Aren't Trips Fun

Seeing as how today was an on the go day a-l-l day, I thought I would show you a couple of pictures from our DC trip and the gardens at Colonial Williamsburg. This first picture is of a quilt that was done by a Smithsonian employee in their gallery there. (I think that if you click on the picture it will enlarge--I hope.) I thought the colors in the quilt were amazing and each of the blocks were so different. There were a number of things in this gallery that the boys and I liked. Some of the pictures are on ES's camera, so I can't share them with you.




The gardens at Colonial Williamsburg were so pretty. I loved the color of this Sweet William. I only wish I could grow them in my own garden, but for some reason they don't like me very much.

The tulips and daffodils were all out and made for some pretty colors. I was totally amazed at the vegetable garden. Things were growing so and they were already harvesting some things. The Master Gardener said that the peas would be coming on really soon and there were a few blossoms on the plants. I am looking forward to going back there and seeing the grounds in all different seasons.

Tomorrow, I might have knitting content to share. Can't guarantee it though, because I got a call tonight saying the other tech might not be there tomorrow. Her daughter is running a temp and not feeling well. It's a good thing the "wool trek" is this weekend!

Happy knitting & spinning.

New Project

This weekend has been fairly productive. I finished spinning the green and yellow fiber which I dyed up about six months ago. I then plied it into a two ply yarn, with a couple of yards of Navajo ply because of the differences in the fibers on each bobbin. I think I will make the Forest Canopy Shawl with this. I think the colors will work very nicely with the pattern. I have 581 yards which should be plenty.


The other project for the weekend is the continuation of the silk challenge. But, it is taking a while to do each repeat, so I thought I would start something new. I started a baby sweater for the new baby. It is going into a grab bag for the kids when the baby comes. I am making it with one strand of Opal and a strand of baby yarn that has been sitting in the stash for quite some time. I like how it is coming out and think it will look good on a wee little baby boy.

I am trying to come up with projects to knit which will use up some of the stash yarn and handspun yarns hanging out in the bins. With the magazines I bought last week, I have a number of things in the ever growing list of things to make now.

Hapy knitting & spinning.

Flower at the Botanical Gardens

There isn't much going on around here, knitting wise, that I can share with you all. I am still working on my silk challenge and it is coming along really well. I have enough stitches on the needle that it takes me about twenty minutes to knit a row now. I guess I could start another project, but then who knows when I would get the silk done. I am spending as much time as I can get away with knitting. And enjoying having the house to myself. The have boys both taken off for the next couple of hours.

Because I don't have knitting to show you, I will show you another picture of one of the flowers at the Botanical Gardens in DC. I just love the color and how it looks so fuzzy. What would it be like to have your own personal greenhouse?

Well, off to knit some more and maybe get a box or two packed.

Enjoy your weekend! Happy knitting & spinning.

Guilt Knitting

Not much is going on around here. I am steadily working on my silk challenge project. I really like how it is turning out. I've showed it to a couple of my non-fiber friends and they really like it also. I'll be glad when it is done and ready for show.

This is the first full bobbin of the "Confetti" yarn. It is spinning up very quickly which is a good thing, seeing as how I have two pounds of this fiber. There is more color in it than I thought would show up, but I think I will like it when I have it all spun and plied.

Sometimes I find myself sticking to one project and then other times there is a lot going on. I now have two spinning projects and two knitting projects. The spinning project which isn't using the "Confetti" is almost finished, probably about two hours and it will be complete. The easy knitting, the hat, is languishing on the bed with all my "stuff". Poor hat. Maybe I should just hurry up and finish it, then ship it out of here. Then again, maybe not. I like the silk knitting a lot better and it's actually going really fast.


I'll leave you with pretty orchids from the Botanical Gardens in DC. I'm glad I will be able to visit the gardens again in just a few short months. This could be my new favorite place.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Spun Fiber

I have all the Sheep Shed Studio yarn spun and I think I found the pattern I want to use to knit it up. I went to Barnes & Noble after work and found about four new knitting magazines. I have been going through them and looking at the patterns. I have found a number of patterns that I would like to make. Now it is just finding the time to do them! I have 435 yards with one skein still needing to be counted and figured.


This is the new spinning project which I started on Saturday. The fiber in the "Confetti" from Copper Moose. It is spinning up very nicely with a nice mix of color. This fiber is being spun on the Hitchiker while I am on the computer reading all the blogs. That's where I get the majority of my spinning done anymore.

Yesterday was a very quiet day and I got a lot of knitting done on my silk project. It is working up very nicely. I only have three project on the needles right now. The second sock in a pair, a hat for ES's niece, and my silk project. That's not too bad, I think. I still have yesterday's race to watch so I might get quite a bit more done on the challenge. I am liking it so much that the other projects aren't progressing very fast, even though they are simple knits.

