Autumn Colors on the Pine Trees

 When I looked out of the bedroom window this morning this was what I saw. I had never noticed that the pine needles seemed to change the same way that the leaves do. You can tell that of the different types of pine trees at least three of them have some rust color to them. Greens and rusts are some of my favorite colors. 

Today I took the time to sit at the Lendrum to do some plying. I am plying 4 oz. of Into the Whirled fiber that I purchased a couple of years ago at Maryland Sheep and Wool with some Wild Hare Seronghetti colored fiber that was also a couple of years ago at the same show. This is not the best picture. 

I do like how it is turning out. It is about a fingering weight that reminds me of the Stonehedge Fiber Mill's Crazy yarn. I think it will make a great sweater!

Lavender and Polworth

Sunday was the perfect day to go outside and get some pictures. There is lavender blooming again in the pot on the front steps. It's not as full of blooms as earlier in the summer, but still pretty and smells really good.

Sunday was also the day I finally finished plying the Polworth in the Water's Edge color from Misty Mountain. It is four ounces of a variegated blue which I really like. I chained plied it, wanting to keep the color variations. Not to mention, chain plying is my favorite form of plying.

This was the maiden fiber for my new to me Kiwi. It only took me two months to spin this fiber. Maybe it took so long because I have too many projects going right now. Four other spinning projects (no time limit on these) and about twelve knitting projects which I would like to have done in time for Christmas.

Now I have to find the perfect spinning project to put with with Kiwi. There is two ounces of silk going onto the Lendrum, four ounces of Crosspatch Creations going onto the Scholar, four ounces of "Fiona" going onto the Traditional, and four ounces of fiber from River's Edge going onto the Hitchiker. Can you tell I like the four ounces? They are perfect for a shawl or small accessories. Plus I usually don't get bored with spinning the fiber before I am done with it.

Well, off to do my daily spinning. Happy knitting and spinning.

Since attending the Montpelier Fiber Festival on Saturday, my desire to sit at the spinning wheel and get some spinning done has increased. On Monday I was able to go to a new friend's house and spin for a couple of hours. She is a new spinner and is doing a wonderful job with her spinning.

I remember what it was like when I first learned to spin. There is a fiber guild in Pocatello and I was invited to attend. For the first couple of meetings, I would go in and watch everything that was going on. I would watch how Edie, Phyllis and Anna Lucy spun and then I would go home, take my wheel out of the car, and sit down and practice what I had seen that day. That's right, I wouldn't even take my wheel into the guild meeting. It just stayed in the car until about the third meeting I attended when something was said and I said my wheel was out in the car and Edie had me bring it in so I could spin there. That was twenty years ago and since then there have been many enjoyable hours spent at my wheels.

I am so glad I made the comment to R & C's father saying I would like to learn how to spin and then he and Tim got me a wheel for Christmas that year. I don't know what I would do without my spinning now.

This is the last bump of fiber I purchased at the fiber festival last Saturday. As you can tell, there is a little bit of green, but it is very muted. I really like all the fiber that I've added to my stash. On Monday I started spinning the second to the last batch of fiber I picked up at last year's fiber festival. So this bump will probably sit in the stash for about a year before I get to spinning it. But then again, the anticipation of wanting to see how it will be as yarn may take over and it will be spun quickly.

What was your first spinning experience?

Happy knitting and spinning.

Spinning Update

I have been spinning, but definitely not dusting. My self imposed spinning for ten minutes on a couple of wheels a day is going fairly well. The first picture is the second two ounces of Yarn Pirates Heart of Gold fiber. This fiber has been my main focus when sitting down to spin each day. It is being spun on the Traditional and shouldn't be too much longer until I will be plying it. I am pretty sure it will be a two-ply for a shawl. Shawls are becoming addictive and I don't have to worry too much about gauge if I start top down.

The Scholar is being used to spin the Crosspatch Fibers which I bought in Logan. I really like how it is turning out. I like the nubbies of the silk noil and all the sheen of the silk that is carded in with the wool. I don't know for sure what I will make with this yarn, but I am sure it will be pretty.

Not much else is going on around here, although ES and I celebrated our anniversary last Friday with a special meal out. It was very good, but I don't think we will do it again anytime soon. There was so much food. Neither one of us slept really well that night.

Well, off to get ready for work. Enjoy your weekend. Happy knitting and spinning.

My Spinning Circle

Yesterday I got to leave work early, because the power was out again, so I came home and spent some time at the spinning wheels. I set up my spinning circle. I really like how it is set up and that I can spend some time at each wheel with different fibers.

