit Tamis blog

My new addiction!

I am in love with my spinning wheel.  It is so much nicer than I expected, and so easy to use!

Firstly, some better photos:

Hmmm, I was sure I had more than 2!  Anyway, you can see the gorgeous colour better in these photos, and just how solid it looks.  It is set-up for double drive right now - I did try it single, but I don't have a brilliant spring and to be honest, it was very slow at intake! 

Even after I messed about with the tension it was too slow, but double drive seems very fast at times.  I'm slowly getting used to it, the yarn I'm making is no longer overspun (and in some areas might even be underspun!) and not terribly thin (I'm currently spinning at around fingering weight with the thicker bits being dk), but all that will come with time and practice.  The fibre goes down very quickly, it'll be interesting to see how much I've actually managed to spin out of 100g.

I chose very slippery fibre to start with (BFL & alpaca mix) so I'm going to see what it's like with some of the fleece I have from freecycle once I'm finished this - should be finished with the rest of the fibre on Thursday, then can learn how to ply at the weekend.  I'll need to get Jitterbug to drill two holes into a bit of wood to make a lazy kate before I can ply properly.

I started carding some of the black fleece I got last week, and despite my original fears, not much of it is felted, but it is very hard to pull the locks apart.  It cards up lovely and I can't wait to spin with it.  I am also very glad I held out getting carders, as the large ones I got with the wheel are amazing - very solid and the steel brushes don't feel like they'll pull out if you hit a hard patch.

The wood is all in one piece which is something I've noticed with some of the cheaper ones I've seen - the handle is a separate piece which also provided me with some worrying moments that they'd fall apart during some particularly enthusiastic carding.

This weekend I'll be cleaning the wheel, might even take it apart completely and give it a good wax!  Also need to make a wpi gauge!

WIP Wednesday

Not much progress here I'm afraid.  I almost had something different to show you but I finished it hehe, and this is basically just a repeat of my Year of Projects post on Sunday, but for those who don't subscribe or read those blog posts, here it is.

First up, as usual, is February Lady Sweater.  Not looking too much different than the photo from Sunday, but it is inching along.

Going to have a break from this for a few days, and concentrate on the Kiss Triangle Shawlette

This has not changed one bit since I first posted a photo of it, but hopefully I can get it done or close to finished by the weekend!

My next WIP is washing this fleece I just had delivered

Sadly, some parts are felted together, and the hair isn't too long, so I really don't think it'll be suitable for spinning, but I'll wash some and see how it looks then.

For more WIPs visit Tamis blog

Knit Nation

This'll have to be a quick one as we are in the midst of packing and preparing for a 4.30am start tomorrow.  You will have to forgive badly lit photos, I may attempt to get better ones when we get back.

Rush for Wollmeise!

Danielle looking too happy at 7am

Starring in the photos is Lee and Danielle.  We attended the Saturday morning Spinning for Knitting class.  It was quite good, and I did learn a lot.  Mainly that I really want a spinning wheel!

I attended the bohus stickning class on Friday morning, hence the bohus photos.  You'll have to wait a while longer to see the wristlets we were given, but I am addicted!

The marketplace was big, but contained mainly indie dyers and 'art yarns', which is great and nice, but not totally what I wanted!  I still have a few things to get for my Year list, which I'll order in a couple of weeks.