I think I need to start a list of projects I would like to do. I'm not on Ravelry so I don't have that option, but notebooks work just as well. My list could take up the whole notebook. Too many ideas, not enough time.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Spinners Saturday

I have to show the latest in the baby sweaters. This one is going to my boss's new grandson. I really like how it turned out. I used a little over one skein of Lion Brand Wool-ease and most of a skein of Knitpicks sock yarn. The colors worked so well together that I am half-tempted to use the same yarn to make a sweater for the new grand-baby due in July. If I find just the right pattern, I might just do it.


The spinners group met today. It was good to go chat, eat and see what everyone is doing. I am amazed at how accomplished our group is. See the blue sock at the left side of the picture? Carol is showing us how she darns. She passed the sock around when the darning was completed and everyone was examining it. You couldn't hardly see where she had been working!

I have been busy knitting on my silk challenge. The first repeat is done and I am almost finished with the second repeat. I like how it is working up. I think this project will be one that will be worn and worn. At least, I hope that will be the case.

I also started a new spinning project. I am working on two pounds of fiber from the Copper Moose which I ordered in January 2007. I ordered this fiber after reading about it on the Knitter's Review. I am anxious to see how it will turn out. It is called "Confetti" and has a cream base with multi-colored bits throughout.

After spinners I took M down to live with her mother for a while. She thinks she can get a better job in SLC and there is more public transport there than there is here. She doesn't have the money to buy a car and neither do ES and I, with the move and everything. I think she will be happy there. There is a lot more to do and she will be closer to her twin, A-g.

If I hurry, I might have time to work on my challenge before I really get tired and need to go to sleep.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Snake River Fiber Fair - Pre-Fair

Yesterday morning I received this e-mail:

Laura-
I have received your fiber fair registration and have you signed up for the Beginning Spindling and Spin to Knit.
See you at the Fair!
Sheryl

I am looking forward to attending this year, as it will probably be the last one I attend for a few years. I am so looking forward to taking the class taught by Shannon Okey. I also am looking forward to taking the class taught by Elizabeth Dailey. I enjoy spinning with their spindles and am looking forward to learning more about spindle spinning. In spinning related news, I finished the indigo dyed fiber that I started last week. It looks much better after the carding, not at all felted. C has already put dibs in on getting something made from it, but there isn't very much there. There is only about half a bobbin of singles.


I also haven't finished knitting anything yet this week either. I am almost done with sewing the edges together for the baby sweater. I really could have this done today, if I would get myself in gear.

Let me leave you with a picture of the Christmas cactus' which are still blooming. I have liked having their pretty blooms for the past six months.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Happy Birthday J-b

The internet wasn't working last night, because of the snow, so I missed my regular post. It snowed just enough to make everything covered and slick. Really its about one and a half inches. Everyone in this house hold is getting a little tired of snow, except for M, and that okay because she missed one winter when she went to Bolivia and she can make that up now. But even she says its too cold.

I have "startitis" and I'm really, really trying not to start anything until I get a few things finished up. Although last night I measured how much yardage I have for the silk challenge fiber and then wound it up into a ball. This is my next project! I have another hat for Michelle to finish up and a baby sweater for my boss's new grandson to sew up and then the silk challenge can be on it's way. I only have six weeks to complete the silk project.

Today is J-b's birthday! The second of my sons is now into his 20's. It's hard to believe that my children are growing up so fast. This is J-b with his Aunt Beth taken in 2007, sorry I don't remember which month. He has grown into a handsome young man, in my opinion. He will be home in just about five weeks and I am excited to have him here, if even for a little while.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Onions!

Last night I sewed on the buttons of this sweater I made, nearly a year ago, for this little guy:
Spencer and Grandma Laurel. The sweater has been knit and waiting for Spencer's dad and mom to let me know where they were living or come to our house. Well today was the day that Spencer got his sweater. The good part: it will still fit him! Dad and Mom made it to our house to participate in a b-i-g family dinner. It was quite a fun afternoon, but I'm glad that stress is over.

After people left this afternoon, I went into the backyard to see how the tulip and daffodils were coming along. I was surprised to see that I have some volunteer onions coming up from last years planting. Granted the garden, what there is of it, is next to the cement of the foundation of the garage so gets quite warm. There are weeds and grass growing in my garden spot as well, but for the next day or two they will be ignored. In the front yard I still have some snow. It is still where there is not much in the way of sunlight and it melts a little each day as it gets warmer, or if I rake/shovel the snow out into the sunlight.

I gave four of my house plants away this evening. I sent them home to live with A-g and her husband, G. G likes plants and will take care of them very well, as long as A-g doesn't touch them, so he says. I know ES will be glad to know I don't have to move quite so many plants.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Felted Roving Rescue

Since I finished spinning the Sheep Shed Studio fiber, I have been busy spinning the Targhee I dyed at the dye workshop last August. The fiber was really felted, so I:

Pre-drafted,








Carded on the hand-cards,





And then have been spinning on the Hitchiker. I am attempting to use or spin all my little stashes of fiber and this is only about two ounces. I think it is turning out ok and with the carding it is a more uniform color of blue. I don't know what I'll do with it, but isn't that half the fun.