The first picture is of the Crosspatch Creations fiber which I picked up in Logan when I was there in July. It is being spun on the Scholar.

This fiber, the vibrant reds, greens, and golds, is silk which I am spinning on the Lendrum. There are two ounces which I am hoping to get balanced bobbins and ply two ply. I am thinking a scarf or shawl with it, but am leaving myself open to ideas. There isn't much on the bobbin yet, but it is the fifth bag in my own personal fiber club. This means there are only two bags left and I should have them done before the fiber fair in Montpelier. At least I would like to have them done before I bring in too much more fiber.

This is my spinning circle. Clockwise from the back right to the front left: the Lendrum (silk), the Kiwi (Polworth), the Scholar (Crosspatch Creations), the Hitchiker (my own batt preparation), and the Traditional (Yarn Pirate, Heart of Gold from her last Booty Club). The circle has worked really well. I just turn my chair when I want to change to a different wheel. I am trying to spin at least ten minutes each day on each wheel. I'll see how long that lasts, but I've been having fun with it so far.

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.

Weekend Fun

There was a lot going on this past weekend, besides working both Saturday and Sunday. To start it all off, C and I got tickets to attend a Washington Redskins preseason game at FedEx field. It was a fun experience since neither one of us had been to a professional football game before and didn't know where we were going, anything about where we were sitting, how to get there on the metro, or how to get home. The other boys, when finding out where we were, were really jealous and wished they could be with us.

We left the house at 6 pm and got home at 1:30 in the morning!!!! I had to be at work at 8 am, so didn't get very much sleep. I did go to bed early on Saturday night, though.

C's comment when I took this picture: "Mom, you're weird. Why do you need a picture of me at the game?" Why for the blog, of course. Silly boy!

Sunday, after work and dinner, it was so nice outside (no humidity) that I spent an hour on the balcony with the Scholar and some merino roving in the Coral Bells colorway from Misty Mountain. I have four ounces and am hoping to spin enough for a scarf or shawlette. I don't know which one I want just yet, so will wait until the fiber is spun and plied before I decide. Then I can see how much yardage I will get, before deciding. It is turning out mostly orange, with the purple and yellow and a splash of gold peeking through. I am thinking of someone specifically as the intended recipient, but haven't decided for sure. I might decide to keep it for myself.

There was a small amount of knitting, this weekend. I completed and knit another baby bib, while at the game and on the metro. Started a third bib on the way home and have that one almost finished. It is my stuck in traffic knitting, so will be finished today.

To top off the weekend, I got to see this beautiful sunset as I was heading inside last night. Now that makes for a good weekend, even if I did have to work the both days of the weekend.

Happy knitting and spinning.

Spinning and Tomatoes

This past Summer has been a busy one. So many things to do, along with work, and places to go, people (A-b) visiting and going places with him.

We've had fresh tomatoes from my garden, the planters on the balcony. I also have had a cucumber and lettuce. There have been plenty of pumpkin blossoms, but no little pumpkins yet.

I finally completed the spinning of 8 ozs. of a merino wool that I picked up last October at the Montpelier fiber festival. It seemed to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to spin this fiber. I have had it on the Scholar since November.


This is what the yarn turned out like, it's a little washed out in this photo. I am not too pleased with the plying job, but the yarn is knitting into a really nice shawl, so far. There are color changes from purple to green with a little blue and white thrown in there also. I really do like how the shawl is turning out. I hope the intended recipient will like it also. I ended up with 1038 yards of a 2-ply fingering/lace-weight yarn. I think there is enough to finish the shawl I'm working on and then some fingerless mitts or some other small thing.

I am hoping to do better at posting on the blog. School will start the 8th of September, so I need a schedule worked out by then and with a schedule I think I will post better.

Well, off to get something done before work. Happy knitting and spinning.

Look, I Found Pictures!

Okay, so I found the pictures and put them in my regular file. It took me a while this morning, but I have it figured out for right now at least.

I love looking at the pictures of these bobbins full of singles. There are so many colors here. The first picture is the Hitchiker. It is showing off the fiber from Judy Jackson in the Grand Rift colorway in fine range wools. I ended up with a pound of this fiber and I really like how it is turning out.

The fiber on the Lendrum is from Judy Gunn in the Spring Fling colorway. This is a corriedale fiber and I really like how it is spinning up. I started spinning this fiber in October, but I haven't dedicated time to spinning it until I started rotating the wheels out a month or so ago. I will miss seeing both of the Judy's at this years Fiber Fair, but have the websites to order from. Judy Gunn's is new and I hadn't seen it before.

