Left Over Dye

This morning I did an over-dye experiment with a piece of clothing. I had left over dye and couldn't waste it, so I found some white roving and wound it into a ball. I then put it in the dye crock-pot until it took up all the dye. The outside is darker and the inside lighter. I am waiting for it to dry so I can spin it on one of the drop spindles. There isn't much there, only about two ounces. I think I like how it turned out, but will have to wait until it is spun to say for sure.

I am enjoying my day off, in case you can't tell. Happy knitting and spinning.

New Spinning Project

In January I started my own personal fiber club. I have now dug into only the second of seven bags. The second bag contains 4 oz of Lambspun Merino/silk blend which I picked up many years ago. In looking around the stash, I found some of this already spun which I am sure I won't be able to match. My spinning has changed in the ensuing years. The blend I have I picked up when I attended SOAR in 1996 or when I went to the vendors market when it was back at Snowbird or when it was in Park City, I can't remember for sure and I didn't keep any records.

I am not getting enough spinning time. Too much time is taken up by Facebook and playing stupid/entertaining games. I am going to try to cut back on the Facebook time though and do some more spinning. It is time! Our morning routine has changed also and that didn't help.

My knitting project is coming along, slowly. I will take it to knitting group tonight and see how much I can work on it. But then it is the third Wednesday and that means it's spinning night, so who knows if the knitting will get touched tonight.

Well, off to get ready for work and then Knit night. Happy knitting and spinning.

Aunt Gloria's Shawl

I was finally able to get pictures of my aunt in the shawl which Corb was holding up in the last post. Aunt Gloria says she really likes the shawl and has worn it already. It ended up being a good size for her. I am glad she likes it and will use it.


There hasn't been much going on around here besides work, commute, and taking pictures of flowers.

The photo of the plied yarn is the Gale's Art BFL 4ozs that I picked up at the Montpelier Fiber Festival last October. I did mostly a two ply which turned out fairly well, but then I had a little left over which I Navajo plied and I really liked how it turned out. After finishing the plying of it, I wished I had done it all as a Navajo ply and done away with the two ply. But I will put the two ply to use as some type of a shawl for the 10 in 2010 challenge which I am not doing too well on. I do have another shawl on the needles though and it is coming along fairly well.

There has been such beauty around these parts. Everything is blooming and I am have fun taking lots of pictures of the flowers and the contrasts of colors. I am also learning about the setting on my camera and trying to use them a little more.

I have been a little more consistent in attending Wednesday night knit nights and that has helped with renewing my desire to knit more and spin more. I am needing to whittle a little more time from the day for those activities, seeing as how life is changing some around here and the time that used to be there isn't there anymore.

Off to get some things done before church. Have a great week. Happy knitting and spinning.

Shawl One for 2010

I finally listened to my phone messages last night, so know that this shawl has arrived and was well received. I spun this yarn from 8 oz of a discontinued color and fiber from Dianne. I love her fibers and get a new one each time I see her at a fiber fair.

I used Evelyn Clark's book Knitting Lace Triangles to design this shawl. The knitting went really fast. I think it took me only two weeks to knit and that was only knit night and my Nascar race watching knitting at that.

I'm glad that Aunt Gloria will be able to use this shawl and hope she will enjoy it for many years to come. I know it is warm and big enough. I had to try it out before sending it to her. C was even kind enough to hold it up for me one morning. With his dark suit on, you can even see some of the pattern.

Happy knitting and spinning.

A New Sweater

Bug tells me it is time to do another post. He wants to know whats happening in our area. As you can tell, we had a lot of snow. It's gone now except for where it is really shady. This picture was taken February 8 which was two weeks after the snowmageddon. Now it's a month later.

There has been a lot going on here. Not the least of which is knitting. I finally finished this sweater which was completely knit in November 2008. I did the embroidery on it in January, during the snowstorm, and have worn it a couple of times a week since then. It is becoming one of my favorite go to sweaters. The main yarn was some Galaway that I had in my stash. The contrasting color that I used for the three stripes in the yoke and the embroidery was yarn that Catherine sent me. She had spun the fiber and entered it in the Southeast Idaho State Fair. Every time I wear this sweater I am reminded of Catherine and all the friends I left behind in Idaho. I'll try to get a close up of the sweater, when I can get it off of me.

I went downtown last week and visited the Natural History museum. I have pictures, but I'll put some on next time. I also went to have lunch with ES. I am planning on going to DC once a month to see something new and have lunch with my hubby. It will be a good way to spend a day off.

Have fun knitting and spinning.

No Going Out in This

If you haven't heard, we have had a major snowstorm here in the DC area. I got home from work at about 3 pm Friday and haven't been out of the house since then, except to shovel and walk Cleo. It has been very nice to not have to worry about going places or doing lots of things during my days off. Church was even canceled yesterday! You can find more pictures of the snow on Flickr.

Consequently I have gotten some spinning and knitting done. I started my first bag of my own personal fiber club. This is BFL from Gale's Art that I picked up at the Montpelier fiber festival last October. There is 4 ozs in the Gum Ball color. It is spinning up very nicely.

I also got to wear a new pair of hand-knit socks. It only took me about six months to make this pair, but now that they are done they have been worn almost constantly. They kept my feet nice and warm while out shoveling on Sunday. I have made probably 25 pair of socks, but this is only my second pair for myself. The rest have been given as gifts.

This picture is of the first batch of yogurt which actually turned out. The first batch didn't set and was used in smoothies. This batch was done in the crock pot and was really good. My favorite way of eating it is to spoon some into a bowl and then put some strawberry topping for ice cream onto it. So good! There is about one cup left of this batch. It's time to try my hand again at making yogurt and hopefully it will turn out as good again.

Well, back to my spinning and knitting. I finished one thing which I'll blog about when it gets to it's intended recipient. I have pictures. I've also started new projects which I would like to get farther along before going back to work tomorrow.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Pay It Forward

I walked out of the front door Monday evening at dusk, to take the dog for her walk. The colors in the sky were just gorgeous. The only thing---this is facing East! Shouldn't my colors have been in the West? Anyway, they were really pretty, almost as pretty as some hand spun yarn I'm working with right now.

I know what's being made and who it's going to and I'm sorry to say, Vicky it's not coming your way.


Vicky at LDSVenus-knits.com contacted me about doing a Pay It Forward exchange. I have never done one before and thought it would be a fun adventure. I have read about them and been envious, but never joined. Now I am doing so!

Here it goes----

The guidelines: "I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!"



The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.



"Want to participate? Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and make the same promise on your own blog.

Not So Random Acts of Kindness and 365 days to do it in!

So, here goes! If you're interested in participating, just be one of the first three people to post that you would like to PIF! You don't have to be a knitter, you can hand craft - crochet, weaving, sewing, stamping up cards, anything that is "your thing".


Come on---you know you want to join us in the fun.

Happy knitting and spinning.