Hopefully more will be accomplished this weekend. Happy knitting & spinning

One Fiber Batt Almost Done.

I have been spending some time spinning. I have spun five and a half bobbins of this fiber from the Sheep Shed Studio. I have plied two bobbins and I like how it is turning out. I only have about half a bobbin left to spin and then I will show pictures of the plied skein.

Tomorrow is Au's birthday. I have to work late, so I did the birthday shopping today and will take the card and present over to their house on my lunch hour tomorrow. It is really different to buy a birthday gift for a daughter-in-law. I don't know her tastes too well and I think I remember what it was like at her age, but then again I'm not sure. I hope she will like what we got her. It has been quite fun to add her to our family and I have enjoyed getting to know her, even if I may get her tastes wrong. E and Au invited me to dinner on Sunday night. That was fun. Au made a really good chicken dish with rice and peas. It was really nice to not have to go home and cook. And the boys didn't want to go over, so it was just three of us.

I have a couple of quick knitting projects. ES's niece, Michelle, asked if I would make her a hat. I told her that if she would get me the yarn I would make one for her. She went right down and bought yarn before I could leave ES's dad and step-mom's place. She bought two skeins of Lion Brand Chenille which is working up very quickly and has pretty good yardage. She will be here on Sunday, and I think I will actually have three hats for her. Because of other commitments, we'll see how fast I knit in the next day and a half.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Back to "Normal"

There has been a lot of commotion at the house this past week. ES flew back to DC yesterday, M went to her mom's in SLC and A-b went back to his mom's house Saturday. My house is back to the temporary "normal". We will have lots of company this weekend also, so the house has to be cleaned and meals prepared.

I have decided I have to take time to spin. Yesterday, I had such tight knots in my back that I couldn't get rid of them at all. I need my meditative spinning to help keep those knots at bay. I wasn't able to spin at all this past week and that's not going to happen again, if I can help it.

As you have probably figured out by now, I like flowers. This picture is from the botanical gardens in DC. There were so many orchids! I really enjoyed myself there. I think I could spend days in there by myself. I thought about getting an orchid to add to my plant collection, but am afraid that it wouldn't fair too well. I'll just keep looking at them and drool.

Not much is getting done in the knitting field. I did make a hat for ES's niece, but bound it off too tight, so have to take that out to re-do. I am still looking for the pattern for the silk/scarf challenge for the guild. I'll find the perfect one soon I hope, because my fiber is just about all plied and I'm ready to knit with it to see how it will turn out.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Friday Picture

I wanted to share my favorite picture taken a week ago yesterday. This picture was taken at the Manassas (Bull Run) battlefield when the boys and I visited it last week. This day was cloudy and slightly drizzly, but a fun day none the less. I was surprised at how much interest the boys had in the Civil War battlefields (the two) we visited. R took off and was wandering around before C and I were even ready to get out of the car.

Happy knitting & spinning.

M is Home from Bolivia

M came home from Bolivia yesterday. It is good to have her home, if even for just a little while. We had quite a few people over to welcome her home and have pizza and hear the stories she has to tell. It was fun. She brought lots of things home from Bolivia. I will get pictures of the Nativity she bought for her dad and post them, soon.

This is the shawl I made for M at Christmas time. I was afraid she wouldn't get it, so I didn't mail it. I blocked it on Monday night and I think it turned out pretty good. I think she liked it, but we'll see how often she uses it. She bought two ponchos in Bolivia which she says she wears frequently, so it might not be too hard to switch to a shawl.

I have been working on socks. I know I have completed three pairs since the first of the year, more than I have ever done in any one year since getting back into knitting many years ago. I have a number of pairs I would like to get done, they are on the list. It's just a matter of completing some other projects so I don't feel guilty working on the socks.

Happy knitting & spinning.

New Sock Yarn

I thought I would let you know, we are home and almost back into our routine. Look what greeted us in the sun-room when we got home on Sunday. The amaryllis has two full open blooms and one bud yet to open. ES says its about on time. The last time the amaryllis bloomed, we had our house fire. That was one year ago today! Hard to believe that much time has gone past already.



I have to show what I picked up from one of the two yarn stores I visited in the DC area. At the first shop, in Chantilly, I picked up some yarn for baby booties and buttons for my button-up socks. I didn't have the socks with me, but the buttons match really, really well. At the second shop, in Manassas, I picked up some of Berroco's new yarn, Custom Sock. I got two different colors: gray and a brown/gray variegated. The mix is 50% super fine nylon and 50% super fine acrylic. Custom Sock is very soft and I think I can get some socks for the men in the family without any complaints of itchiness. The two skeins on the right are Plymouth Yarn company's new "Happy Feet" in color #2. It is 90% superwash Merino wool and 10% nylon. There are 192 yards per skein, so I might have some left over after making a pair of socks. I'm kind of anxious to try the Happy Feet, but it will have to wait until after the silk challenge is completed.

Happy knitting & spinning.