The fiber on the Ashford Traditional is from Dianne at Creatively Dyed Yarn. This is colorway R7 which she was clearancing out just before the end of the year. It is a Merino wool and is spinning up quickly. I plied two skeins of it into a two ply yarn and am trying to decide for sure what I would like to do with this yarn. I have just about three bobbins to ply still, so who knows how much I will end up with. But it is fun to spin.


And last, but not least, is the Merino fiber I have going on the Scholar. I bought this fiber in September at the Montpelier fiber fair from Misty Mountain Farms. It is spinning up fairly quickly, but is also seeming to take quite a long time. I never seem to get as much spun on this wheel on my week to spin on the Scholar. I don't know if it is because the wheel spins slower or if it is because the fiber is beening spun pretty fine. I know I like the subtle colors in this combination and will enjoy whatever I decide to make with it. I think it will be destin to be a shawl, it is soooooo soft.

Thanks for looking at the pictures and letting me tell you about my latest spinning adventures. I am enjoying all the colors and spending the short amount of time I take with the wheels. The rotation is working really well and all the wheels get a chance to have their weekly glory.

Now, off to bed and an early morning. Happy knitting & spinning.

Sorry it's Been so Long

I can't believe how fast this month has flown by. I was talking with one of my bosses and I had to turn the calendar page over, she couldn't believe that it is almost March. She thought the month of February had flown by also.

I have to show you a small skein which wasn't a skein too long ago. This fiber had been sitting on one of my Ashford bobbins for the past FOUR years. Yes, you read that right! Four years is an awfully long time waiting to be made into a skein of yarn. This is a combination of a brown fleece purchased from Fred and Jo and some mohair locks I picked up from somewhere. I thought the yarn turned out ok. Not the best plying job, but then when I set the twist I didn't really whack it too much. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, so it will probably sit in the stash for a while.

My begonia from Catherine is blooming very nicely. I have had blooms on it for most of the month. I like to check it out every day to see how it looks.

I have been busy knitting, but it's not my place to show you what I have been working on. I am planning a number of baby projects. I have two new grandbabies due this year, so I'll need to get working on little things soon. It may take me most of that time to get knit what I want to for these little new babies.

Not much else is going on here except for life. It gets really hectic sometimes! I will try to keep in touch more often.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Traditional Still Spins

I don't think I have posted about this fiber that I purchased at the Montpelier Fiber Festival. I bought this four oz of Mohair/Cormo blend in this green and orange colorway. I then spun it on the Ashford Traditional, plied it into a two-ply and ended up with 360 yards of lace/fingering weight.

I think I have enough to make the Forest Canopy Shawl, but will have to play with it to see.

But first I have to finish up the sweater I am working on--it's half-way thru the first sleeve right now--and the two pair of socks that are on the needles too. One pair is just about done, probably about two hours worth of work. The other pair has a bit more than that to go.

I started the Christmas shopping yesterday! Not my favorite thing to do, but I need to get it done soon. I would like to get everything mailed by December 5, so I know it will be there in time for Christmas and "E's" birthday.

I had a job interview on Thursday. We'll see how that goes. The only thing about it is, I would be driving for 30 minutes each way to and from work. Not sure I like that idea too much. And it is back in retail again, so there will be some nights involved. But it will be nice to be working again. Not as much crafting time though.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Tag Five Things

I know that this 'tag' has gone around before, but my sister just tagged me (again) and I really should respond to her. It's the 5 Things.

Tag - 5 Things.......

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Separated from husband.
2. Raising four boys on my own.
3. Working three jobs at once.
4. Planning a trip to the Grand Canyon with the boys.
5. Buying my first newer car by myself.

5 Things on today's to do list:

1. Take A-b to Battle of Bull Run civil war site.
2. Finish laundry.
3. Work on 2nd clue of Mystery Sock.
4. Make dinner?
5. Plan tomorrow's sight-seeing.

5 Snacks I enjoy (unhealthiest to healthiest):

1. Skor or Heath bars.
2. Any chocolate/carmel combination.
3. Popcorn.
4. Red grapes (frozen).
5. Homemade smoothies.

5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire (you mean "when"):

1. Pay off debts.
2. Put money aside in investments.
3. Travel to Australia and Ireland.
4. Buy another spinning wheel.
5. Help kids.

5 Places I've lived:

1. Pocatello ID
2. Dayton OR
3. Portland OR
4. Idaho Falls ID
5. Fairfax VA

5 Places I've worked:

1. Home - as a mom - hardest job (Sorry Anita - had to copy cuz it's true!)
2. Pharmacy Tech
   
3. Albertson's as a lobby manager, bookkeeper, customer service booth, video counter - that covers just about 20 years, don't you think it's enough? Oh, okay, two more----
   
4. Restaurant bookkeeper.
5. Medical office help

Okay, I hope you've learned something more about me. Anita, I'm not doing anymore tags! At least for a while.

If you are still reading, here's a picture of the fiber I bought this past weekend at the Fiber Fair at Montpelier. I am taking pictures of the fiber separately and will tell you a little about it, the fiber, as the days go by. I am spinning the fiber in the middle on the Ashford Traditional. I haven't spun on that wheel in a while and I thought it was about time to get her out, dust her off, and give her a good workout. It is spinning up nicely and I'll have pictures on the next post. I'm too lazy this morning to go get the camera and download the pictures right now. I have to have this fiber spun by the first of December, because I have promised to loan the Traditional to a lady who meets with us Wednesday nights for a beginning spinning class. We are going to get her hooked on the spinning also!

Happy knitting & spinning.

DC Last Friday

There has been a lot going on these past few days. There might be enough to keep me going with blog fodder for a day or two. On Friday "A-b" and I headed into DC so that "A-b" could be introduced to ES's co-workers. The other purpose behind the trip was so that father and son could spend some time together in our new area of residence. "A-b" and I wandered around the Jim Henson exhibit and then met ES for lunch and a walk through the moon garden. This hibiscus picture was taken there.

After lunch father and son went to the American Indian museum and I got to visit my favorite place, so far, in DC-The botanical gardens. That is where this yellow flower picture was taken. It was so nice to just wander. I didn't have to worry about where anyone was. I could just sit and look and relax all I wanted to. There were more begonias this time than the last time I went. There are so many different varieties and I keep thinking I would like that plant at home. But then ES is glad I don't have them all at home.

I finished one spinning project and started another. This fiber on the Lendrum is from Judy's Novelty Wool in the Spring Fling color. I picked it up at the Idaho Falls Fiber Fair this past May. Imagine that, spinning a fiber the same year I bought it! It's a good thing to spin this, as I bought more fiber this past Saturday. But, more on that in another post. This bobbin is now almost completely full. And it holds almost one complete 4 oz bump of this fiber. I have two bumps of 4 ozs for spinning. I really like how the colors are coming out.

Well, off to plan the sight seeing trip for "A-b" today. If you haven't already, go back to this post and guess how many socks I'll get done in Socktoberfest. You could get some sock yarn if you guess correctly.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Spinning is Happening

Spinning is happening again. I couldn't stand it anymore and dug out some fiber I ordered from Zarzuela just before leaving Idaho Falls. It is in the Thinking of Fall color which I don't see on her etsy shop right now. It spun up really fast and beautifully, I think. This skein ended up with about 160 yards of navajo plied fiber. I am thinking of making a cowl with this, but my mind could be swayed in other directions.


These are just my colors.


I couldn't let the Lendrum stay empty for very long. So the same day I plied Thinking of Fall I rummaged around in the stash. I started spinning this fiber which is five ounces of a merino/columbia blend. I bought this blend at the Idaho Falls fiber festival in 2007 from the Going to the Sun Fiber Mill vendor. It is spinning up very nicely, but has a little bit of a greasy feel to the fiber. It has been prepared as a pencil roving which is very nice as I don't have to do very much pre-drafting. I already have one of the three bumps spun and just need to take some time daily to do some more spinning. It has felt good to be doing some spinning daily again.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Ten Minutes per day

I thought I would show you what this past two weeks of 10-minutes per day spinning has produced. (On that link it is the June 12th post.) It is this jumbo flyer bobbin for the Lendrum full of two-plied yarn. I don't know how many yards are on the bobbin, haven't put it on the niddy noddy yet. I do have about 15 wraps of this yarn that wouldn't fit onto this bobbin. I think it will make a nice Luna Moth shawl, if I have enough yarn.

Today has been spent packing boxes, cleaning the yard up, doing some spinning and taking the dog to the vet. I have one full row of boxes against the one wall. I have started on the second row, but sometimes I think it is going very slowly. I don't know if I will ever get everything packed. I am taking one room at a time and going through things as I pack. Getting rid of things as I pack has become the mantra. I am a pack-rat, so that makes it hard to get rid of things. I have a great big box ready to go to the Goodwill though.

I'm looking forward to the spinner's monthly meeting this Saturday. It will be good to catch up with everyone. Saturday is also the first day of the Summer of Socks 2008, so that's what I'll be working on. I have my pattern picked out and the yarn ready to go. I might get all the socks for Christmas done with this challenge!

Happy knitting & spinning.

Tuesday Orchid Watch

This is the living-room orchid watch. The buds are coming along really well. As long as I don't leave the windows open for very long when it is chilly outside, like it is this morning. I am hoping that this one will bloom before we move from this house the end of July. The orchid in the bathroom had two good blooms on it. You saw the one bloom a couple of weeks ago. Although I keep watching for the second bloom to open, it never has yet.



At the Idaho Falls Fiber Fair last month, I picked up some of this "Dark Lagoon" from Judy at Wasatch Watercolours. I like how it is spinning up. I am thinking of making this a two ply and using it to make the Luna Moth Shawl from elann. I guess I should put this on the Ravelry page in the que, but I have to learn to do that still.

Today looks like it will be a dark and dreary day. It will be a good day to be at work and maybe do some spinning tonight while "C" is at scouts and "R" is busy.

Happy knitting & spinning

Productive Evening

After work today, I spent an hour or so plying the 4 ozs of fiber from Debbie Bass. I really like how the sun was shining on the fiber as I plied it. I ended up with 161 wraps on my niddy noddy which equals 268 yards. Don't know for sure what I will do with this as it is my typical thin spinning. I thought I might use it in some socks, but I don't know. It would also make a really pretty scarf in maybe a feather and fan style.


I have to show the newest finished baby sweater. The colors didn't show up the best here. The yarn is Patons Decor in Autumn Varg. It should look very good on a good looking young master. I was trying to find mustard colored buttons to bring out the mustard color in the yarn. The buttons ended up being a light brown, but I still think it brings out the mustard.

I just realized that the colors on the bobbin are about the same color as this little sweater. Is that telling you anything? Maybe I just like these colors right now.

Hopefully, this weekend I can get some flowers planted in the flower box. I need to get some "curb appeal" for the front of our house. Maybe the rain will hold off long enough.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Yes, I've Been Spinning

Saturday and yesterday, I spent some time at the spinning wheel. I have just about four ounces spun. There is one full bobbin and about half another bobbin. I bought this fiber at the Snake River Fiber Fair from Debbie Bass. It doesn't have a color name, but I am loving how it is spinning up. There is a little bit of dye coming off when I spin, but I don't think that is a problem. I am anxious to see what it will look like and feel like when I get it plied. Don't know what to do with it yet, but I'm sure something will come to mind.

Life is down to a dull roar now. Still lots of packing to do and this is my last week of full-time employment. Next week I start part-time and that really is kind of scary for me. It just makes it so I really have to get things on the ball for the move. Still so much to do and sometimes no desire to do it.

Happy knitting & spinning.

Happy Mother's Day

This afternoon I finished spinning the two bumps of "short", six months growth, fibers purchased at the "wool-trek". I plied it with the viscose I had been spinning. "Au" says it looks really purple which is really weird as the dominate color in the viscose was blue. I don't think the brown shows up as the dominate color in this blend, at least not in this picture. I do have a basic idea for what I want to do with this and the few yards of two-ply brown which I got all spun and plied.

Hope everyone has had a nice Mother's Day. I know mine was.

Happy knitting & spinning

No Real Knitting to Show, Just Pictures

Okay, knitting content is non-existent right now! I am s-t-i-l-l working on the silk challenge, but I think I am coming to the end of my yarn in just a few more repeats. So I should be done with this knit soon. But the unveiling will have to wait until the challenge is over the end of May. I like to enjoy the suspense of seeing everything all at once. It makes it easier that I am in IF and not in Poky with the other members of the guild.

I have been busy spinning the Copper Moose fiber. I now have three full bobbins and am ready to start the fourth in the morning. I like how this is spinning up. I find myself watching the color blends more often than not. Because of this it's taking longer to read the blogs on bloglines every morning. But the spinning is going faster. I also have gone back to spinning the viscose I bought at SOAR in 1996 which has been sitting on a bobbin for about six months. After spinning the silk, I find the viscose not quite so hard to deal with. I only bought an ounce and have about 1/3 of it spun so far. I am hoping to have it finished a week from now or thereabouts.

I thought I would leave you with one of my favorite pictures taken at the beginning of the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. ES's pictures turned out much better. He spends more time setting up for the pictures than I do. But I think the Washington Monument is framed very nicely in this picture. It's also interesting to note the different colors at certain levels of the Monument.

I do have to mention that C made dinner tonight. It was a Birds-Eye bagged dinner, but it smelled s-o-o-o good coming into the house after work tonight. The boys also talked me into ice cream, but that wasn't hard. Ice cream was going to hit the "spot" tonight.

I'm really looking forward the the Wool-Trek this weekend. I need to put the bench seat in the van just in case we have more people wanting to go to Cornish.

Happy knitting & spinning.